Arithmetic of algebraic  

fractions 1.4 

Introduction
Just as one whole number divided by another is called a numerical fraction, so one algebraic
expression divided by another is known as an algebraic fraction. Examples of the latter are

x 3x + 2y x2 + 3x + 1
, , and
y x−y x−4
In this section we explain how algebraic fractions can be simplified, added, subtracted, multiplied
and divided.

 

Prerequisites ① be familiar with the arithmetic of

numerical fractions
Before starting this Section you should . . .
 

✓ add, subtract, multiply and divide alge-

Learning Outcomes braic fractions
After completing this Section you should be
able to . . .
1. Cancelling common factors
Consider the fraction 1035
. To simplify it we can factorise the numerator and the denominator
and then cancel any common factors. Common factors are those factors which occur in both
the numerator and the denominator. Thus
10
5×2 2
= =
35 7×
5 7
Note that the common factor 5 has been cancelled. It is important to remember that only
common factors can be cancelled. The fractions 10 35
and 27 have identical values - they are
2 10
equivalent fractions - but 7 is in a simpler form than 35 .
We apply the same process when simplifying algebraic fractions.

Example Simplify, if possible,

yx x x
a) , b) , c)
2x xy x+y

Solution

yx
(a) In the expression , x is a factor common to both numerator and denominator.
2x
This common factor can be cancelled to give
y
x y
=
2
x 2
x 1x
(b) Note that xy
can be written xy
. The common factor of x can be cancelled to give

1.
x 1
=

xy y
x
(c) In the expression x+y notice that an x appears in both numerator and denominator.
However x is not a common factor. Recall that factors of an expression are multiplied
together whereas in the denominator x is added to y. This expression cannot be
simplified.

abc 3ab
Simplify, if possible, a) 3ac , b) b+a
When simplifying remember only common factors can be cancelled.

Your solution
abc 3ab
a) 3ac = b) b+a
=

3
b) This cannot be simplified b
a)

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1.4: Arithmetic of algebraic fractions
 21x3
Example Simplify a) 14x
, b) 36x
12x3

Solution
Factorising and cancelling common factors gives:

21x3
7 × 3×
x × x2 3x2 36x 12 × 3 × x 3

a) = = b) = = 2
14x
7 × 2×
x 2 12x 3 12 × x × x 2 x

Example Simplify 3x+6

6x+12
.

Solution
First we factorise the numerator and the denominator to see if there are any common factors.

3x + 6 3(x + 2) 3 1
= = =
6x + 12 6(x + 2) 6 2

The factors x + 2 and 3 have been cancelled.

12
Simplify 2x+8
.

Your solution
12
2x+8
=

x+4 2(x+4)
6
= 6×2
Factorise the numerator and denominator, and cancel any common factors.

Example Show that the algebraic fraction 3

x+1
and 3(x+4)
x2 +5x+4
are equivalent.

Solution
The denominator, x2 + 5x + 4, can be factorised as (x + 1)(x + 4) so that

3(x + 4) 3(x + 4)
=
x2 + 5x + 4 (x + 1)(x + 4)

Note that (x + 4) is a factor common to both the numerator and the denominator and can be
3
cancelled to leave x+1 3
. Thus x+1 and x3(x+4)
2 +5x+4 are equivalent fractions.

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1.4: Arithmetic of algebraic fractions
 1 x−1
Show that x−1 and x2 −2x+1 are equivalent fractions.
First factorise the denominator

Your solution
x2 − 2x + 1:

(x − 1)(x − 1)

Identify the factor which is common to both numerator and denominator and cancel this common
factor.
Your solution
x−1
(x−1)(x−1)
=

x−1
1

Hence the two given fractions are equivalent.

Example Simplify
6(4 − 8x)(x − 2)
1 − 2x

Solution
The factor 4 − 8x can be factorised to 4(1 − 2x). Thus

6(4 − 8x)(x − 2) (6)(4)(1 − 2x)(x − 2)

= = 24(x − 2)
1 − 2x (1 − 2x)

2
Simplify x2x+2x−15
2 −5x−3

First factorise the numerator and the denominator.

