Formula

A general instruction for finding one

quantity in terms of the other
quantities.

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 • A formula is a special type of equation that
shows the relation between different
variables.

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Using symbols for unknowns

Look at this problem:

+ 9 = 17

The symbol stands for an unknown number.

We can work out the value of .

=8

because 8 + 9 = 17

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Using symbols for unknowns

Look at this problem:

– =5

The symbols and stand for unknown numbers.

In this example, and can have many values.

For example, 12 – 7 = 5 or 3.2 – –1.8 = 5

and are called variables because their value can vary.

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 These letters are called unknowns or variables.

Sometimes we can work out the value of the letters and

sometimes we can’t.

For example,

We can write an unknown number with 3 added on to it as

n+3

This is an example of an algebraic expression.

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Writing an expression

Suppose Jon has a packet of biscuits and he

doesn’t know how many biscuits it contains.

He can call the number of biscuits in the full

packet, b.

If he opens the packet and eats 4 biscuits, he can write an

expression for the number of biscuits remaining in the
packet as:

b–4

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Writing an equation

Jon counts the number of biscuits in the packet

after he has eaten 4 of them. There are 22.

He can write this as an equation:

b – 4 = 22

We can work out the value of the letter b.

b = 26

That means that there were 26 biscuits in the full packet.

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Writing expressions

When we write expressions in algebra we don’t usually use

the multiplication symbol ×.
For example,
5 × n or n × 5 is written as 5n.
The number must be written before the letter.
When we multiply a letter symbol by 1, we don’t have to
write the 1.
For example,
1 × n or n × 1 is written as n.

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Writing expressions

When we write expressions in algebra we don’t usually use

the division symbol ÷. Instead we use a dividing line as in
fraction notation.
For example,
n
n ÷ 3 is written as
3
When we multiply a letter symbol by itself, we use index
notation.
For example, n squared
n × n is written as n2.

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Writing expressions

Here are some examples of algebraic expressions:

n+7 a number n plus 7
5–n 5 minus a number n
2n 2 lots of the number n or 2 × n
6 6 divided by a number n
n
4n + 5 4 lots of a number n plus 5
a number n multiplied by itself twice or
n3
n×n×n
3 × (n + 4)
a number n plus 4 and then times 3.
or 3(n + 4)

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Writing expressions

Miss Green is holding n number

of cubes in her hand:

Write an expression for the number of cubes in her hand if:

She takes 3 cubes away.

n–3

She doubles the number of

cubes she is holding.
2×n or 2n

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Equivalent expression match

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Identities

When two expressions are equivalent we can link them with

the  sign.
x + x + x is
For example, identically
equal to 3x
x + x + x  3x

This is called an identity.

In an identity, the expressions on each side of the equation

are equal for all values of the unknown.

The expressions are said to be identically equal.

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 Contents

A1 Algebraic expressions
A1.1 Writing expressions

A1.2 Collecting like terms

A1.3 Multiplying terms

A1.4 Dividing terms

A1.5 Factorizing expressions

A1.6 Substitution

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Like terms

An algebraic expression is made up of terms and operators

such as +, –, ×, ÷ and ( ).

A term is made up of numbers and letter symbols but not

operators.

For example,

3a + 4b – a + 5 is an expression.

3a, 4b, a and 5 are terms in the expression.

3a and a are called like terms because they both contain a

number and the letter symbol a.

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Collecting together like terms

Remember, in algebra letters stand for numbers, so we

can use the same rules as we use for arithmetic.
In arithmetic,
5+5+5+5=4×5

In algebra,

a + a + a + a = 4a

The a’s are like terms.

We collect together like terms to simplify the expression.

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Collecting together like terms

Remember, in algebra letters stand for numbers, so we

can use the same rules as we use for arithmetic.
In arithmetic,
(7 × 4) + (3 × 4) = 10 × 4
In algebra,
7 × b + 3 × b = 10 × b
or 7b + 3b = 10b
7b, 3b and 10b are like terms.
They all contain a number and the letter b.

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Collecting together like terms

Remember, in algebra letters stand for numbers, so we

can use the same rules as we use for arithmetic.
In arithmetic,
2 + (6 × 2) – (3 × 2) = 4 × 2
In algebra,

x + 6x – 3x = 4x

x, 6x, 3x and 4x are like terms.

They all contain a number and the letter x.

