8

MATHEMATICS
QUARTER 1 – MODULE 2
MELC 3 & 4

What is my
Equivalent?
PART I.
A. Introduction
In the world of mathematics, you have dealt with different kinds of expressions –
mathematical expressions. These expressions such as polynomials are what you learned
from your previous lessons where you were able to factor those expressions using various
techniques.
As you go over the lessons in this module, you develop skills in identifying rational
algebraic expressions, finding the values that make the expressions undefined, substituting
the given value for each variable so the expression helps to view mathematics as a whole
and to give you a clear process and techniques that you can apply to help you become more
confident in simplifying rational algebraic expressions.

Pretest
Directions: Write “TRUE” if the statement is correct and write “FALSE” if it is not.

_______1. 2𝑥 is the Greatest Common Factor of the rational expression 4𝑥 6 + 6𝑥.

_______2. (𝑥 − 12)(𝑥 + 2) are the factors of 𝑥 2 − 10𝑥 − 24.

𝑥2
_______3. is equal to 𝑥 2 .
𝑥−𝑥
2𝑥+1
_______4. 2 is the value of the rational expression , when 𝑥 = 1.
𝑥 2 +1

4𝑎10 𝑏5
_______5. 2𝑎5 𝑏 2 is the simplified form of .
2𝑎5 𝑏3

B. Presentation/Discussion
MELC 3: Illustrates rational algebraic expressions

Rational Algebraic Expression is a ratio of two polynomials provided that the

𝑃
denominator is not equal to zero. In symbols: , where 𝑃 and 𝑄 are polynomials and
𝑄
𝑄 ≠ 0.
Examples of rational algebraic expressions are:
8𝑥 −10𝑥𝑦 4𝑥+7 2𝑛𝑚+𝑛 5𝑥−3
, , , , 7+
3𝑦 𝑥𝑦 2 𝑥−1 3𝑚2 +5𝑚−𝑛 2

Examples of NOT rational algebraic expressions are:

1−√𝑥
1. → The second term of the numerator has a radical sign (√ ).
𝑥−2
10𝑦 −2
2. → The variable of the numerator has a negative exponent.
3
𝑥+7
3. → Notice that the denominator of the expression is zero. It is a
0
meaningless expression because division by zero is undefined.
𝑥3
4. → The expression on the denominator is 0 (𝑦 − 𝑦 = 0).
𝑦−𝑦

Since division by zero is undefined, we must not allow the variable to assume values
that would make division by zero. Any value/s that would make division by zero is called
excluded value/s.

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Illustrative Examples
Find the value/s of the variable for which the rational expression is undefined.
5𝑚−2
1.
𝑚−4

Solution:
Step 1: Equate the denominator with 0.
𝑚−4=0
Step 2: Solve for the value of m.
𝑚−4=0 Given
𝑚−4+4=0+4 Add both sides by 4 by Addition Property of Equality
𝑚+0=4 Perform the operations
𝒎=𝟒 Simplify
If you substitute 4 to the expression the result is,
5𝑚−2 5(4)−2 20−2 18
= = =
𝑚−4 4−4 0 0

Since 4 makes division by zero, 4 is an excluded value of the algebraic expression.

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2.
𝑛2 −9

Solution:
Step 1: Equate the denominator with 0.
𝑛2 − 9 = 0
Step 2: Solve for the value of n.
𝑛2 − 9 = 0 Given
(𝑛 + 3)(𝑛 − 3) = 0 Factored form of 𝑛2 − 9 = 0
(𝑛 + 3) = 0 (𝑛 − 3) = 0 Zero Product Property
𝑛 + 3 + (−3) = 0 + (−3) 𝑛−3+3= 0+3 Addition Property of Equality
𝑛 + 0 = −3 𝑛+0=3 Perform the operations
𝒏 = −𝟑 𝒏=𝟑 Simplify

