GENERAL

MATHEMATICS
MATH 01
 OBJECTIVES

• Identify the structure of the real number system.

• State the laws on exponents.
• Perform the four fundamental operations on algebraic expressions.
• Multiply polynomials by using special products formulas.
• Factor polynomials.
• Define rational expressions.
• Simplify rational expressions.
• Perform the four fundamental operations on rational expressions.
• Define radicals and state its properties.
• Simplify radicals.
• Perform the four fundamental operations on radicals.
The Set of Real Numbers and its Subsets

Real Numbers

Rational Numbers Irrational Numbers

Non-Integers Integers
(Fractions)

Whole Numbers Negative Integers

0, 1, 2, 3… …-3, -2, -1

Natural Numbers Zero

1, 2, 3…
EXPONENTS
Provide a shorthand device for representing repeated multiplication of a
Real number. If a is a real number and n is a positive integer, then the
Symbol an represents the product of n factors of a. that is,

n factors of a
an= a  a  a  . . .  a

where a is the base and n is the exponent.

Laws of Exponents
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If a and b are real numbers, and m and n are positive integers, then,

1. Product of two powers of the same base

𝑎𝑚 ∙ 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎𝑚+𝑛
2. Quotient of two powers of the same base
𝑎𝑚−𝑛 , 𝑚>𝑛
𝑎𝑚
=൞ 1, 𝑚 = 𝑛, 𝑎 ≠ 0
𝑎𝑛 1
𝑎 𝑛−𝑚 , 𝑚 < 𝑛, 𝑎 ≠ 0
3. Power of a Power
𝑎𝑚 𝑛 =𝑎𝑚𝑛
4. Power of a Product
𝑎𝑏 𝑚 =𝑎𝑚 𝑏𝑛
5. Power of a Quotient
𝑎 𝑚 𝑎𝑚
𝑏
=𝑏 𝑚
EXERCISES

Simplify each of the following in a form free of zero or negative

exponents.

5
1. −3 5. 32𝑛+3 33𝑛−2

𝑚7
2. −72 6.
𝑚3 𝑛3

4
3. −3 4 4 𝑚−1 0
7.
𝑚3 𝑛3
10
4. 7𝑚5 4𝑚3
𝑥3𝑦4
8.
𝑥2𝑦5
 Special Products
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Multiplication of polynomials like binomial to binomial using a long hand process is a

tedious practice. Thus, special product formulas are developed to save time in multiplying
these polynomials.

Product of Two Binomials

(ax + by)(cx + dy) = acx2 + adxy +bcxy + bdy2

Combining similar terms, we have

(ax + by)(cx+dy) = acx2 + (ad + bc)xy + bdy2

EXAMPLE: Find the product:

1. (3x – 5y)(4x + 7y) 3. (7mn+3x)(2mn-5x)

2. (4ab2 − 5cd)((3ab2 − 2cd)
Product of Sum and Difference of Two Terms

(x + y)(x – y) = x2 – y2

EXAMPLE: Find the product.

1. (8ax + 9)(8ax – 9)

2. (6x + 7y)(6x – 7y)

3. 9𝑥 2 + 5𝑦 2 9𝑥 2 − 5𝑦 2
Square of a Binomial
(x + y)2 = x2 + 2xy + y2

(x – y)2 = x2 – 2xy + y2

EXAMPLE: Find the product.

2
1. 4m − 8

2. 5 − 4a 2
3. 2an + 3 2
Cube of a Binomial

(x + y)3 = x3 + 3x2y + 3xy2 + y3

(x – y)3 = x3 – 3x2y + 3xy2 – y3

EXAMPLE: Find the product.

1. 3m − 5 3
2. 2x 2 + 3y 3
3
3. 2x a + 5y b
Square of a Polynomial

(x + y + z)2 = x2 + y2 +z2 + 2xy + 2xz + 2yz

(w + x + y + z)2 = w2 + x2 + y2 +z2 + 2(wx + wy +wz + xy + xz + yz)

EXAMPLE: Find the product.

2
1. 3m + 2n − 5

2. 5ab − 4c + 2d2 2

3. a−b−c+d 2
Product of a Binomial and a Trinomial

(x + y)(x2 – xy + y2) = x3 + y3

(x – y)(x2 + xy + y2) = x3 - y3

EXAMPLE: Find the product.

1. 2x + 3 4x 2 − 6x + 9

2. 4a − 2 6a2 + 8a + 4

3. 3x + 7y 9x 2 − 21xy + 49y 2
Factoring Polynomials
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Factoring is the process of finding expressions which when multiplied together will
bring the given product.
To factor a polynomial completely is to express it as a product of two or more prime
polynomials.

