Warm up: Factor & List which process(es) you used.
36 x
2 
9 y
2
16 y
2 
24 y

9 x
2  xy

20 y
2
5 xy

10 x

4 y

8

Homework Questions?
 Pg. 664 # 14 – 31

Objective: To simplify rational expressions.
Standard 12.0

Excluded Values
Excluded Values : values that make the denominator zero (because we cannot divide by zero).
Always find the excluded values BEFORE you cancel anything out.
Examples: State the excluded values
9 x
2
( x

2)( x

3) x
 
2 x

3
4 a a
2 
4 a

2 a
 
2

Steps
1.
1.
Factor top and bottom of fraction separately
GCF
2.
2.
Binomial: Difference of 2 squares
3.
Trinomial: X-Box, Perfect Square trinomial
Find excluded values

3.
Cancel out factors (what top and bottom have in common)

Example 1
( a

4)( a

3)
( a

4)(3
 a )

( a

4)( a

3)

1 ( a
   a )

( a

4)( a

3)

1( a

4 ) ( a

3 )
Excluded values: a
 a

4
3
 a

4
4
 a

Homework
 Simplifying Fractions worksheet

Math Lab Warm up: Factor
5 xy

10 x

4 y

8 y
2 
6 y

9 x
2 
25 y
2
9 x
2 
81 y
2

Steps
1.
1.
Factor top and bottom of fraction separately
GCF
2.
2.
Binomial: Difference of 2 squares
3.
Trinomial: X-Box, Perfect Square trinomial
Find excluded values

3.
Cancel out factors (what top and bottom have in common)

Excluded Values
Excluded Values : values that make the denominator zero (because we cannot divide by zero).
Always find the excluded values BEFORE you cancel anything out.
Examples: State the excluded values
9 x
2
(

3)( x

5) x

0 x
 
3 x

5
5 a a
2 
25 a

5 a
 
5