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Prep 1 · Mathematics
Polynomials · Polynomials

Algebraic fractions

Before you start, make sure you know: Special products (Secondary Year 2)
Before you start, make sure you know: Operations with fractions (Secondary Year 1)

In a house, the hot water faucet fills the tub in $x$ hours and the cold water faucet fills it in $x+3$ hours. What part of the tub do they fill together in one hour? The answer is $\frac{1}{x} + \frac{1}{x+3}$. That sum, with the unknown in the denominator, is an algebraic fraction: it is handled just like a numerical fraction, but with polynomials on top and bottom.

What an algebraic fraction is

Comparison between a numerical fraction and an algebraic fraction formed by polynomials in the numerator and denominator. 34 ↔ x² − 9x + 3 numerator and denominator are polynomials

Two fractions are equivalent if their cross products are equal: $\frac{A}{B}=\frac{C}{D}$ when $A\cdot D = B\cdot C$. And the numerical value is obtained by substituting a number for the variable, as long as the denominator is not zero.

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Check, by cross-multiplying, whether the algebraic fractions $\frac{x-3}{x+1}$ and $\frac{x^2-9}{x^2+4x+3}$ are equivalent.

Check, by cross-multiplying, whether the algebraic fractions $\frac{x-3}{x+1}$ and $\frac{x^2-9}{x^2+4x+3}$ are equivalent.

Solve
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Find the value of the algebraic fraction $\frac{x^2 - 3x + 2}{x^2 + 1}$ for $x = -2$.

Find the value of the algebraic fraction $\frac{x^2 - 3x + 2}{x^2 + 1}$ for $x = -2$.

Solve

Simplifying by factoring

To simplify, you factor the numerator and the denominator and cancel the factors that appear both on top and on bottom. It is the same as with numerical fractions: $\frac{12}{18} = \frac{2\times2\times3}{2\times3\times3} = \frac{2}{3}$.

Simplification of an algebraic fraction by canceling the common factor x plus 3 in the numerator and denominator. (x+3)(x−3) x(x+3) = (x−3) x cancel the common factor (x+3)

The tools for factoring are the common factor, conjugate binomials $a^2-b^2=(a+b)(a-b)$, the perfect square trinomial $a^2\pm2ab+b^2=(a\pm b)^2$, the trinomial $x^2+bx+c$, and factoring by grouping.

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Simplify the following algebraic fraction by taking out common factors in the numerator and in the denominator: $\frac{4x^3 - 2x^2}{6x^2 - 2x}$

Simplify the following algebraic fraction by taking out common factors in the numerator and in the denominator: $\frac{4x^3 - 2x^2}{6x^2 - 2x}$

Solve
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Simplify the following algebraic fraction using algebraic identities: $\frac{x^2 - 25}{x^2 - 10x + 25}$

Simplify the following algebraic fraction using algebraic identities: $\frac{x^2 - 25}{x^2 - 10x + 25}$

Solve
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Simplify the following algebraic fraction by first factorising the numerator and the denominator: $\frac{x^3 - 4x^2 + 4x}{x^3 - 2x^2 - 4x + 8}$

Simplify the following algebraic fraction by first factorising the numerator and the denominator: $\frac{x^3 - 4x^2 + 4x}{x^3 - 2x^2 - 4x + 8}$

Solve

Sum and difference of cubes

Sometimes $a^3-b^3$ or $a^3+b^3$ appear. They are factored like this:

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Determine the value of the parameter $k$ so that the algebraic fraction $\frac{x^2 - kx + 10}{x-5}$ can be simplified (that is, the numerator is divisible by the…

Determine the value of the parameter $k$ so that the algebraic fraction $\frac{x^2 - kx + 10}{x-5}$ can be simplified (that is, the numerator is divisible by the denominator). Once $k$ is found, write down the simplified expression.

Solve
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Show, by manipulating and simplifying the algebraic fractions, that the following expression is equal to $2ab$: $\frac{a^3-b^3}{a-b} - \frac{a^3+b^3}{a+b}$

Show, by manipulating and simplifying the algebraic fractions, that the following expression is equal to $2ab$: $\frac{a^3-b^3}{a-b} - \frac{a^3+b^3}{a+b}$

Solve

The domain: values that make the denominator zero

A fraction does not exist if its denominator equals $0$. These restrictions are read from the original denominator, before simplifying, and they are kept even if some factor disappears when simplifying.

Multiplying and dividing algebraic fractions

Just like with numbers: to multiply, numerator times numerator and denominator times denominator; to divide, you multiply by the reciprocal fraction. It is best to factor before multiplying, so you can simplify along the way.

Formulas for multiplying fractions in a line and for dividing by multiplying by the reciprocal fraction. multiplyA/B · C/D = (A·C)/(B·D) divideA/B : C/D = A/B · D/C (flip the second one)
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Multiply the following algebraic fractions and give the result in its simplest form: $\frac{x}{x+2} \times \frac{x^2-4}{x^2}$

Multiply the following algebraic fractions and give the result in its simplest form: $\frac{x}{x+2} \times \frac{x^2-4}{x^2}$

Solve
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Divide the following algebraic fractions and simplify: $\frac{2x+2}{x-1} : \frac{4x+4}{x^2-1}$

Divide the following algebraic fractions and simplify: $\frac{2x+2}{x-1} : \frac{4x+4}{x^2-1}$

Solve
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Find the polynomial $P(x)$ that makes the following equality between algebraic fractions true: $\frac{x^2-9}{P(x)} = \frac{x-3}{x^2+2x}$

Find the polynomial $P(x)$ that makes the following equality between algebraic fractions true: $\frac{x^2-9}{P(x)} = \frac{x-3}{x^2+2x}$

Solve

Adding and subtracting algebraic fractions

If the denominators are equal, you add the numerators and keep the denominator. If not, you need a common denominator, found by factoring each denominator: the least common multiple takes each factor with its greatest exponent, without repeating it.

Finding the least common multiple of the denominators in order to add and subtract algebraic fractions. 2/(x−1) + x/(x+1) = common: x²−1
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Perform the following addition of algebraic fractions and simplify the result: $\frac{3x+2}{x-2} + \frac{-x-6}{x-2}$

Perform the following addition of algebraic fractions and simplify the result: $\frac{3x+2}{x-2} + \frac{-x-6}{x-2}$

Solve
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Perform the following operation and simplify the result: $\frac{x^2+5x}{x+3} - \frac{x^2-9}{x+3}$

Perform the following operation and simplify the result: $\frac{x^2+5x}{x+3} - \frac{x^2-9}{x+3}$

Solve
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Perform the following operations by finding a common denominator and simplify the result: $\frac{2}{x-1} + \frac{x}{x+1} - \frac{2x}{x^2-1}$

Perform the following operations by finding a common denominator and simplify the result: $\frac{2}{x-1} + \frac{x}{x+1} - \frac{2x}{x^2-1}$

Solve
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Perform the operation and simplify the following expression as much as possible: $\frac{x^2-1}{x^2+2x+1} \times \left( \frac{2x}{x-1} - \frac{x+1}{x} \right)$

Perform the operation and simplify the following expression as much as possible: $\frac{x^2-1}{x^2+2x+1} \times \left( \frac{2x}{x-1} - \frac{x+1}{x} \right)$

Solve

Combined operations and complex fractions

Sometimes there are several operations together, or fractions inside other fractions (a "fraction tower"). You solve them from the inside out: first reduce each inner fraction to a single one, and then divide or multiply.

