ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS

Algebraic Language
Real numbers
Surds lie between integers
Rounding-off Integers
Products
Factorization: Common Factor
Factorization: Difference of Squares
Factorization: Trinomials
Factorization: Grouping in Pairs
Factorization: Cubes
Algebraic Fractions
1
Rational Numbers
A rational number is a number that can be
expressed in the form where
and where a and b are integers.

REAL NUMBERS
b
a
0 = b
2
Examples



a) Integers
e.g. 5 can be written as where 5 and 1 are
integers.

b) Mixed fractions
e.g.

c) Terminating decimals
e.g. 0,25 =

d) Recurring decimals have an infinite pattern & can
be expressed as a fraction
e.g. 0, 3 = 0, 3333333; 0, 12 = 0, 12121212

1
5
7
3
2
4
1
100
25
=
3
Converting Recurring Decimals to Fractions

E.g. a) Show that 0,3 is rational.
Let x = 0, 333333....
l0x = 3, 333333 (multiply both sides by 10)
l0x - x = 3, 33333 0, 33333 (subtract equations)
9x = 3, 0000000
9x = 3
x = 3 a rational number!

E.g. b) Show that 0, 12 is rational.
Let x = 0, 12121212
100x = 12, 12121212 (multiply both sides by 100)
99x = 12, 000000 (subtract equations)
x = a rational number!


33
4
99
12
=
4
EXERCISE
1. Are these numbers rational and why?
(a)

(b)
(c) 6
(d) - 3
(e) 0, 72
(f) 1, 4142
4
3
1
6
1
2
5
2. Show that the following recurring decimals
are rational:
(a) 0, 4
(b) 0, 21
(c) 0, 14
(d) 19, 45
(e) 0, 124
(f) 0, 124
6
Irrational numbers
Numbers that cannot be written in the form
where
Therefore recurring numbers that neither
terminate nor recur with a pattern
E.g. a) 5,739129
b) -4,883291103
c)
t
b
a
0 = b
Irrational Numbers in Circles & Squares
7
The Number
is the ratio of the circumference of a circle to
its diameter
is = 3,142857143.


However, can be approximated as an
improper fraction

t
t
as a Rational Number
t
Rounding-off
t
7
22
8
EXERCISE 1
State whether the following numbers are
rational or irrational:
(a) 8 (b) (c) 7 (d)
(e) (f) (g) (h)
(i) - 0, 13 (j) 0, 42 (k)
(l) 0, 2453756
16
7
25
0
2
1
5
6
1
1
t
9
EXERCISE 2
Classify numbers by placing ticks in the appropriate
columns:
Number Real Rational Integer Whole Natural Irrational
- 3
0, 3
8, 23647
6
1
3
14674 , 0
16
5
t
7
22
10
SURDS LIE BETWEEN INTEGERS
E.g. Determine without the use of a calculator,
between which 2 integers lies.
Find an integer smaller and bigger than 11
that can be square rooted 9 and 16
Now create an inequality 9 < 11 < 16
Square root all integers
Solve
Check using a calculator
11
16 11 9 < <
4 11 3 < <
3166 , 3 11 =
11
EXERCISE
Without using a calculator, determine between
which two integers the following irrational
numbers lie:

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
30
27
3
43
6
7
33
t
12
ROUNDING-OFF INTEGERS
If it is > 5 or = 5 round up
If it is < 5 round down

Remember! If you are rounding-off to 2 decimal
places, the third decimal place determines whether
you round up or down etc.

E.g. (a) 2, 31437 (2 d.p.) Answer: 2, 31
(b) 0, 77777 (3 d.p.) Answer: 0, 778
(c) 245, 13589 (4 d.p.) Answer: 245,1359

Rounding-off Numbers
13
EXERCISE 1
Round off the following numbers to the
number of decimal places indicated:
(a) 9, 23584 (3 decimal places)
(b) 67, 2436 (2 decimal places)
(c) 4, 3768534 (4 decimal places)
(d) 17,247398 (5 decimal places)
(e) 79, 9999 (3 decimal places)
(f) 34, 2784682 (4 decimal places)
(g) 5,555555 (5 decimal places)
14
EXERCISE 2
Simplify and round-off to the number of
decimal places indicated:
(a) (3 decimal places)
(b) (4 decimal places)
(c) (2 decimal places)
(d) (5 decimal places)
(e) (2 decimal places)
53427 , 7
3
3333 , 3
6
268 , 36
( ) ( ) 18 , 2 64 , 2
2
( )
6
6
64 , 1 64 , 1
15
PRODUCTS
E.g. x (y + z) = xy + xz
- Multiply each term inside the bracket by the
number outside the bracket
E.g. (a + b)(c + d) = ac + ad + bc + bd
- This is done by using the FOIL method

