Simplifying Rational Expressions

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What is a rational expression?

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A rational expression is a fraction where the numerator and the denominator are both polynomials.

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What does it mean to simplify a rational expression?

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To simplify a rational expression means to reduce it to its simplest form by canceling common factors in the numerator and denominator.

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What is the first step in simplifying a rational expression?

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The first step is to factor both the numerator and the denominator completely.

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How do you identify common factors in a rational expression?

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Common factors can be identified by factoring both the numerator and denominator and looking for identical factors.

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What happens if there are no common factors in a rational expression?

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If there are no common factors, the expression is already in its simplest form and cannot be simplified further.

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What does it mean if a rational expression cannot be simplified?

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It means that the numerator and denominator have no common factors other than 1.