ShmoopTube

Where Monty Python meets your 10th grade teacher.

Search Thousands of Shmoop Videos

Operations with Rational Expressions 8687 Views


Share It!


Description:

It's impressive that these expressions are able to stay so rational even when they're having operations performed on them.

Language:
English Language

Transcript

00:04

Operations with Rational Expressions, a la Shmoop.

00:08

Your favorite sci-fi show just came out with a tie-in cookbook,

00:12

which is all the rage these days.

00:14

You want to make a plate of Radioactive Pasta with Saturnalian sauce…

00:19

… but these recipes are complicated.

00:26

In order to figure out how much Milk of Milky Way you need to add to the sauce…

00:31

…you have to simplify the measurements.

00:33

You need to mix in seven times the square-root of three ounces of milk…

00:38

… then strain square-root of twelve ounces.

00:48

How much would you have left in the bowl?

00:51

Here are your choices...

00:57

First, we'll simplify square-root of twelve by finding the prime factors of twelve...

01:02

This will come in handy for your next recipe, Prime Factor Ribs...

01:07

Twelve can be split into six and two.

01:10

Six can be further simplified into two and three.

01:14

By finding the prime factors of twelve we can then rewrite the square-root of twelve

01:18

as square-root of two times the square-root of two times the square-root of three.

01:24

The square-root of two times the square-root of two is just two.

01:27

So now we are left with two times the square-root of three.

01:32

Now we can easily subtract these two.

01:34

Seven square-root of three minus two square-root of three equals five square-root of three.

01:41

The answer is D.

01:43

The bad news is that the set you bought from the Martian salesman doesn't have a

01:47

five-square-root-of-three measuring cup.

01:50

You'll have to put it in a half-cup.

Up Next

Simplifying Rational Expressions
1394 Views

Rational expressions are too complex... it's about time someone simplified them.

Related Videos

Compound Interest
45296 Views

Who wants to be a millionaire? In this video, learn about compound interest, interest rates, and the compound interest formula. You'll be buying th...

ACT Math 5.2 Pre-Algebra
1938 Views

ACT Math: Pre-Algebra Drill 5, Problem 2. If a and b are prime numbers, how many factors does ab have?

Tangent Half-Angle Formula
1361 Views

Mosquitos need their caffeine, just like the rest of us. Wouldn't think zipping around and stinging people all day long sap your energy?