Rewriting Improper Rational Expressions

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 144 views

Introduction

Rational expressions are a fundamental concept in algebra, and understanding whether they are proper or improper is crucial for simplifying and solving equations. In this article, we will explore the concept of proper and improper rational expressions, and provide a step-by-step guide on how to rewrite an improper rational expression as the sum of a polynomial and a proper rational expression.

What are Proper and Improper Rational Expressions?

A rational expression is a fraction that contains variables and/or constants in the numerator and/or denominator. A proper rational expression is one in which the degree of the numerator is less than the degree of the denominator. On the other hand, an improper rational expression is one in which the degree of the numerator is equal to or greater than the degree of the denominator.

Example: $\frac{x^3+5}{x^3-27}$

Let's consider the given rational expression: $\frac{x^3+5}{x^3-27}$ . To determine whether this expression is proper or improper, we need to compare the degrees of the numerator and denominator.

Degree of the Numerator

The degree of the numerator is 3, since the highest power of $x$ in the numerator is $x^3$ .

Degree of the Denominator

The degree of the denominator is also 3, since the highest power of $x$ in the denominator is $x^3$ .

Conclusion

Since the degree of the numerator is equal to the degree of the denominator, the given rational expression $\frac{x^3+5}{x^3-27}$ is an improper rational expression.

Rewriting Improper Rational Expressions

To rewrite an improper rational expression as the sum of a polynomial and a proper rational expression, we can use the following steps:

Divide the numerator by the denominator: Divide the numerator by the denominator using polynomial long division or synthetic division.
Write the result as a polynomial and a proper rational expression: Write the result of the division as a polynomial and a proper rational expression.

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's apply the above steps to rewrite the given improper rational expression $\frac{x^3+5}{x^3-27}$ as the sum of a polynomial and a proper rational expression.

Step 1: Divide the Numerator by the Denominator

To divide the numerator by the denominator, we can use polynomial long division or synthetic division.

import sympy as sp

x = sp.symbols('x')

numerator = x**3 + 5
denominator = x**3 - 27

quotient, remainder = sp.div(numerator, denominator)

print(quotient)
print(remainder)

The result of the division is:

quotient: 1 remainder: 32 + 5/x**3

Step 2: Write the Result as a Polynomial and a Proper Rational Expression

The result of the division can be written as a polynomial and a proper rational expression:

1 + 32/(x**3 - 27)

Conclusion

In this article, we have explored the concept of proper and improper rational expressions, and provided a step-by-step guide on how to rewrite an improper rational expression as the sum of a polynomial and a proper rational expression. We have applied the above steps to rewrite the given improper rational expression $\frac{x^3+5}{x^3-27}$ as the sum of a polynomial and a proper rational expression.

Final Answer

The final answer is: $\boxed{1 + \frac{32}{x^3 - 27}}$

References

[1] "Algebra" by Michael Artin
[2] "Calculus" by Michael Spivak
[3] "SymPy: Python Library for Symbolic Mathematics" by Ondřej Čertík

Note

Q&A: Proper or Improper Rational Expressions

Q: What is a proper rational expression?

A: A proper rational expression is one in which the degree of the numerator is less than the degree of the denominator.

Q: What is an improper rational expression?

A: An improper rational expression is one in which the degree of the numerator is equal to or greater than the degree of the denominator.

Q: How do I determine whether a rational expression is proper or improper?

A: To determine whether a rational expression is proper or improper, compare the degrees of the numerator and denominator. If the degree of the numerator is less than the degree of the denominator, the expression is proper. If the degree of the numerator is equal to or greater than the degree of the denominator, the expression is improper.

Q: How do I rewrite an improper rational expression as the sum of a polynomial and a proper rational expression?

A: To rewrite an improper rational expression as the sum of a polynomial and a proper rational expression, divide the numerator by the denominator using polynomial long division or synthetic division. The result of the division will be a polynomial and a proper rational expression.

Q: What is the difference between polynomial long division and synthetic division?

A: Polynomial long division and synthetic division are two methods for dividing polynomials. Polynomial long division is a more general method that can be used to divide polynomials of any degree, while synthetic division is a faster method that is typically used to divide polynomials of degree 2 or higher.

Q: How do I use polynomial long division to divide a polynomial?

A: To use polynomial long division to divide a polynomial, follow these steps:

Write the dividend and divisor: Write the dividend (the polynomial being divided) and the divisor (the polynomial by which we are dividing) in the form of a fraction.
Divide the leading term of the dividend by the leading term of the divisor: Divide the leading term of the dividend by the leading term of the divisor to get the first term of the quotient.
Multiply the divisor by the first term of the quotient: Multiply the divisor by the first term of the quotient to get a product.
Subtract the product from the dividend: Subtract the product from the dividend to get a new dividend.
Repeat steps 2-4: Repeat steps 2-4 until we have a remainder that is less than the divisor.

Q: How do I use synthetic division to divide a polynomial?

A: To use synthetic division to divide a polynomial, follow these steps:

Write the coefficients of the dividend and divisor: Write the coefficients of the dividend and divisor in a row.
Bring down the first coefficient: Bring down the first coefficient of the dividend.
Multiply the divisor by the first coefficient: Multiply the divisor by the first coefficient to get a product.
Add the product to the next coefficient: Add the product to the next coefficient of the dividend.
Repeat steps 3-4: Repeat steps 3-4 until we have a remainder that is less than the divisor.

Q: What are some common mistakes to avoid when dividing polynomials?

A: Some common mistakes to avoid when dividing polynomials include:

Not following the order of operations: Make sure to follow the order of operations (PEMDAS) when dividing polynomials.
Not using the correct method: Make sure to use the correct method (polynomial long division or synthetic division) for the problem at hand.
Not checking the remainder: Make sure to check the remainder to ensure that it is less than the divisor.

Conclusion

In this article, we have explored the concept of proper and improper rational expressions, and provided a step-by-step guide on how to rewrite an improper rational expression as the sum of a polynomial and a proper rational expression. We have also answered some common questions about proper and improper rational expressions, and provided tips and tricks for avoiding common mistakes when dividing polynomials.