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Mathematics LibreTexts

8.3: Add and Subtract Rational Expressions with a Common Denominator

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    By the end of this section, you will be able to:
    • Add rational expressions with a common denominator
    • Subtract rational expressions with a common denominator
    • Add and subtract rational expressions whose denominators are opposites

     

    Before you get started, take this readiness quiz.

    If you miss a problem, go back to the section listed and review the material.

    1. Add: \(\frac{y}{3}+\frac{9}{3}\).
      If you missed this problem, review [link].
    2. Subtract: \(\frac{10}{x}−\frac{2}{x}\).
      If you missed this problem, review [link].
    3. Factor completely: \(8n^5−20n^3\).
      If you missed this problem, review [link].
    4. Factor completely: \(45a^3−5ab^2\).
      If you missed this problem, review [link].

    Add Rational Expressions with a Common Denominator

    What is the first step you take when you add numerical fractions? You check if they have a common denominator. If they do, you add the numerators and place the sum over the common denominator. If they do not have a common denominator, you find one before you add.

    It is the same with rational expressions. To add rational expressions, they must have a common denominator. When the denominators are the same, you add the numerators and place the sum over the common denominator.

    Definition: RATIONAL EXPRESSION ADDITION

    If p, q, and r are polynomials where \(r \ne 0\), then

    \(\frac{p}{r}+\frac{q}{r}=\frac{p+q}{r}\)

    To add rational expressions with a common denominator, add the numerators and place the sum over the common denominator.

    We will add two numerical fractions first, to remind us of how this is done.

    Example \(\PageIndex{1}\)

    Add: \(\frac{5}{18}+\frac{7}{18}\).

    Answer
      \(\frac{5}{18}+\frac{7}{18}\)
    The fractions have a common denominator, so add the numerators and place the sum over the common denominator. \(\frac{5+7}{18}\)
    Add in the numerator. \(\frac{12}{18}\)
    Factor the numerator and denominator to show the common factors. \(\frac{6·2}{6·3}\)
    Simplify. \(\frac{2}{3}\)

    Example \(\PageIndex{2}\)

    Add: \(\frac{7}{16}+\frac{5}{16}\).

    Answer

    \(\frac{3}{4}\)

    Example \(\PageIndex{3}\)

    Add: \(\frac{3}{10}+\frac{1}{10}\).

    Answer

    \(\frac{2}{5}\)

    Remember, we do not allow values that would make the denominator zero. What value of yy should be excluded in the next example?

    Example \(\PageIndex{4}\)

    Add: \(\frac{3y}{4y−3}+\frac{7}{4y−3}\).

    Answer
      \(\frac{3y}{4y−3}+\frac{7}{4y−3}\).
    The fractions have a common denominator, so add the numerators and place the sum over the common denominator. \(\frac{3y+7}{4y−3}\)
    The numerator and denominator cannot be factored. The fraction is simplified.  

    Example \(\PageIndex{5}\)

    Add: \(\frac{5x}{2x+3}+\frac{2}{2x+3}\).

    Answer

    \(\frac{5x+2}{2x+3}\).

    Example \(\PageIndex{6}\)

    Add: \(\frac{x}{x−2}+\frac{1}{x−2}\).

    Answer

    \(\frac{x+1}{x−2}\)

    Example \(\PageIndex{7}\)

    Add: \(\frac{7x+12}{x+3}+\frac{x^2}{x+3}\).

    Answer
      \(\frac{7x+12}{x+3}+\frac{x^2}{x+3}\)
    The fractions have a common denominator, so add the numerators and place the sum over the common denominator. \(\frac{7x+12+x^2}{x+3}\)
    Write the degrees in descending order. \(\frac{x^2+7x+12}{x+3}\)
    Factor the numerator. \(\frac{(x+3)(x+4)}{x+3}\)
    Simplify. x+4

    Example \(\PageIndex{8}\)

    Add: \(\frac{9x+14}{x+7}+\frac{x^2}{x+7}\).

    Answer

    x+2

    Example \(\PageIndex{9}\)

    Add: \(\frac{x^2+8x}{x+5}+\frac{15}{x+5}\).

    Answer

    x+3

    Subtract Rational Expressions with a Common Denominator

    To subtract rational expressions, they must also have a common denominator. When the denominators are the same, you subtract the numerators and place the difference over the common denominator.

    Definition: RATIONAL EXPRESSION SUBTRACTION

    If p, q, and r are polynomials where \(r \ne 0\)

    \(\frac{p}{r}−\frac{q}{r}=\frac{p−q}{r}\)

    To subtract rational expressions, subtract the numerators and place the difference over the common denominator.

    We always simplify rational expressions. Be sure to factor, if possible, after you subtract the numerators so you can identify any common factors.

    Example \(\PageIndex{10}\)

    Subtract: \(\frac{n^2}{n−10}−\frac{100}{n−10}\).

    Answer
      \(\frac{n^2}{n−10}−\frac{100}{n−10}\)
    The fractions have a common denominator, so add the numerators and place the sum over the common denominator. \(\frac{n^2−100}{n−10}\)
    Factor the numerator. \(\frac{(n−10)(n+10)}{n−10}\)
    Simplify. n+10

    Example \(\PageIndex{11}\)

    Subtract: \(\frac{x^2}{x+3}−\frac{9}{x+3}\).

