1 Course: Algebra

2 Code: Math 157

3 Credit hours: 3
4 Rhydal Esi Eghan

5 1 Course Outline

6 Part I

7 • Indices, Logarithms, Surds, Polynomials, Trigonometric func-

8 tions
9 • Rational and Partial functions
10 • Permutation and Combinations
11 • Sequence and Series
12 • Binomial Theorem and Series

13 Part II

14 • Matrices and Determinants

15 • Principles of Induction
16 • Limit
17 • Differentiation

18 Definition 1.1 (indices). Any expression written as an is defined

19 as the variable a raised to the power of the number n
20 n= power, an index or an exponent of a
21 Definition 1.2. A Logarithm is a mirror image of an index

1
Worked Examples of Indices :

22 · 23 = 22+3 = 25 = 32 (1)

23
2
= 23−2 = 21 = 2 (2)
2

(23 )2 = 26 = 64 (3)

32 × 42 = (3 × 4)2 = 122 = 144 (4)

 2
62 6
= = 22 = 4 (5)
32 2

Try:

1). A1/4 × A3/4 (6)

2 3/2
2). A ÷ A (7)
3). (A3/4 )8 (8)

2
 Worked Examples of Logarithms
log10 100 + log10 1000 = log10 (100 × 1000)
= log10 100000
= log10 105
= 5log10 10
=5

1000
log10 1000 − log10 100 = log10 ( )
100
= log10 100
= log10 102
=2

log10 1000 = log10 103

= 3log10 10
=3

22 1.1 Change of base of Logarithms

This is obtained through the indices-logarithm relation
Given loga b = x (9)
then b = ax
Taking logarithm to base c on both sides,
logc b = logc ax
logc b = xlogc a
logc b
x= (10)
logc a
23 Substitute (12) into (13), then we have

logc b
loga b = ’c’ is the new base that we can choose (11)
logc a

3
Example 1.1. Evaluate log8 2

log2 2
log8 2 =
log2 8
1
=
log2 23
1 1
= =
3log2 2 3

Example 1.2. Evaluate log25 125

log5 125
log25 125 =
log5 25
log5 53
=
log5 52
3log5 5 3
= =
2log5 2 2

4
Example 1.3. Solve log3 (5t − 3) − log3 3t = −1

5t − 3
log3 ( ) = −1
3t
5t − 3
= 3−1
3t
5t − 3 1
=
3t 3
15t − 9 = 3t
12t = 9
3
t=
4

5
24 1.2 Indices and Logarithm Relation
ax = N ≡ x = loga N

6
7
8
25 Test
26 Solve the following exponential equation, giving the answer correct
27 to 3 s.f

3t+1 = 6 + 32t−1

9
28 2 SURDS
29 Content
30 • Introduction to Surd
31 • Rules of Surd
32 • Rationalization of Surd
33 • Worked Examples

34 2.1 Introduction To Surds

35 • Surds, Indices and Logarithms are closely related. They are,
36 most of the time, studied together. So the exposure to indices
37 and logarithms in previous lessons will help you to understand
38 the use of Surds.
39 • Numbers whose square√roots
√ cannot
√ be determined in terms of
40 rational numbers e.g,. 2, 3, 5 etc.are called Surds.
41 • Such numbers occur frequently in Trigonometry
√ when cal-
42 culating
√ the ratio of
√ angles; e.g, Cos30 = 3/2, tan60 =
43 3, tan30 = 1/ 3; and in coordinate geometry in the cal-
44 culation of distances.
45 • You will therefore find it useful to have a sound knowledge of
46 surds.

47 Definition 2.1. When we can’t simplify a number to remove a

48 square root (or cube root etc) then it is a surd.

10
49 2.2 RULES of SURDS

11
50 Worked Examples of Rules: Multiplication and Division
51 Rule

52

12
53 Worked Examples of Rules: Addition and Subtraction Rule

54

55 Notice that the above surds can be added or subtracted because

56 they are in similar form,that is,numbers under the radical signs are
57 the same and they have the same index.
58
√ √ √
59 Mixed surds such as 2 2 + 2 7 − 2 3 are not similar, so they
60 cannot be added or subtracted, that is, they cannot be simplified
61 further.

13
62 2.3 Rationalizing the Denominator of Surds
√
3
63 1. A surd such as cannot be simplified further;
5
2
64 2. But one such as √ can be written in a convenient form as
√ 3
2 3
65 from Rule 3,
3
66 Thus it is not normal to have the radical in the denominator.
67

68 The process of removing the radical from the denominator is called

69 Rationalization.
70

71 In order to carry out rationalization, you need to know about con-

72 jugate surds.

73 Remark 2.1. 1. When a surd is multiplied by its conjugate, their

74 product is no more a surd.
√ √
Example 2.1. Multiply (a+ b) by its conjugate (a- b) to
get
√ √ √ √ √ √
(a + b)(a − b) = a2 − a b + a b − b b
√ √
= a2 − b b = a2 − b2
75 You have seen that the result is not a surd.

76 2. Now, the rule is: To rationalize a radical denominator of a

77 surd, multiply both numerator and denominator of the
78 surd by the conjugate of the denominator.

14
 Examples of this Rule

79

15
80 3 POLYNOMIALS
81 Learning Objectives
82 • Identify a polynomial and determine its degree.
83 • Evaluate a polynomial using function notation.
84 • Algebraic Evaluations of Polynomials (Addition,Subtraction,
85 Multiplication, Division)

86 Definition 3.1. A polynomial is a special algebraic expression with

87 terms that consist of real number coefficients and variable factors
88 with whole number exponents.

16
89 3.1 Degree of Polynomials

17
90 3.2 Classifications of Polynomials

18
91 3.3 Polynomial Functions

92 Example 3.1. Evaluate f(5), given f (x) = −2x2 + 5x + 10,

93 ans:-15

19
94 3.4 Function Evaluation
Example 3.2.
f (x) = −x2 − 3x + 5 g(x) = 3x2 + 2x + 2
(f + g)(x) = 2x2 − x + 7

f (x) = 2x − 3 g(x) = −2x2 + 2x + 5

(f − g)(x) = 2x2 − 8

f (x) = 2x2 g(x) = 3x2 − 5x + 1

(f g)(x) = (2 · 3)x2+2 + (2 · −5)x2+1 + 2x2
= 6x4 − 10x3 + 2x2

f (x) = 24x7 y 5 g(x) = 8x3 y 2

24x7 y 5
(f /g)(x) =
8x3 y 2
24 7−3 5−2
= x y
8
= 3x4 y 3

20