Algebraic Expressions

+ Algebra: It is a branch of mathematics in which we use literal numbers and statements

symbolically. Literal numbers can be positive or negative. They are variables.
+ Variable: A symbol which takes various values is known as a variable. Normally it is denoted
by x, y, z etc.
+ Constant: A symbol having a fixed numerical value is called a constant.
Sometimes, 'c', 'k', etc., are used as symbols to denote a constant.
+ Coefficient: In a term of an algebraic expression any of the factors with the sign of the
term is called the coefficient of the product of the other factors in that term.
Sometimes, symbols like a, b, l, m etc., are used to denote the coefficients. Coefficients that
are numbers are called numerical coefficients.
+ Algebraic expression: A combination of constants and variables connected by some or all
of the four fundamental operations +, -, x and 7 is called an algebraic expression.
e.g., -5p + 12 is an algebraic expression.
Here -5 is the coefficient of the variable 'p' and 12 is the constant.
+ Terms of an algebraic expression: The different parts of the algebraic expression separated
by the sign + or -, are called the terms of the expression.
e.g., 3x - 5 + 4xy is an algebraic expression containing 3 terms -3x, -5 and 4xy.
+ Like and unlike terms: In a given algebraic expression, the terms having the same literal
factors are called like or similar terms, otherwise they are called unlike terms.
e.g., 3xy and -4xy are like terms while 6xy and -4x are unlike terms.
+ Factors: Each term of an algebraic expression consists of a product of constants and
variables.
A constant factor is called a numerical factor, while a variable factor is known as a literal
factor.
+ Various types of algebraic expressions:
(i) Monomial: An algebraic expression which contains only one term, is called a
monomial.
Thus, Sx, 2xy, -3a 2b, -7, etc., are all monomials.
(ii) Binomial: An algebraic expression containing two terms is called a binomial.
Thus, (2a + 3b), (8- 3x), (x 2 - 4xy 2), etc., are all binomials.
(iii) Trinomial : An algebraic expression containing three terms is called a trinomial.

II
Thus, (a + 2b + 5c), (x + 2y- 3z), (x 3 - y3- z3), etc., are all trinomials.

12. Algebraic Expressions

 BMA'sTalent & Olympiad Exams Resource Book Class VII - Mathematics

(iv) Polynomial: An expression containing two or more terms is called a polynomial.

+ Addition of Algebraic Expressions: While adding algebraic expressions, we collect the like
terms and add them. The sum of several like terms is another like term whose coefficient
is the sum of the coefficients of those like terms. The like terms are added and the unlike
terms are left as they are.
+ Subtraction of Algebraic Expressions: The d ifference of two like terms is a like term whose
coefficient is the difference of the numerical coefficients of the two like terms.
e.g., 4x2 - 6x 2 = (4- 6)x2 =- 2x 2
Rule for subtraction: Change the sign of each term of the expression to be subtracted and
then add.
+ Value of an expression: The value of an algebraic expression depends on the values of the
variables forming the expression.
+ Using algebraic expressions- Formulae and Rules:
Rules and formulae in mathematics are written in a concise and general form using algebraic
expressions.
Thus, the area of a rectangle = lb, where l is the length and b is the breadth of the rectangle.
The general (nth) term of a number pattern (or a sequence) is an expression in 'n'.
Thus, the nth term of the number pattern 11, 21, 31, 41, .... is (1On + 1).

0 If x + y = S, y + z = 7 and z + x
the value of x + y + z?
=12, what is parallel to the breadth. What is the total
area of the paths?
(A) 12 (B) 2 (C) S (D) 24 (A) (Z+w)(b+w)-Zb

0 (B) l b- (l - w) (b- w)

•
How many auxiliary formulae can be
formed from the expression in the box? (C) (l + b - w) w
(D) l b- (l - 2w) (b- 2w)
In a two digit number, the units digit is x

•
[ A =th(a+b) ]
and tens digit is (x + 3). What is the sum
(A) 2 (B) 3 (C) 4 (D) 1 of the digits in the number?

