Numbers

the set of numbers can be divided up into the following categories:

real numbers

rational numbers irrational numbers

fractions integers

negative integers zero positive integers

Real numbers: the set of rational and irrational numbers

a
Rational numbers: can be written as a ratio of two integers ( ) , b  0 ;
b
the set of numbers whose decimal terminates or repeats
eg: =5 = −7 =0 = 0.333333 … = 0.25

= -3.4 = −0.285714285714 …

a
Irrational numbers: cannot be written as a ratio of two integers ( )
b
the set of numbers whose decimal goes on forever without repeating
eg: √2 = 1.4142135 … 𝜋 = 3.141592 … e = 2.718281… √7 = 2.645751 …

Integers: …, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, … add, subtract, multiply, divide

Fractions: , =2 =2 , - ,… add, subtract, multiply, divide

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Expanding and simplifying

3, -2.4, , … are numbers, constants

x, y, a, … are variables, unknowns, letters, pronumerals, …
7x2 is a term
terms are separated by + and  signs
x2 + 3x  7 there are 3 terms here
3x2 + 6x  1 + a there are 4 terms here
x2 + 3x is an algebraic expression
x2 + 3x = 5 is an equation
x2 + 3x > 5 is an inequation, an inequality

a term  3x2
sign (–) coefficient of x2 (-3) variable/unknown (x) index/power/exponent (2)

When expanding and simplifying algebraic expressions:

1. multiply out (expand) the brackets
when multiplying algebraic expressions:
 first work out the sign the sign belongs to the term directly after it
(+)  (+) = (+) (+)  () = ()
()  (+) = () ()  () = (+)
 then multiply the numbers (coefficients)
 then multiply the variables
Note the different rules when multiplying/dividing numbers and variables:
2•3 = 6 x3•x4 = x7 x2•y3 = x2y3

eg: 7a•3b = 21ab 4a2b3c • 5a5b2c3 = 20a7b5c4

6xy•2xt = 12 yt -3ab2•2b3c2•-4a5cd = 24a6b5c3d
-8 t•5 tz = -40 z -5xy2•2xy = -10x2y3
4(3a + 5b) = 12a + 20b -3x(2 – 4x2) = -6x + 12x3
(3x – 2)(5 + 4x) = 15x + 12x2 – 10 – 8x = 12x2 + 7x – 10
2
2. then simplify: in algebra, add or subtract LIKE terms only

‘like terms’ are terms where the variables and their indices are the same
(identical); the coefficients of the variables can be different
5a, -2a, 8a, 0.5a are all like terms
-2a2b, 4a2b, 6ba2 are all like terms

add or subtract the coefficients of like terms normally,

keep the variable and their indices the same

in algebra, do not add or subtract UNLIKE terms

‘unlike terms’ are terms where the variables or their indices are different
7a, 7b, -9ab, 6a2 are all unlike terms
0.5x, 3xy, 4x3y are all unlike terms

eg: 4x + 3y + 2x – 6x2 – 5y – 7x2 + xy + 2yx

= 6x – 2y – 13x2 + 3xy
3a2b + 6ab2 – 5a2b + 2b2a
= -2a2b + 8ab2
6a + 7a2
= 6a + 7a2 unlike terms, therefore cannot add / subtract

6a • 7a2
= 42a3 note you can multiply these terms together

(5x – 4)(2x – 3) multiply out brackets, then add/subtract like terms

= 10x2 – 15x – 8x + 12
= 10x2 – 23x + 12

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Factorisation

Factorising is the reverse process of expanding:

expanding

a(b + c) = ab + ac

factorising

When factorising an expression, follow these steps:

Step one:
 factorise out the common factor

Step two: then look for a system

 a difference of two squares
 grouping in pairs
 trinomials

Factorising allows us to:

 simplify algebraic fractions
 solve equations

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A factor of a number is a number that divides evenly (exactly) into it
A multiple of a number is obtained by multiplying it by any integer

Factors of a number: Multiples of a number:

2  1, 2 2  2, 4, 6, 8, 10, …
6  1, 2, 3, 6 6  6, 12, 18, 24, …
7  1, 7 7  7, 14, 21, 28, …
8  1, 2, 4, 8 8  8, 16, 24, 32, …
9  1, 3, 9 9  9, 18, 27, 36, …
12  1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12 12  12, 24, 36, 48, …
15  1, 3, 5, 15
16  1, 2, 4, 8, 16
22  1, 2, 11, 22
25  1, 5, 25
36  1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, 36