The Product Game
16
Examples
Expand and simplify the following:
(a) (x + 2) (x + 3)



(b) (x + 2) (x + x - 1)
6 5
6 2 3
2
2
+ + =
+ + + =
x x
x x x
2 3
2 2 2
2 3
2 2 3
+ + =
+ + + =
x x x
x x x x x
Squaring a Binomial Example
17



3 2 2 3
3 2 2 2 2 3
2 2 2 2
2 2
2
27 27 9
27 18 3 9 6
) 9 6 ( 3 ) 9 6 (
) 9 6 )( 3 (
) 3 )( 3 (
b ab b a a
b ab b a ab b a a
b ab a b b ab a a
b ab a b a
b a b a
+ =
+ + =
+ + =
+ =
=
(c) x(x-2xy+3y) - 2y(x -2xy+3y)





(d) (a 3b) (a 3b)
2 2 2 3
3 2 2 2 2 3
2 2 2 2
6 7 4
6 4 2 3 2
) 3 2 ( 2 ) 3 2 (
y xy y x x
y xy y x xy y x x
y xy x y y xy x x
+ =
+ + =
+ + =
18
Exercise 1:
Simplify:
(a) (x + 3)(x - 3)
(b) (x - 6)(x + 6)
(c) (2x - l)(2x + l)
(d) (4x + 9)(4x - 9)
(e) (3x - 2y)(3x + 2y)
(f) (4a b + 3)(4a b - 3)
(g) (2x 3 + y)(2x 3 y)
(h) (1 a )(1 a )(1 + a)
44
19
Exercise 2
Simplify:
(a) 2x(3x - 4y) - (7x - 2xy)
(b) (5y + 1) - (3y + 4)(2 - 3y)
(c) (2x + y) - (3x - 2y) + (x - 4y)(x + 4y)
(d) (8m - 3n)(4m + n) - (n - 3m)(n + 3m)
(e) (3a + b)(3a - b)(2a + 5b)
2
20
Exercise 3
Simplify:
(a) (x + 1)(x + 2x + 3)
(b) (x - 1)(x - 2x + 3)
(c) (2x + 4)(x - 3x + 1)
(d) (2x - 4)(x - 3x + 1)
(e) (3x-y)(2x + 4xy y )
(f) (3x - 2y)(9 x + 6xy + 4 y )
(g) (3x + 2y)(9x - 6xy + 4y )
(h) (2a + 3b)
(i) (2a - 3b)
21
FACTORIZATION: Common Factor

The Factor Game

The golden rule of factorization is to always look for the
highest common factor first:
Complex example
e.g. a(x-y) 2(x-y) = (x-y)[a-2(x-y)]
= (x-y)(a-2x+2y)
Basic examples
Common Factor
with Variables
22
Common Brackets Exercise:
(a) (b)
(c) (d)
(e) (f)
(g) (h)
(i) (j)
(k) (l)
(m) (n)
(o)
( ) ( ) y x b y x a + + + ( ) ( ) b a y b a x + + +
( ) ( ) q r m r q p + + + ( ) ( ) n m y n m x 3 5 3 2
( ) ( ) y x y x 3
2
( ) ( )
5 4
c a c a + + +
( ) ( )
2 6
n m n m + ( ) ( ) m n y n m x 3 4 3 7
( ) ( ) m n y n m x + 3 4 3 7 ( ) ( ) n m y n m x 3 4 3 7 + +
( ) ( ) p q y q p x 3 4 3 2 + + ( ) ( ) pa pb b a
( ) ( )
3 3
2 2 4 a a x + ( ) ( ) a b x b a x 3 12 3 2
2

( ) ( ) ( ) a b d a b c b a + 3 3 3
23
( )( )
) )( (
2 2 2 2 2 2
b a b a
b a b a b a
+ =
+ =
FACTORIZATION: Difference of
Squares
There must be 2 terms that you can take the square-root of and
a minus sign.
Basic examples

a)


b) 9
2
x
) 3 )( 3 (
) 9 )( 9 (
2 2
+ =
+ =
x x
x x
Difference of Squares Example
24
8 8
8 8 b a
( )
( )( )
( )( )( )
( )( )( )( )
4 4 2 2
4 4 2 2 2 2
4 4 4 4
8 8
8
8
8
8
b a b a b a b a
b a b a b a
b a b a
b a
+ + + =
+ + =
+ =
=

