Question 262553: How is doing operation (add, subtract, multipy, and divide) with rational expressions similar to or different from doing operations with fractions?
Answer by drk(1908)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! The steps are identical however, in rational functions (polynomials, expressions), we need to factor everything first.
For add or subtract:
step 1 - factor all that can be factored using your factoring steps.
step 2 - get a common denominator
step 3 - change your numerators
step 4 - combine like terms in the numerator
step 5 - factor the numerator
step 6 - reduce anything left over.
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For multiply
step 1 - factor all that can be factored using your factoring steps
step 2 - cancel anything in the top and bottom.
step 3 - multiply what is left in the top and what is left in the bottom to get your final answer.
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for divide
step 1 - factor all that can be factored using your factoring steps.
step 2 - multiply by the reciprocal of the second fraction.
step 3 - follow the multiplication steps.
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