Simplifying fractions:

15 3•5 5
= = = 5
3 3 1
24 2•2•2•3 2•2
= = = 4
6 2•3 1
22 2 • 11 22
= =
9 3•3 9

16a 2•2•2•2•a 2•2•2•a 8a

= = =
6tb 2•3•t•b 3•t•b 3tb

6at 2•3•a•t 3•a 3a

= = =
14ct v 2•7•c•t•t•v 7•c•t•v 7ctv

12a b c 2•2•3•a•a•b•b•b•c 3•b•b•c 3b c

= = =
8a bd 2•2•2•a•a•b•d 2•d 2d

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Common factor:
‘take out’ the highest common factor (HCF)
highest common factor is 4
eg: 8x – 4 = 4(2x – 1)
1, 2, 4, 8 1, 2, 4 factors

3x + 7x2 = x(3 + 7x) lowest common number of x’s

1, 3 1, 7
highest common factor is 7
14x2y3 + 21x5yw = 7x2y (2y2 + 3x3w)
1, 2, 7, 14 1, 3, 7, 21 lowest common number of x’s and y’s

Difference of 2 squares:
a difference of 2 perfect square terms
these are 2 perfect square terms

eg: a2  b2 = (a  b)(a + b)
a b

x2 – 9b2 = (x – 3b)(x + 3b)

x 3b

25x2  36y2 = (5x  6y)(5x + 6y)

5x 6y

12a2 – 3b2 = 3(4a2 – b2) = 3(2a – b)(2a + b)

1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12 1, 3 2a b

Grouping:
if no common factor exists between all terms, factorise in pairs

eg: ab + ae + tb + te = a(b + e) + t(b + e)

= (b + e)[a + t]
ab + ae – tb – te = a(b + e) – t(b + e)
= (b + e)[a – t] note the change in sign in brackets
when taking out the (– t) common factor
3x – 3y + ax – ay = 3(x – y) + a(x – y)
= (x – y)[3 + a]
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Trinomials:
a 3 term algebraic expression in the form ax2 + bx + c

this (+) means the 2 numbers have the same signs

this (+) means both signs are (+)  (+, +)

ax2 + bx + c = (x + )(x + )

this (+) means the 2 numbers have the same signs

this (-) means both signs are (-)  (-, -)

ax2 – bx + c = (x – )(x – )

this (-) means the 2 numbers have different signs

the signs are  (+, -) in any order

ax2 + bx – c = (x + )(x – )

this (-) means the 2 numbers have different signs

the signs are  (+, -) in any order

ax2 – bx – c = (x + )(x – )

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 this (+) means the 2 numbers have the same signs
this (+) means both signs are (+)  (+, +)

eg: x2 + 9x + 14 = ?
what 2 numbers multiply to give +14 and add to give +9
x2 + 9x + 14 = ?
x x +14 +1 = +15
+2 +7 = +9  these 2 numbers

x2 + 9x + 14 = (x + 2)(x + 7)

this (+) means the 2 numbers have the same signs

this (-) means both signs are (-)  (-, -)

eg: x2  9x + 20 = ?
what 2 numbers multiply to give +20 and add to give -9
x2  9x + 20 = ?
x x -20 -1 = -21
-2 -10 = -12
-4 -5 = -9  these 2 numbers

x2  9x + 20 = (x  4)(x  5)

this (-) means the 2 numbers have different signs (+, -)

the signs are  (+, -) in any order

eg: x2  5x  14 = ?
what 2 numbers multiply to give -14 and add to give -5
x2  5x  14 = ?
x x +14 -1 = +13
+2 -7 = -5  these 2 numbers +2 + -7 = -5
not -2 + +7 = +5
x2  5x  14 = (x + 2)(x  7)

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 this (-) means the 2 numbers have different signs (+, -)
the signs are  (+, -) in any order

eg: x2 + 7x  18 = ?
what 2 numbers multiply to give -18 and add to give +7
x + 7x  18 = ?
2

x x -18 +1 = -17
-2 +9 = +7  these 2 numbers -2 + +9 = +7
-3 +6 = +3 not +2 + -9 = -7

x2 + 7x  18 = (x – 2)(x + 9)

eg: factorise these trinomials:

x2 – 12x + 20
= (x – 10)(x – 2)

x2 + 8x – 20
= (x + 10)(x – 2)

x2 – x – 20
= (x – 5)(x + 4)

