Rational Expressions - Addition, Subtraction | C3 Edexcel June 2012 Q1 | ExamSolutions

An example on simplifying rational expressions by adding together two algebraic fractions.

[ExamSolutions_Maths]

You can only cancel out common factors when you have one term in the top and one term in the bottom. The top part of the fraction has two terms not 1 term. So you cannot do what you propose. I have tutorials on simplifying on my website. C3 rational functions

[oOQubixOo]

so im guessing if something in brackets has a coefficient it cant be divided.
For example you had
2(3x+1) - 2(3x-2)

(3x-2) (3x+1)

so im guessing you cant cancel out the 3x-2 and the 3x+1 on the denominator with the numerator, because it has a coefficient?