Multiplying Rational Algebraic

Expressions
FOOD FOR THE SOUL

1 Thesalonians 5:11
So encourage each other and build
each other up, just as you are already
doing.
 Multiplying and Dividing Rational
Algebraic Expressions

1
1 Multiply rational expressions.
2
2 Divide rational expressions.
Simplify the result

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How do you multiply two fractions?

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 Review
Perform the operation on the following fractions
1 4
1. 
2 3
3 2
2. 
4 3
1 3
3. 
4 2

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Exploration

8 7 (8)(7) 2 2 2 7 1
4.    
14 12 (14)(12) 2  7  2  2  3 3

10 12 (2)(5) 12 1
5.    
24 15 (12)( 2) (3)(5) 3
Multiply rational expressions.

The product of two fractions is found by multiplying the

numerators and multiplying the denominators. Rational
expressions are multiplied in the same way.

P R
The product of the rational expressions and is
Q S
P R PR
 
Q S QS
That is, to multiply rational expressions, multiply the numerators
and multiply the denominators.

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley Slide 7.2 - 7
 Multiplying Rational
EXAMPLE 1 Expressions

Multiply. Write each answer in lowest terms.

Solution:
2 5 2 5 2 5 1
   
7 10 1 7 10 7 2 5 7
25 
7
p 3
8 p2q 9 8 p 2 q 9 8 p p q 3 3 24 p
 2   
3 pq 3 p q 2 3 p q q q
q
24 p

q
It is also possible to divide out common factors in the numerator
and denominator before multiplying the rational expressions.
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 Multiplying Rational
EXAMPLE 2 Expressions

Multiply. Write the answer in lowest terms.

3 p  q  q 3q
 
p 2 p  q 2p
Solution:
3  p  q  q 3  p  q  q 3q
  
2  p  q  p 2  p  q  p 2p

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley Slide 7.2 - 9
 EXAMPLE 3
Multiply. Write the answer in lowest terms.
2
x  7 x  10 6x  6
 2
3x  6 x  2 x  15
Solution: 2*3(x – 1)
6(x – 1)

  7 x 10 6 x  6 
x 2
 x  2  x  5 6 x  6 

3x  6  x  2 x  15 
2
3x  6  x  5 x  3
3(x + 2)
2 3  x  5  x  2  x  1 2  x  1
 
3  x  2  x  5  x  3  x  3
 Example 4
2
k 3 1 k
 2
k  1 k  4k  3
2
8x 7y
3
 3
21 y 16 x

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Activity: “In MY Own” Its Your Turn!
Multiply and simplify

7 x5 5a 4 c 24bc 2
4
  3 2
x 21 12b 15a b

a4 a 2  6a  5
2
 2
a  7 a  10 a  5a  4

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

How do you multiply RAE?
 Activity 2: THE CIRCLE
ARROW PROCESS
Based on the steps that you made in the previous activity, make a
conceptual map on the steps in multiplying rational algebraic
expressions. Write the procedure and the important concepts in
every step inside the circle. If necessary, add a new circle.

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Final Step

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Objective 2

Divide rational expressions.

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Divide rational expressions.
Division of rational expressions is defined as follows.

P R R
If and are any two rational expressions with 0,
then Q S S
P R P S PS
    .
Q S Q R QR
That is, to divide one rational expression by another rational
expression, multiply the first rational expression by the reciprocal
of the second rational expression.

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley Slide 7.2 - 17
EXAMPLE 4 Dividing Rational Expressions

Divide. Write each answer in lowest terms. y 2 x  9.

Solution:
3 5 3 16 3 4 4 12
    
4 16 4 5 4 5 5

9 p2 6 p3 9 p2 3 p  4 3 3 p p 3
    
3p  4 3p  4 3p  4 6 p 3
2 3 p p p 2p

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EXAMPLE 5 Dividing Rational Expressions

Divide. Write the answer in lowest terms.

5a 2b 10ab 2

2 8

Solution:
5a 2 b 8 5 a a b 2 2 2 2a
   
2 10ab 2 2 2 5 a b b b

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EXAMPLE 6 Dividing Rational Expressions

Divide. Write the answer in lowest terms.

4 x  x  3  x 2  x  3

2 x 1 4 x2  1
4 x  x  3
4x2  1
Solution:   2
2 x  1  x  x  3
4 x 2 x  12 x  1

 12 x  1x x
4 2 x  1

x
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 Dividing Rational Expressions
EXAMPLE 7 (Factors Are Opposites)

Divide. Write in the answer in lowest terms.

ab  a 2 a b

a 2  1 a 2  2a  1

Solution: ab  a 2 a 2  2a  1
 2 
a 1 a b
a  1a  b a  1a  1

a  1a  1a  b 
a a  1

a  1
Remember to write −1 when dividing out factors that are opposite of
each other. It may be written in the numerator or denominator, but not
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Multiplying or Dividing Rational Expressions.
In summary, use the following steps to multiply or divide
rational expressions.

Step 1: Note the operation. If the operation is division, use

the definition of division to rewrite it as multiplication.
Step 2: Multiply numerators and denominators.
Step 3: Factor all numerators and denominators completely.
Step 4: Write in lowest terms using the fundamental property.

Steps 2 and 3 may be interchanged based on personal

preference.

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