ALGEBRA AND EQUATIONS (and INEQUALITIES) (25±𝟑 MARKS).

 This topic is examined in paper 1 and it provides basic skills to master all other topics in both
paper 1 and paper 2.
 Solving quadratic equations by completing the square will NOT be examined.
 Solving quadratic equations using the substitution method (k-method) is examinable.
 Equations involving surds that lead to a quadratic equation are examinable.
 Solution of non-quadratic inequalities should be seen in the context of functions.
 Nature of the roots will be tested intuitively with the solution of quadratic equations and in all
the prescribed functions.

KEY CONCEPTS AND WORKED EXAMPLES

−𝑏±√𝑏 2 −4𝑎𝑐
 Quadratic formula: 𝑥 = 2𝑎
 Present the equation in Standard form, 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0
 Identify ‘a’; ‘b’ and ‘c’ to be substituted into the quadratic formula.

For example
Solve for x: 2𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 − 8 = 0

2𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 = 8 −𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 𝑎𝑐
𝑥=
2𝑎

𝑎 = 2; 𝑏 = −5; 𝑐 = −8

−(−5) ± √(−5)2 − 4(2)(−8)

𝑥=
2(2)

+5 ± √25 + 64
𝑥=
4

5 ± √89
𝑥=
4
5±√89 5−√89
𝑥= or 𝑥=
4 4

𝑎𝑥+𝑏 1
 Quadratic equations with fractions: 𝑐 = − 𝑥
 Simplify the equation and leave it expressed in Standard form, 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0
 Identify ‘a’; ‘b’ and ‘c’ to be substituted into the quadratic formula.
1
  Consider restrictions, where the denominator mustn’t be ZERO

Solve for x: Restrictions: 𝑥 ≠ 1, 𝑥 ≠ −2

Multiply each term by (𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 2) the LCM

𝑥+1 −2 𝑥+2
= −
𝑥−1 𝑥+2 𝑥−1 (𝑥 + 1) −2 𝑥+2
(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 1) = (𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 1) − (𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 1)
𝑥−1 𝑥−1 𝑥−1
(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 + 1) = −2(𝑥 − 1) − (𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 + 2)
𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 2 = −2𝑥 + 2 − (𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 4)

Rearrange to standard form: 2𝑥 2 − 9𝑥 + 4 = 0

(2𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 − 4) = 0
1
𝑥= or 𝑥 = 4
2

 Quadratic Equations with surds:

 Eliminate the surds by simplifying or by using ‘k’ method, then present the equation in
standard form, 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0
 Identify ‘a’; ‘b’ and ‘c’ to be substituted into the quadratic formula.
 Remember to substitute back the value of ‘k’ if you used the ‘k’ method.

For example
10
Solve for x: √x − 2 + 3 = √x − 2 Let k = √x − 2
10 10
√𝑥 − 2 + 3 = Now; k + 3 = k
√𝑥 − 2
k 2 + 3k − 10 = 0
(k + 5)(k − 2) = 0
k = −5 or k = 2

Remember, k = √x − 2

−5 ≠ √x − 2 or 2 = √x − 2
2
22 = (√x − 2)
4= x−2
∴x=6

 Quadratic Inequalities:
 Present the inequality in Standard form, 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 < 0; 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 > 0
 Identify ‘a’; ‘b’ and ‘c’ to be substituted into the quadratic formula to get Critical Values
 Give the answer as 𝑥 > 𝑎, it cannot be a single answer. i.e your solution must be a range
of values.

2
 For example
Solve an inequality: Firstly, let us find where it is equal to zero in order
to get critical values:
𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 4 < 0
Factorise:
(x + 4)(x − 1) < 0
Critical values are:
x = 1 and x = −4

These two points form three intervals:

Now pick number in the interval:

 When x takes a value less than -4 or greater
than 1 and placed in the inequality, the result
is > 0.
 When x takes a value between -4 and 1 and
placed in the inequality, the result is < 0.
Then, (x + 4)(x − 1) < 𝟎 shows that it falls in
the negative interval.
∴ −4 < x < 1 or x ∈ (−4; 1)

 Quadratic Equations with Exponents:

 Express bases as prime
 If the bases are the same, apply the laws of of exponents to create an equation and solve
the equation.
 If you have at least three terms in the exponential equation perform factorization in the
process of solving the equation.

For example
Solve for x: 3𝑥 + 3 − 3𝑥 + 2 = 486

3𝑥 + 3 − 3𝑥 + 2 = 486 3𝑥 (33 − 32 ) = 486

3𝑥 (27 − 9) = 486
(÷ 18): 3𝑥 (18) = 486
3𝑥 = 27
3𝑥 = 33
∴𝑥=3

 Simultaneous Equations involving quadratic equations:

 Name your equations, (i) and (ii)
 Make x or y the subject in the equation that Is linear and name it equation (iii)
3
  Substitute equation (iii) into the quadratic equation which is one of the simultaneous
equations
 Simplify and present the equation in Standard form, 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0
 Identify ‘a’; ‘b’ and ‘c’ to be substituted into the quadratic formula to get two values of x
or y.
 Substitute the values of x or y into equation (iii) to get the values of y or x.

