Name Class Date

9.2 
Multiplying and Dividing
Rational Expressions
Essential Question: How can you multiply and divide rational expressions?
Resource
Locker

Relating Multiplication Concepts

Explore  
Use the facts you know about multiplying rational numbers to determine how to multiply rational expressions.

A How do you multiply _ ​  5 ​  ?

​ 4 ​ ⋅ _
5 6
Multiply 4 by to find the            of the product, and multiply 5 by    to find
the              .

B ​ _54 ​ ⋅ _​  65 ​ = _

​   ​

C To simplify, factor the numerator and denominator.

20 =

30 =

D Cancel common factors in the numerator and denominator to simplify the product.

​  5 ​ = _
4 ​ ⋅ _
​ _ ​  2⋅2⋅5 ​ = _
​  20 ​ = _ ​   ​
5 6 30 2⋅3⋅5
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E Based on the steps used for multiplying rational numbers, how can you multiply the rational
x + 1 ______
expression ​ ____
x-1
​ ⋅ ​  3 ​  ?
2​(x + 1)​

Reflect

1. Discussion Multiplying rational expressions is similar to multiplying rational numbers. Likewise, dividing
rational expressions is similar to dividing rational numbers. How could you use the steps for dividing
rational numbers to divide rational expressions?

Module 9 439 Lesson 2

 Explain 1 Multiplying Rational Expressions
To multiply rational expressions, multiply the numerators to find the numerator of the product, and multiply the
denominators to find the denominator. Then, simplify the product by cancelling common factors.

Note the excluded values of the product, which are any values of the variable for which the expression is undefined.

Example 1 Find the products and any excluded values.

_ 3x 2 ⋅ 2x 2-6x-20
__
A x 2-2x-8 x 2-3x-10
3x 2x -6x-20 = __
2 2
3x 2(x + 2)(x - 5)
2
_ ⋅ __ ⋅ __ Factor the numerators and
x -2x-8
2
x -3x-10
2
(x + 2)(x - 4) (x + 2)(x - 5) denominators.

6x 2(x + 2)(x - 5)
= ___ Multiply the numerators and
(x + 2)(x - 4)(x + 2)(x - 5) multiply the denominators.
6x 2(x + 2)(x - 5)
= ___ Cancel the common factors in the
(x + 2)(x - 4)(x + 2)(x - 5) numerator and denominator.
= __ 6x 2

(x + 2)(x - 4)
Determine what values of x make each expression undefined.
__3x :
2
The denominator is 0 when x = -2 and x = 4.
x - 2x - 8
2

2x 2 - 6x - 20 : The denominator is 0 when x = -2 and x = 5.

__
x 2 - 3x - 10
Excluded values: x = -2, x = 4, and x = 5
__ x 2 - 8x 7x + 35
B ⋅_
14(x + 8x + 15) x+8
( )
2

x 2 - 8x 7x + 35 (x - 8) 7
__ ⋅ _ = __ ⋅ __ Factor the numerators and
14(x 2 + 8x + 15) x+8
14 (
(x + 5) )
x+8
denominators.

7x(x - 8)( )
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= ___
14( )(x + 5)(x + 8)
Multiply the numerators and
multiply the denominators.

= __ Cancel the common factors in the

numerator and denominator.

Determine what values of x make each expression undefined.

__ x 2 - 8x : The denominator is 0 when .
14(x 2 + 8x + 15)
7x + 35
_ : The denominator is 0 when .
x+8
Excluded values:

Module 9 440 Lesson 2

 Your Turn

Find the products and any excluded values.

2. __ x2 - 9 ⋅_ x-8 3. _ 3x - 27
x ⋅_
x - 5x - 24 2x 2 - 18x
2 x-9 x+1

Explain 2 Dividing Rational Expressions

To divide rational expressions, change the division problem to a multiplication problem by multiplying by the
reciprocal. Then, follow the steps for multiplying rational expressions.

Example 2 Find the quotients and any excluded values.

(x + 7) 2
_ x 2 + 9x + 14
__
A ÷
x2 x2 + x - 2
(x + 7)
_
2
x 2 + 9x + 14
__ (x + 7) 2 __
_ x2 + x - 2
÷ = ⋅ Multiply by the reciprocal.
x2 x2 + x - 2 x2 x 2 + 9x + 14
(x + 2)(x - 1)
(x + 7)(x + 7) __
= __ ⋅ Factor the numerators and
x2 (x + 7)(x + 2) denominators.
(x + 7)(x + 7)(x + 2)(x - 1)
= ___ Multiply the numerators and
x 2(x + 7)(x + 2) multiply the denominators.
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(x + 7)(x + 7)(x + 2)(x - 1)

= ___ Cancel the common factors in
x (x + 7)(x + 2)
2
the numerator and denominator.
(x + 7)(x - 1)
= __
x2
Determine what values of x make each expression undefined.
(x + 7) 2
_
x : The denominator is 0 when x = 0.

x + 9x + 14
2
__ : The denominator is 0 when x = -2 and x = 1.
x + x- 2
2

x +x-2
__
2
: The denominator is 0 when x = -7 and x = -2.
x + 9x + 14
2

Excluded values: x = 0, x = -7, x = 1, and x = -2

Module 9 441 Lesson 2

 6x  ​ ÷ __9​x ​ ​  - 27x - ​
2
36
B ​ _
3x - 30
​   
​x ​ ​  - 10x
2

​ _ 6x  ​ ÷ __9​x 2​ ​  - 27x - ​

​    ​  6x  ​ ⋅ __
36 = _ ​   
  ​ Multiply by the reciprocal.
3x - 30 ​x 2​ ​  - 10x 3x - 30

= __ 6x  ​ ⋅ __
x
​ ​ ( )
) ( ) (
​       
  
​   ​ Factor the numerators and
denominators.
3 9​(x + 1)
​ ​ ​​ ​

6x ( )​ 2
​ ​ ​​
=    ​ ___
27( )​(​ x + 1)(​​ )​
Multiply the numerators and
   ​
multiply the denominators.
​

= __
​ 
  
    ​ Cancel the common factors in the
numerator and denominator.

Determine what values of x make each expression undefined.

​ _ 6x  ​: The denominator is 0 when .

3x - 30
9​x ​ ​ - 27x - ​
​  __
  
2
36 : The denominator is 0 when .
​x 2​ ​ - 10x
​  __
   ​x 2​ ​ - 10x  ​: The denominator is 0 when .
9​x 2​ ​ - 27x - 36

Excluded values:

Your Turn

Find the quotients and any excluded values.

x + 11 2x + 6 5​x 2​ ​ − 40x  ​
4. ​  _  ​÷ ​  _  ​ 5. ​  2 20  ​ ÷ ​  __
_   

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4x ​x 2​ ​ + 2x − 3 ​x ​ ​ − 7x ​x ​ ​ − 15x + 56
2

Module 9 442 Lesson 2

 Explain 3   Activity: Investigating Closure
A set of numbers is said to be closed, or to have closure, under a given operation if the result of the operation on any
two numbers in the set is also in the set.

A Recall whether the set of whole numbers, the set of integers, and the set of rational numbers
are closed under each of the four basic operations.

Addition Subtraction Multiplication Division

Whole Numbers

Integers

Rational Numbers

p​(x)​ r​(x)​
B Look at the set of rational expressions. Use the rational expressions ___
​ q​(x)​​ and ​ ___ ​where p​(x)​,
s​(x)​
q​(x)​, r​(x)​and s​(x)​are nonzero. Add the rational expressions.
p​(x)​ r​(x)​
​ _ ​ ​  + ​ ​ _ ​​ ​  = ​​
q​(x)​ s​(x)

C Is the set of rational expressions closed under addition? Explain.

D Subtract the rational expressions.

p​(x)​ r​(x)​
​ _ ​ ​  - ​ ​ _ ​​ ​ = ​​
q​(x)​ s​(x)

E Is the set of rational expressions closed under subtraction? Explain.

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F Multiply the rational expressions.

p​(x)​ r​(x)​
​ _ ​ ​  ∙ ​ ​ _ ​​  = ​​
q​(x)​ s​(x)

G Is the set of rational expressions closed under multiplication? Explain.

H Divide the rational expressions.

p​(x)​ r​(x)​
​ _ ​ ​  ÷ ​ ​ _ ​​ = ​​
q​(x)​ s​(x)

I Is the set of rational expressions closed under division? Explain.

Module 9 443 Lesson 2

 Reflect

6. Are rational expressions most like whole numbers, integers, or rational numbers? Explain.

Explain 4 Multiplying and Dividing with Rational Models

Models involving rational expressions can be solved using the same steps to multiply or divide rational expressions.

Example 3 Solve the problems using rational expressions.

