Unit 3 ~ Contents

Algebra Beauty and Awe ~ Measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

3.1 Solving More Complex Equations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
3.2 Polynomials. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
3.3 Factors and Factoring. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3.4 Adding Polynomials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3.5 Quiz 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
How Wide Is a Piece of Paper? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.6 Range and Standard Deviation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
3.7 Greatest Common Factors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
3.8 Complex Relationships Between Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
3.9 Solving Equations With Fractions or Decimals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
3.10 Quiz 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
What’s the Temperature? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
3.11 Subtracting Polynomials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
3.12 Factoring the Greatest Common Factor From a Polynomial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
3.13 Multiplying Radicals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
3.14 Literal Equations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
3.15 Review for Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
3.16 Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
A Measure for Pleasure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
 3.1 Solving More Complex Equations

So far, you have solved equations with variables on only one side of the equation. However,
equations often have variables on both sides, such as the equation 2x + 6 = x – 1.
To solve equations with variables on both sides, simplify both sides of the equation first and then
eliminate the variable from one side of the equation using the addition or subtraction property of
equality. Then, with the variable on only one side, solve the equation using standard methods.

Example 1. Solve the equation 4x – 16 = x – 7.

4x – 16 = x – 7 Original equation.

4x – x – 16 = x – x – 7 x subtracted from both sides to eliminate the

variable from the right side.

3x – 16 = –7 Simplified.

3x – 16 + 16 = –7 + 16 16 added to both sides to eliminate the constant

from the variable side.

3x = 9 Simplified.
3x 9
= Both sides divided by 3 to change the variable
3 3
coefficient to 1.

x=3 Simplified.

Check:

4(3) – 16 = 3 – 7 3 substituted for x in the original equation.

–4 = –4 Simplified. Because this statement is true, the

answer to the equation is correct.

Simplifying an equation may result in a negative variable. Multiplying or dividing each

side by –1 will remove the negative from the variable.

It does not matter from which side the variable is eliminated. However, eliminating the
smaller of two variables gives a positive variable, which is usually preferred.

2 ~ Algebra I Unit 3
 Example 2. Solve the equation 3(7 – x) – 3x – 9 = – 5x – 10.

3 (7 – x) – 3x – 9 = – 5x – 10 Original equation.

21 – 3x –3x – 9 = – 5x – 10 Simplified using the distributive property.

12 – 6x = – 5x – 10 Like terms combined.

12 – 6x + 5x = – 5x + 5x – 10 5x added to both sides to eliminate the variable

from the right side.

12 – x = –10 Simplified.

12 – 12 – x = –10 – 12 12 subtracted from both sides to eliminate it from

the variable side.

–x = – 22 Simplified.
–x –22
= Both sides divided by –1 to change the variable
–1 –1
coefficient to 1.

x = 22 Simplified.

Check:

3(7 – 22) – 3(22) – 9 = – 5(22) – 10 22 substituted for x in the original equation.

– 120 = – 120 Simplified. Because this statement is true, the

answer to the equation is correct.

Solve. 3.1
1. 7x + 15 = 3x + 23 2. – 6x – 9 = –11 – 8x 3. x – 10 = 11 – 2x

4. – 8x + 23 = – 5x + 11 5. 23 + 2x = –3x – 7 6. – 8x – 5 = 27 – 10x

7. 7x + 22 = –11 – 4x 8. –18x + 13 = –x – 4 9. 11x – 1 = 5x + 2

Review
Label and algebraically represent the values. 2.14
10. The larger of two numbers is five times the smaller number.

11. A sixty inch board is cut into two unequal pieces.

12. Rachel made twice as many chocolate chip cookies as peanut butter cookies.

3.1 Solving More Complex Equations ~ 3

 Distribute the division and simplify. 2.13
13. (3x + 3) ÷ 3 14. (18x 4y + 20x 3y 2) ÷ 2x 2y 15. (6y – 3) ÷ 3y

Solve. 2.12
y
16. 3x – 6 = 15 17. 4z + 3 = 23 18. – 2 = 18
3

Evaluate. 2.1
19. [(2 + 32) • 5] – 5 20. {3 • 4 + 2[2(4 + 6)] + 2} ÷ 9

Multiply the terms. 2.4

21. 5m2n3 • 3mn • 2mnp 22. mn • 6m • 2m2 23. –m2 • mn3

Write the answer.

