Solutions

Solutions of Rational Equations

Solving Using Cross Products

Example 2

Solve.

Frac1

Step 1. Use cross-multiplication to turn the rational equation into a polynomial equation.

Frac2

Step 2. Simplify the equation, using the distributive property.


Frac3

Step 3. Solve the equation.

Solution

Step 4. Check for extraneous solutions.

The original equation had excluded values Answer, since neither of these are the solution, x = 12 is not an extraneous solution.


*Remember: you can always check your answers by plugging the solutions into the original equation.