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Simplify algebraic fractions – GCSE maths grade 6

14 November 2013 by Simon 33 Comments


This video is all about how to simplify algebraic fractions.

Solve:

(x² – 25) / x² + 7x + 10

The question is aimed at around grade 6+ GCSE maths.

Top Tips!

  • Always work down the page, with the equals sign in the middle
  • Show each stage of your calculation
  • Learn to read right to left … sometimes it’s easier to keep the value of x on the right hand side of an equation
  • Think about factorising, so you can simplify the equation
  • Try to keep a positive value of x
  • Is your answer reasonable?

Simplify algebraic fractions questions appear in all the main examination boards, including Edexcel, AQA and OCR. They are popular and, once you have the basic principles, fairly similar. Please do stop the video, try the question and compare your solution!

Here’s some additional posts if you would like more detail and practice questions.

If you would like to find out more try these!

Simplify an algebra fraction using factorising

Expand brackets and simplify mid-level GCSE maths algebra

Here’s a playlist with some more examples

 

Please do leave a comment below if you are not sure. Alternately you can view my YouTube channel and leave a comment there – I’ll always try to respond as quickly as possible.

Watch this video on YouTube

Watch the video on YouTube – Simplifying Algebraic Fractions

Comments

  1. live auto says

    7 July 2015 at 19:14

    hi simon it would be happy if u come up with basics algerba .in ur way
    (happy smiling)

    Reply
  2. Pravina Solanki says

    21 June 2015 at 15:01

    great help cheers

    Reply
  3. Nanaesly Neon says

    9 June 2015 at 20:22

    What if you have p-square minus 4 all over p-square?

    Reply
  4. Faith Forever says

    3 June 2015 at 20:08

    Thanks this video is brillliant! 🙂 I have an exam tommorow!!

    Reply
  5. Grant Page says

    2 June 2015 at 14:27

    Have you got any complicated examples of factorising?

    Reply
  6. Sharif Sircar says

    16 May 2015 at 13:07

    Thanks

    Reply
  7. Alejandro Navarro says

    10 May 2015 at 18:04

    thanks, that was very useful!, textbooks can’t explain it good enough.
    Thanks again!

    Reply
  8. bedoor abdulla says

    9 May 2015 at 19:18

    Man you just saved my life.

    Reply
  9. Karen B says

    8 May 2015 at 06:26

    THANK YOU

    Reply
  10. Ben Slater says

    27 April 2015 at 19:08

    Thanks really helpful

    Reply
  11. Martyn Smalskys says

    19 April 2015 at 17:47

    I understand the way to simplify algebraic fractions a bit more now

    Reply
  12. marshall anderson says

    18 February 2015 at 17:06

    very good

    Reply
  13. Chima Amobi says

    29 January 2015 at 18:35

    hey Simon what you taught (cancelling algebraic fractions) does it apply
    even if the plus and minus symbols are arranged PS thanks for the video it
    helped 😉

    Reply
  14. Phoenix Feathers says

    25 January 2015 at 22:25

    GCSEs this year, just done my mocks and this is one of the topics I messed
    up on. Thanks for the help!

    Reply
  15. Trout Fishing Wales says

    5 January 2015 at 13:57

    Thankyou

    Reply
  16. Morshada Bagum says

    1 January 2015 at 20:06

    Kinda easy with you

    Reply
  17. Abdullah A says

    31 December 2014 at 06:49

    Tis all good, but can you do Advanced?

    Reply
  18. James Topp says

    17 November 2014 at 18:36

    oh and yes your 3 minute videos are great!

    Reply
  19. James Topp says

    17 November 2014 at 18:35

    thank you this video has helped so much my maths exam is in 4 hours and
    this is about all i know ahah youve made it really easy to learn!! 🙂

    Reply
  20. chriser555 says

    17 November 2014 at 17:30

    I’m lost, no link in the description as stated.

    Reply
  21. purplekawaiilove says

    23 October 2014 at 00:01

    Maths exam tomorrow 🙁 this was so helpful, thanks 🙂

    Reply
  22. hany nawaseb says

    6 July 2014 at 20:55

    Smart

    Reply
  23. MrKidReactionz says

    13 April 2014 at 12:43

    could you please explain why you do not divide (x-5) and (x+2) by x-5 like
    you did to cancel out the others because i thought you would have to divide
    all the numbers by x-5

    apart from this minor confusion thanks a lot because it really helped
    (subscribed)

    Reply
  24. SJGSpook says

    23 March 2014 at 18:48

    Best explanation I have seen. Thanks.

    Reply
  25. WatsonisawesomeMC says

    20 February 2014 at 18:03

    Came across EXACTLY the same question in my maths exam with exactly the
    same digits…

    Reply
  26. matthew bacon says

    12 January 2014 at 21:38

    thx

    Reply
  27. Simon Deacon says

    9 October 2013 at 23:12

    No prob and glad to help 🙂

    Reply
  28. reubz poo says

    9 October 2013 at 19:31

    nice one mate

    Reply
  29. Simon Deacon says

    28 September 2013 at 13:35

    Hi – there’s a couple of videos on the channel. Try How to factorise
    algebra formulas – foundation level, How to factorise algebra formulas –
    cross method or How to factorise algebra formulas – higher GCSE cross
    method. I hope they help and thanks for your comment. All best S

    Reply
  30. ToniKristian15 says

    27 September 2013 at 23:01

    i wanna know how the steps to factorize a problem…Thank you..

    Reply
  31. warren marodza says

    15 September 2013 at 13:14

    good video its jus tht rembering all the methods to math problems can be
    stressful how do yu do it…

    Reply
  32. Simon Deacon says

    13 September 2013 at 17:28

    Hi – that’s great and glad it helped 🙂

    Reply
  33. SamOwenNewton says

    13 September 2013 at 17:08

    Really helps, thanks!

    Reply

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