12.

7 Solve Rational Equations

Before You simplified rational expressions.

Now You will solve rational equations.
Why? So you can calculate a hockey statistic, as in Ex. 31.

Key Vocabulary A rational equation is an equation that contains one or more

• rational equation rational expressions. One method for solving a rational equation
• cross product, p. 168 is to use the cross products property. You can use this method
• extraneous when both sides of the equation are single rational expressions.
solution, p. 730
• least common
denominator EXAMPLE 1 Use the cross products property
(LCD) of rational
expressions, p. 813 6 x
Solve } 5} . Check your solution.
x14 2

6 x
REVIEW CROSS }5} Write original equation.
x14 2
PRODUCTS
12 5 x2 1 4x Cross products property
For help with using the
2
cross products property, 0 5 x 1 4x 2 12 Subtract 12 from each side.
see p. 168.
0 5 (x 1 6)(x 2 2) Factor polynomial.

x1650 or x 2 2 5 0 Zero-product property

x 5 26 or x52 Solve for x.

c The solutions are 26 and 2.

CHECK If x 5 26: If x 5 2:
26
}0} }0}
6 6 2
26 1 4 2 214 2

23 5 23 ✓ 151✓

✓ GUIDED PRACTICE for Example 1

Solve the equation. Check your solution.

5 y 2 z
1. } 5} 2. } 5}
y22 3 z15 7

USING THE LCD Given an equation with fractional coefficients such as

2 1 3
} x 1 } 5 }, you can multiply each side by the least common
3 6 4
denominator (LCD), 12. The equation becomes 8x 1 2 5 9, which you
may find easier to solve than the original equation. You can use this
method to solve a rational equation.

820 Chapter 12 Rational Equations and Functions

 EXAMPLE 2 Multiply by the LCD
x 1 2
Solve } 1} 5} . Check your solution.
x22 5 x22
x 1 2
}1}5} Write original equation.
x22 5 x22
x 1 2
} p 5(x 2 2) 1 } p 5(x 2 2) 5 } p 5(x 2 2) Multiply by LCD, 5(x 2 2).
x22 5 x22
x p 5(x 2 2) 5(x 2 2) 2 p 5(x 2 2) Multiply and divide out
}1}5 }
x22 5 x22 common factors.
5x 1 x 2 2 5 10 Simplify.

6x 2 2 5 10 Combine like terms.

6x 5 12 Add 2 to each side.

x52 Divide each side by 6.

AVOID ERRORS x 2
The solution appears to be 2, but the expressions } and } are
Be sure to identify the x22 x22
excluded values for the undefined when x 5 2. So, 2 is an extraneous solution.
rational expressions in
the original equation. c There is no solution.

EXAMPLE 3 Factor to find the LCD

3 8
Solve } 1 1 5 }} . Check your solution.
x27 2
x 2 9x 1 14
Solution
Write each denominator in factored form. The LCD is (x 2 2)(x 2 7).
3 8
} 1 1 5 }}
x27 (x 2 2)(x 2 7)

3 8
} p (x 2 2)(x 2 7) 1 1 p (x 2 2)(x 2 7) 5 }} p (x 2 2)(x 2 7)
x27 (x 2 2)(x 2 7)

3(x 2 2)(x 2 7) 8(x 2 2)(x 2 7)

}} 1 (x 2 2)(x 2 7) 5 }}
x27 (x 2 2)(x 2 7)

3(x 2 2) 1 (x 2 2 9x 1 14) 5 8
x 2 2 6x 1 8 5 8
x 2 2 6x 5 0
x(x 2 6) 5 0
x 5 0 or x 2 6 5 0
x 5 0 or x56
c The solutions are 0 and 6.
CHECK If x 5 0: If x 5 6:
8 8
} 1 1 0 }} 1 1 0 }}
3 3
}
027 2
0 2 9 p 0 1 14 2
627 2
6 2 9 p 6 1 14
4 4
}5} ✓ 22 5 22 ✓
7 7

12.7 Solve Rational Equations 821

 EXAMPLE 4 Solve a multi-step problem
PAINT MIXING You have an 8 pint mixture of paint that is made up of equal
amounts of yellow paint and blue paint. To create a certain shade of green,
you need a paint mixture that is 80% yellow. How many pints of yellow paint
do you need to add to the mixture?
ANOTHER WAY
Solution
For an alternative
method for solving Because the amount of yellow paint equals the amount of blue paint, the
the problem in mixture has 4 pints of yellow paint. Let p represent the number of pints of
Example 4, turn to yellow paint that you need to add.
page 827 for the
Problem Solving STEP 1 Write a verbal model. Then write an equation.
Workshop.
Pints of Pints of
yellow paint 1 yellow paint
in mixture needed
Desired
5 percent yellow
Pints of Pints of in mixture
paint in 1 yellow paint
mixture needed

41p
} 5 0.8
81p

STEP 2 Solve the equation .