•
What is the d ifference between 3a + 2b (A) 11 X + 3 (B) 2x + 3
and -2a- Sb? (C) 3 + x (D) 11x + 30
(A) Sa + 7b (B) -Sa- 7b A and B are polynomials and each is the
(C) Sa- 7b (D) a- 3b

0
additive inverse of the other. What does
The length and breadth of a rectangular it mean?
plot are l and b. Two rectangular paths (A) A = B
each of width 'w' run inside the plot one (B) A + B is a zero polynomial.
parallel to the length and the other (C) A - B is a zero polynomial.
(D) A- B = B- A

12. Algebraic Expressions

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 BMA's Talent & Olympiad Exams Resource Book Class VII - Mathematics

8 When a certain number, 'm' is divided by 5 (C) (i)-(d), (ii)-(c), (iii)-(b), (iv)-(a)

CD
and added to 8, the result is equal to thrice (D) (i)-(b), (ii)-(c), (iii)-(a), (iv)-(d)
the number subtracted from 4. What is the Which of the following is true?
value of 'm'? (A) The product of numbers p and q
subtracted from 7 is 7 + pq.
~5
1
(A) 2 (B) ~ (C) ~ (D)
(B) y- y 3 is a monomial.
• 5 added to thrice a number is equal to 12
(C) The coefficient of y 2 in 2x2y + 7y2
added to twice the number. What is the is 7.
number?
(D) 100z3 is a binomial.
If x = 3, a = (-1) and b = (-2), what is the

•
(A) F49 X~ (B) ~343 X!._
7
•
7 value of 2- 6x + 4a- 3b?
(C) 7 (D) Both (B) and (C)

CD
(A) -22 (B) - 14 (C) 12 (D) 14
In the figure given what is the perimeter,
For what value of 'm' is 9 - 5m = (-1 )?
in em, of the triangle ?
(A) -1 (B) -2 (C) 2 (D) 1
p
• Simplify x2yl- 1.5 x 2f + 1.4x2yl.
(A) 0.9x2yl (B) -0.9x 2yl

0
(C) 0.9 (D) - 0.9
What is the value of
(3x - 2) em
(a 3 - 2a2+ 4a- 5)- (-a 3 - 8a + 2a 2+ 5)?
(A) (8y + 4x - 3) em
(B) (8y - 4x + 3) em (A) 2a 3 + 7a2+ 6a - 10
(B) 2a 3 +7a2+12a-10
(C) (14x- 2y - 3) em
(C) 2a 3 -4a 2+12a-10
(D) (12xy- 3) em
(D) 2a 3 -4a 2+ 6a-10

If c= x - a , find the value of x . By how much is x 4 - 4x2y2 + y4 less than x4

x - b + 8x2y2 + y4?
bC - a C- a (A) -12x2y2 (B) 12xly2
(A) -c --
1
(B) - -
C- b (C) -12xy (D) 12xy

•
C +a
- - 1- c a2
(C)
C+b
(D)
a - bC What is the sum of 2
2 3 3
Match the following. 2a 3b 4c 2 J J
-+-- - and a +b +c?
3 4 5 .
Column - 1 Column - II
1 3
(i) 4m2p, 4mp 2 ( ) (a) Binomial (A) ~a + ~b 3 - - c
6 12 20
(ii) 5 - 3t ( ) (b) Unlike terms
(B) ~a2- _1 bJ + ~cJ
5 6 20 12
(ii i) -7x -2 x
I
( ) (c) Trinomial

(iv) 1 +x+x 2 ( ) (d) Like ter ms

(A) (i)-(a), (ii)-(b), (iii)-(c), (iv)-(d) 25 1

+ -a3 + - cJ
(B) (i)-(b), (ii)-(a), (iii)-(d), (iv)-(c) 12 20

II 12. Algebraic Expressions

 BMA'sTalent & Olympiad Exams Resource Book Class VII - Mathematics

G
(i)
Match the following.

Column-/
a' - b.. when
( ) (a)
Column - II

0
• For any natural number n, what does
2n + 1 denote?
(A) An even number
(B) An odd number

•
a= 3 and b = 2
z3 - 3 (z -10) (C) A composite number
(ii) ( ) (b) -12
when z= 10 (D) A prime number
(iii)
i+ 2x + 1
( ) (c) 1000 Identify the like terms in
whenx=-1
21 p - 32 - 7p + 20p.
Sp - 2 when
(iv) ( ) (d) 1 (A) 21p, - 32 and 20p
p=-2
(B) -32, -7p and 20p

•
(A) (i)-(d), (ii)-(a), (iii)-(b), (iv)-(c)
(C) 21p, -7pand20p
(B) (i)-(d), (ii)-(c), (iii)-(b), (iv)-(a)
(D) -7p, 21p, and 32
(C) (i)-(a), (ii)-(b), (iii) -(c), (iv)-(d) What is the symbolic form of "one-fourth
(D) (i)-(d), (ii)-(c), (iii)-(a), (iv)-(b) of the product of m and n"?
Simplify the following expression.
x (y - z) - y (z - x) - z (x - y)
(A) ~mn
4
(B) t (m + n)

•
1 (m-n)
(A) 2x (y- z) (C) (D) j_m
(B) 2y (z- x)
4 4 n

(C) 2x (z- y) What do we call the algebraic terms with

(D) 2z(x- y) same literal coefficients?

