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This algebra worksheet provides practice problems for simplifying rational expressions using multiplication, division, and addition.

Worksheet for simplifying rational expressions featuring multiplication, division, and addition of algebraic fractions.

Worksheet for simplifying rational expressions featuring multiplication, division, and addition of algebraic fractions.

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Show Answer Key & Explanations Step-by-step solution for: Simplifying Rational Expressions (B) Worksheet | PDF Printable ...
Let's solve each problem step-by-step, starting with Section A and then moving to Section B, simplifying rational expressions where possible.

---

🔷 Section A: Simplify the following



We'll simplify each expression using algebraic rules for multiplication and division of fractions.

---

#### 1) $\frac{ac}{b} \times \frac{b}{c}$

Multiply numerators and denominators:
$$
\frac{ac \cdot b}{b \cdot c} = \frac{abc}{bc}
$$
Cancel $b$ and $c$:
$$
= a
$$

Answer: $a$

---

#### 2) $\frac{a + b}{3ab} \times \frac{6a^2}{2a + 2b}$

Factor denominator: $2a + 2b = 2(a + b)$
$$
= \frac{a + b}{3ab} \times \frac{6a^2}{2(a + b)}
$$
Cancel $(a + b)$ from numerator and denominator:
$$
= \frac{1}{3ab} \times \frac{6a^2}{2} = \frac{1}{3ab} \times 3a^2 = \frac{3a^2}{3ab} = \frac{a}{b}
$$

Answer: $\frac{a}{b}$

---

#### 3) $\frac{x^2}{x^2 - 2x} \times \frac{3 + x}{x}$

Factor:
- $x^2 - 2x = x(x - 2)$
- $3 + x = x + 3$

So:
$$
= \frac{x^2}{x(x - 2)} \times \frac{x + 3}{x}
$$
Simplify:
$$
= \frac{x}{x - 2} \times \frac{x + 3}{x} = \frac{x(x + 3)}{(x - 2)x} = \frac{x + 3}{x - 2}
$$

Answer: $\frac{x + 3}{x - 2}$

---

#### 4) $\frac{(3x + 2)^2}{6x} \times \frac{x^4}{6x + 4}$

Note: $6x + 4 = 2(3x + 2)$

So:
$$
= \frac{(3x + 2)^2}{6x} \times \frac{x^4}{2(3x + 2)} = \frac{(3x + 2) \cdot (3x + 2)}{6x} \times \frac{x^4}{2(3x + 2)}
$$
Cancel one $(3x + 2)$:
$$
= \frac{3x + 2}{6x} \times \frac{x^4}{2} = \frac{(3x + 2)x^4}{12x}
$$
Simplify $x^4 / x = x^3$:
$$
= \frac{(3x + 2)x^3}{12}
$$

Answer: $\frac{(3x + 2)x^3}{12}$

---

#### 5) $\frac{x^2 y^2}{y} \div \frac{x^4 y}{x}$

First simplify each fraction:

- $\frac{x^2 y^2}{y} = x^2 y$
- $\frac{x^4 y}{x} = x^3 y$

Now divide:
$$
x^2 y \div x^3 y = \frac{x^2 y}{x^3 y} = \frac{1}{x}
$$

Answer: $\frac{1}{x}$

---

#### 6) $\frac{b - 3}{2b^2 - 5b - 3} \div (2b - 6)$

First factor denominator:
- $2b^2 - 5b - 3$: Find two numbers that multiply to $2 \cdot (-3) = -6$, add to $-5$: $-6$ and $1$
- So: $2b^2 - 6b + b - 3 = 2b(b - 3) + 1(b - 3) = (2b + 1)(b - 3)$

So:
$$
\frac{b - 3}{(2b + 1)(b - 3)} \div (2b - 6)
$$
Cancel $b - 3$:
$$
= \frac{1}{2b + 1} \div (2b - 6)
$$
Now $2b - 6 = 2(b - 3)$, so:
$$
= \frac{1}{2b + 1} \times \frac{1}{2(b - 3)} = \frac{1}{2(2b + 1)(b - 3)}
$$

