Difference between revisions of "Rational Expression"
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* Find common factors for the numerator and denominator and simplify. | * Find common factors for the numerator and denominator and simplify. | ||
− | Consider | + | Consider two polynomials |
<center><math>p(x)=a_nx^n+a_{n-1}x^{n-1}+\cdots+a_1x+a_0</math></center> and | <center><math>p(x)=a_nx^n+a_{n-1}x^{n-1}+\cdots+a_1x+a_0</math></center> and | ||
<center><math>q(x)=b_mx^m+b_{m-1}x^{m-1}+\cdots+b_1x+b_0</math></center> | <center><math>q(x)=b_mx^m+b_{m-1}x^{m-1}+\cdots+b_1x+b_0</math></center> |
Revision as of 11:42, 18 October 2021
Rational Expression
Rational expressions are fractions that have a polynomial in the numerator, denominator, or both. Although rational expressions can seem complicated because they contain variables, they can be simplified using the techniques used to simplify expressions such as combined with techniques for factoring polynomials.
Simplifying Rational Expression
To simplify a rational expression, follow these steps:
- Determine the domain. The excluded values are those values for the variable that result in the expression having a denominator of 0.
- Factor the numerator and denominator.
- Find common factors for the numerator and denominator and simplify.
Consider two polynomials
and
When we take the quotient of the two we obtain
The ratio of two polynomials is called a rational expression. Many times we would like to simplify such a beast. For example, say we are given . We may simplify this in the following way:
This is nice because we have obtained something we understand quite well, , from something we didn't.
Resources
- Algebra, Wikibooks: Calculus
- Identify and Simplify Rational Expressions, Lumen Learning
- Simplifying Rational Expressions, The Organic Chemistry Tutor