1.02k Simplify rational expressions: factorising, cancelling, algebraic division

333 questions

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Edexcel F2 2014 June Q2
7 marks Standard +0.3
2. Use algebra to find the set of values of \(x\) for which $$\frac { 6 } { x - 3 } \leqslant x + 2$$
Edexcel F2 2015 June Q1
7 marks Moderate -0.3
  1. Using algebra, find the set of values of \(x\) for which
$$\frac { x } { x + 2 } < \frac { 2 } { x + 5 }$$
Edexcel F2 2024 June Q5
6 marks Standard +0.8
  1. In this question you must show all stages of your working.
Solutions relying entirely on calculator technology are not acceptable.
Use algebra to determine the values of \(x\) for which $$\frac { x + 1 } { ( x - 3 ) ( x + 2 ) } \leqslant 1 - \frac { 2 } { x - 3 }$$
Edexcel FP2 2007 June Q5
7 marks Standard +0.3
5. Find the set of values of \(x\) for which $$\frac { x + 1 } { 2 x - 3 } < \frac { 1 } { x - 3 }$$
Edexcel C3 2007 June Q2
10 marks Standard +0.3
$$f ( x ) = \frac { 2 x + 3 } { x + 2 } - \frac { 9 + 2 x } { 2 x ^ { 2 } + 3 x - 2 } , \quad x > \frac { 1 } { 2 }$$
  1. Show that \(\mathrm { f } ( x ) = \frac { 4 x - 6 } { 2 x - 1 }\).
  2. Hence, or otherwise, find \(\mathrm { f } ^ { \prime } ( x )\) in its simplest form.
OCR MEI FP2 2007 June Q5
18 marks Standard +0.8
5 The curve with equation \(y = \frac { x ^ { 2 } - k x + 2 k } { x + k }\) is to be investigated for different values of \(k\).
  1. Use your graphical calculator to obtain rough sketches of the curve in the cases \(k = - 2\), \(k = - 0.5\) and \(k = 1\).
  2. Show that the equation of the curve may be written as \(y = x - 2 k + \frac { 2 k ( k + 1 ) } { x + k }\). Hence find the two values of \(k\) for which the curve is a straight line.
  3. When the curve is not a straight line, it is a conic.
    (A) Name the type of conic.
    (B) Write down the equations of the asymptotes.
  4. Draw a sketch to show the shape of the curve when \(1 < k < 8\). This sketch should show where the curve crosses the axes and how it approaches its asymptotes. Indicate the points A and B on the curve where \(x = 1\) and \(x = k\) respectively.
OCR MEI C1 2008 January Q2
3 marks Moderate -0.8
2 Factorise and hence simplify \(\frac { 3 x ^ { 2 } - 7 x + 4 } { x ^ { 2 } - 1 }\).
OCR MEI C1 2008 June Q5
4 marks Moderate -0.8
5 Make \(x\) the subject of the equation \(y = \frac { x + 3 } { x - 2 }\).
OCR MEI C1 Q5
4 marks Standard +0.3
5 Make \(u\) the subject of the formula $$\frac { 1 } { v } - \frac { 1 } { u } = \frac { 1 } { f }$$
OCR MEI C1 Q1
3 marks Easy -1.2
1 Make \(a\) the subject of the equation \(s = u t + \frac { 1 } { 2 } a t ^ { 2 }\).
OCR MEI C1 Q3
12 marks Moderate -0.3
3 You are given that \(\mathrm { f } ( x ) = x ^ { 3 } + 9 x ^ { 2 } + 20 x + 12\).
  1. Show that \(x = - 2\) is a root of \(\mathrm { f } ( x ) = 0\).
  2. Divide \(\mathrm { f } ( x )\) by \(x + 6\).
  3. Express \(\mathrm { f } ( x )\) in fully factorised form.
  4. Sketch the graph of \(y = \mathrm { f } ( x )\).
  5. Solve the equation \(\mathrm { f } ( x ) = 12\).
OCR C3 2007 January Q1
5 marks Moderate -0.3
1 Find the equation of the tangent to the curve \(y = \frac { 2 x + 1 } { 3 x - 1 }\) at the point \(\left( 1 , \frac { 3 } { 2 } \right)\), giving your answer in the form \(a x + b y + c = 0\), where \(a\), \(b\) and \(c\) are integers.
OCR MEI C3 2007 June Q7
16 marks Standard +0.3
7 Fig. 7 shows the curve \(y = \frac { x ^ { 2 } } { 1 + 2 x ^ { 3 } }\). It is undefined at \(x = a\); the line \(x = a\) is a vertical asymptote. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{0ee3d87a-0d9e-4fa5-b8f5-8b28489e65b5-3_654_1034_1505_497} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Fig. 7}
\end{figure}
  1. Calculate the value of \(a\), giving your answer correct to 3 significant figures.
  2. Show that \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x } = \frac { 2 x - 2 x ^ { 4 } } { \left( 1 + 2 x ^ { 3 } \right) ^ { 2 } }\). Hence determine the coordinates of the turning points of the curve.
  3. Show that the area of the region between the curve and the \(x\)-axis from \(x = 0\) to \(x = 1\) is \(\frac { 1 } { 6 } \ln 3\).
OCR MEI C3 Q4
18 marks Standard +0.3
4 Fig. 9 shows the curve \(y = \mathrm { f } ( x )\), where \(\mathrm { f } ( x ) = \frac { 1 } { \sqrt { 2 x - x ^ { 2 } } }\).
