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Multiplication of Rational Expressions

To multiply rational expressions, multiply the numerators together and multiply the denominators together — extending the rule for multiplying numerical fractions to expressions involving polynomials. If pp, qq, rr, and ss are polynomials with q0q \neq 0 and s0s \neq 0, then:

pqrs=prqs\frac{p}{q} \cdot \frac{r}{s} = \frac{pr}{qs}

The product of two rational expressions is formed by placing the product of the two numerators over the product of the two denominators. After multiplying, the result should be simplified by factoring the numerator and denominator completely and dividing out any common polynomial factors.

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Updated 2026-05-01

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