Complex examples

a)



b)




c)
( )
2
4 y x
( ) ( )
( )( ) y x y x
y x y x
+ + =
+ =
2 2
] 2 ][ 2 [
2 4
64 49 y x
( )( ) y x y x 8 7 8 7
2 2
+ =
25
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(n)

6 8
100 n m
4 4
225 144 y x
16
4
p
81
8
z
2 2
75 12 m k
2 3
3 27 ab a
( )
2
2
c b x +
( )
2
2
16 25 m a a
Complex Exercise
26
E.g. a)
Factors of 8: 1 x 8 or 4 x 2
The middle term (6a) is obtained by adding the
factors of 8 4 + 2 = 6
Therefore:

E.g. b)
First take out common factor!
Factors of 8: 1 x 8 or 4 x 2
The middle term (7x) is obtained by adding the
factors of 8 -8 +1 = -7
Therefore:

8 6
2
+ + a a
FACTORIZATION: Trinomials
( )( ) 2 4 + + = a a
24 21 3
2
x x
) 8 7 ( 3
2
= x x
) 1 )( 8 ( 3
) 8 7 ( 3
2
+ =
=
x x
x x
Make sure you know your times-tables and factors!
Trinomial with Common Factor
27
Note:
If the sign of the last term of a trinomial is
positive, the signs in the brackets are the
same
i.e. ( - )( - ) or ( + )( + )

If the sign of the last term of a trinomial is
negative, the signs in the brackets are
different, i.e. both positive or both negative
i.e. ( + )( - ) or ( - )( + )

Visualizing Factorization
28
Basic Exercise
Factorize fully :

(a) (b)
(c) (d)
(e) (f)
(g) (h)
(i) (j)
(k) (l)
(m) (o)
12 7
2
+ + a a
12 7
2
+ a a
12 4
2
+ a a
12 4
2
a a
20 9
2
+ x x
12 11
2
x x
35 12
2
+ x x
6 5
2
p p
6 5
2
+ p p 6 5
2
+ p p
28 11
2
+ k k 84 5
2
k k
9 6
2
+ + k k 16 8
2
+ k k
29
Complex Exercise
Factorize fully:

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
18 3 3
2
k k
36 14 2
2
k k
40 12 4
2
+ k k
30 24 6
2
+ g g
k k k 8 11
2 3
+
30
More advanced trinomials
E.g. a)

4 25 21
2
+ p p
Step 1: Check for the HCF none
Step 2: Write down the brackets and the factors of
the first term and the factors of the last term
(7p 1)(3p 4)
Step 3: Now multiply the innermost and the
outermost terms

Step 4: To find the middle term ... - 3p + 28p = + 25p
Step 5: Complete the factors (7p 1)(3p + 4)
Note! This method involves trial and error and you need to keep t
trying different options until you get ones that will work.

p p
p p
28 4 7
3 3 1
=
=
31
E.g. b)

Step 1: Check for the HCF none
Step 2: Write down the brackets and the factors of the
first term and the factors of the last term
(12a b)(2a b)
Step 3: Now multiply the innermost and the outermost
terms 2ab x 12ab
Step 4: To find the middle term ... -12ab + 2ab = - 10ab
Step 5: Complete the factors (12a + b)(2a b)


2 2
10 24 b ab a
32
Advanced Exercise
1. Factorize fully:

(a) (b)
(c) (d)
(e) (f)
(g) (h)
(i) (j)
(k) (l)
1 3 2
2
+ + p p
1 4 3
2
+ p p
1 8 15
2
+ p p
1 3 18
2
+ m m
3 5 2
2
m m
8 14 5
2
+ + m m
6 7 2
2
+ m m 10 11 6
2
k k
21 5 6
2
k k
9 24 20
2
+ k k
10 3 18
2
k k
2
6 15 x x
33
FACTORIZATION: Grouping in pairs

E.g.
Group the terms that look similar
(i.e. those that could potentially have
common factors)
Factorize each pair separately and then take
out the common bracket:


py px ay ax + + +
) )( (
) ( ) (
p a y x
y x p y x a
py px ay ax
+ + =
+ + + =
+ + +
Group terms with common factors or similar brackets!
34
Switch-arounds
taking out a negative
- x + y = - (x - y) and x y = - (x + y)

