A-LEVEL MATHEMATICS Topic : Simplifying Algebraic Expressions

We have to be able to simplify expressions of the formand We must be clear about the rules for indices and cancelling fractions.
The first one is simplified as follows:

The second expression factorises on the top and bottom:

is a common factor hence we can cancel it to give the answer:
We may also have to simplify by adding fraction which result in terms to cancel:

The numerator factorises and we can identify common factors in numerator and denominator.