41p
} 5 0.8 Write equation.
81p

4 1 p 5 0.8(8 1 p) Cross products property

4 1 p 5 6.4 1 0.8p Distributive property

0.2p 5 2.4 Rewrite equation.

p 5 12 Solve for p.

c You need to add 12 pints of yellow paint.

41p
CHECK } 5 0.8 Write original equation.
81p
4 1 12 0
} 0.8 Substitute 12 for p.
8 1 12

} 0 0.8
16
Simplify numerator and denominator.
20

0.8 5 0.8 ✓ Write fraction as decimal. Solution checks.

✓ GUIDED PRACTICE for Examples 2, 3, and 4

Solve the equation. Check your solution.

a 1 212 n 22
3. } 1} 5} 4. } 2 1 5 }}
a14 3 a14 n 2 11 2
n 2 5n 2 66

5. WHAT IF? In Example 4, suppose you need a paint mixture that is 75%
yellow. How many pints of yellow paint do you need to add to the mixture?

822 Chapter 12 Rational Equations and Functions

 12.7 EXERCISES HOMEWORK
KEY
5 WORKED-OUT SOLUTIONS
on p. WS1 for Exs. 7, 15, and 33
★ 5 STANDARDIZED TEST PRACTICE
Exs. 2, 24, 28, and 35

SKILL PRACTICE
3 7
1. VOCABULARY The equation } 5 }
x 1 4 is an example of a(n) ? .
x21
2. ★ WRITING Describe two methods for solving a rational equation. Which
method can you use to solve any kind of rational equation? Explain.

EXAMPLE 1 SOLVING EQUATIONS Solve the equation. Check your solution.

on p. 820 5 r 3 s 2 10
for Exs. 3–13, 24 r 5}
3. }
20
4. } 5}
s 2 13 10 t5}
5. }
t26
2 25 2m 3 n23 n11
6. } 5} 7. } 5} 8. } 5 }
c13 c21 m14 m21 n26 n15
w 15 2x x 2y 24
9. } 5} 10. } 5} 11. } 5 }
2 w11 42x x24 y23 y

ERROR ANALYSIS Describe and correct the error in solving the equation.
x11 3 11 3
12. } 5} 13. 4x
}5}
2x 1 2 2x 8x 2 1 5

x11 3 4x 1 1 3
}5} }5}
2x 1 2 2x 8x 2 1
5

(x 1 1)2x 5 3(2x 1 2) 5(4x 1 1) 5 3(8x 2 1)

2x 1 2x 5 6x 1 6
2
20x 1 1 5 24x 2 3
2x 2 4x 2 6 5 0
2
1 5 4x 2 3
2(x 2 3)(x 1 1) 5 0 4 5 4x
x2350 or x1150 15x
x53 or x 5 21 The solution is 1.
The solutions are 3 and 21.

EXAMPLES SOLVING EQUATIONS Solve the equation. Check your solution.

2 and 3 6x 3 z 21
14. } 115} 15. } 235}
on p. 821 x 2 11 x 2 11 z17 z17
for Exs. 14–23
17 a 1 10 b2 2 3
16. a
}215}
1
17. } 1 2 5 }}
a14 2a 1 8 b13 2
b 1 12b 1 27
m 3m 22m 1 2 3n 12 n14
18. } 2 } 5 }} 19. } 5} 1}
m22 2 m24 m 2 6m 1 8 n11
2
n 21 n21
3 2 26 5 q 2q 2 27
20. } 2} 5} 21. } 5}1}
p21 2 p21 p 2 3p 1 2 q14 q23 q2 1 q 2 12
r12 8 9 4 2 5s
22. } 5} 23. } 5}
2 2
r 1 6r 2 7 r 1 3r 2 4 2
s 24 s22

24. ★ OPEN – ENDED Write a rational equation that can be solved using
the cross products property. Then solve the equation.

12.7 Solve Rational Equations 823

 2 x
x2a5}
25. REASONING Consider the equation } x 2 a where a is a real number.
For what value(s) of a does the equation have exactly one solution? no
solution? Explain your answers.

