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Algebra Notes
Contents
1.0 Algebraic Conventions ............................................................................................................ 1
2.0 Algebraic Substitution ............................................................................................................. 1
3.0 Addition and Subtraction ......................................................................................................... 2
4.0 Multiplying and Dividing........................................................................................................... 2
5.0 Order of Operations ................................................................................................................ 2
6.0 Expanding .............................................................................................................................. 3
6.1 FOIL Method ....................................................................................................................... 3
6.2 Perfect Squares ................................................................................................................... 3
6.3 Difference of Two Squares .................................................................................................... 3
7.0 Factorisation .......................................................................................................................... 4
7.1 Highest Common Factor ...................................................................................................... 4
7.2 Difference of Two Squares .................................................................................................... 4
7.3 Grouping in Pairs ................................................................................................................. 4
7.4 Monic Trinomials ................................................................................................................. 5
7.5 Non-Monic Trinomials .......................................................................................................... 6
8.0 Simplifying Fractions ............................................................................................................... 7
9.0 Multiplying and Dividing Algebraic Fractions ............................................................................. 7
10.0 Adding and Subtracting Algebraic Fractions ............................................................................ 8
1.0 Algebraic Conventions
When multiplying, we leave out the multiplication sign:
2 × 𝑥 = 2𝑥 𝑎 × 𝑏 = 𝑎𝑏

When multiplying by 1, we leave out the 1:

1×𝑥 =𝑥 𝑥 = 1𝑥

When multiplying with brackets, we leave out the multiplication sign:

5 × (𝑥 − 3) = 5(𝑥 − 3) (𝑥 − 𝑦) × (𝑎 + 𝑏) = (𝑥 − 𝑦)(𝑎 + 𝑏)

When multiplying two pronumerals, we add the powers:

𝑥 × 𝑥 = 𝑥2 𝑥 × 𝑥 × 𝑦 = 𝑥2𝑦

When there are brackets next to each other, you multiply:

(𝑥)(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 (4)(𝑥)(𝑥)(𝑦) = 4𝑥 2 𝑦

When dividing, we turn it into a fraction:

𝑥 𝑥
𝑥÷3= 𝑥 ÷ (𝑎 + 𝑏) =
3 𝑎+𝑏

2.0 Algebraic Substitution

Pronumerals (letters) can be assigned a value which can be used to solve equations.

Example 1: Evaluate each expression when 𝑛 = 2

𝒂) 𝑛 + 7 𝒃) 5𝑛 𝒄) 4𝑛 − 1
=2+7 = 5(2) = 4(2) − 1
=9 = 10 =8−1
=7

Example 2: Evaluate each expression when 𝑏 = 4, 𝑐 = 7, 𝑑 = 1

𝒂) 𝑏 2 𝑑 + 𝑐 2 𝑏 𝒃) 3𝑏𝑐 − 2𝑐𝑑 2𝑐 + 𝑑
𝒄)
𝑏
= (4)2 (1) + (7)2 (4) = 3(4)(7) − 2(7)(1) 2(7) + 1
=
4
= (16)(1) + (49)(4) = 84 − 14 14 + 1
=
4
= 16 + 196 = 70 15
=
4
= 212

1
3.0 Addition and Subtraction
Only like terms can be added or subtracted. i.e. same letters, order does not matter

Example 1: Simplify each of the following:

𝒂) 8𝑚 + 5𝑚 𝒃) 5𝑎 + 2𝑎 + 3𝑏 + 8𝑏 𝒄) 2𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 2
= 13𝑚 = 7𝑎 + 11𝑏 = 7𝑥 2

Example 2: Simplify each of the following:

𝒂) 4𝑥𝑦 − 2𝑦𝑥 𝒃) 5𝑢 + 7𝑣𝑢 − 𝑢 + 6𝑣 − 3𝑢𝑣 𝒄) − 3𝑒𝑓 + 4 + 18𝑓𝑒

− 4𝑣
= 2𝑥𝑦 = 6𝑢 + 4𝑣𝑢 + 2𝑣 = 15𝑒𝑓 + 4

4.0 Multiplying and Dividing

Example 1: Simplify each of the following

𝒂) 8𝑎 × 5𝑎 𝒃) 6𝑥𝑦 × 7𝑦𝑧 𝒄) − 12𝑢 × (−5𝑣)

