Fundamentals in Algebra 21 BASIC RULES OF ALGEBRA Leta, b, and c be real numbers, variables or algebraic expressions. @ Closure property : Addition atb : Multiplication a. b © Commutative property: Addition at +a Multiplication a+ beb-a ® Associative property —_: Addition (atb)+ +(bt0) :Muttiplication (a b)-c=a- (bc) © Identity property : Addition ato : Multiplication © Inverse property + Addition : Multiplication (2)- d= (2) vith a + 0 a a © Distributive property —_: Left a(b +c) = ab +ac Right In item 4, 0 is called an additive identity while 1 is called a multiplicative Identity. In item 5, - a is known as additive inverse of a while 1/a is the multiplicative inverse of 2. PROPERTIES OF EQUALITY Let a, b and cbe real numbers, variables of algebraic expression @ Reflexive property a © synmewic property — sifa=b, hen v=a © Transitive property band b=c, thena=c ® Substitution property —_: Ifa =b, then a can be replaced by b in any. expression involving a © Addition/Subtraction —: Ifa=b, thena+c ‘a=, thena—c © Multiplication/Division a=b, then ac= be sifa=b,then 2—2, withe <0 ce22 1001 Solved Problems in Engineering Mathematics by Tiong & Rojas @ Cancellation property :ifa+c=b+c,thena=b :lfac= be and ce 0, then a=b Let a and b real numbers, variables or algebraic expression. a+0=a and a-O=a a 0=0 eee) a § is undefined @o @©e0°0 Ifab =0, then a= 0 or b=0. This is known as Zero-Factor Property PROPERTIES OF EXPONENTS ‘The exponential notation states that if@ is a real number, variable, or algebraic expression and nis a positive number, then Examples: ° Hie agad ® ge © @m-am (oP = yt v2 ° (x) = 24x* = 16x4 2)\'_ 2 _16 a e (3) Soe o Age? = q (4x) e x24 ¥ ® 1942)" 21— Fundamentals in Algebra 23 PROPERTIES GF RADICALS: In the expression, Ya , nis called the index, a the radicand while the symbol is called the radical or radical symbol. Examples: Ye? = ah =a =4 YS. Y675 = f5(675) = ¥3375 =15 ¥50 _ [50 Fortwo Mis = 5 lax} = 2x E12)" =F 12]=12, Form = even number Va? =a {ct =-18, For n = odd number 900 © @®¢ Surd is a radical expressing an irrational number. The surd is described after the index of the radical. For example, 3 is a quadratic surd, ¥3 is a cubie surd, 48 is a quartic surd and s0 on. : Pure surd, sometimes called as entire surd contains no rational number and all its terms are surds, For example, J3 +2 . A mixed surd contains at least one rational number. 8 ¥/3 is a mixed surd because 5 is rational number while V3 is a surd. A binomial surd is an expression of two terms with at least one term is a surd. For example, 5 + V2 . A trinomial surd is an expression of three terms with at least two of them are surds and cannot be expressed as a single surd, otherwise it will become a binomial surd. Example, § + V2 +V3- ‘SPECIAL PRODUCTS Let x, y and z be real numbers, variables or algebraic expression. © Sum and difference of same terms: (x + y)(x-y)=x-y? Or Difference of two squares @ Square of a binomial w&tyPaxtay+¥ (-yPext-2y ty © Cube of a binomial (x4 yo = x2 + ax’y + Say? + y* (yp = x)= 3xly + Say’ =? © Difference of two cubes xy =x — yo? tay + 4)