C HAPTER

Introduction to algebra

4.1 Substitutions
Exercises 4.1
1

Given that a
2, b
3 and c
0, evaluate:

2
2
2
a a b c
b bc
Given that a
2 and b
3, evaluate:
a
1
a   
b
2

3a  2b

mk2  mk

a
2a
  2
3b
b

Given that m
2, k
1 and t
3, evaluate:

a mkt
b ktm
If y
2  3x, evaluate y when:
a x
3
b x
2

x
0

x
1

4.2 Addition of like terms

Exercises 4.2
1

Simplify:
2
2
a 2x  3x  5x  x
b 3ab  2a  ab  3b  a
2
2
2
2
c 5x y  2x  2xy  3x y  x  4xy
2 2
2
2
2
2
2 2
2
d 2a b  2a  3b  b  2a  a b  ab
e pq  p  q  3p  pq  2q  3pq

Simplify:
2
2
a 3x  5x  5x  4x
c 2x  3  7x  1  6x  2

b
d

5x2  3x  2x2  2x
pq  p  q  3p  2q  5pq

Chapter 4 Introduction to Algebra

29

4.3 Removal of brackets

Exercises 4.3
1

Express without brackets, then simplify:

a 3x  2  (1  2x)
b 3  (k  1)
d (x  3)  (3  x)
e (2m  3)  (m  7)
Express without brackets, then simplify:
a ab  (a  b)
b (p  q)  (p  q)

5a  (3  2a)

(ab  a)  (ab  a)  a

4.4 Multiplication and division of

terms
Exercises 4.4
1

Write down the following products in simplest form:

a 2a  4b
b xx
d xy  y  2
e 2x  ax
1
g 3a  2b  4ab
h 3xy  y  6x
Simplify:
a 8ab  4a
d 5(a  b)  (a  b)

b
e

5a2b  5b
12(x  y)  6(x  y)

3xx
3m  2km

3abc  2ac

4.5 The distributive law

Exercises 4.5
1

Multiply out so that the following are expressed without brackets:

a 2(3a  2b)
b 4(5  2a)
c 2x(3x  a)
d 3ab(a  2b)
e 5(1  2x)  x(3x  10)

Multiply out to express without brackets:

a (x  2)(x  3)
b (x  4)(x  3)
d (a  3)(p  q)
e (2  5b)(b  a)

Multiply out to express without brackets:

2
2
a (b  4)
b (k  2)
2
d (m  4)
e (3  x)(3  x)

30

CD Supplement to accompany Mathematics for Technicians

(3  x)(1  2x)
(a  3)(a  3)
(a  2)(a  2)
(2a  3b)2

4.6 HCF and LCM

Exercises 4.6
1

Write down the HCF of:

a 6ab and 3a
2
3
c 12ax and 8a bx

Write down, in factored form, the HCF of:

a a(b  c) and x(b  c)
c (p  q)(a  b) and q(a  b)

6ab and 9bc

2 3
3
2
12a b c and 18a bc
(a  b) (x  y) and p(a  b)
2
2
3
12k (x  y) and 16k (x  y)

Reduce the following fractions to lowest terms by dividing the numerator and denominator
by their HCF:
(m  t)(3k  y)
6ab
a(b  c)
a 
b 
c 
(3k  y)(a  b)
9bc
x(b  c)

Write down the LCM of each pair of terms in question 1.

Write down, in factored form, the LCM of each pair of expressions in question 2.