26. USING ANOTHER METHOD Another way to solve a rational equation is

to write each side of the equation as a single rational expression and
then use the cross products property. Use this method to solve the
x x22 2x 2 1
equation } 1 } 5 }.
x11 2 4

27. SOLVING SYSTEMS OF EQUATIONS Consider the following system:

y 5 3x 1 1

25
y5} 26
x23

a. Solve the system algebraically.

b. Check your solution by graphing the equations.

28. ★ MULTIPLE CHOICE Let a be a real number. How many solutions does
2 1 2a
x2a5}1}
the equation } 2 2
have?
x1a x 2a

A Zero B One C Two D Infinitely many

x1a x
29. REASONING Is the expression } ever equivalent to } for some
x111a x11
nonzero value of a? Justify your answer algebraically.

30. CHALLENGE Let a and b be real numbers. The solutions of the equation
30
ax 1 b 5 } 2 1 are 28 and 8. What are the values of a and b? Explain
x12
your answer.

PROBLEM SOLVING
EXAMPLE 4 31. ICE HOCKEY In ice hockey, a goalie’s save percentage
on p. 822 (in decimal form) is the number of shots blocked by
for Exs. 31–34 a goalie divided by the number of shots made by an
opposing team. Suppose a goalie has blocked
160 out of 200 shots. How many consecutive shots
does the goalie need to block in order to raise
the save percentage to 0.840?
GPS
QSPCMFN
TPMWJOH
IFMQ
BU
DMBTT[POFDPN

32. RUNNING TIMES You are running a 6000 meter

charity race. Your average speed in the first half of the race
is 50 meters per minute faster than your average speed in the second
half. You finish the race in 27 minutes. What is your average speed in the
second half of the race?
GPS
QSPCMFN
TPMWJOH
IFMQ
BU
DMBTT[POFDPN

5 WORKED-OUT SOLUTIONS ★ 5 STANDARDIZED

824 on p. WS1 TEST PRACTICE
33. CLEANING SOLUTIONS You have a cleaning solution that consists of
2 cups of vinegar and 7 cups of water. You need a cleaning solution that
consists of 5 parts water and 1 part vinegar in order to clean windows.
How many cups of water do you need to add to your cleaning solution so
that you can use it to clean windows?

34. MULTI-STEP PROBLEM Working together, a painter and

an assistant can paint a certain room in 2 hours. The
painter can paint the room alone in half the time it takes
the assistant to paint the room alone. Let t represent the
time (in hours) that the painter can paint the room alone.
a. Copy and complete the table.

Fraction
Fraction
of room Time
Person of room
painted (hours)
painted
each hour
1
Painter } 2 ?
t
Assistant ? 2 ?

b. Explain why the sum of the expressions in the fourth column of the
table must be 1.
c. Write a rational equation that you can use to find the time that the
painter takes to paint the room alone. Then solve the equation.
d. How long does the assistant take to paint the room alone?

35. ★ EXTENDED RESPONSE You and your sister can rake a neighbor’s front
lawn together in 30 minutes. Your sister takes 1.5 times as long as you to
rake the lawn by herself.
a. Solve Write an equation that you can use to find the time t (in
minutes) you take to rake the lawn by yourself. Then solve the
equation.
b. Compare With more experience, both of you can now rake the lawn
together in 20 minutes, and your sister can rake the lawn alone in
the same amount of time as you. Tell how you would change the
equation in part (a) in order to describe this situation. Then solve
the equation.
c. Explain Explain why your solution of the equation in part (b) makes
sense. Then justify your explanation algebraically for any given
amount of time that both of you rake the lawn together.

36. TELEVISION The average time t (in minutes) that a person in the United
States watched television per day during the period 1950–2000 can be
modeled by
1 8.85x
t 5 265
}
1 1 0.0114x

where x is the number of years since 1950.

a. Approximate the year in which a person watched television for an
average of 6 hours per day.
b. About how many years had passed when the average time a person
spent watching television per day increased from 5 hours to 7 hours?

12.7 Solve Rational Equations 825

 37. SCIENCE Atmospheric pressure, measured in pounds per square inch
(psi), is the pressure exerted on an object by the weight of the atmosphere
above the object. The atmospheric pressure p (in psi) can be modeled by
14.55(56,267 2 a)
p 5 }}
55,545 1 a

where a is the altitude (in feet). Is the change in altitude greater when the
atmospheric pressure changes from 10 psi to 9 psi or from 8 psi to 7 psi?
Explain your answer.