2x2 + 2x – 40
= 2(x2 + x – 20)
= 2(x + 5)(x – 4)

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Solving equations

inverse (opposite) operations for solving equations:

the inverse operation of (+) is ()
the inverse operation of () is ()
the inverse operation of 2 is ( )2

Linear equations:
 remove the denominators (by multiplying every term by the denominator)
 multiply out the brackets
 isolate the term in x
collect the terms in x on one side of the equation and the constant terms on the other side of
the equation
 solve for x

Quadratic, cubic, … equations:

 remove the denominators (by multiplying every term by the denominator)
 multiply out the brackets
 bring all terms to same side of equation (put equation = 0)
 factorise
 solve for x

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Linear equations:

eg: solve for x: x+5 = 8

x + 5 -5 = 8 -5 subtract 5 from both sides
x = 8–5
x = 3

solve for x: x – 13 = -20

x – 13 +13 = -20 +13 add 13 to both sides
x = -20 + 13
x = -7

solve for x: 3x = 12
= divide both sides by 3
x = 4

solve for x: = 3
•5 = 3•5 multiply both sides by 5
x = 15

solve for x: 2x – 8 = 7 + 6x
2x – 8 +8 = 7 + 6x +8 add 8 to both sides
2x = 7 + 6x + 8
2x = 15 + 6x
2x -6x = 15 + 6x -6x subtract 6x from both sides
2x – 6x = 15
-4x = 15
= divide both sides by -4

x =

11
solve for x: 3(2x + 5) – 1 = 4x – 8 multiply out the bracket
6x + 15 – 1 = 4x – 8 add LIKE terms
6x + 14 = 4x – 8
6x + 14 -14 = 4x – 8 -14 subtract 14 from both sides
6x = 4x – 8 – 14
6x = 4x – 22
6x -4x = 4x – 22 -4x subtract 4x from both sides
6x – 4x = – 22
2x = – 22
= divide both sides by 2
x = -11

solve for x: 7– + 3x = 4–x

7•5 – •5 + 3x•5 = 4•5 – x•5 multiply both sides by 5
35 – 2x + 15x = 20 – 5x add LIKE terms
35 + 13x = 20 – 5x
35 + 13x -13x = 20 – 5x -13x subtract 13x from both sides
35 = 20 – 5x – 13x add LIKE terms
35 = 20 – 18x
35 -20 = 20 – 18x -20 subtract 20 from both sides
35 – 20 = – 18x add LIKE terms
15 = - 18x
= divide both sides by -18

= x

12
solve for x: 2+ = 2(4 – 3x)
2•3 + •3 = 2(4 – 3x)•3 multiply both sides by 3
6 + 5x = 6(4 – 3x) multiply out the brackets
6 + 5x = 24 – 18x
6 + 5x -6 = 24 – 18x -6 subtract 6 from both sides
+ 5x = 24 – 18x – 6 add LIKE terms
5x = 18 – 18x
5x +18x = 18 – 18x +18x add 18x to both sides
5x + 18x = 18 add LIKE terms
23x = 18
= divide both sides by 23

x =

13
Quadratics equations:

solve for x: x + 8 =
x •x + 8 •x = •x multiply both sides by x
x2 + 8x = 20 subtract 20 from both sides
2
x + 8x – 20 = 0 factorise the trinomial
(x + 10)(x – 2) = 0
x + 10 = 0 or x – 2 = 0
x = -10 x =2

or you could use the quadratic formula to solve this equation:

solve for x: x + 8 =
x2 + 8x = 20
2
x + 8x – 20 = 0
a = 1, b = 8, c = -20

±√
the quadratic formula

( )± ( ) ( )( )
( )

± √

± √

= 2 or -10
14
 solve for x: x2 – 5x – 14 = 0 factorise the trinomial
(x – 7)(x + 2) = 0
x – 7 = 0 or x + 2 = 0
x = 7 or x = -2

or you could use the quadratic formula to solve this equation:

solve for x: x2 – 5x – 14 = 0
a = 1, b = -5, c = -14

±√
the quadratic formula

( )± ( ) ( )( )
( )