= 40𝑎2 = 42𝑥𝑦 2 𝑧 = 60𝑢𝑣

Example 2: Simplify each of the following

𝒂) 15𝑝 ÷ 5𝑝 𝒃) 45𝑡 2 ÷ 9𝑡 𝒄) 64𝑚𝑛2 ÷ (−8𝑚𝑛)

15𝑝 45𝑡 2 64𝑚𝑛2
= = =
5𝑝 9𝑡 −8𝑚𝑛
=3 = 5𝑡 = −8𝑛

5.0 Order of Operations

BIDMAS
Brackets > Index > Division/Multiply > Addition/ Subtraction

Example 1: Simplify each expression using the order of operations

𝒂) 10𝑔 + 5𝑔 × 3 + 2𝑔 𝒃) [17𝑦 − (27𝑦 ÷ 3)] − 𝑦 𝒄) 100𝑥 2 ÷ 2𝑥 − 8 × 5𝑥

= 10𝑔 + 15𝑔 + 2𝑔 = [17𝑦 − 9𝑦] − 𝑦 = 50𝑥 − 40𝑥
= 27𝑔 = 7𝑦 = 10𝑥

2
6.0 Expanding
6.1 FOIL Method

(𝑎 + 𝑏)(𝑐 + 𝑑) = 𝑎𝑐 + 𝑎𝑑 + 𝑏𝑐 + 𝑏𝑑

Example 1: Expand the following

𝒂) (𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 + 1) 𝒃) (𝑗 − 8)(𝑗 − 7)
= 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 2𝑥 + 2 = 𝑗 2 − 7𝑗 − 8𝑗 + 56
= 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 2 = 𝑗 2 − 15𝑗 + 56

6.2 Perfect Squares

(𝑎 + 𝑏)2 = 𝑎2 + 2𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏 2

Example 1:

𝒂) (𝑥 + 3)2 𝒃) (2𝑥 + 3)2 𝒄) (7𝑔 − 3ℎ)2

= (𝑥)2 + 2(𝑥)(3) + (3)2 = (2𝑥)2 + 2(2𝑥)(3) + (3)2 = (7𝑔)2 + 2(7𝑔)(−3ℎ) + (−3ℎ)2

= 𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 + 9 = 4𝑥 2 + 12𝑥 + 9 = 49𝑔2 − 42𝑔ℎ + 9ℎ2

6.3 Difference of Two Squares

(𝑎 + 𝑏)(𝑎 − 𝑏) = 𝑎2 − 𝑏 2

Example 1:

𝒂) (𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 2) 𝒃) (𝑎𝑏 − 8𝑐)(𝑎𝑏 + 8𝑐)

= 𝑥 2 − 22 = (𝑎𝑏)2 − (8𝑐)2

= 𝑥2 − 4 = 𝑎2 𝑏 2 − 64𝑐 2

3
7.0 Factorisation
7.1 Highest Common Factor

𝑎𝑏 + 𝑎𝑐 = 𝑎(𝑏 + 𝑐)

Example 1:

𝒂) 5𝑝 + 20 𝒃) 𝑚2 + 3𝑚 𝒄) − 14𝑤 2 − 21𝑤
= 5(𝑝 + 4) = 𝑚(𝑚 + 3) = −7𝑤(2𝑤 − 3)

7.2 Difference of Two Squares

𝑎2 − 𝑏 2 = (𝑎 − 𝑏)(𝑎 + 𝑏)

Example 1:

𝒂) 𝑥 2 − 16 𝒃) 9𝑝2 − 25 𝒄) 121𝑢2 − 49𝑣 2

= (𝑥)2 − (4)2 = (3𝑝)2 − (5)2 = (11𝑢)2 − (7𝑣)2
= (𝑥 + 4)(𝑥 − 4) = (3𝑝 + 5)(3𝑝 − 5) = (11𝑢 + 7𝑣)(11𝑢 − 7𝑣)

7.3 Grouping in Pairs

𝑎𝑐 + 𝑏𝑐 + 𝑎𝑑 + 𝑏𝑑 = 𝑐(𝑎 + 𝑏) + 𝑑(𝑎 + 𝑏) = (𝑎 + 𝑏)(𝑐 + 𝑑)

Example 1:

