MULTIPLYING RATIONAL EXPRESSIONS

To Multiply Two Fractions

  ·
·  , 0 and 0
  ·

 
Example 1 Multiply:

 
Solution: First divide out any common factors to both a numerator and a
denominator; then multiply.
1
3 2 1 · 2 2
·  
5 9 5·3 15
3
The same principles apply when multiplying rational expressions containing variables.
Before multiplying, you should first divide out any common factors to both a numerator and a
denominator.

To Multiply Rational Expressions

1. Factor all numerators and denominators completely.
2. Divide out common factors.
3. Multiply numerators together and multiply denominators together.
 

Example 2 Multiply: ·


1  2 (
Solution: 3  4(  3  4( 
·  ·  2( 
2( 3 2( 3
1 1 1 1

Example 3 Multiply:   5 ·  
Solution: 7 5 7 7
  5 ·   · 
  5  1     5  
 
Example 4 Multiply: ·
  
Solution:  * 2 1 1
3  * 2 * 2 3 *2
·   · 
6   4 6   * 2  2 2  2
2 

Note: When multiplying rational expressions, if only the signs differ in a numerator and a
denominator (for instance, the numerator is x-7 & the denominator is 7-x), factor out 1 from either
the numerator or denominator; then divide out the common factor.
 (  ( (
·  · 
   1   
 
Example 5 Multiply: ·
 
Solution: 3 * 2 4  8 3 * 2 41  2 3 * 2 412  1 4
·  ·  ·   4
2  1 3 * 2 2  1 3 * 2 2  1 3 * 2 1
   
Example 6 Multiply: ·  
 
2  * 7  15 2  *   1 2  3 * 5 2  1 * 1 2  3 * 5 2  1 * 1
·  ·  · 1
4   8 * 3   * 6 * 5 2  32  1  * 5 * 1 2  32  1  * 5 * 1
 DIVIDING RATIONAL EXPRESSIONS

To Divide Two Fractions

    ·
.  ·  ,   0,   0, and   0
    ·

Example 1 Divide.
   
a. 
. b. .
 

Solution:
1 2
    ·      · 
a. .  ·   b. .  ·  
    ·      · 
1 1

To Divide Rational Expressions

Invert the divisor (the second fraction) and multiply.

 /
Example 2 Divide: .
/ 
 /   
Solution: .  · / 
/  / / 0
  
Example 3 Divide: 
. 

Solution:    9   3    9  * 4  * 3  3  * 4
.  ·  · *3
*4 *4 *4 3 *4 3
 
Example 4 Divide: 
.  * 3

Solution:  * 3 means 
. Invert the divisor and multiply as shown below.

  * 8 * 15 
  * 8 * 15 1  * 5 * 3 1 *5
.  * 3  ·  ·  
     * 3     * 3 * 3   * 3

   

Example 5 Divide: .
  

Solution:

12   22 * 8 3  * 2  8 12   22 * 8 2  * 4 26   11 * 4 2 * 2 22  13  4 2 * 2 42  1
.  ·   ·  · 
3 2  * 4 3 3 * 2  8 3  * 23  4 3  * 23  4 3
 MULTIPLYING & DIVIDING RATIONAL EXPRESSIONS PRACTICE

Multiply and simplify.





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Divide and simplify.

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PRACTICE ANSWERS

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