± √

± √

= 7 or -2

15
Sometimes the solutions to the quadratic equation will be non-integer
values:

solve for x: 3x2 + 2x – 7 = 0 this will not factorise ‘nicely’

so you need to use the quadratic formula to solve this equation:

solve for x: 3x2 + 2x – 7 = 0

a = 3, b = 2, c = -7

±√
the quadratic formula

( )± ( ) ( )( )
( )

± √

± √

± . …

. … . …

. … . …

= 1.2301… or -1.8968…

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Cubic equations etc … :
solve for x: x3 = 5x2 subtract 5x2 from both sides
x3 – 5x2 = 0 factorise out a common factor
x2(x – 5) = 0
x2 = 0 or x–5=0
x = x=5
x = 0

solve for x: 7x4 = x3 subtract x3 from both sides

7x4 – x3 = 0 factorise out the common factor
x3(7x – 1)= 0
x3 = 0 or 7x – 1 = 0
x = 7x =1
x = 0 x =

Other equations … :
solve for x: x2 = 25 square root √ both sides
x = 
x = 5 both (± 5) = 25

solve for x: = 11
= 11
= 11 square ( ) both sides
x =
x = 121

Exponential equations:
solve for x: 2x = 8 95x – 3 = 27x
2x = 23 get bases the same (32)5x – 3 = (33)x
x = 3 bases the same, compare indices 310x – 6 = 33x
10x – 6 = 3x
7x = 49 10x – 3x = 6
7x = 72 7x = 6
x = 2 x =
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Indices/Powers/Exponents

coefficient of x2 (3) index / power / exponent (2)

3x2

variable / unknown / base (X)

Index form:
an = a•a•a• ... •a (n times)

Index laws:
am • an = am + n

= am – n (a ≠ 0)

(am)n = am•n

(ab)m = am • bm

(b ≠ 0)

Other indices:
a0 = 1

a–n = = (a ≠ 0)

(a ≥ 0, n a natural number)

(a ≥ 0, m, n natural numbers)

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eg: 4x2 • 3x5 = 12x2+5 = 12x7

3a3b • 6b7a2 = 18a3+2b1+7 = 18a5b8

= = 3b2 divide the top and bottom by 4

divide the top and bottom by 5

(7x4yw3)2 = (7)2(x4)2(y1)2(w3)2 = 49x8y2w6

2x3y5t • (5x4yt6)2 = 2x3y5t • (5)2(x4)2(y1)2(t6)2

= 2x3y5t • 25x8y2t12
= 50x11y7t13

( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

a3 b−2
2
a 3

2b2
5 2 = 5 • 5 = 25

5 –2 =


( √ ) ( )

5 0 + 7–2 = 1 + = 1 + =

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Logarithms
number

log a x = y
base

log 2 8 = 3
Means how many 2’s need to be multiplied together to get 8 ? The answer is 3 (2•2•2 = 8)

Log form Exponential form

Definition: a, x > 0 , a  1

Log laws:

loga x + loga y = loga (xy)  loga x  loga y

x
loga x – loga y = loga ( ) 
y

loga (xy) = yloga x

loga a = 1

loga 1 = 0

logb a =

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eg: log5 125 = ? 3 (5•5•5 = 125)

log7 49 = ? 2 (7•7 = 49)

log2 7 + log2 5 = log2 (7  5) = log2 35

log2 7 + log3 5 = log2 7 + log3 5

log2 20 – log2 4 = log2 ( ) = log2 5

log2 20 – log3 4 = log2 20 – log3 4

log5 8 = log5 (23) = 3log5 2

log5 5 = 1

log10 10 = 1

log5 1 = 0

log10 1 = 0

•
log3 9 = = = = = 2

•
log25 125 = = = =
•

21
eg: evaluate/simplify:

log9 9 = 1

log2 1 = 0

log10 8 = 0.90308… use a calculator

log4 5 = = 1.16096… use a calculator

log3 243 = 5 33333 = 243

log3 243 = log3 (35) = 5log3 (3) = 51 = 5

log5 625 = 4 5555 = 625

log5 625 = log5 (54) = 4log5 (5) = 41 = 4

log2 4 + log2 8 = log2 (4 • 8) = log2 (32) = log2 (25)

