Algebra Refresher Pack

Shazia Ahmed Algebra Refresher Pack
1

Algebra - A refresher course

Glossary

BODMAS - refers to the order for performing mathematical operations
B Brackets
O Order of (powers)
D Divide
M Multiply
A Add
S Subtract

Coefficient - a number which appears before a variable, e.g., in the term 4x the
coefficient is 4, 9 is the coefficient of 9x
2

Constant - a quantity that does not change (usually a number)

Equation - a mathematical statement containing "= (equals sign), used for
relating numbers and variables. We solve equations to find values of the unknown
quantity

Expression - a mathematical statement that uses numbers and variables, e.g. y-8.
An expression does not contain an equals sign (=) so it cannot be solved. It can be
simplified

Factorising - inverse (opposite) of expanding brackets

LHS - Left Hand Side of an equation, e.g., in the equation y+4=10, the LHS is y+4

RHS - Right Hand Side of an equation, e.g., in the equation y+4=10, the RHS is 10

Term - in an equation or an expression a quantity which is separated by other
quantities by addition or subtraction, e.g., in the equation x
2
+4x=10+y
2
, the terms
on the LHS are x
2
and 4x, the terms on the RHS are 10 and y
2

Variable - a letter or a symbol used to represent an unknown quantity or number,
e.g. x, y, z, etc.

2

Adding and Subtracting algebraic terms

To simplify algebraic expressions, we combine "like terms.

Examples:

1) 3x + 4y + 8x - 9y - 7

To simplify this expression, we collect the like terms together

=3x + 8x + 4y - 9y - 7

=11x - 5y - 7

2) 9a
2
+ 9ab + 2b
2
- 3b - 4ba +2a
2

Again, we collect like terms together and get:

=9a
2
+ 2a
2
+ 9ab - 4ba + 2b
2
- 3b

=11a
2
+ 5ab + 2b
2
- 3b

Exercise 1

Simplify where possible. Answers are at the end of this pack.
1. y - 8 + 2y + 12
2. 4x
2
+ 7y
2
- 8xy - x
2
+ 2xy
3. 5bc - 12ac
4. 3v
2
w -
2
1
wv
2

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~
z
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3

Multiplying and Dividing algebraic expressions

The multiplication sign (x) sign is not usually used when using letters or symbols.
For example, 3y means `3 times y, pq means `p times q and r
2
(r squared) means
`r times r.

Examples:

1) 3p x 5kp
=15kp
2

2) (3p)
2
x 8sr
=9p
2
x 8sr
=72p
2
sr

For division, some `cancelling out is sometimes required.

Examples:

1) 32p
2
y 4y
2
p

= 32 p
2
y
4 y
2
p
= 8 p
y

2) 20f
2
- 5fg
10f

=20f
2
- 5fg
10f 10f

=2f - g
2

Exercise 2:

1. 6k x 4r
2
k
2. -m x (-cm)
3. 5e x (5b)
2

4. 16uv 8u
2
v
5. 3ds 39d
2
s
2

6. 25f
2
- 5d
5

_|.- .- r|e -~e ~-.
;| ;| +;|
z

_|.- .- r|e -~e ~-.
s- u|r.|q rcger|e ~|| r|e :ue- rc ger
,z ~:J u|r.|q ~|| r|e |erre- rc ger
z
-
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rc c~q cur r|e c~:ce||.:g
_|.- .- r|e -~e ~- . z q
- q q
z - s. _:e cl r|e - ~r r|e crrc c~:ce|- c:e cl r|e -
c: r|e rc, ~:J r|e q c: r|e rc c~:ce|- cur c:e cl r|e q- c:
r|e crrc.
_|.- c~: e e-..rre: ~- z l~cr.c:-

4

Expanding Brackets

We can simplify algebraic expressions by expanding brackets. Each term inside the
bracket is multiplied, in turn, by the term outside the bracket.

Examples:

1) 3(7x - 5) = 21x - 15

2) 4p(2r + 6p) = 8pr + 24p
2

When we have two sets of brackets, we just multiply each term in the first bracket
by each term, in turn, in the second bracket.

