Worksheet on ALGEBRAIC FRACTIONS (I)

(Addition and Subtraction)

1 What Are Algebraic Fractions?
Algebraic fractions are fractions that include pronumerals as well as
numbers.
2 Adding and Subtracting Algebraic Fractions
There are two basic principles involved in the adding and subtracting of
algebraic fractions. These are:
(I) The lowest common denominator principle
(II) The equivalent fraction principle
These are exactly the same principles that are used in adding and
subtracting purely numerical fractions. So lets review these principles with
some purely numerical examples.
3 The Lowest Common Denominator rinci!le" #umerical $%am!les
Examples
!. "hat is the lowest common denominator (#$%) for the sum:
&
'
(
!
+
)
Solution: The #$% of ( and & is & * because that is the smallest number that
both ( and & go into.
+. "hat is the lowest common denominator (#$%) for the sum:
!+
'
,
(
+
)
Solution: The #$% of , and !+ is 2' * because that is the smallest number that
both , and !+ go into.
(. "hat is the lowest common denominator (#$%) for the sum:
-
+
.
!
+
)
Solution: The #$% of . and - is 2( * because that is the smallest number that
both . and - go into.
Gary Pocock 06/06/14 1
/otice that in the first two examples the lowest common denominator is not
obtained by multiplying the two denominators together. This is because0 in
both of these examples0 the denominators have a common factor.
/otice that in the third example the lowest common denominator is
obtained by multiplying the two denominators together. This is because the
denominators . and - do not have a common factor.
' The $)ui*alent Fraction rinci!le" Con*erting +nto Sim!lest Form
A single fraction can be written in an infinite number of different ways. 1or
example0
+
!
can also be written as
.
+
or
&
(
or
,
.
and so on. All of these
fractions are e2ual to one*half because in each case the numerator is half of
the denominator.
Sometimes we want to write a fraction using the smallest possible integers.
This is called writing a fraction in simplest form.
The method for converting a fraction into its simplest form has two steps.
Step 1: 1ind the highest number that divides into both the numerator and the
denominator. (This is called the highest common factor.)
Step 2: %ivide both the numerator and the denominator by the number
found in step !.
Examples
!. "rite the fraction
!3
'
in simplest form.
Solution: The highest number that divides into both ' and !3 is ,. So:
+
!
3 !
'
+
!
=
+. "rite the fraction
+3
!+
in simplest form.
Solution: The highest number that divides into both !+ and +3 is '. So:
'
(
3 +
+ !
'
(
=
, The $)ui*alent Fraction rinci!le" Con*erting From Sim!lest Form
Gary Pocock 06/06/14 2
"hen adding and subtracting fractions it is often necessary to convert a
fraction from simplest form. (Section - explains why.)
Method: To convert a fraction from simplest form0 simply multiply the
numerator and denominator by the same number.
Examples
!. "hat is e2uivalent form of the fraction
(
+
obtained when the numerator and
denominator are both multiplied by &)
Solution:
!,
!+
(
+
&
&
=

+. "rite the fraction

'
.
in an e2uivalent form with !' in the denominator.
Solution: To convert the denominator to !' we as4: "hat number must ' be
multiplied by to give !') Answer: (. So0 to find the re2uired
e2uivalent form0 we must multiply both the denominator and the
numerator by (.
!'
!+
'
.
(
(
=

52uivalent fraction conversions may be summed up by the following rule:

Whatever you do to the numerator of a fraction i!e! divide it "y a num"er# or
multiply it "y a num"er$# you must do exactly the same thing to the
denominator!
("hy is this a valid rule of algebra) 6ecause in applying this rule we are
effectively multiplying or dividing the fraction by !. And as we 4now0
multiplying or dividing something by ! does not change its value.)
& Adding and Subtracting #umerical Fractions" Case + - Same Denominators
Gary Pocock 06/06/14 3
7roblems involving the addition and subtraction of fractions can be divided
into two cases.
%ase &: %enominators are all the same.
%ase &&: %enominators are not all the same.
$ase I problems are very easy since fractions with the same denominators
are all of the same type (they are all thirds0 or all fifths# etc.). 1or these
problems0 all you have to do is add the numerators0 4eeping the
denominators unchanged.
Example
!. 1ind
,
+
,
!
+
Solution:
,
(
,
+
,
!
= +
(In words: 8ne*eighth of a pi99a plus two*eighths of a pi99a e2uals three*
eighths of a pi99a.)
. Adding and Subtracting #umerical Fractions" Case ++ - Di//erent
Denominators
If the denominators are different the fractions cannot be added or subtracted
directly because they are not the same type. To fix this problem we first use
e2uivalent fractions to ma'e them the same type.
The method involves two steps.
Step 1: 1ind the lowest common denominator (#$%) of the two fractions.
Step 2: $onvert each fraction to its e2uivalent form with the #$% as the
denominator.
Gary Pocock 06/06/14 4
Examples
!. 1ind
&
'
(
!
+

Solution:
* The lowest common denominator is &.
* The second fraction already has & in the denominator0 so no conversion is
necessary.
* To convert the first fraction0 multiply both numerator and denominator by +.

