Basics of Algebra

Forming Algebraic Expressions

Examples
1 2 3 4 If pencils cost a pence each, the cost of 10 pencils is 10a pence. If a girl is g years old and her younger brother is b years old, the girl is (g b ) years older that her brother. The total weight of 8 parcels of b kg each and 6 parcels of c kg each is (8b + 6c ) kg.

300 If x people share 300 equally then they each get . x

Class Examples
Write one algebraic expression to represent the information in each of the following questions. 1 (a) A bus has 24 people travelling on it. At the next bus stop 5 people get off the bus. How many people are now left on the bus? (b) A bus has p people travelling on it. At the next bus stop 5 people get off the bus. How many people are now left on the bus? (c) There are six buses in the bus station and each bus has p passengers. How many passengers, in total, are there on all the buses? 2 Stamps cost 30 pence each. How much do you pay for n stamps? Express your answer: (a) in pence (b) in pounds 3 A packet of biscuits contains b biscuits is shared equally amongst 4 people. How many biscuits does each person receive? 4 A child is c years old. (a) (b) (c) (d) The child's brother is 4 years older that he is. How old is the child's brother? The child's sister is 2 years younger that he is. How old is the child's sister? The child's mother is 5 times as old as he is. How old is the child's mother? The child's father is 3 years older that his mother. How old is the child's father?

5 6

How many minutes are there in t hours? Change 2m metres into millimetres.

Exercise 1
1 2 3 4 5 What is the cost, in pence, of 7 metres of cable at c pence per metre? If I go on holiday with x euros and spend y euros. How many euros do I have left? What is the change, in pence from 1 after buying p pens at q pence each? How many minutes are there in 3n seconds? If a clock gains s seconds per hour, and it is set to the right time, how many minutes fast will it be in t days?
1

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Basics of Algebra

Simplifying Algebraic Expressions Addition and Subtraction

Algebra is the branch of Mathematics that deals with the manipulation of letters or symbols, that are being are used to represent numbers. When an arithmetic calculation is simplified the result is usually a single number. Simplifying an algebraic expression will not necessarily result in a single term. Simplifying an algebraic expression by addition or subtraction involves collecting like terms. 'Like terms' are those whose letter parts are identical. An algebraic term may consist of a number and several letters. It is conventional to put the number first, followed by the letters in alphabetical order. This assists in identifying like terms.

b7ac is written 7abc

It is important to remember that any term always take the sign that is in front of it. Adding is equivalent to moving to the right along a number line. Subtracting is equivalent to moving to the left along a number line.

2+3=5 5 + 4 = 1 5 + 7 = 2 52 = 3 5 8 = 3 1 3 = 4
Examples

Start at 2 on the number scale; move 3 steps to the right, getting to 5. Start at -5 on the number scale; move 4 steps to the right, getting to 1. Start at -5 on the number scale; move 7 steps to the right, getting to 2. Start at 5 on the number scale; move 2 steps to the left, getting to 3. Start at 5 on the number scale; move 8 steps to the left, getting to -3. Start at -1 on the number scale; move 3 steps to the left, getting to -4.

Simplify, by collecting like terms 1 2 3 4

4a + 5a 3b = 9a 3b
5 p + 2q 4 p + q = 5 p 4 p + 2q + q = p + 3q 3x 2 + 2 x 5 x + 1 = 3x 2 3x + 1 4 r 2 + 2rh 3 r 2 + rh + 5 = 4 r 2 3 r 2 + 2rh + rh + 5 = r 2 + 3rh + 5

Exercise 2
Simplify these expressions:

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Simplifying Algebraic Expressions Multiplication and Division

In an algebraic expression it is unusual to see either a multiplication sign () or a division sign

( ) .
Remember:

2a means a + a 3a means a + a + a

But, since multiplication is repeated addition 2a also means 2 a 3a also means 3 a To multiply one expression by another, the numbers are multiplied and the letters are multiplied Example 2a 3b = 2 a 3 b = 2 3 a b = 6 ab = 6ab When we multiply together two letters that are the same, this results in a power of that letter. Some powers have special names:
a a = a2 a a a = a3 a a a a = a4

we say: a to the power 2, or more usually a squared we say: a to the power 3, or more usually a cubed we say: a to the power 4

Examples 1 2 3
2a a = 2 a a = 2 a 2 = 2a 2

5a 2 4a3 = 5 4 a 2 a3 = 20 ( a a ) ( a a a ) = 20a5
3ab 7bc = 3 7 a b 2 c = 21ab 2 c

In arithmetic, the calculation 12 4 can be written as the fractional expression Similarly, in algebra, a b is more usually written in the fraction form
a . b

12 . 4

Numerical fractions are simplified by cancelling common factors that occur in both numerator and denominator. Algebraic fractions are simplified in a similar way. The common factors may be numbers or letters. Examples 1

aa =

a a

1 1

=1

12ab 2 8abc3 =
5 2

12ab 2 2 2 3 a b b 3 b 3b = = = 3 3 8abc 2 2 2 a b c c c 2 c c c 2c

15a 5 3 5 a a a a a 15a 3a = = = 5 a a a = 5a 3 2 3a 3 a a

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Exercise 3
Simplify these expressions:

Removing Brackets
Brackets are used to raise the order of priority of a part of a numerical expression. Brackets are also frequently used in algebra: 2 ( a + b ) means add a to b before multiplying by 2. This is usually written without the multiplication sign: 2 ( a + b ) .

