Rational Expressions Practice Test Name ____________________

(Multiple Choice)
x 5
1. Find any values for which 3
is undefined.
x 7x 2 12x

(a) 0, 3, 4 (b) 0, -3, -4 (c) 0, 3, 4, -5 (d) 0, -5

x 2
2. Find the numerical value of 2
when x = -2.
2x 7x 15

4 4
(a) 0 (b) (c) (d) Undefined
9 7

4 3x
3. Find the rational expression equivalent to .
5x 6

4 3x 4 3x 3x 4 3x 4
(a) (b) (c) (d)
5x 6 5x 6 5x 6 5x 6

For exercises 4 and 5, write the rational expression in lowest terms.

36c 5 d 4
4.
96cd 8

c4 3c 4 d 4 c4d 4 3c 4
(a) (b) (c) (d)
3d 4 8 3 8d 4

1 w
5.
w2 1

1 1
(a) –(w + 1) (b) w + 1 (c) (d)
w 1 w 1

For exercises 6-8, multiply or divide. Write the answer in lowest terms.

9(t d) 10(t d)
6.
5 6

2 25 27 27
(a) 3 t d (b) (c) (d)
27 25 25 t d
 c2 7c 10 4c 12
7.
c2 2c 15 3c 15

4c 2 c 3 4c 2 c 5 4c 2 c 3 4c 2
(a) (b) (c) (d)
3(c 3)(c 5) 3 3c 3 3

a 2 b2 8
8.
2a 2b a b

2
1 a b a b a b a b
(a) (b) (c) (d)
16 16 16 8

For exercises 9-10, find the least common denominator for each list of rational expressions.

5 7 9
9. 3
, 2
,
6ab 2a 4b 2

(a) 2a (b) 12a 2 b 3 (c) 48a 3 b 5 (d) 24a 3 b 3

x 3 2x 7
10. 2
, 2
2x 9x 4 2x 9x 5

(a) (2x – 1)2(x – 4)(x + 5) (b) (x – 4)(x + 5) (c) (2x – 1)(x – 4)(x + 5) (d) 2x – 1

For exercises 11-12, rewrite each rational expression with the given denominator.

9
11.
7z 3 63z 12

18z 9 81z 9 18z 4 81z 4

8
12.
4p 16 4p 2 64

p 4 8p 32 p 4 8p 32
(a) (b) (c) (d)
4p 2 64 4p 2 64 4p 2 64 4p 2 64
For exercises 13-16, add or subtract. Write each answer in lowest terms.

3r 1 r 9
13.
r 4 r 4

2r 10 4r 8 4r 10
(a) (b) (c) (d) 2
r 4 r 4 r 4

t 2 3 2t
14.
3t 9 5t 15

19 t 15 t 3t 8 5 t
(a) (b) (c) (d)
15 t 3 15 t 3 15 t 3 8t 3

3x 2 x 1
15.
4x 5 5 4x

x 1 2x 3 4x 1 2x 1
(a) (b) (c) (d)
x 5 4x 5 4x 5 4x 5

r 1 r 2
16. 2
r r 2 r2 4

2r 2 4 2 2
(a) (b) r – 1 (c) (d)
r 2 r 2 r 1 r 1 r 2 r 1

For exercises 17-18, simplify the complex fraction.

3 t
17. 6
9 t2
15

5 5 5 5
(a) 3 t (b) (c) 3
(d)
2 23 t 23 t 23 t
 x
y
18. 3
x
y
3

2
x x y x 3y
(a) y (b) (c) -1 (d)
3 x y x 3y

For exercises 19-20, solve the equation.

2 7 5
19. 2
x 2 x 3 x x 6

3 3
(a) -5 (b) 5 (c) (d)
5 5

b
20. Solve the formula H for D.
D d

b d b
(a) D (b) D d (c) D = b – Hd – H (d) D = Hb – d
H H

For exercises 21-22, solve each problem.

21. Maria can paddle her canoe 2 miles upstream against the current in the same time it would take her to
paddle 6 miles downstream. Maria can paddle 2 mph in still water. What is the speed of the current?

(a) -1 mph (b) 1 mph (c) 3 mph (d) 4 mph

22. It takes Brad 2 hours to mow his lawn. It takes Kris 3 hours to mow the same lawn. At the same pace,
how long would it take them to mow the lawn if they do the job together?

1 1 1 5
(a) 2 hours (b) 1 hours (c) 1 hours (d) hours
2 5 6 6

Do your best! Rise to the challenge! Live and learn!