GCSE Maths Revision | Algebra

Simplifying Algebraic Fractions - Worksheet

Skill
Group A - Multiplying and dividing algebraic fractions
Simplify:
3 𝑥 𝑥 3 𝑥 3
1) 5
× 𝑦
2) 𝑦
× 5
3) 𝑦
× 6

𝑥 3 𝑥 3 7𝑥 3
4) 𝑦
× 6𝑥
5) 𝑥𝑦
× 6
6) 𝑥𝑦
× 6

7𝑥 3 7𝑥 3 7𝑥 6𝑦
7) 𝑥𝑦
× 6𝑦
8) 𝑥𝑦
÷ 6𝑦
9) 𝑥𝑦
÷ 3

7𝑥 6𝑦 4𝑦 7𝑥 6𝑦 4𝑦 7𝑥 6𝑦 4𝑦
10) 𝑥𝑦
× 3
× 14
11) 𝑥𝑦
÷ 3
× 14
12) 𝑥𝑦
÷ 3
÷ 14

Group B - Adding and subtracting algebraic fractions

Simplify:
𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 4𝑥 3𝑥 4𝑥
1) 2
+ 5
2) 2
+ 5
3) 2
+ 5

𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 5𝑥 𝑥
4) 2
− 5
5) 5
− 2
6) 5
− 2

5 2 5 2 5 2
7) 𝑥
+ 𝑥
8) 2 + 𝑥
9) 2 − 𝑥
𝑥 2𝑥

6 2 6 2 6 2
10) 2 − 𝑥
11) 2 + 𝑥
12) 2𝑥𝑦
+ 𝑥
2𝑥 2𝑥

Group C - Simplifying algebraic fractions (factorising)

Simplify:
2(𝑥+3) 2(𝑥+3) (𝑥+3)
1) 3(𝑥+3)
2) (𝑥+3)
3) 3(𝑥+3)

𝑥+3 𝑥+3 4𝑥+12

4) 2(𝑥+3)
5) 2𝑥+6
6) 2𝑥+6

(𝑥+3)(𝑥+4) 2 2
7) 2𝑥+6 8)
𝑥 +7𝑥+12
9)
𝑥 +7𝑥+12
2
(𝑥+4)(𝑥−9) 𝑥 −5𝑥−36

2 2 2
2𝑥 +14𝑥+24 2𝑥 +14𝑥+24 2𝑥 +14𝑥+24
10) 2 11) 2 12) 2
𝑥 −5𝑥−36 3𝑥 −15𝑥−108 3𝑥 −6𝑥−45

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 GCSE Maths Revision | Algebra

Simplifying Algebraic Fractions - Worksheet

Applied

1) Write an expression for the area of the rectangle.

2) Given

2
𝑎 𝑎𝑏 𝑏
𝑥= 3
,𝑦 = 4
,𝑧 = 2𝑎

Find an expression for

(a) 𝑥
2

(b) 𝑥+𝑦

(c) 𝑥−𝑦

(d) 𝑥𝑦
𝑧

3) Below is a triangle.

Write an expression for the perimeter.

4) The base of a triangle is

𝑥
. The height of a triangle is
𝑥
. Find an expression for
10 4
the area of the triangle.

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GCSE Maths Revision | Algebra

Simplifying Algebraic Fractions - Exam Questions

1) Express the following as

a single fraction. Give
your answers in their
simplest form.