Common Factors
 ab ac ad 
ab  ac  ad  a   
 a a a 
ab  ac  ad  a (b  c  d )
EXAMPLE: Factor the following polynomials completely.

1. 63c 2 d3 − 49c 5 d4 2. 500w 9 z 7 − 500w 3 z 4

3. ab + c 3 3
− 3x 2 ab + c 3 2
Quadratic Trinomial

ax2 + bxy + cy2 = (px + my)(qx + ny)

where: a = pq
b = pn + mq
c = mn

EXAMPLE: Factor the following polynomials completely.

1. 4x 2 − 35xy − 9y 2

2. 6 + 19y + 15y 2

3. 16m4 + 32m2 n + 15n2

Factoring by Grouping

Some polynomials that do not appear to be factorable can

sometimes be factored using the factoring technique called
factoring by grouping. Here, terms are grouped together so that a
common factor between groups can be collected.

EXAMPLE: Factor the following polynomials completely.

1. ab + a + 3b + 3

2. 9m2 + 4p2 − 16n2 −12mp

Factoring by Synthetic Division

Polynomials in one variable of degree higher than two can be

factored by means of synthetic division. Here, terms are arranged
in descending power of the variable and then apply the steps in
synthetic division.

EXAMPLE: Factor the following polynomials completely.

1. x 3  2x 2  5x  6

2. x 4
 5 x 2
4
Definition of Rational Expression
A rational expression is an algebraic fraction whose numerator
and denominator are both polynomials.

*Algebraic fraction is an expression which is a quotient of two

algebraic expressions.

Here are some examples of rational expressions:

1 2 4 x 2 1 m 4  6m  3 2x 2  5 x  3
-
2 5 x -3 x2  5 m 2  2m  3 1
Types of Fractions
1. Proper fraction is one whose degree of polynomial in the
numerator is less than the degree of the polynomial in the
denominator.
Examples:
2 x -1 x 2  2x  3 x2
x 3 x2 1 x3  x 2  5 x 3  2 x 2  5x  3

2. Improper fraction is one whose degree of polynomial in the

numerator is greater than or exactly equal to the degree of the
polynomial in the denominator.
Examples:
x2  2 x 1 2x 3  3x  5 4 - x2
x3 x -1 x3 5  x2
Reduction of Rational Expressions to Lowest Terms
To reduce a rational expression to its lowest terms, we factor the
numerator and denominator and then divide both by their common
factors.

*Cancellation Law for Fraction is the process of taking out the

common factor from both the numerator and denominator of a
fraction.

EXAMPLE:

Reduce the following rational expressions to lowest terms.

x2  9
15𝑥𝑦 3 3x  9
1. 3.
42𝑥 4 𝑦 6
2b c  4bd
2 4  x2
2. 4. x 2  5x  6
6b 2
Lowest Common Multiple
A multiple of numbers is any number that contains the given number as
exact divisor.
Example: 5, 10, 15, 20 are multiples of 5

A common multiple of two or more numbers, is a number that can be

divided by each of them.
Example: The common multiple of 2, 4, 9, and 12 is 36.

The lowest common multiple (LCM) of two or more numbers is the smallest
of their common multiples.
Example: 36 is the LCM of 2, 4, 9, and 12.

The lowest common multiple of two or more expressions is one of lowest

degree that has each of the given expressions as a factor.
Example: 𝑥 2 − 1 is the LCM of x + 1 and x – 1.

The lowest common denominator (LCD) of a set of fractions is the lowest

common multiple of the denominators in the set.
Operations on Rational Expressions

Addition/Subtraction of Rational Expressions

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

To add or subtract rational expressions, we consider

the following rules. Let a, b, c, d be real numbers.
𝑎 𝑏 𝑎±𝑏
Rule 1: ± = c≠0
𝑐 𝑐 𝑐
(for same denominators only)
𝑎 𝑐 𝑎±𝑐
Rule 2: ± = b ≠ 0, 𝑑 ≠ 0
𝑏 𝑑 𝑏𝑑
(Find LCD and combine numerators)
 EXAMPLE:
Perform the indicated operations and simplify.
8 2 4
1. + −
9 9 9

3𝑎 8𝑎 10𝑎
2. − +
12 12 12

7 5 11
3. − +
24 −24 24

7𝑥+1 1−17𝑥
4. +
5𝑥−1 5𝑥−1

3𝑥 4𝑦
5. −
3𝑥+2𝑦 2𝑥−3𝑦
Operations on Rational Expressions

Multiplication of Rational Expressions

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

To multiply rational expressions, we consider the

following rule.

