Beginning Algebra, 11th Edition

In 2006, Earth’s temperature was within 1.8°F of its highest level in 12,000 years.

This temperature increase is causing ocean levels to rise as ice fields in Greenland

and elsewhere melt. To demonstrate the effects that such global warming is having,

British adventurer and endurance swimmer Lewis Gordon Pugh swam at the North

Pole in July 2007 in waters that were completely frozen 10 years ago. The swim, in

a water hole where polar ice had melted, was in 28.8°F waters, the coldest ever

endured by a human. Pugh, who has also swum in the waters of Antarctica, hopes

his efforts will inspire world leaders to take climate change seriously. (Source:

http://www.breitbart.com, IPCC.)

In Exercise 11of Section 7.7,we use a rational expressionto determine the

time Pugh swam at the North Pole.

Rational Expressions

and Applications

7.1 The Fundamental

Property of Rational

Expressions

7.2 Multiplying and

Dividing Rational

Expressions

7.3 Least Common

Denominators

7.4 Adding and

Subtracting Rational

Expressions

7.5 Complex Fractions

7.6 Solving Equations

with Rational

Expressions

SUMMARY EXERCISES on Factoring

Rational Expressions
and Equations

7.7 Applications of

Rational Expressions

7.8 Variation

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CHAPTER

7