24. Some doctors have a quick way of determining how much of a particular medicine to give a child if
a(Y + 1)
they know the adult dose. They use the formula c = where c is the child’s dose, a is the
24
adult’s dose and Y is the child’s age. According to this formula, how much of a certain medicine
should a 4 year-old child receive if the adult dose is 50 cc? 1.4

25. Noah was born in 2948 B.C. and lived for 950 years. Nimrod built the tower of Babel somewhere
between 2300 B.C. and 2200 B.C. Was Noah still alive when the tower was built? 1.7

26. What is the best number to divide both sides by to solve – 5x = 15? 2.13

Assign variable(s) to the unknown(s). Then translate the expression. 2.11

27. mother’s age ten years ago 28. the length is two times the width

√
Simplify. 1.14
49
29. √49 30. 31. √– 9 32. √– 8
3
81

Combine the numbers. 1.6

33. –18 – 12 34. 22 – (–10) 35. 16 + (– 20) + 8

Evaluate. 1.2
36. 24 – | – 8 | ÷ | 4 | 37. | 4 – 6 | • | 12 ÷ 3 | + 12 38. 21 ÷ | –7 | • | 8 + 4 |

Write the property the equation illustrates. 1.3

39. 20 • 1 = 20 40. (9 + 11) + 7 = 9 + (11 + 7) 41. 5 + (– 5) = 0

Solve. 3.1
42. 12x – 7 + x = –3 + x 43. – 4x + 8 + 2x = 32 – 5x 44. –3(x + 1) – 2 = 23 + x

4 ~ Algebra I Unit 3
 3.2 Polynomials

In the word polynomial the prefix poly-, means “many.” A polynomial is an algebraic expression
of one or more terms separated by + or – signs. Here is an example:

6x 3 – 9x 2 + x + 3

This example is called a polynomial in one variable, because x is the only variable used. A
polynomial is named according to the number of variables it contains. Here is an example of a
polynomial in three variables (x, y, and z):
10x 3y 2z + 7y 3z 2 – 11xz 4 + 8

Polynomials are refered to by how many terms they contain:

A polynomial with one term is called a monomial. 5x 2
A polynomial with two terms is called a binomial. y2 – 9
A polynomial with three terms is called a trinomial. 4x 2 – 20x + 25
An expression with more than three terms is just called a polynomial.

Polynomials are also classified according to their degree. The degree of a polynomial is based on
the degree of its terms. To find the degree of a single term, add the exponents of its variables. For
the term 3x 4, the only exponent is 4, so it is a fourth degree term. The degree for the term 3x 4y 2
is 6.
After the degree for each term of a polynomial is found, they are compared. The degree of the
term with the highest degree is the degree of the polynomial.

17mn3 – 2m5n2 + 10m3n3

4th degree term 7th degree term 6th degree term

This is a 7th degree polynomial.

The complete description of this particular polynomial is “a trinomial in two variables of the
seventh degree.”

3.2 Polynomials ~ 5
 According to mathematical definition, polynomials are written using the
form axn. The a is a constant, x is a variable, and n is a whole number. In
the expression 6x 3 – 9x 2 + x + 3, 6x 3 and 9x 2 are in standard form, but x
and 3 do not seem to be. However, they are, based on the following math
facts.

x = 1x1 When the coefficient or exponent is 1, it is not written.

3 = 3x 0 Anything having an exponent of 0 equals 1, so 3x 0 = 3(1) = 3.

Write the degree of each term. 3.2

1. 5x 7 2. 2xy 2 3. 14m2np3

Write the degree of the polynomials.

