kirk.freedman Group Title Are a rational expression and its simplified forms equivalent? Provide mathematical examples to support your opinions. Somebody please explain! one year ago one year ago

1. DeoxNA Group Title

Just use an example you know is true: $\frac{ 4 }{ 8 } x = \frac{ 1 }{ 2 } x$ Multiply both sides by two and you get x=x

2. DeoxNA Group Title

You could forget the x part is you think of x=1, but it will work for any x.

3. kirk.freedman Group Title

Hmm.. okay that seems more simple than I thought, thanks!

4. DeoxNA Group Title

Anytime :)

5. kirk.freedman Group Title

wait wait wai.. Isn't a rational expression a ratio of two polynomials?

6. kirk.freedman Group Title

Wouldn't it have to be something like (x^2 +5)/(x+2)?

7. apple_pi Group Title

No... rational means it can be expressed as a fraction with integers on top and bottom

8. DeoxNA Group Title

Both a ratio of polynomials and of integers are a "rational expression", and, in any case, you can use the same example to prove it for polynomials as well.

9. kirk.freedman Group Title

Oh, okay thanks! :)

10. kirk.freedman Group Title