Free Mathematics Classes for IGCSE Students

Class Four

Dr Mahmoud S Mubarak
Ph. D. Mathematics

IGCSE Mathematics Instructor

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Algebraic Fractions
Contents
1- Simplifying Algebraic Fractions
2- Adding & Subtracting Algebraic Fractions
3- Multiplying & Dividing Algebraic Fractions
4- Solving Equations with Algebraic Fractions

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 Simplifying Algebraic Fractions

Simplifying Algebraic Fractions

What is an algebraic fraction?
An algebraic fraction is a fraction with an algebraic expression on the top (numerator) and/or the
bottom (denominator)

How do you simplify an algebraic fraction?

If possible, factorise fully the top and bottom

2x 2x
E.g. =
x 2 + 3x x (x + 3)
Cancel common factors
This factor may be a single term

x (5x − 1) 5x − 1
E.g. =
4x 4
It could also be a common bracket

x (x + 2) x
E.g. =
(x + 2) (x − 1) x − 1
A common mistake is to cancel a factor that is not common to all terms in either the top or the bottom
of a fraction

6x
E.g. The fraction cannot be simplified
x +1
x is not common to all terms in the bottom of the fraction
and the expression on the bottom cannot be factorised

EXAM TIP
When asked to simplify an algebraic fraction, factorise top and bottom

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 It is very likely that one of the factors will be the same on the top and the bottom
Use this fact to help you, if one of the expressions is difficult to factorise!

WORKED EXAMPLE
4x + 6
Simplify
2x 2 − 7x − 15
Factorise the top, by using 2 as a common factor

2(2x + 3)
2x 2 − 7x − 15
Factorise the bottom using your preferred method
Using the fact that the top factorised to (2x + 3) may help!

2(2x + 3)
(2x + 3) (x − 5)
The common factors on the top and bottom reduce to 1 (cancel out)

2(2x + 3)
(2x + 3) (x − 5)
2
( x − 5)

Test yourselfNext topic

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 Adding & Subtracting Algebraic Fractions

Adding & Subtracting Algebraic Fractions

How do I add (or subtract) two algebraic fractions?
The rules for adding and subtracting algebraic fractions are the same as they are for fractions with
numbers
STEP 1
Find the lowest common denominator (LCD)
Sometimes the LCD can be found by multiplying the denominators together

1 1
E.g. The LCD for the fractions and is (x + 2) (x + 5)
x +2 x +5
1 1
Similarly, with numbers, the LCD of and is 2 × 5 = 10
2 5
Although multiplying the denominators will always give you a multiple, it is not necessarily the
lowest multiple

1 1
E.g. The LCD for the fractions and is 2x (not 2x 2 ) as both terms already include an x
x 2x
1 1
Similarly, with numbers, the LCD of and is just 4, not 2 × 4 = 8
2 4
Other examples include:

1 1
The LCD of and is (x + 2) (x − 1)
x +2 (x + 2) (x − 1)
1 1
The LCD of and is (x + 1) 2
x +1 (x + 1) 2
1 1
The LCD of and is (x + 3) (x − 1) (x + 4)
(x + 3) (x − 1) (x + 4) (x − 1)

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STEP 2
Write each fraction over the lowest common denominator
Multiply the numerator of each fraction by the same amount as the denominator

x 1 x (x + 2) (x − 4)
E.g. + = +
x −4 x +2 (x − 4) (x + 2) (x − 4) (x + 2)
STEP 3
Write as a single fraction over the lowest common denominator and simplify the numerator
Do this by adding or subtracting the numerators
Take particular care if subtracting

x (x + 2) + (x − 4) x 2 + 2x + x − 4 x 2 + 3x − 4
E.g. = =
(x − 4) (x + 2) (x − 4) (x + 2) (x − 4) (x + 2)
STEP 4
Check at the end to see if the top factorises and the fraction can be simplified

(x + 4) (x − 1)
E.g. , the top factorises but there are no common factors so it is in its most
(x − 4) (x + 2)
simple form

EXAM TIP
Leaving the top and bottom of your answer in factorised form will help you see if anything
cancels at the end

WORKED EXAMPLE
x 3
(a) Express − as a single fraction.
x +4 x −1
The lowest common denominator is (x + 4) (x − 1)
Write each fraction over this common denominator, remember to multiply the top of the fractions
too

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 x (x − 1) 3(x + 4)
−
(x + 4) (x − 1) (x − 1) (x + 4)
Combine the fractions, as they now have the same denominator

x (x − 1) − 3(x + 4)
(x + 4) (x − 1)
Simplify the numerator
Be careful expanding with the negative signs

x 2 − x − 3x − 12 x 2 − 4x − 12
=
(x + 4) (x − 1) (x + 4) (x − 1)
Factorise the top

(x + 2) (x − 6)
(x + 4) (x − 1)
There are no terms which would cancel here, so this is the final answer

( x + 2) ( x − 6)
( x + 4) ( x − 1)
x −4 x −1
(b) Express − as a single fraction.
2(x − 3) 2x
The lowest common denominator is 2x (x − 3)
(You could also use 4x (x − 3) but this wouldn't be the lowest common denominator)

Write each fraction over this common denominator, remember to multiply the top of the fractions
too

x (x − 4) (x − 1) (x − 3)
−
2x (x − 3) 2x ( x − 3 )
Combine the fractions, as they now have the same denominator

x (x − 4) − (x − 1) (x − 3)
2x (x − 3)

