MAT 1033 Pre-class assignment Week 09: Finding the LCD and Adding Rational Expressions

1) Below is a circle split into 9 regions. Shade in 1/9 of the circle.

2) Go back to the same circle and shade in an additional 4/9 of the circle.

3) How many regions of the circle are now shaded? 5/9

5
How would you represent that as a fraction?
9
1 4 5
We can conclude that + 9 = 9.
9

𝑎 𝑏 𝑎+𝑏 𝑎 𝑏 𝑎−𝑏
4) Generalize this for: +𝑐 = and −𝑐 =
𝑐 𝑐 𝑐 𝑐

5 7 12
5) Add: + 𝑥+2 = 𝑥+2
𝑥+2

𝑥+1 𝑥+3 2𝑥+4

Now, consider + 𝑥+2=
𝑥+2 𝑥+2

(𝑥+1)+(𝑥+3)
This would then become
𝑥+2

6) Complete the above problem. (Remember to always simplify your answers)

 MAT 1033 Pre-class assignment Week 09: Finding the LCD and Adding Rational Expressions

𝑥+1 𝑥+3
Take − 𝑥+2=
𝑥+2

(𝑥+1)−(𝑥+3)
This would then become
𝑥+2

7) Complete the above problem. (Remember to always simplify your answers)

−2
𝑥+2

8) Why are the parentheses important in the subtraction problem but not in the addition problem?

Because in the subtraction problem the negative sign affects all the numbers that are inside the
parenthesis.

3𝑥−5 𝑥−6
9) Subtract: − 2𝑥+1 (Remember to always simplify your answers)
2𝑥+1

2𝑥 + 1
=1
2𝑥 + 1

2 5
10) Now, let’s try to add + 9. Unlike previous examples, the expression has different denominators
6
and cannot be added straight away. They do not have the same denominator. Think about the region of
the circle from previous example where every piece was equal. We were able to add those pieces. In this
case we need to transform each fraction so they can have the same denominator.

Definition: Least common denominator (LCD) is the least common multiple (LCM) of the
denominator of two or more rational expressions.

2 5
LCD of + 9 is the LCM of 6 and 9 which is 18.
6

6= 3×2
9= 3×3
Prime number 2 is repeated at most once in a row and prime number 3 is repeated at
most 2 times in a row so 2 × 3 × 3 = 18

We try to make both the denominators the same as the the LCD (18 in this case)
 MAT 1033 Pre-class assignment Week 09: Finding the LCD and Adding Rational Expressions

2
In the first fraction 6, to make the denominator 18, we need to multiply 6 by 3. We
multiply the numerator by 3 as well so that the value of the fraction remains unchanged.
2∗3 6
=
6 ∗ 3 18
5
Similarly, for 9, we need to multiply by 2 in the numerator and denominator so that the
denominator becomes 18 which is the LCD.
5 ∗ 2 10
=
9 ∗ 2 18
2 5 6 10 16 8
So 6 + 9 = + 18 = = 9 after simplification.
18 18

Find the LCM of the following:

120 and 84
840

10
Now, find the LCD and subtract 120 −
23 13
= = 1/84
84 840

You will see in class how this same concept is used in operations on rational
expressions as well.