Algebra II : Intermediate Single-Variable Algebra

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Algebra II

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #9 : Factoring Rational Expressions

Simplify to simplest terms.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The correct answer is . The numerator and denominator can both be factored to simpler terms:

 

The  terms will cancel out. Leaving . While this is an answer choice, it can be simplified further. Factoring out a  from the denominator will allow the  terms to cancel out leaving .  

Example Question #11 : Factoring Rational Expressions

Simplify the rational expression by factoring:

 

Possible Answers:

None of these.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To simplify it is best to completely factor all polynomials:

Now cancel like terms:

Combine like terms:

Example Question #131 : Rational Expressions

Solve for :

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve this rational equation, start by cross multiplying:

Then, distribute the right side:

Finally, subtract  from both sides and bring the  over to the left side:

Dividing by  gives the answer:

Example Question #2 : Solving Rational Expressions

Solve for :

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The first step is to multiply everything by a common denominator. One way to do this is to multiply the entire equation by all three denominators:

Then, to solve for , use the quadratic formula:

 

 

 

Example Question #11 : How To Find The Solution To An Equation

Solve for , given the equation below.

Possible Answers:

No solutions

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Begin by cross-multiplying.

Distribute the on the left side and expand the polynomial on the right.

Combine like terms and rearrange to set the equation equal to zero.

Now we can isolate and solve for by adding to both sides.

Example Question #1 : How To Find Out When An Equation Has No Solution

Solve the rational equation:

Possible Answers:

 or 

no solution

Correct answer:

no solution

Explanation:

With rational equations we must first note the domain, which is all real numbers except  and . That is, these are the values of  that will cause the equation to be undefined. Since the least common denominator of , and  is , we can mulitply each term by the LCD to cancel out the denominators and reduce the equation to . Combining like terms, we end up with . Dividing both sides of the equation by the constant, we obtain an answer of . However, this solution is NOT in the domain. Thus, there is NO SOLUTION because  is an extraneous answer. 

Example Question #3 : Solving Rational Expressions

Simplify:

 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Factor out  from the numerator which gives us

Hence we get the following

which is equal to

Example Question #3 : Solving Rational Expressions

Solve:

 

 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

First we convert each of the denominators into an LCD which gives us the following:

Now we add or subtract the numerators which gives us:

 

Simplifying the above equation gives us the answer which is:

Example Question #4 : Solving Rational Expressions

Solve for .

 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The two fractions on the left side of the equation need a common denominator. We can easily do find one by multiplying both the top and bottom of each fraction by the denominator of the other.

   becomes .

  becomes .

Now add the two fractions:

To solve, multiply both sides of the equation by , yielding

 .

Multiply both sides by 3:

 

Move all terms to the same side:

 

This looks like a complicated equation to factor, but luckily, the only factors of 37 are 37 and 1, so we are left with

 .

Our solutions are therefore

 

and

.

Example Question #2 : Solving Rational Expressions

Solve for :

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Multiply both sides by :

Factor this using the -method. We split the middle term using two integers whose sum is  and whose product is . These integers are :

Set each factor equal to 0 and solve separately:

 or

 

 

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors