6.

2: Multiplication & Division of

Rational Expressions
Objectives:
Within the learning period, I will be able to
1. Multiply and divide rational expressions by
factoring and then dividing out common
factors.
2. Convert between units using unit analysis.
Chapter 6: Rational Expressions
Standards:
12.0 Students simplify fractions with polynomials in
the numerator and denominator by factoring
both and reducing them to the lowest terms.

13.0 Students add, subtract, multiply, and divide
rational expressions and functions. Students solve
both computationally and conceptually
challenging problems by using these techniques.

If P, Q, R, and S are polynomials with
Q = 0 and S = 0, then
QS
PR
S
R
Q
P
=
Multiplying Rational Expressions
Warning:
After multiplying such expressions, our result may not be
in simplified form, so we use the following techniques.

Tips in Multiplying Rational Expressions
1) Factor the numerators and denominators.
2) Multiply the numerators and multiply the denominators.
3) Simplify or write the product in lowest terms by applying
the fundamental principle to all common factors.
12
5
10
6
3
2
x
x
x

4
1
=
3 2 2 5 2
5 3 2


=
x x x
x x x
Example:
Multiply the rational expressions below.
mn m
m
n m
n m

2
2
) (
) ( ) (
) )( (
n m m n m
m n m n m
+

=
n m
n m
+

=
Example:
Multiply the rational expressions below.
15 7 2
125
35 2
21 17 2
2
3
2
2

+
+ +
x x
x
x x
x x
) 5 )( 3 2 ( ) 7 )( 5 (
) 25 5 )( 5 ( ) 7 )( 3 2 (
2
+ +
+ + + +
=
x x x x
x x x x x
Guided Practice: Problem Set 6.2 #21
5
25 5
2

+ +
=
x
x x
If P, Q, R, and S are polynomials with
Q = 0, S = 0 and R = 0, then
QR
PS
R
S
Q
P
S
R
Q
P
= =
Dividing Rational Expressions
Tips in Dividing Rational Expressions

1. Change the division into a multiplication where
you use the reciprocal of the divisor as the
second factor.
2. Proceed with multiplication of rational numbers
procedures (factor, multiply, simplify).
25
15 5
5
) 3 (
2
+

+ x x
15 5
25
5
) 3 (
2
+

+
=
x
x
) 3 ( 5 5
5 5 ) 3 )( 3 (
+
+ +
=
x
x x
3 + = x
Example:
Divide the rational expressions below.
12 5 2
3 8 4
16
3 7 2
2
2
2
2

+ +

+ +
a a
a a
a
a a
) 3 2 )( 1 2 ( ) 4 )( 4 (
) 3 2 )( 4 ( ) 3 )( 1 2 (
+ + +
+ + +
=
a a a a
a a a a
Guided Practice: Problem Set 6.2 #25
4
3
+
+
=
a
a
Converting Between Units of Measure

Unit analysis (unit fractions) - method of converting units
of measure by multiplying by 1. (It involves different
measurements in the numerator and denominator).
*Multiply the unit fractions like rational expressions,
cancel common units in the numerators and
denominators.
Units of Measure
Length Area Capacity Weight
1 mile = 1760 yards
1 mile = 8 furlong
1 furlong = 10 chains
1 chain = 4 rods
1 rod = 5 1/2 yards
1 yard = 3 feet
1 foot = 12 inches
1 sq. mile = 640 acres
1 acre = 4840 sq. yd
1 sq. yard = 9 sq. ft
1 sq. foot = 144 sq. in
1 gal. = 4 quarts
1 quart = 2 pints
1 pint = 4 gills
1 pint = 34.6774 in
3

1 gill = 5 fl. oz.
1 fl. oz. = 8 fl. drachms
1 US gal = 0.8327 gal
1 US pint = 0.8327 pint
1 US pint = 16 fl. oz.
1 yard
3
= 27 feet
3