3) (x +3)(x+5) =

x
2

+3x

+ 5x

+15

We end up with:
x
2
+ 3x + 5x + 15

Now all that remains to be done is to collect the `like terms and simplify. The like
terms are the 3x and the 5x which add up to give 8x. The final answer is:
(x +3)(x+5) = x
2
+ 8x + 15

4) (y + 2)(y - 3) =

y
2
+ 2y - 3y - 6 =

y
2
- y - 6

5) (p - 4)(p - 7) =

p
2
- 4p - 7p + 28 =

p
2
- 11p + 28

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-z s ~:J - z-
z

e -r~r q u|r.|q.:g r|e .: r|e +
-r
~c|er q r|e .: r|e z
:J

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z

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-r
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:J
~c|er
|er, u|r.|q r|e .: r|e +
-r
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l.:~| ~:-.e .- q
z
-q-
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rcger|e, r|e ~:-.e .- ~ c-.r..e :ue. _c||ecr.:g |.|e
re- rcger|e, -- ~:J -, g..e- u- -++

5

Exercise 3:

1) 3(4x - 2y)
2) 3x(2x + 6y)
3) 2y(y - 8xy)
4) (3x+4)(x+3)
5) (x+2)(x - 9)
6) (x-2)(2x - 1)

6

Factorising

This is the opposite procedure to expanding brackets. The algebraic expressions are
written as a product of factors. We will look at finding common factors and
quadratic factors.

Examples:

1) 3ab
2
+ 12ab

We examine both terms and choose the common factors. Both terms contain
numbers from the 3 times table (3 and 12) and both contain a and b. So, the
common factor that is `pulled out is 3ab.

If 3ab is `taken out from the first term (3ab
2
), we are left with b. Similarly, when
3ab is taken out from the second term (12ab) we are just left with 4. So, the final
answer is:
3ab
2
+ 12ab = 3ab (b + 4)

2) 3x
2
- 2x

We examine both terms and find that the only common factor is x and so we get:
3x
2
- 2x = x(3x - 2)

Exercise 4:

1) 5f
2
g - fg
2

2) 30x - 27y
3) 12x
2
+ 24xy - 18y
2

4) 12x
2
y + 24x
2
y
2
-18xy
2

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g..e- u- ~
z
~:J ~ r.e- - g..e- +z~

~ , + -` ~
z
+ +z ~ e |~.e e:JeJ u ..r| r|e c.g.:~| ee--.c: -c r|e
l~crc.-~r.c: u-r |~.e ee: ccecr.

7

Now we will take a look at quadratic factors. We start off with a quadratic
expression, which takes the form ax
2
+ bx + c. The factors will take the form
(x+m)(x+n), where a, b, c, m and n just represent numbers.

Examples:

1) x
2
+ 5x + 6 =
(x )(x )

The next step is to find a pair of numbers which will multiply together to give us
6 (the last term) and which will add up to give us 5 (see middle term). The two
numbers that satisfy both of the above conditions are 2 and 3. So we end up
with:
(x + 2)(x + 3)

If these two brackets are multiplied out as outlined in the Expanding Brackets
section, we will end up with the quadratic expression we started off with.

2) x
2
- 5x + 6 =

Notice this time that the middle term is negative. We are looking for two
numbers which multiply together to give us 6 and add to give us -5 (negative 5).
This time the numbers required are -2 and -3. Remember that two negative
numbers multiply to give a positive answer. So we end up with:
(x - 2)(x - 3)

3) r
2
- 3r - 4 = (r + 1)(r - 4)

This time we choose the numbers 1 and -4 as they multiply to give -4 and add to
give -3. Remember that when we multiply one positive and one negative number
the answer will be negative.

Exercise 5:

1) x
2
+ 7x + 12
2) y
2
- 8y + 12
3) y
2
+ 2y - 63
4) m
2
- 9m - 36
.-r .e |cc| ~r r|e
z
~ .e |:c. r|~r u|r.|.eJ q .r-e|l ..||
g..e u-
z
-c .e ur ~: .: e~c| ~c|er, ~- -|c.:

8

Solving linear equations

An equation is linear when you just have one simple variable like x or y and nothing
complicated like powers or roots. These equations are very easy to solve - all you
have to do is to keep the variable on one side of the equation and the numbers on
the other side of the equation. This is more easily illustrated by working through
examples.

Examples:

1) x + 6 = 4

x + 6 - 6 = 4 - 6
x = -2

The final solution is x = -2. We can check if the answer is correct by substituting
this solution into the original equation. -2 + 6 = 4, the answer has been worked out
correctly.

1) 2x - 5 = 15

2x - 5 + 5 = 15 + 5
2x = 20
2x = 20
2 2
x = 10

Checking the answer: 2x10 - 5 = 15, the answer is correct.

If we have a variable on both sides of the equation, we carry out the same
procedure as we did above.

3) 8y - 3 = 3y + 1

We examine the variables and find that we have an 8y on the LHS and a 3y on the
RHS. We choose the one with the smaller coefficient, i.e. 3y and take this away
from both sides of the equation.
8y - 3y - 3 = 3y - 3y + 1
5y - 3 = 1

We now have a linear equation which is much easier to solve. To get rid of -3 from
the LHS we add 3 to both sides of the equation.
5y -3 + 3 = 1 + 3
5y = 4

Now we divide both sides by 5 and are left with:
y =
5
4

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9

Exercise 6:

1) y - 6 = 11
2) x - 6 = -1
3) 3x + 1 = 16
4) 2x - 3 = 1
5) 7p - 3 = 3p + 8
6) 4 + 7x = x + 5

10

Solving Quadratic Equations

Once you can factorise quadratic expressions, solving quadratic equations becomes
very simple. A quadratic equation takes the form ax
2
+ bx + c = 0.

