Question 34 of 43advanced🔧 ApplyShort Answer3 marks

Simplify the following: (Note: Assume that the denominators are not equal to 0.)

(i)

(4x24x^{2} + 4x + 1) / (4x24x^{2} - 1)

Answer

(2x + 1) / (2x - 1)

(ii)

9(3a33a^{3} - 24b324b^{3}) / (9a29a^{2} - 36b236b^{2})

Answer

3(a2a^{2} + 2ab + 4b24b^{2}) / (a + 2b)

(iii)

(s3s^{3} + 125t3125t^{3}) / (s2s^{2} - 2st - 35t235t^{2})

Answer

(s2s^{2} - 5st + 25t225t^{2}) / (s - 7t)

Explanation

To simplify rational expressions, we factorise the numerator and denominator and cancel the common factors.

For (i), the numerator 4x24x^{2} + 4x + 1 is a perfect square, (2x + 1)^2, and the denominator 4x24x^{2} - 1 is a difference of squares, (2x + 1)(2x - 1). Cancelling (2x + 1) gives (2x + 1) / (2x - 1).

For (ii), the numerator simplifies to 27(a - 2b)(a2a^{2} + 2ab + 4b24b^{2}) and the denominator to 9(a - 2b)(a + 2b). Cancelling 9(a - 2b) yields 3(a2a^{2} + 2ab + 4b24b^{2}) / (a + 2b).

For (iii), the numerator is a sum of cubes, (s + 5t)(s2s^{2} - 5st + 25t225t^{2}), and the denominator factors to (s + 5t)(s - 7t). Cancelling (s + 5t) leaves (s2s^{2} - 5st + 25t225t^{2}) / (s - 7t).