1. Sec. 9-5: Adding/Subtracting Rational Expressions.

2. The process:
In order to add & subtract rational expressions, you will need a COMMON DENOMINATOR.
Find common denominators by FACTORING the DENOMINATORS ONLY!
Alter your fractions to have the common denominators – DO NOT REDUCE and then add/subtract NUMERATORS.
Look at the examples that follow.

3. Simplify:
Factor the denominators to find the C.D.
So the C.D. is (x – 2)(x+2)…we need to alter the first fraction by x + 2.

4. Gather like terms in the numerator and as your FINAL STEP, you can factor the numerator in case the fraction can be reduced.

5. Try:
The C.D. is BOTH denominators
Be careful….this one is SUBTRACTION!