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4.2

CHAPTER 4 ALGEBRAIC FRACTIONS

Important Concepts Definition : An Algebraic Fraction is a fraction with algebraic expressions as its numerator
or/ and denominator. Examples :

1 x 3 p q , , 4m 2x 2q

are algebraic fractions.

Skill assessed : Addition and subtraction of algebraic fractions. (Subtraction is more popular in the SPM) Simplify algebraic fractions. Usual format of questions: Express as a single fraction in its lowest term. Example: Express
q 6 1 as a fraction in its lowest term. 2q 6q 2

Solutions: ( q 6) (1) = 2q 6q 2 =

( q 6) (1) 3q 2q 3q 6q 2 3q ( q 6) 6q 2
3q q + 6 6q 2 2q + 6 6q 2

L.C.M is 6q2

2(q + 3) = 6q 2

q +3 3q 2

Solving Strategy: Insert brackets on both the numerators. Find the L.C.M for the denominators. the numerator and denominator with the same expression. Simplify the two numerators by expansion(multiply by the expression) Add or subtract the algebraic expressions. Express your answer as a single fraction. Simplify to its lowest term. Common Mistakes: Students did not change the sign of numerator during the process of subtraction of the Fraction. Students did not express the answer as a single fraction. Students did not simplify their answer so that it is in its lowest term. Questions based on examination format
Algebraic Fractions

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Express . as a single fraction in its simplest form. 4 1 m n m A B 1 5x C D

15 x 2 +1 5x 15 x 2 + 5 5x

1.

2. 3 x +

3m n m2 n2 3m + n m 2 mn 2 4 t 2 3t 9t

C D

3m + n m 2 + mn 3m n m 2 mn

A B

3x 2 + 5x x 3 x 2 +1 5x

3.

4.

p 1 p 3m m A B

A B

5t + 4 9t 2 t 2 9t 2

C D

5t 4 9t 2 t +2 9t 2

pm 3m p 3m 2 pm 3m + p 3m 2

C D

4 p 3 3m 2 p 3 3m

5.

3 7 y 5y 25 y 2

6.
y 4 25 y 2 y +4 25 y 2

6 +d 2e + d 3d de

A B

16 y 7 25 y 2 14 y 7 25 y 2

C D

e 3 3e 12 e + de 3d 3de e +3 B 3e

de 6e 3d 3de

7.

2 y +1 6 x xy 3x

8.
4 x +y 3x y 3 + xy 3 xy

k k 2 1 3 3k

A B

3 xy 3 xy 1 +x 3 xy

C D

A B

2 k 2 +1 3k 1 2k 2 3k

1 3k D 1 3k

9.

1 2 x 1 x 6x

10.
5 x 3x 7 x 3x

6 6 + 3m m 2 m ( m 2)

7 2x 6x 5 2x 6x

3m m 2 3 m 2

2 m 3 m

Algebraic Fractions

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11.

1 2h 1 5h 10 h 2
A

12.
1 10 h

2 2 w . 3w 5w 2
A

1 10 h 2
1 5h
1 6 y 3x 15 xy

13 w 6 15 w 2
9 1 w 5

7w 2 15 w 2
8 1 w 5

h 1 5h 2

13.

14.
2( y 1) 5 xy
2 y 1 5 xy

m +1 3 4e 4me 12 e A 3 4me 12 me 3 + 4me 12 me C 1 + me me 1 me me

2( y 3) 15 xy
y 1 1 xy 5

15.

5 4k 5 k +5 k ( k + 5)

16.

9 y y ( y + 3) y +3

1 k 5 k

4k k +5
k 5 k ( k +5)

9 + y2 y ( y +3)
9 y y +3

3y y 3+y y

17.

x +5 2 x 5x x A 2 x 10 5x 6x + 5 5x C 4 x 10 5x 6x 5 5x

18.

2 4n 1 3n 9n 2
A

1 2n 9n 2 2n +1 9n 2
m 3 2 m 3m m

2n 1 9n 2 6 n +1 9n 2

19.

1 p 6 2p 6 p2 1 A p

20. C
p 3 3p2 2 p +1 p2

2m 9 3m 4m 9 3m

2m 9 3m 4m 3 m

p +3 3p2

Past Year SPM Questions

Express . as a single fraction in its simplest form. November 2003
Algebraic Fractions

July 2004
7

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1) A

h +3 2 h 3h h

2) 2h 3 3h

m +4 2(1 3m) 2 3

2h 3 3h
2h + 1 3h

A
B

2 5m 6 7m + 2 6

C D

15 m +8 6 8 9m 6

4h 3 3h

November 2004 3.

July 2005 4.

2 4n 3n 9n 2
A.

7 m 4 12 m 4m 2
A

7n 4 9n 2 5n 4 9n 2

n 2 9n 2 n +2 9n 2

m 1 3m 2 m 3 3m 2

m 3 3m 2 m +3 3m 2

B.

B.

November 2005 5.
p 1 p 3m m

July 2006 6. 4 p 3 3m
2 p 3 3m m 1 m + n 2n

pm 3m p 3m 2 pm 3m + p 3m 2

1 +m 2n n +m 2n

1 2n 2
1 3n

B Jun 2007

November 2006

7.

m 2 Simplify (3n + mn ) 2 n ( m + 3n )

n + 2 n 3 as a single fraction in m mn its simplest form.

9. Express

A. B.

m n

C. D.

m2 n2
3m 2 4n

A.

m n2

n 2 n 1 mn n2 + n 3 mn

C.

n 2 n +1 mn n2 + n + 3 mn

B.

D.

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November 2007
p 3 p + 2 8. Express as a single fraction in p p2 its simplest form.

Jun 2008

p 3 p + 2 as a single fraction 2p p2 in its simplest form.

10. Express

A.

3 p p p

C.
2

3 + p p p2

A.

p 2 3 p2 p2 6 2 p2

C.

p2 + 2 p 3 p2 p2 + 4 p 6 2 p2

B.

3 p p p2

D.

3 + p p p2

B.

D.

November 2008 11. Express

h 3 2(5 h) as a single h h2
h 2 2h 13 h2 h 2 2h 13 h2

fraction in its simplest form. A.

h 2 h 10 h2 h 2 2h 10 h2

C.

B.

D.

Algebraic Fractions

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ANSWERS
Questions According to Examination Format
1. B 2. C 3. C 4. C 5. A 6. A 7. D 8. C 9. A 10. D 11. A 12. A 13. C 14. B 15. A 16. C 17. D 18. B 19. B 20. B

SPM PAST YEAR QUESTIONS

1. D 8. D 2. C 9. B 3. A 10. B 4. C 11. A 5. C 6. A 7. A

Algebraic Fractions

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