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2+6
must be entered as ( 2 + 6 ) / ( 3 2 ) , which is 8. If students
32
only enter 2 + 6 / 3 2 , their calculator will give them a value of 2. This is a good place to
remind students that fraction bars (like parentheses) also act as grouping symbols, separating
the numerator and denominators into their own groups for evaluation.
Students begin the study of rational expressions with all sorts of interesting misconceptions.
The most dangerous misconception is the idea that terms can be cancelled. For example,
x +1
students are often quite sure that the x 's in
can be cancelled. Here is a good
x+2
2 +1
3 1
counterexample (let x = 2 ):
. Clearly, . Where does this misconception come
2+2
4 2
from? Well, we did just teach students exponent rules not too long ago, and in those rules,
3 x
1
with . Your students
we taught them to replace the x 's in an expression like this:
1
4 x
may not have made a clear distinction between rules that apply to terms in addition and rules
that apply to factors in multiplication. If this is the case, then they do not see the difference
3+ x
3x
and
.
between expressions like
4+ x
4x
Since we generally use slash marks to cross out factors that we replace with ones, students
can become easily confused if they also use slash marks in situations like this: 3 x + x + 2 .
Students may not realize that in one case, the like terms sum to zero, and in the other case,
1
common factors are replaced by . It may help to use paired examples to demonstrate the
1
two concepts and differentiate between what the students see as two types of cancelling:
3( x 2)
.
3 + x x + 2 vs.
2 ( x 2)
1
and x + 2 . Consider
x+2
x+2
1
are equivalent expressions and these look very similar to
and
that x + 2 and
1
x+2
x + 2 . Make sure to keep revisiting examples that simplify to have 1 in the numerator or 1 in
the denominator so that you can find and correct any students who are making this mistake.
Algebra Activities Instructor's Resource Binder, M. Andersen, Copyright 2011, Cengage Learning
Even after successfully completing all the factoring and simplifying steps, students will often
take incorrect action when confronted by the answer. For example, the following student
x 2 + 9 x + 20 ( x + 4 ) ( x + 5 )
x +4
4
action would not be surprising: 2
=
= . If you tell
=
3
x + 2 x 15 ( x 3) ( x + 5 )
x 3
1
x+4
students that the problem is done at the
step, you do not give them the opportunity to
x3
make the cancelling mistake that they are likely to make on a test. However, you can give
them this opportunity (and correct their thinking) by simply asking Are we done? after
every step of the simplification.
As students factor the numerator and denominator of rational expressions, it is quite helpful
to write any non-factoring expressions within parentheses. For example, to simplify
x 2 + 3x + 2
, we first write it with the numerator factored and the denominator in parentheses
x +1
( x + 2 )( x + 1)
as
( x + 1)
. This serves three purposes. First, it reminds students that they did try to
factor the denominator and that it did not factor. Second, it is visually easier to pick up on the
factors that simplify if they look more similar. Third, students are less likely to try to
cancel pieces of the factor if they can see it must be held together as a group.
( )(
) ????
x2 + 5x
=
2
x + 12 x + 35 ( x + 5 )( x + 7 )
So, even though GCFs do not frequently show up in these problems, you should still start
every factoring process by reminding students to look for a GCF first.
If students only see polynomial opposites written in the opposite order, like
5 x
or
x5
x 2 + 3x 4
, they can easily leap to the wrong logical conclusion. That is, the student
4 3x x 2
begins to believe that any two expressions, written in the opposite order, are opposites.
What, then, will they do with an expression like
x+3
? It is likely that these students will
3+ x
see two opposites here. Make sure you change the order in some of your examples of
opposites, for example
5 x
5 x
is an equivalent expression of
.
x5
5 + x
Algebra Activities Instructor's Resource Binder, M. Andersen, Copyright 2011, Cengage Learning
25
2 5
1
=
=
=
2 35 2 1 3 5 1 3
5+5
o What if it was written like this:
?
5 + 25
10
o Simplify:
30
2227 222 7
8
=
=
77
7
7 71
49 + 7
o What if it was written like this:
?
