ALGEBRA

Part 1
 CONTENTS
Under the unit ALGEBRA PART 1, we will discuss the following topics

1. Algebraic Expressions and Manipulation

2. Expansion
3. Factorisation
4. Solving Linear Equations
5. Solving Simultaneous Equations
6. Solving Quadratic Equations

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 ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS
Algebraic expressions contain numbers, letters and no equal signs. The letters are
variables which can represent different numerical values.

3x + 5
2x2 + x + 8

The letters can be substituted with different values to evaluate the expression.

EXAMPLE:
When x = 4, y =2, z =-5, find the value of
a) 3x + 2z b) x + z⁄y
= 3(4) + 2(-5)
= 12 + (-10)
=2

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 ALGEBRAIC MANIPULATION
Rule 1: We can only add or subtract like terms. TIP: GROUP like terms together
before adding / subtracting!
EXAMPLE:
a + 3b - 4a - 8b
2a + 5a = 7a 3c + 4d
= a - 4a + 3b - 8b
9b -3b = 6b 4e - 6f
= -3a -5b

Rule 2: We can multiply or divide both LIKE and UNLIKE terms together.

EXAMPLE: TIP: Multiply/divide the

2a x 5b = 10ab numbers first, followed
3a x 4a = 12a2 the letters.

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 EXPANSION
We can expand the expression if there are multiple brackets involved, through the
distributive law. Each term outside of the bracket would multiply each term inside the
bracket.

EXAMPLE:

2x(3x + y - 4z) 5(x-2y) - (x-y) (x-3)2

= 6x2 + 2xy -8xz = 5 (x-2y) - 1(x-y) = (x-3)(x-3)
= 5x -10y -x +y = x(x-3) -3(x-3)
= 5x -x -10y +y = x2 -3x -3x +9
= 4x -9y = x2 -6x +9

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 FACTORISATION
Factorisation is the OPPOSITE of expansion, where we take the common factor out
instead.

EXAMPLE:

x2 + x 8x2y + 6xy2 18mx - 3nx + 12my - 2ny

= x (x+1) = 2xy(4x + 3y) = 3x (6m-n) + 2y(6m-n)
= (3x+2y) (6m-n)
x is common to 2xy is common
x2 and x TIP: We may have to divide
the terms into pairs before
factorising

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 FACTORISATION
For factorisation of quadratic equations,
x2 + 11x + 24
STEP 1: Which two numbers multiply to give 24 and add to give 11?
1 x 24 25
2 x 12 14
3x8 11

STEP 2: Put the numbers in brackets accordingly

x2 + 11x + 24 = (x+3)(x+8)

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 FACTORISATION

For factorisation of quadratic equations, we will use the method below.

x2 + bx + c
STEP 1: Find two numbers which multiply to give c and add up to give b.

STEP 2: Put the two numbers in brackets accordingly

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 FACTORISATION
EXAMPLE:
b2 + 2b - 15
STEP 1: Which two numbers multiply to give -15 and add up to give 2?
FACTORS OF -15 SUM OF FACTORS
-1 x 15 14
1 x -15 -14
3 x -5 -2
-3 x 5 2
STEP 2: Put the numbers in brackets accordingly
b2 +2b -15
=(b-3)(b+5)

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 FACTORISATION

For factorisation of quadratic equations, with coefficient of the quadratic term (x2) that is
not 1, we will use the method below.

ax2 + bx + c
STEP 1: Find two numbers which multiply to give (b x c) and add up to
give b.

STEP 2: Split the ‘x’ term into two terms, with the two numbers obtained
from Step 1 being the coefficient.

STEP 3: Factorise the equation accordingly by sorting into pairs.

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 FACTORISATION
EXAMPLE:
6x2+x-2
STEP 1: Which two numbers multiply to give -12 [=6 x-2] and add to give 1?
FACTORS OF -12 SUM OF FACTORS
-1 x 12 11
1 x -12 -11
2 x -6 -4
-2 x 6 4
-3 x 4 1
3 x -4 -1
STEP 2: Split the ‘1x’ term
6x2 +4x -3x -2
STEP 3: Factorise them by sorting them into pairs
6x2 +4x -3x -2 = 2x(3x+2) - 1(3x+2) = (2x-1)(3x+2)

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 FACTORISATION

For factorisation of quadratic equations, with only one unknown quadratic term (x2) and
a constant that is a square number, we will use the method below.

