1. Lesson 4

1.5. Explore

Mathematics 20-1 Module 6

Module 6: Rational Expressions

 

Explore
 

This is an image of a puzzle. The border is intact, but pieces are missing from the centre.

c krabata/22361180/Fotolia

Consider the puzzle shown. What aspects of puzzles make them challenging to assemble? What aspects make them easy to assemble? Can you tell what strategies might have been used to assemble the puzzle in the image?

 

What strategies do you use when tackling difficult puzzles? Do you begin by assembling the border? Do you collect certain pieces that have the same colour or that may be used to create distinct parts of the puzzle? These strategies and others can help to reduce a pile of random puzzle pieces into a beautiful picture.

 

In this lesson you will learn how to solve rational equations. Like your approach to a puzzle, you can use strategies to make unraveling the final picture—the solution—much easier.


glossary

Here are some of the terms you will want to define in your copy of Module 6 Glossary Terms in this lesson:

  • rational equation
  • extraneous root
  • clear the denominator