NECO 2024 · Paper 1 · Q28

Simplify $\dfrac{x + \frac13}{x + \frac12}$ .

Worked solution (try it first)

Multiply the top and the bottom by 6, the LCM of 3 and 2: $\dfrac{6x + 2}{6x + 3}$ .
Take out common factors: $6x + 2 = 2(3x + 1)$ and $6x + 3 = 3(2x + 1)$ .
So the fraction is $\dfrac{2(3x + 1)}{3(2x + 1)}$ , option A.