GENERAL MATHEMATICS

WEEK 3: Rational
Set A: #1 3 2
− =4
2 𝑥+1
LCD: 2(x+1)
Multiply both sides by the LCD.
3 2
2 𝑥+1 − = 4 2(𝑥 + 1)
2 𝑥+1
Simplify:
3 𝑥+1 −2 2 =4 2 𝑥+1
3𝑥 + 3 − 4 = 8 𝑥 + 1
3𝑥 − 1 = 8𝑥 + 8
Combining like terms on the same side
3 𝑥+1 −2 2 =4 2 𝑥+1
3𝑥 + 3 − 4 = 8 𝑥 + 1
3𝑥 − 1 = 8𝑥 + 8
3𝑥 − 8𝑥 = 8 + 1
−5𝑥 = 9
−5𝑥 9
=
−5 −5
9
𝑥=−
5
Do the checking
9
𝑥=−
5
3 2
− =4
2 −9 + 1
5
3 2
− =4
2 −9 + 5
5
3 2
− =4
2 −4
5
3 2 5
− (− ) = 4
2 1 4
Do the checking
9
𝑥=−
5
3 10
+ =4
2 4
6 + 10
=4
4
16
=4
4
4=4
9
Therefore, 𝑥 = − is the solution of the given
5
rational equation.
Set B: #1
3𝑥 + 4 1
− =3
𝑥−2 2
LCD: 2 (𝑥 − 2)
Multiply both sides by the LCD.
3𝑥 + 4 1
2 (𝑥 − 2) − = 3 2 (𝑥 − 2)
𝑥−2 2
Simplify:
2 3𝑥 + 4 − (𝑥 − 2) = 3(2 (𝑥 − 2))
6𝑥 + 8 − 𝑥 + 2 = 6𝑥 − 12
Combining like terms
6𝑥 − 6𝑥 − 𝑥 = −12 − 8 − 2
−𝑥 = −22
𝑥 = 22
Do the checking
𝑥 = 22

3𝑥 + 4 1
− =3
𝑥−2 2
3(22) + 4 1
− =3
22 − 2 2
66 + 4 1
− =3
20 2
Do the checking
𝑥 = 22

70 1
− =3
20 2
1 1
3 − =3
2 2
3=3
Therefore, 𝑥 = 22 is the solution of the given
rational equation.
Set A: #2 9 4
=
3𝑥 𝑥 + 2
LCD: 3𝑥(𝑥 + 2)
Multiply both sides by the LCD.
9 4
3𝑥(𝑥 + 2) = 3𝑥(𝑥 + 2)
3𝑥 𝑥 + 2
Simplify:
9 𝑥 + 2 = 4(3𝑥)
9𝑥 + 18 = 12𝑥
Combining like terms
9𝑥 − 12𝑥 = −18
−3𝑥 = −18
𝑥=6
Do the checking
𝑥=6
9 4
=
3𝑥 𝑥 + 2
9 4
=
3(6) 6 + 2
9 4
=
18 8
1 1
=
2 2
Therefore, 𝑥 = 6 is the solution of the given
rational equation.
Set B: #2 𝑥+2 6
=
4 8
LCD: 8
Multiply both sides by the LCD.
𝑥+2 6
(8) = (8)
4 8
Simplify:
2 𝑥+2 =6
2𝑥 + 4 = 6
Combining like terms
2𝑥 = 6 − 4
2𝑥 = 2
𝑥=1
Do the checking
𝑥=1
𝑥+2 6 6
= Recall that can
4 8 8
1+2 6 be reduce by
= dividing 2 to the
4 8
3 6 numerator and
= denominator.
4 8 6 ÷2 3
3 3 ÷2 =
8 4
=
4 4
Therefore, 𝑥 = 1 is the solution of the given
rational equation.
Set A: #3 2 1 𝑥−1
+ =
𝑥 − 3 𝑥 𝑥(𝑥 − 3)
LCD: 𝑥(𝑥 − 3)
Multiply both sides by the LCD.
2 1 𝑥−1
𝑥 𝑥−3 + = 𝑥(𝑥 − 3)
𝑥−3 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥−3
Simplify:
2 𝑥 + 𝑥−3 =𝑥−1
2𝑥 + 𝑥 − 3 = 𝑥 − 1
Combining like terms
3𝑥 − 𝑥 = −1 + 3
2𝑥 = 2
𝑥=1
Do the checking
𝑥=1
2 1 𝑥−1
+ =
𝑥 − 3 𝑥 𝑥(𝑥 − 3)
2 1 1−1
+ =
1 − 3 1 1(1 − 3)
2 0
+1=
−2 2
−1 + 1 = 0
0=0
Therefore, 𝑥 = 1 is the solution of the given
rational equation.
Set B: #3 2𝑥 + 4 3
+ =1
3𝑥 − 2 2
LCD: 2(3𝑥 − 2)
Multiply both sides by the LCD.
2𝑥 + 4 3
2(3𝑥 − 2) + = 1 2(3𝑥 − 2)
3𝑥 − 2 2
Simplify:
2 2𝑥 + 4 + 3 3𝑥 − 2 = 1(2 3𝑥 − 2 )
4𝑥 + 8 + 9𝑥 − 6 = 6𝑥 − 4
Combining like terms
4𝑥 + 9𝑥 − 6𝑥 = −4 − 8 + 6
7𝑥 = −6
6
𝑥 =−
7
Do the checking
6
𝑥= −
7
2𝑥 + 4 3
+ =1
3𝑥 − 2 2
6
2(− 7) + 4 3
+ =1
6
3(− ) − 2 2
7
12
− 7 +4 3
+ =1
18
− −2 2
7
16
7 +3=1
−32 2
7
Do the checking
16 7 3
( ∗ − ) + =1
7 32 2
−16 3
+ =1
32 2
1 3
− + =1
2 2
2
=1
2
1=1
6
Therefore, 𝑥 = − is the solution of the given
7
rational equation.