Lesson 2

In Try This 2 you may have noticed that the process for multiplying fractions is similar to multiplying rational expressions.

 

In question 4 you may have used the principle of prime factorization to help find similar factors to simplify. The multiplication of the rational expression may have looked similar to this:

 

 

Now explore how non-permissible values are affected by multiplication and simplifying rational expressions.

 

Try This 3

1. Complete the table of values using the rational expressions from Try This 2.

    

   x
   −2
   −1
   0
   1
   2

2. What do you notice about the values in the table?
3. From the table, what are the non-permissible values of the two expressions?
4. What do you notice about non-permissible values for equivalent rational expressions?

Save your responses in your course folder.