2 ( a + b ) means ( a + b ) + ( a + b ) = a + b + a + b = 2 a + 2 b = 2a + 2b
Working this out is called expanding the brackets. In general: any term inside the bracket is multiplied by the number or letter that is outside the bracket. Note that the number or letters may appear in front of the bracket or after it.

( 2a + b ) 3c
Examples

means 2a 3c + b 3c = 6ac + 3bc

Remove the brackets and simplify where possible: 1 2 3 4

a ( a + b ) = a a + a b = a 2 + ab
3a + a ( 4a + 1) 2 = 3a + ( 4a 2 + a ) 2 = 3a + 4a 2 + a 2 = 4a 2 + 4a 2

4 ( a + 1) + 5 = ( 4 a ) + ( 4 1) + 5 = 4a + 4 + 5 = 4a + 9

4 ( a + 1) + 2 ( a 3) = ( 4a + 4 ) + ( 2a 6 ) = 4a + 4 + 2a 6 = 6a 2

Exercise 4
Removing the brackets from these expressions and simplify where possible:

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Substitution
We can work out the value of an algebraic expression if the letters are replaced by numbers, ie we substitute numerical values for the letters in the expression. Examples Evaluate each expression if a = 4, b = 6, c = 8, d = 10 1 2 3 4

a +b c = 4+ 68 = 2
3a 2c = ( 3 4 ) ( 2 8 ) = 12 16 = 4
a 2bd = 42 6 10 = 960

5ab 3d =

5 4 6 3 10
1 2

2
1

1 4 1 4 = =1 1 1 1

10 1 (3 6) 8 3b c 2a = 8 1 = 8 (1) = 8 = 2 4 10 10 d

Exercise 5
Evaluate each expression, given that p = 2, q = 3, r = 9, s = 12 1 5 9

p+qr

2 6 10

4s
4 + 3s p 3 r+s 2p + q

3 3q 2r 7 11

4 2 pq 2
2

( 2q )

( 2 s 6q )
2 pr qs
4

8 q3 + 2 ( s r ) 12 6 p q2 sr
2 3

s q+r 3s

13

14

s 3 qr

15

12 s q+6

q+r+s 16 p +1

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Integers
The set of natural numbers is: = 1, 2, 3, 4, The set of integers includes the positive whole numbers and their negatives, together with the number zero: = 3, 2, 1, 0, 1, 2, 3, In the previous section we made use of a number line to add and to subtract positive numbers.

To add a positive number, move to the right. To add a negative number, move to the left. Addition and subtraction are inverse operations. Therefore to subtract we move in the opposite direction to that in which we add. To subtract a positive number, move to the left. To subtract a negative number, move to the right. The rules for combining positive/negative numbers and algebraic terms are summarised in the table: Rule Addition Subtraction Multiplication
a + ( +b) = a + b a + ( b) = a b a ( +b) = a b a (b) = a + b ( + a ) ( + b ) = ab (+ a) (b) = ab ( a ) ( + b ) = ab ( a ) ( b) = ab
+a +b +a ( + a ) ( b ) = b a ( a ) ( +b) = +b a ( a ) ( b ) = b ( + a ) (+b) =

Numerical Example
(3) + (+1) = (3) + 1 = 2 (3) + (1) = (3) 1 = 4 (3) (+1) = (3) 1 = 4 (3) (1) = (3) + 1 = 2 (+5) (+3) = 15 (+8) (2) = 16 (4) (+4) = 16 (6) (6) = 36
= a b +15 =5 +3 +12 (+12) (4) = = 3 4 14 ( 14) (+7) = = 2 +7 16 (16) ( 2) = =8 2 ( +15) (+3) =

Division

a b a = b a = b =

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Addition and Subtraction

Combine signs before attempting to add or subtract.
Examples

Simplify 7a + ( +2a ) = 7a + 2a = 9a 1
2 3 4

5b + ( 4b ) = 5b 4b = b 3c + ( 2c ) = 3c 2c = 5c 4d ( +6d ) = 4d 6d = 2d

Multiplication and Division

Simplify sign, number and letter parts separately.
Examples Simplify 4 p ( 2q ) = 8 pq 1 2 3 4

( 3r ) ( +5s ) = 15rs 2 ( 6t ) = ( 6t ) ( 6t ) = 36t 2

18u ( 3v ) = 18u 6u = 3v v

x 3x 2 y = 2 3 9 xy 3y

Brackets
The rules for removing brackets preceded by a plus or minus sign are summarised below:
a + (b c ) = a + b c a (b + c ) = a b c a (b c ) = a b + c
Examples

a + (b + c ) = a + b + c
Note that the minus sign immediately in front of the bracket changes any signs inside when the bracket is removed.