A Leonard drives 40 miles to work every day. One-fifth of his

drive is on city roads, where he averages 30 miles per hour.
The other part of his drive is on a highway, where
d cr h + d hr c
he averages 55 miles per hour. The expression ________ r cr h
represents the total time spent driving, in hours. In the
expression, d c represents the distance traveled on city
roads, d h represents the distance traveled on the highway,
r c is the average speed on city roads, and r h is the average
speed on the highway. Use the expression to find the
average speed of Leonard’s drive.
The total distance traveled is 40 miles. Find an expression
for the average speed, r, of Leonard’s drive.

r = Total distance traveled ÷ Total time

d cr h + d hr c
= 40 ÷ _

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r cr h
r cr h
= 40 ∙ _
d cr h + d hr c
40r cr h
=_
d cr h + d hr c
Find the values of d c and d h . Solve for r by substituting in the given values from the
1 (40) = 8 miles problem.
dc = _
5 dr cr h
r= _
d h = 40 - 8 = 32 miles d cr h + d hr c

= __40 ∙ 55 ∙ 30
8 ∙ 55 + 32 ∙ 30
≈ 47 miles per hour
The average speed of Leonard’s drive is about 47 miles per hour.
Corbis

B The fuel efficiency of Tanika’s car at highway speeds is 35 miles per gallon. The
- 216
expression 48E
________
E( E - 6 )
represents the total gas consumed, in gallons, when Tanika drives
36 miles on a highway and 12 miles in a town to get to her relative’s house. In the
expression, E represents the fuel efficiency, in miles per gallon, of Tanika’s car at highway
speeds. Use the expression to find the average rate of gas consumed on her trip.

Module 9 444 Lesson 2

 Solve for g by substituting in the value of E.
The total distance traveled is miles. Find an
expression for the average rate of gas consumed, g,
on Tanika’s trip. g = ​  ___
(
48 ​ )
​ - 216

)(
  
   ​
g = Total gas consumed ÷ Total distance traveled 48(​ ​​
-6
​ )
48E - 216 ​÷
= ​  _
E​(E - 6)​
=_
​  ​
48E - 216
= ​  __
  
   ​
E ​(E - 6)
​
≈
The value of E is .
The average rate of gas consumed on Tanika’s
trip is about gallon per mile.

Your Turn

7. The distance traveled by a car undergoing constant acceleration, a, for a time, t, is given by d = ​v 0​ ​t +
​ 12​a​t ​2​, where v​ ​0​is the initial velocity of the car. Two cars are side by side with the same initial velocity. One
_
car accelerates and the other car does not. Write an expression for the ratio of the distance traveled by the
accelerating car to the distance traveled by the nonaccelerating car as a function of time.
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Elaborate
8. Explain how finding excluded values when dividing one rational expression by another is different from
multiplying two rational expressions.

9. Essential Question Check-In How is dividing rational expressions related to multiplying rational
expressions?

Module 9 445 Lesson 2

 Evaluate: Homework and Practice
• Online Homework
1. Explain how to multiply the rational expressions. • Hints and Help
• Extra Practice
x - 3 ⋅ x_
_
2
- 3x _+4
2 x 2 - 2x

Find the products and any excluded values.

2. _ x x-2
⋅_ 5x 2 + 25x _
3x - 6 x + 9 3. _ ⋅ 4x
2 x+5

x 2 - 2x - 15 ⋅ __
__ 3 x2 - 1
4. __ ⋅ _ x2
10x + 30 x - 3x - 10
2 5.
x 2 + 5x + 4 x 2 - x

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Module 9 446 Lesson 2

 ​x ​2​ + 14x + 33 _ ​x 2​ ​ - 36 ​ ⋅ _
8x - 56  ​
⋅ ​  ​x ​ ​- 3x ​ ⋅ ​__ 9​x ​2​  ​ ⋅ ​  _ 3
2
6. ​  __
    ​    7. ​ _ ​   ​
4x x + 3 ​x ​2 ​+ 4x - 77 x - 6 3x - 6 ​4x 2​ ​ + 24x

Find the quotients and any excluded values.

5​x 2​ ​ + 10x 20x + 40  ​x 2​ ​ - 9x + 18
8. ​  _  ​ ÷ ​  _  ​ 9. ​  __
       ​ ÷ ​  ​x 2​ ​ - 36 ​
_
​x ​ ​ + 2x + 1
2
​x 2​ ​ - 1 ​x 2​ ​ + 9x + 18 ​x 2​ ​ - 9
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-​x 2​ ​ + x + 20 x+4 x+3

10. ​  __
    ​÷ ​  _ ​ 11. ​  __ ​x 2​ ​ - 25 ​
 ​ ÷ ​  _
5​x ​ ​ - 25x
2 2x - 14   
​x ​ ​ + 8x + 15
2 x-5

Module 9 447 Lesson 2

 ​x 2​ ​ - 10x + 9 ​x 2​ ​ - 7x -  ​ 18 8x + 32 ​x 2​ ​ - 6x  ​
12. ​  __
    ​ ÷ ​  __
   13. ​  __
    ​ ÷ ​  __
  
3x ​x 2​ ​ + 2x ​x ​ ​ + 8x + 16
2
​x ​ ​ - 2x - 24
2

Let p​(x)​= ____ 1

​  x + 1
​ and q​(x)​= ____ 1
​  x - 1
​. Perform the operation, and show
that it results in another rational expression.