Substituting -3 to the given expression,

3 3 3 3
= (−3)2 = =
𝑛2 −9 −9 9−9 0

Substituting 3 to the same expression,

3 3 3 3
= (3)2 = =
𝑛2 −9 −9 9−9 0

The excluded values of the rational algebraic expression are -3 and 3, because both
of these values make division by zero.
2𝑦+5
3.
𝑦 2 +3𝑦−10

Solution:
Step 1: Equate the denominator with 0.
𝑦 2 + 3𝑦 − 10 = 0
Step 2: Solve for the value of y.
𝑦 2 + 3𝑦 − 10 = 0 Given

2
 (𝑦 − 2)(𝑦 + 5) = 0 Factored form of 𝑦 2 + 3𝑦 − 10 = 0
(𝑦 − 2) = 0 (𝑦 + 5) = 0 Zero Product Property
𝑦−2+2 =0+2 𝑦 + 5 + (−5) = 0 + (−5) Addition Property of Equality
𝑦+0 =2 𝑦 + 0 = −5 Perform the operations
𝒚=𝟐 𝒚 = −𝟓 Simplify

Substituting 2 to the given expression,

2𝑦+5 2(2)+5 4+5 9 9
= = = =
𝑦 2 +3𝑦−10 (2)2 +3(2)−10 4+6−10 10−10 0
Also, substituting -5 to the same expression,
2𝑦+5 2(−5)+5 −10+5 −5 −5
= = = =
𝑦 2 +3𝑦−10 (−5)2 +3(−5)−10 25−15−10 25−25 0

Since the denominator of the expression are both 0, so the given expression is
undefined, therefore 2 and -5 are the excluded values of the rational algebraic expression.
If the excluded value/s is substituted in the expression, the denominator is always
equal to 0. However, some values will make expression defined, too. It is called evaluating
the expression.

Illustrative Examples
Let us evaluate each rational algebraic expression at the given value of its variable.
4𝑎 − 9
1. ;a=2
𝑎+3

Solution:
Step 1: Replace the variable a with the given value.
4𝑎 − 9 4 (2) − 9
=
𝑎+3 2+3
Step 2: Simplify the numerator and the denominator.
4𝑎 − 9 8−9 −𝟏
= =
𝑎+3 2+3 𝟓
4𝑎 − 9 −1
Therefore, when a = 2, the expression is equal to .
𝑎+3 5
6𝑏 + 2
2. ;b=3
3𝑏2 − 1

Solution:
Step 1: Replace the variable b with the given value.
6𝑏 + 2 6(3) + 2
=
3𝑏2 − 1 3(3)2 − 1
Step 2: Simplify the numerator and the denominator.
6(3) + 2 6(3) + 2 18 + 2 20 𝟏𝟎
= = = =
3(3)2 − 1 3 (9) − 1 27 − 1 26 𝟏𝟑

6𝑏 + 2 10
Therefore, when b = 3 the expression is equal to .
3𝑏2 − 1 13

MELC 4: Simplifies rational algebraic expressions

You have identified and illustrated rational algebraic expressions. These will help you
in simplifying rational algebraic expressions.

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 When the numerator and denominator of rational algebraic expressions are
polynomials with no common factors other than 1, then it is said to be in its simplest form.
Simplifying a rational expression is similar in reducing fractions to its lowest term.
To simplify:
1. Factor completely the numerator and denominator.
2. Divide out common factor/s.
3. Multiply the remaining factors.

Illustrative Examples
Simplify each rational algebraic expression.
12 3• 4
1. = → Factor completely the numerator and denominator
20 5•4

3 4
= • → Separate and divide out common factors
5 4
3
= •1 → Multiply the remaining factors
5

𝟑
= → Simplest Form
𝟓

45𝑥 3 5 (9𝑥 3 )
2. = → Factor completely the numerator and denominator
9𝑥 5 𝑥 2 (9𝑥 3 )