4. x 4 – 7x 2 + x 5. 5m3 – 3n5p + mnp6 6. 20x 3yz + 19yz + 3yz 2 – y 2z

Write monomial, binomial, trinomial, or polynomial. Complete the description by writing the
number of variables and degree. The first one is done for you. 3.2
7. –7xyz 4 monomial in three variables of the 6 th degree

8. 7y 3 – 4 9. 9x 2 – 4xy + 7y 2 10. 6x 2yz + 2y 3z 3 – 4y 4z 2 + 2z

Review
Solve. 3.1
11. 5x – 15 = 2x + 6 12. – 2x + 6 = – 5x – 6 13. x + 2 = 22 – 3x

Evaluate the expressions if x = 2, y = 3, and z = 4. 1.4

yz
14. x 15. xyz ÷ xy • y 2 16. x 2 + | –xy | • yz

Multiply or divide. 1.9; 1.12

18
17. –12 ÷ 3 18. 9
19. 4 • (–3) • 8

Evaluate. 1.11
20. x0 21. (– 4)2 22. –33 23. y1

6 ~ Algebra I Unit 3
Divide the terms. 2.7
24. 24x 2y 3 ÷ 8xy 25. – 81x 4y 2z ÷ 18xyz3 26. 36xy 3z2 ÷ 42x 3yz 3

Combine like terms in the expressions. 2.3

27. 5x – yz + y 2z – 4x + 7y 2z – 3x 28. 9x 3y – xyz + 2xyz + 7x 3y + 8

Write the answer.

29. Noah was born in 2948 B.C. and died when he was 950. Abraham was born in 1996 B.C. How many
years after Noah died was Abraham born? 1.7

30. What is the best number to divide both sides by to solve – 3x = 8? 2.13

Simplify. 2.8
31. – 6(– 3x 2 + 5x + 2y) 32. 2x(2x – 7) + 8x – 15

Translate into symbols. Do not simplify or solve. 2.2

33. seven less the product of five and eight
34. a number added to ten

Translate and solve. 2.2

35. a number divided by four, increased by six equals nine

Write the degree of each term. 3.2

36. 12y 2z 3 37. 6rs 3 38. x 8

Write the degree of the polynomials. 3.2

39. 10g 5 + 7g 2h 4 – gh3 40. 17x7 – 28x 4y 2z + xyz 6 41. r 5 + 3r 2s7 + rs – s2

Write monomial, binomial, trinomial, or polynomial. Complete the description by writing the
number of variables and degree. 3.2
42. 5m2 – 3m2n2 + 4mn + m 43. 21m3np + 6mnp + 7

Before the metric system was developed, merchants in

Europe used barley grains as their “standard” for weight.
People might be tempted to choose larger grains or smaller
ones depending upon whether they were buying or selling.

3.2 Polynomials ~ 7
 3.3 Factors and Factoring

Factors are two or more numbers, variables, or expressions multiplied together to give a
particular product. In the expression 2 • 3 • 6 = 36, the numbers 2, 3, and 6 are factors.
Factoring is the process of splitting a number, or expression, into smaller parts by division. An
expression can often be factored in several ways. Each of the following is a way to factor the
number 36: (1 • 36), (2 • 18), (3 • 12), (2 • 3 • 6), etc.
Prime factoring a number or expression is breaking it down completely into prime factors––
factors which can be divided only by the number one and themselves. The prime factorization of
36 is 2 • 2 • 3 • 3.
Factoring is often used in algebra to break expressions down into their basic parts.
To prime factor a number, use division boxes or a factor tree as shown in the examples and
divide until no more division into whole numbers is possible. Then list the factors indicated by the
divisors and final quotient of the division boxes or the factors found at the end of the factor-tree
“branches.” If there are duplicate factors, they can be expressed using exponents.

Example 1. Prime factor the number 168.

Division Boxes Factor Tree

2) 168 168
2) 84 8 • 21
2) 42
2•4 3•7
3) 21
2•2
7

Prime factors listed: 2 • 2 • 2 • 3 • 7

Prime factors expressed using exponential form: 23 • 3 • 7

8 ~ Algebra I Unit 3
 Variables show their prime factorization with their exponents. (x 5 = x • x • x • x • x)
To factor a term with a coefficient and variables, prime factor the coefficient and variables
separately. Write the answer as a product of its factors. Use exponents for multiple factors.

