Topic 3.

Algebraic Fraction

Algebraic Fractions
m
• A fraction is an indicated quotient of m divided by n and often read as “m over n”, m is
n
called numerator, n is called the denominator and the line separating the two is called
the vinculum.
• Every fractions has three signs namely:
– The sign in front of the fractions
– The sign of the numerator
– The sign of the denominator
Fundamental Principle of Fractions
• The value of a fraction remains unchanged if its numerator and denominator are both
multiplied or divided by the same number, provided this number is not zero, because
division by zero is not defined.
Reduction of Fraction to Lowest Term
• Procedure:
– Determine the largest common factor of both numerator and denominator.
– If the numerator or denominator is a polynomial, factor if necessary.
– To find the answer, divide the numerator and denominator by a common factors.
Example
x ²+ x a ²−8 a+7 (a−7)(a−1)
• • =
x+1 a ²−a−42 (a−7)(a+ 6)
x (x +1)
¿
(x +1) a−1
=
x a+6
= or x
1
x ²+2 xy + y ² x ²+2 x−24 ( x−4)(x +6)
• • =
x ²− y ² x ²+8 x+ 12 ( x+ 2)(x +6)
(x + y )(x+ y)
=
( x− y )( x + y)
x+ y
=
x− y

Activity 1. Reduce Fractions to its lowest term. (this a graded activity)

a ²+ ab
1.
a ²+2 ab+ b ²
2 x ²+ 4 x
2.
4 x ²+6 x−4
2 x ²+3 x+ 2 xy +3 y
3.
2 x+3
2
ax ²−4 a+3 x −12
4.
x ²−4
ac+ 2bc −ad−2 bd
5.
a+2 b

Multiplication of Fractions
• Procedure
– Write the product of the numerators over the product of the denominators.
 Topic 3.
Algebraic Fraction

– Factor all polynomials whenever possible

– Divide out all factors that are common to the numerators and denominators.
3 x −4 y
Ex: (2x²y) .
4x
xy (3 x −4 y )
=
2
Example: Use Factoring in solving the given expression.
4 x ²−9 3 x−6 ( 2 x +3)(2 x −3) 3( x−2) 3(2 x−3)
1. . . =
x ²−5 x+6 8 x+12 ( x−2)( x−3) 4 (2 x+3) 4 ( x−3)

x+ y 2x 2x
2. . =
x− y x ²− y ² ( x− y ) ²
m²−6 m−16 m²−8 m+15 (m−8)(m−5)
3. . =
m ²−2 m−8 m ²−m−6 (m−4)(m+2)
x ²+3 x+2 x ²−6 x+ 5 x−1
4. . =
x ²−3 x−10 x ²+ 8 x+7 x+7

Division of Fractions
• Procedure
– Invert the divisor and multiply.
– Factor the polynomials whenever possible.
– To find the answer, divide out all factors that are common to the numerator and
denominator.
mx x
• Ex: ÷
ny y
mx y m
= . =
ny x n
Example:
2m+ 4 x 6 m+ 12 x 2m+ 4 x 6 m ² x 2(m+2 x ) 6 m² x 2m
1. ÷ = . = . =
3 mx 6 m² x 3 mx 6 m+12 x 3 mx 6 (m+2 m) 3
a+b 1 1
2. ÷ a²-b²= =
a ²−ab a(a−b) ² a(a−b)²
x ²+6 x +9 x ²−9 ( x +2) ( x +2)
3. ÷ = =
x ²+2 x−3 x ²−x−6 ( x−1) ( x−1)
y ²−x ² 2 x−2 y −( x + y )²
4. ÷ =
4 xy −2 y ² 2 x ²+ xy− y ² 4y
2t ²−t−3 t ²−1 3
5. ÷ =
4 t ²−9 3t−3 2 t+ 3

Activity 2. Answer as indicated (graded activity).

m ²+3 m+2 m ²+8 m+ 7

1. ÷ =
m²−3 m−10 m²−6 m+5
2m−2n 4
2. ÷ =
3 m+3 n 15
 Topic 3.
Algebraic Fraction

c ²+ 4 c c ²−4
3. ÷ =
2 c ²+ 9 c+ 4 2 c ²+5 c +2
m²−2 m−15 4 m−12
4. ÷
m ²−9 m²−6 m+9
a ²−10 a+21 5 a ³−50 a2 +105 a
5. ÷ =
a ²−9 a ³−27

