Mathematics Presentation #2

Algebra and Functions

Algebra and Functions

This chapter focuses on basic manipulation of Algebra

Factorisation of quadratic equations
It also goes over rules of Surds and Indices
It is essential that you understand this whole chapter
as it links into most of the others!

Simplifying expressions (like terms)

You can simplify expression by collecting like terms. These are
terms that are same, for example:
a) 3x+2xy+7-x+3xy-9
3x-x+2xy+3xy+7-9
2x+5xy-2

3x and x (red), 2xy+3xy (green)

and +7-9 (purple) are like terms, in
this algebric expression.

Simplifying expressions (like terms)

Here are some other examples of simplification of like
terms:

a) 4(a+b+c)-3a+2c
4a+4b+4c-3a+2c
4a-3a+4b+4c+2c
a+4b+6c

Expand the bracket first, by multiplying

the term outside it by each term inside,
then simplify the expression .

Expand the first bracket. Multiply each

term in second bracket by every term in
the last bracket once, then simplify the
expression by adding like terms.

b)2(a+)+(a+b)(2+b)
2a+2+2a+ab+2b+
2a+2a+2++ab+2b
4a+3+ab+2b

Factorisation
Factorising is the opposite of expanding brackets. An expression is put
into brackets by looking for common factors.
Common Factor
a)

3x 9

3( x 3)

b)

x2 5x

x( x 5)

c)

8 x 2 20 x

4x

4 x(2 x 5)

d)

9 x 2 y 15 xy 2

3xy

3 xy (3 x 5 y )

e)

3 x 2 9 xy

3x

3 x( x 3 y )

Factorisation
A Quadratic Equation has the form;
ax2 + bx + c
Where a, b and c are constants
and a 0.
You can also Factorise these
equations.
REMEMBER
An equation with an x2 in
does not necessarily go into 2
brackets. You use 2 brackets when
there are NO Common Factors

Examples:
a)

x2 6x 8

The 2 numbers in brackets must:

Multiply to give c
Add to give b

( x 2)( x 4)

Factorisation
A Quadratic Equation
has the form;
ax2 + bx + c
Where a, b and c are
constants and a 0.

Examples:
a)

x2 4x 5

The 2 numbers in brackets

must:
Multiply to give c

You can also Factorise

these equations.

Add to give b
( x 5)( x 1)

Factorisation
A Quadratic Equation
has the form;
ax2 + bx + c
Where a, b and c are
constants and a 0.

Examples:
a)

x 2 25

The 2 numbers in brackets must:

Multiply to give c
Add to give b

You can also Factorise

these equations.

(In this case, b = 0)

( x 5)( x 5)
This is known as the
difference of two squares
x2 y2 = (x + y)(x y)

Factorisation
A Quadratic Equation
has the form;
ax2 + bx + c
Where a, b and c are
constants and a 0.

Examples:
a)

5 x 2 45

The 2 numbers in brackets

must:
Multiply to give c

You can also Factorise

these equations.

Add to give b
5( x 2 9)

5( x 3)( x 3)

Indices
We can solve expression involving indices
(powers) using specific set of rules:

Indices
You need to be able to simplify expressions involving
Indices, where appropriate.

a m a n a mn
a m a n a mn
(a m ) n a mn
1
m
a m
a
1
m

Examples:
2
5
7
a) x x x
2
3
5
b) 2r 3r 6r
4
4
0
c) b b b 1
3
5
2
d) 6 x 3 x 2x

3
2
e) a 2a
2

a 6 2a 2 2a8

a a
n
m

a
m

f)

3x

2 3

x4

27x 6 x 4 27x 2

Indices
The rules of indices can also be applied to rational
numbers (numbers that can be written as a fraction)
mn

a a a
a m a n a mn
m

(a m ) n a mn
1
m
a m
a
1
m

a ma
n
m

a
m

Examples:
a)
b)
c)

x 4 x 3 x 7
1
2

3
2

4
2

x x x x2
2
3 3

(x )

2
3

6
3

x x2

1.75
1.5
0.25
2
x

4
x

0.5x
d)

1 74
x
2

Indices
The rules of indices can also be applied to rational
numbers (numbers that can be written as a fraction)

a m a n a mn
a m a n a mn
(a m ) n a mn
1
m
a m
a

Examples:
a)

b)

c)

n
m

a
m

9
3

1
3

64 3 64
4
3
2

49

49

343

1
m

a ma

1
2

d)

25

3
2

1
25

3
2

1
25

1
125

Indices
The rules of indices can also be applied to rational
numbers (numbers that can be written as a fraction)
mn

a a a
a m a n a mn
m

(a m ) n a mn
1
m
a m
a
1
m

a ma
n
m

a
m

Examples:
a)

2

3

3
2

b)

1

8

1
2

1
3

3
8
3

Surds
Surds are the irrational root of integers, they are the root
form of numbers with infinite decimals. The root of all
the prime numbers are surds.

Surds
There
are certain amount of rules for simplification, addition,

subtraction, multiplication, division and rationalization of surds:

Surds
Simplification of Surds:
Breaking

surds down (simplifying) is just a case of prime factorization.

a) can be simplified as .

This

is equal to 2, since we already know that

b) can be simplified as
c) can be simplified as

Since

we know that 55(=25, therefore

Surds
and Subtraction in surds:
Addition

You can only add or subtract like surds, although some surds have to be simplified to
get like surds and then they can be either added or subtracted. For example:

The above two are examples of normal addition and subtraction in surds. Lets try a bit
more complicated ones:
As you can see in the above example the roots first had to be simplified to get like
terms and then they were added.

Surds
and division in surds:
Multiplication

We have already studied the properties of multiplying and dividing two surds. Here are
some examples as well:
According to the first multiplication rule of surds we studied,
square root of 6 multiplied by square root of 6, is equal to 6
This

question is related to the second multiplication

rule, according to which
This

answer is obtained by using the division rule of surds;

Surds
brackets with surds:
Expanding

Brackets with surds are expanded just like normal brackets, except for this time we are
multiplying surds instead of normal integers. You may be expected to expand single or
double brackets. Most of these questions require full workings, For Example:
(a)
(b)

The square root of 2 is multiplied by every term inside the

bracket, since there are no like terms left the equation cannot be
further simplified.
The terms in the first bracket are first multiplied by every term
in the second bracket once then, the like terms are added and
the equation is further simplified.

Surds
the denominator:
Rationalizing

Mathematicians hate having an irrational denominator. A surd is an irrational number.

You will come across two types of fractions where you will have to rationalize the
denominator.
1) the first one being a fraction with single surd value . This can be rationalized simply,
by multiplying both the numerator and the denominator by the surd number:

Surds
the denominator:
Rationalizing

2) The second type of fraction will be, when the denominator has 2 values with an
addition or subtraction sign:

In this example the fraction is irrational, therefore to make it rational we multiply both
the numerator and the denominator with .