Question

How is doing operations (adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing) with rational expressions similar to or different from doing operations with fractions? Can understanding how to work with one kind of problem help understand how to work another type? When might you use this skill in real life?

Answer 1

I think that the similarities in rational expressions and fractions are very similar in functions. The need to utilize common denominator and find the LCD is relatively the same. The factoring process between the two is similar, but the difference is in the use of x’s and y’s within the expression. It is easier to just use numbers, but we are forced to use the little x’s and y’s in algebra.