How do I do multipling rational expressions
The answer would require an
entire chapter in your textbook.
the bottom of the following webpage has some nice examples
http://www.purplemath.com/modules/rtnlmult.htm
To multiply rational expressions, you can follow these steps:
1. Simplify each rational expression if possible by factoring and canceling common factors.
2. Multiply the numerators together. This will give you the numerator of the resulting rational expression.
3. Multiply the denominators together. This will give you the denominator of the resulting rational expression.
4. Simplify the resulting rational expression, if necessary, by canceling common factors in the numerator and denominator.
Let's look at an example to illustrate the steps above.
Example:
Multiply (3x + 2)/(x^2 - 1) and (5x - 1)/(2x^2 + 3x - 2).
Step 1: Simplify each rational expression if possible.
The first expression is already simplified. The second expression can be factored as (2x - 1)(x + 2).
So we have:
(3x + 2)/(x^2 - 1) and (5x - 1)/((2x - 1)(x + 2)).
Step 2: Multiply the numerators together.
(3x + 2) * (5x - 1) = 15x^2 + 10x - 3x - 2 = 15x^2 + 7x - 2.
Step 3: Multiply the denominators together.
(x^2 - 1) * ((2x - 1)(x + 2)) = (x + 1)(x - 1)(2x - 1)(x + 2).
So the resulting rational expression is:
(15x^2 + 7x - 2)/((x + 1)(x - 1)(2x - 1)(x + 2)).
Step 4: Simplify the resulting rational expression, if necessary.
In this case, the expression cannot be simplified further.
Therefore, the product of the two rational expressions is:
(15x^2 + 7x - 2)/((x + 1)(x - 1)(2x - 1)(x + 2)).