Homework Tips for the Week
Adding & Subtracting Algebraic Fractions
Denominators...keep the denominator and combine like terms in the
numerator. Remember to put your answer in simplest form. Be careful with subtraction. Make sure your signs are
correct, a minus in front of a parenthesis changes the sign of
every term in the parenthesis.
To get the algebraic common denominator...each factor has to be represented and to the highest power that exists in any one term. If possible, factor first before getting your common denominator.
Always look at your answer and ask yourself if there ios anything else to do, maybe factor or cancel.
Solving Equations Involving Algebraic Fractions
We now have an equation, whatever we do to one side of the equation we can do to the other without upsetting the balance. We can multiply each side of the equation by the same thing. If we use what would be the common denominator, we can get rid of the fractions and have a nice little equation that is easy to solve.
Decide what would be a common denominator and use that to multiply by each term in the equation. All denominators should cancel out to 1 and you should get a nice easy equation to solve without fractions.
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