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Much of our work with algebraic fractions will be similar to your work in arithmetic. For
instance, in algebra, as in arithmetic, many fractions name the same number. You will
remember from Chapter 0 that
1 12 2
4 42 8
or
1 13 3
4 43 12
1 2 3
So , , and all name the same number. They are called equivalent fractions. These
4 8 12
examples illustrate what is called the Fundamental Principle of Fractions. In algebra it
becomes
P PR
when Q 0 and R 0
Q QR
This principle allows us to multiply or divide the numerator and denominator of a fraction
by the same nonzero polynomial. The result will be an expression that is equivalent to the
original one.
Our objective in this section is to simplify algebraic fractions by using the fundamental
principle. In algebra, as in arithmetic, to write a fraction in simplest form, you divide the
numerator and denominator of the fraction by their greatest common factor (GCF). The
numerator and denominator of the resulting fraction will have no common factors other
than 1, and the fraction is then in simplest form. The following rule summarizes this
© 2001 McGraw-Hill Companies
procedure.
395
396 CHAPTER 5 ALGEBRAIC FRACTIONS
Example 1
Writing Fractions in Simplest Form
18
(a) Write in simplest form.
30
1 1
NOTE This is the same as 18 233 2 3 3 3
dividing both the numerator Divide by the GCF. The slash
30 235 2 3 5 5 lines indicate that we have
18
and denominator of by 6. 1 1 divided the numerator and
30 3 denominator by 2 and by 3.
4x
(b) Write in simplest form.
6x
1 1
4x3 2 2 x x x 2x2
6x 2 3 x 3
1 1
3 2
15x y
(c) Write in simplest form.
20xy4
1 1 1 1
15x3y2 3 5 x x x y y 3x2
20xy4 2 2 5 x y y y y 4y2
1 1 1 1
3a2b
(d) Write in simplest form.
9a3b2
1 1 1 1
3a2b 3 a a b 1
9a3b2 3 3 a a a b b 3ab
1 1 1 1
5 4
10a b
(e) Write in simplest form.
2a2b3
1 1 1 1 1 1
10a5b4 5 2 a a a a a b b b b 5a3b
2 3 5a3b
2a b 2 a a b b b 1
1 1 1 1 1 1
CHECK YOURSELF 1
Write each fraction in simplest form.
NOTE Most of the methods of
this chapter build on our
factoring work of the last 30 5x4 12xy4 5m2n 12a4b6
© 2001 McGraw-Hill Companies
Example 2
Writing Fractions in Simplest Form
3(x 1)
x3
1
2x2 x 6 (x 2)(2x 3)
(c)
2x x 3
2
(x 1)(2x 3)
1
x2
x1
x2
C A U TI O N Be Careful! The expression is already in simplest form. Students are often tempted
x1
Pick any value, other than 0, for to divide as follows:
x and substitute. You will
quickly see that x 2 2
is not equal to
x2 2 x 1 1
Z
x1 1
The x’s are terms in the numerator and denominator. They cannot be divided out. Only
factors can be divided. The fraction
x2
x1
is in its simplest form.
CHECK YOURSELF 2
Write each fraction in simplest form.
© 2001 McGraw-Hill Companies
5x 15 a2 5a 6
(a) (b)
x2 9 3a2 6a
3x2 14x 5 5p 15
(c) (d)
3x2 2x 1 p2 4
398 CHAPTER 5 ALGEBRAIC FRACTIONS
Remember the rules for signs in division. The quotient of a positive number and a
negative number is always negative. Thus there are three equivalent ways to write such a
quotient. For instance,
2 2 2
3 3 3
2
NOTE , with the negative The quotient of two positive numbers or two negative numbers is always positive. For
3
sign in the numerator, is the example,
most common way to write the
quotient. 2 2
3 3
Example 3
Writing Fractions in Simplest Form
1 1
6x2 2 3 x x 2x 2x
NOTE In part (a), the final (a)
quotient is written in the most 3xy (1) 3 x y y y
1 1
common way with the minus
sign in the numerator.
1 1 1
5a2b (1) 5 a a b a2
(b)
10b2 (1) 2 5 b b 2b
1 1 1
CHECK YOURSELF 3
Write each fraction in simplest form.
8x3y 16a4b2
(a) (b)
4xy2 12a2b5
Example 4
Writing Fractions in Simplest Form
© 2001 McGraw-Hill Companies
6x2 2x 2x(3x 1) 3x 1
(a)
2x2 12x 2x(x 6) x6
x2 4 (x 2)(x 2) x2
(b)
x2 6x 8 (x 2)(x 4) x4
SIMPLIFYING ALGEBRAIC FRACTIONS SECTION 5.1 399
CHECK YOURSELF 4
Simplify each fraction.
