Lesson 2

Explore

 

You may often find familiar elements in science fiction books and films that depict futuristic worlds. For example, in the film Tron: Legacy (2010), silicon-based gladiators battle each other in a game that is reminiscent of jai alai or racquetball. The gladiators throw glowing discs at each other with the intention of terminating the opponent. Like jai alai, the discs rebound off the surrounding walls until they are either caught or hit their mark. The discs are thrown with great speed, and, again as in jai alai, the gladiators undergo dazzling acrobatic maneuvers in order to score points.

 

Just as many aspects of science fiction are based on familiar themes, so too will you find the same concepts recurring in mathematics. In this lesson you will discover that multiplying and dividing rational expressions is identical to multiplying and dividing rational numbers, with one exception. Do you know what this exception is?

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