Adding and Subtracting

Rational Expressions
 8.2 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions

Objectives

1. Add and subtract rational expressions with the

same denominator.
2. Find a least common denominator.
3. Add and subtract rational expressions with
different denominators.
REVIEW: Perform the indicated operation.
Match your answer in column B.
a. 1/3

b. 3/16

c. 1

d. 5/6

e. 2/3

f. 11/6

g. 3/8
 8.2 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions

Rational Expressions

Adding or Subtracting Rational Expressions

Step 1 If the denominators are the same, add or subtract the numerators.
Place the result over the common denominator.

If the denominators are different, first find the least common

denominator. Write all rational expressions with this LCD, and then
add or subtract the numerators. Place the result over the common
denominator.

Step 2 Simplify. Write all answers in lowest terms.

 8.2 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions
EXAMPLE 1 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions
with the Same Denominator
Add or subtract as indicated.

4m 5n 4m + 5n Add the numerators.

(a) + =
7 7 7 Keep the common denominator.

1 – 5 1 – 5 Subtract the numerators; keep the

(b) =
g3 g3 g3 common denominator.

= – 4 Simplify.
g3
 8.2 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions
EXAMPLE 1 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions
with the Same Denominator
Add or subtract as indicated.

a – b a–b Subtract the numerators; keep

(c) =
a2 – b2 a2 – b 2 a2 – b2 the common denominator.

a–b
= Factor.
(a – b)(a + b)

1
= a+b Lowest terms
 8.2 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions
EXAMPLE 1 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions
with the Same Denominator
Add or subtract as indicated.

5 + k
(d)
k2 + 2k – 15 k2 + 2k – 15

5+k Add.
=
k2 + 2k – 15

5+k
= Factor.
(k – 3)(k + 5)

1
= Lowest terms
k–3
 8.2 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions

The Least Common Denominator

Finding the Least Common Denominator

Step 1 Factor each denominator.

Step 2 Find the least common denominator. The LCD is the product of
all different factors from each denominator, with each factor raised
to the greatest power that occurs in the denominator.
 8.2 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions

EXAMPLE 2 Finding Least Common Denominators

Assume that the given expressions are denominators of fractions. Find the
LCD for each group.

(a) 4m3n2, 6m2n5

Factor each denominator.

22 · m3 · n 2

2 · 3 · m2 · n5
Choose the factors with
LCD = 2 2 · 3 · m3 · n 5 the greatest exponents.

= 12m3n5
 8.2 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions

EXAMPLE 2 Finding Least Common Denominators

Assume that the given expressions are denominators of fractions. Find the
LCD for each group.

(b) y – 5, y
Each denominator is already factored. The LCD, an expression
divisible by both y – 5 and y is

y(y – 5).

It is usually best to leave a least common denominator in factored form.

 8.2 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions

EXAMPLE 2 Finding Least Common Denominators

Assume that the given expressions are denominators of fractions. Find the
LCD for each group.

(c) n2 – 3n – 10, n2 – 8n + 15
Factor the denominators.

n2 – 3n – 10 = (n – 5)(n + 2)
Factor.
n2 – 8n + 15 = (n – 5)(n – 3)

The LCD, divisible by both polynomials, is (n – 5)(n + 2)(n – 3).

 8.2 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions

EXAMPLE 2 Finding Least Common Denominators

Assume that the given expressions are denominators of fractions. Find the
LCD for each group.

(d) 4h2 – 12h, 3h – 9

4h2 – 12h = 4h(h – 3)

Factor.
3h – 9 = 3(h – 3)

The LCD is 4h·3·(h – 3) = 12h(h – 3).

 8.2 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions

EXAMPLE 2 Finding Least Common Denominators

Assume that the given expressions are denominators of fractions. Find the
LCD for each group.

(e) g2 – 2g + 1, g2 + 3g – 4, 5g + 20

g2 – 2g + 1 = (g – 1)2
Factor.
g2 + 3g – 4 = (g – 1)(g + 4)

5g + 20 = 5(g + 4)

The LCD is 5(g – 1)2(g + 4).

 8.2 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions
EXAMPLE 3 Adding and Subtracting Rational
Expressions with Different Denominators
Add or subtract as indicated. The LCD of 3z and 9z is 9z.

(a) 7 1
+
3z 9z

7 1 = 7·3 1 Fundamental property

+ +
3z 9z 3z · 3 9z

= 21 1
+
9z 9z

= 21 + 1 Add the numerators.

9z

= 22
9z
 8.2 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions
EXAMPLE 3 Adding and Subtracting Rational
Expressions with Different Denominators
Add or subtract as indicated. The LCD is y(y – 4).

(b) 2 – 3 2(y – 4) – y·3 Fundamental property

=
y y–4 y(y – 4) y(y – 4)

2y – 8 – 3y Distributive and
=
y(y – 4) y(y – 4) commutative properties

2y – 8 – 3y Subtract the
=
y(y – 4) numerators.

