Week of October 7, 2019

Simplify rational expression

An algebraic expression where both the numerator and the denominator are polynomials e.g.

x+3x$$\frac{x+3}{x}$$

is called a rational expression. Since the denominator can't be zero there are values of x which are excluded from the rational expression. The expression above has an excluded value of zero.

To simplify a rational expression you have to eliminate all factors that are common of the numerator and the denominator. To accomplish this use the greatest common factor (GCF) of the factors e.g.

4xy6y2=2y⋅x2y⋅3y=/2y/2y⋅x3y=x3y

Source:https://www.mathplanet.com/education/algebra-1/rational-expressions/simplify-rational-expression