1 foot
3
= 1728 inches
3

1 ton = 20 cwt
1 ton = 2240 lb.
1 ton = 1.12 US ton
1 cwt = 4 quarters
1 quarter = 2 stone.
1 stone = 14 lb.
1 lb. = 16 oz.
1 oz. = 16 drams
1 oz. = 437.5 grains
1 US ton = 2000 lb.
Length Area Capacity Weight
1 km = 10 hm
1 km = 1000 m
1 hm = 100 m
1 m = 10 dm
1 dm = 10 cm
1 cm = 10 mm

1 km
2
= 100
hectares
1 hectare = 100
ares
1 are = 100 m
2

1 m
2
= 100 dm
2

1 dm
2
= 100 cm
2

1 cm
2
= 100 mm
2

1 m
3
= 1000 litres
1 litre = 1 dm
3

1 litre = 1000 cc
1 litre = 1000 ml
1 tonne = 1000 kg
1 kg = 1000 g
1 g = 1000 mg

Length Area Capacity Weight
1 mile = 1.609 km
1 yard = 0.9144 m
1 foot = 0.3048 m
1 inch = 25.4 mm
1 sq. mile = 2.59
km
2

1 acre = 0.4047
hectares
1 acre = 4046.86
m
2

1 sq. yard = 0.8361
m
2

1 sq. foot = 0.0929
m
2

1 sq. inch = 645.16
mm
2

1 gallon = 4.5461
litres
1 US gallon = 3.785
litres
1 pint = 0.5683
litres
1 cu. inch =
16.3871 cm
3

1 ton = 1.016
tonnes
1 lb. = 0.4536 kg
1 oz. = 28.3495 g
1 US ton = 0.9072
tonnes
Length Area Capacity Weight
1 km = 0.6214 miles
1 m = 1.0936 yards
1 m = 3.2808 feet
1 mm = 0.0394 in
1 km
2
= 0.3861
mile
2

1 km
2
= 247.105
acres
1 hectares = 2.4711
acres
1 m
2
= 10.7639
feet
2

1 mm
2
= 0.0016
inches
2

1 litre = 0.22 gal.
1litre = 0.2642 US
gal.
1 litre = 1.7598 pint
1 m
3
= 219.969 gal.
1 m
3
= 35.3147
feet
3

1 tonne = 0.9842
ton
1 tonne = 1.1023
US ton
1 kg = 2.2046 lb.
1 kg = 35.274 oz.
Deg. C to Deg. F Deg. F to Deg. C
deg. C x 9/5 + 32 =
deg. F
(deg. F - 32) x 5/9 =
deg. C
Credits:http://www.taylormade.com.au/billspage
s/conversion_table.html
Convert 1008 square inches into square feet.
|
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\
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|
.
|

\
|

in 12
ft 1
in 12
ft 1
ft. sq. 7 =
(1008 sq in)
(2222337 in in)
|
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\
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|
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|

\
|

in
ft
in
ft
3 2 2
1
3 2 2
1
Example:
= (1008 sq in)
Solution:
Guided Practice: Problem Set 6.2 #51
The top of Mount Whitney, the highest point in
California, is 14,494 feet above sea level. Give the
height in miles to the nearest tenth of a mile.
14,494 feet
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\
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feet
mile
5280
1
= 2.7 miles
Solution:
Guided Practice: Problem Set 6.2 #53
The speed of sound is 1,088 feet per second.
Convert the speed of sound to miles per hour.
Round your answer to the nearest whole number.
1,088 feet
second
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\
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feet
mile
5280
1
= 742 miles/hour
Solution:
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\
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hour
onds
1
sec 3600
Economy is an important value that should be learned
and practiced. God has given us time, money, talents,
resources, strength, intellect, and these are lent
treasures. They belong to Him and everyone should
realized that we should use them properly. We need to
learn the principle of conservation for a better future.
(Dr. E. M. Role)

IFL
Individual Practice - Homework
Problem Set 6.2, TB pp. 353-355
Multiples of 4 (numbers 4, 8,, 60)
Credits:
Martin Gay Developmental Mathematics