GRE Math : How to add rational expressions with different denominators

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Example Question #1 : How To Add Rational Expressions With Different Denominators

Simplify the expression.

$\frac{x}{2x+4}+\frac{x}{x+2}$

Possible Answers:

$\frac{x}{x+2}$

$\frac{3x}{2x+4}$

$\frac{x+1}{2x+4}$

$\frac{2x}{3x+6}$

$\frac{1}{2x+4}$

Correct answer:

$\frac{3x}{2x+4}$

Explanation:

To add rational expressions, first find the least common denominator. Because the denominator of the first fraction factors to 2(x+2), it is clear that this is the common denominator. Therefore, multiply the numerator and denominator of the second fraction by 2.

$\frac{x}{2x+4}+\frac{x}{x+2}$

$\frac{x}{2x+4}+\frac{(2)x}{(2)(x+2)}$

$\frac{x}{2x+4}+\frac{2x}{2x+4}$

$\frac{3x}{2x+4}$

This is the most simplified version of the rational expression.

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Example Question #1 : Expressions

Simplify the following:

$\frac{x+3}{x-2}+\frac{x-2}{x+3}$

Possible Answers:

$\frac{2(x+3)(x-2)}{(x+3)(x-2)}$

2x^2-4x+4

$\frac{(x+3)^2+(x-2)^2}{(x+3)(x-2)}$

Correct answer:

$\frac{(x+3)^2+(x-2)^2}{(x+3)(x-2)}$

Explanation:

To simplify the following, a common denominator must be achieved. In this case, the first term must be multiplied by (x+2) in both the numerator and denominator and likewise with the second term with (x-3).

$\frac{(x+3)(x+3)}{(x-2)(x+3)}+\frac{(x-2)(x-2)}{(x+3)(x-2)}$

$\frac{(x+3)^2+(x-2)^2}{(x+3)(x-2)}$

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Example Question #1 : How To Add Rational Expressions With Different Denominators

Choose the answer which best simplifies the following expression:

$\frac{3a^2 + a}{2} + \frac{10}{2a^2-a}$

Possible Answers:

$\frac{6a^4 - a^3 - a^2 + 20}{4a^2 + 2a}$

$\frac{6a^4 - a^3 - a^2 + 20}{4a^2 - 2a}$

$\frac{6a^4 + a^3 + a^2 + 20}{4a^2 - 2a}$

$\frac{36a^4 - a^3 - a^2 + 20}{4a^2 - 2a}$

$\frac{5a^3 - a^2 + 20}{4a^2 - 2a}$

Correct answer:

$\frac{6a^4 - a^3 - a^2 + 20}{4a^2 - 2a}$

Explanation:

To simplify, first multiply both terms by the denominator of the other term over itself:

$\frac{3a^2 + a}{2} \left(\frac{2a^2 - a}{2a^2 - a}\right) + \frac{10}{2a^2-a}\left(\frac{2}{2}\right)$

$\frac{6a^4 + 2a^3 -3a^3 - a^2}{4a^2 -2a} + \frac{20}{4a^2 - 2a}$

Then, you can combine the terms, now that they share a denominator:

$\frac{6a^4 - a^3 -a^2 +20}{4a^2 - 2a}$

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Example Question #1 : How To Add Rational Expressions With Different Denominators

Choose the answer which best simplifies the following expression:

$\frac{3p}{2} + \frac{2p}{p^3}$

Possible Answers:

$\frac{3p^3 +4}{2p^2}$

$\frac{6p^4+8p}{4p^3}$

$\frac{3p^3+4p}{2p^3}$

$\frac{3p^4+2p}{2p^3}$

$\frac{3p^4+4p}{p^3}$

Correct answer:

$\frac{3p^3 +4}{2p^2}$

Explanation:

To simplify this expression, you have to get both numerators over a common denominator. The best way to go about doing so is to multiply both expressions by the others denominator over itself:

$\frac{3p}{2} \cdot \frac{p^3}{p^3 } + \frac{2p}{p^3} \cdot \frac{2}{2}$

Then you are left with:

$\frac{3p^4}{2p^3} + \frac{4p}{2p^3}$

Which you can simplify into:

$\frac{3p^4+4p}{2p^3}$

From there, you can take out a :

$\frac{p(3p^3 + 4)}{p(2p^2)}$

Which gives you your final answer:

$\frac{3p^3 +4}{2p^2}$

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Example Question #3 : How To Add Rational Expressions With Different Denominators

Choose the answer which best simplifies the following expression:

$\frac{2a + 2}{3} + \frac{3}{a^2}$

Possible Answers:

$\frac{2a^3 + 2a^2 + 9}{3a}$

$\frac{2a^3 + 2a^2 + 3}{3a^2}$

$\frac{2a^3 + 2a^2 + 9}{3a^2}$

$\frac{2a^3 + 2a^2 + 9}{3a^3}$

$\frac{2a^2 + 2a + 9}{3a^2}$

Correct answer:

$\frac{2a^3 + 2a^2 + 9}{3a^2}$

Explanation:

To solve this problem, first multiply both terms of the expression by the denominator of the other over itself:

$\frac{2a + 2}{3} \cdot \frac{a^2}{a^2} + \frac{3}{a^2} \cdot \frac{3}{3}$

$\frac{2a^3 +2a^2}{3a^2} + \frac{9}{3a^2}$

Now that both terms have a common denominator, you can add them together:

$\frac{2a^3 +2a^2 + 9}{3a^2}$

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GRE Math : How to add rational expressions with different denominators

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Math

All GRE Math Resources

Example Questions

Example Question #1 : How To Add Rational Expressions With Different Denominators

Example Question #1 : Expressions

Example Question #1 : How To Add Rational Expressions With Different Denominators

Example Question #1 : How To Add Rational Expressions With Different Denominators

Example Question #3 : How To Add Rational Expressions With Different Denominators

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