Pre-requisite Knowledge [Q2-ACT2] RAE PART 2 VI.

OPERATION ON FRACTIONS/RAE:
RATIONAL ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS DIVISION of FRACTIONS.
Multiply the dividend to the reciprocal of the divisor. Simplify your
Domain - is the set of values of the variable that are allowed or final answer to the lowest term whenever possible.
permissible to be. To find the domain of a RAE just identify when
will the RAE be undefined(Denominator = Zero) then exclude it from 8 𝟒 8 𝟑 Reciprocal of divisor then
the set of Real Numbers. ÷ = • change division to multiplication
12 𝟑 12 𝟒
Examples
𝑥+5 Advance Method:
1. , The denominator will be zero if x = 5, therefore we will just
𝑥−5 DO NOT MULTIPLY yet!
exclude 5 from the real numbers. Domain = {All real nos. except 5}
Reduce before you Multiply
𝑦+1
If all factors in
2. , if x = ±4 ∴Domain = {All real nos. except 4 and -4} 8 3 8•3 4•2•3 𝟏 the numerator
𝑦 2 −16
• = = = are reduced,
12 4 12•4 3•4•2•2 𝟐 then write 1
𝑎+1
3. , if a = -5, a = 3 ∴Domain = {All real nos. except -5 and 3}
𝑎2 +2𝑎−15

Note: Explain #2 and #3. a.Factor, b.Equate each factor to zero, c.Solve for
VII. SIMILAR AND DISSIMILAR FRACTIONS
the value of the variable.
Similar Fractions have the same denominators
1 7 3 11 2 4
Note: Special Division Rules 𝑎. 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏. 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑐. 𝑎𝑛𝑑
𝑎 4 4 10𝑥 10𝑥 𝑦2 𝑦2
A. Any number divided by itself is 1. = 1, 𝑠𝑢𝑐ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑎 ≠ 0
𝑎
0
Dissimilar Fractions have the different denominators
B. Zero divide by any number is Zero. = 0, 𝑠𝑢𝑐ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑎 ≠ 0 𝑎.
1
𝑎𝑛𝑑
7
𝑏.
3
𝑎𝑛𝑑
11
𝑐.
2
𝑎𝑛𝑑
4
𝑎 4𝑥 4𝑦 10𝑥 2 𝑥 𝑦−1 𝑦+1
C. Any number divided by zero is undefined.
𝑎
= 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑢𝑐ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑎 ≠ 0
0 VIII. OPERATION ON FRACTIONS/RAE:
ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION OF SIMILAR FRACTIONS.
IV. SIMPLIFYING FRACTIONS/RAE Add or subtract the numerator then copy the common
Simplifying RAE means applying the property of Equivalent Denominator. COPY THE DENOMINATOR! DO NOT ADD/SUB THE
Fractions. DENOMINATORS!
Reduce your final answer to lowest term whenever possible.
Property of Equivalent Fractions
𝑎𝑐 𝑎 1 2 1+2 𝟑
If a, b, and c are non-zero real numbers, then = 𝑎. + = =
𝑏𝑐 𝑏 7 7 7 𝟕
The property implies that the factors common to both the
numerator and the denominator of a fraction can be cancelled
13 5 13 − 5 8 2•4 𝟒
out or reduced. If all common factors have been cancelled, then 𝑏. − = = = =
the fraction is in its lowest term. 10 10 10 10 2•5 𝟓
To simplify a fraction/RAE means to write it in its lowest term.

D. Express the following expression in its lowest term. IX. OPERATION ON FRACTIONS/RAE:
ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION OF DISSIMILAR FRACTIONS.
24 −144
1. = 2. = 1. Identify LCD
16 36 2. Convert Dissimilar to Similar using the LCD as their common
denominator (Higher Terms, the opposite of lowest term)
How to simplify fractions to its lowest term? 3. Add/Subtract using Addition/Subtraction of Similar Fractions
1. Factor the numerator and denominator. DO NOT ADD/SUBTRACT THE DENOMINATORS!
Reduce your final answer to lowest term whenever possible.
2. Cancel out/ Reduce the common factors by division rules.
3. Repeat if necessary. Until no common factors present on 1 2 1 3 2 5 3 10 𝟏𝟑
both numerator and denominator. 𝑎. + = ൬ ൰+ ൬ ൰= + =
5 3 5 3 3 5 15 15 𝟏𝟓
6 2•3 2•3 𝟑 The LCD is 15. Express the fractions into their higher terms to
= = = make them similar fractions. Multiply each fraction (numerator
10 2•5 2•5 𝟓
and denominator) by their respective missing factor to the LCD.

V. OPERATION ON FRACTIONS/RAE: After making them similar fractions, we can now apply
Multiplication of FRACTIONS ADDITION or SUBTRACTION of SIMILAR Fractions.
Multiply numerator to numerator, denominator to 1 7 1 2 7 2 7 2 − 7 −𝟓
denominator. NO CROSS or BUTTERFLY MULTIPLICATION!! 𝑏. − = ൬ ൰− = − = =
6 12 6 2 12 12 12 12 𝟏𝟐
Express your final answer into the lowest term whenever
possible. (Learn the advanced method. Simplifying before multiplying) LCD is 12. Only the 1st fraction is to be converted since the 2nd
fraction is already in the LCD.
4 3 4•3 12
• = = Multiply n to n, d to d
15 8 15•8 120
BEFORE YOU ADD OR SUBTRACT FRACTIONS,
ALWAYS LOOK AT THE DENOMINATORS FIRST!
12 12•1 𝟏
= = Simplify to lowest term
120 12•10 𝟏𝟎 CHECK IF THEY ARE SIMILAR OR DISSIMILAR FRACTIONS!