DIFFERENCE OF TWO SQUARES

x2 - y2
= (x+y)(x-y)

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 FACTORISATION
EXAMPLE

2
x -16 3x2 -27y2
TIP: Make the coefficient of
= x2 -42 = 3 (x2 -9y2)
the quadratic term ‘1’ first.
= (x+4)(x-4) = 3 [(x)2 - (3y)2]
= 3 (x+3)(x-3)

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 SOLVING LINEAR EQUATIONS
By solving equations, we are able to obtain the value of the unknown term.

METHOD
● Move all letters to one side and all numbers to the other side of the equal sign
● Try to avoid negatives if possible
● Check and use inverse operations when moving terms to the opposite side of
equation

+↔-
×↔÷

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 SOLVING LINEAR EQUATIONS
EXAMPLE

8 - 10x = 6
8 = 6 + 10x Move the ‘x’ term to make it positive
8 -6 = 10x Move the numbers to one side
2 = 10x
Solve and simplify the equation

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 SOLVING LINEAR EQUATIONS
EXAMPLE

Move the ‘x’ term to make it positive

Move the numbers to one side

Cross Multiplication

Solve and simplify the equation

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 SOLVING LINEAR EQUATIONS
EXAMPLE (SOLVING WORD EQUATIONS)

The sum of three consecutive odd numbers is 105

Find the numbers.

Let the smallest odd number be x; the other numbers are (x+2) and (x+4)

x + (x+2) + (x+4) = 105

3x + 6 = 105
3x = 99
x = 33

The first number is 33, the second number is 35, and the third number is 37.

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 LINEAR EQUATIONS
To change the subject of a formula, the steps involved is the same as that for solving
ordinary linear equations.

METHOD
● Manipulate the equation such that the terms containing the variable to be the subject
are all on one side of the equal sign
● Try to avoid negatives if possible
● Check and inverse the operators when moving terms to opposite side of equation
+↔-
×↔÷

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 SOLVING LINEAR EQUATIONS
EXAMPLE
Make a the subject of the following formula

Cross multiplication
Move the term with variable “a” to
become positive

Solve and make “a” the subject

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 SOLVING LINEAR EQUATIONS
EXAMPLE
Make y the subject of the following formula

Square both sides of equation to remove

the square root

Solve and make “y” the subject

*Remember to give both positive and

negative solutions after square rooting!

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 SOLVING LINEAR EQUATIONS
EXAMPLE
Make y the subject of the following formula

m ( y + n) = n ( n - y)

my + mn = n2 - ny Expand the terms

my + ny = n2 - mn Move all terms containing a variable to be

the subject (i.e. y) to one side of equation

y (m+n) = n2 - mn Factorise to separate the y variable from

others

y = (n2 - mn) ⁄ (m+n) Solve to make y the subject

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 SIMULTANEOUS EQUATIONS
Simultaneous equations are when TWO EQUATIONS WITH TWO DIFFERENT UNKNOWN
TERMS are given and we have to find the value for each term. There are two methods to
solve simultaneous equations.

(1) SUBSTITUTION METHOD

(2) ELIMINATION METHOD

This is used when substitution method cannot be used. The idea is to multiply the
equation with a factor to make one of the terms equal in both equations so they cancel
each other out.

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 SIMULTANEOUS EQUATIONS
(1) SUBSTITUTION METHOD

EXAMPLE: Solve these simultaneous equations

3x + y = 19
x + y = 19

3x + y =19 ...[1] STEP 1: Label the equations

x + y = 9 ...[2]
y = 9-x STEP 2: Express one term in terms of another term
(i.e. express y in terms of x from equation [2])
3x + 9 -x = 19 STEP 3: Substitute the expression for y in equation [1]
2x =19 -9 STEP 4: Solve for x.
2x=10
x=5
y = 9-x = 9-5 =4 STEP 5: Solve for y using the value of x found using equation [2]

