MODULE 3.

ALGEBRAIC FRACTIONS

Subject: Math A
Time Frame: 3 weeks

Overview
This module introduces the fundamental properties of algebraic fractions and discusses
how to simplify and operate on algebraic fractions.

3.1 The Fundamental Properties of Fractions

Objectives: 1. To apply the different properties of algebraic fractions.

2. To reduce algebraic fractions to lowest terms.

Algebraic Fraction: An algebraic fraction is the quotient of two algebraic expressions.

Examples:
2 3x 4  7m a 4  8a
, , and
3 5 m3  27 a 2  2a  4

3.2 Properties of Algebraic Fractions:

1 1 1
1.   provided a, b  0.
a b ab

The property states that the product of the reciprocal of two nonzero numbers is
equal to the reciprocal of the product of the numbers.

a a a a
2.    provided b  0
b b b b

The property states that if any of the two signs are changed, the new fraction is
equivalent to the original fraction.

Examples:
x  1x  x x x
a)    
y  1 y  y y y
a a a
b)  
a  1  a  1 1  a
3a  4  (3a  4)  3a  4  3a  4 4  3a   1
c)    1 or  
4  3a  4  3a  3a  4 4  3a 4  3a 

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 MODULE 3. ALGEBRAIC FRACTIONS

ac a
3.  provided b, c  0.
bc b

This property is called the fundamental principle of fractions. If both numerator and
denominator of a fraction are multiplied or divided by the same nonzero number, the
result is a fraction whose value is equal to the original fraction.

3.3 Simplification of Fractions

A fraction is said to be in its lowest terms or simplest form if the numerator and
denominator have no common factors except 1 or –1.

Remark: To reduce the fraction to its lowest terms, we start by factoring the numerator and
denominator. Then we cancel the common factors to both numerator and denominator.

Examples:
Reduce the following fractions to lowest terms.

1)
12 21k 3
a) b)
30 6k 4
Begin by factoring
12 2  2  3 21k 3 7  3k 3
 
30 2  3  5 6k 4 2  3k 3  k
Cancel any common factors to the numerator and denominator.
1 1
12 2  (2  3)
 

21k 3 7  3  k 3 
30 2  (3  5) 6k 4 
2k 3  k 3 
12 2 21k 3 7
 4

30 5 6k 2k

4 x  16 4x  4 4
2)  
5 x  20 5x  4 5

a 2  2a  8 a  4 a  2 a4
3)  
2a  a  6 2a  3 a  2 2a  3
2

Note: Only common factors, not common terms can be cancelled. Thus in the following
examples some common errors in cancellation are explained.

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 MODULE 3. ALGEBRAIC FRACTIONS

a4 2
1)  because a and 2 are not common factors of both numerator
2a  3 3
a4
and denominator in .
2a  3

Similarly with
x yz z
2) 
x yw w

but
3)
x  y  z  z
x  y  w w
Note: x + y is not a factor of both the numerator and the denominator in number 2, while
(x + y) is a common factor in number 3.

x y x y 1
4)    1
y  x  1x  y   1

or
 1x  y    1 x  y   1
 1  y  x  x  y 
Note: (x – y) and (y – x) or (-x + y) are exactly opposite in sign.

For the same reason

2m
5)  1
m2

3 s
6)  1 since (3 + s) and (3 – s) are not exactly opposite in sign.
3 s

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 MODULE 3. ALGEBRAIC FRACTIONS

Exercises:

Write each fraction in lowest terms

12 m 2 p 2s  6 x  y  2 x 2  xy  10 y 2 
x  2 y 7 x 2  6 xy  y 2 
1) 7) 13)
 9mp 2 5s  10

6x 2 y 3 a2  b2 2a  115a 2  a  2
a  56a 2  5a  1
2) 8) 14)
24 x 3 y 2 ab
9a  2  a3  b3 m3  n3
3) 9) 15)
5a  2  ab m 2  mn  n 2

4)
a  1 a  1 10)
4 x 2  12 x  9
16)
a3  b3
a  12 2 x  32 a2  b2

3t  5 x 2  3x  4 ab  2ac  2cd  bd

5) 11) 17)
t  5 t  1 x2 1 2ab  ac  cd  2bd

5r  10 11d 2  22d 3 2mp  8mq  12nq  3np

6) 12) 18)
15 6  12d  3np  8mq  12qn  2mp

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 MODULE 3. ALGEBRAIC FRACTIONS

3.4 Multiplication of Algebraic Fractions

Objectives: 1. To multiply algebraic fractions and simplify the product to lowest terms.
2. To multiply two algebraic fractions, multiply the numerators and multiply
the denominators.