Your solution
x2 +2x−15
2x2 −5x−3
=

(2x+1)(x−3)
(x+5)(x−3)

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1.4: Arithmetic of algebraic fractions
Finally cancel any common factors to leave

Your solution

2x+1
x+5

Exercises
1. Simplify, if possible,
19 14 35 7 14
a) 38
, b) 28
, c) 40
, d) 11
, e) 56
14 36 13 52
2. Simplify, if possible, a) 21
, b) 96
, c) 52
, d) 13
5z 25z 5 5z
3. Simplify a) z
, b) 5z
, c) 25z 2
, d) 25z 2

4. Simplify
4x 15x 4s 21x4
a) 3x
, b) x2
, c) s3
, d) 7x3

5. Simplify, if possible,
x+1 x+1 2(x+1) 3x+3 5x−15 5x−15
a) 2(x+1)
, b) 2x+2
, c) x+1
, d) x+1
, e) 5
, f) x−3
.

6. Simplify, if possible,
5x+15 5x+15 5x+15 5x+15
a) 25x+5
, b) 25x
, c) 25
, d) 25x+1

7. Simplify
x2 +10x+9 x2 −9 2x2 −x−1 3x2 −4x+1 5z 2 −20z
a) x2 +8x−9
, b) x2 +4x−21
, c) 2x2 +5x+2
, d) x2 −x
, e) 2z−8

6 2x 3x2
8. Simplify a) 3x+9
, b) 4x2 +2x
, c) 15x3 +10x2

x2 −1 x2 +5x+6
9. Simplify a) x2 +5x+4
, b) x2 +x−6
.

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1.4: Arithmetic of algebraic fractions
 x−2 x+4
x+2
. b) x−1
, 9. a)
5(3x+2) 2x+1 x+3
3
. c) 1
, b) 2
, 8. a)
2 x x+2 x+7 x−1
5z
e) 3x−1
, d) x−1
, c) x+3
, b) x+1
, 7. a)
25x+1 5 5x 5x+1
5(x+3)
d) x+3
, c) x+3
, b) x+3
, 6. a)

5. a) 21 , b) 21 , c) 2, d) 3, e) x − 3, f) 5
s2 x
d) 3x 4
, c) 15
, 4. a) 34 , b)
5z 5z 2
1
. d) 1
, 3. a) 5 b) 5, c)

2. a) 32 , b) 83 , c) 41 , d) 4

e) 41 . 11
7
, 1. a) 21 , b) 21 , c) 87 , d)

Answers

2. Multiplication and division of algebraic fractions

To multiply two fractions (numerical or algebraic) we multiply their numerators together and
then multiply their denominators together. That is

Key Point
Multiplication:
a c ac
× =
b d bd

Any factors common to both numerator and denominator can be cancelled. This cancellation
can be performed before or after the multiplication.
Division is performed by inverting the second fraction and then multiplying.

Key Point
Division:
a c a d ad
÷ = × =
b d b c bc

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1.4: Arithmetic of algebraic fractions
Example Simplify a) 2a
c
× 4c , b) 2a
c
× 4c , c) 2a
c
÷ 4
c

Solution

(a)
2a 4 8a
× = 2
c c c
(b)
2a c 2ac 2a a
× = = =
c 4 4c 4 2
(c) Division is performed by inverting the second fraction and then multiplying.
2a 4 2a c a
÷ = × = from the result in b)
c c c 4 2

Example Simplify a) 1
5x
× 3x, b) 1
x
× x, c) 1
y
× x, d) y
x
× x.

Solution
1 1 3x 3x 3
a) Note that 3x = 3x
1
. Then × 3x = × = =
5x 5x 1 5x 5
1 1 x x
b) x can be written as x1 . Then ×x= × = =1
x x 1 x
1 1 x x
c) ×x= × =
y y 1 y
y y x yx
d) ×x= × = =y
x x 1 x

2x
y
Example Simplify 3x
2y

Solution
We can write the fraction as 2x
y
÷ 3x
2y
. Inverting the second fraction and multiplying we find

2x 2y 4xy 4
× = =
y 3x 3xy 3

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1.4: Arithmetic of algebraic fractions
 4x + 2 x+3
Example Simplify ×
x2 + 4x + 3 7x + 5

Solution
Factorising the numerator and denominator we find

4x + 2 x+3 2(2x + 1) x+3 2(2x + 1)(x + 3) 2(2x + 1)

× = × = =
x2 + 4x + 3 7x + 5 (x + 1)(x + 3) 7x + 5 (x + 1)(x + 3)(7x + 5) (x + 1)(7x + 5)

It is usually better to factorise first and cancel any common factors before multiplying. Don’t
remove any brackets unnecessarily otherwise common factors will be difficult to spot.

