Example

Rewriting 3xx23x10\frac{3x}{x^2-3x-10} and 5x2+3x+2\frac{5}{x^2+3x+2} with LCD (x5)(x+2)(x+1)(x-5)(x+2)(x+1)

Rewrite the rational expressions 3xx23x10\frac{3x}{x^2-3x-10} and 5x2+3x+2\frac{5}{x^2+3x+2} as equivalent expressions with the lowest common denominator (x5)(x+2)(x+1)(x-5)(x+2)(x+1).

Step 1 — Factor each denominator. The denominators factor into (x5)(x+2)(x-5)(x+2) and (x+1)(x+2)(x+1)(x+2), respectively.

Step 2 — Multiply the numerator and denominator of each expression by the missing LCD factor. For the first expression, the missing factor from the LCD is (x+1)(x+1): 3x(x5)(x+2)(x+1)(x+1)=3x(x+1)(x5)(x+2)(x+1)\frac{3x}{(x-5)(x+2)} \cdot \frac{(x+1)}{(x+1)} = \frac{3x(x+1)}{(x-5)(x+2)(x+1)}

For the second expression, the missing factor from the LCD is (x5)(x-5): 5(x+1)(x+2)(x5)(x5)=5(x5)(x5)(x+2)(x+1)\frac{5}{(x+1)(x+2)} \cdot \frac{(x-5)}{(x-5)} = \frac{5(x-5)}{(x-5)(x+2)(x+1)}

Step 3 — Simplify the numerators. Distribute the terms in the numerators while keeping the denominators factored. The resulting equivalent rational expressions are: 3x2+3x(x5)(x+2)(x+1)\frac{3x^2+3x}{(x-5)(x+2)(x+1)} and 5x25(x5)(x+2)(x+1)\frac{5x-25}{(x-5)(x+2)(x+1)}

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Updated 2026-04-30

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