Let a, b, c, d be real numbers.

𝑎 𝑐 𝑎𝑐
∙ = b ≠ 0, 𝑑 ≠ 0
𝑏 𝑑 𝑏𝑑

This also holds true when we multiply more than two

rational expressions.
 EXAMPLE:
Perform the indicated operations and simplify.
5 −4 27
1. ∙ ∙
3 9 −21

5𝑥 4𝑥𝑦 3𝑧 2
2. ∙ ∙
3𝑦 9𝑧 4𝑥 3

15 108 93
3. − ∙ ∙
26 52 48

4𝑎−2𝑏 𝑎+2𝑏
4. ∙
5𝑎+10𝑏 2𝑎𝑏−𝑏2

3𝑥 4𝑦
5. ∙
3𝑥+2𝑦 2𝑥−3𝑦
Operations on Rational Expressions

Division of Rational Expressions

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

To divide rational expressions, we consider the

following rule.

Let a, b, c, d be real numbers.

𝑎 𝑐 𝑎 𝑑 𝑎𝑑
÷ = ∙ = b, c, d ≠ 0
𝑏 𝑑 𝑏 𝑐 𝑏𝑐
EXAMPLE:
Perform the indicated operations and simplify.

1. 8 x 2 y 24 x

3y 27 xy
2. 18m4 n2 6 m3 n

4 mn 12mn
3. x 2  16 4 x

x2  6x  9 x2  9
4.
r 2  s 2 r 2  2rs  s 2
2

4r 2s 2
Definition of Complex Fractions
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A complex fraction is a fraction having one or more

fractions in either or both of its parts.

The following are complex fractions.

1 1 x y

a. 2 b. 4 c. x y d. z
1 1 x y x y
2 1 
3 1 y x w
1
5
Ways of Simplifying Complex Fractions
FIRST METHOD
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A complex fraction may be simplified by reducing both the numerator and

denominator to simple fractions separately.

5 3 10−9 1
EXAMPLE: − 1 12 2
3 2 6 6
1 5 = 3+10 = 13 = ∙ =
+ 6 13 13
4 6 12 12

SECOND METHOD
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A complex fraction may be simplified by finding a simple fraction equivalent

to it by multiplying the numerator and denominator by the LCD of the given
fractions.
2 5 2 5
3−2 12
EXAMPLE: 3−2= =
8 − 30
=−
12
1 2 1 2 3 + 4 7
4+6 4+6 12
EXERCISES: Simplify the following complex fractions.

6
1.
1
2
3

2 1
2.

3 4
2 1

5 4
4x 2
3. 
x 1 x 1
3 6x

x 1 x 1
Rational Exponents

Definition of the nth Root of a Real Number

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

If n is a positive integer greater than 1, and a and b are

real numbers such that 𝒃𝒏 = a, then b is an nth root of real
number a.

The following examples illustrate the definition of the principal

nth root of real number.
a. 2 and – 2 square roots of 4 since 22 = 4 and −2 2 =4.
b. 3 is a cube root of 27 since 33 =27.
c. – 4 is a 5th root of – 1024 since −4 5 =-1024.
The Principal nth Root of a Real Number
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

If n is a positive integer greater than 1, a is a real

number, and 𝑛 𝑎 denotes the principal nth root of a, then

i. if a ≥ 0, 𝑛 𝑎 ≥ 0
ii. if a < 0, 𝑛 𝑎 < 0 for n is odd

The above definition used a special symbol 𝑛 𝑎 which is

called a radical of order n. In this notation, a is called the
radicand and n is the index of the radical. The symbol is
called the radical sign.
 𝒏
In the relation 𝑏 = 𝒂 , b is an nth root of a if and
only if 𝑏 𝑛 = 𝑎.
𝑛
The following examples illustrate the relationship of 𝑏 = 𝑎
with 𝑏 𝑛 = 𝑎.
3
a. 8 = 2 if and only if 23 =8
5
b. −32 = − 2 if and only if (−2)5 = −32
4
c. 81 = 3 if and only if 34 =81
Properties of Rational Exponents
𝑛
i) If n is a positive integer greater than 1, such that a and 𝑎 are real
numbers, then
1
𝑎 =𝑛𝑎
𝑛