Example Simplify
15 3
÷
3x − 1 2x + 1

Solution
To divide we invert the second fraction and multiply:

15 3 15 2x + 1 (5)(3)(2x + 1) 5(2x + 1)
÷ = × = =
3x − 1 2x + 1 3x − 1 3 3(3x − 1) 3x − 1

Exercises
1. Simplify a) 5
9
× 32 , b) 14
3
× 39 , c) 6
11
× 34 , d) 4
7
× 28
3

2. Simplify a) a) 5
9
÷ 32 , b) 14
3
÷ 39 , c) 6
11
÷ 34 , d) 4
7
÷ 28
3

3. Simplify
a) 2 × x+y
3
, b) 1
3
× 2(x + y), c) 2
3
× (x + y)

4. Simplify
x2 +x πd2
a) 3 × x+4
7
, b) 1
7
× 3(x + 4), c) 3
7
× (x + 4), d) x
y
× x+1
y+1
, e) 1
y
× y+1
f) 4
× Q
πd2
,
Q
g) πd2 /4

6/7
5. Find s+3
.

6. Find 3
x+2
÷ x
2x+4
.

7. Find 5
2x+1
÷ x
3x−1
.

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1.4: Arithmetic of algebraic fractions
 x(2x+1) x
5(3x−1)
7. 6
. 6.

7(s+3)
6
. 5.
πd2 y(y+1) y(y+1) 7 7 7
4Q
f) Q/4, g) x(x+1)
, e) x(x+1)
, d) 3(x+4)
, c) 3(x+4)
, b) 3(x+4)
, 4. a)
3 3 3
2(x+y)
c) 2(x+y)
, b) 2(x+y)
, 3. a)
49 11 27
3
. d) 8
, b) 14, c) 10
, 2. a)
3 22 9
16
. d) 9
, c) 14
, 1. a) 65 , b)

Answers

3. Addition and subtraction of algebraic fractions

To add two algebraic fractions the lowest common denominator must be found first. This
is the simplest algebraic expression that has the given denominators as its factors. All fractions
must be written with this lowest common denominator. Their sum is found by adding the
numerators and dividing the result by the lowest common denominator.
To subtract two fractions the process is similar. The fractions are written with the lowest
common denominator. The difference is found by subtracting the numerators and dividing the
result by the lowest common denominator.

Example State the simplest expression which has x + 1 and x + 4 as its factors.

Solution
The simplest expression is (x + 1)(x + 4). Note that both x + 1 and x + 4 are factors.

Example State the simplest expression which has x − 1 and (x − 1)2 as its factors.

Solution
The simplest expression is (x − 1)2 . Clearly (x − 1)2 must be a factor of this expression. Also,
because we can write (x − 1)2 = (x − 1)(x − 1) it follows that x − 1 is a factor too.

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1.4: Arithmetic of algebraic fractions
 3 2
Example Express as a single fraction +
x+1 x+4

Solution
The simplest expression which has both denominators as its factors is (x + 1)(x + 4). This
is the lowest common denominator. Both fractions must be written using this denominator.
3 3(x+4) 2 2(x+1)
Note that x+1 is equivalent to (x+1)(x+4) and x+4 is equivalent to (x+1)(x+4) . Thus writing both
fractions with the same denominator we have
3 2 3(x + 4) 2(x + 1)
+ = +
x+1 x+4 (x + 1)(x + 4) (x + 1)(x + 4)

The sum is found by adding the numerators and dividing the result by the lowest common
denominator.
3(x + 4) 2(x + 1) 3(x + 4) + 2(x + 1) 5x + 14
+ = =
(x + 1)(x + 4) (x + 1)(x + 4) (x + 1)(x + 4) (x + 1)(x + 4)

Key Point
Addition: To add two fractions
(i) find the lowest common denominator
(ii) express each fraction with this denominator
(iii) Add the numerators and divide the result by the lowest common denominator

Example Express 1
x−1
+ 5
(x−1)2
as a single fraction.

