How to Add or Subtract Rational Expressions
To add or subtract rational expressions, use the following three-step procedure:
Step 1. Determine if the rational expressions share a common denominator. If they do, proceed directly to the next step. If they do not, find the least common denominator (LCD) for the expressions, and rewrite each rational expression as an equivalent fraction whose denominator is the LCD.
Step 2. Add or subtract the numerators of the rational expressions and place the resulting sum or difference over the common denominator.
Step 3. Simplify the final rational expression, if possible, by completely factoring the numerator and denominator and dividing out any common factors.
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How to Add or Subtract Rational Expressions