Lesson 2

Explore

 

In the Launch section of this lesson, you reviewed how to multiply rational numbers. In the general case, recall that

 

Notice that the numerators are multiplied together and that the denominators are multiplied together. The result is then reduced to lowest terms, where possible. In the next activity you will apply this process to multiply rational expressions.

 

Try This 2

1. Explain how the fraction multiplication rule, , can be used to determine the product
2. Explain how the product you determined in question 1 can be simplified.
3. Do you think that the fraction multiplication rule in question 1 can be used to multiply the following rational expression? Perform the calculation.
   
   
    
   
4. Use the steps you outlined in question 2 to simplify the product you determined in question 3.

Save your responses in your course folder.

 

Share 1

 

Work in a group or with a partner to answer the following questions.

1.  
   1. How are the processes of multiplying and similar?
   2. How are they different?
2.  
   1. How are the processes of simplifying the products similar?
   2. How are they different?

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