Rational Equation Word Problem

In this section, we learn about Rational Equation Word Problems, also known as Applications of Rational Equations. We will cover how to set up and solve common word problems that involve rational expressions. The two most common problems are: motion problems and work/rate problems. When we encounter motion problems, we use the general formula: distance = rate • time. We can use algebraic methods to solve for rate or time. Work rate problems are usually new to a student when they encounter this section. These problems generally deal with how fast two or more people can accomplish a certain task given only their individual rates of job completion. We typically solve this by finding out how much of the job they can complete together in one unit of time.