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kelleisa.nwalters0901
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ALGEBRA

Part 1
Algebra

With computer games, you play by running,


jumping or finding secret things.
Well, with Algebra you play with letters,
numbers and symbols.
Objectives
► Define and identify variables, constant, terms, coefficient,
expressions, equation and operations
► Identify, add and subtract like and unlike terms
► Simplify algebraic expressions by grouping like terms
► Write equations to illustrate word problems
► Solve simple linear equations using :
▪ Flow diagrams
▪ The balancing method
Variable
A variable is a letter that can take any of a set of values. It
is assigned one value at a time.

A variable is a symbol for a number we don't know yet. It is


usually a letter like x or y.
Constant
►
Terms
A term is either a single number or a variable, or numbers and variables
multiplied together.

The terms in an algebraic expression are the parts separated by a plus (+) or
minus (-) sign, Unless the expression consist of a single term.

How many terms are in the algebraic expression above?


What are the terms?
There are 3 terms in the algebraic expression; 3x , 2y and 6z
Activity
Coefficient
A coefficient of the variable(s) in an algebraic term is the numerical factor of the
term with its prefixed sign

The coefficient here refers to refers to the numerical coefficients of the term.
Note also that 1 x x = 1 x = x
And 1xxxy=1xy=xy

A coefficient is a number used to multiply a variable (4x means 4 times x, so 4 is


a coefficient)
Activity
Operations

►
Expressions
An algebraic expression is a collection of variable(s) and/or numeral(s).
An algebraic expression can consist of a variable only or a combination of
variables only.

What is the simplest algebraic expression that you can think of?

NOTE
❖ There is no equal sign in an algebraic expression
Equation
▪ An equation is a mathematical sentence that involves an equal sign.
▪ Also an equation is a statement which asserts that two expressions are equal,
that is they have the same value.

An equation says that two things are equal. It will have an equals sign "=" like
this:

x + 2 = 6

That equation says:


what is on the left (x + 2) is equal to what is on the right (6)
Parts of an equation
So we can talk about equations, there are names for different parts, which were
mentioned above (better than saying "that thing there"!).

Here we have an equation that says 4x − 7 equals 5, and all its parts:
Like and unlike terms
Observe carefully the terms in the algebraic expression:

9x + 4y – 6 + 3x - 5y + 2

The terms 9x and 3x have the same variable, x. Even though their
coefficient are different; 9x and 3x are like terms.

Similarly, the terms 4y and -5y have the same variable, y. Even though
their coefficients are different , they are like terms.

The constant terms -6 and 2 do not have any variable. Constant terms
may also be called ‘number terms’ and are considered like terms.
From the examples, it can be noticed that :
✔ Like terms are terms that contain the same variables, with each
corresponding variable having the same exponent (i.e. index).
✔ Terms that are not like are unlike
✔ All constant terms are like terms.
Activity
Addition and subtraction of Algebraic terms
Can we simplify the following:
(a) 6 metres + 8 hours
(b) 7 kilograms – 3 litres?
Explain

In arithmetic, we add and subtract only like quantities.


For example:
2 pens + 5 pens = (2+ 5) pens = 7 pens
9 days – 4 days = (9 – 4) days = 5 days

Similarly, in Algebra we can add or subtract only like terms


6x + 5x + 2x = 13x; 9t – 7t = 2t ;
6x – 7y = 6x – 7y ( unlike term)
Activity
Simplify: 3m – 8m -2m + 16m – 4m
= 3m + 16m – 8m – 2m – 4m
= 5m

Simplify the following:


1) 10b + b – 3b 6) 11k – 16k +9k
2) 7d + 4d – 8d 7) 16e + 12e 13e
3) 6f – 2f + 3f 8) 3t + 6t + t + t
4) 2j – 9j +9j 9) 7g – 5t
5) 12x + 3x -5x -2x 10) 4w – 3v

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