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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

how did you get 1640
Noor Reply
If auger is pair are the roots of equation x2+5x-3=0
Peter Reply
Wayne and Dennis like to ride the bike path from Riverside Park to the beach. Dennis’s speed is seven miles per hour faster than Wayne’s speed, so it takes Wayne 2 hours to ride to the beach while it takes Dennis 1.5 hours for the ride. Find the speed of both bikers.
MATTHEW Reply
420
Sharon
from theory: distance [miles] = speed [mph] × time [hours] info #1 speed_Dennis × 1.5 = speed_Wayne × 2 => speed_Wayne = 0.75 × speed_Dennis (i) info #2 speed_Dennis = speed_Wayne + 7 [mph] (ii) use (i) in (ii) => [...] speed_Dennis = 28 mph speed_Wayne = 21 mph
George
Let W be Wayne's speed in miles per hour and D be Dennis's speed in miles per hour. We know that W + 7 = D and W * 2 = D * 1.5. Substituting the first equation into the second: W * 2 = (W + 7) * 1.5 W * 2 = W * 1.5 + 7 * 1.5 0.5 * W = 7 * 1.5 W = 7 * 3 or 21 W is 21 D = W + 7 D = 21 + 7 D = 28
Salma
Devon is 32 32​​ years older than his son, Milan. The sum of both their ages is 54 54​. Using the variables d d​ and m m​ to represent the ages of Devon and Milan, respectively, write a system of equations to describe this situation. Enter the equations below, separated by a comma.
Aaron Reply
find product (-6m+6) ( 3m²+4m-3)
SIMRAN Reply
-42m²+60m-18
Salma
what is the solution
bill
how did you arrive at this answer?
bill
-24m+3+3mÁ^2
Susan
i really want to learn
Amira
I only got 42 the rest i don't know how to solve it. Please i need help from anyone to help me improve my solving mathematics please
Amira
Hw did u arrive to this answer.
Aphelele
hi
Bajemah
-6m(3mA²+4m-3)+6(3mA²+4m-3) =-18m²A²-24m²+18m+18mA²+24m-18 Rearrange like items -18m²A²-24m²+42m+18A²-18
Salma
complete the table of valuesfor each given equatio then graph. 1.x+2y=3
Jovelyn Reply
x=3-2y
Salma
y=x+3/2
Salma
Hi
Enock
given that (7x-5):(2+4x)=8:7find the value of x
Nandala
3x-12y=18
Kelvin
please why isn't that the 0is in ten thousand place
Grace Reply
please why is it that the 0is in the place of ten thousand
Grace
Send the example to me here and let me see
Stephen
A meditation garden is in the shape of a right triangle, with one leg 7 feet. The length of the hypotenuse is one more than the length of one of the other legs. Find the lengths of the hypotenuse and the other leg
Marry Reply
how far
Abubakar
cool u
Enock
state in which quadrant or on which axis each of the following angles given measure. in standard position would lie 89°
Abegail Reply
hello
BenJay
hi
Method
I am eliacin, I need your help in maths
Rood
how can I help
Sir
hmm can we speak here?
Amoon
however, may I ask you some questions about Algarba?
Amoon
hi
Enock
what the last part of the problem mean?
Roger
The Jones family took a 15 mile canoe ride down the Indian River in three hours. After lunch, the return trip back up the river took five hours. Find the rate, in mph, of the canoe in still water and the rate of the current.
cameron Reply
Shakir works at a computer store. His weekly pay will be either a fixed amount, $925, or $500 plus 12% of his total sales. How much should his total sales be for his variable pay option to exceed the fixed amount of $925.
mahnoor Reply
I'm guessing, but it's somewhere around $4335.00 I think
Lewis
12% of sales will need to exceed 925 - 500, or 425 to exceed fixed amount option. What amount of sales does that equal? 425 ÷ (12÷100) = 3541.67. So the answer is sales greater than 3541.67. Check: Sales = 3542 Commission 12%=425.04 Pay = 500 + 425.04 = 925.04. 925.04 > 925.00
Munster
difference between rational and irrational numbers
Arundhati Reply
When traveling to Great Britain, Bethany exchanged $602 US dollars into £515 British pounds. How many pounds did she receive for each US dollar?
Jakoiya Reply
how to reduced echelon form
Solomon Reply
Jazmine trained for 3 hours on Saturday. She ran 8 miles and then biked 24 miles. Her biking speed is 4 mph faster than her running speed. What is her running speed?
Zack Reply
d=r×t the equation would be 8/r+24/r+4=3 worked out
Sheirtina

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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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