Addition and Subtraction of

Rational Expressions

By: Asst. Prof. Xandro Alexi A. Nieto

UST – Faculty of Pharmacy
 Addition and Subtraction of
Rational Expressions

Addition and subtraction of rational algebraic

expressions are just like performing addition
and subtraction in ordinary fractions.

In performing such, there is a need to know

how to get the LEAST COMMON MULTIPLE
(LCM).

It is because you will find LEAST COMMON MULTIPLES in the

denominator of sums (or differences), which are called the
LEAST COMMON DENOMINATORS (LCD).
 Addition and Subtraction of
Rational Expressions
THE LEAST COMMON MULTIPLE (LCM)
The least common multiple (LCM) of two integers a and b is the
smallest positive integer that is a multiple of both a and b.

For convenience, we’re going to write LCM of a and b as (a,b).

How to find the LCM of two integers?

Example: 1. Find the LCM of 6 and 8.

The multiples of 6 are 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54,...
The multiples of 8 are 8, 16, 24, 32, 40, 48, 56, 64, 72,…

Thus, the common multiples of 6 and 8 are 24, 48, etc.

And the LEAST among the common multiples is 24.
So, the LEAST COMMON MULTIPLE (LCM) of 6 and 8 is 24.
We write it as (6,8) = 24
 Addition and Subtraction of
Rational Expressions
THE LEAST COMMON MULTIPLE (LCM)
The least common multiple (LCM) of two integers a and b is the
smallest positive integer that is a multiple of both a and b.

For convenience, we’re going to write LCM of a and b as (a,b).

How to find the LCM of two integers?

Example: 2. Find the LCM of 9 and 12.

The multiples of 9 are 9, 18, 27, 36, 54, 63, 72, 81...
The multiples of 12 are 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, 96,…

Thus, the common multiples of 9 and 12 are 36, 72, etc.

And the LEAST among the common multiples is 36.
So, the LEAST COMMON MULTIPLE (LCM) of 9 and 12 is 36.
We write it as (9,12) = 36.
 Addition and Subtraction of
Rational Expressions
THE LEAST COMMON MULTIPLE (LCM)
Going back to our previous examples, we found that:
from example 1, (6,8) = 24
and from example 2, (9, 12) = 36.

Hey, why don’t we get these Least Common

Multiples in a different way?!
 Addition and Subtraction of
Rational Expressions
THE LEAST COMMON MULTIPLE (LCM)
Suppose we want to get again (6,8).

Factor 6 and 8, in such a way that at least one factor is common.

That is,
6 as product of 3 and 2,
2 is the common factor here!
and 8 as product of 4 and 2.

To get the LCM, get the product of the common factor (2),

with the other factors (3 and 4).

(6,8) = 2 x 3 x 4 = 24

Still, we got (6,8) = 24.

 Addition and Subtraction of
Rational Expressions
THE LEAST COMMON MULTIPLE (LCM)
Using that same method,
let’s verify the other one.
That is (9,12) = 36.
 Addition and Subtraction of
Rational Expressions
THE LEAST COMMON MULTIPLE (LCM)
Again, suppose we want to get (9,12).

Factor 9 and 12, in such a way that at least one factor is common.
That is,
9 as product of 3 and 3,
3 is the common factor here!
and 12 as product of 4 and 3.
Do not factor 12 as 2 and 6, because neither of which is a common with a factor of 9.

To get the LCM, get the product of the common factor (3),

with the other factors (3 and 4).

(9,12) = 3 x 3 x 4 = 36

Still, we got (9,12) = 36.

 Addition and Subtraction of
Rational Expressions
THE LEAST COMMON MULTIPLE (LCM)

How about applying that

same method in algebraic
expressions?!
 Addition and Subtraction of
Rational Expressions
THE LEAST COMMON MULTIPLE (LCM)

Get the LCM of (a2 - 5a + 6) and (a2 + 2a - 15).

Factor:
(a2 - 5a + 6) = (a – 3)(a – 2)
(a2 + 2a - 15) = (a – 3)(a + 5)

To get the LCM, get the product of the common factor (a - 3),

with the other factors (a – 2 and a + 5).

Thus, (a2 - 5a + 6, a2 + 2a - 15) = (a-3)(a-2)(a+5).

 Addition and Subtraction of
Rational Expressions
THE LEAST COMMON MULTIPLE (LCM)

Get the LCM of (m2 – 8m + 16) and (m2 - 7m + 12).

