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Exploring Rational Functions in Algebra

Technology is an important part of learning mathematics. For decades, graphing calculators were the primary tool used to accomplish this. Upon completion of college, however, students rarely use or see the need for these devices. A growing trend exists instead towards computers, smart phones and other devices running Internet software that has become extremely powerful, easy to use and low-cost or free of charge. Effective mathematics instruction should keep up with this trend by incorporating these types of programs. It will benefit students three ways: (1) introduce students to the latest tools of science and technology; (2) provide students with life skills that are more likely to apply to the real world; and (3) reinforce concepts of the mathematics involved in their coursework. Wolfram|Alpha represents one of the most exciting, broadly applicable, powerful and easy to use of all the computational programs available. About one-third of the questions in these Intermediate Algebra activities teach input and command syntax; one-third emphasizes answer interpretation; and one-third reinforces the concepts and material of Intermediate Algebra. The projects are meant to be started after finishing the corresponding chapter(s) in the students' textbook.

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2K views2 pages

Exploring Rational Functions in Algebra

Technology is an important part of learning mathematics. For decades, graphing calculators were the primary tool used to accomplish this. Upon completion of college, however, students rarely use or see the need for these devices. A growing trend exists instead towards computers, smart phones and other devices running Internet software that has become extremely powerful, easy to use and low-cost or free of charge. Effective mathematics instruction should keep up with this trend by incorporating these types of programs. It will benefit students three ways: (1) introduce students to the latest tools of science and technology; (2) provide students with life skills that are more likely to apply to the real world; and (3) reinforce concepts of the mathematics involved in their coursework. Wolfram|Alpha represents one of the most exciting, broadly applicable, powerful and easy to use of all the computational programs available. About one-third of the questions in these Intermediate Algebra activities teach input and command syntax; one-third emphasizes answer interpretation; and one-third reinforces the concepts and material of Intermediate Algebra. The projects are meant to be started after finishing the corresponding chapter(s) in the students' textbook.

Uploaded by

Pearson Math Stats
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Rational Functions 1 Intermediate Algebra

Activities Using WA

WA Activity # 8  ‐‐  Rational Functions 
 
Type "let x=2, y=‐3, z=4 in (3xy ‐7x^3y^2)  / (4yz^2)” into the WA search engine. Use the results 
to answer the following questions. 
1.  What is the exact answer as a fraction? 
Type “(x^2 – 25) / (x – 5)” into the WA search engine. Use the results to answer the following 
questions. 
2.  What is the domain? 
3. If there’s a restriction on the domain is there a “hole in the graph” visible in the plot? 
4. Explain why one of the Alternate forms is x + 5. 
5. The Root is x = ‐5. Why isn’t 5 one of the Roots also? 
 
Type “(x^2 ‐ 4x ‐ 21)/(14 ‐ 2x)” into the WA search engine. Use the results to answer the 
following questions. 
6. WA gives several Alternate forms. Write the answer as a single fraction. 
7. If you had to simplify this expression by hand using paper and pencil how would you do so? 
Show your work. 
 
Type the complex fraction “(3a^2/6b^3) / (4a^3/b^2)” into the WA search engine. Use the 
results to answer the following questions. 
8. Did WA change the input to a different format? If so, explain how they got it. 
9. Explain how WA simplified this complex fraction to get their result. Use the original 
expression or the different format, your choice. Show your work. 
 
Type “x/(x ‐ 2) + 3/(2x + 1)” into the WA search engine. Use the results to answer the following 
questions. 
10. Find the values for which the rational expression is undefined. 
11. In the Alternate form WA combined the two fractions into a single expression. This is 
normally what we consider “the answer” to the addition of two rational expressions. Explain 
how WA got their answer. Show your work. 
Rational Functions 2 Intermediate Algebra
Activities Using WA

12. What are the two Roots? Look at the Plot. Can you see the two Roots as x‐intercepts? If not 
type an appropriate command telling WA to display the plot of the graph in a different viewing 
window. 
 
Type “m/5 + 5/m = (m +3)/4” into the WA search engine. Use the results to answer the 
following questions. 
12. What other common meanings does the letter “m” have in math? Click on the link “Use as a 
unit instead.” What is the result? 
13. Click back on “refer to math.” How many solutions are there to this equation? Why? 
14. Explain how the solution was obtained. Show your work. 
 
Type “solve (1/x + 1/y = 1/z) for y” into the WA search engine. Use the results to answer the 
following questions. 
15. What is the solution? 
16. Why can’t x – z = 0? 
17. Why can’t xz = 0? 
16. Click on Show steps. Is this how you would find the answer by hand using paper and pencil? 
If not, explain how you would do it. Show your work. 

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