Algebraic expressions and equations

1. Algebraic expression. Collecting like terms

Algebraic expression is an expression containing numbers and variables (e.g., 7x), and operations that involve numbers and variables (e.g., 2x + y or 3a - 4). A variable is a quantity that can change. We use letters to stand in for unknown numbers. Usually a,b,c,,m,n,p,,x,y,z. Algebraic expressions do not contain equality or inequality symbols. 3x+4y-6z is an algebraic expression. Each part is called a term. There are three terms: 3x, 4y and 6z. When we use variables, they follow the same rules as numbers: 12-11=1 and 12x-11x=1x=x (We dont usually write 1 in front of a letter) Just as 3+3 is two lots of 3 so 3+3=2x3, a+a is two lots of a so a+a=2xa=2a (We dont need to include the multiplication sign between a number and a letter). We can also multiply two or more variables together: axb is written as ab, axbxc is written as abc, 2ax3b is written as 6ab. Exercise 1 Write these in a shorter form: a) m+m+m+m+m b) y+y+y+y+y+y e) 8n-3n+4n f) p+3p-2p+5p

c) x+x+x-x-x-x-x-x d) 4h+6h+3h g) 4ax8bx2c h) 3axbx4c

Like terms use exactly the same letters: 3a and 6a are like terms, 5ab and 7ab are like terms but 4a and 3ab are not like terms. Like terms can be added together this is called collecting like terms and you can simplify expressions by collecting like terms. Example 1 Collect like terms to simplify each expression. a) 5a+4c+3a-2c=8a+2c (We combine the terms in a, and the terms in c). b) 6ab+5y-2ab-2y+7z=4ab+3y+7z (We combine the terms in ab, and the terms in y but we cant combine terms in z). Exercise 2 Collect like terms to simplify each expression. a) 5y+3y+y+3y b) 3c+7c+c+4c c) 12y+4y+5a+9a d) 5b+3x-3b+2x e) 5ay+3ax+ay-ax f) 17bc+3ax+bc-ax g) 5h-6h+3xy+h-xy h) 11x+12y-x+z Exercise 3 Simplify the following expressions. a) 6+3y-3+4y b) 16+t-2s+4 c) 12w+4v+5v-100 d) 5t+3y-3t+2y-3

2. Brackets in algebra
You can multiply out a bracket in algebra. You must multiply each term inside the bracket by the term outside the bracket. Multiply out the bracket means the same as: Example 2 Multiply out: remove the bracket or expand the bracket 4(5 y + 3x 2 xy 7) = 20 y + 12 x 8 xy 28 Exercise 4 Remove the brackets form each of these: a ) 5(6 x + 3 y 2 z ) b) 3(2ax 3by + 4cz ) c) 2(3x 4 y + 5 z ) d ) 4(2 x + 5 y 3z ) e) (4).( 4 x 5 y 6 z ) f ) (3).( 2 x 6 y + 7 z )

3. Solving an equation by balancing

You can think of an equation like a balance. The sign = is the balance point. Example 3 Solve 3x + 5 = 11 You need to isolate the unknown term. Stage 1: Take 5 from both sides 3x + 5 5 = 11 5, so 3x = 6 Stage 2: Divide both sides by 3 3x : 3 = 6 : 3, so x = 2 Example 4 Solve 3 y 6 = 18 Stage 1: Add 6 to both sides 3 y 6 + 6 = 18 + 6, so 3 y = 24 Stage 2: Divide both sides by 3 3 y : 3 = 24 : 3, so y = 8 Exercise 5 Solve these equations. Show all the stages a) 2 x + 3 = 11 b) 3z + 1 = 16 c) 4 y + 7 = 23 d ) 5 x 3 = 12 e) 4 y 10 = 26 f ) 20 z 4 = 94

You add 6 because you want the -6 to cancel out

4. Equations with unknowns on both sides

To solve an equation with unknown letters on both sides first change it so al the unknowns are on one side. Example 5 Solve 5 x 4 = 2 x + 8 Collect the x s on the side with the higher number of them.

Subtract 2x from both sides 5 x 4 2 x = 2 x + 8 2 x, so 3 x 4 = 8 Add 4 to both sides 3x 4 + 4 = 8 + 4, so 3 x = 12 Check: Divide both sides by 3 3x : 3 = 12 : 3, so x = 4 5x4-4=20-4=16 Exercise 6 Solve these equations. 2x4+8=8+8=16 a) 3x + 2 = 2 x + 7 Both answers are the same so the b) 17 x 5 = 2 x + 10 answer is correct. c) 7 y + 3 = 12 y + 8