What is the 4 1h term of a pattern (A) Equivalent (B) Unlike terms

described by the expression n 2 + 1? (C) Constants (D) Like terms
(A) 18 (B) 17 (C) 24 (D) 16 What is the coefficient of 'y ' in the
expression 3xy - 13?
The third term of the series 7n + 20 is 41.
What is the 1Oth term ? (A) 3x (B) 3
(C) -13 (D) Either (A) or (B)
(A) 90 (B) 56 (C) 63 (D) 87
. l'f
S1mp 1y -3 x - -2 ax - y + -1 ax - -1 x an d
What is the expression related to the 4 5 3 8
pattern 5, 8, 11, .......? find its value when a = 3, x = (-2) and

•
(A) 2n - 1 (B) 3n + 2 y = (-6).
(C) 4n + 1 (D) n2 - 1
(A) 5 230 (B) 3 230 (C) ~~ (D) 52~
Which expression gives the predecessor
A rectangle is 3p em long and 2p em
of a natural number 'n' ?
wide. Find the perimeter of the rectangle
(A) 2n-1 (B) n + 1
when p = 12.
(C) n-1 (D) 2n +1
(A) 102 em (B) 120 em
If 'n' denotes a natural number, what
(C) 210 em (D) 10p em
does '2n' denote?
From the sum of 7x - 2y - 3z and
(A) A prime number
3x + 5y - 8z, take away x - 3z.
(B) An even number
(A) 9x- 3y + 8z (B) 9x + 3y- 8z
(C) An odd number
(D) A composite number (C) 9x + 3y + 8z (D) 9x - 3y- 8z

12. Algebraic Expressions

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Jl BMA's Talent & Olympiad Exams Resource Book Cl ass VII - Mathematics

•
The angles of a quadrilateral are (p+25) 0 ,
2p , (2p - 1St and (p + 20) • What is the
0 0
A basket has 23 oranges and bananas.
How many bananas are there in the

•
value of the smallest angle? basket if there are 'p' oranges in it?
(A) 23 p (B) 23 - p (C) 23 + p (D) p - 23
(A) 105° (B) 65° (C) 115° (D) 65°
'x' packets of 6 sweets each are divided
The sides of a right angled triangle are
2a em, (2a + 2) em and (4a- 2) em long. equally among 10 children. How many
What is the length of the shortest side of sweets does each child get ?

® ;'§Jt.JfWMM'·!f'i1it.!ifP •
the triangle if its perimeter is 24 em? (A) 6x (B) 6x- 10
(A) 8 em (B) 6 em (C) 10 em (D) 3 em 3
(C) ; (D) 3x - 5

I The length of a rectangle is 2(x + 6) em,

0
and its width is half its length. What is its
What is the sum of 3y2 + Syz, perimeter?
-2/ - 2yz - z2 and -yz + 2z 2?

•
(A) 6(x - 3) em (B) 6(x - 6) em

•
(A) y - 2yz + z
2 2
(B) y2 + 2yz + z 2 (C) 3(x + 6) em (D) (6x + 36) em
(C) l- 2yz - z2 (D) -y 2 + 2yz- z2
Evaluate the expression.
Simplify~
11
(66x + 44) + ~(33x
11
- 33) .

•
p-(p-q)-q-(q-p) (A) 33x + 7 (B) 33x - 7

•
(A) p - q (B) - p + q (C) 33x - 7x (D) 33 + 7x
(C) p + q (D) - (p + q) Express in the simplest form .
What is the value of the expression r-----------------~
9 5
2x 2 y + xy 2 + xy for x = 1 andy = - 2?