Expand the brackets and simplify where possible: 3 ( 2 x 6 y ) = ( 6 x 18 y ) = 6 x + 18 y 1 2 3 4 5 6

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2a ( 4a + b ) = 2a 4a b = 2a b

2 x 3 x (1 x ) = 2 x ( 3 x 3 x 2 ) = 2 x 3 x + 3 x 2 = x + 3 x 2

5 ( x + 2 y ) + 2 ( x 8 y ) = ( 5 x + 10 y ) + ( 2 x 16 y ) = 5 x + 10 y + 2 x 16 y = 7 x 6 y 4 ( x + y ) ( 3x + 5 y ) = ( 4 x + 4 y ) ( 3x + 5 y ) = 4 x + 4 y 3x 5 y = x y 3 ( 2 x + y ) 2 ( 3x y ) = ( 6 x + 3 y ) ( 6 x 2 y ) = 6 x + 3 y 6 x + 2 y = 5 y
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Basics of Algebra

Substitution
When substituting a negative number into an expression always enclose it in brackets.
Examples

Let w = 4, x = 6, 1 2 3

y = 3 and

z = 2 in the examples below:

2

4 x 2 y = 4 ( 6 ) 2 ( 3) = ( 24 ) ( 6 ) = 24 6 = 30
2 xy 5 z 2 = 2 ( 6 )( 3 ) 5 ( 2 ) = 36 5 ( 4 ) = 36 20 = 56

( z 1)
x y
2

2 2

( ( 2 ) 1) =
( 6 )
2

( 3 ) =

36 9

9 1 = 27 3

Exercise 6
1 Simplify each of the following expressions: (b) 7b ( 2b ) (a) 5a + ( 2a ) (c) 3c ( 4c ) (e) 4d + ( 2e ) ( 5d ) ( +3e ) 2 (d) 5a ( 3b ) + ( 5a ) (f) 5 x 2 + ( 2 x ) ( x ) ( 4 )

Simplify each of the following expressions: (a) 5a ( 2b ) (b) ( 7b ) ( 2b ) (c) (e) (g)

( 32c ) ( 4a ) 4d ( 2e ) ( 5d ) ( +3 f )
35a 7b

(d) 5a ( 3b ) ( 2c ) (f) 15 x ( 3x ) ( 2 x ) (h)

( 6a ) ( 10c )

( 15bc )
2

Remove the brackets and simplify where possible: (b) a ( 2a + b ) (a) 4 ( 3 2a ) (c) ( 5 4a ) + a (e) 4d 2 ( d 2e ) 4e (g) x ( x + 3) 2 ( x 2 ) (i) 3x ( x 1) 5 ( x 1) (d) 5a ( 2a 3b ) (f) 5 x 2 x ( x 2 ) (h) 2 x ( x 1) ( x + 2 ) (j) r ( 2r + 1) 5 ( r h )

Evaluate each expression, given that p = 2, q = 6, r = 12, s = 18 (b) 4q (a) p + q r (c) 3q 2r (d) 2 p 2 q (e) (g) (i)

( 2q ) 2 ( 2 s + 6q )
2

(f) 4 3r p 3 (h) q 2 + 2 ( s r ) (j) r+s 3p q 6 p q2 (l) s + 2r

s q+r 2 pr (k) sq

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Answers Exercise 1
1 7c pence 4
n or 1 20 n seconds? 20

2 ( x y ) euros. 5
2st or 2 5 st minutes 5

3 (100 pq ) pence

Exercise 2
1 6a 5 e3 9 2 3x 2c 2 6b 6 t + 5s 10 4a + 2b 2c 3 3c 7 2a 11 3c + d 4 d 8 b + 9c 12 2c 2

Exercise 3
1 3a 5 120 gpr 2 20b 6 2qy 3 8ab ab 7 c 3 10 x 5 y 7 3 y2 2 y 11 10 x 5 y 4 60st 3ac 8 b 4 5a 5b + 5c 8 4 y 2 24 y 12 10m 7n

Exercise 4
1 4x + 4 y 5 p 2 + pq 9 6 x4 4 x2 2 6 x + 12 y 6 12 x 8 10 10r 2

Exercise 5
1 5 9 13 -4 36 1 6 2 6 10 14 48 32 3 4 3 7 11 15 -9 36 1 2 4 36 8 33 12 1 16 4

Exercise 6
1 (a) 3a (e) 9d 5e (a) 10ab (e) 120d 2 ef 3 (a) 12 + 8a (e) 2d (i) 3 x 2 8 x + 5 (a) 8 (e) 144 (i) -1 (b) 9b (f) 5 x 2 x + 4 (b) 14b 2 (f) 10x (b) 2a 2 ab (f) 6 x 2 + 2 x (j) 2r 2 4r + 5h (b) -24 (f) 32 (j) 1 2 (c) c
8c a 5a (g) b

(d) 3b (d) 30abc (h)

4a bc

(c)

(c) 5 + 5a (g) x 2 + x + 4 (c) 6 (g) 0 (k) -2

(d) 3a + 3b (h) 2 x 2 3 x 2 (d) -48 (h) 96 (l) 4

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