5 9𝑥 3
= • → Separate and divide out common factors
𝑥3 9𝑥 3

5
= •1 → Multiply the remaining factors
𝑥3

𝟓
= → Simplest Form
𝒙𝟑

4𝑥 − 8 4 (𝑥 − 2)
3. = → Factor completely the numerator and denominator
5𝑥 − 10 5 (𝑥−2)

4 (𝑥 − 2)
= • → Separate and divide out common factors
5 (𝑥−2)

4
= •1 → Multiply the remaining factors
5

𝟒
= → Simplest Form
𝟓

𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 + 12 (𝑥−4)(𝑥−3)
4. = → Factor completely the numerator and denominator
𝑥 3 −27 (𝑥−3)(𝑥 2 +3𝑥+9)

𝑥−3 𝑥−4
= • → Separate and divide out common factors
𝑥−3 𝑥 2 +3𝑥+9
𝑥−4
= 1• → Multiply the remaining factors
𝑥 2 +3𝑥+9

𝒙−𝟒
= → Simplest Form
𝒙𝟐 +𝟑𝒙+𝟗

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 𝑦 2 + 11𝑦 + 24 (𝑦+3)(𝑦+8)
5. = → Factor completely the numerator and denominator
𝑦 2 − 64 (𝑦−8)(𝑦+8)

𝑦+3 𝑦+8
= • → Separate and divide out common factors
𝑦−8 𝑦+8

𝑦+3
= •1 → Multiply the remaining factors
𝑦−8
𝒚+𝟑
= → Simplest Form
𝒚−𝟖

In some cases, there are factors in the numerator that are in opposite signs of a
fraction in the denominator. You must have factored out first the negative one (-1) or a
negative so that the factors will become equivalent.

Illustrative Examples
𝑎−𝑏 𝑎−𝑏
1. = → Factor completely the numerator and denominator
𝑏−𝑎 −1(𝑎−𝑏)
(by factoring -1 in the denominator)

1 𝑎−𝑏
= • → Separate and divide out common factors
−1 𝑎−𝑏

1
= •1 → Multiply the remaining factors
−1

= -1 → Simplest Form

2𝑥 − 6 2 (𝑥−3)
2. = → Factor completely the numerator and denominator
21−7𝑥 −7 (𝑥−3)
(by factoring -7 in the denominator)

2 𝑥−3
= • → Separate and divide out common factors
−7 𝑥−3

2
= •1 → Multiply the remaining factors
−7

𝟐
= − → Simplest Form
𝟕

PART II.
Activity
A. Directions: Which of the following does not belong to the group? Write the letter of
your answer inside the box.

𝑚 − 3𝑛 √𝑏 − 𝑐 2𝑥 + 1
1. 𝑟2 − 𝑠
4 6𝑏2 8𝑥 − 4

B E S T

3𝑎 −2 4𝑚 − 8 2𝑑 + 7 3𝑐 − 2
2.
8𝑎 6𝑚 − 5 0 𝑐−𝑐

A X I S

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 2𝑥 + 3 4𝑛 3𝑎 4𝑦+3
3. ; x = -5 ; n = 2, -2 ; a = -3, 2 ; y = -3, 5
𝑥+5 𝑛2 − 4 𝑎2 −𝑎−6 𝑦 2 − 2𝑦 − 15

T O P S

3𝑚 5𝑤 + 3 6𝑥−4 7𝑧+2
4. ;m=5 ; w = 2, 7 ; x = 2, -5 ; z = -9
2𝑚 − 10 𝑤2 − 9 𝑥 2 −2𝑥−15 𝑧−9

R U S H

4𝑎 3𝑥 + 3 5𝑤 − 4 4𝑦 + 5
5. ;a=2 ;x=3 ;w=4 ;y=5
3𝑎 + 6 8𝑥 − 6 9𝑤 − 12 5𝑦 − 8

C O M E

B. Directions: Express the given rational algebraic expression in its simplest form. Write
the letter of your answer inside the box.
−14𝑚3 𝑛2 −2𝑛 𝑚2 𝑛 −𝑛 −2
6.
28𝑚5 𝑛 𝑚2 2 2𝑚2 𝑚2 𝑛

