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b x− y
1. Algebraic expressions such as a + , and 5 + are called “mixed
c x+3
expressions.” Changing mixed expressions to rational expressions is similar to
changing mixed numbers to improper fractions.
2 2 3(5) + 2 15 + 2 17 a2 + b a ( a − b) + ( a 2 + b)
3 or 3 + = = = a+ = =
5 5 5 5 5 a−b a−b
a 2 − ab + a 2 + b 2a 2 − ab + b
=
a−b a−b
Help students to see that they are changing numbers with unlike denominators. For
a2 + b a a2 + b
example, consider a + as + . Changing the mixed expression to an
a−b 1 a −b
a
algebraic fraction requires that be renamed with the LCD (a – b) as its
1
denominator.
x2 − y 2
Notice that 8 + is a mixed expression. Therefore, use the method shown
x2 + y2
above to find the sum.
x2 − y2 8( x 2 + y 2 ) + ( x 2 − y 2 ) 8 x 2 + 8 y 2 + x 2 − y 2 9x2 + 7 y2
8+ = = =
x2 + y2 x2 + y 2 x2 + y2 x2 + y2
3
3. Example: FindÎ m + and simplify.
m+4
3 m ( m + 4) + 3 m 2 + 4m + 3
m+ = =
m+4 m+4 m+4
1 a+b 1
−
1
3
2 8 a x y
2 a a−b 1 1
5 +
3 b b x y
3
3 7
5. Consider the complex fraction 5 . To simplify this fraction rewrite it as ÷
7 5 8
8
and proceed as follows. Recall that to find the
3 7 3 8 24
÷ Î • Î quotient, you multiply by
5 8 5 7 35 8 7
, the reciprocal of
7 8
a c a d ad
÷ Î • Î When simplifying complex
b d b c bc fractions, the following shortcut
may be applied
a
b = ad = outside ⋅ product
c bc inside ⋅ product
d
a
Any complex fraction b , where b ≠ 0, c ≠ 0, and d ≠ 0, may be
c
d
ad
expressed as .
bc
1 1
+
x y
8. Example: simplifyÎ .
1 1
−
x y
1 1 y x y+x
+ +
x y xy xy xy y+x xy y+x xy y+x
Î Î Î • Î • Î
1 1 y x y−x xy y−x xy y−x y−x
− −
x y xy xy xy
1 ( x + 4)( x + 4) − 1 x 2 + 8 x + 16 − 1 x 2 + 8 x + 15
x+4−
x+4 Î x+4 Î 2 x+4 Î 2 x+4
48 ( x + 11)( x − 3) + 48 x + 8 x − 33 + 48 x + 8 x + 15
x + 11 +
x−3 x−3 X −3 x−3
1
x + 8x + 1
2
x−3 x−3
• 2 Î
x+4 x + 8x + 1 x + 4
1
10. All of these calculations may seem confusing to some students. Have students
separate these into two problems: one involving the numerator and one the
denominator. Then put the two together.
x+4
x−
11. Example: simplifyÎ x +1
x−2
x+4 x( x + 1) − ( x + 4) x2 + x − x − 4 x2 − 4
x−
x +1 Î x +1 x +1 x2 − 4
Î x +1 Î
1
Î •
x−2 x−2 x−2 x−2 x +1 x − 2
1
1
( x + 2)( x − 2) x+2
Î
( x + 1)( x − 2) x +1
1
Simplify.
1
3
1. 2
3
4
4
x2
y
2.
y
x2
x+4
y−2
3.
x2
y3
x3
y2
4.
x+ y
x− y
x+ y
5. a+b
x2 − y 2
a 2 − b2
a 2 − 2a − 3
7. a2 − 1
a −3
15
x−
8. x−2
20
x−
x −1
2
x+2+
9. x+5
6
x+6+
x +1
3
x+5+
10. x +1
3
x −1−
x +1
Simplify.
1
3
1. 2 7 2
3
4 2 Î • Î • Î 14
7 4 7 4
4 19 2 19 2 19 19
4 1
x2 x2 x2 x2 x2 x4
y • Î • Î 2
2. y y y y y
y
x2
x+4
y−2 x + 4 y3 y 3 ( x + 4)
3. • 2Î 2
x2 y−2 x x ( y − 2)
y3
x3 x3 x − y x 3 ( x − y)
• Î
y2 y2 x + y y 2 ( x + y)
4.
x+ y
x− y
x+ y
1 1
5. a+b 1( x + y ) (a + b)(a − b) 1( x + y ) (a + b)(a − b) a−b
x2 − y 2 • Î • Î
1(a + b) ( x + y )( x − y ) 1(a + b) ( x + y )( x − y ) x− y
a 2 − b2
1 1
(a − 3)(a + 1)
a 2 − 2a − 3
(a + 1)(a − 1) (a − 3)(a + 1) 1
a2 − 1 Î • Î
7. 1(a − 3) (a + 1)(a − 1) 1(a − 3)
a −3
1
1 1
(a − 3)(a + 1) 1 1
• Î
(a + 1)(a − 1) 1(a − 3) a −1
1 1
15 x( x − 2) − 15 x 2 − 2 x − 15 ( x − 5)( x + 3)
x−
x−2 1( x − 2)
8. x−2 Î 2 x−2 Î Î
x−
20 x( x − 1) − 20 x − x − 20 ( x − 5)( x + 4)
x −1 x −1 x −1 1( x − 1)
( x − 5)( x + 3) 1( x − 1)
• Î
1( x − 2) ( x − 5)( x + 4)
( x − 5)( x + 3) 1( x − 1) ( x + 3)( x − 1)
• Î
1( x − 2) ( x − 5)( x + 4) ( x − 2)( x + 4)
3
x+5+
10. x +1
3
x −1−
x +1
( x + 5)( x + 1) + 3 x2 + 6x + 8
x + 1 Î x + 6 x + 8 • x + 1 Î ( x + 4)( x + 2) • 1( x + 1)
2
x +1 Î Î
( x − 1)( x + 1) − 3 x2 − 4 x +1 x2 − 4 1( x + 1) ( x + 2)( x − 2)
x +1 x +1
( x + 4)( x + 2) 1( x + 1) x+4
• Î
1( x + 1) ( x + 2)( x − 2) x−2
Date: ______________
10. On question 10, did the student simplify the expression correctly?