1

ALGEBRA 1
Algebraic Expressions
A coefficient is the number in front of a letter in an
algebraic term, e.g. in the algebraic term 4a, 4 is the
coefficient of a.
All algebraic terms have two or more factors
Example
The factors of 5a are 1, 5, a and 5a.
The degree of a polynomial is the highest power that
the variable is raised in the algebraic expression
Example
The degree of the polynomial

x3

+4

x2

+ x + 1 is 3.

In the case of a multivariable polynomial, the degree is

found by adding the highest index of each variable
Example

The degree of the polynomial 5

x y

+ 4x

+ y is 5.

Binary Operations
A binary operation refers to a clearly defined
computational process that can be carried out on two
elements at a time
Example
a * b = 2a b
In the operation a * b = 2a b , * is the symbol of the
operation and b is the term that comes after the symbol of
the operation.
Then 2a b means 2 * a b.
Application of the rule that governs a binary operation.
Commutative and Associative properties of binary
operation
Laws of Indices

Multiplication
When multiplying powers of the same quantity together
add the indices.
x6

x7

x 6+7

x 13

Division
When dividing powers of the same quantity subtract the
index of the denominator (bottom part) from the index of
the numerator (top part)

a)

x5
x2

b)

a xa xa
5
7
a xa

=
4

52

3+ 4+8

a
5+7
a

a15
12
a

=
c)

3 y2 x 2 y5 x 5 y 4
6 y3 x 4 y4

a1512

30 y 2 +5+4
24 y 3+ 4

a3

30 y 11
24 y 7

5 y 117
4

5 y4
4

Powers
When raising the power of a quantity to a power multiply
the indices together.
3

1)

(3 x)

2)

a b c

2 x2

3 m3
2
5n

3)(

31 x 3

3 x2

x 1 x3

x
c

4 x2

3 2 m3 x 2
2 2 x2
5 n

33

a b c

9 m6
4
25 n

x3

= 27

x3

Negative Indices
A negative index indicates the reciprocal of the quantity.

a)

b)

5 x3

c)

2 3

a b c

1
a

5
x3

a2
b2 c3

Fractional Indices
The numerator of a fractional index indicates the power to
which the quantity must be raised; the denominator
indicates the root which is to be taken.
2

= x

1)

x3

2)

ab 4

3)

a2

4 3

=ax x

(Note that for square roots the number indicating the root
is usually omitted.)
64 a6 = (

1
6 2

=(

64 a
8

2x

1
2

6x

1
2

8 a

1
2

8 a3

Zero Index
Any quantity raised to the power of zero is equal to 1.
0

1) a = 1
x
2)( y = 1
0

Example 1
1 4

1)(

2)

42

1
14
1
34

1
4
3

=(
=
= 2 = 32
22 2

1
1
4
3

34
4
1

= 81

2 5
x
2

21

2
3) 9 x = (

32 x 2 2

=
31 x 1

2 1
x
2

31

2 1
x
2

x1

= 3x

Example 2
If

3 p+ 4

9 p2

p+ 4

p+ 4

=(

p+ 4

find the value of p.

p2

p2

2 p4

Since (p + 4) and (2p - 4) are both powers of 3, they must

be equal.
p + 4 = 2p - 4
p + 4 + 4 = 2p
4 + 4 = 2p - p

p=8
Exercise
Simplify the following:
1)

35 x 32 x 37

2)

b2 x b 4 x b5 x b 8

3)

57
52

4)

23 x 2 4 x 27
22 x 25

5)(

72 3

6)(

y
3 x2 4

7)
8)(

b c
2
5
a

5 a3
2b 2

9)Find the values of:

101

and

34

10)Find the values of:

1
3

and
2

11)Express as powers of 3:

13)Find the values of:

14)Find the values of: (
15)Find the values of
m

16)If

17)If

2x +1

18)If

52 x+ 3

1 0

p
q

27

81

, x , x

3 x

12)Express as powers of x :
32 5

32

1
5

25 2

13
125

, (1,000,000

when p=

27 3

64

2
3

and q=

= 9, find m.
=
=

4x

find x.

125x +5

, find x.

19)Find the values of p for which

20)Find the values of x if

Removal of Brackets

( 22 x )

32 p1

( 4 x+1 )

= 243

= 64

32

Distribution of multiplication over addition and

subtraction when brackets are removed in an algebraic
expression
Example
a(x + y) = ax + ay
a(x y) = ax ay
Each term inside the brackets must be multiplied by the
term immediately outside the brackets.
The term outside the brackets is called the
multiplier.
In the case where the multiplier is negative,
Example
-a(x + y) = -ax - ay
-a(x y) = ax + ay
The signs in the brackets are changed when the brackets
are removed.

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Exercises
Remove the brackets from each of the following
expressions simplifying your answers where appropriate.
1)8(3 + 2y)
2) 7(x + y)
3) 7(x + y)
4) (3 + 2x)
5) (3 2x)
6) (3 2x)
7) x(x + 1)
8)15(x + y)
9)15(xy)
10)

11(m + 3n).

Expanding Algebraic Expressions

Multiplication of a binomial by a binomial

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Example
(x + 2)(x + 3) = x(x + 3) + 2(x + 3)
Each term of the first bracket serves as a multiplier for the
terms in the second bracket.
By the distributive law the product is:
x2

+ 3x + 2x + 6 =

x2

+ 5x + 6

Expand each of the following

a) (x + 2)(x + 3)
b) (a + b)(c + 3)
c) (y 3)(y + 2)
d) (2x + 1)(3x 2)
e) (3x 1)(3x + 1)

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f) (5x 1)(x 5)
g) (2p + 3q)(5p 2q)
h) (x + 2)(2

x2

x 1)

i) (4p + 3)(2p q 5)
j) (2z + 3)(2z + 3)
k) (
l) (3

x2

x2

2x + 1)(

x2

+ 4x + 3)

2x + 1)(

x2

4x 5)

Simplifying Algebraic Fractions

Algebraic fraction

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Example
x
3

5x
6

In addition and subtraction of algebraic fractions, the

LCM of the denominators is first obtained
Example
x
3

5x
6

7x
6

x +5 x
6

Exercise
1)

x
3

2)

2a
3

a
5

3)

4
5a

1
2a

4)

2
n

3
2n

x
4

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5)

3 x+ y
10

x3 y
15

6)

a5 b
5

2 a+ b
2

7)

3 (2 x + 4)
5

8)

2
x +1

3
x1

9)

4
2 a1

2(3 x2)
3

1
a2

10)

6
n3

11)

3
x2

12)

3
x

5
n+2

2
2x

4
x

Factors and multiples of algebraic terms

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In the problem 3 x 4 = 12, 3 and 4 are factors and 12 is

the product.
Factoring is like taking a number apart. It means to
express a number as the product of its factors.
Factors are either composite numbers or prime
numbers (except that 0 and 1 are neither prime nor
composite).
The number 12 is a multiple of 3, because it can be
divided evenly by 3.
Example
3 x 4 = 12
3 and 4 are both factors of 12
12 is a multiple of both 3 and 4
Factors and multiples of algebraic terms.