Rational Algebraic

Fractions
Lesson 2.1 – ALGEBRAIC
FRACTIONS
 Recap (Rational Numbers and Numerical Fractions)
 
Rational numbers – is a number that can be expressed as the ratio of two integers a
and b, i.e. in the form , where .

-Whole numbers, integers and fractions are rational numbers.

 
-numerical fractions of the form , where a and b are integers and . Example of
numerical fractional are , and .
 In this Lesson: Algebraic Fractions
 
We will learn about RATIONAL ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS or
ALGEBRAIC FRACTIONS of the form , where A and/or B are algebraic expression
and . Example of Algebraic Fractions are , and .

-The rules for performing operations on algebraic fractions are the same as those for
numerical fractions. One important rule is as follows:
The value of the fraction remains unchanged if both its numerator and
denominator are multiplied or divided by the same non-zero number or
expressions,
and
 
 Simplification by Dividing by Common Factors
EXAMPLE   8 𝑥5 𝑦
3 4
12 𝑥 𝑦

2𝑥 1
 
   
2   Division of and
by
  8 𝑥 5 𝑦  2 𝑥2
3
¿
4 3
12
31 𝑦
  𝑥   𝑦 3 𝑦
 
3

 
Division of and
by

Division of 8
and 12 by 4
 Simplification by Dividing by Common Factors
EXAMPLE   9 𝑥 4 ( 𝑥 − 𝑦)3
2 3
27 𝑥 𝑦 (𝑥 − 𝑦 )

2
1 𝑥 (𝑥 − 𝑦 ) 2
     

  4
9 𝑥 ( 𝑥 − 𝑦) 3   𝑥 2 ( 𝑥 − 𝑦 )2
¿
2
27 𝑥 𝑦 (𝑥 − 𝑦 )
3
3 𝑦3
3 1 1
     
 Simplification by Dividing by Common Factors
TRY   10 ( 𝑥+ 𝑦 )5 (𝑥 − 𝑦 )❑
15 ¿ ¿

2 (𝑥+𝑦) 1 3
     

  10 ( 𝑥+ 𝑦 )5 (𝑥 − 𝑦 )❑  2 (𝑥 + 𝑦 )3
¿
15 ¿ ¿ 3 (𝑥 − 𝑦 )
3 1
     
(𝑥−𝑦)
 Simplification Involving Factorization
EXAMPLE   h2 + 7 h𝑘
5 h𝑘

2
  h +7 h𝑘  h (h +7 𝑘 ) (extract the common factor h from the
¿
5 h𝑘 h (5 𝑘 )
numerator and divide the numerator and the
denominator by h.)
  h +7 𝑘
¿
5𝑘
 Simplification Involving Factorization
EXAMPLE   15 𝑝
2
10 𝑝 − 5 𝑝

  15 𝑝   15 𝑝 (extract the common factor 5p from the

2 ¿
10 𝑝 − 5 𝑝 5 𝑝( 2 𝑝 − 1)
denominator and divide the numerator and the
denominator by 5p.)
  3
¿
2 𝑝 −1
 Simplification Involving Factorization
TRY   𝑧2 − 4 𝑧
4 𝑧 − 16

 
2
  𝑧 − 4 𝑧  𝑧 ( 𝑧 − 4 ) (extract the common factor from the
¿
4 𝑧 − 16 4 ( 𝑧 − 4 )
numerator and the common factor 4 from the
denominator, and divide the numerator and
  𝑧
¿ the denominator by ).
4
 Simplification Involving Factorization
EXAMPLE   𝑝 2 − 7 𝑝𝑞 +12 𝑞2
2
5 𝑝 − 20 𝑝𝑞

 
  𝑝 2 −7𝑝𝑞 +12 𝑞2   ( 𝑝 −3 𝑞)( 𝑝 − 4 𝑞 ) (factorize the numerator by using the
¿
2
5 𝑝 − 20 𝑝𝑞 5 𝑝( 𝑝 − 4 𝑞 )
multiplication frame and extract the common
factor from the denominator).
  𝑝−3𝑞
¿
5𝑝
 Simplification Involving Factorization
EXAMPLE   𝑥 2 − 3 𝑥𝑦 +2 𝑥𝑧 − 6 𝑦𝑧
2
𝑥𝑦 − 2 𝑥𝑧 − 3 𝑦 +6 𝑦𝑧

(factorize each group in the

  𝑥 2 − 3 𝑥𝑦 +2 𝑥𝑧 − 6 𝑦𝑧   𝑥 ( 𝑥−3 𝑦 ) +2 𝑧(𝑥 −3 𝑦) numerator and the denominator
2 ¿
𝑥𝑦 − 2 𝑥𝑧 − 3 𝑦 +6 𝑦𝑧 𝑦 ( 𝑥 −3 𝑦 ) −2 𝑧(𝑥−3 𝑦 )
respectively).
Note: Factorize the two groups in the
  𝑥
¿ numerator and the denominator
𝑦
respectively if applicable.
 Simplification Involving Factorization
TRY   2 𝑚 2 − 𝑚 − 10
2
2 𝑚 − 9 𝑚 +10

(factorize the numerator and the

  2 𝑚 2 − 𝑚 − 10   (2 𝑚 +5)(𝑚 − 2) denominator using multiplication
2 ¿
2 𝑚 − 9 𝑚 +10 (2 𝑚 −5)(𝑚 −2)
frame.)

  2 𝑚+5
¿
2 𝑚 −5
ACTIVITY

MATHEMATICS
TEXTBOOK

ANSWER PAGE 31
BASIC LEVEL
NUMBER 1 TO 3