Rational equations involve fractions with variables in the numerator and/or denominator. Solving these equations requires us to eliminate the fractions and find the values of the variables that satisfy the equation.

To solve rational equations, we can follow a few simple steps. Let's consider an example:

Example: Solve the equation (x + 2) / (x - 4) = 1

Step 1: Start by multiplying both sides of the equation by the common denominator, which in this case is (x - 4). This eliminates the fractions and gives us the equation (x + 2) = (x - 4).

Step 2: Simplify the equation by combining like terms. In this example, we have x + 2 = x - 4.

Step 3: Now, we can isolate the variable by moving all terms involving x to one side of the equation and the constants to the other side. Subtracting x from both sides gives us 2 = -4.

Since this equation has no solutions, there are no values of x that satisfy the original equation.

Remember, when solving rational equations, it's important to check for any excluded values. These are the values of x that would make the denominator zero since we cannot divide by zero. In this example, we found that x = 4 is an excluded value because it would result in a zero denominator.

Keep practicing and exploring more examples to strengthen your understanding of solving rational equations!