Fractions and Operations

COMALGE

Rational Expressions

An algebraic fraction or fractional expression is the indicated quotient of two algebraic expressions. Examples of fractional expressions are: xy + 2x y 2 + x (1) 2 (2) 2 a b(a + 1)(b 2) x +3
x

16ab + 18a b (3) 2ab

(4)

x2 + 1 x

6u2 (5) 5

In any fractional expression, every factor in the denominator is assumed to be dierent from 0. Thus in (1), a = 0, b = 0, a = 1, and b = 2. In (2), x can have any real value. In (3), a = 0, and b = 0. In (4), x > 0. Let us recall that if a and b are both not equal to 0, then ab = 0 and hence it has a multiplicative inverse. In fact, (ab)1 = b1a1 because (ab)(b1a1) = a(bb1)a1 =

a 1 a1 = aa1 = 1. A rational expression is a fractional expression where the numerator and the denominator are both polynomials. In the ve examples above, (1), (3), and (5) are rational expressions while (2) and (4) are not.
1.1

Cancellation

In a fractional expression, a factor common to the numerator and denominator may be canceled. Thus, ak ak a = = bk bk b To see why we can cancel a common factor, we can use the denition of division: ak a 1 1 1 1 1 1 = (ak )(bk ) = (ak )(k b ) = akk b = ab = bk b a+k a Note that only a common factor can be canceled. So, = . b+k b
.. ... ... .. . ... .. .. ... ... .. . ... ..

A rational expression is said to be in its simplest form if there is no common factor (except 1) between its numerator and denominator. Thus, to simplify a rational expression, we factor both the numerator and denominator and then cancel factors common to the numerator and the denominator.
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ab2c3 As an example, let us simplify 2 3 . Here is the solution: cb a ab2c3 ab2c3 = 2 3 cb a cb2a3 b2 c 3 = cb2a2 c3 = 2 ca c2 = 2 a Here is another example: (x + 2)(x 2) x2 4 = x2 + x 6 (x 2)(x + 3) (x + 2)(x 2) = (x 2)(x + 3) x+2 = x+3 x+2 Can we cancel x in the rational expression ? Why? x+3
... .... ... ... . . . .. .... .... ... ... . . ... .... .... .... ... .... . . . . .... .... .. .... ... ... . . ... ... ... .... .... ... .... . . .... .... ... ... ... ... ..... ............ ............ ............ . . . . . . . . . . . .... ............ ............ ............ ..... ............ ............ ............ ............ . . . . . . . . . . . .... ............ ............

Exercises. (Taken from the book) Simplify each of the following rational expressions.
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1. 2. 3. 4.
1.2

26xy 2 65y x2 y 2 x2 + xy (3ab3b)2 6a2(b2)2 6x2 + x 15 8x2 10x 3

Multiplication/Division

3x x 2 5. x2 9 ax 3x + 2ay 6y 6. 2ax 6x + ay 3y 2x 3 + 2 y 3 7. 2x2 + 6x + 2xy + 6y x3 + 64 8. 3x2 + 11x 4

To multiply two fractions, we multiply their numerators, and then divide by the product of the denominators. Thus, a c ac = b d bd This rule can be explained as follows: a c ac 1 1 1 1 1 = (ab )(cd ) = (ac)(d b ) = (ac)(bd) = b d bd Let us note that if a = 0, b = 0, then a b =1 b a
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Therefore, a b By denition of division, a c a c 1 a d ad = = = b d b d b c bc Exercises (From the book) Perform the indicated operations and simplify. 5xy 18x2y 1. 2 8y 15 6xy 30x3y 2. 4 9y 48x 10n2 + 21n 10 2n2 + 6n 56 4. 2 2 5n + 33n 14 2n 3n 20
1

b a

9a2c 21ab 5. 12bc2 145c3 x2 4xy + 4y 2 4x2 3xy 10y 2 2a2 + 6 a3 a2 6. 3. 2 2 7xy 20x2y + 25xy 2 a a 8a 4 a2 4ab + 4b2 3a2 + 5ab 2b2 a2 4b2 7. 2 2 2 6a 4ab 6a + ab b 8a + 4 b
1.3

