Lesson 11 Solving Rational Equations
Rational equations:
- equations containing one or more rational expressions
o remember that rational expressions are simply fractions
containing polynomials, so each equation we work with today
will contain fractions
𝑥+4 2𝑥−5
o Example: 5𝑥−3 − 10𝑥+7 = 0
- since we are working with equations now, rather than expressions, we
do NOT have to work with the fractions; instead we can eliminate
them using multiplication
𝑥+4 2𝑥−5
o in the case of 5𝑥−3 − 10𝑥+7 = 0 we could multiply both sides of
the equation by 5𝑥 − 3 and 10𝑥 + 7 to eliminate the fractions
o if you prefer to get a common denominator and work with the
fractions, you may
- keep in mind that even if we eliminate the fractions, we still cannot
have any answers that result in a denominator of zero
𝑥+4 2𝑥−5 3 7
o in the case of − 10𝑥+7 = 0 , 𝑥 ≠ 5 or 𝑥 ≠ − 10
5𝑥−3
5𝑥 − 3 ≠ 0 ■ 10𝑥 + 7 ≠ 0
5𝑥 ≠ 3 10𝑥 ≠ −7
3 7
𝑥≠5 𝑥 ≠ − 10
𝑥+4 2𝑥−5 1 1
o the answer to 5𝑥−3 − 10𝑥+7 = 0 is 𝑥 = − 6, and since − 6 does
not result in a denominator or zero, it is a valid answer
- ALWAYS exclude any values that make the denominator zero
- ALWAYS make sure that your solution(s) is/are not excluded
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Lesson 11 Solving Rational Equations
Steps for Solving Rational Equations:
1. factor all denominators
2. multiply both sides of the equation by the least common multiple of
all the denominators to eliminate the fractions
3. distribute and combine like terms
4. isolate the variable
5. verify that your solution(s) is/are not restricted
Example 1: Solve the following equation. If there is no solution, write
NO SOLUTION. If there are infinitely many solutions, list the restrictions
using the notation 𝑅 − { } (all real numbers except).
−6 3 −5
− 2 =
𝑥 − 5 𝑥 − 9𝑥 + 20 𝑥−4
a.
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Lesson 11 Solving Rational Equations
Example 2: Solve the following equation. If there is no solution, write
NO SOLUTION. If there are infinitely many solutions, list the restrictions
using the notation 𝑅 − { } (all real numbers except).
4 6 10𝑥 − 6
+ =
𝑥−3 𝑥+3 𝑥2 − 9
4 6 10𝑥 − 6
(𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 3) ( + )=( ) (𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 3)
𝑥−3 𝑥+3 ( )(
𝑥−3 𝑥+3 )
4(𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 3) 6(𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 3) (10𝑥 − 6)(𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 3)
+ =
𝑥−3 𝑥+3 (𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 3)
4(𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 3) 6(𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 3) (10𝑥 − 6)(𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 3)
+ =
(𝑥 − 3) (𝑥 + 3) (𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 3)
4(𝑥 + 3) + 6(𝑥 − 3) = 10𝑥 − 6
4𝑥 + 12 + 6𝑥 − 18 = 10𝑥 − 6
10𝑥 − 6 = 10𝑥 − 6
A true statement, such as 10𝑥 − 6 = 10𝑥 − 6, is called an identity. An
identity is an indication that an equation has infinitely many solutions.
Keep in mind that this does NOT mean that every single number can take
the place of 𝑥 and result in a valid solution. We still must exclude values
that result in a denominator of zero, such as −3 and 3 in the case of
Example 2.
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Lesson 11 Solving Rational Equations
Example 3: Solve the following equation. If there is no solution, write
NO SOLUTION. If there are infinitely many solutions, list the restrictions
using the notation 𝑅 − { } (all real numbers except).
3𝑥 − 6 3 9
− =
𝑥2 − 4 𝑥 + 2 𝑥−2
3𝑥 − 6 3 9
(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 2) ( + )=( ) (𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 2)
(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 2) 𝑥 + 2 𝑥−2
(3𝑥 − 6)(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 2) 3(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 2) 9(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 2)
+ =
(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 2) 𝑥+2 𝑥−2
(3𝑥 − 6)(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 2) 3(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 2) 9(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 2)
+ =
(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 2) (𝑥 + 2) (𝑥 − 2)
3𝑥 − 6 + 3(𝑥 − 2) = 9(𝑥 + 2)
4𝑥 + 12 + 6𝑥 − 18 = 10𝑥 − 6
10𝑥 − 6 = 10𝑥 − 6
Be sure to ALWAYS check your answers in the original equation to be
sure they do not result in a denominator of zero. If they do, they are not
valid answers. If you only have one solution, and it is not valid, then you
now have NO SOLUTION. No solution does not mean we didn’t come
up with any answers (on Example 3 we did, 𝑥 = −2); it means the answer
we came up with is invalid because it makes a denominator equal to zero.
