F.

1 Mathematics Supplementary Notes

Chapter 2 Using Algebra to Solve Problems

Chapter 2 Using Algebra to Solve Problems

11/2001

Name:_____________( ) Class: F.1 ( )

Important Terms
sum

term

difference

constant term

product

like term

quotient

unlike term

algebraic expression

sequence

substitution

general term

symbol

function

equation

variable

inequality

number pattern

Revision Notes
A. Using algebraic language
Symbol

Meaning

Examples

is equal toequals

725

is not equal to

633

is approximately() equal to

is greater thanis larger than

95

is less thanis smaller than

810

because
therefore

3x5
x2

Exercise A
Level 1
1. Write the following using symbols
(a) The product of 2 and b equals 6
(b) m is less than 4
(c) a is not equal to zero
(d) 52 is greater than 52
(e) 1.41.4 is approximately equal to 2
(f) The sum of a and b equals 10
(g) When x is subtracted from ythe
difference is greater than 6
(h) The quotient when d is divided by 12
is not equal to zero

P. 1

1
0.3
3

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F.1 Mathematics Supplementary Notes

(i)
(j)

Chapter 2 Using Algebra to Solve Problems

The product of p and 2 is less than q

Twice y equals 14therefore y equals to 7

P. 2

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(k) x plus 7 equals twentytherefore x equals 13

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(l)

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y minus 26 equals 4therefore y equals 30

Level 2
2. Write the following using symbols
(a) The product of a and b is greater then 2 to the power 4
(b) The sum of x and 5 equals q times p squared
(c) When a is subtracted from 5 times of bthe
difference is less than half c
(d) Four times the sum of x and y is greater than
the sum of half a plus b
(e) The quotient when p is divided by one-third
() q is not equal to r cubed
(f) c squared plus 9 is less than the product of d
and two-thirds() d

B.

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Algebraic expressions
An algebraic expression can be divided into several parts by the "+" sign or the ""sign.
Each part, together with the "+" or ""sign before it , is called a term of the algebraic expression.
Substitution of algebraic expressions

Example: Substitute x5 the into the algebraic expression 2 x 2 x 1

When x5 , the value of the algebraic expression
2
2 x 2 x 1 2(5) (5) 1

46

Example: When x1y2z3find the value of

Substitute x1y2z3 into

x y
x 2 5 yz
x

x y
x 2 5 yz , then
x

( 1) ( 2)
x y
x 2 5 yz
(1) 2 5( 2)(3)
x
1

x is called the
variable.

F.1 Mathematics Supplementary Notes

Chapter 2 Using Algebra to Solve Problems

= 1 1 30
= 32

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F.1 Mathematics Supplementary Notes

C.

Chapter 2 Using Algebra to Solve Problems

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P. 4

Formulas
We have learnt many mathematics formulas at primary level and some of them are shown below:
Forumla
Figure

Square()
length()

In words

Algebraic Expression

Let the area be A

the perimeter be P
area length of one side length of one side
length of one side be b
perimeter 4length of one side

A b2
P 4b

Rectangle()
length()
width
()

arealength width
perimeter2(length width)

Triangle()

height()

Let the area be A

the perimeter be P
the length be b
the width be w
A bw
P 2 (b w)
Let the area be A
the base be b
the height be h

area

base height
2

bh
2

base()
Circle()

radius()

area radius radius

circumference() 2 radius

Let the area be A

the radius be r
the circumference be C
A r 2
C 2 r

Exercise B
Level 1

F.1 Mathematics Supplementary Notes

1.

Chapter 2 Using Algebra to Solve Problems

11/2001

Complete the following table

Algebraic expression

Number of terms

Constant term

(a) 3 x 2 y 1 x 2
(b) 6 3 a 5 b
(c) m mn
(d)

9
n

125h
8kl 5
8

(e) x 2 3 xy y 7
2.

Write down a pair of like terms in each of the following algebraic expressions.
1
x 6 xy
2

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(b) 2 3 yx 3 x 2 y xy

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(a)

(c)

2x 3y

a
b 6ab 2 a
3

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1
1
3x y
x
5

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(d) 5
(e)
3.

2abc ab 3bc ca cb

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When x3find the values of the following algebraic expressions.

(a)

(3 x ) 2 3 x 3

(b)

2
x x2 5
3

4.

When y5find the values of the following algebraic expressions.

(a) 2y(7y)2
(b) y2(3y1)7

5.

In the formula F C 32

2.

find the value of F if C30.

find the value of A if r7

9
5

In the formula A

22 2
r
7

P. 5

F.1 Mathematics Supplementary Notes

6.