Answer: $\frac{1}{2(2b + 1)(b - 3)}$

---

#### 7) $\frac{1}{y^2 + 3y + 2} \div \frac{2}{y^2 - 4}$

Factor:
- $y^2 + 3y + 2 = (y + 1)(y + 2)$
- $y^2 - 4 = (y - 2)(y + 2)$

So:
$$
\frac{1}{(y + 1)(y + 2)} \div \frac{2}{(y - 2)(y + 2)} = \frac{1}{(y + 1)(y + 2)} \times \frac{(y - 2)(y + 2)}{2}
$$
Cancel $(y + 2)$:
$$
= \frac{1}{y + 1} \times \frac{y - 2}{2} = \frac{y - 2}{2(y + 1)}
$$

Answer: $\frac{y - 2}{2(y + 1)}$

---

#### 8) $\frac{a^2(a - 2)}{y^2} \div \frac{a(a - 2)}{y^5}$

Divide by multiplying by reciprocal:
$$
= \frac{a^2(a - 2)}{y^2} \times \frac{y^5}{a(a - 2)}
$$
Cancel:
- $a^2 / a = a$
- $(a - 2)$ cancels
- $y^5 / y^2 = y^3$

So:
$$
= a \cdot y^3 = a y^3
$$

Answer: $a y^3$

---

Section A Summary:



| Problem | Answer |
|--------|--------|
| 1 | $a$ |
| 2 | $\frac{a}{b}$ |
| 3 | $\frac{x + 3}{x - 2}$ |
| 4 | $\frac{(3x + 2)x^3}{12}$ |
| 5 | $\frac{1}{x}$ |
| 6 | $\frac{1}{2(2b + 1)(b - 3)}$ |
| 7 | $\frac{y - 2}{2(y + 1)}$ |
| 8 | $a y^3$ |

---

🔷 Section B: Write as single fractions



We will combine terms into single fractions using common denominators.

---

#### 1) $\frac{x}{5} + 4$

Write 4 as $\frac{20}{5}$:
$$
= \frac{x + 20}{5}
$$

Answer: $\frac{x + 20}{5}$

---

#### 2) $y - \frac{6}{y}$

Write $y = \frac{y^2}{y}$:
$$
= \frac{y^2 - 6}{y}
$$

Answer: $\frac{y^2 - 6}{y}$

---

#### 3) $4 - \frac{5}{x - 2}$

Write $4 = \frac{4(x - 2)}{x - 2} = \frac{4x - 8}{x - 2}$:
$$
= \frac{4x - 8 - 5}{x - 2} = \frac{4x - 13}{x - 2}
$$

Answer: $\frac{4x - 13}{x - 2}$

---

#### 4) $\frac{1}{3w + 5} + 9$

Write $9 = \frac{9(3w + 5)}{3w + 5}$:
$$
= \frac{1 + 9(3w + 5)}{3w + 5} = \frac{1 + 27w + 45}{3w + 5} = \frac{27w + 46}{3w + 5}
$$

Answer: $\frac{27w + 46}{3w + 5}$

---

#### 5) $6 + \frac{3}{x + 2} + x$

Group: $(6 + x) + \frac{3}{x + 2} = (x + 6) + \frac{3}{x + 2}$

Write $x + 6 = \frac{(x + 6)(x + 2)}{x + 2}$:
$$
= \frac{(x + 6)(x + 2) + 3}{x + 2}
$$
Expand:
$$
(x + 6)(x + 2) = x^2 + 2x + 6x + 12 = x^2 + 8x + 12
$$
Add 3:
$$
= \frac{x^2 + 8x + 15}{x + 2}
$$

Answer: $\frac{x^2 + 8x + 15}{x + 2}$

---

#### 6) $\frac{3}{x} + \frac{5}{x} = \frac{8}{x}$

Answer: $\frac{8}{x}$

---

#### 7) $\frac{7a}{4} + \frac{11a}{4} = \frac{18a}{4} = \frac{9a}{2}$

Answer: $\frac{9a}{2}$

---

#### 8) $\frac{5b}{3} - \frac{9b}{2}$

LCM of 3 and 2 is 6:
$$
= \frac{10b}{6} - \frac{27b}{6} = \frac{-17b}{6}
$$

Answer: $-\frac{17b}{6}$

---

#### 9) $\frac{1}{2y} + \frac{7}{y} = \frac{1}{2y} + \frac{14}{2y} = \frac{15}{2y}$

Answer: $\frac{15}{2y}$

---

#### 10) $\frac{6}{4k} - \frac{5}{6k}$

Simplify: $\frac{3}{2k} - \frac{5}{6k}$

LCM of 2 and 6 is 6:
$$
= \frac{9}{6k} - \frac{5}{6k} = \frac{4}{6k} = \frac{2}{3k}
$$

