A-level · Algebra & functions

Algebraic fractionsExam-style questions

Fractions with letters in them, handled by the rules of number fractions. What may cancel and why; factorising before cancelling; adding and subtracting over a common denominator, with the minus sign kept on the whole top; multiplying, and dividing by the reciprocal; solving equations with fractions and rejecting answers that make a denominator zero; and writing a top-heavy fraction as a quotient plus a remainder.

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20 questions · A-level level · mark scheme and worked solution on each · no sign-up to try

DifficultyAll Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5

1
Simplify $\dfrac{x^2 - 4}{x + 1} \div \dfrac{x + 2}{x^2 - 1}$ .
Level 3 · 3 marksTry it
2
(a) Given that $\dfrac{x^{2} + 3x + 5}{x + 2} \equiv x + 1 + \dfrac{R}{x + 2}$ , find the value of $R$ . (3 marks)
(b) Hence solve $\dfrac{x^{2} + 3x + 5}{x + 2} = x + 2$ . (2 marks)
Level 3 · 5 marksTry it
3
Simplify $\dfrac{1 - \dfrac{4}{x^{2}}}{1 + \dfrac{2}{x}}$ . (4 marks)
Level 3 · 4 marksTry it
4
(a) Show that the equation $\dfrac{x}{x - 2} = \dfrac{8}{x^{2} - 4} + 1$ leads to $x = 2$ . (3 marks)
(b) Explain why the equation has no solutions. (1 mark)
Level 3 · 4 marksTry it
5
Write $\dfrac{1}{x - 1} + \dfrac{2}{x + 1} - \dfrac{3}{x^{2} - 1}$ as a single fraction in its simplest form. (4 marks)
Level 3 · 4 marksTry it

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