explain the steps involved in adding two rational expressions.
explain the steps involved in adding two rational expressions.
Answer
Explanation:
Step1: Check denominators
Check if the denominators of the two rational - expressions are the same. If they are the same, go to Step 3. If not, proceed to Step 2.
Step2: Find common denominator
Find the least - common denominator (LCD) of the two rational expressions. Rewrite each rational expression as an equivalent rational expression with the LCD as the denominator. For example, if we have $\frac{a}{b}$ and $\frac{c}{d}$, the LCD is $bd$ (assuming $b$ and $d$ are non - zero), and we rewrite them as $\frac{a\cdot d}{b\cdot d}=\frac{ad}{bd}$ and $\frac{c\cdot b}{d\cdot b}=\frac{cb}{bd}$.
Step3: Add numerators
Add the numerators of the two rational expressions with the common denominator. If we have $\frac{m}{n}$ and $\frac{p}{n}$, then $\frac{m}{n}+\frac{p}{n}=\frac{m + p}{n}$.
Step4: Simplify
Simplify the resulting rational expression, if possible. Factor the numerator and denominator and cancel out any common factors.
Answer:
The steps to add two rational expressions are: check denominators, find a common denominator if needed, add the numerators, and simplify the result.