Factor:
(m2 – 8m + 16) = (m – 4)(m – 4)
(m2 - 7m + 12) = (m – 4)(m - 3)

To get the LCM, get the product of the common factor (m - 4),

with the other factors (m – 4 and m – 3).

Thus, (m2 – 8m + 16, m2 – 7m + 12) = (m - 4)(m - 4)(m - 3)

or (m - 4)2(m - 3).
 Addition and Subtraction of
Rational Expressions
THE LEAST COMMON MULTIPLE (LCM)

Get the LCM of (y2 – 3y + 2) and (3 – 2y – y2).

Factor:
(y2 – 3y + 2) = (y – 1)(y – 2) = (y – 1)(y – 2)
(3 – 2y – y2). = (1 – y)(3 + y) = - (y – 1)(3 + y)
Note that a – b = - (b – a) OR 1 – y = - (y – 1).

To get the LCM, get the product of the common factor (y - 1),

with the other factors (y – 2, 3 + y, and the - 1).

Thus, (y2 – 3y + 2, 3 – 2y – y2) = - (y – 1)(y – 2)(3 + y)

The negative sign in an LCM may be disregarded.
Thus, (y – 1)(y – 2)(3 + y) may also be considered as LCM of y 2 – 3y + 2 and 3 – 2y – y 2.
 Addition and Subtraction of
Rational Expressions

Now you know how to get the LCM of algebraic expressions,

recall now that in ordinary fractions,

 b, d   a    b, d   c 
a c
  b
(b, d )
d
b d LCM of the denominators
(also known as LCD)
LCD divided by
the first
denominator,
times its
numerator
 Addition and Subtraction of
Rational Expressions

Now you know how to get the LCM of algebraic expressions,

recall now that in ordinary fractions,

 b, d   a    b, d   c 
a c
  b
(b, d )
d
b d LCM of the denominators
(also known as LCD)
same operation
LCD divided by
the second
denominator,
times its
numerator
 Addition and Subtraction of
Rational Expressions
2 3
EXAMPLE (1): 2  2
a  6a  7 a  49
2 3

Factor the
denominators.
 a  7  a  1  a  7  a  7 
LCM of (a2–6a–7,a2–49) = (a–7)(a+1)(a+7)

2 (a + 7) 3 Same
(a + operation!
1)
 a  7  a  1 a  7 
2a 314
Divide 113
athe a  3(a-7)(a+1)(a+7)
LCD (a+1)
11  3(a+7)
a by the
 (a-7)(a+7)
or (a-7)(a+1)
 aSimplify
first
second
a aadenominator
 1 a  7   7  a  1 athen
 77denominator
1
thea  7  
numerator.
a  7then

multiply to 2 33.
2.
 Addition and Subtraction of
Rational Expressions
EXAMPLE (2):
m 1 m2 m2
 2  2
m  9m  14 m  3m  10 m  2m  35
2

m 1 m2 m2
Factor the  
denominators.
 m  7  m  2  m  5 m  2  m  7  m  5
LCD is (m+7)(m+2)(m-5).
  1
m 
2
4 m  5    m  2 m  7    m4m
 m2
 5 m  14  m 2
2m4 2 
 m m 7 7m
 m 22m m 55
 m  4m 5m
2 m 2
 
5 13  
m 2  5m  14  m 2  4m  4 
 m  7  m  2m m75m  2 m  5
 Addition and Subtraction of
Rational Expressions
EXERCISE: Try this!
3a  b ab 5a  b
 
4a 2  11ab  3b 2 a 2  4ab  3b 2 4a 2  3ab  b 2

12a 2  13ab  b 2
ANSWER:
 4a  b  a  3b  a  b 
Here’s the steps on arriving at the answer:
3 3aa 12
2
3ba4aab
2
  ab4ab a45aab
ab13bab 2 2 2
b bb 5a 5ab5aa14

2 2
3b  3b 
b ab
2

 4a4a b ba a 3b34ba4aaabbba3ba3ab3bab ab 4ba  b  a  b 

For
Youmore
mayexamples,
proceed to
read
thepages
next powerpoint
51 & 52 of
presentation,
your AlgebraCOMPLEX
and Trigonometry
FRACTIONS.
book
FRACTIONS
(Stewart, et al.).