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College Algebra Tutorial 15: Equations With Rational Expressions

This document provides a tutorial on solving equations with rational expressions. It explains the steps to solve such equations by first simplifying by removing fractions, then solving the remaining linear equation, and finally checking for extraneous solutions. Examples are provided and explained step-by-step. Practice problems are included for the reader to work through.

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salman saeed
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69 views

College Algebra Tutorial 15: Equations With Rational Expressions

This document provides a tutorial on solving equations with rational expressions. It explains the steps to solve such equations by first simplifying by removing fractions, then solving the remaining linear equation, and finally checking for extraneous solutions. Examples are provided and explained step-by-step. Practice problems are included for the reader to work through.

Uploaded by

salman saeed
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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(Back to the College Algebra Homepage)

College Algebra
Tutorial 15:
Equations with Rational Expressions

Learning Objectives

After completing this tutorial, you should be able to:

1. Solve equations with rational expressions.

2. Know if a solution is an extraneous solution or not.

Introduction

The equations that we will be working with in this section all have rational
expressions (fractions - yuck!). After a few magical steps, we can transform
these equations with rational expressions into linear equations. From there, you
solve the linear equation like you normally do. If you need a review on how to
solve a linear equation, feel free to go to Tutorial 14: Linear Equations in One
Variable.

No matter what type of equation you are working with in this section, the
ultimate goal is to get your variable on one side and everything else on the
other side using inverse operations.

Tutorial
Solving Rational Equations

Step 1: Simplify by removing the fractions.

We do this by multiplying both sides by the LCD.

If you need a review on finding the LCD of a rational


expression, go to Tutorial 10: Adding and Subtracting
Rational Expressions.

Note that even though this is not the same as adding and
subtracting rational expressions, you still find the LCD in the
same manner. So if you go to this link, just look at finding the
LCD, NOT adding and subtracting rational expressions.

Step 2: Solve the remaining equation.

In this tutorial the remaining equations will all be linear.

If you need a review on solving linear equations go back to


Tutorial 14: Linear Equations.

Step 3: Check for extraneous solutions.

For rational equations, extraneous solutions are values that


cause any denominator in the original problem to be 0. Of
course, when we have 0 in the denominator we have an
expression that is undefined. So, we would have to throw out
any values that would cause the denominator to be 0.

In Tutorial 14: Linear Equations, I told you that when you multiply both
sides by the same constant that the two sides would remain equal to each
other. But we can not guarantee that if you are multiplying by an
expression that has the variable you are solving for - which is the situation
we will be running into in this section. Sometimes this will cause extraneous
solutions.

Example 1: Solve for y.

Step 1: Simplify by removing the fractions.

*Mult. both sides by LCD of 3y

Step 2: Solve the remaining equation.

*Inverse of add. 24 is sub. 24

*Inverse of mult. by -1 is div. by -1

Step 3: Check for extraneous solutions.

Note that 9 does not cause any denominators to be zero. So it is not an


extraneous solution.

9 is the solution to our equation.


Example 2: Solve for a.

Step 1: Simplify by removing the fractions.

*Factor 1st
den.

*Mult.
both sides
by LCD
of (a + 3)
(a - 2)

Step 2: Solve the remaining equation.

*Remove ( ) by using dist. prop.

*Get all a terms on one side

*Inverse of add. 8 is sub. 8

Step 3: Check for extraneous solutions.


Note that 7 does not cause any denominators to be zero. So it is not an
extraneous solution.

7 is the solution to our equation.

Example 3: Solve for x.

Step 1: Simplify by removing the fractions.

*Mult. both sides by LCD


of 2(x - 3)

Step 2: Solve the remaining equation.

*Remove ( ) by using dist. prop.

*Inverse of add. 9 is sub. 9

*Inverse of mult. by -1 is div. by -1

Step 3: Check for extraneous solutions.

Note that 3 does cause two of the denominators to be zero.

So 3 is an extraneous solution. That means there is no solution.

The answer is NO solution.


Practice Problems

These are practice problems to help bring you to the next level. It will allow
you to check and see if you have an understanding of these types of problems.
Math works just like anything else, if you want to get good at it, then you
need to practice it. Even the best athletes and musicians had help along the
way and lots of practice, practice, practice, to get good at their sport or
instrument. In fact there is no such thing as too much practice.

To get the most out of these, you should work the problem out on your own
and then check your answer by clicking on the link for the
answer/discussion for that problem. At the link you will find the answer as
well as any steps that went into finding that answer.

Practice Problems 1a - 1b:

Solve the given equation.

1a. 1b.
(answer/discussion to 1a) (answer/discussion to 1b)

Need Extra Help on These Topics?

The following is a webpage that can assist you in the topics that were
covered on this page:

http://www.sosmath.com/algebra/solve/solve0/solve0.html#fraction
Problems 1 and 2 of this part of the webpage helps with solving
fractional equations that lead to linear equations. ONLY do problems
1 and 2.

Go to Get Help Outside the Classroom found in Tutorial 1: How to Succeed


in a Math Class for some more suggestions.

(Back to the College Algebra Homepage)

All contents copyright (C) 2002, WTAMU and Kim Peppard. All rights reserved.
Last revised on July 3, 2002 by Kim Peppard.

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