For example
Solve for x and y: 2𝑦 + 9𝑥 2 = −1 … 
3𝑥 − 𝑦 = 2 … 
2𝑦 + 9𝑥 2 = −1 …  𝑦 = 3𝑥 − 2 … 
3𝑥 − 𝑦 = 2 …  2(3𝑥 − 2) + 9𝑥 2 = −1
6𝑥 − 4 + 9𝑥 2 = −1
9𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 − 3 = 0
3𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 1 = 0
(3𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1) = 0
1
𝑥 = or 𝑥 = −1
3
Sub x-values in equation (3)
𝑦 = −1 or 𝑦 = −5

 Nature of roots of a quadratic equation:

 𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 = ∆ is extracted from the quadratic formula under the root sign.
 If:
∆ = 0 then roots are equal, real and rational.
∆ > 0 and is a perfect number, then roots are unequal, real and rational.
∆ > 0 and is NOT a perfect number; then roots are unequal, real and irrational.
∆ < 0 then roots are Non-real or Imaginary.

For example
What nature of roots for Write h(x) = (x + 2)2 in standard form:
ℎ(𝑥) = (𝑥 + 2)2 . h(x) = x 2 + 4x + 4.

Comparing with the standard form,

𝐚𝐱 𝟐 + 𝐛𝐱 + 𝐜 = 𝟎, a = 1; b = 4; c = 4.

Now,𝐛𝟐 − 𝟒𝐚𝐜 = (4)2 − 4(1)(4) = 0

then 𝐛𝟐 − 𝟒𝐚𝐜 = 𝟎.
∴ roots are real and equal.

4
ACTIVITIES

Question 1

Solve for x:

1.1 𝑥(𝑥 − 7) = 0 (3)

1.2 (𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 1) = 0 (3)

1.3 𝑥 2 + 20 − 9𝑥 = 0 (5)

1.4 3𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 = 4 (4)

1.5 𝑥(𝑥 − 6) = 2 (4)

Question 2

Solve for x:
1 2𝑥
2.1 = 1 − 𝑥−1 (6)
𝑥+1

𝑥 2𝑥+4
2.2 − 3𝑥+1 = −4 (6)
𝑥−1
2𝑥 𝑥 3
2.3 − 𝑥 −3 = 3 − 𝑥 (6)
𝑥+3

3𝑥 + 6 4 −4
2.4 + 2 − 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 3 (6)
𝑥2 − 𝑥 − 2

Question 3

Solve for x:

3.1 √5𝑥 − 1 = 2𝑥 − 1 (5)

3.2 √𝑥 + 5 + 1 = 𝑥 (5)

3.3 2√𝑥 + 6 = 𝑥 − 2 (5)

3.4 (√√32 + 𝑥) (√√32 − 𝑥) = 𝑥 (5)

5
Question 4

Solve for x:

4.1 (𝑥 − 1)(2 − 𝑥) < 0 (4)

4.2 𝑥(4 − 𝑥) ≥ 0 (4)

4.3 4𝑥 2 − 1 < 0 (4)

4.4 (𝑥 − 1)2 > 9 (4)

4.5 𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 ≤ −4 (4)

Question 5

Solve for x:
−5
5.1 2𝑥 3 = 64 (4)

5.2 3𝑥+1 + 𝑚. 3𝑥 = 2𝑚 + 6 (6)

5.3 3𝑥 + 3 − 3𝑥 + 2 = 486 (4)

5.4 4𝑥 + 2𝑥 = 8(2𝑥 + 1) (4)

5.5 2𝑥 + 26−𝑥 = 16 (4)

5.6 22𝑥 − 2𝑥 − 2 = 0 (4)

Question 6

Solve for x and y

6.1 𝑥 = 2𝑦 and 𝑥 2 − 5𝑥𝑦 = −24 (6)

6.2 𝑥 − 𝑦 = 1 and 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 25 (6)

6.3 𝑥 = 2𝑦 + 2 and 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥𝑦 + 3𝑦 2 = 4 (6)

6.4 (3𝑥 − 𝑦)2 + (𝑥 − 5)2 = 0 (6)

6
Question 7

7.1 For which value of 𝑘 will the equation 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 = 𝑘 have no real roots? (4)

7.2 Given: f(x) = x 2 − 5x + 2

7.2.1 Solve for x if f(x) = 0 (3)
7.2.2 For which values of c will f(x) = c have no real roots? (4)

7.3 The roots of a quadratic equation are:

x = 5 ± √2p − 1
7.3.1 Calculate the values of p for which the roots are real. (2)
7.3.2 Give one value of p for which the roots are rational. (2)

7.4 Show that there is no real number 𝑥 that satisfies the equation 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 = −1. (5)