Course Number: MAT100-006016 Class Discussion - Chapter Three Week Three: July 9 through July 15, 2007 A formula

is a method of expressing a rule by the use of symbols or letters. A formula is an equation. An equation is a statement that two expressions are equal. Algebraic Expression is the letters are used to represent numbers or members (Sperling, 1991, Page 83). Example: D = BR. An equation has two sides.i To solve an equation, you must first find the value of the unknown or literal number in relation to other numbers in the equation. The rules of procedure for treating equations are that what is done to one side of equation must also be done to the other side of an equation.ii Example 2: If n + 6 = 18, what does n equal? Solution: Subtract 6 from both sides of the equation. 1. N + 6 - 6 = 18 6 2. N = 12 Next, check the result by substituting 12 for n in the original equation.iii 1. n + 6 = 18 becomes 2. 12 + 6 = 18 or 3. 18 = 18 Example 3: If 1/3 of a number is 10, find the number.iv 1. n/3 x 3 = 10 x 3 2. n/3 x 3 = 10 x 3 (be sure to cancel out the number 3) 3. n = 30 Example 4: Two times a number is 30. What is that number? Solution: Divide both sides by 2. 1. 2n = 30 2. 2n/2 = 3. 30/2 = 15 Remember that if n = 30, then to get n by itself on one side of the equation, the divisor 3 on the left was changed to the multiplier 3 (3/1) on the right (81) In addition, remember that if n = 15, then to get n by itself on one side of the equation, the multiplier 2 on the left were changed to the divisor 2 on the right. Note that transposition shortens the method for performing like operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division on both sides of the equation. Transposition is the process of moving a quantity from one side of an equation to the other side by changing its sign of operation. Division is the opposite of multiplication. Addition is the operation opposite to subtraction. Transposition occurs when here is a need to obtain an equation in which the unknown quantity is on one side and the known quantity is on the other. A term is Sanders, Thalia C. Math 100 Page 1 of 3 Week Three 07/13/2007 Professor Davis

transposed from one side of an equation to the other if its sign is changed from + to -, or from - to +. A factor, or multiplier, maybe removed from one side of an equation by making it a divisor in the other. A divisor may be removed from one side of an equation by making it a factor in the other. Often times n represents the unknown quantity occur on both sides of the equation. Nevertheless, transposition is performed when necessary to collect the unknown terms on one side (usually the left) and all the known terms on the other (page 83). A basic rule of fractions is that any algebraic (also known as rational) expression is that any rational expression a/b and any polynomial a, b and c (where b =/ 0 and c =/ 0), ac/bc = a/b (Tobey, 2002, page 355). The =/ sign means that be is not equal to c and so on. In addition, the division principle for any numbers a, b, and c (c =/ 0), a = b is equivalent to a/c = b/c. Moreover, the rules of order of operations dictate that unless grouping symbols indicate otherwise, multiplication and division are performed before any addition or subtraction. In general the last step performed in an algebraic calculation in the first step reversed when finding a solution (Saltzer, 2004, page 195). To conclude, for any whole number n that is not 0, n/n = 1 and 0/n = 0. For any whole number n, n/1 = n. True. Why? Simple division may be checked by multiplying the divisor by the quotient, and then adding the remainder, if there is one (Sperling, 1991, page 18). 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. If 8 = n then 1x + 2 -2 = 10 2, Then 1x + 0 = 8, then, 1x = 8. Check: 1x/1 = 8/1, then 1x = 8 And x =8.

The rule is that a polynomial is not a fraction and can be written as a fraction if you give it a denominator of 1. Cited references: Abraham Sperling, Ph. D. and Monroe Stuart. (1991). Mathematics made simple. 5th edition. Doubleday: New York. ISBN: 0-385-6584-0. Tobey, John and Slater, Jefferey. (2002). Beginning Algebra. 5th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458: Prentice Hall. ISBN: 0-13-098228-0. http://www.prenhall.com/tobey. Saltzer, B.K. ed. (2005). MATH 100: Fundamentals of Mathematics, 2nd custom ed. Boston: Pearson.v

Sanders, Thalia C. Math 100

Page 2 of 3 Week Three

07/13/2007 Professor Davis

Sperling, Abraham (1991). Legend: D = discount, B = base, and R = rate. The equation states that D (discount) is equal to BR, and D is the left side of the equation, as BR is the right side. ii Sperling, Abraham (1991). The same number may be added to both sides of an equation without changing its equality. iii Sperling, Abraham (1991). Both sides of an equation may be supplied by the same number. iv Ibid. N is 10, for 1/3n or n/3 = 10. Note that both sides of an equation may be divided by the same number. v Math100: Fundamentals of Mathematics. (2004). 2nd Custom Edition. Brian K. Saltzer, ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Hall. In Bittinger, M.L., and Ellenbogen, D.J. (2004). Prealgebra, 4th edition. Boston: Addison Wesley. In Hutchison, d. and Yannotta, M. (2004). Mathematics for New Technologies. Boston: Addison Wesley. In Hutchison, D. and Yannotta, M. (2004). Instructors Solutions Manual for Mathematics for New Technologies. Boston: Addison Wesley. ISBN: 0-536-98801-3.