Will I need this in real life?

Maybe. Rational functions appear quite often in business and economics applications. Additionally, understanding rational functions will help you to understand more complex functions that can model other "real life" situations. Most people never notice when they can model a situation using rational function (or other mathematical functions) because they never attempt to do so. Hopefully you will keep sincerely asking questions like this and looking for ways to use this knowledge to model things in the real world. Such an outlook will serve you well.

This is very confusing? How will this help us in real life?

It probably, most likely, won't. although some parts of the business and trade use this math, although I don't know any, there might be some.

I don't understand much the restricted values. Can someone help me to understand it please?

If we have an equation (x^2 + 3x) / (x^2 + 5x) , we can simplify it to (x+3) / (x+5) . At first glance, the two equations seem to be equal, but they are actually not! Remember that x can be any value - let just try the values -1, 1 and 0 for x in the two equations above. For x = -1, (x^2 + 3x) / (x^2 + 5x) = (1 - 3) / (1 - 5) = -2/-4 = 0.5 (x+3) / (x+5) = (-1 + 3)/ (-1 + 5) = 2/4 = 0.5 Both equations are equivalent as both of them give the value 0.5 For x = 1, (x^2 + 3x) / (x^2 + 5x) = (1 + 3) / (1 + 5) = 4/6 = 2/3 (x+3) / (x+5) = (1 + 3)/ (1 + 5) = 4/6 = 2/3 Both equations are equivalent as both of them give the value 2/3 For x = 0, (x^2 + 3x) / (x^2 + 5x) = (0 + 0) / (0 + 0) = undefined ! (x+3) / (x+5) = (0 + 3)/ (0 + 5) = 3/5 ! Both equations are NOT equivalent as both of them give different values in the case of x =0 So from the above, whenever the denominator results in a value of 0, we get an undefined value for the expression. Therefore we need to put the restriction x not equal to 0 in this case on the equation (x+3) / (x+5). With this restriction, the simplified equation is now equivalent to the original rational expression.

How do I remember all of these steps?

Practice, practice, practice. Eventually, you will do it enough that you don’t even think about it. You could come up with an acronym to help you, but the final goal is that you won’t need it.

In #3, why can't x be equal to 1? I understand why it can't equal -1, but I don't see where 1 causes the expression to be undefined.

Factor both the numerator and the denominator. Numerator = (x-2)(x-1) Denominator = (x-1)(x+1) The factor of (x-1) in the denominator would cause the an undefined if x=1 Even though this factor cancels out, you need to maintain the restriction that x can't = 1 to be consistent with the original expression. Hope this helps.

what makes an expression undefined?

With rational expressions (fractions), they become undefined if the denominator = 0. If a denominator = 0, then we are dividing by 0, which is undefined.

In Example 1 if x= -5 at any step this would make the whole expression undefined giving a zero in the denominator. Why is only x can not equal 0 listed and not x can not equal -5?

You are correct. But Sal is concerned about the now missing (after x/x is eliminated) x in the denominator, and not (x+5), which is still there to see.

Main content

Precalculus

Course: Precalculus > Unit 4

Lesson 1: Reducing rational expressions to lowest terms

Reducing rational expressions to lowest terms

Google Classroom

Learn what it means to reduce a rational expression to lowest terms, and how it's done!

What you should be familiar with before taking this lesson

A rational expression is a ratio of two polynomials. The domain of a rational expression is all real numbers except those that make the denominator equal to zero.

For example, the domain of the rational expression start fraction, x, plus, 2, divided by, x, plus, 1, end fraction is all real numbers except start text, negative, 1, end text, or x, does not equal, minus, 1.

If this is new to you, we recommend that you check out our intro to rational expressions.

You should also know how to factor polynomials for this lesson.

What you will learn in this lesson

In this article, we will learn how to reduce rational expressions to lowest terms by looking at several examples.

Introduction

A rational expression is reduced to lowest terms if the numerator and denominator have no factors in common.

We can reduce rational expressions to lowest terms in much the same way as we reduce numerical fractions to lowest terms.

