Algebraic Fractions
Algebraic Fractions
Algebraic Fractions
ALGEBRAIC FRACTIONS
• What are Algebraic fractions?
Algebraic fractions are fractions that contain at least one variable. Such fractions involve
variables and/or constants, either by themselves or in a combination together.
x x − 5 3a + b
e.g. ; ;
2 3 a−b
VARIABLE
A number which can take various numerical values is known as a variable.
Example: x, y, z, etc.
A number which is the product of a constant and a variable is also a variable.
Example: 5x6 , 6x2 − 3x, etc.
A combination of two or more variables separated by a “+” sign or a “-” sign is also a
variable.
Example: x2 + y + z 5 , x3 − y 3 − z 2 , etc.
CONSTANT
A number having a fixed numerical value is called a constant.
3
Example: 5, , 3, 6, 2, 3, etc.
4
Classwork:
1. Write down the lowest common denominator for these pairs of fractions.
a 7a x 4xy 3xy −3x 2 3
(a) , (b) , (c) , (d) ,
3 4 2 6 7 14 x 2x
2. Simplify by cancelling common factors.
10x 24x 5a 7
(a) (b) (c) (d)
2 6 20 21a
2
−48x 120ab2
(e) (f)
16xy 140ab
3. Simplify by cancelling common factors.
4x + 8 6a − 30 6x − 18 5 − 15y
(a) (b) (c) (d)
4 6 2 5
2
x + 2x 6x − 4x2
(e) (f)
x 2x
4. Simplify the following.
3 x−1 x+4 2 6 − 18x 5 b−1 5
(a) × (b) × (c) × (d) ×
x 6 10 x 2 1 − 3x 10 1−b
5. Simplify the following.
x x x+4 x+4 6x − 12 x − 2
(a) ÷ (b) ÷ (c) ÷
5 15 2 6 5 3
5 15 2x − 6 x−3
(d) ÷ (e) ÷
3a + 4 −15a − 20 5x − 20 x − 4
6. Simplify the following.
2 a 3 a 3 3b 2 4x
(a) + (b) + (c) − (d) +
3 7 8 2 10 2 5 15
−4 2 −9 1
(e) − (f) −
x 3 2x 3
7. Simplify the following algebraic expressions.
x+3 x+2 x+2 x+1 x−3 x+2
(a) + (b) + (c) −
4 5 3 4 4 2
x − 2 2x + 4 5x + 3 2x − 2
(d) + (e) +
8 12 10 4
8. Simplify the following algebraic expressions.
5 2 4 3 1 2
(a) + (b) + (c) +
x+1 x+4 x−7 x+2 x−3 x+5
2 3 8 3
(d) − (e) −
x − 3 3x + 4 3x − 2 1 − x
Homework:
Answer Key
Classwork :
Que no. Answer
1 (a) 12 (b) 6 (c) 14 (d) 2x
a 1 −3x 6b
2 (a) 5x (b) 4x (c) (d) (e) (f)
4 3a y 7
x−1 x+4 −1
4 (a) (b) (c) 15 (d)
2x 5x 2
18 −5 2
5 (a) 3 (b) 3 (c) (d) (e)
5 3 5
9x + 23 7x + 11 −x − 7 7x + 2 5x − 1
7 (a) (b) (c) (d) (e)
20 12 4 24 5
7x + 22 7x − 13 3x − 1
8 (a) (b) (c)
(x + 1)(x + 4) (x − 7)(x + 2) (x − 3)(x + 5)
3x + 17 14 − 17x
(d) (e)
(x − 3)(3x + 4) (3x − 2)(1 − x)
Homework:
Que no. Answer
2 3 7t b2 c
1 (a) (b) (c) (d)
3 7a −4xy −8x2 a
−1 −4
2 (a) 5x (b) −2x (c) −9b (d) −2y (e) (f)
2p 9st
1 + 2a
3 (a) 1 + 6b (b) 1 − 3x (c) 3 − t (d) x − 4 (e) a − 1 (f)
3
4 5a
4 (a) (b) 5 (c) (d) −4 (e) 2
9 2
3 4 1 −1
5 (a) (b) (c) (d)
4 3 25 3
1 − 6a 3a + 8 7a − 27 16 − 3b 4b − 21 27 − 14y
6 (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f)
9 4a 9a 4b 14b 18y
2x + 15 4x + 7 8x + 3 5 − 3x
7 (a) (b) (c) (d)
9 6 10 14
x − 18 −21 14x − 26
8 (a) (b) (c)
(x + 3)(x − 4) (2x − 1)(x − 4) (x − 5)(3x − 4)
−7x + 41
(d)
(2x − 1)(x + 7)