Year 12s: what will be the first way you research your future options? >>

Algebraic Fractions... I think? (GCSE)

Hi maths people,

I'm having some trouble with algebraic fractions, and was wondering if any of you can help me? :smile:

I've attempted to attach my problem as a .jpeg- I hope it works!

Thanks in advance

20130306_202402.jpg501.8KB

Reply 1

davros

Original post by Ava-

Hi maths people,

I'm having some trouble with algebraic fractions, and was wondering if any of you can help me? :smile:

I've attempted to attach my problem as a .jpeg- I hope it works!

Thanks in advance

Please try to rotate your scans in future - it's easier than me rotating my head :smile:

I think you have the right idea, but I'm puzzled because the 2x+1 in your original question seems to have changed into a 2x-1 when you do the working out! Which factor is correct?

Reply 2

Sulphur

You made a mistake in the first line, you wrote (2x + 1), but you changed it to (2x - 1) in the actual working which is the right one so doesn't really matter :biggrin:

You need to expand the bit you circled. When you expand anything you simply multiply each term by every term in the opposite bracket. Does this help you?

Reply 3

Ava-

Original post by davros

Please try to rotate your scans in future - it's easier than me rotating my head :smile:

I think you have the right idea, but I'm puzzled because the 2x+1 in your original question seems to have changed into a 2x-1 when you do the working out! Which factor is correct?

Oh sorry! I was posting on my phone, and I must have got confused by the auto-rotate.

The 2x-1 is the right one, aha, sorry for that too!

Reply 4

davros

Original post by Ava-

Oh sorry! I was posting on my phone, and I must have got confused by the auto-rotate.

The 2x-1 is the right one, aha, sorry for that too!

no problem! So basically yes - you multiply both sides of the equation by (x+2)(2x-1), clear fractions and tidy up what's left :smile:

Reply 5

Ava-

Original post by Sulphur

You made a mistake in the first line, you wrote (2x + 1), but you changed it to (2x - 1) in the actual working which is the right one so doesn't really matter :biggrin:

You need to expand the bit you circled. When you expand anything you simply multiply each term by every term in the opposite bracket. Does this help you?

Okay, so I got
4x^?2+ 6x-4

so 11x+7=4x^?2+ 6x-4

Now I need to try and get the x on its own? but there is a x squared too?

Thankyou so much!

Reply 6

Sulphur

Well your 4X^2 is part of the final solution so that's fine. All you need to do is collect like terms now.

Reply 7

davros

Original post by Ava-

Okay, so I got
4x^?2+ 6x-4

so 11x+7=4x^?2+ 6x-4

Now I need to try and get the x on its own? but there is a x squared too?

Thankyou so much!

Just rearrange by taking 11x+7 away from both sides!

Reply 8

Ava-

Original post by Sulphur

Well your 4X^2 is part of the final solution so that's fine. All you need to do is collect like terms now.

Original post by davros

Just rearrange by taking 11x+7 away from both sides!

Ahh I see, thankyou!

One last thing-

Reply 9

davros

Original post by Ava-

Ahh I see, thankyou!

One last thing-

Try factorising numerator and denominator of each fraction and see if you can see any common factors in there (I've had a very quick glance and I think one of them can be simplified)