Introduction to Rational Equations

Basics of Polynomials
The general formula for a rational function is as follows:

p(x)
f ( x )=
q(x)
where q ( x ) cannot be equal to 0.

In its simplest form, the numerator or the denominator can be a constant or a polynomial.
A constant is a number whose value does not change, examples of a constant include numbers
2
like , -4 or 0. Some letters also represent constants, so be extra careful when using them to give
3
examples as variable. Such constants are e and π , which have their own values that pre-defined.

A polynomial is an expression of two or more algebraic terms. An algebraic term (or just term)
in a polynomial is the product of one or more type of factor. An algebraic term is always separated by
either the addition (+) or subtraction (−¿) operator. Terms can be combined when they are considered
similar. Two or more terms are considered similar when they have the exact same variables… each raised
by the same power.

The degree of an algebraic term is the sum of all powers in the term. The degree of a polynomial
is the degree of the term with the highest degree in the polynomial. The degree of a polynomial is always
non-negative integer. The knowledge of the degree of a polynomial can give us quick ideas on how the
polynomial will behave.

Simplifying a Rational Expression

A rational expression is in simplest form when it is only separated by a single fraction bar and
there are no holes in the rational expression. A hole occurs when a common factor exists in the numerator
and the denominator of the expression. The following are examples of simplifying rational expressions:
2
x +13 x +42
Example 1: 2
x −36
This example followed the rule “single fraction bar” but may have a hole in the expression.

After the factorization of the numerator and the denominator, we arrive at the following expression:

(x +6)(x +7)
( x +6)(x−6)
Which can be simplified further to its final form after the hole is cancelled:

x+ 7
x−6

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 x−3 2
Example 2: +
x+4 3
The example requires us to join the two fractions to form a single fraction, we do this by using a common
denominator from the denominators x +4 and 3. Remember that all cancellations are done when a
common factor exists on both the numerator and denominator only:

[ x−3 3 ( x+ 4 )
×
x +4 3 ( x+ 4 )
+ ×
][
2 3 ( x +4 )
3 3 ( x +4 )
=¿
]
[ ( x−3 ) ×2 ] +[2 × ( x +4 ) ]
3(x + 4)
Finally, we simplify the numerator:

( 2 x−6 ) + ( 2 x+8 )
=¿
3 ( x+ 4 )
Combining similar terms, we’ll have the simplest form:

4 x+ 2
3 x +12

x +2 x+ 3
Example 3: −
x−6 x−5
This example is very similar to the previous example with the denominator being a polynomial a
difference. So for we will liken our solution from the previous example, with x−6 and x−5 as our
common factor, again, our goal is to have a similar denominator for both rational expressions:

[ x+2 (x −6)(x−5)
×
x−6 (x −6)(x−5)
− ×
][
x+ 3 ( x−6 ) ( x −5 )
x−5 ( x−6 ) ( x −5 )
=¿
]
[ ( x+2 )( x−5 )
][
( x−6 ) ( x −5 )
−
( x +3 ) ( x−6 )
( x−6 )( x−5 ) ]
then we simplify our numerators and denominators:
2 2
x −3 x−10 x −3 x−18
2
− 2 =¿
x −11 x+30 x −11 x +30
then keep in mind that the second fraction has a negative operator, so, we negate each term in the
numerator:

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 2 2
x −3 x −10−x +3 x+18
2
=¿
x −11 x +30
Finally, after some addition and subtractions from similar terms, we have our simplified expression:

18
2
x −11 x+30
2 2
x −8 x +2 x +6 x−7
Example 4: 2
− 2
x −8 x−9 x −1
There is a common factor between the two denominators, because of this, then we will not need to
multiply them again on the numerator side.
2 2
x −8 x +2 x +6 x−7
−
( x+1 )( x−9 ) ( x +1 ) ( x −1 )

After factorization, we confirm that (x +1)exists between the two denominators, thus, the denominator
that should be common for both our fractions is ( x +1 ) ( x−1 )( x−9 )and we would not need to multiply
( x +1 )because it would just be cancelled.

[ x 2−8 x+ 2 ( x−1 )( x−9 )

×
( x +1 ) ( x−9 ) ( x−1 )( x−9 )
−
][
x 2+ 6 x −7 ( x−1 )( x−9 )
×
( x+1 )( x−1 ) ( x−1 )( x−9 ) ]
and we’ll arrive at a common denominator:

( x 2−8 x +2 ) ( x−1 ) ( x 2+ 6 x−7 ) ( x−9 )

−
( x+1 )( x−1 ) ( x−9 ) ( x+ 1 )( x−1 )( x−9 )
or:

( x 2−8 x+ 2 ) ( x−1 )−( x 2+ 6 x−7 ) ( x−9 )

( x+1 )( x−1 ) ( x−9 )
After simplifying the multiplications on the numerator we’ll have:

( x ¿ ¿ 3−9 x +10 x −2)−(x −3 x −61 x +63)

2 2 3 2
=¿ ¿
x 3−9 x 2−x +9
3 2 3 2
x −9 x +10 x−2−x +3 x +61 x −63
3 2
x −9 x −x+ 9
Finally, we combine similar terms:
2
−6 x +71 x−65
3 2
x −9 x −x +9

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Going further with this problem, we can actually factorize the numerator to compare its factors with the
denominator from before it is multiplied. This step is not always necessary but this ensures that there are
no holes in our expression:

(− x+1 ) ( 6 x−65 ) −( x−1 ) (6 x −65 )

=
( x+1 )( x−1 ) ( x−9 ) ( x+ 1 )( x−1 )( x−9 )
Again, this is not necessary but it ensures that there are no more holes in our expression. The final answer
(with all holes taken out) is as follows:

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 −( 6 x −65 )
From the examples above, the following expressions can have the corresponding
( x+1 )( x−9 )
restrictions because such restrictions would otherwise make the denominator equal to 0:

x+ 7
1. , (x≠6)
x−6

4 x+ 2
2. , ( x ≠−4 )
3 x +12

18
3. 2 , ( x ≠ 5 , 6)
x −11 x+30

2
−6 x +71 x−65
4. 3 2 , ( x ≠−1 ,1 , 9 )
x −9 x −x +9

Additional Exercises
5 x−10 4
x −16
1. = 8. =¿
10 4 2
x −2 x −8
3 x −6 9
x −x
5
2. 2
=¿ 9. =¿
x −4 5
x −x
3

2
x +3 x x−3
3. 2
=¿ 10. −2=¿
x +6 x +9 2
2
x −2 x x−2 4
4. =¿ 11. − =¿
x
2
6 3
2
2
x −3 x −4 x −6 2
5. =¿ 12. − 2 =¿
2
x −5 x+ 4 2x 3x
3
x −5 x−14 x−12 9
6. =¿ 13. + =¿
2
x −11 x−18 4 x 8x

1 2 x−7 x−1
2
x +x+ 14. + =¿
4 x
2
2x
7. =¿
1 2
x− x+1 1
4 15. + =¿
x −x x
2

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 x−5 x −4 x +2 x−1
16. − =¿ 19. + =¿
x−3 x+ 4 x −7 x−8 x−2
2

x−1 x +1 2 2
x −4 x−21 x + 2
17. + =¿ 20. − 2 =
x+ 1 x−1 2
x −16 x
2
x −4 x−1
18. 2
− =¿
x +3 x−10 x−5

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