4.7 Algebraic fractions

Exercises 4.7
1

Simplify:
2
3
a 
b
2  
7ax
7ax2
Express as a single fraction:
3
2
a   
b
2a
a

a
b
  
ab
ab

1
1
  
R
3R

5
3
  2
x
x

Express as a single fraction:

1  2x
2  3x
a
  
4
6

3
t
  
m
3


973  
973

a
x
  
b
y

a
d

5k
2k
  
y
y

b
85

a
  7
b
a
a  
m
3
ab
  
ab
7

b
e

a1
1b
  
a
ab

2x
3y
  
5m
2x

17m
97a2b  
2
97a b
m
k
  
t
t
x
5  
y
m
x  
x

c
c
c

6a
10c
  
5c
18ab
2
13n k
2y  
2
6x y
m
3xy
  
x
m

m
  m
t

xy
xy
  
k
2m
Chapter 4 Introduction to Algebra

31

Express as single fractions:

k
a k  
m

2  3m
3  
m

1x
x  
x1

1  k

k
1
  
m
k

Complex fractions
Exercises 4.7 (continued)
10 Express as single fractions in simplest form:
a

1

k


1
1  k

a
b
  
b
a


1

ab

4.8 Algebraic fractions of the form

Exercises 4.8
1

Simplify:
8  4n
a 3  
4
Express as single fractions:
n
1  2n
a   
3
5
Express as single fractions:
2C  1
C1
a   
4
2

10  15C
5  C  
5

12  6L
7  
3

2C
1C
  
3
2

1
7x  5
  
6
12

k5
k5
  
6
2

x  2y
2x  y
  
3
8

4.9 Two important points

Exercises 4.9
1

Simplify:
xy
a

xy

32

p q

qp

Write as a positive fraction in simplest form:

a2
a  
b
3

5R

R5

x3
 
x 2

If P
3  2n and Q
2  5n, express the following in terms of n:

a

3P  4Q

P  2Q

1
P
5

 3Q

2t  1
3t
If A
 and B
, express the following in terms of t:
3
2
1
1
a 6A  2B
b AB
c 2A  3B

CD Supplement to accompany Mathematics for Technicians

ab

c

4.10 Solving linear equations

Exercises 4.10
1

Solve:
a 5x
2x
c 3  2x
3
e 1  4x
2
g 3R
R4
i
2W  3  5W
1  W
k K  3
4K  3

d
f
h
j
l

Solve:
a 2(x  3)
5
c x
2(1  x)
e 3x  1
3(2x  1)
g 7
3(R  2)  2(1  3R)
i
2a  (a  2)
0
Solve:
3d
7d
a   2
3  
5
10
2
x
1
c 12  x
4  
3
1  7x
x3
e 
2  
3
2
2k
5k
g 1  
3  
3
6
x
3
1
i
3x  4
  2
2

2a  5a
1  2a
1L
1L
x  3
4x  2
2d  3
1  2d
5
3x  5
6x  3
1

4
3(2  x)
3x
1  (2  x)
3(1  W)
1  (W  2)
3(l  1)
3  (l  2)
R  2(1  2R)
4(R  1)

2
l
3

3  22a
52  4a

m  3
3m  1

b
b
  2
  1
3
2

22y
1  3y

3
2
1  

k
k

b
d
f
h

2  6l
1

Solve:
a

1
2  
5
x

1
2


x
3

Solve for the pronumeral:

1k
k2
a 

3
2
3
t
c 

4
t2
Solve:
m3
a 
0
2

b
d

(3t  1)

0
t3

2
3  2x
  1

3x
2x

2a  3
3a


4
3
2
4


k3
2  3k
c

2x  4

0
x4

Chapter 4 Introduction to Algebra

33

4.11 Solving more difficult linear

equations
Exercises 4.11
1

Solve:
C
3
5C
a 
  
3
4
2
2E  3
5E
c 1  

4
6

V1
1
1V

  
2
3
6
3T  5
3
3T  

4
4

Solve:
a
c

x1
3  
0
2
1W
1  
W
5

b
d

2E  5
E  
0
3
x
3x  18
2  

2
4

Solve:
3

(n  2)
n
3(2n  1)

6  
n
1n

2(3  x)

x

5


4  3( x  4)

4.12 Using linear equations to solve

practical problems
Exercises 4.12
1

The mass of one casting is 2.50 times the mass of another. If the total mass of the two
castings is 16.7 kg, find the mass of the lighter casting.

