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Consider the fraction 6 24 . Multiply this fraction by 1. This is written 6 24 · 1 . But 1 can be rewritten as 1 6 1 6 .

6 24 1 6 1 6 = 6 1 6 24 1 6 = 1 4

The answer, 1 4 , is the reduced form. Notice that in 1 4 there is no factor common to both the numerator and denominator. This reasoning provides justification for the following rule.

Cancelling

Multiplying or dividing the numerator and denominator by the same nonzero number does not change the value of a fraction.

The process

We can now state a process for reducing a rational expression.

Reducing a rational expression

  1. Factor the numerator and denominator completely.
  2. Divide the numerator and denominator by all factors they have in common, that is, remove all factors of 1.

Reduced to lowest terms

  1. A rational expression is said to be reduced to lowest terms when the numerator and denominator have no factors in common.

Sample set a

Reduce the following rational expressions.

15 x 20 x . Factor . 15 x 20 x = 5 · 3 · x 5 · 2 · 2 · x The factors that are common to both the numerator and denominator are 5 and   x . Divide each by  5 x . 5 · 3 · x 5 · 2 · 2 · x = 3 4 , x 0 It is helpful to draw a line through the divided-out factors .

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x 2 4 x 2 6 x + 8 . Factor. ( x + 2 ) ( x 2 ) ( x 2 ) ( x 4 ) The factor that is common to both the numerator and denominator is  x 2.  Divide each by  x 2. ( x + 2 ) ( x 2 ) ( x 2 ) ( x 4 ) = x + 2 x 4 , x 2 , 4

The expression x 2 x 4 is the reduced form since there are no factors common to both the numerator and denominator. Although there is an x in both, it is a common term , not a common factor , and therefore cannot be divided out.

CAUTION — This is a common error: x 2 x 4 = x 2 x 4 = 2 4 is incorrect!

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a + 2 b 6 a + 12 b . Factor . a + 2 b 6 ( a + 2 b ) = a + 2 b 6 ( a + 2 b ) = 1 6 , a - 2 b
Since a + 2 b is a common factor to both the numerator and denominator, we divide both by a + 2 b . Since ( a + 2 b ) ( a + 2 b ) = 1 , we get 1 in the numerator.

Sometimes we may reduce a rational expression by using the division rule of exponents.

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8 x 2 y 5 4 x y 2 . Factor and use the rule  a n a m = a n m . 8 x 2 y 5 4 x y 2 = 2 2 2 2 2 x 2 1 y 5 2 = 2 x y 3 , x 0 , y 0

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10 x 3 a ( x 2 36 ) 2 x 3 10 x 2 12 x . Factor . 10 x 3 a ( x 2 36 ) 2 x 3 10 x 2 12 x = 5 2 x 3 a ( x + 6 ) ( x 6 ) 2 x ( x 2 5 x 6 ) = 5 2 x 3 a ( x + 6 ) ( x 6 ) 2 x ( x 6 ) ( x + 1 ) = 5 2 x 2 3 a ( x + 6 ) ( x 6 ) 2 x ( x 6 ) ( x + 1 ) = 5 x 2 a ( x + 6 ) x 1 , x 1 , 6

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x 2 x 12 x 2 + 2 x + 8 . Since it is most convenient to have the leading terms of a polynomial positive, factor out 1 from the denominator . x 2 x 12 ( x 2 2 x 8 ) Rewrite this . x 2 x 12 x 2 2 x 8 Factor . ( x 4 ) ( x + 3 ) ( x 4 ) ( x + 2 ) x + 3 x + 2 = ( x + 3 ) x + 2 = x 3 x + 2 , x 2 , 4

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a b b a . The numerator and denominator have the same terms but they occur with opposite signs . Factor 1 from the denominator . a b ( b + a ) = a b ( a b ) = a b a b = 1 , a b

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Practice set a

Reduce each of the following fractions to lowest terms.

x 2 9 x 2 + 5 x + 6

x 3 x + 2

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18 a 3 b 5 c 7 3 a b 3 c 5

6 a 2 b 2 c 2

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3 a 4 + 75 a 2 2 a 3 16 a 2 + 30 a

3 a ( a + 5 ) 2 ( a 3 )

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x 2 5 x + 4 x 2 + 12 x 32

x + 1 x 8

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2 x y y 2 x

−1

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Excercises

For the following problems, reduce each rational expression to lowest terms.

