Case Study

What are the four steps to solve this problem?

Case context: Problem: Add the rational expressions 512x2y+421xy2\frac{5}{12x^2y} + \frac{4}{21xy^2}

Question: What are the four steps to solve this problem?

Sample answer:

  1. Find the Least Common Denominator (LCD) by taking the highest power of every factor. 2. Rewrite each fraction to have the LCD. 3. Add the numerators together. 4. Check if the final fraction can be simplified.

Key points:

  • Find the LCD using the highest power of each factor.
  • Rewrite each fraction to have the LCD.
  • Add the numerators.
  • Check if the final fraction can be simplified.

Rubric: Award full points if the student lists all four steps: finding the LCD (including the detail about highest powers), rewriting the fractions, adding the numerators, and checking for simplification.

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Updated 2026-06-20

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