Addition and Subtraction of Fractions

Procedure (same denominator)
• Combine the numerators of the given fraction using the following rules:
– If a fraction is preceded by a plus sign, rewrite the numerators without changing
the signs of the terms.
– If the fraction is preceded by a minus sign, rewrite the numerators but the signs
of the terms are changed.
• Place the sum of the numerators over the common denominator.
• If factoring is possible, factor the expression.
• Reduce the resulting fraction to lowest form.
Illustration:
3m 3n 3 m+3 n 3(m+n) 3
• + = = = =3
m+ n m+n m+ n m+n 1
3 a+2 b 2 a+ b 3 a+2 b+2 a+b 5 a+3 b
• + = =
3 3 3 3
c 4 c +4 c +4 1
• + = = =
c ²−16 c ²−16 c ²−16 (c−4)( c+ 4) c−4

Addition and Subtraction of Fraction (Unlike denominators)

Procedure:
• Convert all fractions to equivalent fractions having the same denominators by the
following rules:
– Determine the least common denominator by making an expression which
contains all the fractions of the given denominators.
– Determine the numerator of each equivalent fractions by dividing the
denominator of the given fraction into the LCD then multiply the result by the
numerator of the given fractions.
• Place the sum of the numerator over the common denominator.
• If factoring is possible, reduce the resulting fraction to lowest terms.
Illustration:
4 3
1. - LCD = x(x+3)
x x+3
4 ( x +3 )−3 x
=
x (x +3)
4 x +12−3 x x +12
=
x (x+ 3) x(x +3)
Example:
3 3 3( a2+ a+2)
1. +¿ =
a+1 a ²+1 (a+ 1)( a2+ 1)
 Topic 3.
Algebraic Fraction
2
a+2 a 2(a +5 a+ 15)
2. −¿ =
3 a+15 5 a+15 15(a+5)(a+3)
x ²−4 x x−4 2(x+ 2)( x−4)
3. +¿ =
x ²+ 8 x +16 x+ 4 ( x+ 4)²
4m m−n m−3 n
4. −¿ =
3 m²−3 n ² m²−2 mn+ n ² 3(m 2−n2 )
5 3 a+1 8 a+ 26
5. +¿ =
a+2 a ²+7 a+ 10 (a+ 5)( a+2)

Activity 3. Answer as indicated (graded activity).

a+c 2 a−c a ²−2 c ²

1. +¿ +
2 ac ² 4a² c 3a²c ²
x+1 x−1
2. −¿ =
x+2 x−2
x ²−4 x x− y
3. +¿ =
x² y xy ²
2 m−2 n m−n
4. −¿ =
3 m²−3 n ² m²−2 mn+ n ²
a−3 a+ 4
5. +¿ =
2 a ²+3 ab+b ² 4 a ²−b ²

Complex Fraction
• To simplify mixed expressions or complex fractions, combine the terms in the numerator
into a single fraction
• Combine the terms in the denominator into a single fraction
• Divide the numerator by the denominator to get the answer

Illustrations
x x
1. [ +2][ +3]
y y
x+2 y x+3 y
=[ ][ ]
y y
x ²+5 xy +6 y ²
=
y²
b ²−d ²
m+ n
2.
b−d
m ²−n ²
b ²−d ² m²−n ²
= .
m+ n b−d
(b+ d)(b−d) (m+n)(m−n)
= .
m+ n b−d
 Topic 3.
Algebraic Fraction

=(b+d)(m-n)
Example
12
p+ P−4
1. P−7 =
P−7
P−3
1
X+
4 4
2. =
1 4 x−1
X ²−
16
1
1−
a a
3. =
1 a+1
1−
a²

5
3 4 x−5
4. 2− =
5 x−2
4−
x

Activity 4. Answer as indicated (graded activity).

9
a−6+
a
1.
9
a−
a

x
2
2. 1+
3−x
2

x− y x− y
−
y x
3.
x y
−
y x

x+ y
y
1 1
4. +
x y
x ²− y ²
x+ y
 Topic 3.
Algebraic Fraction