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Lesson 11 Solving Rational Equations
Example 4: Solve the following equationS. If there is no solution, write
NO SOLUTION. If there are infinitely many solutions, list the restrictions
using the notation 𝑅 − { } (all real numbers except).
3 3𝑥+1 2𝑥+5
a. 17 − 𝑥 = −16 b. = 4𝑥−13
6𝑥−1
b. B.
5 4 14𝑥+3 6 5 −20
c. + 2𝑥−3 = d. − 𝑥−2 =
2𝑥+3 4𝑥 2 −9 𝑥+3 𝑥 2 +𝑥−6
d. D
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Lesson 11 Solving Rational Equations
1 4 −1 18 −2
e. = 8𝑥−4 f. 𝑥+9 − (𝑥+9)(𝑥−9) = 𝑥−9
2𝑥−1
1 4
= 4(2𝑥−1) (𝑥 + 9)(𝑥 − 9) (
−1 18
− (𝑥+9)(𝑥−9)) = (
−2
) (𝑥 + 9)(𝑥 − 9)
2𝑥−1 𝑥+9 𝑥−9
1 4
= 4(2𝑥−1)
2𝑥−1
1 4 −1(𝑥+9)(𝑥−9) 18(𝑥+9)(𝑥−9) −2(𝑥+9)(𝑥−9)
= 4(2𝑥−1) − (𝑥+9)(𝑥−9)
=
2𝑥−1 𝑥+9 𝑥−9
1 1 −1(𝑥+9)(𝑥−9) 18(𝑥+9)(𝑥−9) −2(𝑥+9)(𝑥−9)
= − (𝑥+9)(𝑥−9)
=
2𝑥−1 2𝑥−1 𝑥+9 𝑥−9
1 −1(𝑥 − 9) − 18 = −2(𝑥 + 9)
Since it is true that is
2𝑥−1
equal to itself, this −𝑥 + 9 − 18 = −2𝑥 − 18
equation is an identity.
That means we have −𝑥 − 9 = −2𝑥 − 18
infinitely many solutions.
The only value that will 𝑥 = −9
not make this equation true
is any number that results The rational equation we
in a denominator of zero. started with produced one
answer, 𝑥 = −9. However that
2𝑥 − 1 ≠ 0 one answer is not valid because
replacing 𝑥 with −9 results in
2𝑥 ≠ 1
two of the rational expressions
1 having denominators of zero
𝑥≠2 −1 18
(𝑥+9 and (𝑥+9)(𝑥−9)).
So 𝑥 can be any real Therefore the one answer we
1 had is invalid, so we now have
number except for 2. We
no solution.
1
express this as 𝑅 − {2}
𝐍𝐎 𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐔𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍
𝟏
ℝ−{ }
𝟐
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Lesson 11 Solving Rational Equations
Answers to Examples:
1. 𝑥 = −4 ; 2. 𝐼𝑁𝐹𝐼𝑁𝐼𝑇𝐸𝐿𝑌 𝑀𝐴𝑁𝑌 𝑆𝑂𝐿𝑈𝑇𝐼𝑂𝑁𝑆, ℝ − {−3, 3} ;
1 8
3. 𝑁𝑂 𝑆𝑂𝐿𝑈𝑇𝐼𝑂𝑁 ; 4a. 11 ; 4b. 𝑥 = − 63 ;
4c. 𝑁𝑂 𝑆𝑂𝐿𝑈𝑇𝐼𝑂𝑁 ; 4d. 𝑥 = 7 ;
1
4e. 𝐼𝑁𝐹𝐼𝑁𝐼𝑇𝐸𝐿𝑌 𝑀𝐴𝑁𝑌 𝑆𝑂𝐿𝑈𝑇𝐼𝑂𝑁𝑆, ℝ − {2} ;
4f. 𝑁𝑂 𝑆𝑂𝐿𝑈𝑇𝐼𝑂𝑁 ;
