Rational Expressions - SAT Math

Since both expressions have a common denominator, x2, we can just recopy the denominator and focus on the numerators. We get (9x - 2) - (6x - 8). We must distribute the negative sign over the 6x - 8 expression which gives us 9x - 2 - 6x + 8 ( -2 minus a -8 gives a +6 since a negative and negative make a positive). The numerator is therefore 3x + 6.

Since both fractions in the expression have a common denominator of , we can combine like terms into a single numerator over the denominator:

Since both rational terms in the expression have the common denominator , combine the numerators and simplify like terms:

Since both terms in the expression have the common denominator , combine the fractions and simplify the numerators:

If we plug in _a_2 for b in the radical expression, we get √(_a_3) = 8. This can be rewritten as a_3/2 = 8. Thus, log_a 8 = 3/2. Plugging in the answer choices gives 4 as the correct answer.

To solve this, we need to set a proportion.

Cross Multiply

So it will take Jill to walk

If we plug in _a_2 for b in the radical expression, we get √(_a_3) = 8. This can be rewritten as a_3/2 = 8. Thus, log_a 8 = 3/2. Plugging in the answer choices gives 4 as the correct answer.

To solve this, we need to set a proportion.

Cross Multiply

So it will take Jill to walk

Since both expressions have a common denominator, x2, we can just recopy the denominator and focus on the numerators. We get (9x - 2) - (6x - 8). We must distribute the negative sign over the 6x - 8 expression which gives us 9x - 2 - 6x + 8 ( -2 minus a -8 gives a +6 since a negative and negative make a positive). The numerator is therefore 3x + 6.

Since both fractions in the expression have a common denominator of , we can combine like terms into a single numerator over the denominator:

Since both rational terms in the expression have the common denominator , combine the numerators and simplify like terms:

Since both terms in the expression have the common denominator , combine the fractions and simplify the numerators:

Factor first. The numerators will not factor, but the first denominator factors to (x – 2)(x + 2) and the second denomintaor factors to x(x – 2). Multiplying fractions does not require common denominators, so now look for common factors to divide out. There is a factor of x and a factor of (x + 2) that both divide out, leaving 4 in the numerator and two factors of (x – 2) in the denominator.

6/8 X 20/3 first step is to reduce 6/8 -> 3/4 (Divide top and bottom by 2)

3/4 X 20/3 (cross-cancel the threes and the 20 reduces to 5 and the 4 reduces to 1)

1/1 X 5/1 = 5

The procedure for multplying together two rational expressions is the same as multiplying together any two fractions: find the product of the numerators and the product of the denominators separately, and then simplify the resulting quotient as far as possible, as shown:

If we plug in _a_2 for b in the radical expression, we get √(_a_3) = 8. This can be rewritten as a_3/2 = 8. Thus, log_a 8 = 3/2. Plugging in the answer choices gives 4 as the correct answer.