= 5•log2 (2)
= 5•1
= 5

log2 20 – log2 10 = log2 ( ) = log2 ( 2 ) = 1

•
log27 81 = •

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Solve for x: log27 81 = x
27x = 81 convert log form to exponential form
(33)x = 34 get bases the same
33x = 34
3x = 4 bases the same, compare indicies
= divide both sides by 3

x =

logx 36 = 2
x2 = 36 convert log form to exponential form
x =  square root √ both sides
x = 6 both (± 6) = 36
x = +6 x>0,x1

log5 x = 2
52 = x convert log form to exponential form
25 = x

log7 x = -2
7 -2 = x convert log form to exponential form

= x

= x

23
Surds

What are surds? , , , , …

These are not surds: , , , …

Surds are numbers left in root form to express its exact value
Surds are irrational numbers

Multiplication & division:

multiply/divide the numbers outside the root sign together

multiply/divide the numbers inside the root sign together

(a, b ≥ 0)

√
(a ≥ 0, b > 0)
√

eg:

√
√

√ √ √
√

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Simplification:

look for 2 factors that multiply together to equal the number, one of which
must be a perfect square

eg:

this cannot be simplified

Addition & subtraction:

only add & subtract LIKE surds

‘like surds’ are terms where the root number and the number inside the
root sign are the same (identical); the coefficients can be different

are all LIKE surds

add or subtract the coefficients of like terms normally,

keep the root number and the number inside the root sign the same

eg:

4 + 6 + 7
25
Rationalising surds:

to rationalize a fraction with a surd in its denominator, multiply both the

‘top’ and ‘bottom’ by the surd part of the denominator

√ √ √
eg:
√ √ √ √

√ √ √ √ √ √
√ √ √ √ •

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Solving more equations

Linear equations:

eg: solve for x:

– 4 + 5x = 1 – 3x
•3 – 4•3 + 5x•3 = 1•3 – 3x•3 multiply both sides by 3

2x – 12 + 15x = 3 – 9x add LIKE terms

17x – 12 +9x = 3 – 9x +9x add 9x to both sides
26x – 12 = 3
26x – 12 +12 = 3 +12 add 12 to both sides
26x = 3 + 12 add LIKE terms
26x = 15
= divide both sides by 26

x =

Quadratic and Cubic equations:

eg: solve for x:

x– = 5
x•x – •x = 5•x multiply both sides by x

x2 – 14 = 5x
x2 – 14 -5x = 5x -5x subtract 5x from both sides
x2 – 14 – 5x = 0
x2 – 5x – 14 = 0 factorise the trinomial
(x – 7)(x + 2) = 0
x – 7 = 0 or x+2=0
x=7 x = -2

27
eg: solve for x:
2x2 = 18 or 2x2 = 18
2x2 – 18 = 0 subtract 18 from both sides = divide both sides by 2

2(x2 – 9) = 0 factorise a common factor x2 = 9 square root √ both sides

2(x – 3)(x + 3) = 0 factorise x =
x – 3 = 0 or x + 3 = 0 x = ±3
x =3 x = -3

eg: solve for x: 2x3 = 5x2 subtract 5x2 from both sides
2x3 – 5x2 = 0
2
x (2x – 5) = 0 factorise a common factor of x2
x2 = 0 or 2x – 5 = 0
x = 2x = 5
x = 0 = divide both sides by 2

x =

Other (radical) equations:

eg: solve for a: = 10

= 10
= 10 square ( ) both sides
4a = (10)2
4a = 100
= divide both sides by 4

a =
a = 25

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eg: solve for a: 4 = 10

= divide both sides by 4

= divide top & bottom of by 2

= square ( ) both sides

a =

a =

Exponential/Index equations:

eg: solve for x:

9x = 272x+3
(32)x = (33)2x+3 get bases the same
32x = 36x+9 bases the same, compare index
2x = 6x + 9
2x -6x = 6x + 9 -6x subtract 6x from both sides
2x – 6x = +9
-4x = 9
= divide both sides by -4

x =

29
eg: solve for x:

5x = 9 cannot get the bases the same,

log 5x = log 9 so take the log of both sides
x•log 5 = log 9
•
= divide both sides by log 5

x = 1.365212…

eg: 4 2x+3 = 7
log(4 2x+3) = log (7) take the log of both sides
(2x+3)•log (4) = log (7)
( )•
= divide both sides by log 4

2x + 3 =
2x + 3 = 1.4036774... subtract 3 from both sides
2x = 1.4036774... – 3
2x = -1.5963225...
. …
= divide both sides by 2

x = -0.7981612...

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