hamza-af

Question 1
Skill involved: 387f: Simplify algebraic fractions where factorisation of a non-monic quadratic
expression on the numerator or denominator is required.

Simplify

x −4
¿ 2
3 x −14 x+8

…………………………

Question 2
Skill involved: 388c: Multiply algebraic fractions with bracketed expressions on the numerators
and denominators.

Express
4
5 a3 6 ( b+5 )
¿ × b ≠−5
3(b+5) 7a

as a single fraction in its simplest form.

Input note: Give your answer in fully factorised form.

…………………………

Question 3
Skill involved: 388f: Divide algebraic fractions requiring prior simple factorisation.

Express

6 x +12 3 x+ 6
¿ 4 3
÷ 4
2 x −10 x 4x

as a single fraction in its simplest form.

Input note: give your answer in fully factorised form.

…………………………
Question 4
Skill involved: E389: Adding and subtracting algebraic fractions (no factorisation of denominators
required)

Express the following expression as a single fraction.

3 x +1 x +2
+
6 3

…………………………

Question 5
Skill involved: 389g: Subtract algebraic fractions with algebraic linear denominators.

Simplify

1 6
¿ −
6 x+1 7 x+ 6

Leave the denominator in factorised form when applicable.

…………………………

Question 6
Skill involved: 390c: Add or subtract algebraic fractions where quadratic factorising is required
(changing one denominator).

Simplify

1 3
¿ + 2
x−5 x −13 x+ 40

A
as a single fraction in the form where A , and B are integers to be found.
x+ B

…………………………

Question 7
Skill involved: 390f: Combine multiplication or division of algebraic fractions, requiring prior
factorisation of the denominators, with an addition or subtraction.

Express
 ( )
2
x −1 3 1
× −
2
x −4 x −1 2 x+ 3

a (x+ b)
as a single fraction in the form
( x +c )(dx +e)

…………………………

Question 8
Skill involved: 390d: Add or subtract algebraic fractions where quadratic factorising is required
(changing two denominators).

Simplify

1 1
¿ 2
− 2
z −4 z−60 z −5 z−50

A
as a single fraction in the form where A , B, C , and D are integers to be
( z + B)(z +C )(z+ D)
found.

…………………………
Mark scheme
Question 1
1
3 x −2

Factorise the denominator first, then you can divide top and bottom by the common factor.

x−4 x −4
∧≡
2
3 x −14 x+ 8 ( 3 x −2 )( x−4 )
x−4
¿≡
( 3 x−2 ) ( x−4 )
1
¿≡
3 x −2

Question 2
2 3
10 a ( b+5 )
7

➀ Multiply the numerators and denominators together.

4
5 a3 6 ( b +5 )
¿ ×
3 ( b+5 ) 7a
5 a ×6 ( b+5 )4
3
¿=
3 ( b+ 5 ) × 7 a
3 4
30 a ( b +5 )
¿=
21 a ( b+5 )
¿
¿

➁ Cancel out any common factors.

3 4
30 a ( b+ 5 )
¿
21a ( b +5 )
2
10 3 43
30 a ( b+5 )
¿=
217 a ( b+5 )
2 3
10 a ( b +5 )
¿=
7

Question 3
4x
x−5
➀ Multiply by the reciprocal.

6 x+ 12 3 x +6
¿ 4 3
÷ 4
2 x −10 x 4x
4
6 x+ 12 4x
¿= 4 ×
2 x −10 x 3 x +6
3

➁ Factorise each expression.

6 (x+ 2) 4x
4

3
×
2 x (x−5) 3( x+2)

➂ Cancel out common factors.

6(x +2) 4x
4
¿ ×
2 x (x−5)
3
3(x +2)
2
6 (x +2) 42 x4
¿= 1 3 × 1
2 x (x−5) 3 ( x+ 2)
2 2x
¿= ×
x−5 1

➃ Multiply the fractions together.

4x
x−5

Question 4
5 x +5 5 ( x +1 )
or
6 6

Question 5
−29 x
( 6 x+1 )( 7 x +6 )

➀ Rewrite both fractions with the lowest common denominator of 6 x +1 and 7 x +6.
 1
∧−6
6 x +1
7 x+ 6
↓ ×(7 x+6)∧↓×(6 x +1)
7 x +6
∧−6 (6 x+1)
(6 x+ 1)(7 x +6)
¿
(6 x +1)(7 x +6)
7 x +6
∧−36 x +6
(6 x +1)(7 x+6)
¿
(6 x +1)(7 x +6)

➁ Subtract the numerators.

−29 x
¿=
( 6 x +1 ) ( 7 x+ 6 )

Question 6
1
x−8

➀ Factorise the denominator of the second fraction.

1 3
¿ + 2
x−5 x −13 x + 40
1 3
¿= +
x−5 (x−5)(x−8)

x−8
➁ Multiply the first equation by to get a common denominator.
x−8

1 3
¿ +
x−5 ( x−5)(x−8)
1 x−8 3
¿= × +
x−5 x−8 (x−5)( x−8)
x −8 3
¿= +
(x−5)(x−8) ( x−5)(x−8)

➂ Add the fractions and simplify the numerator.

x−8 3
¿ +
(x−5)(x−8) (x−5)(x−8)
x−5
¿=
(x −5)(x −8)

➃ Divide both the numerator and denominator by the common factor.

 x−5
¿≡
(x −5)(x −8)
1
¿≡
x−8

Question 7
5(x +1)
( x−2)(2 x+ 3)

3 1
➀ Simplify −
x−1 2 x +3

3(2 x+ 3) x−1
¿= −
(x−1)(2 x +3) (x−1)(2 x+3)
6 x +9 x−1
¿= −
(x−1)(2 x +3) (x−1)(2 x+3)
5 x +10
¿=
(x−1)(2 x +3)

➁ Factorise all terms where possible.

2
x −1 5 x +10
¿ ×
2
x −4 (x−1)(2 x+3)
(x−1)(x+ 1) 5(x +2)
¿= ×
(x−2)(x+ 2) ( x−1)(2 x +3)

➂ Cancel out common factors and multiply fractions.

(x−1)(x+ 1) 5(x +2)

¿= ×
(x−2)(x+ 2) ( x−1)(2 x +3)
5 (x+1)
¿=
(x−2)(2 x +3)

Question 8
−1
( z−10)( z +6)(z +5)

➀ Factorise the denominators of both fractions.

1 1
¿≡ −
(z −10)( z+6) (z −10)(z +5)

➁ Use the factorised form to rewrite both fractions with a common denominator.
 1 z +5 1 z +6
¿≡ × − ×
(z −10)( z+6) z +5 ( z−10)(z+5) z +6
z +5 z +6
¿≡ −
( z−10)( z +6)(z +5) ( z−10)(z+ 6)( z+5)

➂ Subtract the fractions and simplify the numerator.

1
¿ ≡−
(z−10)(z +6)(z +5)