14. p​(x)​ + q​(x)​

15. p​(x)​ - q​(x)​

16. p​(x)​ ⋅ q​(x)​

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17. p​(x)​ ÷ q​(x)​

Module 9 448 Lesson 2

 18. The distance a race car travels is given by the equation
d = ​v 0​ ​t + __
​  12 ​a​t 2​ ​, where v​ ​0​is the initial speed of the race car,
a is the acceleration, and t is the time travelled. Near the
beginning of a race, the driver accelerates for 9 seconds
at a rate of 4 m/​s ​2​. The driver’s initial speed was 75 m/s.
Find the driver’s average speed during the acceleration.

19. Julianna is designing a circular track that will consist of three concentric rings.
The radius of the middle ring is 6 meters greater than that of the inner ring and
6 meters less than that of the outer ring. Find an expression for the ratio of the length
of the outer ring to the length of the middle ring and another for the ratio of the
length of the outer ring to length of the inner ring. If the radius of the inner ring is
set at 90 meters, how many times longer is the outer ring than the middle ring and
the inner ring?
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company • Image Credits: ©David
Madison/Corbis

Module 9 449 Lesson 2

20. Geometry Find a rational expression for the ratio of the surface area of a cylinder
to the volume of a cylinder. Then find the ratio when the radius is 3 inches and the
height is 10 inches.

H.O.T. Focus on Higher Order Thinking

​x ​2​ - 4x - 45 6​x 2​ ​ - 150 (​ x - 9)(​​ x + 5)​ __ 6​(x + 5)​​(x - 5)​
​  __
    ​ ÷ ​  _  ​ = ​  __
    ​ ÷ ​      ​
3x - 15 ​x ​ ​ - 5x
2
3​(x - 5)​ x​(x - 5)​
21. Explain the Error Maria finds an
expression equivalent to 6​(x - 9)(​​ x + 5)(​​ x + 5)(​​ x - 5)​
​x 2​ ​ - 4x -  ​ 6​x 2​ ​ - 150 ​
45 ÷ ​  _ = ​  ___
        ​
​  __
   . 3x​(x - 5)​​(x - 5)​
3x - 15 ​x 2​ ​ - 5x
2​(x - 9)​​​(x + 5)​ ​ ​
2
Her work is shown. Find
= ​  __
    ​
and correct Maria’s mistake. x​(x - 5)​

22. Critical Thinking Multiply the expressions. What do you notice about the resulting expression? © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

​_
​  (3
x-4 )(
​x 3​ ​ - 4x __
 ​ + ​  _  ​ ​​ ​    
3x + 18
8​x ​ ​ - 32 ​x ​ ​ + 2x - 24
2 2
 ​ - _
x
)
​   ​ ​
8

Module 9 450 Lesson 2

 23. Multi-Step Jordan is making a garden with an area
of ​x 2​ ​ + 13x + 30 square feet and a length of x + 3 feet.
a. Find an expression for the width of Jordan’s garden.

If Karl makes a garden with an area of 3​x ​2​ + 48x + 180 square feet and a length of x + 6, how
b. 
many times larger is the width of Jon’s garden than Jordan’s?
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c. If x is equal to 4, what are the dimensions of both Jordan’s and Karl’s gardens?
Fagan/Corbis

Module 9 451 Lesson 2

Lesson Performance Task
Who has the advantage, taller or shorter runners? Almost all of the energy generated by a
long-distance runner is released in the form of heat. For a runner with height H and
speed V, the rate h ​ g​​of heat generated and the rate h ​ r​​of heat released can be modeled by
​h ​g​= ​k 1​ ​​H 3​ ​​V 2​ ​and h
​ ​r​= ​k 2​ ​​H 2​ ​, ​k 1​ ​and k​ ​2​being constants. So, how does a runner’s height affect
the amount of heat she releases as she increases her speed?

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Module 9 452 Lesson 2