Chapter 2 Using Algebra to Solve Problems

Given the values a2b3find the value of x in the following

(a)

x ab 2

(c)

a
b 1

(e)

1
( a b) 2
2

(b)

1
(b a )
2

(d)

(f)

x a (b 2)

x b 2 ab

Level 2
7. When x1y2z3find the values of the following algebraic expression
(a) 3xy2z
(b) 3(x2z)2x

(c) (xy2z)2

(d) (2xy)(y3z)

(e) (4x2z)y

(f)

2yxxz3

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F.1 Mathematics Supplementary Notes

8.

If x
(a)

9.

Chapter 2 Using Algebra to Solve Problems

1
1
y z 2 find the values of the following
2
3
x

x y
zy

(b) 1
y
y

Given that x2y5 and z3find the value of A in each of the following
A ( x y) z
(a) A 5 z 4 y 3 x
(b)

x2 y2
( y z) 2

(c)

(e)

A (3 x y )( y 2 z )

y2 x2
2z

(d)

(f)

A 2 y x z ( x y )

Level 3

(g)

1 1

x y
A
y
z
x

(h)

z
x

z
yx

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F.1 Mathematics Supplementary Notes

Chapter 2 Using Algebra to Solve Problems

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P. 8

D.

Equations and Inequalities

Equations
(a) An equation contains an equal sign = and also one or more unknowns.
(b) To solve an equation is to find the value of the unknown in that equation. That
value is called the solution of the equation.
(c) We usually solve equations using the method of performing the same operation
on each side of the equation.
Inequalities (a) Expressions that involve inequality signs and are called inequalities.
(b) All values that satisfy an inequality are called solutions of that inequality.
(c) Similar to solving equations, we solve inequalities using the the method of
performing the same operation on each side of the inequality .

E.

Number Patterns
A group of numbers which is arranged in a certain pattern is called a sequence.
Each number in the sequence is called a term.
Example: 2 , 5 , 8 , 11 ,
first term : 2 = 3(1) 1
second term : 5 = 3(2) 1
third term : 8 = 3(3) 1
:
:
:
:
the n th term = 3(n) 1

F.

<= a1 = 2
<= a 2 = 5
<= a 3 = 8

the general
term of the
sequence

< = a n = 3n 1

Functions
A function is like a number-machine. Whenever we input a number, the machine will output a
corresponding unmber.

Exercise C
1. Express each the following sentence by an inequality, and test whether 18 is a solution by

F.1 Mathematics Supplementary Notes

Chapter 2 Using Algebra to Solve Problems

11/2001

P. 9

substitution.
Sentence

Inequality

Does 18 satisfy this

inequality?

(a) When a is subtracted from 17,

the difference is less than 23.
(b) The sum of 9 and 4 times of x
is greater than 65.

(c) When 8 is subtracted from

1
3

of x , the result is greater than 0.

2.

3.

Solve the following inequalities.

(a) 3x +17
(b) 2x (x + 2)5
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(c) 4x + 3(2x )12
(d) 3 + 5(x 1) 2 + 4x
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Write down the next three terms in the following sequences
(a) 2 , 5 , 8 , 11 ,
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(b) 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ,
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(c) 10 , 5 , 0 , 5,
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(d) 2 , 4 , 8 , 16 ,
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(e)

4.

1 1 1
1
,
,
,
,
3 6 9 12

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In each of the following sequences, find the first 5 terms of that sequence by substituting 1 , 2 , 3 , 4
and 5 respectively for n.
(a) a n 3n 1
(b) a n 5 2n
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(c)

an

1
2n

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(d) a n

n
n 1

F.1 Mathematics Supplementary Notes

(e)

Chapter 2 Using Algebra to Solve Problems

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a n 2n 3 n

(f) a n 1 n (n 1)

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P. 10

*Optiontal
5. Express the nth term of the following sequences in terms of n.
(a) 1 2 , 2 3 , 3 4 , 4 5
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(b) 1 , 3 , 6 , 10
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(c) 1 , 1 , 1 , 1
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(d) 1 , 3 , 5 , 7
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(e)

6.

1
1
1
1
,
,
,

2 5 5 8 8 11 11 14

Consider the sequence 2 ,

3 4 5
, ,
2 3 4

(a) Write down the next two terms of the sequence.

(b) Express the nth term of the sequence in terms of n.
(c) Use the result of part (b) to find
(i) the 30th term,
(ii) the 31st term.
http://www.puiching.edu.hk/~maths/student/

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F.1 Mathematics Supplementary Notes

Chapter 2 Using Algebra to Solve Problems

11/2001

P. 11

n 2 n 41 n
0123 n

1640 (Fermat)

Fn 2 2 1 n

01234 (1732)
5

2
32
=xy , x , y
5 2 1 2 1

n = 5 F

3 7 x , y ?