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Project in Algebra

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Katrina Paquiz
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24 views

Project in Algebra

...

Uploaded by

Katrina Paquiz
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Project in Algebra

Katrina P. Paquiz
8-Aristotle

Rational Expression- is nothing more than a fraction in which the numerator


and/or the denominator are polynomials.

There are steps to simplify the rational expression.


1. Look for the factors that are common to the numerator and
denominator.
2. 3x is a common factor the numerator and denominator.
3. Cancel the common factor.
4. If possible, look for other factors that are common to the numerator
and denominator. In our example, we can use foil in reverse to factor
an (x-1) in the denominator and further cancel this binomial from both
the numerator and the denominator.
5. After cancelling, you are left with 1/(x-1).
6. The final simplified rational expression is valid for all values of x
except 0 and 1.

Factoring

expressions (like x2+4x+3) also have factors:

Example:
Factor 2y+6
Both 2y and 6 have a common factor of 2:

 2y is 2 × y
 6 is 2 × 3

So you can factor the whole expression into:

2y+6 = 2(y+3)

So 2y+6 has been "factored into" 2 and y+3

Factoring difference of two perfect squares


Example:

Factor:   x2 - 9
Both x2 and 9 are perfect squares.  Since subtraction is occurring between
these squares, this expression is the difference of two squares.

What times itself will give x2 ?  The


answer is x.
What times itself will give 9 ?  The
answer is 3.

The factors are (x + 3) and (x - 3).


Answer:  (x + 3) (x - 3)  or   (x - 3) (x + 3)   (order is not important)

Factor 4y2 - 36y6 


There is a common factor of 4y2 that can be factored out first in this problem, to
make the problem easier.
                                         4y2 (1 - 9y4)

In the factor (1 - 9y4), 1 and 9y4 are perfect squares (their coefficients are perfect
squares and their exponents are even numbers).  Since subtraction is occurring
between these squares, this expression is the difference of two squares.

What times itself will give 1?  The answer is 1.


What times itself will give 9y4 ?  The answer is 3y2 .
The factors are (1 + 3y2) and (1 - 3y2).
Answer:  4y2 (1 + 3y2) (1 - 3y2)  or  4y2 (1 - 3y2) (1 + 3y2)

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