C3 Chapter 1 Algebraic Fractions

Dr J Frost (jfrost@tiffin.kingston.sch.uk)
www.drfrostmaths.com

Last modified: 7th September 2015

RECAP: Terminology

?
dividend
dividend

?
quotient
quotient ?
remainder
remainder

7 1
= 2+
3 3
?
divisor
divisor
RECAP: Algebraic Fractions
Simplify the following fractions.
1
?
6
?
2 ?
7 ?
3 ?

8
?
4 ?

Bro Tip: When you have a fraction

within a fraction, multiply the top and
5 ? bottom of the outer fraction by the
denominator of the inner one.
Test Your Understanding

Simplify:
𝑥 +1 𝑥+1
? = ?
𝑥+4 𝑥 +4
Express as a single fraction:
Bro Tip: We can’t
simplify this because the
? numerator and
denominator don’t have
a common factor we can
divide by. is not in
? general divisible by !!
 Exercises
Exercise 1A
Exercise 1C
1a ? 1j
?
1b ?
1g ? 1k
?
1c ?
1i ? 1o ? 1g ?
Exercise 1B

1g 1k ?
?
1l ?
1i ?
1n ?
1j ?
1o ?
1l ?
1q ?
1n ?
RECAP: Algebraic Division
6x - 2x + 3
2

x+5 6x3 + 28x2 – 7x + 15

6x3 + 30x2
The Anti-Idiot Test:
– 2x – 7x
2

– 2x2 – 10x
You can check your solution by
expanding (x+5)(6x2 – 2x + 3)

3x + 15
3x + 15
0
Test Your Understanding
2x2 + 3x – 4
x - 4 2x3 – 5x2 – 16x + 10
2x3 – 8x2
Find the 3x – 16x
2
remainder.
3x2 – 12x
-4x + 10
Q: Is (x-4) a factor of -4x + 16
2x3 – 5x2 – 16x + 10?
-6
Alternative Method: Remainder Theorem
RECAP
When a polynomial is divided by the remainder is . ?
When a polynomial is divided by the remainder is . ?
When a polynomial is divided by the remainder is
When a polynomial is divided by the remainder is
?
?
Given that , we could say that:

! Similarly, for a polynomial :

?
It’s an identity (using ) because the
equality is true for any value of .
Alternative Method: Remainder Theorem
As before, divide by but now using the remainder theorem.
Q

So

We can compare coefficients of , and constant terms each side to find :

Comparing terms…
Comparing terms…
We didn’t really need the last equation. But ?
we get . Comparing terms…
Therefore: Comparing constant terms…

(Recall that )
Test Your Understanding
Q Divide by by using the Remainder Theorem.

So
Comparing coefficients:

Thus ?
Exercise 1D
Express the following improper fractions in ‘mixed’ number form by:
i) Using long division ii) Using the remainder theorem.

a
?
A cleverer way to divide is to note that is the difference of
c ? two cubes. thus .
You do not need to know this factorisation at A Level.

e
?
g
?
Again, a simpler method using difference of two squares:
h ?