Simplify the following algebraic fraction; (3x^2 - x - 2) / ((1/2)x + (1/3)).

First we need to factorise the numerator into two expressions. We can see one expression must start (3x + ?) and the other therefore must hold (x + ?), we know this because the two brackets must multiply together to generate 3x2. Now we need to consider two numbers that will multiply together to give -2, this can be either +1 and -2 or -1 and +2. To gain the required -x in the original expression we see our factorisation must read: (3x +2)(x-1).Now we want to remove the fractional coefficients in the demonimator. We can do this by multiplying the top and bottom by 2x3=6 to get: (6(3x+2)(x-1))/(3x+2).The final step is to cancel terms in the demoninator and numerator that are equal. Cancelling (3x+2) leaves us with the simplified expression; 6(x-1).

BL
Answered by Bobbi L. Maths tutor

4466 Views

See similar Maths A Level tutors

Related Maths A Level answers

All answers ▸

A cup of coffee is cooling down in a room following the equation x = 15 + 70e^(-t/40). Find the rate at which the temperature is decreasing when the coffee cools to 60°C.


p(x)=2x^3 + 7x^2 + 2x - 3. (a) Use the factor theorem to prove that x + 3 is a factor of p(x). (b) Simplify the expression (2x^3 + 7x^2 + 2x - 3)/(4x^2-1), x!= +- 0.5


Express 9^(3x+1) in the form 3^y, giving "y" in the form "ax+b" where "a" and "b" are constants.


make into a cartesian equation= x=ln(t+3) y= 1/t+5


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning