10-1 Simplifying Rational Expressions

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10-1 Simplifying Rational Expressions

• 1/21/09

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Rational Expression

• A quotient of two polynomials

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Insanely important

• The denominator can NEVER be equal to ____!!!

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Simplest form (Read only)

• A rational expression is in simplest form when
  the numerator and denominator have no common
  factors other than 1 and -1

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Steps

• Factor numerator and denominator completely
• Cancel top/bottom pairs
• Determine excluded values if any

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Simplify

• 14x
• 42x2
• 9xy3z2
• 6x3z

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Simplify

• 5x 10
• 5x
• 2x2 x
• x2 2x

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Harder ones

• x2 y2
• x y

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Harder still (but not really)

• b2 10b 21
• b2 11b 28