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Simplify the numerator
Be careful expanding with negative signs

(x 2 − 4x ) − (x 2 − 4x + 3) x 2 − 4x − x 2 + 4x − 3 −3
= =
2x (x − 3) 2x ( x − 3 ) 2x ( x − 3 )
There is nothing else that can be factorised on the numerator, so this is the final answer

−3
2 x ( x − 3)
3
There are other accepted answers, e.g.
2x ( 3 − x )

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 Multiplying & Dividing Algebraic Fractions

Multiplying & Dividing Algebraic Fractions

How do I multiply algebraic fractions?
STEP 1
Simplify both fractions first by fully factorising

x 2x + 4 x 2(x + 2)
E.g. × = ×
3x + 6 x +7 3(x + 2) x +7
STEP 2
Cancel any common factors on top and bottom (from either fraction)

x 2(x + 2) x 2
E.g. × = ×
3(x + 2) x +7 3 x +7
STEP 3
Multiply the tops together
Multiply the bottoms together

2x
E.g.
3(x + 7)
STEP 4
Check for any further factorising and cancelling

2x
E.g. has no common factors so is in its simplest form
3(x + 7)

How do I divide algebraic fractions?

Flip (find the reciprocal of) the second fraction and replace ÷ with ×

a b
So ÷ becomes ×
b a

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 3x − 12 2x + 8 3x − 12 x +3
E.g. ÷ = ×
x x +3 x 2x + 8
Then follow the same rules for multiplying two fractions

WORKED EXAMPLE
x +3 2x + 6
Divide by 2 , giving your answer as a simplified fraction.
x − 4 x − 16
Division is the same as multiplying by the reciprocal (the fraction flipped)

x +3 2x + 6 x + 3 x 2 − 16
÷ 2 = ×
x − 4 x − 16 x − 4 2x + 6
Factorise all numerators and denominators to see which factors cancel out
You need to use the difference of two squares, x 2 − 42 = (x − 4) (x + 4)

x + 3 x 2 − 16 x + 3 (x − 4) (x + 4)
× = ×
x −4 2x + 6 x −4 2(x + 3)
Multiply the remaining numerators and denominators together

1 × (x + 4) x + 4
=
1×2 2
Check to see if you missed any terms that are the same on the top and bottom that could be
cancelled

x +4
is already in its simplest form
2
x +4
2

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 Solving Equations with Algebraic Fractions

Solving Algebraic Fractions

How do I solve an equation that contains algebraic fractions?
There are two methods for solving equations that contain algebraic fractions
One method is to add or subtract the algebraic fractions first and then solve as usual

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For example, to solve − =1
x +1 x +2
3x + 11
First subtract the fractions and simplify, =1
(x + 1) (x + 2)
Then cross-multiply, expand and solve

3x + 11 = 1(x + 1) (x + 2)
3x + 11 = x 2 + 3x + 2
0 = x2 − 9
0 = (x − 3) (x + 3)
x = 3 or x = − 3
Alternatively, you can remove the fractions first by multiplying everything on both sides of the
equation by each expression in the denominators and then solve

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For example, to solve the equation + =5
x −3 x +1
First multiply every term in the equation by both (x − 3) and (x + 1) and cancel common factors
where possible

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 Multiply every term by (x − 3) (this bracket goes in the numerator of any fractions)
4 5(x − 3)
(x − 3) + = 5(x − 3)
(x − 3) x +1
5(x − 3)
4+ = 5(x − 3)
x +1
Then multiply every term by (x + 1)

5(x − 3)
4(x + 1) + (x + 1) = 5(x − 3) (x + 1)
(x + 1)
4(x + 1) + 5(x − 3) = 5(x − 3) (x + 1)
Then solve

4x + 4 + 5x − 15 = 5(x 2 − 2x − 3)
9x − 11 = 5x 2 − 10x − 15
0 = 5x 2 − 19x − 4
0 = (5x + 1) (x − 4)
1
x = − or x = 4
5

EXAM TIP
When multiplying by an algebraic expression, use brackets around the expression, e.g.
( 2x + 3 )
Multiplying by both denominators at once can speed up the process, but take care if choosing
this technique in the exam!
and remember to multiply all terms on either side of the equation

WORKED EXAMPLE
2 5
− = 6p
p +3 p
Show that this equation can be written as 6p 3 + 18p 2 + 3p + 15 = 0 .

To clear the fractions, we multiply both sides of the equation by each denominator

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Start by multiplying all terms in the equation by the denominator (p + 3)
The (p + 3) on top and bottom will cancel in the first term

5(p + 3)
2− = 6p (p + 3)
p
Now multiply all terms on both sides by the next denominator, p
The p on top and bottom will cancel in the second term

2(p ) − 5(p + 3) = 6p (p + 3) (p )
Expand brackets
Be careful with negative signs

2p − 5(p + 3) = 6p 2 (p + 3)
2p − 5p − 15 = 6p 3 + 18p 2
Collect like terms

−3p − 15 = 6p 3 + 18p 2

Add 3p and 15 to both sides of the equation

0 = 6p 3 + 18p 2 + 3p + 15
6 p 3 + 18 p + 3 p + 15 = 0

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