&
!
!
&
-
&
'
&
+
&
'
(
!
&
'
(
!
+
+
or =
+ =
+ = +

+. 1ind
-
+
.
!
+
Solution:
* The lowest common denominator is +,.
* To convert the first fraction to a denominator of +,0 multiply both
numerator and denominator by -.
* To convert the second fraction to a denominator of +,0 multiply both
numerator and denominator by ..
+,
!'
+,
,
+,
-
-
+
.
!
-
+
.
!
.
.
-
-
=
+ =
+ = +

& Adding Algebraic Fractions With ronumerals +n The #umerators Alone

Gary Pocock 06/06/14 5
If pronumerals occur only in the numerators0 the method for adding fractions
is exactly the same as that for numerical fractions.
Examples
!. Simplify
&
+
(

+
x x

Solution:
* The lowest common denominator is &.
* The second fraction already has & in the denominator0 so no conversion is
necessary.
* To convert the first fraction0 multiply both numerator and denominator by +.

&
+ (
&
) + ( +
&
+
&
+
&
+
( &
+
(
+
+

=
+
=

+ =

+ =

x
x x
x x
x x x x
+. Simplify
-
! +
.
+
+
x x
Solution:
* The lowest common denominator is +,.
* To convert the first fraction to a denominator of +,0 multiply both
numerator and denominator by -.
* To convert the second fraction to a denominator of +,0 multiply both
numerator and denominator by ..
+,
. !'
+,
. ,
+,
-
-
! +
. -
! +
.
.
.
-
-
+
=
+
+ =
+
+ =
+
+

x
x x
x x x x
(6oth the ! and the +x are multiplied by .)
. Subtracting Algebraic Fractions With ronumerals +n The #umerators Alone
Gary Pocock 06/06/14 6
In algebra0 the fraction line is treated as a :grouping symbol. This means that
the fraction line can be used in place of "rac'ets.
;owever0 when two fractions are combined into one fraction by addition or
subtraction it is important to write in the "rac'ets. This is especially important
for su"traction problems.
(orgetting to write in the "rac'ets when com"ining fractions that are "eing
su"tracted is one the most common errors in alge"ra)
The next two examples illustrate this point in the simple case where the
denominators of the two fractions are the same.
Examples
!. Simplify
&
(
&
'

x x

Solution:

&
( .
&
( '
&
) ( ( '
&
(
&
'
+
=
+
=

=

x
x x
x x x x
(<es0 it is :=(0 not :*(.)
+. Simplify
-
( .
-
! ' x x +

+
Solution:
-
( +
-
( . ! '
-
) ( . ( ! '
-
( .
.
! '

=
+
=
+ +
=
+

+
x
x x
x x x x

/ow lets loo4 at two examples in which the denominators are different.
/otice that when the numerator is multiplied by a number0 every term in the
Gary Pocock 06/06/14 7
numerator is multiplied by that number. In other words0 it is as if the
numerator has brac4ets around it.
Examples
!. Simplify
&
!
(
. +

x x

Solution:

&
>
&
! , +
&
) ! ( , +
&
!
&
, +
&
!
(
.
&
!
(
.
+
+

=

=
+
=
+

=
+

=
+

x
x x
x x
x x
x x x x
+. Simplify
-
( .
.
+ x x

+
Solution:
+,
+ !>
+,
!+ !& !. -
+,
) !+ !& ( !. -
+,
!+ !&
+,
!. -
-
( .
.
+
-
( .
.
+
.
.
-
-

=
+ +
=
+
=

+
=

+
=

x
x x
x x
x x
x x x x

( Algebraic Fractions With ronumerals +n The Denominators - Case +" Same
Denominators
Gary Pocock 06/06/14 8
1ractions with pronumerals in the denominators can also be divided into
two cases.
%ase &: %enominators are all the same.
%ase &&: %enominators are not all the same.
#ets loo4 at some easy $ase I examples first. ?emember the method: when
denominators are the same0 @ust add the numerators. /ote that the
denominators must be exactly the same.
Examples
!. Simplify
x x
' +
+
Solution:

x x x x
- ' + ' +
=
+
= +
+. Simplify
x
x
x
x
'
!
'
. +
+

Solution:

x
x
x
x x
x
x
x
x
'
( +
'
! .
'
!
'
.

