Rational Expressions (Continued)
A compound fraction has a fraction as its numerator, denominator or both.
Example:
x + 1
y
1 ­ y
x
1
Example:
1 ­ 1
a+h a
h
2
Example:
(1 + x2)1/2 ­ x2(1+x2)­1/2
1 + x
3
Rationalizing the Denominator
To rationalize the denominator of a rational expression having a sum or difference with a radical in the denominator, multiply the numerator and denominator by the conjugate of the denominator.
Example:
1
1 + √2
4
Multiplication Properties for Radicals
(a b)2 = a2 b2
a­1 b­1 = (ab)­1
5
Assignment
page 43 38­56E, 60,62,70­78E
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