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Collecting together like terms

When we add or subtract like terms in an expression we

say we are simplifying an expression by collecting
together like terms.

An expression can contain different like terms.

For example,

3a + 2b + 4a + 6b = 3a + 4a + 2b + 6b
= 7a + 8b

This expression cannot be simplified any further.

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Collecting together like terms

Simplify these expressions by collecting together like terms.

1) a + a + a + a + a = 5a

2) 5b – 4b = b

3) 4c + 3d + 3 – 2c + 6 – d = 4c – 2c + 3d – d + 3 + 6

= 2c + 2d + 9

4) 4n + n2 – 3n = 4n – 3n + n2 = n + n2

5) 4r + 6s – t Cannot be simplified

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Algebraic perimeters

Remember, to find the perimeter of a shape we add

together the length of each of its sides.

Write an algebraic expression for the perimeter of the

following shapes:

2a
Perimeter = 2a + 3b + 2a + 3b
3b
= 4a + 6b

5x
Perimeter = 4y + 5x + x + 5x
4y x
= 4y + 11x
5x

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Algebraic pyramids

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Algebraic magic square

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 Contents

A1 Algebraic expressions
A1.1 Writing expressions

A1.2 Collecting like terms

A1.3 Multiplying terms

A1.4 Dividing terms

A1.5 Factorising expressions

A1.6 Substitution

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Multiplying terms together

In algebra we usually leave out the multiplication sign ×.

Any numbers must be written at the front and all letters should
be written in alphabetical order.
For example,
4 × a = 4a
1×b=b We don’t need to write a 1 in front of the letter.
b × 5 = 5b We don’t write b5.
3 × d × c = 3cd We write letters in alphabetical order.
6 × e × e = 6e2

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Using index notation

Simplify:
x + x + x + x + x = 5x

Simplify: x to the power of 5

x × x × x × x × x = x5

This is called index notation.

Similarly,
x × x = x2
x × x × x = x3
x × x × x × x = x4

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Using index notation

We can use index notation to simplify expressions.

For example,

3p × 2p = 3 × p × 2 × p = 6p2

q2 × q3 = q × q × q × q × q = q5

3r × r2 = 3 × r × r × r = 3r3

2t × 2t = (2t)2 or 4t2

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Grid method for multiplying numbers

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Brackets

Look at this expression:

4(a + b)
What do do think it means?
Remember, in algebra we do not write the multiplication sign, ×.
This expression actually means:
4 × (a + b)
or
(a + b) + (a + b) + (a + b) + (a + b)
=a+b+a+b+a+b+a+b
= 4a + 4b

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Using the grid method to expand brackets

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Expanding brackets then simplifying

Sometimes we need to multiply out brackets and then simplify.

For example, 3x + 2(5 – x)

We need to multiply the bracket by 2 and collect together

like terms.

3x + 10 – 2x
= 3x – 2x + 10
= x + 10

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Expanding brackets then simplifying

Simplify

4 – (5n – 3)

We need to multiply the bracket by –1 and collect together

like terms.

4 – 5n + 3
= 4 + 3 – 5n

= 7 – 5n

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Expanding brackets then simplifying

Simplify

2(3n – 4) + 3(3n + 5)

We need to multiply out both brackets and collect together

like terms.

6n – 8 + 9n + 15
= 6n + 9n – 8 + 15
= 15n + 7

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Expanding brackets then simplifying

Simplify

5(3a + 2b) – 2(2a + 5b)

We need to multiply out both brackets and collect together

like terms.

15a + 10b – 4a –10b

= 15a – 4a + 10b – 10b

= 11a

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Algebraic multiplication square

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Pelmanism: Equivalent expressions

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Algebraic areas

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 Contents

A1 Algebraic expressions
A1.1 Writing expressions

A1.2 Collecting like terms

A1.3 Multiplying terms

A1.4 Dividing terms

A1.5 Factorising expressions

A1.6 Substitution

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Dividing terms

Remember, in algebra we do not usually use the division

sign, ÷.

Instead we write the number or term we are dividing by

underneath like a fraction.

For example,

(a + b) ÷ c is written as a+b
c

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Dividing terms

Like a fraction, we can often simplify expressions by

cancelling.

