Yes, apt-get and synaptic work really well for working with rpm packages helps solve dependency issues, I use synaptic for all my RPM management, download apt and synaptic from
freshrpms look to the left and they are in the list of packages there.
Then to install these packages as root you will type
rpm -ihv (filename.rpm) this will install the packages, go to your gui and you should see synaptic in System Settings, then before you do anything else click on
update
PS. install apt first then synaptic.
Also you might want to install
checkinstall from
Checkinstall
Just download the rpm, which works with RH9, you will find this invaluable when the time comes and you have to compile your first program. Instead of typing
make install you type
checkinstall and this will create and install an RPM then if you need to uninstall the program for some reason you start up synaptic and you run a search on the program and you can uninstall through synaptic.
Good Luck & Enjoy