Example 2. Prime factor the term 54x 3y 2.

Coeffient Variable
2 ) 54 x3 = x • x • x Prime factors listed: 2 • 3 • 3 • 3 • x • x • x • y • y
3 ) 27 Prime factors expressed using exponential form:
y2 = y • y
3) 9 2 • 33 • x 3 • y 2
3

Write the prime factors in exponential form. 3.3

1. 72 2. 210 3. 98

4. 45 5. 54 6. 315

7. 77x 3 8. 20m2n3 9. 84xy 5

Review
Write the degree of the polynomials. 3.2
10. 2m5n3p 11. 17m5 – m3n6p 12. x 2y – xyz5 + xyz 2 + yz3

Write monomial, binomial, trinomial, or polynomial. Complete the description by writing the
number of variables and degree. 3.2
13. 28m 4n 14. 21x 2y + 6xyz5

Evaluate. 2.1
15. [4(8 – 6) + 2] + (5 – 7) – 4 16. 3{[3 – (12 – 8)](– 6 – 4) • 1 + 6}

Combine like terms in the expressions. 2.3

17. mn3 – m3 + 10m + m3 – 4mn3 18. 16mn + 2m2n3 – m2n3 + 4m2n3 + mn

Multiply the terms. 2.4

19. 4x3y 2z • 5xy • z 20. 2x 2y 3 • 7x • 3xy 2 21. 8x 3y 5z • xyz 2

Write the property the equation illustrates. 1.3

22. 2 • 0 = 0 23. (2 • 6) • 5 = 2 • (6 • 5)

3.3 Factors and Factoring ~ 9

 Divide the terms. 2.7
24. 7x 2yz ÷ – 49x 3y 3z 2 25. x4y 2z ÷ x 3y 5z 3 26. –72xy 3z5 ÷ 9y 2z3

Simplify. 2.8
27. 2y(3x – 7) – 7xy + 2 28. 3x(– 5x + xy – 4y + 3xy)

Translate into symbols. Do not simplify or solve. 2.2

29. six more than the product of five and a number

30. the sum of a number and six, divided by three

Write the answer. 1.7

31. If Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt around 1491 B.C. and Troy was conquered by Rome in 1184
B.C., how much later than the Exodus was Troy conquered?

Translate and solve. 2.2

32. the difference of a number and three is twenty-three

Solve. 3.1
33. –3x – 5 = 43 + 5x 34. 12 + 3x = 6x 35. 9x – 7 = 3x – 5

Write the answer.

36. If there are 6 boys for every 5 girls in a group, it is said the ratio of boys to girls is 6 to 5 (written
6
as 5 ). Similarly, if a truck drives 192 miles in 3 hours, write the ratio of miles to hours.

37. It is often helpful to simplify ratios so the bottom number is 1. To do this, divide the top number of the
ratio by the bottom number and then report the answer as a fraction with a denominator of 1. In the
example above, the ratio is 192 which, when divided, equals 64. The simplified ratio tells us the
3
truck had been traveling an average of 64 miles per hour. Simplify the ratio of 275 miles in 5 hours.

38. How fast, in average miles per hour, must a car drive to travel 275 miles in 5 hours?

Write the prime factors in exponential form. 3.3

39. 81m4n 40. 96m2n 41. 108

Jean Baptiste Delambra and Pierre Mechain, the two men

commissioned by the French Academy of Sciences to
measure the Earth, endured many perils in their 7-year
project, including war, exposure on icy mountain peaks,
and climbing precarious church steeples.

10 ~ Algebra I Unit 3
 3.4 Adding Polynomials

Adding polynomials together is simply combining like terms. This can be done using a horizontal
or vertical format.

Example 1: (6x 2 + 3xy) + (2x 2 – xy – y 2) = ?

Vertical format:
6x 2 + 3xy First polynomial written.
2x 2
–xy –y 2
Second polynomial written, aligning like terms.
8x 2 + 2xy – y 2 Like terms combined.