3x3 6x2 x2 9
(a) (b)
9x4 3x2 x2 12x 27
Reducing certain algebraic fractions will be easier with the following result. First, verify
for yourself that
5 8 (8 5)
a b (b a)
ab (b a)
ba ba
Example 5
Writing Fractions in Simplest Form
2x 4 2(x 2)
(a) This is equal
4 x2 (2 x)(2 x) to 1.
2(1) 2
2x 2x
© 2001 McGraw-Hill Companies
9 x2 (3 x)(3 x)
(b) This is equal
x 2x 15
2
(x 5)(x 3) to 1.
(3 x)(1)
x5
x 3
x5
400 CHAPTER 5 ALGEBRAIC FRACTIONS
CHECK YOURSELF 5
Write each fraction in simplest form.
3x 9 x2 6x 27
(a) (b)
9 x2 81 x2
ANSWERS
16 56
1. 2.
24 64
1.
80 18 2.
3. 4.
180 30
3.
4x5 10x2 4.
5. 6.
6x2 15x4
5.
9x3 25w6 6.
7. 8.
27x6 20w2
7.
8.
10a2b5 18x4y3
9. 10.
25ab2 24x2y3
9.
10.
42x3y 18pq
11. 12.
14xy3 45p2q2 11.
12.
2 2 2
2xyw 3c d
13. 14.
6x2y3w3 6bc3d 3 13.
14.
5 5 6 3
10x y 3bc d
15. 16. 15.
2x3y4 bc3d
16.
4m3n 15x3y3
© 2001 McGraw-Hill Companies
17.
17. 18.
6mn2 20xy4
18.
401
ANSWERS
23.
3x 18 4x 28
23. 24.
5x 30 5x 35
24.
25.
3x 6 x2 25
25. 26.
5x 15 3x 15
26.
27.
6a 24 5x 5
27. 28.
28. a2 16 x2 4
29.
x2 3x 2 4w2 20w
29. 30.
30. 5x 10 w 2w 15
2
31.
x2 6x 16 y2 25
32. 31. 32.
x2 64 y2 y 20
33.
34.
2m2 3m 5 6x2 x 2
33. 34.
2m2 11m 15 3x2 5x 2
35.
37.
38. 2x 10 3a 12
37. 38.
25 x2 16 a2
39.
© 2001 McGraw-Hill Companies
40.
25 a2 2x2 7x 3
39. 40.
a2 a 30 9 x2
41.
42.
x2 xy 6y2 16z2 w2
41. 42.
4y2 x2 2w 5wz 12z2
2
402
ANSWERS
43.
x2 4x 4 4x2 12x 9
43. 44.
x2 2x 3 44.
xy 2y 4x 8 ab 3a 5b 15
45. 46. 45.
2y 6 xy 3x 15 3a2 5b a2b
46.
y7 5y
47. 48.
7y y5 47.
49. The area of the rectangle is represented by 6x2 19x 10. What is the length? 48.
49.
50.
3x 2
51.
50. The volume of the box is represented by (x2 5x 6)(x 5). Find the polynomial
that represents the area of the bottom of the box. 52.
x2
53.
54.
51. To work with algebraic fractions correctly, it is important to understand the difference
55.
between a factor and a term of an expression. In your own words, write difinitions for
both, explaining the difference between the two.
52. Give some examples of terms and factors in algebraic fractions, and explain how both
are affected when a fraction is reduced.
x2 9
4x 12
Note that your reduced fraction is equivalent to the given fraction. Are there other
algebraic fractions equivalent to this one? Write another algebraic fraction that you
© 2001 McGraw-Hill Companies
think is equivalent to this one. Exchange papers with another student. Do you agree
that their fraction is equivalent to yours? Why or why not?
42
54. Explain the reasoning involved in each step of reducing the fraction .
56
3 27
55. Describe why and are equivalent fractions.
5 45
403
ANSWERS
a.
Getting Ready for Section 5.2 [Section 0.2]
b.
Perform the indicated operations.
3 4 5 4
c. (a) (b)
10 10 8 8
5 1 7 3
d. (c) (d)
12 12 16 16
7 9 13 5
e. (e) (f)
20 20 8 8
f. 11 2 5 7
(g) (h)
6 6 9 9
g.
Answers
h.
2 4 2x3 1 2ab3 3x2 1
1. 3. 5. 7.
3 9. 11. 2 13.
3 9 3 3x 5 y 3xy2w
2m2 b2 r 3 3(x 2)
15. 5x2y 17. 19. 21. 23. 25.
3n 2a 2
2st2
5 5(x 3)
6 x1 x2 m1 p 3q
27. 29. 31. 33. 35.
a4 5 x8 m3 p 5q
2 a 5 x 3y (y 4)
37. 39. 41. 43. x 2 45.
x5 a6 2y x y3
7 1 1 5 4 3 4
a. b. c. d. e. f. 1 g. h.
10 8 3 8 5 2 3
404