Addition/Subtraction

a b a+b a b ab . We also have = . In other words, we can Recall the rule + = c c c c c c combine two fractions with the same denominator by combining (addition or subtraction)
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their numerators and then dividing by their common denominator. Here is an example. x 1 x+1 + = x2 1 x2 1 x2 1 (x + 1) = (x + 1)(x 1) (x + 1) = (x + 1)(x 1) 1 = x1 Here is another example. 2 6 8 = 3n 3n 3n 23 = 3n 2 = n If we need to combine fractions with dierent denominators, we use the fact that ak a = . By properly choosing k we can convert our fractions to equivalent fractions b bk with the same denominators. 3 5 3 33 9 For example, to add and , we rewrite the two fractions as = = , and 4 6 4 43 12
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5 5 2 10 = = . Therefore, 6 6 2 12 3 5 33 52 + = + 4 6 43 62 9 10 = + 12 12 9 + 10 = 12 19 = 12 The number 12 used here is called the least common denominator (LCD) of the two fractions. To nd the least common denominator, we write the numbers 4 and 6 in factored forms: 4 = 22, and 6 = 2 3 The dierent primes occurring in the two factorizations are 2 and 3. The largest exponent of 2 is 2 and the largest exponent of 3 is 1. Therefore the LCD is 2231 = 12. 3n 1 n + 2 . Perform the indicated operation and simplify the result: 9 12 We write the denominators in factored form as 9 = 32 and 12 = 22 3. The highest

power of 2 is 2 and the highest power of 3 is 2 also. Therefore, the LCD is 22 32. 3n 1 n + 2 3 n 1 n + 2 = + 2 9 12 32 2 3 22(3n 1) 3(n + 2) = 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 3 4(3n 1) 3(n + 2) = 36 12n 4 3n 6 = 36 9n 10 = 36 Here is another example: Perform the indicated operation and simplify the result: b 1 . 2 24a 32b To get the LCD, we list the denominators in factored form: 24a2 = 23 3 a2 32b = 25 b The highest exponent of 2 is 5, the highest exponent of a is 2, and the highest exponent

of b is 1. Therefore, the LCD is 25a2b. We can now combine the two fractions as follows: b 1 b 1 = 24a2 32b 23 3 a2 25 b 22 b b 3 a2 1 = 2 3 2 2 b2 3a 3 a2 2 5 b (4b2 3a2) = 96a2b When the denominator is not a monomial, we perform factorization in order to get the LCD. Here is an illustration. Perform the indicated operation and simplify the result. 9 6 x 2 9 x 2 6x + 9

6 9 6 9 = x2 9 x2 6x + 9 (x + 3)(x 3) (x 3)2 6(x 3) 9(x + 3) 2 = (LCD is ( x + 3)( x 3) ) (x + 3)(x 3)2 (x + 3)(x 3)2 6(x 3) 9(x + 3) = (x + 3)(x 3)2 6x 18 9x 27 = (x + 3)(x 3)2 3x 45 = (x + 3)(x 3)2 3(x + 15) = (x + 3)(x 3)2 Exercises. (From the book) Perform the indicated operations and simplify the result. x2 x+3 x+1 + 5 6 15 3 2 4 2. 2 + n 5n 3 5 3 3. +2 6 x 4y 1. 4. 5. 3 5 x 1 2x 3

6 3 x2 + 8 x x 6a + 4 5 6. 2 a 1 a1

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3x + 2 2x 7. + 4x 12 6x 18 5 7 8. 2 n 4 3n 6 5 5x 30 x 9. 2 + x x + 6x x + 6
2

n n2 + 3n 1 10. 2 + 4 n +1 n 1 n1 7 2 11. + x1 1x 5 8 12. + 2x 1 1 2x

Complex Fractions

A simple fractional expression does not contain fractional expressions in the numerator as well as in the denominator. A complex fraction is a fractional expression containing rational expressions in the numerator and/or the denominator. To simplify a complex fraction means to transform it to a simple fraction in its simplest form. 2 7 + x y Example. Simplify the complex fraction 3 10 x y The main idea in the simplication is to combine the terms of the numerator into a single fraction, combine the terms of the denominator into a single fraction, and then perform the division, and simplify.
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2 7 2 y 7 x + + x y x y y x = 3 10 3 y 10 x x y x y y x 2y + 7 x xy = 3y 10x xy 2y + 7 x xy = xy 3y 10x 2y + 7 x = 3y 10x Here is a second example.

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1 1 3x +3 + x x x = 2 2 4y +4 + y y y 1 + 3x = x 2 + 4y y y 3x + 1 = x 4y + 2 (3x + 1)y = x(4y + 2) (3x + 1)y = 2x(2y + 1) Exercises. (From the book) Simplify the following complex fractions. 2 n4 1. 4 5+ n4 3 2 3 2. x 3 x + 3 5 2 x2 9 x 3
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3.

4.

5.

6.

1 5 + y2 x 3 4 x xy 2x x 2 2 3 x 3a 1 1 2 a 1 1 (x + h)3 x3 h

3 3 7. x + h x h 2 2 2 x + 2 h 1 2x 1 8. h x+y 9. 1 x + y 1 x2 2y 1 10. 3x1 + y 2

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