Section 9-3a

Multiplying and Dividing

Rational Expressions

Def: A rational algebraic expression can be expressed as the quotient of two polynomials where the denominator can never be zero

To simplify we divide both the numerator and theDenominator by the greatest common factor

Examples:

54

5

4

2

2

72

xx

x

x

x

x

1.) Simplify: Cancel; common

factors

428

34222

2

aaab

baa

2.) Simplify: Factor then cancel23

43

62

3

aa

aa

3.) Multiply:

2

3

35

63

9

7

a

b

b

a

Cancel where you canThen, multiply numerator toNumerator and denominator

To denominator

4.) multiply:3

2

2

2

8

3

5

2

x

yz

zy

x

5.) Divide:

mn

cd

nm

dc

24

35

9

14 3

23

2

When dividing fractions,

Multiply by thereciprocal

Answers should be in Descending alphabetical order

6.) Simplify:

2x 3y

7x 714x 14

2x 2y 3

Homework

Page 566

Problems: 17-31 all