The product of the algebraic fractions

P R P R PR
and is  
Q S Q S QS

Examples:
1) Multiply and write the product in lowest terms.
2 14 3 x3
a)   b)  
7 18 x 15

Factor the numerators and denominators whenever possible. Then use the
fundamental principle of algebraic fractions to reduce the product to lowest terms.

272 2 3 x2  x x2
 
27 33 9 35 x 5

ab

a2

a  b a  a  a
2)
2a a  b  2 2a a  b  a  b  2a  b 

y 2  3y y2  5y  4
3) Find the product of and
y 2  3y  4 y2  2y  3

y 2  3y

y2  5y  4

y  y  3

 y  1 y  4
y  3 y  4 y  2 y  3  y  4 y  1  y  1 y  3
2 2

y  y  3 y  1 y  4 y
 
 y  4 y  1 y  1 y  3 y  1
3.5 Division of Algebraic Fractions

Objective: To divide algebraic fractions and simplify the quotient to lowest terms.

P R
If and are any two algebraic fractions, with
Q S

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 MODULE 3. ALGEBRAIC FRACTIONS

P R P S PS
Q  0 and S  0 , then their quotient is    
Q S Q R QR

Examples 1)
3a 2  6a 3 
3 a 2  16 b 2
2b 3 16b 2 2b 3 6 a 3
3  3  8  2 a 2b 2 3
 
38 2 a b  a b 2 2
ab

y y y y5 y5
2)    
y3 y5 y3 y y3

c 2  9 2c 2  6c c 2  9 1  c
3)   2 
c2  1 1 c c  1 2c 2  6c

c  3c  3   1 1  c 
c  1c  1 2cc  3
 1c  3 3c
 
2cc  1 2cc  1

x5 x2  9 x 2  10 x  25
4)  
x 2  3x x 2  xy  y 2 x3  y3


x5
 2

x  3x  3  x  y  x 2  xy  y 2 
x x  3 ( x  xy  y 2 )  x  5  x  5


x  3x  y  or
x 2  3x  xy  3 y
x  x  5 x2  5x

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 MODULE 3. ALGEBRAIC FRACTIONS

Exercises:

Perform the indicated operations and reduce each result to lowest terms.

49 x 2  1
1)
6a 3 9a 4
 
7) 21x 2  4 x  1  
18a 2 3a 2 3x
2m 3 8m 3 2k  3k  2 4k  5k  1
2 2
2)  8) 
15m2 45m 4 6k 2  7 k  2 k 2  k  2
25m10 p 2 15m 6 20mp 5 x 2  10 x  25 10 x x5
3)   9)  2 
9m 5 p 10m 4 p 3 12m 2 p 4 x  10 x
2
x  15 x  50 x  10
5a  25 10 b 2  12b  32 b 2  8b b 2  64
4)  10)  
12 6a  30 8b 2 b 2  8b  16 6b 3  24b 2
a 2  25 a  5 y 2  y  20 y 2  y  2 y2  y
5)  2 11)  
y2 y 4 y 2  25 y2  2 y  8 y2  5 y
4x2  9 y 2 2 x 2 y  4 xy 4 x 3  8x 2 y2  9
6)
2x  y

 4 x 2  6 xy  12)  
y2  4 2 y 3  16 y2  5y  6

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 MODULE 3. ALGEBRAIC FRACTIONS

WORKSHEET #1
Multiplication and Division of Algebraic Fractions

Name ___________________________ Section _______ Date _______ Score _______

Perform the indicated operations and reduce each result to lowest terms.