49
o Simplify:
56
49
2 5 x x y y y
10 x 2 y 3
25 x x y y y
x
=
=
o Simplify:
=
4
2 35 x y y y y 2 1 3 5 1 x 1 y 1 y 1 y 1 y 3y
30 xy
In numerical fractions, the numerator and denominator must be factored before we simplify
the fraction. The same rule applies to rational expressions. To simplify a rational expression
you must remember one step: FACTOR FIRST!
Examples: Simplify.
x 2 + 9 x + 20
x 2 + 2 x 15
2 x2 8
x 2 + 7 x + 10
2 x 2 11x 21
x 2 14 x + 49
x2 9
x2 + 8x 9
( x + 3)( x 3)
( x + 9 ) ( x 1)
x2 + 5x
x 2 + 12 x + 35
2 ( x + 2 )( x 2 )
( x + 5)( x + 2 )
x ( x + 5)
( x + 5)( x + 7 )
2x 4
Factor out a GCF and difference of squares.
x+5
Algebra Activities Instructor's Resource Binder, M. Andersen, Copyright 2011, Cengage Learning
25
52
x+4
x 4
3
5+3
3
5 3
x5
(factor out a 1 )
5 x
For two polynomial expressions to be opposites, every corresponding pair of terms must be
opposite.
2 3x + x 2
Example: 2
x + 3x 2
( x + 2)
can be rewritten as
2 + ( 3x ) + x 2
x 2 + 3 x + ( 2 )
Example:
15 2 x
2 x 15
can be rewritten as
15 + ( 2 x )
2 x + ( 15 )
Example:
a 8
a + 8
can be rewritten as
a + ( 8 )
a + 8
x 2 + x 20
Simplify.
16 x 2
( x 4 )( x + 5) = ( x 4 ) ( x + 5) = ( x + 5) = x 5
=
( 4 x )( 4 + x ) ( 4 x ) 1 ( 4 + x ) ( 4 + x ) x + 4
or
Algebra Activities Instructor's Resource Binder, M. Andersen, Copyright 2011, Cengage Learning
x+5
x+4
Student Activity: The Ones Recycling Center. There are all sorts of
student misconceptions about what kind of expressions are really opposites and
what kinds of expressions are really equivalent. This activity targets those ideas
by having students work only with these concepts. (RAT-4)
Student Activity: Which of These is Not Like the Others? Students have a
lot of trouble deciding on whether their answer is equivalent to the one in the
book. (RAT-5)
Algebra Activities Instructor's Resource Binder, M. Andersen, Copyright 2011, Cengage Learning
A
B
x2 + 4x 5
for x = 2 and x = 3 .
x2 9
( )2 + 4 ( ) 5
Parentheses skeleton:
( )2 9
( 2 )2 + 4 ( 2 ) 5 4 + 8 5 7
Evaluate for x = 2 :
=
=
5
49
( 2 )2 9
( 3)2 + 4 ( 3) 5 9 12 5 8
Evaluate for x = 3:
=
=
= undefined
99
0
( 3)2 9
Expression
Parentheses
Skeleton
x=4
x=0
x = 2
x = 13
3x 12
x2 + 2x
3x 2 + 8 x 3
x2 5x + 4
x 2 16
x2 + 2x
It is often easier to perform the evaluation if the rational expression is factored first. This way,
you can quickly see the values that create a factor of zero in the numerator or denominator.
Example 2:
Evaluate
x2 + 4 x 5
for x = 0, x = 1 , and x = 3 .
x2 9
( x + 5)( x 1)
Factored form:
( x + 3)( x 3)
( 0 + 5)( 0 1) ( 5)( 1) 5 5
Evaluate for x = 0 :
=
=
=
( 0 + 3)( 0 3) ( 3)( 3) 9 9
(1 + 5 )(1 1) = ( 6 )( 0 ) = 0 = 0
Evaluate for x = 1:
(1 + 3)(1 3) ( 4 )( 2 ) 8
( 3 + 5 )( 3 1) = (8)( 2 ) = 16 = undefined
Evaluate for x = 3:
( 3 + 3)( 3 3) ( 6 )( 0 ) 0
As soon as you see a factor of zero in the numerator or denominator, you can
quickly find the value of the answer.
