Simplifying Rational Expressions

Objectives:

• Students will learn to define and identify rational expressions.

• Students will learn to simplify rational expressions with polynomials.

• Students will learn to use a GCF as a simplifying tool.

• Students will practice all of these skills.

Suggested Grades:

Seventh Grade - Eighth Grade - Ninth Grade - Tenth Grade - including special education students

Lesson Procedure:

Print the classroom lesson plan and worksheet questions (see below).

Lesson Excerpt:

Introduction

- "Today, we are going to begin working with rational expressions. If you think back to rational numbers, we know that a rational number is written in fraction form where a/b, and b can never be 0. So we know that fractions, decimals and mixed numbers both positive and negative are rational numbers."
- "Now we are moving on to rational expressions. In Algebra, a rational expression is written in fraction form. The numerator and the denominator are both polynomials. Copy these notes down in your notebooks."
- On Board: A Rational Expression- written in fraction form where the numerator and denominator are both polynomials. The denominator is never 0. The fraction bar means the division is the operation.
- "Just like when we were working with rational numbers, with rational expressions, the denominator can never be 0. Also, the fraction bar means that the operation is 0."

Continued...