Digital Lesson

Solving Rational
Equations
 A rational expression is a fraction with polynomials for
the numerator and denominator.
For example, are rational expressions.
If x is replaced by a number making the denominator of a rational
expression zero, the value of the rational expression is undefined.
Example: Evaluate for x = –3, 0, and 1.
x
−3 undefined 0
0 undefined 9
1 1 undefined
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 A rational equation is an equation between rational expressions.

For example, and are rational equations.

To solve a rational equation:

1. Find the LCM of the denominators.
2. Clear denominators by multiplying both sides of the
equation by the LCM.
3. Solve the resulting polynomial equation.
4. Check the solutions.

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 Examples: 1. Solve: . LCM = x – 3. Find the LCM.
1=x+1 Multiply by LCM = (x – 3).
x=0 Solve for x.
(0) Check. Substitute 0.
(0) (0)
Simplify. True.

2. Solve: . LCM = x(x – 1). Find the LCM.

Multiply by LCM.
x – 1 = 2x Simplify.
x = –1 Solve.
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 After clearing denominators, a solution of the polynomial
equation may make a denominator of the rational equation zero.
In this case, the value is not a solution of the rational equation.
It is critical to check all solutions.
Example: Solve: .
Since x2 – 1 = (x – 1)(x + 1), LCM = (x – 1)(x + 1).

3x + 1 = x – 1
2x = – 2 → x = – 1
Check. Since – 1 makes both denominators zero, the
rational equation has no solutions.
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 Example: Solve: .
x2 – 8x + 15 = (x – 3)(x – 5) Factor. The LCM is (x – 3)(x – 5).
Original Equation.

x(x – 5) = – 6 Polynomial Equation.

x2 – 5x + 6 = 0 Simplify.
(x – 2)(x – 3) = 0 Factor.
Check. x = 2 is a solution.
x = 2 or x = 3 Check. x = 3 is not a solution since
both sides would be undefined.
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 To solve problems involving work, use the formula,
part of work completed = rate of work time worked.
Example: If it takes 5 hours to paint a room, what part of the
work is completed after 3 hours?
If one room can be painted in 5 hours then the rate of work is
(rooms/hour). The time worked is 3 hours.
Therefore, part of work completed = rate of work time worked
part of work completed .
Three-fifths of the work is completed after three hours.
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 Example: If a painter can paint a room in 4 hours and her
assistant can paint the room in 6 hours, how many hours
Let t be thewill
timeit ittake them
takes to paint
them thethe
to paint room working
room together?
together.
part of work
rate of work time worked
completed
painter t
assistant t
LCM = 12.
Multiply by 12.
Simplify.
Working together they will paint the room in 2.4 hours.
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 To solve problems involving motion, use the formulas,
distance = rate × time and time = .
Examples: 1. If a car travels at 60 miles per hour for 3 hours,
what distance has it traveled?
Since rate = 60 (mi/h) and time = 3 h, then
distance = rate time = 60 3 = 180.
The car travels 180 miles.
2. How long does it take an airplane to travel 1200
miles flying at a speed of 250 miles per hour?
Since distance = 1200 (mi) and rate = 250 (mi/h),
time = = = 4.8.
It takes 4.8 hours for the plane make its trip.
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 Example: A traveling salesman drives from home to a client’s
store 150 miles away. On the return trip he drives 10 miles per
hour slower
At what andwas
speed adds
theone-half hourdriving
salesperson in driving time.
on the way to
the client’s store?
Let r be the rate of travel (speed) in miles per hour.
distance rate time
Trip to client 150 r
Trip home 150 r – 10

LCM = 2r (r – 10).

300r – 300(r – 10) = r(r – 10) Multiply by LCM.

Example continued
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 Example continued
300r – 300r + 3000 = r2 – 10r
0 = r2 – 10r – 3000
0 = (r – 60)(r + 50)
r = 60 or – 50 (–50 is irrelevant.)
The salesman drove from home to the client’s store at
60 miles per hour.
Check:
At 60 mph the time taken to drive the 150 miles
from the salesman’s home to the clients store is = 2.5 h.
At 50 mph (ten miles per hour slower) the
time taken to make the return trip of 150 miles is = 3 h.
The return trip took one-half hour longer.
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