Rational Expressions

RATIONALS - - what are they? Ratio of two polynomial expressions Examples include:

Simplifying Rationals (factoring out -1) SIMPLIFYING RULES Factor top and bottom Cancel out terms on top/bottom

Restrictions on your answer Your answer is restricted based on the fact that we don’t want an undefined answer. After the initial factoring (before you simplify), decide what values will give a zero in the denominator In this case, x can not be 0 and y can not be 1

Let’s Try Some

Let’s Try Some

Multiplying Rationals MULTIPLYING RULES Factor top and bottom completely Cancel out terms on top/bottom Multiply remaining top across and bottom across

Let’s Try Some Multiply. State any restrictions

Let’s Try Some Multiply. State any restrictions

Dividing Rationals DIVIDING RULES Flip second fraction Factor top and bottom completely Cancel out terms on top/bottom Multiply remaining top across and bottom across = x + 1

Let’s Try Some State any restrictions

Let’s Try Some State any restrictions