38. CHALLENGE Butterfat makes up about 1% of the volume of milk in 1%

milk. Butterfat can make up no more than 0.2% of the volume of milk
in skim milk. A container holds 15 fluid ounces of 1% milk. How many
fluid ounces of butterfat must be removed in order for the milk to be
considered skim milk? Round your answer to the nearest hundredth.

MIXED REVIEW
PREVIEW Write the fraction as a decimal and as a percent. Round decimals to the
Prepare for nearest thousandth. Round percents to the nearest tenth of a percent. (p. 916)
Lesson 13.1 in 1 1 7
39. } 40. } 41. }
Exs. 39–44. 4 8 10
24 25 7
42. } 43. } 44. }
25 30 2

Evaluate the expression.

}
45. (92 2 7) 4 2 (p. 8) 46. 6[4 2 (16 2 14)2 ] (p. 8) 47. Ï 289 (p. 110)
} 32 42
48. 6Ï 1600 (p. 110) 49. }
27
(p. 495) 50. }5
(p. 495)
3 4
3 27
3 10
1 18 2
51. 2} (p. 495) 52. 1.61
} 23
2.3 3 10
(p. 512) 53. (1.2 3 106 )2 (p. 512)

QUIZ for Lessons 12.5–12.7

Find the product or quotient. (p. 802)
5 4x 3 3y2 1 6y y2
1. } p} 2. } 4}
8x2 15 2
y 2 16 y24

Find the sum or difference. (p. 812)

8a 5a 2 1 6n n21
3. } 2} 4. } 1}
a 1 11 a 1 11 n13 2
n 1 5n 1 6

Solve the equation. Check your solution. (p. 820)

2z z 2x 32x 24
5. } 5} 6. }x 1}5}
z15 z23 x112
x 1x

7. BATTING AVERAGES A softball player’s batting average is the number of

hits divided by the number of times at bat. A softball player has a batting
average of .200 after 90 times at bat. How many consecutive hits does the
player need in order to raise the batting average to .250? (p. 820)

826 EXTRA PRACTICE for Lesson 12.7, p. 949 ONLINE QUIZ at classzone.com
 Using ALTERNATIVE METHODS
LESSON 12.7
Another Way to Solve Example 4, page 822

MULTIPLE REPRESENTATIONS In Example 4 on page 822, you saw how to

solve a problem about mixing paint by using a rational equation. You can
also solve the problem by using a table or by reinterpreting the problem.

PROBLEM PAINT MIXING You have an 8 pint mixture of paint that is made up of
equal amounts of yellow paint and blue paint. To create a certain shade
of green, you need a paint mixture that is 80% yellow. How many pints
of yellow paint do you need to add to the mixture?

METHOD 1 Use a Table One alternative approach is to use a table.

The mixture has 8 pints of paint. Because the mixture has an equal
amount of yellow paint and blue paint, the mixture has 8 4 2 5 4 pints of
yellow paint.

STEP 1 Make a table that shows the percent of the mixture that is yellow paint
after you add various amounts of yellow paint.

Yellow paint Paint in mixture Percent of mixture

(pints) (pints) that is yellow paint
4
4 8 } 5 50%
8
A mixture with 6 pints of yellow 6
paint is the result of adding 6 10 } 5 60%
10
2 pints of yellow paint to the
mixture. 8
8 12 } ø 67%
12

10
10 14 } ø 71%
14

12
12 16 } 5 75%
16

14
14 18 } ø 78%
18

15
15 19 } ø 79%
19
This amount of yellow paint
gives you the percent yellow 16
16 20 } 5 80%
you want. 20

STEP 2 Find the number of pints of yellow paint needed. Subtract the number
of pints of yellow paint already in the mixture from the total number
of pints of yellow paint you have: 16 2 4 5 12.
c You need to add 12 pints of yellow paint.

Using Alternative Methods 827

 METHOD 2 Reinterpret Problem Another alternative approach is to reinterpret
the problem.

STEP 1 Reinterpret the problem. A mixture with 80% yellow paint means
4 1
that } of the mixture is yellow and } of the mixture is blue. So, the
5 5
ratio of yellow paint to blue paint needs to be 4 : 1. You need 4 times
as many pints of yellow paint as pints of blue paint.
STEP 2 Write a verbal model. Then write an equation. Let p represent the
number of pints of yellow paint that you need to add.

Pints of yellow Pints of yellow Pints of

paint already 1 paint you need 5 4 p blue paint
in mixture to add in mixture

4 1 p 5 4 p 4
STEP 3 Solve the equation.
41p54p4 Write equation.

