Year 10 Interactive Maths - Second Edition

Rational Expressions

Simplification of Rational Expressions

Let us consider those fractions whose denominators consist of only one term.

In general:

From this, we can state that:

Only factors can be cancelled.

This suggests that the cancellation of 3 is not allowed as 3 is not a factor of the numerator and denominator.

Example 1

Solution:

Applications of Factors

To simplify algebraic fractions:

• factorise the numerator and denominator
• cancel the factors that are common to the numerator and denominator

Example 2

Solution:

Key Terms

rational expression