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Activities Using WA
WA Activity # 8 ‐‐ Rational Functions
Type "let x=2, y=‐3, z=4 in (3xy ‐7x^3y^2) / (4yz^2)” into the WA search engine. Use the results
to answer the following questions.
1. What is the exact answer as a fraction?
Type “(x^2 – 25) / (x – 5)” into the WA search engine. Use the results to answer the following
questions.
2. What is the domain?
3. If there’s a restriction on the domain is there a “hole in the graph” visible in the plot?
4. Explain why one of the Alternate forms is x + 5.
5. The Root is x = ‐5. Why isn’t 5 one of the Roots also?
Type “(x^2 ‐ 4x ‐ 21)/(14 ‐ 2x)” into the WA search engine. Use the results to answer the
following questions.
6. WA gives several Alternate forms. Write the answer as a single fraction.
7. If you had to simplify this expression by hand using paper and pencil how would you do so?
Show your work.
Type the complex fraction “(3a^2/6b^3) / (4a^3/b^2)” into the WA search engine. Use the
results to answer the following questions.
8. Did WA change the input to a different format? If so, explain how they got it.
9. Explain how WA simplified this complex fraction to get their result. Use the original
expression or the different format, your choice. Show your work.
Type “x/(x ‐ 2) + 3/(2x + 1)” into the WA search engine. Use the results to answer the following
questions.
10. Find the values for which the rational expression is undefined.
11. In the Alternate form WA combined the two fractions into a single expression. This is
normally what we consider “the answer” to the addition of two rational expressions. Explain
how WA got their answer. Show your work.
Rational Functions 2 Intermediate Algebra
Activities Using WA
12. What are the two Roots? Look at the Plot. Can you see the two Roots as x‐intercepts? If not
type an appropriate command telling WA to display the plot of the graph in a different viewing
window.
Type “m/5 + 5/m = (m +3)/4” into the WA search engine. Use the results to answer the
following questions.
12. What other common meanings does the letter “m” have in math? Click on the link “Use as a
unit instead.” What is the result?
13. Click back on “refer to math.” How many solutions are there to this equation? Why?
14. Explain how the solution was obtained. Show your work.
Type “solve (1/x + 1/y = 1/z) for y” into the WA search engine. Use the results to answer the
following questions.
15. What is the solution?
16. Why can’t x – z = 0?
17. Why can’t xz = 0?
16. Click on Show steps. Is this how you would find the answer by hand using paper and pencil?
If not, explain how you would do it. Show your work.