    Answer

    x−3

    Example \(\PageIndex{12}\)

    Subtract: \(\frac{4x^2}{2x−5}−\frac{25}{2x−5}\).

    Answer

    2x+5

    Be careful of the signs when you subtract a binomial!​​​​​​​

    Example \(\PageIndex{13}\)

    Subtract: \(\frac{y^2}{y−6}−\frac{2y+24}{y−6}\).

    Answer
      \(\frac{y^2}{y−6}−\frac{2y+24}{y−6}\)
    The fractions have a common denominator, so add the numerators and place the sum over the common denominator. \(\frac{y^2−(2y+24)}{y−6}\)
    Distribute the sign in the numerator. \(\frac{y^2−2y−24}{y−6}\)
    Factor the numerator. \(\frac{(y−6)(y+4)}{y−6}\)
    Simplify. y+4

    Example \(\PageIndex{14}\)

    Subtract: \(\frac{n^2}{n−4}−\frac{n+12}{n−4}\).

    Answer

    n+3

    Example \(\PageIndex{15}\)

    Subtract: \(\frac{y^2}{y−1}−\frac{9y−8}{y−1}\).

    Answer

    y−8

    Example \(\PageIndex{16}\)

    Subtract: \(\frac{5x^2−7x+3}{x^2−3x+18}−\frac{4x^2+x−9}{x^2−3x+18}\).

    Answer
      \(\frac{5x^2−7x+3}{x^2−3x+18}−\frac{4x^2+x−9}{x^2−3x+18}\)
    The fractions have a common denominator, so add the numerators and place the sum over the common denominator. \(\frac{5x^2−7x+3−(4x^2+x−9)}{x^2−3x+18}\)
    Distribute the sign in the numerator. \(\frac{5x^2−7x+3−4x^2−x+9}{x^2−3x+18}\)
    Combine like terms. \(\frac{x^2−8x+12}{x^2−3x+18}\)
    Factor the numerator and the denominator. \(\frac{(x−2)(x−6)}{(x+3)(x−6)}\)
    Simplify. \(\frac{x−2}{x+3}\)

    Example \(\PageIndex{17}\)

    Subtract: \(\frac{4x^2−11x+8}{x^2−3x+2}−\frac{3x^2+x−3}{x^2−3x+2}\).

    Answer

    \(\frac{x−11}{x−2}\)

    Example \(\PageIndex{18}\)

    Subtract: \(\frac{6x^2−x+20}{x^2−81}−\frac{5x^2+11x−7}{x^2−81}\).

    Answer

    \(\frac{x−3}{x+9}\)

    Add and Subtract Rational Expressions whose Denominators are Opposites

    When the denominators of two rational expressions are opposites, it is easy to get a common denominator. We just have to multiply one of the fractions by \(\frac{−1}{−1}\)

    Let’s see how this works.

      .
    Multiply the second fraction by \(\frac{−1}{−1}\). .
    The denominators are the same. .
    Simplify. .

    Example \(\PageIndex{19}\)

    Add: \(\frac{4u−1}{3u−1}+\frac{u}{1−3u}\).

    Answer
      .
    Multiply the second fraction by \(\frac{−1}{−1}\). .
    Simplify the second fraction. .
    The denominators are the same. Add the numerators. .
    Simplify. .
    Simplify. .

    Example \(\PageIndex{20}\)

    Add: \(\frac{8x−15}{2x−5}+\frac{2x}{5−2x}\).

    Answer

    3

    Example \(\PageIndex{21}\)

    Add: \(\frac{6y^2+7y−10}{4y−7}+\frac{2y^2+2y+11}{7−4y}\).

    Answer

    y+3

    Example \(\PageIndex{22}\)

    Subtract: \(\frac{m^2−6m}{m^2−1}−\frac{3m+2}{1−m^2}\).

    Answer
      .
    Multiply the second fraction by \(\frac{−1}{−1}\). .
    Simplify the second fraction. .
    The denominators are the same. Subtract the numerators. .
    Distribute. m2−6m+3m+2m2−1
    Combine like terms. .
    Factor the numerator and denominator. .
    Simplify by removing common factors. .
    Simplify. .

    Example \(\PageIndex{23}\)

    Subtract: \(\frac{y^2−5y}{y^2−4}−\frac{6y−6}{4−y^2}\).

    Answer

    \(\frac{y+3}{y+2}\)

    Example \(\PageIndex{24}\)

    Subtract: \(\frac{2n^2+8n−1}{n^2−1}−\frac{n^2−7n−1}{1−n^2}\).

    Answer

    \(\frac{3n−2}{n−1}\)

    Key Concepts

    • Rational Expression Addition

      • If p, q, and r are polynomials where \(r \ne 0\), then

        \(\frac{p}{r}+\frac{q}{r}=\frac{p+q}{r}\)

      • To add rational expressions with a common denominator, add the numerators and place the sum over the common denominator.
    • Rational Expression Subtraction

      • If p, q, and r are polynomials where \(r \ne 0\)

        \(\frac{p}{r}−\frac{q}{r}=\frac{p−q}{r}\)​​​​​​​

      • To subtract rational expressions, subtract the numerators and place the difference over the common denominator.