6 3 x - 12

2 ( x 4 )

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9 3 y - 21

3 ( y 7 )

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7 7 x - 14

1 ( x 2 )

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16 a 2 b 3 2 a b 2

8 a b

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( x + 3 ) ( x - 2 ) ( x + 3 ) ( x + 5 )

x 2 x + 5

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( y - 1 ) ( y - 7 ) ( y - 1 ) ( y + 6 )

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( a + 6 ) ( a - 5 ) ( a - 5 ) ( a + 2 )

a + 6 a + 2

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( m - 3 ) ( m - 1 ) ( m - 1 ) ( m + 4 )

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( y - 2 ) ( y - 3 ) ( y - 3 ) ( y - 2 )

1

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( x + 7 ) ( x + 8 ) ( x + 8 ) ( x + 7 )

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- 12 x 2 ( x + 4 ) 4 x

3 x ( x + 4 )

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- 3 a 4 ( a - 1 ) ( a + 5 ) - 2 a 3 ( a - 1 ) ( a + 9 )

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6 x 2 y 5 ( x - 1 ) ( x + 4 ) - 2 x y ( x + 4 )

3 x y 4 ( x 1 )

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22 a 4 b 6 c 7 ( a + 2 ) ( a - 7 ) 4 c ( a + 2 ) ( a - 5 )

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( x + 10 ) 3 x + 10

( x + 10 ) 2

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( x - 8 ) 2 ( x + 6 ) 4 ( x - 8 ) ( x + 6 )

( x 8 ) ( x + 6 ) 3

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( a + 1 ) 5 ( a - 1 ) 7 ( a + 1 ) 3 ( a - 1 ) 4

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( y - 2 ) 6 ( y - 1 ) 4 ( y - 2 ) 3 ( y - 1 ) 2

( y 2 ) 3 ( y 1 ) 2

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( x + 10 ) 5 ( x - 6 ) 3 ( x - 6 ) ( x + 10 ) 2

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( a + 6 ) 2 ( a - 7 ) 6 ( a + 6 ) 5 ( a - 7 ) 2

( a 7 ) 4 ( a + 6 ) 3

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( m + 7 ) 4 ( m - 8 ) 5 ( m + 7 ) 7 ( m - 8 ) 2

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( a + 2 ) ( a - 1 ) 3 ( a + 1 ) ( a - 1 )

( a + 2 ) ( a 1 ) 2 ( a + 1 )

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( b + 6 ) ( b - 2 ) 4 ( b - 1 ) ( b - 2 )

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8 ( x + 2 ) 3 ( x - 5 ) 6 2 ( x + 2 ) ( x - 5 ) 2

4 ( x + 2 ) 2 ( x 5 ) 4

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14 ( x - 4 ) 3 ( x - 10 ) 6 - 7 ( x - 4 ) 2 ( x - 10 ) 2

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x 2 + x - 12 x 2 - 4 x + 3

( x + 4 ) ( x 1 )

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x 2 + 3 x - 10 x 2 + 2 x - 15

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x 2 - 10 x + 21 x 2 - 6 x - 7

( x 3 ) ( x + 1 )

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x 2 + 10 x + 24 x 2 + 6 x

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x 2 + 9 x + 14 x 2 + 7 x

( x + 2 ) x

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6 b 2 - b 6 b 2 + 11 b - 2

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3 b 2 + 10 b + 3 3 b 2 + 7 b + 2

b + 3 b + 2

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4 b 2 - 1 2 b 2 + 5 b - 3

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16 a 2 - 9 4 a 2 - a - 3

( 4 a 3 ) ( a 1 )

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20 x 2 + 28 x y + 9 y 2 4 x 2 + 4 x y + y 2

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For the following problems, reduce each rational expression if possible. If not possible, state the answer in lowest terms.

x + 3 x + 4

( x + 3 ) ( x + 4 )

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5 a - 5 - 5

( a 1 ) or a + 1

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8 x - 16 - 4

2 ( x 2 )

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- 3 x + 10 10

3 x + 10 10

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a 6 - a 4 a 3

a ( a + 1 ) ( a 1 )

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x 4 x 5 - 3 x

x 3 x 4 3

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Excercises for review

( [link] ) Write ( 4 4 a 8 b 10 4 2 a 6 b 2 ) 1 so that only positive exponents appear.

1 16 a 2 b 8

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( [link] ) Factor 10 x 2 17 x + 3 .