For example, start fraction, 6, divided by, 8, end fraction reduced to lowest terms is start fraction, 3, divided by, 4, end fraction. Notice how we canceled a common factor of 2 from the numerator and the denominator:

\begin{aligned} \dfrac68&= \dfrac{2\cdot 3}{2\cdot 4} \\\\ &= \dfrac{\tealE{\cancel{2}}\cdot 3}{\tealE{\cancel{2}}\cdot 4} \\\\ &= \dfrac{3}{4} \end{aligned}

Example 1: Reducing start fraction, x, squared, plus, 3, x, divided by, x, squared, plus, 5, x, end fraction to lowest terms

Step 1: Factor the numerator and denominator

The only way to see if the numerator and denominator share common factors is to factor them!

start fraction, x, squared, plus, 3, x, divided by, x, squared, plus, 5, x, end fraction, equals, start fraction, x, left parenthesis, x, plus, 3, right parenthesis, divided by, x, left parenthesis, x, plus, 5, right parenthesis, end fraction

Step 2: List restricted values

At this point, it is helpful to notice any restrictions on x. These will carry over to the simplified expression.

Since division by 0 is undefined, here we see that start color #0c7f99, x, does not equal, 0, end color #0c7f99 and start color #7854ab, x, does not equal, minus, 5, end color #7854ab.

start fraction, x, left parenthesis, x, plus, 3, right parenthesis, divided by, start color #0c7f99, x, end color #0c7f99, start color #7854ab, left parenthesis, x, plus, 5, right parenthesis, end color #7854ab, end fraction

Step 3: Cancel common factors

Now notice that the numerator and denominator share a common factor of x. This can be canceled out.

\begin{aligned} \dfrac{\tealE x(x+3)}{\tealD x(x+5)}&=\dfrac{\tealE {\cancel {x}}(x+3)}{\tealE{\cancel x}(x+5)} \\\\ &=\dfrac{x+3}{x+5} \end{aligned}

Step 4: Final answer

Recall that the original expression is defined for x, does not equal, 0, comma, minus, 5. The reduced expression must have the same restrictions.

Because of this, we must note that x, does not equal, 0. We do not need to note that x, does not equal, minus, 5, since this is understood from the expression.

[Can you elaborate here?]

In conclusion, the reduced form is written as follows:

start fraction, x, plus, 3, divided by, x, plus, 5, end fraction for x, does not equal, 0

A note about equivalent expressions

Original expression	Reduced expression
start fraction, x, squared, plus, 3, x, divided by, x, squared, plus, 5, x, end fraction	start fraction, x, plus, 3, divided by, x, plus, 5, end fraction for x, does not equal, 0

The two expressions above are equivalent. This means their outputs are the same for all possible x-values. The table below illustrates this for x, equals, 2.

	Original expression		Reduced expression
Evaluation at start color #7854ab, x, equals, 2, end color #7854ab	$\begin{aligned}\dfrac{(\purpleD{2})^2+3(\purpleD{2})}{(\purpleD{2})^2+5(\purpleD{2})}&=\dfrac{10}{14}\\\\&=\dfrac{\purpleD{{2}}\cdot 5}{\purpleD{{2}}\cdot 7}\\\\&=\dfrac{\purpleD{\cancel{2}}\cdot 5}{\purpleD{\cancel{2}}\cdot 7}\\\\&=\dfrac{5}{7}\end{aligned}$		$\begin{aligned}\dfrac{\purpleD{2}+3}{\purpleD{2}+5}&=\dfrac{5}{7}\\\\&\phantom{=\dfrac57}\\\\&\phantom{=\dfrac57}\\\\&\phantom{=\dfrac57}\end{aligned}$
Note	The result is reduced to lowest terms by canceling a common factor of start color #7854ab, 2, end color #7854ab.		The result is already reduced to lowest terms because the factor of x (in this case start color #7854ab, x, equals, 2, end color #7854ab), was already canceled when we reduced the expression to lowest terms.

For this reason, the two expressions have the same value for the same input. However, values that make the original expression undefined often break this rule. Notice how this is the case with start color #7854ab, x, equals, 0, end color #7854ab.

	Original expression		Reduced expression (without restriction)
Evaluation at start color #7854ab, x, equals, 0, end color #7854ab	$\begin{aligned}\dfrac{(\purpleD{0})^2+3(\purpleD{0})}{(\purpleD{0})^2+5(\purpleD{0})}&=\dfrac{0}{0}\\\\&=\text{undefined}\end{aligned}$		$\begin{aligned}\dfrac{\purpleD{0}+3}{\purpleD{0}+5}&=\dfrac{3}{5}\\\\&\phantom{\text{undefined}}\end{aligned}$

Because the two expressions must be equivalent for all possible inputs, we must require x, does not equal, 0 for the reduced expression.

