1

Chapter

BASIC ALGEBRA
1.1

SIMPLIFY ALGEBRA FRACTIINS

1.2

SOLVE ALGEBRAIC FRACTIONS USING SDDITION,

SUBTRACTION, MULTIPLICTION AND DIVISION.

1.3

PERFORM CONVERSION OF FORMULA.

1.4

SOLVE QUADRATIC EQUATIONS USING

FACTORIZATION, FORMULA AND COMPLETING THE
SQUARES.

1.5

SOLVE SIMULTANEOUS LINEAR EQUATION WITH TWO

VARIAABLES USING THE ELIMINATION AND
SUBSTITUTION METHODS.

CHAPTER 1: BASIC ALGEBRA

Chapter 1:
Basic Algebra

Here, you will outline what your audience will learn in this chapter or section:

Introduces algebra concept and its use.

Solve linear equations, linear simultaneous with two variables.

Quadratic equations.

1.1 SIMPLIFY ALGEBRAIC FRACTIONS.

1.1.1 Algebraic Terms
a) Algebraic Terms with one unknown- is a product of an unknown or a letter
and a number.
Example:
p , 3q , 6p ,

3x
, -2y & 0.3x
4

b) Algebraic Terms with two or more unknown,

Example:
6pq ,

5xy
, -abcd & -03 mnq
4

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CHAPTER 1: BASIC ALGEBRA

c) Like Terms- is terms with the same unkown

Example:
i)
ii)
iii)

5h and 9h
2a and a
2au and 4ua

d) Unlike Terms- is term with different unknown

Exp:
i)
ii)
iii)

2a and 3d
ut and 3us
2s and s2

1.2 Algebraic Expression

Algebraic expression were form when 2 or more algebraic terms are combined
by addition or subtraction or both.

Exp: Simplify each of the algebraic expressions below:

i)
ii)
iii)
iv)
v)
vi)

3x + 4x = 7x
2u + 3u = 5u
11k 5m = 11k 5m
6p -5p +4r = p + 4r
0.8 + 6t +4 = 4.8 +6t
4ua +3au = 7au

Conclusions:
1. An algebraic expression with like terms can be simplify.
2. But algebraic expression with unlike terms cannot be simplify.

1.3 Algebraic Rules/ Laws

a) When multiplying or dividing 2 quantities :

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CHAPTER 1: BASIC ALGEBRA

+x+=+

++=+

+x=

+=

+x=

+=

x=+

=+

b) a x b = bx a
Exp:
i)
ii)
iii)

4 x 3= 3 x 4=12
3a x a= a x 3a = 3a2
4m2 x 6m3 = 6m3 x 4m2 = 24m5

c) a(b+c) = ab + ac
Exp:
i)
ii)
iii)

2(m+n) = 2m + 2n
-3(2z + 3m - 4s) = -6z - 9z +12s
3mn2 (4m + 6n3m 5k2)= 12m2n2 + 8m2n5 15mn2k2

Exp. for simplify in bracket/factorization:

iv)
v)

5u + 15 = 5(u + 3)
4xy + 8x2yz = 4xy( 1 +2xz)

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

Exp:
i)
ii)

(9 z) (3 + k m) = 27 + 9k 9m 3z zk + zm
(x 2) (x + 3) = x2 + x 6

1.4 Algebraic Fractions

An algebraic fraction has an algebraic expression for its numerator or the

denominator or both.

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CHAPTER 1: BASIC ALGEBRA

a) Addition & Subtraction of algebraic fraction

When adding or subtracting algebraic fraction, firstly we must find the lowest
common multiply(LCM) for the denominators and then solve the fraction by adding
or subtracting the numerator.
Example:
2x 3 2x + 3
+ =
y
y
y

i)
iii)

1 1 1+3
4
+ =
=
3x x
3x
3x

v)

3
a
9bc 2a 2

=
2a 3bc
6abc
2
6 y 5
1

=
5x
15 xy
3 xy

vii)
ix)

ii)

3a 5a 9a 1a a

=
=
6
9
18
18

iv)
vi)

5 4 5 15 + 24 5 34 17
+
=
=
=
2a a 6 a
6a
6a 3a

4
2
8+2 1
+
=
=
5 x 10 x 10 x
x

viii)

1
1
x

= 2
x 1 ( x 1)( x +1) x 1

xy 3 y x 2 x 5

=
4y
12
12

b) Multiplication & Division of Algebra Fraction

1. Multiply the numerators and the denominators.
Exp.
3
5
3 5
15
=
=
2x y
2x y
2 xy

2. Factorize the numerators or the denominators or both before cancellation

Exp.
p2 q
p( p q)
=
=p
p q
( p q)

1. When divide an algebra fraction by another fraction for example a/b, we

must multiply the first fraction by b/a.
Examples:

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CHAPTER 1: BASIC ALGEBRA

a c a d
=
b d b c

i).