It is known that resistor R2 is 18.7  greater than resistor R1. The two resistors in series
have a resistance of R1  R2
56.3 . Find the value of R1 by setting up a single equation
containing R1.

A machine can produce article A in 12 minutes or article B in 16 minutes. If it is planned to

produce twice as many of A as B in a working week of 40 hours, how many of each will be
produced, assuming that the machine works non-stop?

4.13 Simultaneous linear equations

Exercises 4.13
1

a
b
c

34

Does (x
1, y
5) satisfy the equation y
2x  3?

Does (x
1, y
5) satisfy the equation y
3x  1?
Does (x
1, y
5) satisfy the equation y
7x  2?

CD Supplement to accompany Mathematics for Technicians

d
e
f

{ yy

2x3x  31
y
3x  1
Is (x
1, y
5) the solution to these simultaneous equations? {
y
7x  2
y
2x  3
Is (x
1, y
5) the solution to these simultaneous equations? {
y
7x  2
Is (x
1, y
5) the solution to these simultaneous equations?

4.14 The substitution method

Exercises 4.14
Use the substitution method to solve the following pairs of simultaneous equations:
1

2
E
3
2
E
3

4R  2

3  2R

1
W
2

 3F  4
0
1

W  3F  5
0

4.15 The elimination method

Exercises 4.15
1

Solve for the pronumerals, using the elimination method (giving answers as integers,
fractions or mixed numbers):
2a  3t
0
3I1  2I2
4
3E  8R
0
a

4a  7t
1

5I1  6I2
26

2E  4R
3

Solve for the pronumerals, using the elimination method (giving answers as integers,
fractions or mixed numbers):
a

{
{

4R1  13R2
4
3

3R1  4R2
6

22x  3y
3
3

2x  24y
1

Solve for the pronumerals, using the elimination method, giving all values as decimal
fractions:
a

5V1  19V2
3.5

2V1  7V2
8.2

7C1  2C2
7
9C1  5C2
13

4.16 Practical problems

Exercises 4.16
1

When a quantity of liquid is heated in an insulated container, it is known that its final
temperature (TC) is given by T
T0  kt, where T0C is the original temperature, t min is
the duration of heating and k is a constant. For a particular mass of a particular liquid, it is
Chapter 4 Introduction to Algebra

35

found that after heating for 3 min its temperature is 40C, and after heating for a total time
of 7 min its temperature is 50C.
a Form a pair of simultaneous equations and solve them to find the original temperature
of the liquid and the value of the constant k.
b Find the total heating time required to raise the temperature to 65C.
c Find the temperature of the liquid after heating it for a total time of 10 min.
2

In the tuned circuit shown, it is required that the ratio of

the inductances L1 : L2
2 : 3 and that the sum of the
inductances is 420 H.

L1

Form two equations in L1 and L2 and solve them

simultaneously to evaluate L1 and L2.
L2

The resistance of a wire at temperature tC is given by R1
R0(1 

t), where R0 is the
resistance at 0C and
is the temperature coefficient of resistance of the material. The
resistance at 20.0C is 26.82  and the resistance at 32.0C is 28.10 .
a Evaluate
and R0.
b Hence find the inferred zero-resistance temperature of the material (the temperature at
which the resistance would be zero on the assumption that this linear relationship
continued to hold down to this low temperature).
I1

I2

E1

R1

E2

36

R2

R3

E1

E2

Equations obtained by applying Kirchhoffs laws to this

circuit are:
I1R1  (I1  I2)R2
2E1  E2
I1R1  I2R3
E1  2E2
a Given that R1
2 , R2
3 , R3
4 ,
I1
4 A and I2
2 A, evaluate E1 and E2.
b Given that R1
3 , R2
4 , R3
1 ,
E1
6 V and E2
9 V, evaluate I1 and I2 correct to
3 significant figures.

CD Supplement to accompany Mathematics for Technicians