L O S E

3𝑥+3𝑦 1 𝑥𝑦
7. x+y xy
3 3 3

S O M E

4𝑦 − 24 2 4 4 𝑦−6
8.
𝑦 2 − 36 𝑦−6 𝑦+ 6 𝑦− 6 𝑦+6

M I N D

𝑥2 − 1 𝑥−1 𝑥+1 𝑥−1 𝑥+1

9.
𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 4 𝑥−4 𝑥−4 𝑥+4 𝑥+4

L O V E

6𝑥 − 3
10. 0 1 -1 2x
3 − 6𝑥

L I N E

Note: You may check your answers to Part II. at the last page of this module.

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PART III. Summative Evaluation
Directions: Read each item carefully. Choose the letter that corresponds to your
answer and write it in a separate sheet of paper.

1. Which of the following is not an example of a rational algebraic expression?

1
5𝑥 − 1 4𝑥 + 𝑦 𝑎2 − 2
A. B. C. D. 10𝑎𝑏 2
3 2𝑥 − 5𝑦 𝑎− √2

2. What makes rational algebraic expression undefined?

A. When the excluded value is equal to 0
B. When the numerator becomes 0
C. When the denominator becomes 0
D. When the value of the given variable is equal to 0

𝑦−7
3. What would be the value of y to make rational algebraic expression
𝑦 2 − 49
undefined?
A. ± 7 B. ± 14 C. ± 16 D. ± 49
𝑥 2 − 25
4. In , what is the possible value of 𝑥 to make the denominator equal to 0?
4𝑥 + 20
5 5
A. – 5 B. 5 C. D. -
4 4

𝑥2 + 2
5. What would be the value of when x = 2?
𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 3
1 1
A. B. 3 C. D. 2
2 3

15𝑥 5 𝑦 4 𝑧 2
6. Reduce to its simplest form.
60𝑥 4 𝑦 5 𝑧 6
𝑥 4𝑥 4
A. B. 4𝑥𝑦𝑧 4 C. D.
4𝑦𝑧 4 𝑦𝑧 4 𝑥𝑦𝑧 4

15𝑥 − 5
7. Simplify: .
5𝑥 + 25

3𝑥 + 1 𝑥−1 𝑥−5 3𝑥 − 1
A. B. C. D.
𝑥−5 𝑥+5 𝑥+5 𝑥+5

𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 10
8. What is the simplest form of ?
𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 4
𝑥−5 𝑥+5 𝑥+5 𝑥−5
A. B. C. D.
𝑥−2 𝑥−2 𝑥+2 𝑥+2

𝑚−𝑛
9. What is the lowest term of the expression ?
𝑛−𝑚

A. 0 B. -1 C. 1 D. mn

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 𝑚2 − 1
10. Manny was asked by his teacher to simplify on the board. He wrote his
𝑚2 − 𝑚
𝑚2 −1 (𝑚−1)(𝑚+1)
solution on the board this way: = = 1. Did he arrive at the
𝑚2 − 𝑚 𝑚(𝑚−1)
correct answer?
A. Yes, the expression that he crossed out are all common factors.
B. Yes, the LCD must be eliminated to simplify the expression.
1
C. No, 𝑚2 must be cancelled out so that the answer is .
𝑚
D. No, m is not a common factor of numerator and denominator.

Answer key:

REFERENCES:
Orlando A. Oronce and Marilyn O. Mendoza. (2013). E-Math 8(K to 12): Rex Books Store,
Inc.
Soledad Jose-Dilao and Julieta G. Bernabe. (2009). Intermediate Algebra: SD Publishing,
Inc.
Robelyn F. Alagao et al. (2015). Mathematics for 21st Century Learner 8: Diwa Learning
System Inc.
Emmanuel P. Abuzo et al. (2013). Mathematics 8 Learner’s Module: Book Media Press, Inc.