To combine these two fractions into one, you have to multiply the equation by the denominators in order to make a common denominator: 5(x-5)/(x+1)(x-5) + 6(x+1)/(x+1)(x-5) Now that the denominators are the same, you can add the two numerators to eachother, and then expand the brackets: [5(x-5)+6(x+1)]/(x+1)(x-5) [5x-25+6x+6]/(x+1)(x-5) Now simplify the numerator: [11x-19]/(x+1)(x-5) (This is a GCSE question though I'd only want to tutor 11+ 13+ for now)