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Given a complex rational expression, simplify it.

  1. Combine the expressions in the numerator into a single rational expression by adding or subtracting.
  2. Combine the expressions in the denominator into a single rational expression by adding or subtracting.
  3. Rewrite as the numerator divided by the denominator.
  4. Rewrite as multiplication.
  5. Multiply.
  6. Simplify.

Simplifying complex rational expressions

Simplify: y + 1 x x y .

Begin by combining the expressions in the numerator into one expression.

y x x + 1 x    Multiply by  x x  to get LCD as denominator . x y x + 1 x x y + 1 x    Add numerators .

Now the numerator is a single rational expression and the denominator is a single rational expression.

x y + 1 x x y

We can rewrite this as division, and then multiplication.

x y + 1 x ÷ x y x y + 1 x y x Rewrite as multiplication . y ( x y + 1 ) x 2 Multiply .
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Simplify: x y y x y

x 2 y 2 x y 2

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Can a complex rational expression always be simplified?

Yes. We can always rewrite a complex rational expression as a simplified rational expression.

Access these online resources for additional instruction and practice with rational expressions.

Key concepts

  • Rational expressions can be simplified by cancelling common factors in the numerator and denominator. See [link] .
  • We can multiply rational expressions by multiplying the numerators and multiplying the denominators. See [link] .
  • To divide rational expressions, multiply by the reciprocal of the second expression. See [link] .
  • Adding or subtracting rational expressions requires finding a common denominator. See [link] and [link] .
  • Complex rational expressions have fractions in the numerator or the denominator. These expressions can be simplified. See [link] .

Section exercises

Verbal

How can you use factoring to simplify rational expressions?

You can factor the numerator and denominator to see if any of the terms can cancel one another out.

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How do you use the LCD to combine two rational expressions?

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Tell whether the following statement is true or false and explain why: You only need to find the LCD when adding or subtracting rational expressions.

True. Multiplication and division do not require finding the LCD because the denominators can be combined through those operations, whereas addition and subtraction require like terms.

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Algebraic

For the following exercises, simplify the rational expressions.

x 2 16 x 2 5 x + 4

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y 2 + 10 y + 25 y 2 + 11 y + 30

y + 5 y + 6

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6 a 2 24 a + 24 6 a 2 24

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9 b 2 + 18 b + 9 3 b + 3

3 b + 3

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2 x 2 + 7 x 4 4 x 2 + 2 x 2

x + 4 2 x + 2

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6 x 2 + 5 x 4 3 x 2 + 19 x + 20

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a 2 + 9 a + 18 a 2 + 3 a 18

a + 3 a 3

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3 c 2 + 25 c 18 3 c 2 23 c + 14

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12 n 2 29 n 8 28 n 2 5 n 3

3 n 8 7 n 3

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For the following exercises, multiply the rational expressions and express the product in simplest form.

x 2 x 6 2 x 2 + x 6 2 x 2 + 7 x 15 x 2 9

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c 2 + 2 c 24 c 2 + 12 c + 36 c 2 10 c + 24 c 2 8 c + 16

c 6 c + 6

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2 d 2 + 9 d 35 d 2 + 10 d + 21 3 d 2 + 2 d 21 3 d 2 + 14 d 49

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10 h 2 9 h 9 2 h 2 19 h + 24 h 2 16 h + 64 5 h 2 37 h 24

1

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6 b 2 + 13 b + 6 4 b 2 9 6 b 2 + 31 b 30 18 b 2 3 b 10

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2 d 2 + 15 d + 25 4 d 2 25 2 d 2 15 d + 25 25 d 2 1

d 2 25 25 d 2 1

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6 x 2 5 x 50 15 x 2 44 x 20 20 x 2 7 x 6 2 x 2 + 9 x + 10

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t 2 1 t 2 + 4 t + 3 t 2 + 2 t 15 t 2 4 t + 3

t + 5 t + 3

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2 n 2 n 15 6 n 2 + 13 n 5 12 n 2 13 n + 3 4 n 2 15 n + 9

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36 x 2 25 6 x 2 + 65 x + 50 3 x 2 + 32 x + 20 18 x 2 + 27 x + 10

6 x 5 6 x + 5

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Questions & Answers

it is the relatively stable flow of income
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what is Flexible exchang rate?
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bcoz of existence of frictional unemployment in our economy.
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what is flexible exchang rate?
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due to existence of the pple with disabilities
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the demand of a good rises, causing the demand for another good to fall
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is it possible to leave every good at the same level
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I don't think so. because check it, if the demand for chicken increases, people will no longer consume fish like they used to causing a fall in the demand for fish
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is not really possible to let the value of a goods to be same at the same time.....
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Suppose the inflation rate is 6%, does it mean that all the goods you purchase will cost 6% more than previous year? Provide with reasoning.
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Not necessarily. To measure the inflation rate economists normally use an averaged price index of a basket of certain goods. So if you purchase goods included in the basket, you will notice that you pay 6% more, otherwise not necessarily.
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Economic growth Stable prices and low unemployment
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increase in general price levels
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Good day How do I calculate this question: C= 100+5yd G= 2000 T= 2000 I(planned)=200. Suppose the actual output is 3000. What is the level of planned expenditures at this level of output?
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Criteria for determining money supply
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Aggregate demand
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C=k100 +9y and i=k50.calculate the equilibrium level of output
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Source:  OpenStax, Algebra and trigonometry. OpenStax CNX. Nov 14, 2016 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11758/1.6
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