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Subtract: x 2 x + 3 9 x + 3 .

x 3

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Subtract: 4 x 2 2 x 5 25 2 x 5 .

2 x + 5

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Be careful of the signs when you subtract a binomial!

Subtract: y 2 y 6 2 y + 24 y 6 .

Solution

y 2 y 6 2 y + 24 y 6 The fractions have a common denominator, so subtract the numerators and place the difference over the common denominator. y 2 ( 2 y + 24 ) y 6 Distribute the sign in the numerator. y 2 2 y 24 y 6 Factor the numerator. ( y 6 ) ( y + 4 ) y 6 Remove common factors. ( y 6 ) ( y + 4 ) y 6 Simplify. y + 4

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Subtract: n 2 n 4 n + 12 n 4 .

n + 3

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Subtract: y 2 y 1 9 y 8 y 1 .

y 8

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Subtract: 5 x 2 7 x + 3 x 2 3 x + 18 4 x 2 + x 9 x 2 3 x + 18 .

Solution

5 x 2 7 x + 3 x 2 3 x + 18 4 x 2 + x 9 x 2 3 x + 18 Subtract the numerators and place the difference over the common denominator. 5 x 2 7 x + 3 ( 4 x 2 + x 9 ) x 2 3 x + 18 Distribute the sign in the numerator. 5 x 2 7 x + 3 4 x 2 x + 9 x 2 3 x 18 Combine like terms. x 2 8 x + 12 x 2 3 x 18 Factor the numerator and the denominator. ( x 2 ) ( x 6 ) ( x + 3 ) ( x 6 ) Simplify by removing common factors. ( x 2 ) ( x 6 ) ( x + 3 ) ( x 6 ) Simplify. ( x 2 ) ( x + 3 )

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Subtract: 4 x 2 11 x + 8 x 2 3 x + 2 3 x 2 + x 3 x 2 3 x + 2 .

x 11 x 2

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Subtract: 6 x 2 x + 20 x 2 81 5 x 2 + 11 x 7 x 2 81 .

x 3 x + 9

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Add and subtract rational expressions whose denominators are opposites

When the denominators of two rational expressions are opposites, it is easy to get a common denominator. We just have to multiply one of the fractions by −1 −1 .

Let’s see how this works.

.
Multiply the second fraction by −1 −1 . .
The denominators are the same. .
Simplify. .

Add: 4 u 1 3 u 1 + u 1 3 u .

Solution

.
The denominators are opposites, so multiply the second fraction by −1 −1 . .
Simplify the second fraction. .
The denominators are the same. Add the numerators. .
Simplify. .
Simplify. .

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Add: 8 x 15 2 x 5 + 2 x 5 2 x .

3

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Add: 6 y 2 + 7 y 10 4 y 7 + 2 y 2 + 2 y + 11 7 4 y .

y + 3

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Subtract: m 2 6 m m 2 1 3 m + 2 1 m 2 .

Solution

.
The denominators are opposites, so multiply the second fraction by −1 −1 . .
Simplify the second fraction. .
The denominators are the same. Subtract the numerators. .
Distribute. m 2 6 m + 3 m + 2 m 2 1
Combine like terms. .
Factor the numerator and denominator. .
Simplify by removing common factors. .
Simplify. .

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Subtract: y 2 5 y y 2 4 6 y 6 4 y 2 .

y + 3 y + 2

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Subtract: 2 n 2 + 8 n 1 n 2 1 n 2 7 n 1 1 n 2 .

3 n 2 n 1

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Key concepts

  • Rational Expression Addition
    • If p , q , and r are polynomials where r 0 , then
      p r + q r = p + q r
    • To add rational expressions with a common denominator, add the numerators and place the sum over the common denominator.
  • Rational Expression Subtraction
    • If p , q , and r are polynomials where r 0 , then
      p r q r = p q r
    • To subtract rational expressions, subtract the numerators and place the difference over the common denominator.