Answer: $\frac{2}{3k}$

---

#### 11) $\frac{r}{p} - \frac{4p}{q}$

Common denominator: $pq$
$$
= \frac{rq}{pq} - \frac{4p^2}{pq} = \frac{rq - 4p^2}{pq}
$$

Answer: $\frac{rq - 4p^2}{pq}$

---

#### 12) $\frac{x}{8} + \frac{1}{x + 2}$

Common denominator: $8(x + 2)$
$$
= \frac{x(x + 2)}{8(x + 2)} + \frac{8}{8(x + 2)} = \frac{x^2 + 2x + 8}{8(x + 2)}
$$

Answer: $\frac{x^2 + 2x + 8}{8(x + 2)}$

---

#### 13) $\frac{2}{x + 1} + \frac{1}{x + 2}$

Common denominator: $(x + 1)(x + 2)$
$$
= \frac{2(x + 2) + 1(x + 1)}{(x + 1)(x + 2)} = \frac{2x + 4 + x + 1}{(x + 1)(x + 2)} = \frac{3x + 5}{(x + 1)(x + 2)}
$$

Answer: $\frac{3x + 5}{(x + 1)(x + 2)}$

---

#### 14) $\frac{3}{y - 1} - \frac{1}{y + 2}$

Common denominator: $(y - 1)(y + 2)$
$$
= \frac{3(y + 2) - 1(y - 1)}{(y - 1)(y + 2)} = \frac{3y + 6 - y + 1}{(y - 1)(y + 2)} = \frac{2y + 7}{(y - 1)(y + 2)}
$$

Answer: $\frac{2y + 7}{(y - 1)(y + 2)}$

---

#### 15) $\frac{6}{1 - 2b} - \frac{b}{3 + b}$

Note: $1 - 2b = -(2b - 1)$, but let's just use LCD: $(1 - 2b)(3 + b)$

$$
= \frac{6(3 + b) - b(1 - 2b)}{(1 - 2b)(3 + b)} = \frac{18 + 6b - b + 2b^2}{(1 - 2b)(3 + b)} = \frac{2b^2 + 5b + 18}{(1 - 2b)(3 + b)}
$$

Answer: $\frac{2b^2 + 5b + 18}{(1 - 2b)(3 + b)}$

---

#### 16) $\frac{2}{x^2} - \frac{1}{x(x - 1)}$

Common denominator: $x^2(x - 1)$

$$
= \frac{2(x - 1)}{x^2(x - 1)} - \frac{x}{x^2(x - 1)} = \frac{2x - 2 - x}{x^2(x - 1)} = \frac{x - 2}{x^2(x - 1)}
$$

Answer: $\frac{x - 2}{x^2(x - 1)}$

---

#### 17) $7 - \frac{x - 4}{4x(x - 2)}$

Write $7 = \frac{7 \cdot 4x(x - 2)}{4x(x - 2)} = \frac{28x(x - 2)}{4x(x - 2)}$

But better: write $7 = \frac{7 \cdot 4x(x - 2)}{4x(x - 2)} = \frac{28x^2 - 56x}{4x(x - 2)}$

Then subtract:
$$
= \frac{28x^2 - 56x - (x - 4)}{4x(x - 2)} = \frac{28x^2 - 56x - x + 4}{4x(x - 2)} = \frac{28x^2 - 57x + 4}{4x(x - 2)}
$$

Answer: $\frac{28x^2 - 57x + 4}{4x(x - 2)}$

---

#### 18) $\frac{3y + 1}{(y - 2)^2} + \frac{y}{y - 2}$

Common denominator: $(y - 2)^2$

$$
= \frac{3y + 1 + y(y - 2)}{(y - 2)^2} = \frac{3y + 1 + y^2 - 2y}{(y - 2)^2} = \frac{y^2 + y + 1}{(y - 2)^2}
$$

Answer: $\frac{y^2 + y + 1}{(y - 2)^2}$

---

#### 19) $\frac{w}{w^2 - 1} + \frac{w + 1}{w - 1}$

Note: $w^2 - 1 = (w - 1)(w + 1)$

So:
$$
= \frac{w}{(w - 1)(w + 1)} + \frac{w + 1}{w - 1} = \frac{w + (w + 1)^2}{(w - 1)(w + 1)}
$$
Compute $(w + 1)^2 = w^2 + 2w + 1$