10 x  25 6 x 2  12 xy
1.  
3x  6 y 2x  5

2 x 2  5 x  12 10 x 2  15 x
2.  2 
x 2  16 x  3x  28
c3  c 2d c2  d 2 cd
3.  2  
c d
2 2
bc  bd 2
bc3

8 y 3  27 x3 y 2  2 xy  3x 2 2 y 2  3xy  9 x 2
4.  
2 y 2  5 xy  3x 2 4 y 2  6 xy  9 x 2 y 2  3xy

x 2  7 x  12 x3  9 x x4
5.  
2 x  7 x  3 x  3x
2 3 2
x3

x 2  2 x  8 3x 2  8 x  3 x2
6.   2
x  5x  4
2
3x  x
2
x  2x  3

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 MODULE 3. ALGEBRAIC FRACTIONS

3.6 The Least Common Denominator

Objective: To find the Least Common Denominators of two or more dissimilar fractions.

Least Common Denominator of Two or more Algebraic Fractions:

The Least Common Denominator of Two or more Algebraic Fractions is the least
common multiple of the denominators of the algebraic fractions.

To find the LCD of algebraic fractions follow the steps below.

Finding the Least Common Denominator

Step1. Completely factor all denominators.
Step2. Take each different factor. If there are common factors, choose
the common factors with the greatest power that appears as a
factor in any of the denominators.
Step3. The least common denominator is the product of all factors found
in step 2.

Example:
Find the LCD of the following:

5 3
1) and
6r 2 4r 3
Factor each denominator
6r 2  2  3  r 2
4r 3  2 2  r 3
LCD = 2  3  r
2 3
since the greatest power of 2 is two, and the greatest
power of r is three.

2 5
2) , 2
5m m  4m
5m  5  m
LCD = 5  m  m  4  5mm  4
m2  4m  mm  4

3 1
3) ,
x  4x  5
2
x  x  20
2

x  4 x  5   x  5  x  1
2

LCD = x  5x  1x  4

x 2  x  20   x  5  x  4 

7 a
4) ,
a5 5a

The expression 5 – 𝑎 can be written as – 1(𝑎 − 5) since – 1(𝑎 – 5) = 5 – 𝑎.

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 MODULE 3. ALGEBRAIC FRACTIONS

Because of this, either (𝑎 – 5) or (5 – 𝑎) can be used as the LCD.

11x 2x2  1 125

5) , ,
x  34 x  1 x  3 x  13 x  1 x  32 x  12
LCD = x  3 x  1 x  1
4 3 2

2b  3a 5c
6) Convert each of the fractions , 3 and to an equivalent fraction
xy x y xy 2
with the LCD of the three as the denominator. The LCD is x 3 y 2 ; we must
multiply both the numerator and denominator by the factors that will result in the
new denominator which is the LCD.
2b  3a 5c
 ,  , 
xy x3 y xy 2

Exercises:

A. Find the LCD of the following algebraic fractions

B. Convert each fraction to equivalent fractions with the LCD as denominator.

2 3 5 4 8
1) , , 6) ,
x 7 x8 x 6 zx xz
9 11 7 3x 7y 4
2) , , 7) , ,
40 x 60 x 10 x x  1 x  1 x  1 x  13
2

3 17 2 3 2 5
3) , , 8) , 2 , 2
25a 50a 75a 4
5 6
y  5 y y  2 y  15 y  9
2

7 13 2a 6 8a 2
4) , 9) , ,
8 y 12 y  24 5a 2  13a  6 5a 2  22a  8 a 2  a  12
2a 2 x y 3x
5) , 10) , 2 , 2
8 a a 8 2 x  7 xy  5 y x  2 xy  y 2 x  3 xy  5 y 2
2 2 2

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 MODULE 3. ALGEBRAIC FRACTIONS

3.7 Addition and Subtraction of Algebraic Fractions

Objectives: 1) To add or subtract algebraic fractions having the same denominator.

2) To add or subtract algebraic fractions having different denominators.

To find the sum or difference of two algebraic fractions

having the same denominator, use the pattern below:

P R
If and are algebraic fractions,
Q Q
P R PR P R PR
  and   .
Q Q Q Q Q Q

Examples:
4 2 42 6 3x 2x 3x  2 x 5x
1) a )    b)   
7 7 7 7 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1
4 2 42 2 3x 2x 3x  2 x x
2) a )    b)   
7 7 7 7 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1
y 1 y 1
3)   1
y 1 y 1 y 1
a  b a  b a  b  a  b  a  b  a  b 2b
4)     b
2 2 2 2 2

How do we add or subtract two algebraic fractions with different denominators?

Addition or Subtraction of Algebraic Fractions with Different Denominators

Step 1. Factor the denominators if factorable.
Step 2. Find the least common denominator of the fractions.
Step 3. Rewrite each algebraic fractions as a fraction with the least
common denominator as the denominator.
Step 4. Add or subtract the numerators as indicated and write the sum or
difference over the LCD.

Examples.
2 1
1)  Find the least common denominator:
3y 4 y
LCD = 2  3  y  12 y
2

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 MODULE 3. ALGEBRAIC FRACTIONS

2 1 24 13 8 3 11
     
3 y 4 y 3 y 4 4 y 3 12 y 12 y 12 y

An alternative solution is found below:

2 1 2?  1? 24  13 83 11
    
3y 4 y 12 y 12 y 12 y 12 y

To find the multiplier in the numerator, divide the LCD, 12y , by each denominator.
8 4
2) Find 
a2 a2

8 a  2 4 a  2 8a  16  4a  8 8a  4a  16  8 4a  24
   
a  2 a  2 a  2 a  2 a  2 a  2 a  2 a  2 a  2 a  2
Alternative solution:

In combining two algebraic fractions we can use a short cut called cross
multiplication to get the sum or difference in the numerator.

8 4 8 (a  2)  4 a  2
   ?
(a  2) (a  2) a  2 (a  2)
4 6 1
3)  2  2
x  x x  2x x  x  2
2

LCD = xx  1 x  2
4 6 1
=  
xx  1 xx  2 x  2x  1
4x  2 6x  1 1x  4x  8  6x  6  x
   
xx  1 x  2 xx  2 x  1 x  2x  1 x  xx  1 x  2
9x  2

xx  1 x  2

Alternative Solution:

Recognize that each numerator gets multiplied by the factors in the LCD
that its denominator lacks. We refer to these as the missing factors or (mf).

mf1 mf2 mf3

4?  6?  1? 4x  2  6x  1  1x  4 x  8  6 x  6  x 9x  2

  
xx  1 x  2 xx  1 x  2 xx  1 x  2 xx  1 x  2

Exercises:

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 MODULE 3. ALGEBRAIC FRACTIONS

Find the sum or difference in lowest terms.

m2 5m 6 3x  10 x  7 2  6x
1)    2)   
m6 m6 m6 2x  3 2x  3 2x  3

5ab 3ac 2bc 1 1

3)   4) 
6a 2b 3a m  9 3m  9
2

3 9 3 y  2 x 3x
5)  6) 
4a  5 5  4a 3y  2x 2 y

1 3
7)  2
a  4 a  5a  6
2

8 3 7
8)  
x  2 5 x 5 x x  2 

r 1 3r  2
9)  2
r  2r  8 r  3r  4
2

2a 4 8a
10)   2
ba  3b  a  3b a  9b 2

2 3 4
11)  
b 2  b  2 b 2  3b  2 b 2  4

x  3y x y  2x  y
12)  2 
x  2 xy  y
2 2
x  4 xy  3 y 2
x  y 2

RENDON A. DELA CRUZ MS | MATH A Module 3 | Remedial Mathematics 13

 MODULE 3. ALGEBRAIC FRACTIONS

WORKSHEET #2

Addition or Subtraction of Algebraic Fractions

Name ____________________________Section _______Date _______ Score_____

A. Find the sum or difference of the following in lowest terms.

r 2  3 p2 3p 2p
1. +  =
r (r  3 p) r r 3 p

x  3y x y  2x
2.  2  
x  2 xy  y
2 2
x  4 xy  3 y 2
x  y 2

2x  1 3x  5 2x
3  2  2
3x  10 x  8 2 x  5 x  12 6 x  13 x  6
2

3a 2a a
4.   2
3a  2ab  b
2 2
2a  3ab  b
2 2
6a  ab  b 2

2x y x  2y
5.  2  2
3x  5 xy  2 y
2 2
2 x  3xy  2 y 2
6 x  5 xy  y 2

2 x  3z 3x  2 z 4z
6.  
6 x  11xz  3z
2 2
6 x  7 xz  3z
2 2
9x  z 2
2

a 2  2b 2 2b b
7.  
a  2ab a a  2b
2

RENDON A. DELA CRUZ MS | MATH A Module 3 | Remedial Mathematics 14