1
Week 4
1. Define rational algebraic expressions;
2. Perform operations on rational algebraic expressions;
Concept
A fraction is a ratio or quotient of two numbers or two algebraic expressions.
Multiplying or dividing both the numerator and denominator with the same non-
zero number will not change the value of the fraction. The result is an equivalent
fraction. Equivalent fractions are two or more fractions with the same simplest form or
lowest term.
A fraction is in its lowest term or simplest form if there is no common non-zero
number that can divide both the numerator and the denominator except 1.
Steps in reducing fractions to its lowest term:
1. Find the greatest common factor (GCF) that can divide both the numerator
and denominator;
2. Divide both the numerator and denominator by the GCF.
Illustration
Lowest Term/
Fraction Equivalent Fractions Common Factor GCF
Simplest Form
3 3 3
1 1
4 4 4
6 2 2
3 3
9 3 3
6
2
12 12 1
12
24 4 2
3
8
Math 101 • College and Advanced Algebra [Type here] First semester, AY 2025-2026
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Lowest Term/
Fraction Equivalent Fractions Common Factor GCF
Simplest Form
3
4
12 6 1
12
24 1 2
12
2
A rational expression is any expression which can be written in the form a/b,
where a and b are polynomials and b is a non-zero polynomial.
A rational expression is in its simplest form if there is no common non-zero number
or algebraic expression that can divide both the numerator and denominator other than 1.
Rational Expressions can be can be reduced to its simplest form, following the
steps:
1. Factor both the numerator and denominator;
2. Group Common Factors together, if there are any;
3. Divide the numerator and denominator by the common factor.
Illustration
Rational Rational Expression in Lowest Term/
GCF Division Process
Expression Factored Form Simplest Form
8𝑥 4 4 2𝑥 4 4 2𝑥 4 2
4𝑥 4
12𝑥 5 4 3𝑥 4 𝑥 4 3𝑥 4 𝑥 3𝑥
𝑦 ! − 4𝑦 + 4 (𝑦 − 2)(𝑦 − 2) (𝑦 − 2)(𝑦 − 2) (𝑦 − 2)
(𝑦 − 2)
𝑦! − 4 (𝑦 − 2)(𝑦 + 2) (𝑦 − 2)(𝑦 + 2) (𝑦 + 2)
a-b
4 (b - a)
-1 (a - b) −1(- a + b)
a-b -1
4 (b - a) (b – a) 4 (b - a)
4b - 4a 4
(- a + b)
4 (b - a)
OPERATIONS ON RATIONAL AGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS
Math 101 • College and Advanced Algebra [Type here] First semester, AY 2025-2026
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Sums and Differences of Rational Algebraic Expressions
The sum of the rational expressions with the same denominator is defined by the
following equation,
a b a+b
+ =
c c c
and their deference is
a b a-b
- =
c c c
The sum of two rational expressions having different denominators is defined by
a b ad + bc
+ =
c d cd
and their difference by
a b ad - bc
- =
c d cd
The steps in adding and subtracting rational expressions:
(with the same denominators)
1. Write the numerators over the common denominator;
2. Perform indicated operations in the numerator;
3. Simplify the answer.
(with different denominators)
1. Find the least common denominator or LCD (based on the factors);
2. Express each fraction as an equivalent fraction using the LCD;
3. Write the numerators over the LCD;
4. Perform indicated operations; and
5. Simplify (if possible) by factoring the numerator and denominator.
The LCD of the given rational expressions is the polynomial of smallest degree that
has each of the given denominators as a factor. To determine the LCD, completely factor
the given denominators using the applicable factoring techniques. The product of the
different prime factors (with the highest power) in any of the denominators is the LCD of
the given denominators.
Illustration
2𝒙2 + 3𝒙 - 7 + 𝒙2 + 𝒙 - 8
1) Perform with the same denominator
2𝒙+1 2𝒙+1
(2𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 - 7) + (𝑥 2 +𝑥 - 8) write the numerator over the
2𝑥+1 common denominator
3𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 - 15 perform indicated operations
2𝑥+1 on the numerator
(𝒙 + 3) (3𝒙 - 5)
sum
2𝒙+1
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3𝒙 𝒙−4
2) Subtract by with the same denominator
𝒙+2 𝒙+2
3𝑥 − ( 𝑥 − 4) write the numerators over the
𝑥+2 common denominator
3𝑥 − 𝑥 + 4 perform indicated operations
𝑥+2 on the numerator
2𝑥 + 4
𝑥+2
simplify
2(𝑥 + 2)
𝑥+2
2 difference
3) Subtract (𝒙 + 2) by 𝒙+1
with the different denominators
𝒙-4 𝒙+4
(𝑥 - 4) (𝑥 + 4) LCD
(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 + 4) (𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 - 4) express each fraction as an
− equivalent fraction using the