(a) 𝑝
+
𝑝 ….……………
3 4
(1)

(b) 7𝑥
+
𝑥 ….……………
18 3
(1)

(c) 25𝑦
+
2𝑦 ….……………
27 9
(1)
(3 marks)

2) (a) Simplify fully ….……………

𝑥−5 (1)
3𝑥−15

(b) Simplify fully ….……………

2
𝑥 + 𝑥 −6 (2)
2
𝑥 − 𝑥 −12 (3 marks)

3) (a) Simplify fully ….……………

3𝑎
×
4 (2)
2 5𝑎

(b) Simplify fully ….……………

ℎ
÷
ℎ (2)
2 6
(4 marks)

4) Simplify fully ….……………

2
4𝑥 −25 (3)
2
6𝑥 −11𝑥−10 (3 marks)

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 GCSE Maths Revision | Algebra

Simplifying Algebraic Fractions - Answers

Question Answer

Skill Questions

Group A Simplify:
3 𝑥 3𝑥
1) 5
× 𝑦 1) 5𝑦
𝑥 3 3𝑥
2) 𝑦 × 5 2) 5𝑦
𝑥 3 3𝑥
3) 𝑦 × 6 3) 6𝑦
𝑥 3 3
4) 𝑦 × 6𝑥 4) 6𝑦
𝑥 3 3
5) 𝑥𝑦 × 6 5) 6𝑦
7𝑥 3 7
6) 𝑥𝑦 × 6 6) 2𝑦
7𝑥 3 7
7) 𝑥𝑦 × 6𝑦 7) 2
2𝑦
7𝑥 3
8) 𝑥𝑦 ÷ 6𝑦 8) 14
7
7𝑥
9) 𝑥𝑦 ÷ 3
6𝑦 9) 2
2𝑦
7𝑥
10) 𝑥𝑦 × 3
6𝑦
×
4𝑦
10) 4𝑦
14
1
7𝑥
11) 𝑥𝑦 ÷ 3
6𝑦
×
4𝑦 11) 𝑦
14
49
7𝑥
12) 𝑥𝑦 ÷ 3
6𝑦
÷
4𝑦 12) 3
14 4𝑦

Group B Simplify:
𝑥 𝑥 7𝑥
1) 2
+ 5 1) 10
𝑥 4𝑥 13𝑥
2) 2
+ 5 2) 10
3𝑥 4𝑥 23𝑥
3) 2
+ 5 3) 10
𝑥 𝑥 3𝑥
4) 2
− 5 4) 10
𝑥 𝑥 3𝑥
5) 5
− 2 5) − 10
5𝑥 𝑥 𝑥
6) 5
− 2 6) 2
5 2 7
7) 𝑥
+ 𝑥 7) 𝑥
5 2 5 + 2𝑥
8) 2 + 𝑥 8) 2
𝑥 𝑥
5 2 5 − 4𝑥
9) 2 − 𝑥
9) 2
2𝑥 2𝑥
6 2 3 + 2𝑥
10) 2 + 𝑥
10) 2
2𝑥 𝑥
6 2 3 − 2𝑥
11) 2 − 𝑥
11) 2
2𝑥 𝑥
6 2 3 + 2𝑦
12) 2𝑥𝑦
+ 𝑥
12) 𝑥𝑦

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GCSE Maths Revision | Algebra

Simplifying Algebraic Fractions - Answers

Group C Simplify:
2(𝑥+3) 2
1) 3(𝑥+3)
1) 3

2)
2(𝑥+3) 2) 2
(𝑥+3)
1
3)
(𝑥+3) 3) 3
3(𝑥+3)
1
4)
𝑥+3 4) 2
2(𝑥+3)
1
5)
𝑥+3 5) 2
2𝑥+6
4𝑥+12 6) 2
6) 2𝑥+6
𝑥+4
(𝑥+3)(𝑥+4) 7)
7) 2𝑥+6
2

2 𝑥+3
8)
𝑥 +7𝑥+12 8) 𝑥−9
(𝑥+4)(𝑥−9)
2
𝑥 +7𝑥+12 𝑥+3
9) 2 9) 𝑥−9
𝑥 −5𝑥−36
2
2𝑥 +14𝑥+24 2(𝑥+3)
10) 2 10) 𝑥−9
𝑥 −5𝑥−36
2
2𝑥 +14𝑥+24 2(𝑥+3)
11) 2 11) 3(𝑥−9)
3𝑥 −15𝑥−108
2
2𝑥 +14𝑥+24
12) 2 12)
2(𝑥+4)
3(𝑥−5)
3𝑥 −6𝑥−45

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 GCSE Maths Revision | Algebra

Simplifying Algebraic Fractions - Answers

Question Answer

Applied Questions

Write an expression for the area of the 3 𝑥 3𝑥

1) 4
× 4
= 16
rectangle.

