NAME DATE PERIOD

8-6 Practice
Solving Rational Equations and Inequalities
Solve each equation or inequality. Check your solutions.
12 3 3 16 x x -1, 2
1. − +− =− 2. − -1=−
x 4 2 x-1 2
p + 10 4 s 5s + 8
3. − = − -2/3, 4 4. − +s=− 4
p2 - 2p s+2 s+2
5 y all reals except 5 1 5 5/8
5. − =−-1 6. − +− =0
y-5 y-5 3x - 2 x
5 9 t < -5 or -1/2 < t < 0 1 5 3 11/5
7. − <− 8. − +− =−
t 2t + 1 2h h h-1
4 -1 -2 3 7 0<a<2
9. − =− 10. 5 - − <−
w-2 w+3 a a
4 1 3 0<x<7 3 19 y < 0 or y > 2
11. − +− <− 12. 8 + − >−
5x 10 2x y y
4 1 1 p < 0 or p > 65/3 6 4 2
13. − +− <− 14. − =− +−
p 3p 5 x-1 x-2 x+1
g 2 -1 2b b - 3 -2
15. g + − = − 16. b + − =1-−
g-2 g-2 b-1 b-1
1 1 3 3/2 c+1 12 -5/3, 5
17. − +− =− 18. − = 4 - −
n+2 2
n-2 n -4 c-3 2
c - 2c - 3
3 4 25 7 4v 5v 2 -1, -2
19. − +− = − 20. − -− = −
k-3 k-42
k - 7k + 12 v-1 2
v-2 v - 3v + 2
y 7 14 0
2
x +4
x 2
21. − + − = − 22. − +− =−
y+2 y-5 y 2 - 3y - 10 2
x -4 2-x x+2

Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

2
r 4 r + 16 6a - 1 22
23. −
r+4
+−
r-4
=−
r 2 - 16
all reals except -4 24. 3 = −
2a + 7
+−
a+5 -2
and 4

27. BASKETBALL Kiana has made 9 of 19 free throws so far this season. Her goal is to
make 60% of her free throws. If Kiana makes her next x free throws in a row, the
9+x
function f(x) = − represents Kiana’s new ratio of free throws made. How many
19 + x
successful free throws in a row will raise Kiana’s percent made to 60%? Is this a
reasonable answer? Explain.
6

1 1 1
28. OPTICS The lens equation − p +−q =− relates the distance p of an object from a
f
lens, the distance q of the image of the object from the lens, and the focal length f of
the lens. What is the distance of an object from a lens if the image of the object is
5 centimeters from the lens and the focal length of the lens is 4 centimeters? Is this
a reasonable answer? Explain.
20

Chapter 8 42 Glencoe Algebra 2

 NAME DATE PERIOD

8-6 Word Problem Practice

Solving Rational Equations and Inequalities
1. HEIGHT Serena can be described as 4. PROJECTILES A projectile target

Lesson 8-6
being 8 inches shorter than her sister is launched into the air. A rocket
Malia, or as being 12.5% shorter than interceptor is fired at the target. The
8 1 ratio of the altitude of the rocket to the
Malia. In other words, − =− , altitude of the projectile t seconds after
H+8 8
where H is Serena’s height in inches. the launch of the rocket is given by the
How tall is Serena? 333t
formula −−
2
. At what time
-32t + 420t + 27
56 are the target and interceptor at the
same altitude?
2. CRANES For a wedding, Paula wants to at t = 3
fold 1000 origami cranes.

5. FLIGHT TIME The distance between

John F. Kennedy International Airport
and Los Angeles International Airport is
about 2500 miles. Let S be the airspeed
of a jet. The wind speed is 100 miles per
hour. Because of the wind, it takes longer
to fly one way than the other.
She does not want to make anyone fold
more than 15 cranes. In other words, if a. Write an equation for S if it takes
N is the number of people enlisted to 2 hours and 5 minutes longer to fly
1000
fold cranes, Paula wants − ≤ 15. between New York and Los Angeles
Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

N against the wind versus flying with

What is the minimum number of people the wind.
that will satisfy this inequality? 2500/(S - 100) - 2500/(S + 100) = 25/12

67

3. RENTAL Carlos and his friends rent a b. Solve the equation you wrote in
car. They split the $200 rental fee evenly. part a for S.
Carlos, together with just two of his 500
friends, decide to rent a portable DVD
player as well, and split the $30 rental
fee for the DVD player evenly among c. Write an equation and find how much
themselves. Carlos ends up spending $50 longer it would take to fly against the
for these rentals. Write an equation wind between New York and Los
involving N, the number of friends Carlos Angeles if the wind speed increases to
has, using this information. Solve the 150 miles per hour and the airspeed of
equation for N. the jet is 525 miles per hour.

200/(N + 1) + 30/3 = 50; N = 4 2.96

Chapter 8 43 Glencoe Algebra 2