(𝑥 - 4) (𝑥 + 4) (𝑥 - 4) (𝑥 + 4) LCD
(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 + 4) - (𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 - 4) write the numerators over the
(𝑥 - 4) (𝑥 + 4) LCD
(𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 + 8) - (𝑥 2 - 3𝑥 − 4)
perform indicated operations
(𝑥 − 4)(𝑥 + 4)
𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 + 8 - 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 4
(𝑥 - 4) (𝑥 + 4)
9𝑥 + 12
simplify
(𝑥 - 4) (𝑥 + 4)
(3) (3𝒙 + 4)
sum
(𝒙 - 4) (𝒙 + 4)
𝒙 6
4) Perform − with the different denominators
𝒙#2 4𝒙
(𝑥 + 2) (4𝑥) LCD
express each fraction as an
𝑥 (4𝑥) 6(𝑥 + 2)
− equivalent fraction using the
𝑥 + 2 4𝑥 LCD
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𝑥 (4𝑥) − 6(𝑥 + 2) write the numerators over the
(𝑥 + 2) (4𝑥) LCD
4𝑥 2 − 6(𝑥 + 2)
perform indicated operations
(𝑥 + 2) (4𝑥)
4𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 − 12
(𝑥 + 2) (4𝑥)
2 (𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 6)
factor and simplify
2 (𝑥 + 2) (2𝑥)
(𝒙2 − 3𝒙 − 6)
difference
(𝒙 + 2) (2𝒙)
𝟓 𝟒
5) Perform addition + with the different denominators
𝒙𝟐 %𝟒 𝒙𝟐 + 4𝒙 # 𝟒
find the LCD
2
x – 4 = (x + 2)(x – 2) express each as a
x2 + 4x + 4 = (x + 2)2 or (x + 2)(x + 2) product of prime factors
x2 – 4 = (x + 2) (x – 2) get the common
x 4x + 4 = (x + 2)2
2+
. factors (with highest
2
LCD = (x + 2) (x – 2) exponent)
5 4 rewrite the given expressions
+
(𝒙 + 𝟐)(𝒙 − 𝟐) (𝒙 + 𝟐)𝟐 using the factored denominator
express each fraction as an
5(𝒙 + 𝟐) 4 (𝒙 − 𝟐)
+ equivalent fraction using the
(𝒙 + 𝟐)𝟐 (𝒙 − 𝟐) (𝒙 + 𝟐)𝟐 (𝒙 − 𝟐) LCD
5(𝒙 + 𝟐) + 4 (𝒙 − 𝟐) write the numerators over the
(𝒙 + 𝟐)𝟐 (𝒙 − 𝟐) LCD
5𝑥 + 10 + 4𝑥 − 8 perform distribution property
(𝒙 + 𝟐)𝟐 (𝒙 − 𝟐) and simplify
9𝑥 + 2
sum
(𝒙 + 𝟐)𝟐 (𝒙 − 𝟐)
Products of Rational Algebraic Expressions
If a/b and c/d are rational expressions, where b and d are non-zero expressions,
then
a c ac
=
b d bd
The following are the steps finding the product of rational expressions:
1. Write as one rational expression;
2. Factor all numerators and denominators completely;
Math 101 • College and Advanced Algebra [Type here] First semester, AY 2025-2026
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3. Divide both numerator and denominator by the common factors;
4. Multiply the remaining factors in the numerator and remaining factors in the
denominator.
Illustration
2𝒙2 + 5 𝒙3 - 𝒙 𝟐
1) Perform
𝒙𝟐 - 𝒙 8𝒙 - 4
(2𝑥 2 + 5)(𝑥 3 - 𝑥 ! )
write as one rational
(𝑥 ! - 𝑥)(8𝑥 - 4) expression
(2𝑥 2 + 5)(𝑥 2 )(𝑥 − 1) factor the numerator and
𝑥 (𝑥 - 1)4 (2𝑥-1) the denominator
divide both numerator
𝒙 and denominator by the
(2𝑥 2 + 5)𝑥 2 (𝑥 − 1) common factors / cancel
𝑥(𝑥 - 1) 4 (2𝑥 - 1) out common terms in the
numerator and
denominator
(2𝒙2 + 5) 𝒙
product
4 (2𝒙 - 1)
4𝒙3 12
2) Multiply
3𝒙 𝒙
4𝑥3 12 write as one rational
3𝑥 𝑥 expression
4(4)(3𝑥 # ) factor the numerator and the
3𝑥 ! denominator
divide both numerator and
2
16(3𝑥 )𝑥 denominator by the common
factors / cancel out common
3𝑥 2 terms in the numerator and
denominator
16 𝒙 product
Quotient of Rational Algebraic Expressions
a c
If and are rational expressions, where b, c and d are non-zero expressions,
b d
a c a d
then ÷ =
b d b c
The following are the steps finding the quotient of rational expressions:
1. Factor all numerators and denominators completely;
Math 101 • College and Advanced Algebra [Type here] First semester, AY 2025-2026
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2. Multiply the dividend (usually first term) by the reciprocal of the divisor (usually
the second term);
3. Divide both numerator and denominator by the common factors;
4. Multiply the remaining factors in the numerator and remaining factors in the
denominator.
Illustration
2y + 8 ÷ 𝒚+4
1) Perform 3 9
2y + 8 9 multiply the dividend by the
3 𝑦+4 reciprocal of the divisor
2 (y + 4) 3 (3) factor the numerator and the
3 𝑦+4 denominator
divide both numerator and
2 (y + 4) 3 (3) denominator by the common
factors/ cancel out common
3 𝑦+4 terms in the numerator and
denominator
(2) 3
simplify
1
6 quotient
4𝒙 - 8 ÷ 𝒙−2
2) Divide.
5 10
4𝒙 - 8 10 multiply the dividend by the
5 𝒙−2 reciprocal of the divisor
4(x - 2) 2(5) factor the numerator and the
denominator
5 (x - 2)
divide both numerator and
4(x - 2) 2(5) denominator by the
common factors/ cancel out
5 (x - 2) common terms in the
numerator and denominator
4(2) = 8 quotient
Math 101 • College and Advanced Algebra [Type here] First semester, AY 2025-2026
Learning Sheets Ma. Quimar Q. Gahit - Instructor