The curve has asymptotes \(x = 0\) and \(x = a\). \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{2437cecc-f084-4e49-ab36-1c132ba13267-2_652_795_876_717} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Fig. 9}
\end{figure}
  1. Find \(a\). Hence write down the domain of the function.
  2. Show that \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x } = \frac { x - 1 } { \left( 2 x - x ^ { 2 } \right) ^ { \frac { 3 } { 2 } } }\). Hence find the coordinates of the turning point of the curve, and write down the range of the function. The function \(\mathrm { g } ( x )\) is defined by \(\mathrm { g } ( x ) = \frac { 1 } { \sqrt { 1 - x ^ { 2 } } }\).
  3. (A) Show algebraically that \(\mathrm { g } ( x )\) is an even function.
    (B) Show that \(\mathrm { g } ( x - 1 ) = \mathrm { f } ( x )\).
    (C) Hence prove that the curve \(y = \mathrm { f } ( x )\) is symmetrical, and state its line of symmetry.
OCR MEI C3 Q3
18 marks Challenging +1.2
3
  1. Use the substitution \(u = 1 + x\) to show that $$\int _ { 0 } ^ { 1 } \frac { x ^ { 3 } } { 1 + x } \mathrm {~d} x = \int _ { a } ^ { b } \left( u ^ { 2 } - 3 u + 3 - \frac { 1 } { u } \right) \mathrm { d } u$$ where \(a\) and \(b\) are to be found.
    Hence evaluate \(\int _ { 0 } ^ { 1 } \frac { x ^ { 3 } } { 1 + x } \mathrm {~d} x\), giving your answer in exact form. Fig. 8 shows the curve \(y = x ^ { 2 } \ln ( 1 + x )\). \begin{figure}[h]
    \includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{d1206ce8-7716-4205-b98e-664e7ead8a25-3_830_806_907_706} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Fig. 8}
    \end{figure}
  2. Find \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x }\). Verify that the origin is a stationary point of the curve.
  3. Using integration by parts, and the result of part (i), find the exact area enclosed by the curve \(y = x ^ { 2 } \ln ( 1 + x )\), the \(x\)-axis and the line \(x = 1\).
OCR C4 2006 January Q1
3 marks Easy -1.2
1 Simplify \(\frac { x ^ { 3 } - 3 x ^ { 2 } } { x ^ { 2 } - 9 }\).
OCR C4 2007 June Q7
10 marks Moderate -0.3
7
  1. Find the quotient and the remainder when \(2 x ^ { 3 } + 3 x ^ { 2 } + 9 x + 12\) is divided by \(x ^ { 2 } + 4\).
  2. Hence express \(\frac { 2 x ^ { 3 } + 3 x ^ { 2 } + 9 x + 12 } { x ^ { 2 } + 4 }\) in the form \(A x + B + \frac { C x + D } { x ^ { 2 } + 4 }\), where the values of the constants \(A , B , C\) and \(D\) are to be stated.
  3. Use the result of part (ii) to find the exact value of \(\int _ { 1 } ^ { 3 } \frac { 2 x ^ { 3 } + 3 x ^ { 2 } + 9 x + 12 } { x ^ { 2 } + 4 } \mathrm {~d} x\).
OCR C4 2008 June Q1
6 marks Moderate -0.3
1
  1. Simplify \(\frac { \left( 2 x ^ { 2 } - 7 x - 4 \right) ( x + 1 ) } { \left( 3 x ^ { 2 } + x - 2 \right) ( x - 4 ) }\).
  2. Find the quotient and remainder when \(x ^ { 3 } + 2 x ^ { 2 } - 6 x - 5\) is divided by \(x ^ { 2 } + 4 x + 1\).
OCR C4 Specimen Q1
4 marks Moderate -0.8
1 Find the quotient and remainder when \(x ^ { 4 } + 1\) is divided by \(x ^ { 2 } + 1\).
OCR MEI C4 2007 January Q1
4 marks Moderate -0.8
1 Solve the equation \(\frac { 1 } { x } + \frac { x } { x + 2 } = 1\).
OCR MEI C4 2010 June Q1
3 marks Easy -1.2
1 Express \(\frac { x } { x ^ { 2 } - 1 } + \frac { 2 } { x + 1 }\) as a single fraction, simplifying your answer.
OCR MEI C4 Q1
3 marks Moderate -0.8
1 Solve the equation. $$\frac { 8 } { x } - \frac { 9 } { x + 1 } = 1$$
OCR MEI C4 Q5
5 marks Moderate -0.3
5
  1. Simplify \(\frac { x ^ { 3 } - x ^ { 2 } - 3 x - 9 } { x - 3 }\).
  2. Hence or otherwise solve the equation \(x ^ { 3 } - x ^ { 2 } - 3 x - 9 = 6 ( x - 3 )\).
OCR MEI FP1 2005 January Q3
7 marks Standard +0.3
3
  1. Solve the equation \(\frac { 1 } { x + 2 } = 3 x + 4\).
  2. Solve the inequality \(\frac { 1 } { x + 2 } \leqslant 3 x + 4\).
OCR MEI FP1 2005 January Q7
14 marks Standard +0.8
7 A curve has equation \(y = \frac { ( 2 x - 3 ) ( x + 1 ) } { ( x + 4 ) ( x - 2 ) }\).
  1. Write down the values of \(x\) for which \(y = 0\).
  2. Write down the equations of the three asymptotes.
  3. Determine whether the curve approaches the horizontal asymptote from above or from below for
    (A) large positive values of \(x\),
    (B) large negative values of \(x\).
  4. Sketch the curve.
  5. Solve the inequality \(\frac { ( 2 x - 3 ) ( x + 1 ) } { ( x + 4 ) ( x - 2 ) } \leqslant 2\).