Algebraic Fractions

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Cambridge O Level Maths Your notes
Algebraic Fractions
Contents
Algebraic Fractions
Solving Algebraic Fractions
Page 1 of 11
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Algebraic Fractions
Your notes
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?

Factorise fully top and bottom
Cancel common factors (including common brackets)
Exam Tip
If you are asked to simplify an algebraic fraction and have to factorise the top or bottom, it is very
likely that one of the factors will be the same on the top and the bottom – you can use this to help
you factorise difficult quadratics!
Page 2 of 11
Worked example
Your notes
4x + 6
Simplify
2x 2 − 7x − 15
Factorise the top, by using 2 as a common factor
Factorise the bottom using your preferred method

Using the fact that the top factorised to may help!
The common factors on the top and bottom reduce to 1 (cancel out)
Page 3 of 11
Adding & Subtracting Algebraic Fractions

How do I add (or subtract) two algebraic fractions? Your notes
The rules are the same as fractions with numbers:
1. Find the lowest common denominator (LCD)
The LCD of x - 2 and x + 5 is found by multiplying them together: LCD = (x - 2)(x + 5)
this is the same as with numbers, where the LCD of 2 and 9 is 2 × 9 = 18
The LCD of x and 2x is not found by multiplying them together, as 2x already includes an x , so the
LCD is just 2x
this is the same as with numbers, where the LCD of 2 and 4 is just 4, not 2 × 4 = 8
The LCD of x + 2 and (x + 2)(x - 1) is just (x + 2)(x - 1), as this already includes an (x + 2)
The LCD of x + 1 and (x + 1)2 is just (x + 1)2, as this already includes an (x + 1)
The LCD of (x + 3)(x - 1) and (x + 4)(x - 1) is three brackets: (x + 3)(x - 1)(x + 4), without repeating the (x -
1)
2. Write each fraction over this lowest common denominator
3. Multiply the numerators of each fraction by the same amount as the denominators
4. Write as a single fraction over the lowest common denominator (by adding or subtracting the
numerators, taking care to use brackets when subtracting)
5. Check at the end to see if the top factorises and cancels
Exam Tip
Leaving the top and bottom of the fraction in factorised form will help you see if anything cancels
at the end
Page 4 of 11
Worked example
Your notes
x 3
(a) Express − as a single fraction
x +4 x −1
The lowest common denominator is
Write each fraction over this common denominator, remember to multiply the top of the fractions too
Simplify the numerators
Combine the fractions, as they have the same denominator
Factorise the top
There are no terms which would cancel here, so this is the final answer
x −4 x −1
(b) Express − as a single fraction
2(x − 3) 2x
The lowest common denominator is (You could also use 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
Page 5 of 11
Simplify the numerators
Your notes
Combine the fractions, as they have the same denominator
There is nothing else that can be factorised on the numerator, so this is the final answer
Page 6 of 11
Multiplying & Dividing Algebraic Fractions

How do I multiply algebraic fractions? Your notes
1. Simplify both fractions first by fully factorising, then cancelling any common brackets on top or
bottom (from either fraction)
2. Multiply the tops together
3. Multiply the bottoms together
4. Check for any further factorising and cancelling
How do I divide algebraic fractions?

Flip ("reciprocate") the second fraction and replace ÷ with ×
a b
So ÷ becomes ×
b a
Then follow the same rules for multiplying two fractions
Page 7 of 11
Worked example
Your notes
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)
It can often help to factorise first, as there may be factors that cancel out
Multiply the numerators and denominators, and cancel any terms that are the same on the top and
bottom
Page 8 of 11

Your notes
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 deal with the algebraic fractions by adding or subtracting them first and then solving
the equation
Follow the rules for solving a linear equation containing a fraction on one or both sides
Remove the fractions first by multiplying both sides by everything on the denominator
Remember to put brackets around any expression that you multiply by
The second method is to begin by multiplying everything in the fraction by each of the expressions on
the denominator
This will remove the denominators of the fractions, leaving you with either a linear or a quadratic
equation to solve
Multiplying everything in the fraction by the common denominator is a way of carrying out this
process in one go
4 5
For example, to solve the equation + = 5 you will need to multiply every term in
x−3 x+1
the equation by both (x − 3) and (x + 1)
STEP 1
Multiply every term by (x − 3)
4 5
(x − 3) + (x − 3) = 5(x − 3)
x−3 x+1
4 5(x − 3)
(x − 3) + = 5(x − 3)
(x − 3) x+1
5(x − 3)
4+ = 5(x − 3)
x+1
STEP 2
Multiply every term by (x + 1)
Page 9 of 11
5(x − 3)
4(x + 1) + (x + 1) = 5(x − 3) (x + 1)
x+1 Your notes
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)
STEP 3
Expand the brackets on both sides and simplify
4x + 4 + 5x − 15 = 5(x 2 + x − 3x − 3)
9x − 11 = 5(x 2 − 2x − 3)
9x − 11 = 5x 2 − 10x − 15
STEP 4
Rearrange the equation so that it is in a form that can be solved
9x − 11 = 5x 2 − 10x − 15
− (9x − 11) = − (9x − 11)
0 = 5x 2 − 10x − 9x − 15 + 11
0 = 5x 2 − 19x − 4
STEP 5
Solve the equation
You can swap the sides if it makes solving the equation easier
5x 2 − 19x − 4 = 0
( 5x + 1 ) ( x − 4 ) = 0
1
x= − or x = 4
5
Exam Tip
Multiplying by both denominators at once can speed up the process, but be careful with the
algebra if choosing this technique
Page 10 of 11
Worked example
Your notes
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 by the denominators.

We can do this one denominator at a time. We can start by multiplying by .
Now multiply by
Now expand brackets
Collect like terms
Add the terms on the left hand side to the right hand side, to complete the question
Page 11 of 11

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Cambridge O Level Maths Your notes

How do you simplify an algebraic fraction?

Factorise the bottom using your preferred method

Adding & Subtracting Algebraic Fractions

Simplify the numerators

Combine the fractions, as they have the same denominator

Factorise the top

Simplify the numerators

Combine the fractions, as they have the same denominator

Multiplying & Dividing Algebraic Fractions

How do I divide algebraic fractions?

Solving Algebraic Fractions

To clear the fractions, we multiply both sides by the denominators.

Now expand brackets

Collect like terms

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