Polynomials do not always have a term for every power. When performing operations vertically
with polynomials that have missing powers, a space may need to be left for the missing terms. This
occurs in Example 2.

Example 2: (4x 3 – 5x – 7) + (x 3 + 2x 2 – 3) = ?

Vertical format:
4x3 – 5x – 7 First polynomial written.
x 3 + 2x 2 –3 Second polynomial written, aligning like terms.
5x + 2x – 5x – 10
3 2
Like terms combined.

When polynomials are added horizontally, the parentheses are dropped and like terms
combined.

Example 3: (4x 3 – 5x – 7) + (x 3 + 2x 2 – 3) = ?

Horizontal format:

4x 3 – 5x – 7 + x 3 + 2x 2 – 3 Parentheses removed, like terms identified.

5x 3 + 2x 2 – 5x – 10 Like terms combined.

3.4 Adding Polynomials ~ 11

 When possible, polynomials should be written using standard form. Standard form for
polynomials with one variable is written with descending powers of the variable and the constant
last. An example of descending order is: 5x 4 – 2x 3 + x 2 + 7x – 16.
When writing polynomials with more than one variable, standard form is to write the variables of
each term in alphabetical order. Then arrange the terms in descending powers of the first variable
and, when possible, ascending powers of the second variable.
2m3 – m2n – 3mn + 7mn2 – 4n3 + 8

Add the polynomials. Write answer in standard form. 3.4

1. (6x + 3) + (5x + 10) 2. (3x 2 + 2x – 7) + (2x 2 – 7x – 8)

3. (x 2 – 16) + (2x + 4) 4. (7x 2 – 2x) + (–x 2 – 4x + 10)

5. (8x 3 – 3x 2 + 5) + (– 2x 2 + 7x – 1) 6. (6m3 + 2m2 + 9m) + (2m3 – 3m – 7)

Review
Write the prime factors in exponential form. 3.3
7. 175mn2 8. 121xyz 3 9. 189x 4

Solve. 2.12
x
10. 3x + 3 = 18 11. 5y – 6 = –31 12. + 7 = 12
5

Write monomial, binomial, trinomial, or polynomial. Complete the description by writing the
number of variables and degree. 3.2
13. 28i 6j 2k + 32jk – 5ijk + ij 3k 14. 18m3 – 48m2 + 52m

Write the answer.

15. Simplify the ratio, 26.25 miles in 0.75 hours. Hint: Ratios do not need units.
3
16. How fast must a vehicle travel to move an average of 26.25 miles in of an hour?
4
17. How fast was a truck traveling if it drove 162.5 miles in 2.5 hours?

Simplify. 1.13
18. (54)-6 19. 73 • 7 4 • 710 20. 310 ÷ 312

Rewrite with positive exponents. 1.13

x -7 1
21. -4 22. 5-6 23.
y 2-8

12 ~ Algebra I Unit 3
Distribute the division and simplify. 2.13
24. (6z + 18) ÷ 6 25. (15y 3 + 2y) ÷ 5y 26. (x 3 – x 2) ÷ x

Label and algebraically represent the values. 2.14

27. Esther baked 30 more cookies than her sister Ruth.

28. A yard stick (36 in) was divided into two unequal parts.

29. The cost of a used car was $5,000 less than a new car.

Assign variable(s) to the unknown(s). Then translate the expression. 2.11

30. dollar value of a certain number of quarters

31. the circumference of a circle using pi and diameter

Duplicate these number lines on graph paper and graph the given solutions. 2.9

32. y = 18 33. y = – 9

34. x = 5.9
60 3
50
-2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
40 0
30

20 -3
7
10 35. x = – 38 10
0 -6
-10 -39 -38

-20 -9
-30

-40 -12

Add the polynomials. 3.4

36. (4r + 3rs – 3s 2) + (– r + 7rs + 4) 37. (8y 3 + 5y 2 – y) + (– 8y 2 – 6y + 1)

38. (16x 2y + 7xy – 3) + (2xy – 4xy 2 + 1) 39. (x 2 + 2x – 3y) + (2y – y 2 + 7)

3.4 Adding Polynomials ~ 13