Algebra Activities Instructor's Resource Binder, M. Andersen, Copyright 2011, Cengage Learning
Expression
Factored Form of
the Expression
x=4
x=0
x = 13
x = 2
3x 12
x2 + 2 x
3x 2 + 8 x 3
x2 5x + 4
x 2 16
x2 + 2 x
Recall that we can solve an equation like ( x + 3)( x 5 ) = 0 using the zero property. Because of
the Zero Factor Property, either x + 3 = 0 or x 5 = 0 . This leads us to solutions of 3 and 5.
Example 3:
x2 + 4x 5
undefined?
x2 9
x=3
x + 4x 5
is undefined for 3 and 3.
x2 9
2
The expression
Expression
Factored Form of
the Expression
Where is the
expression
undefined?
3x 12
x2 + 2 x
3x 2 + 8 x 3
x2 5x + 4
x 2 16
x2 + 2 x
Algebra Activities Instructor's Resource Binder, M. Andersen, Copyright 2011, Cengage Learning
Student Activity
Match Up on Simplifying Rational Expressions
Directions: Match each of the expressions
in the squares in the table below with an
equivalent simplified expression from the top.
If an equivalent expression is not found
among the choices A through E, then
choose F (none of these).
nal
Ratiosions
A 1
B 1
C x+5
x
D
3
E 3x
F None of these
Expre
9 x 3 + 15 x
3x 2 + 5
x 2 25
x5
x 1
1 x
x2 + x
3x + 3
( 3x + 2 )( x + 1)
3x 2 + 5 x + 2
x 1
1+ x
3x3 6 x 2
x2
3x + 1
1 + 3x
3 x3 27 x
( x + 3)( x 3)
x3 + 2 x 2 + x
3x 2 + 6 x + 3
x 2 + 10 x + 25
x+5
3x 1
1 3x
x2 + 6x + 5
x +1
x 2 + 25
x 2 25
x 8
x + 8
18 x 2 3x
1 + 6 x
Algebra Activities Instructor's Resource Binder, M. Andersen, Copyright 2011, Cengage Learning
Student Activity
The Ones Recycling Center
Directions: In each pair of expressions, make a decision about whether the expression
is equivalent to 1 or 1. Then sort each expression into the correct recycling bin below.
If an expression does not belong in either recycling bin, just leave it out! The first one
has been done for you.
The 1 Bin: The numerator and denominator are equivalent.
The -1 Bin: The numerator and denominator are opposites.
x 1
1 x
x+2
2+ x
x3
x+3
x2 1
1 x2
x2 + 6x + 9
3( x + 4 )
( x + 4 )( 3)
v2 1
v2 + 1
x 3
x+3
x + 3
3 x
y2 + 1
1 + y2
x2 + 2 x 1
x2 + 2x + 1
x2 2x 3
3 + 2 x x2
ab
a + b
x 2 + 3x + 1
3x + 1 + x 2
5 x
5 x
( x + 3)
( x + 3)
x2 + 9
x 1
1 x
Algebra Activities Instructor's Resource Binder, M. Andersen, Copyright 2011, Cengage Learning
Student Activity
Which of These is Not Like the Others?
Directions: When you look at your answer to a problem and compare it to the answer
in the back of the book or a friends answer, you might find that they are not quite the
same. This does not mean that one of them is really different though. In each row of
the table, all the expressions are equivalent except for one of them. Circle the
expressions that are the same and place an X over the oddball expression in
each row. The first one has been done for you.
Heres two hints if youre really stuck:
You could evaluate all the expressions for the same given value and see which
expressions have the same result.
You could try factoring out a 1 if the numerator and denominator look suspiciously
like they might be opposites.
4
x
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
x+3
x4
4
x
4
x
x 3
x4
x 3
x + 4
x+3
4 x
x5
x5
x5
x + 5
x5
5 x
x5
x5
x 4
x 4
x+4
x+4
x+4
4+ x
x +1
1 x
1+ x
x 1
x +1
x 1
x4
x + 4x + 3
4 x
x + 4x + 3
x4
( x + 1)( x + 3)
4
x
x 4
x+4
1+ x
1 x
4 x
x + 4x + 3
2
Algebra Activities Instructor's Resource Binder, M. Andersen, Copyright 2011, Cengage Learning