2
𝑎 𝑎𝑏 𝑏
2) Given 𝑥 = 3
,𝑦 = 4
,𝑧 = 2𝑎
Find an expression for
2 2
a) 𝑥 a) 𝑎
×
𝑎
=
𝑎
3 3 9
𝑎 𝑎𝑏 4𝑎 3𝑎𝑏 4𝑎+3𝑎𝑏
b) 𝑥 + 𝑦 b) 3
+ 4
= 12
+ 12
= 12
𝑎 𝑎𝑏 4𝑎 3𝑎𝑏 4𝑎−3𝑎𝑏
c) 𝑥 − 𝑦 c) 3
− 4
= 12
− 12
= 12
𝑥𝑦 2
d) 𝑧
d) 𝑥𝑦 = 𝑎
×
𝑎𝑏
=
𝑎𝑏
3 4 12
2 2 2
𝑥𝑦 𝑎𝑏 𝑏 𝑎𝑏 2𝑎
𝑧
= 12
÷ 2𝑎
= 12
× 2
𝑏
3 3
2𝑎 𝑏 𝑎
= 2 = 6𝑏
12𝑏
Below is a triangle.
3)
3 𝑥 𝑦
4
+ 𝑦
+ 4

2
3𝑦 4𝑥 𝑦
= 4𝑦
+ 4𝑦
+ 4𝑦

2
3𝑦 + 4𝑥 + 𝑦
= 4𝑦

Write an expression for the perimeter.

𝑥 2

4) The base of a triangle is 10

. The height 𝑥
×
𝑥
=
𝑥
10 4 40
𝑥
of a triangle is 4
. Find an expression
2 2
for the area of the triangle. 𝑥
÷ 2 =
𝑥
40 80

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GCSE Maths Revision | Algebra

Simplifying Algebraic Fractions - Mark Scheme

Question Answer

Exam Questions

1) Express the following as a single

fraction. Give your answers in their
simplest form.
(a) 𝑝
+
𝑝 (a) 4𝑝
+
3𝑝
=
7𝑝 (1)
3 4 12 12 12

(b) 7𝑥
+
𝑥 (b)
7𝑥
+
6𝑥
=
13𝑥 (1)
18 3 18 18 18

(c) 25𝑦
+
2𝑦 (c)
25𝑦
+
6𝑦
=
31𝑦
or 1
4𝑦 (1)
27 9 27 27 27 27

2) (a) Simplify fully (a) 𝑥−5

=
𝑥−3
=
1 (1)
3𝑥−15 3(𝑥−5) 3
𝑥−5
3𝑥−15

(b) Simplify fully (b) (𝑥−2)(𝑥+3)

(1) (2)
2 (𝑥+3)(𝑥−4)
𝑥 + 𝑥 −6
2
𝑥 − 𝑥 −12
𝑥−2
𝑥−4
(1)

3) (a) Simplify fully (a) 12𝑎

(1) (2)
10𝑎
3𝑎 4
2
× 5𝑎
6 1
5
or 1 5
(1)

(b) Simplify fully (b) ℎ

×
6
or
6ℎ
(1) (2)
2 ℎ 2ℎ
ℎ ℎ
2
÷ 6
3 (1)
4) Simplify fully (2𝑥−5)(2𝑥+5)
(2) (3)
2 (2𝑥−5)(3𝑥+2)
4𝑥 −25
2 If numerator or denominator correctly
6𝑥 −11𝑥−10
factorisied (1 mark)

2𝑥+5
3𝑥+2
(1)
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