Factoring and Fractions

By M Bourne

Many mathematics formulas involve factorising. It makes your mathematical life a lot easier if you are confident when factoring complex expressions.

Even though we use decimals more than we use fractions in everyday life, an understanding of fractions is still important in mathematics, especially in algebra.

Overview of This Chapter

We start with a reminder on how to expand expressions like (x + y)² in the Special Products section.

Then we will learn how to:

• Factor expressions like a² − b² in Difference of Squares, followed by...
• Factor Trinomials (eg 3a² + 2ab − b²) then
• Factor Cubes like a³ − b³.

The final part of this chapter is about algebraic fractions.

• We first recall what an Equivalent Fraction means and learn how to factor fractions.
• Then we see how to Multiply and Divide Algebraic fractions, followed by Adding and Subtracting Algebraic Fractions.
• Finally, we see some examples and applications of Equations involving Fractions.

The chapter begins with 1. Special Products »