Joyce DuVall

Green Valley High School

Henderson, Nevada
Objective and Vocabulary
The objective is to be able to solve rational
equations.

Lowest Common Denominator (LCD) – The

smallest denominator which has all of the
original denominators as factors.
Step 1 – Find the lowest common denominator for the
fractions.

5 2 7
 
x 3 x
The lowest common multiple of 3 and x is 3x.
Therefore, the LCD is 3x.
 5 2 7
 
x 3 x

Multiply each fraction by the lowest common denominator.

5 2 7
3x  3x   3x 
x 3 x
 5 2 7
3x   3x   3x 
x 3 x
Simplify

x 3 x
 3 5  2  x   3 7
x 3 x
115  1 2x  1 21
15  2x  21
15  2x  21
15  2 x  21 Subtract 15 from each side
of the equation..

 15  15
2x  6
 2x  6
2x  6 Divide each side of the
equation by 2.
2x 6

2 2
Simplify.
x 3
 1 4 8
1.   SOLUTION
5 3m m
4 3
2.  1
a + 1 a
x  2 x 1
3.   2
x  3 x  2
 1 4 8
 
5 3m m
Multiply by the lowest 1 4 8
15m   15m   15m 
common denominator. 5 3m m
Divide out common 3 5 m 3 5  4  m 3 5 8  m
 
factors. 5 3  m m
Simplify 3m  20  90
3m  20  90
Solve  2 0  2 0
3m  110
3 3
110
m 
3
 4 3
 1
a + 1 a
Multiply by the lowest 4 3
common denominator  a  a  1     a  a  1     a  a  1 1 
a 1 a

 a  a  1   4    a  a  1  3 
  a  a  1 
Divide out common
factors. a  1 a

2
Simplify  4a  3a  3  a  a
2
a  3  a  a
 2
a  3  a  a
Solve
 a  3  a2  a
a  a
2
3  a  2a
 3  3
2
0  a  2a  3
0  ( a  1)( a  3 )
a  1  0 or a  3  0
The previous example had two or more fractions on one
side of the equation. When there is a single fraction on
each side of the equation, the equation can be solved as a
proportion by cross-multiplying.