4 y 2
9 xy
=
=
2
9 xy 2 9 x
y

ii)

Example: Simplify each of the following fraction and give your answer in the
lowest terms.
4x3
= 2x
2x 2

i)

x 2 2x 2 y 2x 4

= 2
ii)
yz
z
z

a 2w

a
=
4
w
aw

ii)

v)

3 x 2 y 2 6 xy 3
3 xy ( xy 2 y 2 )
=
= y( x 2 y)
3 xy
3 xy

3a 2b 6a 3a 2 b 2 c ab 3

= 2
2c 2 b 2 c 2c 2 6 a
4c

viii)

1.5

m 2 + m m(m + 1)
=
=m
m +1
(m + 1)

4 p 2 4 p 4 p ( p 1)
=
= 2p
2p 2
2( p 1)

vi)

vii)

iv)

4(a b) 2
a b
4(a b)(a b) m 3 n 3

= mn(a b)
(a b)
(2mn) 2
(mn) 3
4m 2 n 2

Conversion Of Subject Formula

Re-arrange a formula so that some so variables (involving letters or symbol)

or/and constants (numbers) that is originally on the right hand sides becomes the
subject of the formula. Then simplify solve the equation like the previous solving
equation section, by balancing both sides. The basic concept of re-arrange the
formula should follow:

If plus a move to the other side, its will be minus a .

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CHAPTER 1: BASIC ALGEBRA

+a = a

If multiply a move to the other side, its will be divide a .

a = a

If square/power of 2 move to the other side, its will be square root .

a2 = b

Examples: Change the subject of the formulas below for letter showing in the
right side.

a). y = x + c

yx=c
Re-arrange formula properly, subject to the left side and formula to right side
Therefore:
c=yx
b)

a=bd

b=a+d
c)

y = mx + c

m=

d)

y c
x

V = I/R

R = I/V
e)

A = wh

h = A/w

f)

a2=b2 c2

c = b2 a2

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CHAPTER 1: BASIC ALGEBRA

g)

A = r2
r=

h)

A =1/2r2

=2A/r2
i)

2z = y 3x

x
x = y/(2z+3)
j)

V = E Ir

r = (E V)/I
k)

V = 2R/(R-r)

R =(2R/V) +r
l)

E =( gy / q2) g
q=

m)

gy

E +q

t =2(I /g)

I = g t2
42
n)

A = (BC BD) /C

B = AC/(C D)
o)

V = d2h/4

d =(4V/ h)
p)

z=

R 2 wL 1

wC

)2

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CHAPTER 1: BASIC ALGEBRA

)
wC
= ( wL 1 )
wC

z 2 = R 2 wL 1
z2
R2
1
z
= wL
wC
R
1
= C wL z
R
w
1
C=
w wL z
R
R
C= 2
w RL wz

1.6 Solving Quadratic Equation

General form for quadratic equation:

i)
ii)
iii)

ax2 + bx = 0
ax2 + c = 0
ax2 + bx + c = 0

a,b&c constants/coefficients
x variables/unknowns

Solving methods:
1) Factorisation
2) Quadratic Formulae
3) Completing The Square
1) Factorisation Method
Examples: Solve each of the following equation using factorization method.
Higest Common Factor(HCF)

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CHAPTER 1: BASIC ALGEBRA

** ab + ac = a(b +c)--- a is the common factor

a) x2 + 2x = 0
x(x -2) = 0
x =0 & (x- 2 ) = 0
x=2

b) 5x2 15x = 0
5x(x 3) = 0
5x = 0 & x 3 = 0
x = 0 & x =3

Binomial Factor
* a2 - b2 = (a+b)(a-b)
b) x2 4 = 0
x2 - 22 = 0
(x + 2)(x -2) = 0
x+2=0&x-2=0
x = -2 & x = 2

Quadratic Factor
a) x2-2x-3 =0
(x+1)(x-3)=0
x= -1 & x=3

Exercises:
i) 5x2+5x = 0

ii) 3p2 = 6p

iii) 9x2 16 = 0

iii) x2/4 4/9 = 0

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CHAPTER 1: BASIC ALGEBRA

iv) x2 + 5x + 6 = 0

v) 3x2 7x = 6

v) 6x2 + 10 = 19x

2) Quadratic Formula Method

2
Formulae : x = b b 4ac

2a

Example 1: Use quadratic formula to solve x2 + x 4 = 0.

Solution:
Find the coefficient from the equation: a = 1 , b = 1 & c = -4 and then
plug them into the formula, and simplify the equation:

1 (1) 2 4(1)( 4)
x=
2(1)

1 1 +16
2

= -117
2
x = 1.56 & x = -2.56

Example 2: Solve quadratic equation below by using the quadratic formula

method.