𝒂) 𝑝2 + 𝑝𝑞 + 2𝑝 + 2𝑞 𝒃) 3𝑚𝑛 + 𝑘𝑝 + 𝑘𝑛 + 3𝑚𝑝

= (𝑝2 + 𝑝𝑞) + (2𝑝 + 2𝑞) = 3𝑚𝑛 + 3𝑚𝑝 + 𝑘𝑝 + 𝑘𝑛

= 𝑝(𝑝 + 𝑞) + 2(𝑝 + 𝑞) = 3𝑚(𝑛 + 𝑝) + 𝑘(𝑝 + 𝑛)

= (𝑝 + 𝑞)(𝑝 + 2) = (𝑛 + 𝑝)(3𝑚 + 𝑘)

4
7.4 Monic Trinomials

𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐

𝐹𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠 𝑜𝑓 ′𝑐′ 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑐ℎ 𝑎𝑑𝑑 𝑡𝑜 ′𝑏′

Example 1:

𝑥 2 + 9𝑥 + 20

𝑭𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝑜𝑓 (+𝟐𝟎) 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝒂𝒅𝒅 𝑡𝑜 (+𝟗)

4 × 5 = 20 4+5=9

= (𝑥 + 4)(𝑥 + 5)

Example 2:

𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 + 12

𝑭𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝑜𝑓(+𝟏𝟐) 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑎𝑑𝑑 𝑡𝑜 (−𝟕)

(−3) × (−4) = +12 (−3) + (−4) = −7

= (𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 − 4)

Example 3:

𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 3

𝑭𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝑜𝑓 (−𝟑) 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑎𝑑𝑑 𝑡𝑜 (+𝟐)

(+3) × (−1) = −3 (+3) + (−1) = +2

= (𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 − 1)

Example 4:

4𝑎2 + 24𝑎 − 64

𝐹𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒 ℎ𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟

= 4(𝑎2 + 6𝑎 − 16)

𝑭𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝑜𝑓 (−𝟏𝟔) 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑎𝑑𝑑 𝑡𝑜 (+𝟔)

(+8) × (−2) = +16 (+8) + (−2) = +6

= 4(𝑥 + 8)(𝑥 − 2)
5
7.5 Non-Monic Trinomials

𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐

𝑎×𝑐
𝐹𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠 𝑜𝑓 ′𝑎 × 𝑐′ 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑐ℎ 𝑎𝑑𝑑 𝑡𝑜 ′𝑏′

Example 1:

2𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 + 3

2×3=6

𝑭𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝑜𝑓(+𝟔) 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑎𝑑𝑑 𝑡𝑜 (+𝟕)

(+6) × (+1) = +6 (+6) + (+1) = +7

𝑆𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑡 ′7𝑥′ 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠

= 2𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 6𝑥 + 3

𝐹𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑝𝑎𝑖𝑟𝑠

= 𝑥(2𝑥 + 1) + 3(2𝑥 + 1)

= (2𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 + 3)

Example 2:

8𝑘 2 + 14𝑘 − 9

8 × (−9) = −72

𝑭𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝑜𝑓(−𝟕𝟐) 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑎𝑑𝑑 𝑡𝑜 (+𝟏𝟒)

(+18) × (−4) = +6 (+18) + (−4) = −72

𝑆𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑡 14𝑘 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠

= 8𝑘 2 − 4𝑘 + 18𝑘 − 9

𝐹𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑝𝑎𝑖𝑟𝑠

= 4𝑘(2𝑘 − 1) + 9(2𝑘 − 1)

= (2𝑘 − 1)(4𝑘 + 9)

6
8.0 Simplifying Fractions
2
4𝑥 2𝑥
Simplify numbers: 3 =
6 3
𝑥 2𝑦
Simplify letters: =𝑥
𝑥𝑦
(𝑎 + 𝑏) 1
Simplify expressions: =
4(𝑎 + 𝑏) 4
Example 1: Simplify
8𝑥 + 20 𝑑 2 − 49 𝑏 2 − 11𝑏 + 30
𝒂) 𝒃) 𝒄) 2
6𝑥 2 + 15𝑥 3𝑑 − 21 𝑏 − 3𝑏 − 18

4(2𝑥 + 5) (𝑑 + 7)(𝑑 − 7) (𝑏 − 6)(𝑏 − 5)

= = =
3𝑥(2𝑥 + 5) 3(𝑑 − 7) (𝑏 − 5)(𝑏 + 3)

