Algebra · Guided Practice

Algebraic Fractions

22 questions with answers and video solutions. Try each one before revealing the answer.

1

Fully simplify the following expression

x2(x + 1)x(x − 2)(x + 1)(x≠0, x≠2, x≠−1)\displaystyle \begin{array}{c} \large\frac{{x^2}(x\,+\,1)}{x(x\,-\,2)(x\,+\,1)}\\ \small(x\neq0,\ x\neq2,\ x\neq-1) \end{array}

No hints on this one — its full written solution is with the answer.

2
Express this fraction in its simplest form
x2+3x−4x2−x  (x≠0, x≠1)\displaystyle \large\frac{x^2+3x-4}{x^2-x}\:\:\small(x\neq0,\ x\neq1)\normalsize

No hints on this one — its full written solution is with the answer.

3
Express as a single fraction in its simplest form
3a4+5a6\displaystyle \large\frac{3a}{4}+\frac{5a}{6}

No hints on this one — its full written solution is with the answer.

4
Express as a single fraction in its simplest form
3x−2x5 (x≠0)\displaystyle \large\frac{3}{x}-\frac{2x}{5}\small\ \left(x\neq0\right)

No hints on this one — its full written solution is with the answer.

5
Express as a single fraction in its simplest form
(x+3)×x2+7x2−9\displaystyle (x+3) \times \large \frac{x^2+7}{x^2-9} \normalsize

No hints on this one — its full written solution is with the answer.

6
Express as a single fraction in its simplest form
p2t2÷p24t\displaystyle \large\frac{p}{2t^2} \normalsize \div \large \frac{p^2}{4t}

No hints on this one — its full written solution is with the answer.

7
2014 P2 Q9
3 Marks

Express 7x+5−3x\displaystyle \large\frac{7}{x+5}-\frac{3}{x}\normalsize    x≠−5, x≠0\displaystyle \small x\neq-5,\ x\neq0
as a single fraction in its simplest form.

8
2015 P2 Q7
3 Marks

Express 5ts÷t2s2\displaystyle \large\frac{5t}{s} \normalsize \div \large \frac{t}{2s^2}
in its simplest form.

9
2016 P2 Q13
3 Marks

Express 3x−2+5x+1\displaystyle \frac{3}{x-2}+\frac{5}{x+1}, x≠2\displaystyle x\ne2, x≠−1\displaystyle x\ne-1 as a single fraction in its simplest form.

10
2017 Spec P1 Q14

Express 4x+2−3x−4,  x≠−2, x≠4  \displaystyle \large\frac{4}{x+2}-\frac{3}{x-4}\small,\:\: x\neq-2,\ x\neq 4\:\:
as a single fraction in its simplest form.

No hints on this one — its full written solution is with the answer.

11
2017 Spec P2 Q13

Simplify x2−4xx2+x−20.\displaystyle \large\frac{x^2-4x}{x^2+x-20}\small.

Video solution coming soon

No hints on this one — its full written solution is with the answer.

12
2017 P1 Q11
2 Marks

Express 3a2−2a\displaystyle \frac{3}{a^{2}}-\frac{2}{a}, a≠0\displaystyle a\ne0, as a single fraction in its simplest form.

13
2017 P2 Q9
(1, 3)4 Marks

(a)  Factorise 4x2−25.\displaystyle 4x^{2}-25.

(b)  Hence simplify 4x2−252x2−x−10.\displaystyle \frac{4x^{2}-25}{2x^{2}-x-10}.

14
2018 P2 Q15
3 Marks

Express nn2−4÷3n−2\displaystyle \frac{n}{n^{2}-4}\div\frac{3}{n-2}, n≠−2,n≠2\displaystyle n\ne-2, n\ne2 as a single fraction in its simplest form.

15
2019 P2 Q15
3 Marks

Express 4x−2−3x+5\displaystyle \frac{4}{x-2}-\frac{3}{x+5}, x≠2,x≠−5\displaystyle x\ne2, x\ne-5, as a single fraction in its simplest form.

16
2022 P2 Q12
3 Marks

Simplify 2ab+6ab2−9\displaystyle \frac{2ab+6a}{b^{2}-9}.

17
2023 P2 Q10
3 Marks

Express 7x−3−2x    x≠3, x≠0  \displaystyle \large\frac{7}{x-3}-\frac{2}{x}\normalsize\:\:\:\:\small x\neq3,\ x\neq0\:\:
as a single fraction in its simplest form.

18
2023 P2 Q12
3 Marks

Simplify x2−16x2+x−20.\displaystyle \large\frac{x^2-16}{x^2+x-20}.

19
2024 P2 Q6
(1, 2)3 Marks

(a)  Factorise y2−6y.\displaystyle y^2-6y.
(b)  Hence simplify y2−6yy2−3y−18.\displaystyle \frac{y^2-6y}{y^2-3y-18}.

20
2024 P2 Q12
3 Marks

Express 2x+5+3x−4\displaystyle \frac{2}{x+5} + \frac{3}{x-4}, x≠−5,x≠4\displaystyle x \neq -5, x \neq 4 as a single fraction in its simplest form.

21
2025 P1 Q14
3 Marks

Express 5x−1−4x,\displaystyle \frac{5}{x-1}-\frac{4}{x}, x≠1,x≠0\displaystyle x \neq 1, x \neq 0 as a single fraction in its simplest form.

22
2026 P2 Q9
3 Marks
Express
x2−815÷x+92\displaystyle \frac{x^{2}-81}{5}\div\frac{x+9}{2}, x≠−9\displaystyle x\ne-9
as a single fraction in its simplest form.

Keep practising

More algebraic fractions questions

New questions, modelled on past paper questions and checked against their marking instructions. Not reprints — you have not seen these before.

Practice questions courtesy of Maths.scot. Full written solutions are on his site — the links above go straight to them.