( 5 x 1 ) ( 2 x 3 )

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( [link] ) Supply the missing word. An equation expressed in the form a x + b y = c is said to be expressed in form.

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( [link] ) Find the domain of the rational expression 2 x 2 3 x 18 .

x 3 , 6

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Questions & Answers

Three charges q_{1}=+3\mu C, q_{2}=+6\mu C and q_{3}=+8\mu C are located at (2,0)m (0,0)m and (0,3) coordinates respectively. Find the magnitude and direction acted upon q_{2} by the two other charges.Draw the correct graphical illustration of the problem above showing the direction of all forces.
Kate Reply
To solve this problem, we need to first find the net force acting on charge q_{2}. The magnitude of the force exerted by q_{1} on q_{2} is given by F=\frac{kq_{1}q_{2}}{r^{2}} where k is the Coulomb constant, q_{1} and q_{2} are the charges of the particles, and r is the distance between them.
Muhammed
What is the direction and net electric force on q_{1}= 5µC located at (0,4)r due to charges q_{2}=7mu located at (0,0)m and q_{3}=3\mu C located at (4,0)m?
Kate Reply
what is the change in momentum of a body?
Eunice Reply
what is a capacitor?
Raymond Reply
Capacitor is a separation of opposite charges using an insulator of very small dimension between them. Capacitor is used for allowing an AC (alternating current) to pass while a DC (direct current) is blocked.
Gautam
A motor travelling at 72km/m on sighting a stop sign applying the breaks such that under constant deaccelerate in the meters of 50 metres what is the magnitude of the accelerate
Maria Reply
please solve
Sharon
8m/s²
Aishat
What is Thermodynamics
Muordit
velocity can be 72 km/h in question. 72 km/h=20 m/s, v^2=2.a.x , 20^2=2.a.50, a=4 m/s^2.
Mehmet
A boat travels due east at a speed of 40meter per seconds across a river flowing due south at 30meter per seconds. what is the resultant speed of the boat
Saheed Reply
50 m/s due south east
Someone
which has a higher temperature, 1cup of boiling water or 1teapot of boiling water which can transfer more heat 1cup of boiling water or 1 teapot of boiling water explain your . answer
Ramon Reply
I believe temperature being an intensive property does not change for any amount of boiling water whereas heat being an extensive property changes with amount/size of the system.
Someone
Scratch that
Someone
temperature for any amount of water to boil at ntp is 100⁰C (it is a state function and and intensive property) and it depends both will give same amount of heat because the surface available for heat transfer is greater in case of the kettle as well as the heat stored in it but if you talk.....
Someone
about the amount of heat stored in the system then in that case since the mass of water in the kettle is greater so more energy is required to raise the temperature b/c more molecules of water are present in the kettle
Someone
definitely of physics
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how many start and codon
Esrael Reply
what is field
Felix Reply
physics, biology and chemistry this is my Field
ALIYU
field is a region of space under the influence of some physical properties
Collete
what is ogarnic chemistry
WISDOM Reply
determine the slope giving that 3y+ 2x-14=0
WISDOM
Another formula for Acceleration
Belty Reply
a=v/t. a=f/m a
IHUMA
innocent
Adah
pratica A on solution of hydro chloric acid,B is a solution containing 0.5000 mole ofsodium chlorid per dm³,put A in the burret and titrate 20.00 or 25.00cm³ portion of B using melting orange as the indicator. record the deside of your burret tabulate the burret reading and calculate the average volume of acid used?
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how do lnternal energy measures
Esrael
Two bodies attract each other electrically. Do they both have to be charged? Answer the same question if the bodies repel one another.
JALLAH Reply
No. According to Isac Newtons law. this two bodies maybe you and the wall beside you. Attracting depends on the mass och each body and distance between them.
Dlovan
Are you really asking if two bodies have to be charged to be influenced by Coulombs Law?
Robert
like charges repel while unlike charges atttact
Raymond
What is specific heat capacity
Destiny Reply
Specific heat capacity is a measure of the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of a substance by one degree Celsius (or Kelvin). It is measured in Joules per kilogram per degree Celsius (J/kg°C).
AI-Robot
specific heat capacity is the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of a substance by one degree Celsius or kelvin
ROKEEB
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Source:  OpenStax, Elementary algebra. OpenStax CNX. May 08, 2009 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col10614/1.3
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