Lesson 2

Read “Example 1” on page 233 of your textbook. Compare Liam’s steps to the steps you used in Try This 4. Would you change the way you found your solutions in Try This 4 now? Notice at what point Liam used factoring to simplify the problem.

 

Self-Check 2

 

Complete questions 6 and 10 on page 239 of your textbook. Answers

---

Now that you have explored multiplication of rational expressions, you will focus on division. Recall that dividing rational numbers is a process that involves multiplying the first number by the reciprocal of the second number.

 

How does the division of rational expressions compare with the division of rational numbers? In Try This 5 you will explore both procedures.

 

Try This 5

1. Determine the quotient without using your calculator.
2. Describe a procedure for solving You may want to revisit your answer to question 3 in the Are You Ready? section.
3. Apply the same procedure described in question 2 to determine the quotient of each of the following expressions.
   1. 
   2. 
4. How can you check to see if your answers to question 3 are equivalent to the original expression?

Save your work in your course folder.

 

Share 3

 

Compare your results from Try This 5 with a partner, and discuss the following questions.

 

In question 3.b., you divided rational expressions that had a common denominator. Consider the expression What is the result when the expression is simplified? Can you and your partner uncover a pattern to describe a short cut that leads to the same answer?

 

If required, save a record of your discussion in your course folder.