E.g. a) Factorize

x ax a a 6 6
2
+
) 6 )( 1 (
) 1 ( 6 ) 1 (
) 6 6 ( ) (
2
x a a
a x a a
x ax a a
+ =
+ + =
+ + =
35
b) Factorize:




(c) Factorize:
3 3
2 3
+ p p p
) 1 )( 1 )( 3 (
) 1 )( 3 (
) 3 ( ) 3 (
) 3 ( ) 3 (
2
2
2 3
+ =
=
=
+ + =
p p p
p p
p p p
p p p
mp p m m 12 6 3 6
2
+
) 2 )( 1 2 ( 3
) 6 3 )( 1 2 (
) 1 2 ( 6 ) 1 2 ( 3
) 2 1 ( 6 ) 1 2 ( 3
) 12 6 ( ) 3 6 (
2
p m m
p m m
m p m m
m p m m
mp p m m
+ + =
+ + =
+ + + =
+ + =
+ + =
36
Exercise
Factorize:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
18 54 2 6
2 3
+ a a a
dt p t d p + + ) (
2
) 2 1 )( 3 ( 9
2
m m m
y x y x
2 2
2 2 2
16 4 4 t q pq p +
37
Sum of Cubes
x.x=x y.y=y

x + y = (x+y)(x - xy + y)

Take the cube root
of each term
FACTORIZATION: Cubes
Times factors of
first bracket to
get middle term
Sum of Cubes Example
38
Difference of Cubes
x.x=x y.y=y

x - y = (x-y)(x + xy + y)

Take the cube root
of each term
Times factors of
first bracket to
get middle term
Difference of Cubes Example Visualization of Factorizing a Cubic Expression
39

Simplify the following expressions:
(a)




(b)


bt a
t b a
5
4 3
18
12
2
3
0 3 2
1 1 1 4 5 3
3
2
3
2
3
2
a
b
t b a
t b a
=
=
=

d
c a
d
c a
25
24
5
12
7 2

5
1 1 1 1 7 2
7
2
7
2
2
5
2
5
24 5
25 12
24
25
5
12
a
d c a
cd a
cd a
c a
d
d
c a
=
=

=
=

ALGEBRAIC FRACTIONS
40

Whenever the numerator contains two or more terms,
factorize the expression in the numerator and simplify


(c)




(d)


2
2
6
12 6
c
c c +
c
c
c
c c
2
6
) 2 ( 6
2
+
=
+
=
Simplifying Basic Algebraic Expressions
1 3
1 9
2

x
x
1 3
1 3
) 1 3 )( 1 3 (
+ =

+
=
x
x
x x
41
EXERCISE 1
Simplify the following:
(a) (b)
(c) (d)
(e) (f)
(g) (h)
(i) (j)
yz x
z y x
8
10 6
36
24
2 6
2 5 3
75
25
z xy
z y x
25
8
2
5
2
m
m

2
3 2
4 6
p
t
p
t

y
x
x
y
y
x
3
2
3
4 6
3
2

m
m m
2
p
p p
4
8 4
2

s
s s
6
6 3
2

2
2
4
4 4
m
m t +
8 4
2 2 3
w w w

42
EXERCISE 2
Simplify

(a) (b)

(c) (d)

(e) (f)
6
1
3
2
+
w
4 3
c c

2
2 3
t t
+
1
3 5
2 3
+
w w
3
3
1
9
2
6
7
r rt r
+
4
6
7
4
5
2
3
2 2
+
y yw w y
43
More Advanced Algebraic Fractions
Examples

a)



b)
Simplifying Complex
Algebraic Expressions
5
) 5 ( 2 ) 1 )( 5 (

+
x
x x x
1
2 ) 1 (
5
] 2 ) 1 )[( 5 (
+ =
+ =

+
=
x
x
x
x x
xy y
x
x y
x xy
+

2
2
2 2
2
x
y
x
x y y
x y x y
x y x
x
xy y
x y
x xy
=
+

+

=
+

=
2
2
2
2 2
2
) (
) )( (
) (
44
Exercise
Simplify:
a)

b)

c)

d)
) 1 (
4 5
2
+
+ +
x x
x x
) 1 (
1 ) 1 (
2 2

+
x x
x x x
x
x
x
x x
3 6
2
) 2 ( 2
2
2

+
x x x
x
x
x

+
+
+

1
1
1 3 2
4
1 4
2 1
2 2
45