=
+ +
=
+
+

(. Simplify:
+
!
+
(

x
x
x
x
Solution:
+
! +
+
) ! ( (
+
!
+
(

+
=

x
x
x
x x
x
x
x
x
0 Algebraic Fractions With ronumerals +n The Denominators - Case ++"
Di//erent Denominators
Gary Pocock 06/06/14 9
If the denominators are different then the method of e2uivalent fractions must
be used to ma4e them the same.
?ecall from the purely numerical examples that when the numbers in the
denominators have no common factor0 the #$% is found by simply
multiplying the two denominators together. 5xactly the same principle applies
to algebraic examples.
It is important to emphasise that factors such as :x0 :x=!0 :x=+0 :+x=!0
:.x=-0 etc. have no common factors. Therefore0 when such factors occur in a
denominator0 we simply multiply them together to obtain the #$%.
Example
!. Simplify
( +
-
'
.
+
+
x x

Solution:
* The denominators have no common factors. Therefore #$% A (x * ')(+x = ()
* To convert the first fraction to a denominator of (x * ')(+x = ()0 multiply both
the numerator and denominator by +x = (.
* To convert the second fraction to a denominator of (x * ')(+x = ()0 multiply
both the numerator and the denominator by x * '.

) ( + )( ' (
+( !'
) ( + )( ' (
(' - !+ ,
) ( + )( ' (
) ' ( - ) ( + ( .
) ( + )( ' (
) ' ( -
) ( + )( ' (
) ( + ( .
) ( + (
-
) ' (
.
( +
-
'
.
) ' (
) ' (
) ( + (
) ( + (
+

=
+
+ +
=
+
+ +
=
+

+
+
+
=
+
+

=
+
+

+
+
x x
x
x x
x x
x x
x x
x x
x
x x
x
x x x x
x
x
x
x
"hat if the denominators have some numerical factors in addition the
algebraic factors) In that case we simply deal with the two 4inds of factors
(numerical and algebraic) separately. That is0 we do the following:
* Step 1: 1ind the #$% of the numerical factors alone.
* Step 2: 1ind the #$% of the algebraic factors alone.
* Step *: Bultiply the above two #$%s to obtain the overall #$%.
Gary Pocock 06/06/14 10
Example
!. Simplify
) ' ( &
!
(
.
+
+
x x

Solution:
* The numerical factors in the denominators are ( and &. Therefore the
numerical #$% A &.
* The algebraic factors in the denominators are :x and :x = '. Therefore the
alge"raic #$% A x(x = ')
* ;ence the overall #$% A &x(x = ')
* To convert the first fraction to a denominator of &x(x = ')0 multiply both the
numerator and denominator by +(x=').
* To convert the second fraction to a denominator of &x(x = ')0 multiply both
the numerator and the denominator by x.

) ' ( &
.3 >
) ' ( &
.3 ,
) ' ( & ) ' ( &
) ' ( ,
) ' ( &
!
(
.
) ' ( &
!
(
.
) ' ( +
) ' ( +
+
+
=
+
+ +
=
+
+
+
+
=
+
+ =
+
+

+
+
x x
x
x x
x x
x x
x
x x
x
x x x x
x
x
x
x
11 Algebraic Fractions With Powers 2n The Factors
$onsider the sum
+
'
.
'
(
+
. "hat is the #$%) $learly it is '
+
since that is
the lowest number that ' and '
+
both divide into.
Gary Pocock 06/06/14 11
"riting :'
+
rather than :+' in the last example was deliberate. It
emphasises the fact that the two numbers have a common factor
(namely0 ').
/ow consider the sum
+
) ! + (
.
! +
(
+
+
+ x x
. "hat is the #$% in this case) It
is (+x=!)
+
since that is the smallest factor that both +x = ! and (+x = !)
+

divide into.
This example shows that when the same factor occurs more than once0 "ut
with a different powers0 you do not multiply the factors together to get the
#$%. ("hy not) 6ecause +x = ! and (+x = !)
+
have a common factor *
namely0 +x = !.) ?ather0 you simply ta4e the factor with the highest power
attached to it.
Examples
!. Simplify
(
+ .
x x


Solution:
* :x and :x
(
have a common factor of :x. Therefore the #$% A x
(
* i.e. the
common factor raised to the highest power.
* To convert the first fraction to a denominator of x
(
0 multiply both the
numerator and denominator by x
+
.
* /o conversion is necessary for the second fraction.