Practice makes perfect

Add Rational Expressions with a Common Denominator

In the following exercises, add.

3 a a b + 1 a b

3 a + 1 a + b

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3 c 4 c 5 + 5 4 c 5

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d d + 8 + 5 d + 8

d + 5 d + 8

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p 2 + 10 p p + 2 + 16 p + 2

p + 8

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q 2 + 12 q q + 3 + 27 q + 3

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2 r 2 2 r 1 + 15 r 8 2 r 1

r + 8

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3 s 2 3 s 2 + 13 s 10 3 s 2

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8 t 2 t + 4 + 32 t t + 4

8 t

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6 v 2 v + 5 + 30 v v + 5

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2 w 2 w 2 16 + 8 w w 2 16

2 w w 4

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7 x 2 x 2 9 + 21 x x 2 9

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Subtract Rational Expressions with a Common Denominator

In the following exercises, subtract.

y 2 y + 8 64 y + 8

y 8

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9 a 2 3 a 7 49 3 a 7

3 a + 7

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25 b 2 5 b 6 36 5 b 6

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c 2 c 8 6 c + 16 c 8

c + 2

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d 2 d 9 6 d + 27 d 9

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3 m 2 6 m 30 21 m 30 6 m 30

m 2 3

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2 n 2 4 n 32 30 n 16 4 n 32

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6 p 2 + 3 p + 4 p 2 + 4 p 5 5 p 2 + p + 7 p 2 + 4 p 5

p + 3 p + 5

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5 q 2 + 3 q 9 q 2 + 6 q + 8 4 q 2 + 9 q + 7 q 2 + 6 q + 8

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5 r 2 + 7 r 33 r 2 49 4 r 2 5 r 30 r 2 49

r + 9 r + 7

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7 t 2 t 4 t 2 25 6 t 2 + 2 t 1 t 2 25

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Add and Subtract Rational Expressions whose Denominators are Opposites

In the following exercises, add.

10 v 2 v 1 + 2 v + 4 1 2 v

4

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20 w 5 w 2 + 5 w + 6 2 5 w

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10 x 2 + 16 x 7 8 x 3 + 2 x 2 + 3 x 1 3 8 x

x + 2

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6 y 2 + 2 y 11 3 y 7 + 3 y 2 3 y + 17 7 3 y

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In the following exercises, subtract.

z 2 + 6 z z 2 25 3 z + 20 25 z 2

z + 4 z 5

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a 2 + 3 a a 2 9 3 a 27 9 a 2

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2 b 2 + 30 b 13 b 2 49 2 b 2 5 b 8 49 b 2

4 b 3 b 7

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c 2 + 5 c 10 c 2 16 c 2 8 c 10 16 c 2

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Everyday math

Sarah ran 8 miles and then biked 24 miles. Her biking speed is 4 mph faster than her running speed. If r represents Sarah’s speed when she ran, then her running time is modeled by the expression 8 r and her biking time is modeled by the expression 24 r + 4 . Add the rational expressions 8 r + 24 r + 4 to get an expression for the total amount of time Sarah ran and biked.

32 r + 32 r ( r + 4 )

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If Pete can paint a wall in p hours, then in one hour he can paint 1 p of the wall. It would take Penelope 3 hours longer than Pete to paint the wall, so in one hour she can paint 1 p + 3 of the wall. Add the rational expressions 1 p + 1 p + 3 to get an expression for the part of the wall Pete and Penelope would paint in one hour if they worked together.

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Writing exercises

Donald thinks that 3 x + 4 x is 7 2 x . Is Donald correct? Explain.

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Explain how you find the Least Common Denominator of x 2 + 5 x + 4 and x 2 16 .

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Self check

After completing the exercises, use this checklist to evaluate your mastery of the objectives of this section.