For example,

n3
6p 2
n3 ÷ n2 = 2 6p2 ÷ 3p =
n 3p
1 1 2 1
n×n×n 6×p×p
= =
n×n 3×p
1 1 1 1

=n = 2p

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Algebraic areas

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Hexagon Puzzle

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 Contents

A1 Algebraic expressions
A1.1 Writing expressions

A1.2 Collecting like terms

A1.3 Multiplying terms

A1.4 Dividing terms

A1.5 Factorizing expressions

A1.6 Substitution

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 Factorizing expressions

Some expressions can be simplified by dividing each term by

a common factor and writing the expression using brackets.
For example, in the expression
5x + 10
the terms 5x and 10 have a common factor, 5.
We can write the 5 outside of a set of brackets and mentally
divide 5x + 10 by 5.
(5x + 10) ÷ 5 = x + 2
This is written inside the bracket.
5(x + 2)

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 Factorizing expressions

Writing 5x + 10 as 5(x + 2) is called factorizing the

expression.

Factorize 6a + 8 Factorize 12 – 9n

The highest common The highest common

factor of 6a and 8 is 2. factor of 12 and 9n is 3.

(6a + 8) ÷ 2 = 3a + 4 (12 – 9n) ÷ 3 = 4 – 3n

6a + 8 = 2(3a + 4) 12 – 9n = 3(4 – 3n)

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 Factorizing expressions

Writing 5x + 10 as 5(x + 2) is called factorizing the

expression.

Factorize 3x + x2 Factorize 2p + 6p2 – 4p3

The highest common The highest common factor

factor of 3x and x2 is x. of 2p, 6p2 and 4p3 is 2p.

(3x + x ) ÷ x = 3 + x
2 (2p + 6p2 – 4p3) ÷ 2p
= 1 + 3p – 2p2
3x + x2 = x(3 + x)
2p + 6p2 – 4p3
= 2p(1 + 3p – 2p2)

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Algebraic multiplication square

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Pelmanism: Equivalent expressions

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 Contents

A1 Algebraic expressions
A1.1 Writing expressions

A1.2 Collecting like terms

A1.3 Multiplying terms

A1.4 Dividing terms

A1.5 Factorising expressions

A1.6 Substitution

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Work it out!

4 + 3 × 0.6
43
–7
8
5

===–17
133
5.8
28
19
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Work it out!

7 × 0.4
22
–3
6
9
2
====–10.5
31.5
1.4
21
77
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Work it out!

2
0.2
12
–4
3 +6
9

===6.04
150
15
22
87
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Work it out!

2( –13
3.6
18
69
7 + 8)

===23.2
154
–10
30
52
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Substitution

What does
substitution
mean?

In algebra, when we replace letters in an expression or

equation with numbers we call it substitution.

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Substitution

How can 4 + 3 × be written as an algebraic expression?

Using n for the variable we can write this as 4 + 3n

We can evaluate the expression 4 + 3n by substituting
different values for n.

When n = 5 4 + 3n = 4 + 3 × 5
= 4 + 15
= 19

When n = 11 4 + 3n = 4 + 3 × 11
= 4 + 33
= 37
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Substitution

7× 7n
can be written as
2 2
7n
We can evaluate the expression by substituting different
values for n. 2

7n
When n = 4 = 7×4÷2
2
= 28 ÷ 2
= 14
7n
When n = 1.1 = 7 × 1.1 ÷ 2
2
= 7.7 ÷ 2
= 3.85
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Substitution

2
+6 can be written as n2 + 6

We can evaluate the expression n2 + 6 by substituting

different values for n.

When n = 4 n2 + 6 = 42 + 6
= 16 + 6
= 22

When n = 0.6 n2 + 7 = 0.62 + 6

= 0.36 + 6
= 6.36

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Substitution

2( + 8) can be written as 2(n + 8)

We can evaluate the expression 2(n + 8) by substituting

different values for n.

When n = 6 2(n + 8) = 2 × (6 + 8)
= 2 × 14
= 28

When n = 13 2(n + 8) = 2 × (13 + 8)

= 2 × 21
= 41

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Substitution exercise

Here are five expressions.

1) a + b + c = 5 + 2 + –1 = 6

2) 3a + 2c = 3 × 5 + 2 × –1 = 15 + –2 = 13

3) a(b + c) = 5 × (2 + –1) = 5 × 1 = 5

4) abc = 5 × 2 × –1= 10 × –1 = –10

b2 – c 22 – –1
5) = =5÷5=1
a 5
Evaluate these expressions when a = 5, b = 2 and c = –1

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Noughts and crosses - substitution

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