Simplifying

Prepared by:GROUP 6
ALIZZA LOUELLA M. VENTIC
ANGEL JULIAN D. ABELLO
CYRILL MARIE PAYOT
JONAMAE E. HELASQUE
FRANC KYLE MORTEJO
Simplifying Rational Expressions
 The objective is to be able to simplify a
rational expression

5 3x
2
x  2 x  9
 Polynomial – The sum or difference of monomials.
 Rational expression – A fraction whose numerator
and denominator are polynomials.
 Domain of a rational expression – the set of all
real numbers except those for which the denominator
is zero.
 Reduced form – a rational expression in which the
numerator and denominator have no factors in
common.
 Divide out the
common factors

 Factor the
numerator and
denominator and
then divide the
common factors
 Dividing Out Common Factors

Step 1 – Identify any factors which are common to both the

numerator and the denominator.

5x The numerator and denominator

have a common factor.
5(x  7 ) The common factor is the five.
Dividing Out Common Factors
Step 2 – Divide out the common factors.
The fives can be divided since 5/5 = 1
The x remains in the numerator.
The (x-7) remains in the denominator

5x x

5(x  7 ) x  7
Factoring the Numerator
and Denominator
Factor the numerator.
Factor the denominator.
Divide out the common factors.
Write in simplified form.

2
3x  9x
3
12x
 Factoring
Step 1: Look for common factors
to both terms in the numerator.

2
3x  9x 3 is a factor of both 3 and 9.
3
12x X is a factor of both x2 and x.

Step 2: Factor the numerator.

3x 2
 9x 3x ( x  3)
3 3
12x 12 x
 Factoring
Step 3: Look for common factors to
the terms in the denominator and factor.
The denominator only has one term.
2
3x  9x The 12 and x3 can be factored.
3 The 12 can be factored into 3 x 4.
12x
The x3 can be written as x • x2.

3x 2
 9x 3x(x 3)
2
12x 3
3 4  x  x
 Divide and Simplify
Step 4: Divide out the common factors. In this
case, the common factors divide to become 1.

3x(x  3)
2
3  4  x  x
Step 5: Write in simplified form.

x 3
2
4x
 You Try It
Simplify the following rational expressions.
9 x 2yz x 2
 2x  15
1. 2 4.
24 xyz x 2
 x  12
a  3
2. 2
a  4a  3 2
14x  35x  21
5. 2
3x  15 12x  30x  18
3. 2
x  7x  10
 Restrictions on
Rational Expressions
2
For what value of x is x  2 x  1 5 undefined?
4x  20
It is undefined for any value of “x” which makes the
denominator zero.

4x  20  0
4 (x  5)  0 The restriction is
x  5  0 that x cannot equal
x  5  5  0  5 5.
x  5
 YOU TRY IT
What are the excluded values of the variables for
the following rational expressions?

3 2
42y z
1.
14y2z 3

x2  36
2.
2x  12
2
c  4c  12
3. 2
c  2c  8