Thursday 2 February 2012

Division of Rational Expressions

Rational numbers can be written in the form of p / q where p and q are integers and q <> 0. rational expressions is the series of rational numbers combined together with mathematical operators.  We can perform all mathematical operations namely addition, subtraction, multiplication and division on rational expressions and it comes under andhra pradesh board of secondary education. Division of Rational Expressions is very simple and follow a set pattern of steps. Before we start dividing rational expression, we will first understand the concept of reciprocal of rational number. By reciprocal of a rational number, we mean dividing 1 by a rational number. For instance:
  reciprocal of 4 / 7  = 1/ (4/7)
                                     = 7/4.
Always remember there is no reciprocal of zero (0) and reciprocal of 1 is always 1.
While dividing rational expression, we first  write the reciprocal of divident and replace divide sign by multiplication
Further, the sum changes into simple sum of multiplication and the numerator is multiplied by numerator, denominator by a denominator.
eg:  (-3/5) ÷ (4/10)
 we see that reciprocal of 4/10 is 10 / 4, so the above sum becomes :
= (-3/5) * (10/4)
= ( -3 * 10 ) / ( 5* 4)
= -30 /20
converting into lowest term we get
= -3 / 2 Ans.
Like division there are many rational expressions applications, Sometimes division of Rational Expression becomes the part of the expression with other operators. In such cases, we follow the rule of DMAS, where
D- stands for Division,
M- stands for Multiplication
A- stands for subtraction
S- stands for subtraction .
It means that division is the first mathematical operation to be followed in the given expression which is to be simplified.(want to Learn more about Rational Expressions,click here),
eg (-2/5) ÷ (2/6) * (3/7)
 First we solve (-2/5) ÷ (2/6)
                     = (-2/ 5) * (6/2 )
                     = (-2 * 6 ) / ( 5* 2)
                     = -12/10
 Ptting this in given equation we get:
     = ( -12/10) * ( 3/7)
= (-12 * 3) / (10 * 7)
= -36 /70
= -18/ 35 Ans.
This is all about the Division of Rational Expressions  and if anyone want to know about Simplifying Rational Expressions then they can refer to Internet and text books for understanding it more precisely.Read more maths topics of different grades such as Compound Inequalities in the next session here.

No comments:

Post a Comment