KS5 "Full Coverage": Algebraic Fractions

(Adding/Subtracting, Partial Fractions and Improper

Fractions)
This worksheet is designed to cover one question of each type seen in past papers, for each A
Level topic. This worksheet was automatically generated by the DrFrostMaths Homework
Platform: students can practice this set of questions interactively by going to
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Question 1
Categorisation: Simplify single algebraic fractions by factorisation.

[Edexcel C3 June 2006 Q1a] Simplify

3𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 2
𝑥2 − 1

..........................

Question 2
Categorisation: As above, but where one factor in the denominator is a negation of a
factor in the numerator.

[OCR C4 June 2012 Q1i] Simplify

1−𝑥
𝑥2 − 3𝑥 + 2

..........................

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Question 3
Categorisation: Add/subtract fractions where prior factorisation of a denominator
is required.

[Edexcel C3 June 2017 Q1] Express

4𝑥 2
−
𝑥2−9 𝑥+3

as a single fraction in its simplest form.

..........................

Question 4
Categorisation: As above, but with more than two fractions.

[Edexcel C3 June 2014(R) Q1]

Express

3 1 6
− + 2
2𝑥 + 3 2𝑥 − 3 4𝑥 − 9

as a single fraction in its simplest form.

..........................

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Question 5
Categorisation: As above, but with a non-fractional term.

[Edexcel C3 Jan 2007 Q2a Edited]

3 3
𝑓(𝑥) = 1 − + , 𝑥 ≠ −2
𝑥 + 2 (𝑥 + 2)2

𝑥 2 +𝑎𝑥+𝑏
Show that 𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥+2)2
, 𝑥 ≠ −2 where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are constants to be found.

..........................

Question 6
Categorisation: As above.

[Edexcel C3 June 2009 Q7a Edited]

The function 𝑓 is defined by

2 𝑥−8
𝑓(𝑥) = 1 − +
(𝑥 + 4) (𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 4)

𝑥 ∈ ℝ , 𝑥 ≠ −4 , 𝑥 ≠ 2
𝐴
Show that 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥−2 where 𝐴 is an expression to be found in its simplest form.

𝐴 = ..........................

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Question 7
Categorisation: Factorise expressions using long division.

[Edexcel C3 Jan 2007 Q7c]

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 4 − 4𝑥 − 8

Given that 𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 3 + 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐) , find the values of the constants 𝑎 , 𝑏 and 𝑐 .

..........................

Question 8
Categorisation: Use long-division to split a top-heavy fraction into a quotient and
remainder.

[Edexcel C3 Jan 2008 Q1]

Given that

2𝑥 4 − 3𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 1 2
𝑑𝑥 + 𝑒
≡ (𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐) +
(𝑥 2 − 1) (𝑥 2 − 1)

find the values of the constants 𝑎 , 𝑏 , 𝑐 , 𝑑 and 𝑒 .

..........................

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Question 9
Categorisation: As above.

[Edexcel C3 June 2016 Q6a]

𝑥 4 + 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 − 6
𝑓(𝑥) = , 𝑥 > 2, 𝑥 ∈ ℝ
𝑥2 + 𝑥 − 6

Given that

𝑥 4 + 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 − 6 𝐵
≡ 𝑥2 + 𝐴 +
𝑥2 + 𝑥 − 6 𝑥−2

find the values of the constants 𝐴 and 𝐵 .

..........................

Question 10
Categorisation: Further practice.

[Edexcel C3 June 2013 Q1]

Given that

3𝑥 4 −2𝑥 3 −5𝑥 2 −4 𝑑𝑥+𝑒

𝑥 2 −4
≡ 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 + 𝑥 2 −4 ,

where 𝑥 ≠ ±2 , find the values of the constants 𝑎 , 𝑏 , 𝑐 , 𝑑 and 𝑒 .

..........................

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Question 11
Categorisation: Split a fraction into partial fractions.

[Edexcel A2 SAM P2 Q16a] Express

1
𝑃(11 − 2𝑃)

in partial fractions.

..........................

Question 12
Categorisation: As above, but with a repeated factor (where the form required is
given).

[Edexcel C4 June 2012 Q1a]

1 𝐴 𝐵 𝐶
𝑓(𝑥) = = + +
𝑥(3𝑥 − 1)2 𝑥 3𝑥 − 1 (3𝑥 − 1)2

Find the values of the constants 𝐴 , 𝐵 and 𝐶 .

..........................

Question 13
Categorisation: As above, but where guidance on the required form is not given.

[Edexcel C4 June 2014(R) Q4a] Express

25
𝑥 2 (2𝑥 + 1)

in partial fractions.

..........................

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Question 14
Categorisation: Further practice of the above.

[OCR C4 June 2012 Q9i]

Express

𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 11
(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 2)2

in partial fractions.

..........................

Question 15
Categorisation: Partial fractions involving a top-heavy fraction.

[Edexcel C4 June 2010 Q5a]

2𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 10 𝐵 𝐶
≡𝐴+ +
(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 2) 𝑥−1 𝑥+2

Find the values of the constants A, B and C.

..........................

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Question 16
Categorisation: As above.

[Edexcel C4 Jan 2013 Q3] Express

9𝑥 2 + 20𝑥 − 10
(𝑥 + 2)(3𝑥 − 1)

in partial fractions.

..........................

Question 17
Categorisation: Bonus question!

[OCR C4 June 2015 Q10ii Edited]

It can be shown that

𝑥+8 4 3
≡ −
𝑥(𝑥 + 2) 𝑥 𝑥 + 2

By first using division, express

7𝑥 2 + 16𝑥 + 16
𝑥(𝑥 + 2)

in the form

𝑄 𝑅
𝑃+ +
𝑥 𝑥+2

..........................

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Answers Question 12
𝐴 = 1 , 𝐵 = −3 , 𝐶 = 3

Question 1 Question 13
3𝑥+2 50 25 100
− 𝑥
+ 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥+1
𝑥+1

Question 2 Question 14
1 1 2 3
− − + − (𝑥−2)2
𝑥−2 𝑥+1 𝑥−2

Question 3 Question 15
2 𝐴 = 2 , 𝐵 = −1 , 𝐶 = 4
𝑥−3

Question 4 Question 16
2 1
2 3 + 𝑥+2 − 3𝑥−1
2𝑥+3

Question 5 Question 17
𝑃 = 7 , 𝑄 = 8 , 𝑅 = −6
𝑎 =1,𝑏 =1

Question 6
𝐴=𝑥−3

Question 7
𝑎 =2,𝑏 =4,𝑐 =4

Question 8
𝑎 = 2 , 𝑏 = 0 , 𝑐 = −1 , 𝑑 = 1 , 𝑒 = 0

Question 9
𝐴=3,𝐵 =4

Question 10
𝑎 = 3 , 𝑏 = −2 , 𝑐 = 7 , 𝑑 = −8 , 𝑒 = 24

Question 11
1 2
+
11𝑃 11(11−2𝑃)

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