The above image is a table with four columns and four rows. The first row is the header row. The first header is labeled “I can…”, the second “Confidently”, the third, “With some help”, and the fourth “No – I don’t get it!”. In the first column under “I can”, the next row reads “add rational expressions with a common denominator.”, the next row reads “subtract rational expressions with a common denominator.”, the next row reads, “add and subtract rational expressions whose denominators are opposites.”, the last row reads “What does this checklist tell you about your mastery of this section? What steps will you take to improve?” The remaining columns are blank.

What does this checklist tell you about your mastery of this section? What steps will you take to improve?

Questions & Answers

differentiate between demand and supply giving examples
Lambiv Reply
differentiated between demand and supply using examples
Lambiv
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Lambiv
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WARKISA
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appreciation
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In economics, a perfect market refers to a theoretical construct where all participants have perfect information, goods are homogenous, there are no barriers to entry or exit, and prices are determined solely by supply and demand. It's an idealized model used for analysis,
Ezea
What is ceteris paribus?
Shukri Reply
other things being equal
AI-Robot
When MP₁ becomes negative, TP start to decline. Extuples Suppose that the short-run production function of certain cut-flower firm is given by: Q=4KL-0.6K2 - 0.112 • Where is quantity of cut flower produced, I is labour input and K is fixed capital input (K-5). Determine the average product of lab
Kelo
Extuples Suppose that the short-run production function of certain cut-flower firm is given by: Q=4KL-0.6K2 - 0.112 • Where is quantity of cut flower produced, I is labour input and K is fixed capital input (K-5). Determine the average product of labour (APL) and marginal product of labour (MPL)
Kelo
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Shukri
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Shukri
what is monopoly mean?
Habtamu Reply
What is different between quantity demand and demand?
Shukri Reply
Quantity demanded refers to the specific amount of a good or service that consumers are willing and able to purchase at a give price and within a specific time period. Demand, on the other hand, is a broader concept that encompasses the entire relationship between price and quantity demanded
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Economic growth as an increase in the production and consumption of goods and services within an economy.but Economic development as a broader concept that encompasses not only economic growth but also social & human well being.
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Jabir
What do you think is more important to focus on when considering inequality ?
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sir...I just want to ask one question... Define the term contract curve? if you are free please help me to find this answer 🙏
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it is a curve that we get after connecting the pareto optimal combinations of two consumers after their mutually beneficial trade offs
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In economics, the contract curve refers to the set of points in an Edgeworth box diagram where both parties involved in a trade cannot be made better off without making one of them worse off. It represents the Pareto efficient allocations of goods between two individuals or entities, where neither p
Cornelius
In economics, the contract curve refers to the set of points in an Edgeworth box diagram where both parties involved in a trade cannot be made better off without making one of them worse off. It represents the Pareto efficient allocations of goods between two individuals or entities,
Cornelius
Suppose a consumer consuming two commodities X and Y has The following utility function u=X0.4 Y0.6. If the price of the X and Y are 2 and 3 respectively and income Constraint is birr 50. A,Calculate quantities of x and y which maximize utility. B,Calculate value of Lagrange multiplier. C,Calculate quantities of X and Y consumed with a given price. D,alculate optimum level of output .
Feyisa Reply
Answer
Feyisa
c
Jabir
the market for lemon has 10 potential consumers, each having an individual demand curve p=101-10Qi, where p is price in dollar's per cup and Qi is the number of cups demanded per week by the i th consumer.Find the market demand curve using algebra. Draw an individual demand curve and the market dema
Gsbwnw Reply
suppose the production function is given by ( L, K)=L¼K¾.assuming capital is fixed find APL and MPL. consider the following short run production function:Q=6L²-0.4L³ a) find the value of L that maximizes output b)find the value of L that maximizes marginal product
Abdureman
types of unemployment
Yomi Reply
What is the difference between perfect competition and monopolistic competition?
Mohammed
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Source:  OpenStax, Elementary algebra. OpenStax CNX. Jan 18, 2017 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col12116/1.2
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