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 SIMULTANEOUS EQUATIONS
(2) ELIMINATION METHOD (ADDITION OF EQUATIONS)
WORKED EXAMPLE: Solve these simultaneous equations
2x - y = 7
3x + 2y = 7
2x - y = 7 ...[1] STEP 1: Label the equations
3x + 2y =7 ...[2]
[1] x 2: 4x - 2y = 14 ...[3] STEP 2: Choose an unknown in one equation and multiply the equation with
a factor to make the unknown have the same coefficient in both equations.
[3] + [2]: 4x+3x = 7+14 STEP 3: Eliminate the unknown from both equations by addition/subtraction
7x = 21 STEP 4: Solve for x.
x=3
Substitute in [1]: STEP 5: Solve for the eliminated unknown by substituting in equation [2]
2(3) - y =7
6-y=7
y=-1

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 SIMULTANEOUS EQUATIONS
(2) ELIMINATION METHOD (SUBTRACTION OF EQUATIONS)
WORKED EXAMPLE: Solve these simultaneous equations
2x + 3y = 5
5x - 2y = -16
2x +3y = 5 ...[1] STEP 1: Label the equations
5x-2y = -16 ...[2]
[1] x 5: 10x+15y = 25 ...[3] STEP 2: Multiply the equation with a factor to make the unknown have
[2]x 2: 10x-4y = -32 ...[4] the same coefficient in both equations.
[3] - [4]: 15y-(-4y)= 25-(-32) STEP 3: Eliminate the unknown from both equations
15y+4y = 25+32 STEP 4: Solve for first unknown term.
19y = 57
y=3
Substitute in [1]: 2x + 3(3) = 5 STEP 5: Solve for the eliminated unknown by substituting in equation [1]
2x + 9 =5
x=-2

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 SOLVING QUADRATIC EQUATIONS
When we solve quadratic equations, we will generally have TWO DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS.
There are 2 methods to do so.

METHOD 1: BY FACTORISATION

Solve x2 - x - 6 =0

x2-x - 6 = 0 STEP 1: Rearrange the equation to make it

equivalent to zero.
(x-3)(x+2) = 0 STEP 2: Factorise the quadratic equation
(x-3) = 0 OR (x+2) = 0 STEP 3: Let either bracket be equal to zero.
x = 3 OR x = -2 STEP 4: Find the two possible solutions of x

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 SOLVING QUADRATIC EQUATIONS
WORKED EXAMPLE: Solve 16x2 - 9 = 0

BY FACTORISATION BY ALGEBRAIC MANIPULATION

(4x)2 - 32 = 0 16x2 = 9
(4x +3 ) (4x-3)= 0 x2 = 9/16
(4x+3) = 0 OR (4x-3) =0 x = 3/4 OR -3/4
4x = -3 OR 4x = 3
x= -3/4 OR x = 3/4 REMEMBER!
● Can only use square root
on a positive number
● Remember to give both
solutions (positive and
negative)

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 SOLVING QUADRATIC EQUATIONS

When we cannot factorise the quadratic equation, we use the SECOND METHOD
(FORMULA) below to get the solutions.

For equation ax2 + bx + c = 0,

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 SOLVING QUADRATIC EQUATIONS
WORKED EXAMPLE:

Solve 24x2 -22x-35=0

Here, a = 24, b = -22, c = -35.

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THINK AND TALK

S I O N S &
E X P RE S
G E BRA I C
★ A L O N
L A T I
MANIPU
A N S I O N
★ EXP IS A T ION N S
C T O R U A T I O
★ FA G L I N E A R E Q
E Q U A T I O N S
O L V I N E O U S
★ S G S I M U L TA N
A T I O N S
S O L V IN T I C E Q U
★ Q U A D R A
S O L V IN G
★

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TOPIC REVIEW
Under the unit ALGEBRA PART 1, we have discussed following :
CONTENT

1. Algebraic Expressions and Manipulation

2. Expansion

3. Factorisation

4. Solving Linear Equations

5. Solving Simultaneous Equations

6. Solving Quadratic Equations

2018 - 2020 © Tutopiya Pte Ltd

REFERENCES
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• [Link]

• [Link]

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