(
+
( (
+
( (
+
+ .
+ . + .
+
+
x
x
x x
x
x
x
x x
x
x

=
=
=

Examples continued$
+. Simplify
. (
) ! ( (
+
) ! ( (
'

x
x
x

Solution:
Gary Pocock 06/06/14 12
* 6oth denominators involve the factor (x * !. Therefore the #$% A ((x * !)
.
0
i.e. the common factor raised to the highest power.
* To convert the first fraction to a denominator of ((x * !)
.
multiply both the
numerator and denominator by ((x * !).
* /o conversion is necessary for the second fraction.

.
.
. .
. ) ! ( (
(
) ! ( (
. (
) ! ( (
' !(
) ! ( (
+ ' !'
) ! ( (
+
) ! ( (
) ! ( ( '
) ! ( (
+
) ! ( (
'
) ! ( (
+
) ! ( (
'

x
x
x
x x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
11 3uestions
!. Simplify the following fractions. (7ronumerals in numerator only.)
(a)
.
+
'
! ( x x
+

(d)
.
+ (
!3
) ! ( - +

x x
Gary Pocock 06/06/14 13
(b)
>
+ .
>

x x
(e)
-
(
+
.
+
x x
+
+
(c)
!+
!
,
- + x x
+
+
(f)
.
(
(
+
+
! +
+

+ x x x
+. Simplify the following fractions. (7ronumerals in both numerator and
denominator.)
(a)
(
+ !
(
.

+
+
x
x
x
x
(d)
,
! '
.
+
+
+ x
x
x
Gary Pocock 06/06/14 14
(b)
+
!
' +
&

+ x x
(e)
'
+
(
, !(
x
x x
x

+
(c)
! (
-
-
.

+
x x
(f)
+
) ! . (
) ( + ( '
! .
>

x
x
x
+. (continued)
(g)
x x >
+
) . ( &
'

+
(h)
+
) ( ( ,
'
) ( ( .
!

+
x
x
x
Gary Pocock 06/06/14 15
(. Simplify the following fractions. (;arder 2uestions)
(a)
x
x
x .
+ !
+ !
(
+

(b)
) ( ( ) ' ( (
!
) ( )( ' ( >
+
+ +
+

+ x x x x
(c)
! +
(
) ( (
' +
(
.
+

+
+
+
+
+ x x
x
x
Gary Pocock 06/06/14 16
Gary Pocock 06/06/14 17
12 Answers
!. (a)
+3
& -
+3
' !3 . !+
+3
' !3
+3
. !+
.
+
'
! (
.
+
'
! (
'
'
.
.
+
=
+
=

x
x x
x x
x x x x
(d)
+3
+.
+3
!3 !' !. !.
+3
) + ( ( ' ) ! ( !.
+3
) + ( ( '
+3
) ! ( !.
.
+ (
!3
) ! ( -
.
+ (
!3
) ! ( -
'
'
+
+

=

=
+
=
+

=
+

=
+

x
x x
x x
x x
x x x x
(b)
>
( +
>
+ .
>
) + . (
>
+ .
>
x
x x
x x x x

=
+
=

=

(e)
!.
+, & -
!.
&
!.
+, -
-
(
+
.
-
(
+
.
+
+
+
+
-
- + +
+ +
=
+
+
=
+
+
= +
+

x x
x x
x x x x
(c)
+.
+( .
+.
+ + +! &
+.
+ +
+.
+! &
!+
!
,
- +
!+
!
,
- +
+
+ (
(
+
=
+ +
=

+
+
=

+
+
=

+
+

x
x x
x x
x x x x
(f)
!+
+( '
!+
> ( ) , . ( & &
!+
> (
!+
, .
!+
& &
.
(
(
+
+
!
.
(
(
+
+
!
(
(
.
.
&
&
+
=
+ + +
=
+
+

+
=
+
+

+
=
+
+

x
x x x
x x x
x x x
x x x
+. Simplify the following fractions. (7ronumerals in both numerator and
denominator.)
Gary Pocock 06/06/14 18
(a)
(
! &
(
+ ! .
(
+ !
(
.