4 1 p 5 16 Multiply.

p 5 12 Subtract 4 from each side.

c You need to add 12 pints of yellow paint to the mixture.

P R AC T I C E

1. INVESTING Jill has $10,000 in various 3. BASKETBALL A basketball player has made
investments, including $1000 in a mutual 40% of 30 free throw attempts so far. How
fund. Jill wants the amount in the mutual many consecutive free throws must the
fund to make up 20% of the amount in all of player make in order to increase the percent
her investments. How much money should of free throw attempts made to 50%? Solve
she add to the mutual fund? Solve this this problem using two different methods.
problem using two different methods.
4. WHAT IF? In Exercise 3, suppose the
2. ERROR ANALYSIS Describe and correct the basketball player instead wants to increase
error in solving Exercise 1. the percent of free throw attempts made to
60%. How many consecutive free throws
Amount in Amount in all Percent in must the player make?
mutual fund investments mutual fund
5. SNOW SHOVELING You and your friend are
1000 10,000 10% shoveling snow out of a driveway. You can
1400 10,400 About 13% shovel the snow alone in 50 minutes. Both
1800 10,800 About 17% of you can shovel the snow in 30 minutes
2250 11,250 20% when working together. How many minutes
Jill needs to add $2250 to her mutual fund. will your friend take to shovel the snow
alone? Solve this problem using two different
methods.

828 Chapter 12 Rational Equations and Functions

MIXED REVIEW of Problem Solving
Lessons 12.5–12.7
1. MULTI-STEP PROBLEM For the period
1991–2002, the average total revenue T (in
dollars per admission) that a movie theater
earned and the average revenue C (in dollars
per admission) from concessions in the
United States can be modeled by
2
0.018x 1 5.4 2
0.013x 1 1.1
T 5 }}2 and C 5 }}
2 in still water.
1 2 0.0011x 0.0011x 1 1
where x is the number of years since 1991.
a. Write a model that gives the percent p
(in decimal form) of the average total
revenue per admission that came from
concessions as a function of x.
b. About what percent of the average total
revenue came from concessions in 2001?
2. SHORT RESPONSE The diagram of the
truck shows the distance between the first
axle and the last axle for each of two groups
of consecutive axles.
The maximum weight W (to the nearest
500 pounds) that a truck on a highway can
carry on a group of consecutive axles is given
by the formula
1 d
W 5 500 } 1 12n 1 36
n21 2 (in decimal form) of all college degrees
where d is the distance (in feet) between the
first axle and the last axle of the group and n
is the number of axles in the group.
a. Rewrite the expression on the right
side of the equation as a single rational
expression. Then find the maximum
weight that the truck shown can carry on
axles 1–3.
b. Can the truck carry 65,500 pounds on
axles 2–5? Explain your answer.
STATE TEST PRACTICE
classzone.com
3. MULTI-STEP PROBLEM A rower travels
5 miles upstream (against the current) and
5 miles downstream (with the current). The
speed of the current is 1 mile per hour.
a. Write an equation that gives the total
travel time t (in hours) as a function of the
rower’s average speed r (in miles per hour)
b. Find the total travel time if the rower’s
average speed in still water is 7 miles per
hour.
4. GRIDDED ANSWER You take 7 minutes to fill
your washing machine tub using only the
cold water valve. You take 4 minutes to fill
the tub using both the cold water valve and
the hot water valve. How many minutes will
you take to fill the tub using only the hot
water valve?
5. OPEN - ENDED Describe a real-world situation
that can be modeled by the equation
115 1 x
} 5 0.75. Explain what the solution of
170 1 x
the equation means in this situation.
6. EXTENDED RESPONSE The number D (in
thousands) of all college degrees earned and
the number M (in thousands) of master’s
degrees earned in the United States during
the period 1984–2001 can be modeled by
1800 1 17x 2 280 1 2.5x 2
D 5 }}2 and M 5 }}2
1 1 0.0062x 1 1 0.0040x
where x is the number of years since 1984.
a. Write a model that gives the percent p
earned that were master’s degrees.
b. Approximate the percent of all college
degrees earned that were master’s degrees
in 2000.
c. Graph the equation in part (a) on a
graphing calculator. Describe how the
percent of college degrees that were
master’s degrees changed during the
period. Can you use the graph to describe
how the number of master’s degrees
changed during the period? Explain.
Mixed Review of Problem Solving 829