By studying this lesson you will be able to
simplify algebraic fractions with unequal denominators.
Algebraic Fractions
Given below are several examples of algebraic fractions.
There are algebraic expressions in the numerator, the denominator or both the
numerator and the denominator of each of these algebraic fractions.
Do the following exercise by applying what you have learnt earlier about adding
and subtracting algebraic fractions.
Review Exercise
Simplify the following algebraic fractions.
13.1 Simplifying fractions with unequal algebraic terms in the denominator
Simplify
x and 2x are the two terms in the denominators of and respectively. Since
they are unequal, the two fractions cannot be added directly. Therefore, let us
first write equivalent fractions that have a common denominator and then do the
simplification.
That is,
Here 2x is the denominator of the equivalent fractions. Observe that 2x is the least
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