+
=

+ +
=

+
+

x
x
x
x x
x
x
x
x
(d)
x
x x
x
x x x
x
x x
x
x
x
x
x x
x
x
x
x
,
. '
,
' . +
,
) ! ' (
,
) + ( +
,
! '
.
+
,
! '
.
+
+
+
+
+
+ +
=
+ +
=

+
+
=

+
+
=

+
+

(b)
) + )( ' + (
!- .
) + )( ' + (
' + !+ &
) + )( ' + (
) ' + ( ) + ( &
) ' + )( + (
' +
) + )( ' + (
) + ( &
+
!
' +
&
+
!
' +
&
) ' + (
) ' + (
) + (
) + (
+

=
+

=
+
+
=
+
+

+
=

+
+
+


x x
x
x x
x x
x x
x x
x x
x
x x
x
x x
x x
x
x
x
x
(e)
'
+
'
+
'
+
'
+
'
+
'
+
(
'
+
(
) . - ( + ) , !. (
, !(
, !(
, !( , !(
+
+
x
x
x
x
x
x x
x
x x
x
x
x
x x
x
x
x x
x
x
x

=
+
=

+ =

+ =

(c)
) ! ( )( - (
'( !>
) ! ( )( - (
.> - . !+
) ! ( )( - (
) - ( - ) ! ( ( .
) - )( ! ( (
) - ( -
) ! ( )( - (
) ! ( ( .
! (
-
-
.
! (
-
-
.
) - (
) - (
) ! ( (
) ! ( (

=

+
=

+
=

x x
x
x x
x x
x x
x x
x x
x
x x
x
x x
x x
x
x
x
x
(f)
+ +
+
+
+
+ ) ! . (
) ! . (
+
) ! . (
) !+ !( ( +
) ! . (
+. +&
) ! . (
!' !3 > (&
) ! . (
!' !3 > (&
) ! . (
) ( + ( ' ) ! . ( >
) ! . (
) ( + ( '
! .
>
) ! . (
) ( + ( '
! .
>

+
=

x
x
x
x
x
x x
x
x x
x
x x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Gary Pocock 06/06/14 19
(g)
) . ( !,
!& !!
) . ( !,
!& . !'
) . ( !,
) . ( . !'
) . ( !,
) . ( .
) . ( !,
!'
>
+
) . ( &
'
>
+
) . ( &
'
) . ( +
) . ( +
(
(
+

=
+

=
+
+
=
+
+

+
=

+
=

+
+
+

x x
x
x x
x x
x x
x x
x x
x
x x
x
x x
x x
x
x
x
x
(h)
+
+
+
+ ) ( ( +
) ( ( +
+
) ( ( ,
& -
) ( ( ,
' & +
) ( ( ,
' ) ( ( +
) ( ( ,
'
) ( ( .
!
) ( ( ,
'
) ( ( .
!

+
=

+
=

x
x
x
x x
x
x x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
(. Simplify the following fractions. (;arder 2uestions)
(a)
x x
x
x x
x x
x x
x
x x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
+ ! .
! !3
+ ! .
) + ! ( !+
+ ! .
) + ! (
+ ! .
!+
.
+ !
+ !
(
.
+ !
+ !
(
+
+ !
+ !
.
.

+
=

+
=

Gary Pocock 06/06/14 20

(b)
+ +
+ +
+ +
+ + + +
) ( ( ( +
) ( ( (
) ' (
+
) ' (
+ +
) ( ( ) ' ( >
!>
) ( ( ) ' ( >
> ( !3 +
) ( ( ) ' ( >
) ( ( ( ) ' ( +
) ( ( ) ' ( >
) ( ( (
) ( ( ) ' ( >
) ' ( +
) ( ( ) ' ( (
!
) ( )( ' ( >
+
) ( ( ) ' ( (
!
) ( )( ' ( >
+
+
+
=
+
+ +
=
+
+
=
+

+
+
=
+

+
=
+

+


+
+
x x
x
x x
x x
x x
x x
x x
x
x x
x
x x
x x
x x x x
x
x
x
x
(c)
) ! + ( ) ( (
!3 .& !'
) ! + ( ) ( (
) > & ( ( ) ' , . ( ) ( ' + ( .
) ! + ( ) ( (
) ( ( ( ) ! + )( ' + ( ) ! + )( ( ( .
) ( ()( ! + (
) ( ( (
) ! + ( ) ( (
) ! + )( ' + (
) ! + ( ) ( (
) ! + )( ( ( .
! +
(
) ( (
' +
(
.
! +
(
) ( (
' +
(
.
+
+
+
+ + +
+
+
+
+
+ +
) ( (
) ( (
) ! + (
+
) ! + (
) ! + )( ( (
) ! + )( ( (
+
+
+
+
+ +
=
+
+ + + + + +
=
+
+ + + + +
=
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
=

+
+
+
+
+
=

+
+
+
+
+
+
+


+
+
x x
x x
x x
x x x x x x
x x
x x x x x
x x
x
x x
x x
x x
x x
x x
x
x
x x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x x
x x
Gary Pocock 06/06/14 21