𝑛
ii) If m and n are positive integers that are relatively prime, such that a and 𝑎
are real numbers, then
𝑚 𝑚
𝑛 𝑚 𝑛
𝑎 =
𝑛 𝑎 or 𝑎 = 𝑛 𝑎𝑚
1 𝑚 1
= 𝑎 𝑛 = 𝑎𝑚 𝑛
𝑛
iii) If m and n are positive integers that are relatively prime, such that a and 𝑎
are real numbers and a ≠ 0 , then
𝑚
−𝑛 1
𝑎 = 𝑚
𝑎𝑛
EXAMPLE:
A. Evaluate the following.
3 2
−3
1. 42 4. −32
2 1
2. −27 3 5. −16 4 4
1
2 2
3. −7

B. Perform the indicated operations and simplify.

1

  43  9
1. 
3 5

1
3.  16 x  4 5. x 
x 4
x x 6 3  
8   3 
 81 y   x2 
 
3 1
2. 3 2 4. 
5 6
x 5
y 5 3a y
3 4
2 
5 3
5 0 27a y
x y
Properties of Radicals
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Let m and n be positive integers greater than 1, and a

and b are real numbers

𝑛 𝑎 𝑖𝑓 𝑛 𝑖𝑠 𝑜𝑑𝑑
i. 𝑎𝑛 =ቊ 𝑎
𝑖𝑓 𝑛 𝑖𝑠 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛
𝑛 𝑛 𝑛
ii. 𝑎𝑏 = 𝑎 ∙ 𝑏 Multiplication Property
𝑛
𝑛 𝑎 𝑎
iii. 𝑏
=𝑛
𝑏
for b ≠ 0 Division Property

𝑛 𝑚 𝑚𝑛
iv. 𝑎= 𝑎
Simplification of Radicals
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A radical expression is said to be in simplest form if it

satisfies all of the following conditions.
1. An nth root of a radical does not contain any nth factors.
2. There is no fraction contained in the radicand.
3. There is no radical in the denominator.
4. The index or order of the radical is reduced.

EXAMPLE 1:
Simplify the following radical expressions.
1. 216=6 6 3. 175𝑎4 𝑏 5 𝑐 3
3 3
2. 135= 3 5 4. 54𝑥 9 𝑦 8
EXAMPLE 2:
Simplify the following radical expressions.

3 3𝑥 5
1. 3.
5 2𝑦𝑧 5

3 8 4 𝑥 9 𝑦 13
2. − 4.
25 𝑧8

EXAMPLE 3:
Simplify the following radical expressions.
2 𝑥
1. 3.
3 5 𝑥+ 𝑦

15 5
2. 3 4.
5𝑚2 𝑛 3− 2
Operations with Radicals
Sum and Difference of Radicals
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Only radicals with the same index and the same

radicand (similar radicals) may be combined. Then
express the algebraic sum of two or more similar radicals
as a single radical.

Exercises: Perform the indicated operations then simplify.

3 3 3 3
1. 2 3 + 5 3 4. 12 2 - 4 2 + 8 2 −2 2
3 3 3
2. 4 𝑥 + 2 𝑥 - 5 𝑥 5. 2𝑥 + 5 2𝑥 -15 2𝑥

3. 5 20 + 8 45 - 3 80 6. 12 12𝑥 2 𝑦 - 12 3𝑥 4 𝑦
Operations with Radicals

Product and Quotient of Radicals

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The product or quotient of radicals of the same order

(radicals of the same index) is obtained based on the
following properties:

𝑛 𝑛 𝑛
i. 𝑎 ∙ 𝑏 = 𝑎𝑏
𝑛
𝑎 𝑛 𝑎
ii. 𝑛
𝑏
=
𝑏
Exercises: Perform the indicated product then simplify.

2 3 3
1. 3− 2 4. 4𝑎2 𝑏 ∙ 4𝑎𝑏

3 3 4
2. 4 4 ∙ 5 16 5. 16𝑥 2 𝑦 2 ∙ 3𝑥𝑦

3
3. 2𝑥 3 𝑦 5 ∙ 8𝑥𝑦 3 6. 3𝑎 ∙ 3𝑎

Exercises: Perform the indicated quotient then simplify.

3 2 6 2𝑥𝑦
1. 3. 5. 3
2 3 3 𝑥2𝑦

3
5 2− 3 𝑥
2. 3 4. 6.
4 2+ 3 𝑥− 𝑦
Definition of Complex Numbers
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A complex number is an expression of the form a ±

bi where a and b are real numbers and a is the real part
and b is the imaginary part and i is the imaginary unit.
EXAMPLE:

Complex Numbers Real Part Imaginary Part

3  4i 3 4
1 2 1 2
 i 
2 3 2 3

6i 0 6
-7 -7 0
END OF WEEK1