- To solve a rational equation:
Step 1 Exclude values that cause division
Step 2 Multiply both sides by the least
common dominator and simplify
Step 3 Solve the resulting equation
Step 4 Check each solution to make sure
it is not one of the excluded
values; that is, division by zero is not permitted.
Any value that is
excluded in this manner is called an extraneous root.
- Property of Powers
If P and Q are algebraic expressions in a variable x,
and n is any positive integer, then the solution set
of P = Q is a subset of the solution set of
P n = Q n. The equation P n
= Q nis called a derived equation of P = Q.
to Section 3
© 2011 Karl J. Smith. All rights reserved.