4 𝑑+7 𝑏−6
= = =
3𝑥 3 𝑏+3

9.0 Multiplying and Dividing Algebraic Fractions

Step 1 Cancel common factors between numerator and denominators
Step 2 Multiply the numerators
Step 3 Multiply the denominators
Step 4 Change division to multiplication and flip fraction

Example 1: Simplify the following expressions

15𝑥 7 𝑎2 𝑏𝑐 𝑒 7
𝒂) × 𝒃) 2 × 𝒄) ÷
14𝑦 9𝑥 𝑏𝑐 𝑎 4 𝑓
5 1 𝑎 1 𝑒 𝑓
= × = × = ×
2𝑦 3 𝑐 1 4 7
5 𝑎 𝑒𝑓
= = =
6𝑦 𝑐 28

Example 2: Simplify the following expressions

𝑎𝑏 2 𝑝𝑞 9𝑟 15𝑠 27𝑟 3𝑥 + 12 8
𝒂) 2 × 𝒃) × ÷ 𝒄) ×
𝑝 𝑞 𝑎𝑏 20𝑠 22𝑢 11𝑡 12 𝑥+4
𝑏 1 9𝑟 15𝑠 11𝑡 3(𝑥 + 4) 8
= × = × × = ×
𝑝 1 20𝑠 22𝑢 27𝑟 12 𝑥+4
𝑏 1 3 𝑡 24
= = × × =
𝑞 4 2𝑢 3 12
3𝑡 𝑡 =2
= =
24𝑢 8𝑢
7
Example 3: Simplify

3𝑧 + 15 𝑧 2 + 2𝑧 − 35 𝑎2 + 5𝑎 − 24 𝑎2 + 8𝑎
𝒂) × 𝒃) ÷ 2
9𝑧 2 + 63𝑧 𝑧 2 − 25 𝑎2 − 𝑎 − 6 𝑎 −4
3(𝑧 + 5) (𝑧 + 7)(𝑧 − 5) 𝑎 + 5𝑎 − 24 𝑎2 + 8𝑎
2
= × = 2 × 2
9𝑧(𝑧 + 7) (𝑧 + 5)(𝑧 − 5) 𝑎 −𝑎−6 𝑎 −4
3(𝑧 + 5) (𝑧 + 7)(𝑧 − 5) (𝑎 + 8)(𝑎 − 3) (𝑎 + 2)(𝑎 − 2)
= × = ×
9𝑧(𝑧 + 7) (𝑧 + 5)(𝑧 − 5) (𝑎 − 3)(𝑎 + 2) 𝑎(𝑎 + 8)
3 (𝑎 + 8)(𝑎 − 3) (𝑎 + 2)(𝑎 − 2)
= = ×
9𝑧 (𝑎 − 3)(𝑎 + 2) 𝑎(𝑎 + 8)
1 𝑎−2
= =
3𝑧 𝑎

10.0 Adding and Subtracting Algebraic Fractions

Step 1 Find the common denominator
Step 2 Multiply fractions to get common denominator
Step 3 Combine the fractions
Step 4 Expand and simplify

Example 1: Simplify:
11𝑚 5𝑚 5ℎ 3ℎ 1 5
𝒂) + 𝒃) − 𝒄) +
12 12 6 4 𝑎 2𝑎
16𝑚 10ℎ 9ℎ 2 5
= = − = +
12 12 12 2𝑎 2𝑎
4𝑚 ℎ 7
= = =
3 12 2𝑎

Example 2: Simplify
𝑘+4 𝑘−2 3 5
𝒂) + 𝒃) +
3 5 𝑥+4 𝑥−1
5(𝑘 + 4) 3(𝑘 − 2) 3(𝑥 − 1) 5(𝑥 + 4)
= + = +
15 15 (𝑥 + 4)(𝑥 − 1) (𝑥 + 4)(𝑥 − 1)

5(𝑘 + 4) + 3(𝑘 − 2) 3(𝑥 − 1) + 5(𝑥 + 4)

= =
15 (𝑥 + 4)(𝑥 − 1)
5𝑘 + 20 + 3𝑘 − 6 3𝑥 − 3 + 5𝑥 + 20
= =
15 (𝑥 + 4)(𝑥 − 1)
8𝑘 + 14 8𝑥 + 17
= =
15 (𝑥 + 4)(𝑥 − 1)