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05 - Simplifying Rational Expressions

The document provides instructions on simplifying rational expressions, emphasizing the importance of factoring polynomials and stating restrictions to avoid division by zero. It includes examples and homework problems for practice, requiring students to simplify expressions and identify variable restrictions. The document concludes with answers to the homework problems for reference.

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benpkq76
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4 views3 pages

05 - Simplifying Rational Expressions

The document provides instructions on simplifying rational expressions, emphasizing the importance of factoring polynomials and stating restrictions to avoid division by zero. It includes examples and homework problems for practice, requiring students to simplify expressions and identify variable restrictions. The document concludes with answers to the homework problems for reference.

Uploaded by

benpkq76
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

5 - Simplifying Rational Expressions MCR3U – Rational Expressions

Date: ______________________________________________

Simplifying Rational Expressions


Rational Expression: a sum, difference, product or quotient of terms
It may be a quotient of 2 polynomials
!
Example:
"

The denominator cannot have a value of zero! (NO dividing by 0 – result is undefined).

So, we have to set restrictions on the variables. These restrictions are values of the variable
that would make the denominator equal zero.

Examples:
What are the restrictions?
! # " & '( " + ,
$% ! ') $!* $

To simplify rational expressions:


• FACTOR all polynomials
• STATE all restrictions
• CANCEL the COMMON FACTORS
Example:
-+2
-! − 4

Notes: Only cancel after everything is factored and cancel only the brackets that are
EXACTLY the same!

Page 1 of 3
5 - Simplifying Rational Expressions MCR3U – Rational Expressions

Examples:
2 ' 34 5 25 "
$ # '( 5 ,5 %

!6 $76 # !5 58 ,8
6 $,6 % $25 $ !58

-9 − - !
- !9 − 9 "

Page 2 of 3
5 - Simplifying Rational Expressions MCR3U – Rational Expressions

Homework
1. Simplify. State any restrictions on the variables.
%$2: 7 5 8&
a. b. & c.
! 5+ 8
! %
,) "* % $7 25 8$!58
d. )
e. f. )!5$8*
"*) $"* ! $"

) $ *) $"* , $2 $ ' #'


g. )
h. i.
!*) $ * !, $2# % '$%'

2. Simplify. State any restrictions on the variables.


2 &$ ! !:),$:* ! #
a. b. c.
,: ):$,* $" $ ,
5 2 $, % : $ : !
d. e. f.
5 "5$2 " $ # : & $%: 7:

3. Simplify. State any restrictions on the variables.


!#: & ,: $,: $7 !#
a. ,:
b. %$
,)2 $!* ! $ '$'
c. ;)! $ *
d. $! ' '

Answers
1.
" 8
a. 3 − 2< b. !
,- ≠ 0 c. "5
, @, A ≠ 0
, " !58
d. ) $"*
, - ≠ ±3 e. 3, - ≠ ! f. , 2@ ≠ A
!5$8

) $"* 2 $,'
g. ) !*
, - ≠ −2,1 h. ,- ≠ , i. , - ≠ 29, −39
, $2 "'

2.
! !
a. 2- ! − - + 3, - ≠ 0 b. − ,: , < ≠ 0,5 c. , - ≠ −5
$"
$" :$2
d. , @ ≠ −4,1 e. , - ≠ 2, −5 f. , < ≠ 0,3
5$ , :):$"*

3.
$,
a. 4< ! + 3< − 1, < ≠ 0 b. − , - ≠ ±4
2
, ! '
c. 2)! $ *
,- ≠ ! d. $'
,- ≠ 9

Page 3 of 3

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