••
- (30 + St) + - (1St -12)
10 6
(A) -2 (B) -3 (C) -4 (D) -5

If P + 45 (4- 2P) = -4, find P. (B) 17t -

39
2
(A) -6 (B) 6 (C) 18 (D) -18
How is "4 is less than half of x " written in (D) 17t + ~
2
symbolic form ?

(A) 4 > ~ (B) x- 4

2 2
(C) .: + 4 (D) 4 < _:
2 2

II 12. Al gebraic Expressions

This page is intentionally left blank.
 Exponents and Powers

+ Exponential form is the short form of repeated multiplication . A number written in

exponential form contains a base and an exponent.
10 5 is the exponential form of 1,00,000, since 1,00,000 = 10 x 10 x 10 x 10 x 10.
In 105, 10 is the base and 5 is the exponent or index or power.
+ Base denotes the number to be multiplied and the power denotes the number of times
the base is to be multiplied.
a x a = a2 (read as 'a squared ' or 'a raised to the power 2')
a x a x a = a3 ( read as 'a cubed' or 'a raised to the power 3')
a x a x a x a = a4 (read as 'a raised to the power 4' or 4th power of a)

a x a x a .... (n factors) = an (read as 'a raised to the power n' or nth power of a)
• (i) When a negative number is raised to an even power the value is always positive.
e.g., (- 5) 4 = (- 5) X (-5) X (-5) X (-5) = + 625
(ii) When a negative number is raised to an odd power, the value is always negative.
e.g., (-3) 5 = (-3) X (-3) X (-3) X (-3) X (-3) = (-243)
Note: (a) (-1 )oddnumber =_1
(b) (-1 )evennumber = +1

+ Laws of Exponents:
For any non -zero integers 'a' and 'b' and whole numbers 'm' and 'n:
(i) a X a X a X ...... X a (m faCtOrS) = am
(ii) am X an= am +n (v) (ab)m = ambm

am am
(iii)
a"
= am- n' if m > n (vi)
(~J bm
= 1, ifm = n (vii) ao = 1

ifm < n

(iv) (am)n = amn

+ Any number can be expressed as a decimal number between 1.0 and 10.0 including 1.0
multiplied by a power of 10. Such a form of a number is called its standard form.

II 13. Exponents and Powers

 BMA'sTalent & Olympiad Exams Resource Book Class VII - Mathematics

• What is the value of ( '! -4° ) x 52?

CD iJ.

•
Evaluate (
(A) 25 (B) 0 (C) - 25 (D) 1

What is the value of ( 81

16 ) ?
2
(A) ( ~ J (B) (56)5 (C) ~: (D) (55)6

4D Which of the following values are equal?

•
J (D) 827
8
2
(A)~ (B) - (C) ( 3
2
(i) 1
4
(ii) 4° (iii) 0
4
(iv) 4 1
2 9
Which of the following is true? (A) (i) and (ii) (B) (ii) and (iii)
(C) (i) and (iii) (D) (i) and (iv)

•
(A) 10 X 1011 = 100 11 (B) 23 X 32= 65
What is the sum of the powers of the
(C) 23> 32 (D) p0= 1000° prime factors in 108x 192?
What is the value of (12 x 3°-8 x 5°)? (A) 5 (B) 7 (C) 8 (D) 12

J
••
(B) 2 (C) 4 • Express ( - 2)
3
.;. m3 in the form ( ~
(-! J
Find the value of 2° + 3° + 4°.
- 23
(A) 3 (B) 234 (C) 1 (D) 24 (A) m3 (B)

•
What is the value of 2 x 53?7

(- 2)3
(A) 7500 (B) 16000 (C) 11200 (D) 14000 2)(-21
(D)- ( m
(C) m3 ~)
Which of the following is the least?

3 5
[ (-1f, (-10) , (1) and (-1) J
4
G) What is the value of [ ( ~ J-(~ J] x
6
2 ?

•
(A) 15 (B) (-1 0)3 (A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4
(C) (-1)4 (D) (-1 )3
A 2x 3 x 25 4

Write a X a X a X C X C X C X C X d X d W What is the result of x

9 42
?
in exponential form. (A) 36 (B) 42 (C) 46 (D) 48

•
(A) a3c3d3 (B) a3c3d
(C) a3c3d2 (D) a3c4d2
(-11 )2 x (- 11) 4=(-11)x. What is the value
CD Express
729 X 64
270
.
as a product of pnme
factors in exponential form.
of x?
(A) 2 (B) 4 (C) 6 (D) - 2
Which of the following statements is
correct?
(A) (23)2and (3 2)4 are not the same.
• How is 65950 expressed in standard form?
(B) (23)2 and (3 4)2 are the same.
(C) (750)2 = 7502 (A) 6.59 X 106 (B) 6.595 X 105
(C) 6.595 X 10 4 (D) 6.59 X 105
(D) (5 7)3 = 573

13. Exponents and Powers

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Jl BMA's Talent & Olympiad Exams Resource Book Class VII - Mathematics

• Express 15625 as a power of 5.

