Simplifying Rational Expressions Through Factoring and Canceling

The Organic Chemistry Tutor

This educational video provides a comprehensive tutorial on simplifying rational expressions, guiding students from basic monomial simplification to complex problems requiring advanced factoring techniques. The instructor demonstrates how to simplify algebraic fractions by factoring numerators and denominators completely and canceling common terms. The video covers various factoring methods including Greatest Common Factor (GCF), difference of squares, trinomial factoring (both with leading coefficients of 1 and greater than 1), and factoring by grouping. The content is structured progressively, starting with simple examples using exponent rules and moving toward expressions that contain binomials and trinomials. A key feature of the video is the explanation of the "negative one trick" for canceling opposite binomials (e.g., 5-x and x-5). The latter half of the video serves as a guided practice session where viewers are encouraged to pause the video and solve problems independently before watching the step-by-step solutions. This video is an excellent resource for Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 classrooms. Teachers can use it to reinforce factoring skills within the context of rational expressions or as a flipped classroom assignment. The clear, step-by-step visual breakdowns help demystify the process of simplifying complex fractions, making it valuable for remediation or test preparation. The inclusion of the common "sign flip" error makes it particularly useful for addressing student misconceptions.