So:
$$
= \frac{w + w^2 + 2w + 1}{(w - 1)(w + 1)} = \frac{w^2 + 3w + 1}{(w - 1)(w + 1)}
$$

Answer: $\frac{w^2 + 3w + 1}{(w - 1)(w + 1)}$

---

#### 20) $\frac{1}{x^2 + 5x + 4} + \frac{1}{x^2 + 7x + 12}$

Factor:
- $x^2 + 5x + 4 = (x + 1)(x + 4)$
- $x^2 + 7x + 12 = (x + 3)(x + 4)$

Common denominator: $(x + 1)(x + 3)(x + 4)$

$$
= \frac{(x + 3) + (x + 1)}{(x + 1)(x + 3)(x + 4)} = \frac{2x + 4}{(x + 1)(x + 3)(x + 4)} = \frac{2(x + 2)}{(x + 1)(x + 3)(x + 4)}
$$

Answer: $\frac{2(x + 2)}{(x + 1)(x + 3)(x + 4)}$

---

#### 21) $\frac{2}{2x^2 + 5x - 3} - \frac{3}{3x^2 + 11x + 6}$

Factor both denominators:

- $2x^2 + 5x - 3$: Try factors of $2 \cdot (-3) = -6$: $6$ and $-1$
$2x^2 + 6x - x - 3 = 2x(x + 3) -1(x + 3) = (2x - 1)(x + 3)$

- $3x^2 + 11x + 6$: Factors of $3 \cdot 6 = 18$: $9$ and $2$
$3x^2 + 9x + 2x + 6 = 3x(x + 3) + 2(x + 3) = (3x + 2)(x + 3)$

So:
$$
\frac{2}{(2x - 1)(x + 3)} - \frac{3}{(3x + 2)(x + 3)}
$$

Common denominator: $(2x - 1)(3x + 2)(x + 3)$

$$
= \frac{2(3x + 2) - 3(2x - 1)}{(2x - 1)(3x + 2)(x + 3)}
$$

Numerator:
$$
2(3x + 2) = 6x + 4 \\
3(2x - 1) = 6x - 3 \\
\Rightarrow 6x + 4 - (6x - 3) = 6x + 4 - 6x + 3 = 7
$$

So:
$$
= \frac{7}{(2x - 1)(3x + 2)(x + 3)}
$$

Answer: $\frac{7}{(2x - 1)(3x + 2)(x + 3)}$

---

Section B Summary:



| Problem | Answer |
|--------|--------|
| 1 | $\frac{x + 20}{5}$ |
| 2 | $\frac{y^2 - 6}{y}$ |
| 3 | $\frac{4x - 13}{x - 2}$ |
| 4 | $\frac{27w + 46}{3w + 5}$ |
| 5 | $\frac{x^2 + 8x + 15}{x + 2}$ |
| 6 | $\frac{8}{x}$ |
| 7 | $\frac{9a}{2}$ |
| 8 | $-\frac{17b}{6}$ |
| 9 | $\frac{15}{2y}$ |
| 10 | $\frac{2}{3k}$ |
| 11 | $\frac{rq - 4p^2}{pq}$ |
| 12 | $\frac{x^2 + 2x + 8}{8(x + 2)}$ |
| 13 | $\frac{3x + 5}{(x + 1)(x + 2)}$ |
| 14 | $\frac{2y + 7}{(y - 1)(y + 2)}$ |
| 15 | $\frac{2b^2 + 5b + 18}{(1 - 2b)(3 + b)}$ |
| 16 | $\frac{x - 2}{x^2(x - 1)}$ |
| 17 | $\frac{28x^2 - 57x + 4}{4x(x - 2)}$ |
| 18 | $\frac{y^2 + y + 1}{(y - 2)^2}$ |
| 19 | $\frac{w^2 + 3w + 1}{(w - 1)(w + 1)}$ |
| 20 | $\frac{2(x + 2)}{(x + 1)(x + 3)(x + 4)}$ |
| 21 | $\frac{7}{(2x - 1)(3x + 2)(x + 3)}$ |

---

📌 Final Notes:



- Always factor when possible.
- Use common denominators carefully.
- Cancel common factors in numerators and denominators.
- Be cautious with signs, especially when subtracting.

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