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Simplifying Algebraic Fractions Guide

The document discusses algebraic fractions including: 1) Factoring algebraic expressions and simplifying algebraic fractions by factoring the numerator and denominator and canceling common factors. 2) Examples of factoring expressions like 8x^2 - 32x and simplifying fractions like 3x + 6/3x^2. 3) Adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing algebraic fractions by finding a common denominator and performing the operation on the numerators over the denominator.

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Imaya Senuri
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786 views17 pages

Simplifying Algebraic Fractions Guide

The document discusses algebraic fractions including: 1) Factoring algebraic expressions and simplifying algebraic fractions by factoring the numerator and denominator and canceling common factors. 2) Examples of factoring expressions like 8x^2 - 32x and simplifying fractions like 3x + 6/3x^2. 3) Adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing algebraic fractions by finding a common denominator and performing the operation on the numerators over the denominator.

Uploaded by

Imaya Senuri
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
  • Introduction
  • Learning Outcomes
  • Factor Identities
  • Examples of Factorization
  • Simplifying Algebraic Fractions
  • Checkpoint
  • Exercises
  • Multiplying Algebraic Fractions
  • Dividing Algebraic Fractions
  • Adding and Subtracting Fractions
  • Additional Exercises
  • Conclusion

Algebraic Fractions

DILKI IYONA RATHNAYAKE


Learning Outcomes
End of this lesson you will be able to learn how to factorize the
algebraic expressions
As well as you can learn how we simplify the algebraic fractions.
Factor Identities
Examples
Factorise the following:

8x² - 32x = 8x(x – 4)

x² + 5x – 14 = (x + 7)(x – 2)

3x² + 17x + 10 = (3x + 2)(x + 5)


Simplifying Algebraic Fractions
To simplify algebraic fractions:
1) factorise the top and/or the bottom
2) cancel common factors Why can’t we
cancel this
3x + 6 = 3(x + 2) = x + 2 further?
3x² 3x² x²

4ab + 8a² = 4a(b + 2a) = b + 2a


12a 3 12a 3
Checkpoint
7x – 35 3x² + 15x
21 27x
x – 5 x + 5
3 9
6x²y + 18xy x² + 7x + 10
21xy 3x + 15
2(x + 3) x + 2
7 3
Simplifying Algebraic Fractions

To simplify algebraic fractions:


1) factorise the top and/or the bottom
2) cancel common factors
4x - 20 = 4(x - 5) = _4_
x² - 13x + 40 (x – 5)(x – 8) (x – 8)

x² - 16 = (x + 4)(x – 4) = (x – 4)
x² - x - 20 (x + 4)(x – 5) (x - 5)
Exercises
5x – 25 12x + 30 20x² - 40x
10x² 9x² 15x²

8ab – 16b 9cd² - 24d² 14efg² + 7ef²


24ab 15d 21efg

x² + 9x + 20 x² - 3x - 88 x² - 49
7x + 28 x² - 21x + 110 x² - 5x - 14

2x² + 7x + 3 5x² - 3x - 14 6x² - 13x - 5


x² - 9 x² - 11x + 18 10² - 19x - 15
Multiplying Algebraic Fractions
To multiply algebraic fractions:
1) cancel common factors
2) multiply the numerators, multiply the denominators
3
4a x 15b = a x 3b = 3ab
5 16 4 4 4

n + 4 x 3n – 9 = n + 4 x 3(n – 3) =3
n–3 5n + 20 n–3 5(n + 4) 5
Dividing Algebraic Fractions
To divide algebraic fractions:
1) flip the second fraction and change ÷ to x
2) cancel common factors
3) multiply the numerators, multiply the denominators
_11_ ÷ 77y = _11_ x 15x 5 = _1_ x _5_ = _5_
9x²y 15x 3x 9x²y 7 77y 3xy 7y 21xy²
x² - 4 ÷ x² - 5x + 6 = x² - 4 x 5x + 40
x² + 4x – 32 5x + 40 x² + 4x – 32 x² - 5x + 6

= (x + 2)(x – 2) x 5(x + 8) = 5(x + 2)


(x + 8)(x – 4) (x – 2)(x – 3) (x - 4)(x – 3)
Adding and Subtracting Fractions
2 + 1
3 4
1) Find a common denominator: 3 x 4 = 12
2) Find equivalent fractions with that denominator:
2 = 8 1 = 3
3 12 4 12
3) Add (or subtract!) the numerators and put the answer over the
same denominator:
8 + 3 = 11
12 12 12
4) Simplify if possible.
Adding and Subtracting Algebraic Fractions
To simplify algebraic fractions:
1) Find a common denominator
2) Find equivalent fractions with that denominator
3) Add (or subtract!) the numerators and put the answer over
the same denominator
4) Simplify if possible.
2x + x = 8x + 3x = 11x
3 4 12 12 12

4 - 5 = 8 - 5 = 3
x 2x 2x 2x 2x
Adding and Subtracting Algebraic Fractions
To simplify algebraic fractions:
1) Find a common denominator
2) Find equivalent fractions with that denominator
3) Add (or subtract!) the numerators and put the answer over
the same denominator
4) Simplify if possible.

x+1 + x–3 = 7(x + 1) + 4(x – 3)


4 7 28 28

= 7x + 7 + 4x + 12 = 11x - 5
28 28
Adding and Subtracting Algebraic Fractions

To simplify algebraic fractions:


1) Find a common denominator
2) Find equivalent fractions with that denominator
3) Add (or subtract!) the numerators and put the answer over
the same denominator
4) Simplify if possible.
_9_ - _8_ = 9(x + 4) - 8(x – 2)
x–2 x+4 (x – 2)(x + 4) (x + 4)(x – 2)

= 9x + 36 – 8x + 16 = x + 52
x² + 2x - 8 x² + 2x - 8
Algebraic Fractions – Adding and Subtracting

Exercises 1) 7 + 5
x x
2) 8x
3
+ 4x
3

3) 5x + 1 - 3x 4) 7x + 3x
2 2 3 4

5) 7x - 8x 6) 12 + 3
3 5 5x x

7) x + 3 + x - 2 8) 2x – 5 - 4x + 1
6 4 3 7

9) _7_ - _9_ 10) _3_ + _2_


x + 4 x - 2 x – 1 x + 1
Exercises
Thank you!

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