Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions Answers

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When subtracting rational expressions, it is necessary to subtract all terms in the second numerator, not just the first term. This means the negative sign must be distributed to both the x and the -2. The correct simplified numerator should be (x + 1) - (x - 2) = x + 1 - x + 2, which equals 3. Only subtracting the first term results in an incorrect numerator of -1.

To add two rational expressions, first factor the denominators of each expression to find the least common denominator (LCD). Next, rewrite each expression so they both have the LCD by multiplying the numerator and denominator by the necessary factors. Then, add the numerators together while keeping the denominator the same. Finally, simplify the resulting expression by factoring the numerator and dividing out any common factors from the numerator and denominator.