Solution
The simplest expression having both denominators as its factors is (x − 1)2 . We write both
fractions with this denominator.
1 5 x−1 5 x−1+5 x+4
+ = + = =
x − 1 (x − 1)2 (x − 1)2 (x − 1)2 (x − 1)2 (x − 1)2

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1.4: Arithmetic of algebraic fractions
 3 5
Find x+7 + x+2 .
First find the lowest common denominator:

Your solution

(x + 7)(x + 2)

Both fractions are re-written using this lowest common denominator:

Your solution
3 5
x+7
+ x+2 =

(x+7)(x+2) (x+7)(x+2)
5(x+7)
+ 3(x+2)

Add the numerators and simplify:

Your solution
3 5
x+7
+ x+2 =

(x+7)(x+2)
8x+41

Example Find 5x
7
− 3x−4
2
.

Solution
In this example both denominators are simply numbers. The lowest common denominator is
14, and both fractions are re-written with this denominator. Thus

10x 7(3x − 4) 10x − 7(3x − 4) 28 − 11x

− = =
14 14 14 14

Example Find x1 + y1 .

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1.4: Arithmetic of algebraic fractions
 Solution
The simplest expression which has x and y as its factors is xy. This is the lowest common
y
denominator. Both fractions are written using this denominator. Noting that x1 = xy and that
1 x
y
= xy we find
1 1 y x y+x
+ = + =
x y xy xy xy
No cancellation is now possible because neither x nor y is a factor of the numerator.

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1.4: Arithmetic of algebraic fractions
 Exercises
1. Find a) x
4
+ x7 , b) 2x
5
+ x9 , c) 2x
3
− 3x
4
, d) x
x+1
− 2
x+2
, e) x+1
x
+ 3
x+2
,
f) 2x+1
3
− x2 , g) x+3
2x+1
− x3 , h) x
4
− x
5

2. Find
a) 1
x+2
+ 2
x+3
, b) 2
x+3
+ 5
x+1
, c) 2
2x+1
− 3
3x+2
, d) x+1
x+3
+ x+4
x+2
, e) x−1
x−3
+ x−1
(x−3)2
.
5 4
3. Find 2x+3
+ (2x+3)2
.

4. Find 17 s + 11
21
A B
5. Express 2x+3
+ x+1
as a single fraction.
A B C
6. Express 2x+5
+ (x−1)
+ (x−1)2
as a single fraction.
A B
7. Express x+1
+ (x+1)2
as a single fraction.
Ax+B C
8. Express x2 +x+10
+ x−1
as a single fraction.
C
9. Express Ax + B + x+1
as a single fraction.
x1 x1 x2 x3
10. Show that 1
− x1
is equal to x2 −x3
.
x3 2

x 
11. Find a) 3x
4
− x
5
+ x3 , b) 3x
4
− 5
+ x
3
.

60 60
13x
. b) 53x
, 11. a)
x+1
(Ax+B)(x+1)+C
9.

(x−1)(x2 +x+10)
(Ax+B)(x−1)+C(x2 +x+10)
8.

(x+1)2
A(x+1)+B
7.

(2x+5)(x−1)2
A(x−1)2 +B(x−1)(2x+5)+C(2x+5)
6.

(2x+3)(x+1)
A(x+1)+B(2x+3)
. 5.
21
3s+11
. 4.
(2x+3)2
10x+19
3.
(x−3)2 (x+3)(x+2) (2x+1)(3x+2) (x+3)(x+1) (x+2)(x+3)
x2 −3x+2
e) 2x2 +10x+14
, d) 1
, c) 7x+17
, b) 3x+7
, 2. a)

20 3(2x+1) 6 x(x+2) (x+1)(x+2)

x
. h) 9+2x−2x2
, g) x+2
, f) x2 +6x+2
, e) x2 −2
, c) − 12
x
, d) 45
23x
, b) 28
11x
, 1. a)

Answers

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1.4: Arithmetic of algebraic fractions