ADDING AND SUBTRACTING ALGEBRAIC FRACTIONS

Algebraic Fractions With Same Denominator

The addition or subtraction of two algebraic fractions with the same denominator only involves the numerators. Example:
5 8 + m m 5+8 = m 13 = m

Example:
Solve each of the following.

1.

6k + 1 7k - 1 + 2 2 6k + 1 + 7k - 1 = 2

2.

2p + 3 p - 4 5 5 2p + 3 - p + 4 = 5 p+7 = 2

13k = 2

3.

3p + 5 4p - 1 + 2k 2k 3p + 5 + 4p - 1 = 2k

4.

y+1 x+1 x-2 x-2 y+1-x-1 = x-2 y-x = x-2

7p + 4 = 2k

Algebraic Fractions With One Denominator As A Multiple Of The Other

Example: x+1 x-1 (a) + 2 4
2(x + 1) x-1 = + 4 4 2x + 2 + x - 1 = 4 3x + 1 = 4
4 is a multiple of 2. Multiply the numerator and
x+1 2

denominator of

with suitable number such that both fractions have the same denominator.

Example:
Solve each of the following.

1. 2n + 3 + 3n 4 8
2(2n + 3) 3n = + 8 8 4n + 6 + 3n = 8 7n + 6 = 8

2.

p+q q 12 4 p + q 3q = 12 12 p + q - 3q = 12
p - 2q = 12

3. x + y + x - y 6x 2x x+y 3(x - y) = + 6x 6x
x + y + 3x - 3y = 6x 4x - 2y = 6x 2(2x - y) = 6x 2x - y = 3x

4.

2a - b a + 2b e 3e
3(2a - b) a + 2b = 3e 3e 6a - 3b - a - 2b = 3e

5a - 5b = 3e

Algebraic Fractions Having Denominators With Or Without Common Factors Example:

x+1 x + x y y(x + 1) x(x) = + xy xy

xy + y + x 2 = xy

Example:
Solve each of the following.

1. p - 1 + p p 5
5(p - 1) p(p) = + 5p 5p 5p - 5 + p 2 = 5p p 2 + 5p - 5 = 5p

2.

1 x2

2 y2

y2 x 2y 2

2x 2 x 2y 2

y 2 + 2x 2 x 2y 2

3.

t t-u 4mn mt

4.

ab 2 - a 4r 18rs

t2 4n(t - u) = 4mnt 4mnt t 2 - 4nt + 4nu = 4mnt

9s(ab) - 2(2 - a) = 36rs

9abs - 4 + 2a = 36rs