Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall. 5.4 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions with Different Denominators

Martin-Gay, Prealgebra & Introductory Algebra, 3ed 22 Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall. As stated in the previous section, to add or subtract rational expressions with different denominators, we have to change them to equivalent forms first. Different Denominators

Martin-Gay, Prealgebra & Introductory Algebra, 3ed 33 Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall. To Add or Subtract Rational Expressions with Different Denominators Step 1: Find the LCD of all the rational expressions. Step 2: Rewrite each rational expression as an equivalent expression whose denominator is the LCD found in Step 1. Step 3: Add or subtract numerators and write the sum or difference over the common denominator. Step 4: Simplify or write the rational expression in lowest terms. Different Denominators

Martin-Gay, Prealgebra & Introductory Algebra, 3ed 44 Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall. Add the following rational expressions. Adding Rational Expressions with Different Denominators Example

Martin-Gay, Prealgebra & Introductory Algebra, 3ed 55 Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall. Subtract: Example Subtracting Rational Expressions With Different Denominators

Martin-Gay, Prealgebra & Introductory Algebra, 3ed 66 Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall. Subtract: Subtracting Rational Expressions With Different Denominators Example

Martin-Gay, Prealgebra & Introductory Algebra, 3ed 77 Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall. Add: Example Adding Rational Expressions with Different Denominators