–y – 8 Combine like terms in

=
y(y – 4) the numerator.
 8.2 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions

Caution with Subtracting Rational Expressions

CAUTION
One of the most common sign errors in algebra occurs when a rational
expression with two or more terms in the numerator is being subtracted.
In this situation, the subtraction sign must be distributed to every term
in the numerator of the fraction that follows it. Carefully study the
example below to see how this is done.

Subtract the numerators;

keep the common denominator.
8d – d–6 = 8d – (d – 6) = 8d – d + 6
d+5 d+5 d+5 d+5

= 7d + 6
Combine terms in the numerator.
d+5
 8.2 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions
EXAMPLE 4 Using the Distributive Property When
Subtracting Rational Expressions
Add or subtract as indicated. The LCD of (e – 2) and (e + 2) is (e – 2)(e + 2).

2 – 9 = 2(e + 2) – 9(e – 2) Fundamental

e–2 e+2 (e – 2)(e + 2) (e + 2)(e – 2) property

2(e + 2) – 9(e – 2)
= Subtract.
(e – 2)(e + 2)

2e + 4 – 9e + 18 Distributive property
=
(e – 2)(e + 2)

= –7e + 22 Combine terms in

(e – 2)(e + 2) the numerator.
 8.2 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions
EXAMPLE 5 Adding Rational Expressions with
Denominators That Are Opposites

Add. 4 + x = 4 + x(–1)
x–5 5–x x–5 (5 – x)(–1)

= 4 + –x
Opposites
x–5 x–5

To get a common denominator of x – 5, multiply the second

expression by –1 in both the numerator and the denominator.
 8.2 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions
EXAMPLE 5 Adding Rational Expressions with
Denominators That Are Opposites

Add. 4 + x = 4 + x(–1)
x–5 5–x x–5 (5 – x)(–1)

= 4 + –x
Opposites
x–5 x–5

= 4–x Add the numerators.

x–5

If we had used 5 – x as the common denominator and rewritten

the first expression, we would have obtained
x–4 ,
5–x
an equivalent answer. Verify this.
 8.2 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions
EXAMPLE 6 Adding and Subtracting Three Rational
Expressions

Add. 3 + 2 + 4 3n 2 4(n + 3)
= + +
n+3 n2 + 3n n n(n + 3) n(n + 3) n(n + 3)
Fundamental property
The denominator of the second rational expression factors as
n(n + 3), which is the LCD for the three rational expressions.

3n + 2 + 4(n + 3) Add the numerators.

=
n(n + 3)
3n + 2 + 4n + 12 Distributive property
=
n(n + 3)
7n + 14 Combine terms.
=
n(n + 3)
7(n + 2)
= Factor the numerator.
n(n + 3)
 8.2 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions

EXAMPLE 7 Subtracting Rational Expressions

Add. a–2 – a+2 a–2 – a+2

=
a2 + 2a – 3 a2 – 5a + 4 (a – 1)(a + 3) (a – 1)(a – 4)
Factor each denominator.

The LCD is (a – 1)(a + 3)(a – 4).

(a – 2)(a – 4) (a + 2)(a + 3) Fundamental

= –
(a – 1)(a + 3)(a – 4) (a – 1)(a – 4)(a + 3) property
(a – 2)(a – 4) – (a + 2)(a + 3)
= Subtract.
(a – 1)(a + 3)(a – 4)

a2 – 6a + 8 – (a2 + 5a + 6) Multiply in the

=
(a – 1)(a + 3)(a – 4) numerator.
 8.2 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions

EXAMPLE 7 Subtracting Rational Expressions

Add. a–2 – a+2 a–2 – a+2

=
a2 + 2a – 3 a2 – 5a + 4 (a – 1)(a + 3) (a – 1)(a – 4)

(a – 2)(a – 4) – (a + 2)(a + 3)
=
(a – 1)(a + 3)(a – 4) (a – 1)(a – 4)(a + 3)

(a – 2)(a – 4) – (a + 2)(a + 3)
= Subtract.
(a – 1)(a + 3)(a – 4)

a2 – 6a + 8 – (a2 + 5a + 6) Multiply in the

=
(a – 1)(a + 3)(a – 4) numerator.

a2 – 6a + 8 – a2 – 5a – 6) Distributive
=
(a – 1)(a + 3)(a – 4) property
–11a + 2 Combine terms in
=
(a – 1)(a + 3)(a – 4) the numerator.
 8.2 Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions

EXAMPLE 8 Adding Rational Expressions

Add. 2 + 8 2 + 8
=
b2 + 4b + 4 b2 + 3a + 2 (b + 2)2 (b + 1)(b + 2)
Factor each denominator.

The LCD is (b + 2)2(b + 1)

2(b + 1) 8(b + 2) Fundamental
= +
(b + 2)2(b + 1) (b + 2)2(b + 1) property
2(b + 1) + 8(b + 2)
= Add.
(b + 2)2(b + 1)
2b + 2 + 8b + 16 Distributive
=
(b + 2)2(b + 1) property
10b + 18 Combine like terms
=
(b + 2)2(b + 1) in the numerator.