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Perform the following combined operation with algebraic fractions and simplify the result: $\left( \frac{1}{x} - \frac{2}{x+2} \right) : \frac{x-2}{x^2+2x}$

Perform the following combined operation with algebraic fractions and simplify the result: $\left( \frac{1}{x} - \frac{2}{x+2} \right) : \frac{x-2}{x^2+2x}$

Solve
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Perform the following subtraction of algebraic fractions and simplify as much as possible: $\frac{x^2+x}{x^2-1} - \frac{x}{x-1}$

Perform the following subtraction of algebraic fractions and simplify as much as possible: $\frac{x^2+x}{x^2-1} - \frac{x}{x-1}$

Solve
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Simplify the following algebraic expression in the form of a complex fraction: $1 + \frac{1}{1 + \frac{1}{x-1}}$

Simplify the following algebraic expression in the form of a complex fraction: $1 + \frac{1}{1 + \frac{1}{x-1}}$

Solve

Problems with algebraic fractions

Many situations lead to algebraic fractions: speed ($t=d/v$), work done by faucets, costs, and ratios between areas. The method is always the same: write each quantity as an expression, set up the fraction, and simplify.

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The base of a rectangular solar panel is $x+5$ meters and its height is $x-5$ meters. The side of a square solar panel is $x$ meters. Write down the algebraic fraction…

The base of a rectangular solar panel is $x+5$ meters and its height is $x-5$ meters. The side of a square solar panel is $x$ meters. Write down the algebraic fraction representing the quotient of the area of the rectangular panel and the area of the square panel. Calculate the value of this fraction if $x = 10$ meters.

Solve
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A hot water tap takes $x$ hours to fill a bath, while the cold water tap takes $x+3$ hours. Write a simplified algebraic fraction representing the fraction of the bath…

A hot water tap takes $x$ hours to fill a bath, while the cold water tap takes $x+3$ hours. Write a simplified algebraic fraction representing the fraction of the bath that fills in one hour if both taps are turned on together.

Solve
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The total cost in pesos of manufacturing $x$ bicycles is given by the polynomial $C(x) = 60x^2 + 3\,000x$. The total revenue in pesos from selling those $x$ bicycles is…

The total cost in pesos of manufacturing $x$ bicycles is given by the polynomial $C(x) = 60x^2 + 3\,000x$. The total revenue in pesos from selling those $x$ bicycles is expressed by the polynomial $I(x) = 100x^2 + 4\,000x$. Write down the irreducible algebraic fraction that represents the ratio of revenue to costs.

Solve
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A train travels a distance of $120$ km at a constant speed of $v$ km/h. On the return journey, due to rain, its speed decreases by $10$ km/h. Write down the algebraic…

A train travels a distance of $120$ km at a constant speed of $v$ km/h. On the return journey, due to rain, its speed decreases by $10$ km/h. Write down the algebraic fraction representing the total time for the round trip in terms of $v$, simplifying to a single fraction.

Solve
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An open-topped box is to be made from a rectangular sheet of cardboard with dimensions $x+6$ and $x+4$ centimeters, by cutting squares of side $2$ cm from the four…

An open-topped box is to be made from a rectangular sheet of cardboard with dimensions $x+6$ and $x+4$ centimeters, by cutting squares of side $2$ cm from the four corners and folding up the flaps. Write down the irreducible algebraic fraction representing the ratio of the volume of the box to the area of its base.

x + 6 x + 4 2
Solve
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In a chemistry laboratory, $x$ liters of solution A, costing $\frac{400}{x}$ pesos per liter, are mixed with $x+4$ liters of solution B, costing $\frac{600}{x+4}$ pesos…

In a chemistry laboratory, $x$ liters of solution A, costing $\frac{400}{x}$ pesos per liter, are mixed with $x+4$ liters of solution B, costing $\frac{600}{x+4}$ pesos per liter. Write down the algebraic fraction representing the price per liter of the resulting solution, simplifying the expression as much as possible.

Solve
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An athlete runs on a circular track. During the first half of the distance, they run at a speed of $v$ m/s, and during the second half, they run at a speed of $v-2$ m/s.…

An athlete runs on a circular track. During the first half of the distance, they run at a speed of $v$ m/s, and during the second half, they run at a speed of $v-2$ m/s. Given that the average speed for the whole distance is calculated as total distance divided by total time, show using algebraic fractions that the average speed is $\frac{2v(v-2)}{2v-2}$ m/s.

Solve

Back to the beginning: the part of the tub that the two faucets fill together in one hour is $\dfrac{2x+3}{x^2+3x}$.

Summary

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