(A) 56 (B) 54

Find the value of 164 x 4 2 .

(C) 58
3 -1
(D) 57
Find the numerical value of 256°·75.
(A) 64

Simplify
(B) 256
(a-n)m X a-2m
amn X a2m
(C) 1 (D) 4-3

(A) 8 (B) 1 (C) 4 (D) 0 (A) a2m(n-2l (B) a2m(2n-4)

-3 (C) a-2m(n+2) (D) a2m(n-4)
Find the numerical value of (4096f4 . 1 -1

(16a 2)2 x (36 a4 )2

1 Simplify 1 3 9
(A) 1024 (B) 512 (C) 256 (D) 2al 5al 8a4
512 X X

25
(A) 120 a4 (B) 25
120 a 4
13 -25 25
1 (C) 24 a 4
(D) 24 a 4
(B) 5[ mzn61o ] '
Express 62x 7-4 x (8-2)2 x 63 x 72 x 84 in

i
the simplest exponential form.

(C) i [ m~-1o
2 ] 1/3
(D) [
2 ] 2/3
mn61o
(A) 65 72 (B)
65
J2
G Solve 9 4x .;- 32x = 2187. (C) 6-5 72 (D) 6-5 7-2
6
(A) x = -
7
(B) X= -
-7
6
G) Solve 92x = 729.

•
7 -6 3 2
(C) X= - (D) X= - (A) x =- (B) x =-
6 7 4 3
Simplify and leave the answer in 5 3
(C) X= - (D) x =-
exponent form. 6 2

(I. r G Find the value of x.

(~J-
2

x
=sn ]
7 6J
[ (53)"' X (Ss)x

(A) ~ (B) 1
(A) X=
6
6- (B) x = 9
11
-6
~ 6

•
(D) (C) X= (D) X= 8
(C) 7 7

43 24 -23 Simplify -1b-s 9 1ob11 -12 13b-14 15 .

Simplify P q x P r x q r . a c xa c xa c
p -3q3r3
(A) a11b1sc-15
(A) p3q4r7 (B) p3q4r1o (B) a11b1sc15
(C) a-11b-1sc15
(C) p-sq2r-4 (D) psq-2r4 (D) a-11b1sc15

II 13. Exponents and Powers

 BMA's Talent & Olympiad Exams Resource Book Class VII - Mathematics

•
~Previous Contest Questions~
The mass of the Earth is 5,976,000,000,
000,000,000,000,000 kg. How is the mass
of Earth expressed in standard form?
• The speed of light in vacuum is
300, 000, 000 ms-1 . Express it in standard
form .
(A) 3.Q
(B)
X108 mS- 1
3.0 x 1010 ms- 1

•
(A) 5.976 X 1024 kg (C) 3.0 x 10 6 ms- 1
(B) 5.976 X 10 21 kg (D) 3.0 x 1012 ms- 1

•
(C) 5976 X 1021kg
Which is greater 23 or 52?
(D) 59.76x 10 23 kg
(A) Both are equal.
What is the simplified form of
(B) 23
(-5xy) 4 + (-5xy)2?

•
(C) 52

•
(A) (-5xy)6 (B) (-5xy)8 (D) Cannot be determined.
(C) (-5xy) 4 (D) (-5xy)2
Which of the following equals (-1)?
Solve (9
5
Y= (9
4
r .;. 92.

(A) (3 - 2)2 35 (A) x = 4 (B) x = - 2

•
(B) (-1)47 (C) X=- 3 (D) x = 2

•
(C) Both (A) and (B)
(D) Neither (A) nor (B)
What is the simplified form of the product
given? (A) 2-l•
(C) 2lt
4 5 6
( (-3p) (6q) (3r)

(A) (-3)15 25 p4 q5rs

(B) p4 q5 rs
(C) 315 25 p4 q5rs
(D) (-3)1525 p4 q4r4

13. Exponents and Powers

II