Misconception alert

Note that we cannot cancel the x's in the expression below. This is because these are terms rather than factors of the polynomials!

start fraction, x, plus, 3, divided by, x, plus, 5, end fraction, does not equal, start fraction, 3, divided by, 5, end fraction

This becomes clear when looking at a numerical example. For example, suppose start color #7854ab, x, equals, 2, end color #7854ab.

start fraction, start color #7854ab, 2, end color #7854ab, plus, 3, divided by, start color #7854ab, 2, end color #7854ab, plus, 5, end fraction, does not equal, start fraction, 3, divided by, 5, end fraction

As a rule, we can only cancel if the numerator and denominator are in factored form!

Summary of the process for reducing to lowest terms

Step 1: Factor the numerator and the denominator.
Step 2: List restricted values.
Step 3: Cancel common factors.
Step 4: Reduce to lowest terms and note any restricted values not implied by the expression.

Check your understanding

Problem 1

Reduce start fraction, 6, x, plus, 20, divided by, 2, x, plus, 10, end fraction to lowest terms.

(Choice A)
3, x, plus, 2 for x, does not equal, 0
(Choice B)
4, x, plus, 10 for x, does not equal, 0
(Choice C)
start fraction, 3, x, plus, 10, divided by, x, plus, 5, end fraction
(Choice D)
start fraction, 3, x, plus, 20, divided by, x, plus, 10, end fraction

Problem 2

Reduce start fraction, x, cubed, minus, 3, x, squared, divided by, 4, x, squared, minus, 5, x, end fraction to lowest terms.

for x, does not equal

Example 2: Reducing start fraction, x, squared, minus, 9, divided by, x, squared, plus, 5, x, plus, 6, end fraction to lowest terms

Step 1: Factor the numerator and denominator

start fraction, x, squared, minus, 9, divided by, x, squared, plus, 5, x, plus, 6, end fraction, equals, start fraction, left parenthesis, x, minus, 3, right parenthesis, left parenthesis, x, plus, 3, right parenthesis, divided by, left parenthesis, x, plus, 2, right parenthesis, left parenthesis, x, plus, 3, right parenthesis, end fraction

[Can you show the factorization, please?]

Step 2: List restricted values

Since division by 0 is undefined, here we see that start color #0c7f99, x, does not equal, minus, 2, end color #0c7f99 and start color #7854ab, x, does not equal, minus, 3, end color #7854ab.

start fraction, left parenthesis, x, minus, 3, right parenthesis, left parenthesis, x, plus, 3, right parenthesis, divided by, start color #0c7f99, left parenthesis, x, plus, 2, right parenthesis, end color #0c7f99, start color #7854ab, left parenthesis, x, plus, 3, right parenthesis, end color #7854ab, end fraction

Step 3: Cancel common factors

Notice that the numerator and denominator share a common factor of start color #208170, x, plus, 3, end color #208170. This can be canceled out.

\begin{aligned} \dfrac{(x-3)\tealE{(x+3)}}{(x+2)\tealE{(x+3)}}&=\dfrac{(x-3)\tealE{\cancel{(x+3)}}}{(x+2)\tealE{\cancel{(x+3)}}} \\\\ &=\dfrac{x-3}{x+2} \end{aligned}

Step 4: Final answer

We write the reduced form as follows:

start fraction, x, minus, 3, divided by, x, plus, 2, end fraction for x, does not equal, minus, 3

The original expression requires x, does not equal, minus, 2, comma, minus, 3. We do not need to note that x, does not equal, minus, 2, since this is understood from the expression.

Check for understanding

Problem 3

Reduce start fraction, x, squared, minus, 3, x, plus, 2, divided by, x, squared, minus, 1, end fraction to lowest terms.

(Choice A)
3, x, minus, 2
(Choice B)
start fraction, x, plus, 2, divided by, x, minus, 1, end fraction for x, does not equal, minus, 1
(Choice C)
start fraction, x, minus, 2, divided by, x, plus, 1, end fraction for x, does not equal, 1

Problem 4

Reduce start fraction, x, squared, minus, 2, x, minus, 15, divided by, x, squared, plus, x, minus, 6, end fraction to lowest terms.