Sometimes it is not possible to factorise a quadratic equation and so it cannot be
solved. In this case one has to use the quadratic formula. Solving quadratics using
the formula has not been covered in this pack.

To solve a quadratic equation, we start off by factorising.

Examples:

1) x
2
+ 5x + 6 = 0
(x + 2)(x + 3) = 0

We have (x + 2) times (x + 3) giving an answer of 0. This means that either
(x + 2) equals to 0 or (x + 3) equals to 0 or both equal to 0. So we have:

x + 2 = 0 or x + 3 = 0
These linear equations are easy to solve. The final answer is:
x = -2 or x = -3

2) x
2
+ x - 12 = 0
(x - 3)(x + 4) = 0

x - 3 = 0 or x + 4 = 0
So x = 3 or x = -4

Exercise 7

1) y
2
+ 9y + 20 = 0
2) m
2
+ 8m + 12 = 0
3) x
2
+ 12x - 13 = 0
4) f
2
- 6f + 9 = 0

11

Changing the subject of the formula (transposing a formula)

Suppose we have a formula t = ay - p. The subject of this formula is t. If we want
to change the subject of the formula to y, we transpose the formula as shown
below.

ay - p = t

ay - p + p = t + p

ay = t + p

ay = t + p
a a

y = t + p
a

More Examples:

7) Make n the subject of the formula
m(m + n) = v
2

m
2
+ mn = v
2

m
2
- m
2
+ mn = v - m
2

mn = v
2
- m
2

mn = v
2
- m
2

m m

n = v
2
- m
2

m

Make x the subject of the formula
2)
y
x
= h

x = yh

3)
x
m
= t

m = tx

t
m
= x

x =
t
m

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2
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c: r|e |elr |~:J -.Je
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Je:c.:~rc cl r|e l~cr.c:
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-uecr cl r|e lcu|~

12

Exercise 8:

Make x the subject of the formula
1) x + m = 8
2) 2x - y = t
3) m(x + m) = n
2

4)
t
x
= am
5)
a
x
= (p - 6)
6)
b
a
2
=
x
c

13

Answers to Exercises:

Exercise 1:
1) 3y + 4
2) 3x
2
+ 7y
2
- 6xy
3) 5bc - 12ac
4)
2
5
v
2
w or
2
5
w v
2

Exercise 2:
1)
24k
2
r
2
or 24(kr)
2
2) cm
2

3) 125eb
2

4)
u
2

5)
ds 13
1

6) 5f
2
- d

Exercise 3:
1) 12x - 6y
2) 6x
2
+ 18xy
3) 2y
2
- 16xy
2

4) 3x
2
+13x +12
5) x
2
- 7x - 18
6) 2x
2
-5x + 2

Exercise 4:
1) fg(5f - g)
2) 3(10x - 9y)
3) 6(2x
2
+ 4xy - 3y
2
)
4) 6xy(2x + 4xy - 3y)

Exercise 5:
1) (x + 3)(x + 4)
2) (y - 6)(y - 2)
3) (y - 7)(y + 9)
4) (m - 12)(m + 3)

Exercise 6:
1) y = 17
2) x = 5
3) x = 5
4) x = 2
5) p =
4
11
or 2
4
3

6) x =
6
1

Exercise 7:
1) (y+5)(y+4)=0
So y=-5 or -4
2) (m+6)(m+2)=0
So m=-6 or -2
3) (x-1)(x+13)=0
So x=1 or -13
4) (f-3)(f-3)=0
So f=3

Exercise 8:
1) x = 8 - m
2) x =
2
y t +

3) x = n
2
- m
2

m
4) x = amt
5) x = a(p - 6)
6) x =
a
bc 2

14

References:

MATHCENTRE - an excellent website with self-study mathematics support materials
http://www.mathcentre.ac.uk/

INTRODUCTION TO ALGEBRA
www.mathleague.com/help/algebra/algebra.htm

ALGEBRA HELP
www.algebrahelp.com/lessons

INTERACTIVE ALGEBRA
www.mathsnet.net/algebra

S-COOL - aimed at school students, section on A level and AS level work may be
more relevant
www.s-cool.co.uk

PURPLEMATH - AN ALGEBRA RESOURCE
http://www.purplemath.com/modules/

Algebra Refresher Pack

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Shazia Ahmed Algebra Refresher Pack

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