Rational expressions are equations that contain variables in denominators. There are four key steps to solving rational equations: 1) factor the equation if needed, 2) find the lowest common denominator (LCD), 3) find non-permissible values, and 4) multiply both sides by the LCD to obtain an equivalent equation that can be solved. It is important to check any solutions obtained to ensure they are not extraneous roots. Several examples demonstrate applying these steps to solve different types of rational equations.