3x2 10x -8 = 0
Solution:
a = 3 , b = -10 & c = -8

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CHAPTER 1: BASIC ALGEBRA

x=

( 10 ) ( 10) 2 4(3)( 8)
2(3)

= 10 100 + 96
6
= 10 196
6
x = 4 & x =-0.67

Exercises : Solve each of the following equations using quadratic formula method

i). x2 4x 8 = 0

ii). x2 + 7x = 3

iii). 8x2 4x 3 = 0

iv). 9x2 + 8 = -21x

v). 2x2 = 17x 35

vi). 5x2 4x 2 = 0

c) Completing the Square Method

General form for factoring Completing The Square Method

i)
ii)

x2 + 2nx + n2 = (x + n ) ( x + n ) = ( x + n )2
x2 - 2nx + n2 = (x - n ) ( x - n ) = ( x - n )2

Solving method:

1. Divided the coefficient of x2 for 1.

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CHAPTER 1: BASIC ALGEBRA

2.
3.
4.
5.

Move constant c to the right side.

Add (b/2)2 to the left & to the right of the equation.
Factored the left side expression.
Find the value of x.

Example: Use Completing the square methods to solve 3x2 -12x 3 = 0.

Solution:

3 3x2 - 12x - 3 = 0
3

x2 4x 1 = 0

-1 =

x2 4x = 1

+(-4/2)2 x2 4x +(-2)2 = 1 + (-2)2

x2 -2(2)x + (2)2 = 5 (ignore ve)
factored left (x 2) ( x 2 ) = 5
(x 2 )2 = 5

x 2 = 5
x = 5 +2 = 4.24 & x = - 5 + 2 = -0.24

Exercises: Solve each of the following equation using Completing the square
method.
i) 2x2 + 8x 6 = 0

ii). x2 4x + 3=0

iii). 3x2 - 2x 5 = 0

iv). 2x2 +5 = 11x

v)

4x2 = 4x +4

vi). 7x2 + 4x = 10

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CHAPTER 1: BASIC ALGEBRA

1.7 Simultaneous Linear equation with two variables/unknown

Two eq. are said to be Simultaneous Linear equation with two variables if:

a) both are Linear equation with two variables

b) both variables at the same
Exmp: i) 2x + 3y = 9
xy=7
** x & y are the 2 same variables

ii). p + 2q = 4
m 2n = 7
** the variables in each eq. are different

Solving Method:
1) Substitution
2) Elimination

1) Substitution Method

Express one variable in term of the other variable by rearranging one the eq.
Substitute the expression into the other eq.

Example: Solve 2x 3y = - 2 and 4x + y = 24 using substitution method.

Solution:
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CHAPTER 1: BASIC ALGEBRA

2x 3y = -2 i
4x + y = 24 ii
Solve the 2nd eq for y:
y = 24 - 4x
Then substitute for y in the first eq., and solve for x :
2x 3(24 4x) = -2
2x 72 + 12x = -2
14x = 70
x=5
Now simply you can plug this back into either eq., and solve for y. but since we
already have an expression for y=, its will be simplest to just plug into this:

y = 24 4x
y = 24 4(5)
y=4

2) Elimination Method

The elimination Method also called as addition/ subtraction method. This method
is similar to the method for solving simple equations.

Examlpe: Solve the following equations using elimination method.

2x + 4y = 10 i
3x - 2y = 11 ii

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CHAPTER 1: BASIC ALGEBRA

Solution:

Find a pair of values for the variables which satisfied both the eq. to create a
cancellation. Nothing cancels here, so multiply the 2nd eq by 2 and this wil set up yterms to cancel:

2x + 4y = 10
3x - 2y = 11

2x + 4 y = 10
x 2 6x - 4 y = 22 ( eq. i) +( eq. ii)
8x

= 32
x =4

Now you can substitute x=8 either (eq. i) or (eq. ii) and solve for y :

From eq. 1
2x + 4y = 10

2(4) + 4 y = 10
4y = 10 - 8
4y = 4
y = 0.5

Exercises 1:
Solve each the equation below using Substitution Method:
i) x + 3y = 7
3x+5y =13

iii) 3y + 4x = 4

ii) 2x + y = 5
3x + 2y = 7

iv) 2x + 4y 18 =0

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CHAPTER 1: BASIC ALGEBRA

5y 10x =15

3x -2y 11 =0

Exercises 2:
Solve each the equation below using Elimination Method:
i) 2x + 3y = 7
5x 2y = 8

iii) 2(x + 2y 38 = -3(3x y)

4(3x + 2y) +8 = 3( x + 5y)

ii) 8x 5y = 10
6x 4y = 11

iv) 4x + 3y = 4
-2x + 5y = -15

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