8.

Algebra
Using letters for numbers
Algebra is a branch of mathematics in which symbols, usually
letters of the alphabet, represent numbers or members of a specified
set and are used to represent quantities so that we can use letters for
the arithmetical operations such as +, , , and the power.
What do you do when you want to refer to a number that you
do not know? Suppose you wanted to refer to the number of buildings
in your town, but haven't counted them yet. You could say 'blank'
number of buildings, or perhaps '?' number of buildings.
In mathematics, letters are often used to represent numbers
that we do not know - so you could say 'x' number of buildings, or 'q'
number of buildings. These are called variables. Look at these
examples:
The triple of a number:

3n

The triple of a number minus five units:

3n 5

The following number to x:

x+1

The preceding number to y:

y1

An even number:

2a

An odd number:
2z 1

2z + 1 or

Exercise 1
Find the expression:
1. I start with x, double it and then subtract 6.
2. I start with x, add 4 and then square the result.
3. I start with x, take away 5, double the result and then divide by 3.
4. I start with x, multiply by 4 and then subtract t.
5. I start with x, add y and then double the result.
6. I start with a, double it and then add b.
7. I start with n, square it and then subtract n.
8. I start with x, add 2 and then square the result.

9. A brick weighs x kg. How much do 6 bricks weigh? How much do n

bricks weigh?
10. A man shares x euros between n children. How much does each
child receive?

Phrase

Expression

the sum of nine and eight

9+8

the sum of nine and a number x

9+x

Phrase

Expression

nine increased by a number x

9+x

fourteen decreased by a number p

14 - p

seven less than a number t

t-7

the product of 9 and a number n

9 n or 9n

thirty-two divided by a number y

32 y or

Phrase

Expression

five more than twice a number

2n + 5

the product of a number and 6

6n

seven divided by twice a number

7 2n or
three times a number decreased by 11

3n - 11

Previously we learned how to evaluate expressions,

both alone and in relation to real-world problems. We
can use some familiar situations to write and evaluate
our own variable expressions. The key to writing
variable expressions is analyzing the information you
have, identifying the information you need, and
recognizing the terms that indicate which mathematical
operation to use.
Lets imagine that Ralph is a baker who makes
number of loaves of bread each day.

If he uses 5 cups of flour for each loaf, the total amount of flour
he uses each day would be represented as
.

If he only sells half the loaves he makes, then he sells .

In 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, Ralph would make
, and
loaves of bread.
Now it's time for you to try a few on your own. Write variable
expressions for each real-world problem.

Example A
Karen bakes cookies every day. How many total cookies would she bake in
seven days?
Solution:

Example B
Eden caught fourteen fish and ate some.
Solution:

Example C
Jessica read a few books each week. How many did she read over four weeks?
Solution:
Here is the original problem once again.
Kelly and the other hikers are trying to divide up all of the things that they need
for their trip. The group wants the division of items to be equitable so that each
person carries the same amount. If there are seven hikers, how can they figure
this out? The group isn't sure how many items will need to be carried.
Is there a way to write a variable expression to figure this out?
We can write a variable expression to figure out how many items each person
will carry.
First, think about the variable. The unknown quantity is the number of items.
Let's call that .
There are seven people to carry these items.
We can divide the total number of items by 7.
Here is our answer.

Monomials.
A monomial is an algebraic expression consisting of only one
term, which has a known value (coefficient) multiplied by one or some
unknown values represented by letters with exponents that must be
constant and positive whole numbers (literal part). For example:

If the literal part of a monomial has only one letter, then the
degree is the exponent of the letter.
If the literal part of a monomial has more than one letter, then
the degree is the sum of the exponents of every letter. For example:
The degree of 2x3 is 3
The degree of 3x5y2 is 7
The degree of 7x3yz is 3 + 1 + 1 = 5.

Complete this table

Name the variables, coefficient, literal part and degree of the

following monomials:
a) xy5
b) 2x
c) 5x2y3
d) 3x4
e) 5xyz
e) 7x2yz5

Adding and subtracting monomials

The same rules apply to adding and subtracting monomials

that apply to integers. We also call this "combining" monomials.
We can only combine terms that are exactly alike!!!!
(In other words, the variables, if any, must be exactly the same. If
one term's variable has an exponent and the other does not, they
arent like terms.)
Examples of like terms are:
5x and -7x
-4p and 9p
-3y and -y
10 and -14
These are not like terms:
6x and -4y
2ab and 3cd
8x and -9x
To combine monomials, we must remember two important rules:
If the signs are the same, add and keep the sign.
If the signs are different, subtract and keep the sign of the larger
number.
Let's combine these terms:
5x-7x (remember the "-" sign is attached to the 7x making it a
negative)
The signs are different so we subtract the two numbers (7-5) and
keep the sign of the bigger number (the negative since 7 is larger
than 5). We then attach the "x".
So... the answer is... -2x

Let's look at a few more.

-4p+9p = 5p
We again subtracted the integers since we had different signs and
took the sign of the larger number.
-3y -y = -4y
If there is no integer before a variable, it is understood that there is
a "1" there. So this can be thought of as -3y -1y. We add the
integers since they have the same signs and keep the negative in
our answer.
10 - 14 = -4
Although there are no variables involved, these integers are like
terms. Since the signs are different we subtract and keep the sign
of the larger number.

Now let's look at some different problems...

-5x + 3x -8x -x
(Remember there
is a "1" in front of
the "x" making it
a "-1x".)

7x-8x+11x-6x

Following order of
operations, we must
solve left to right.
-5+3 is -2
-2 -8 is -10
-10 -1 is -11
Again, solve left to
right.

Now that we have

solved the integer
part of the solution
we now attach the x!
Answer: -11x

Answer: 4x

7 -8 is -1
-1 +11 is 10
10 -6 is 4
What if the problem has various terms in it?
3ab and -7ab is
-4ab

3ab -10x -7ab-2x

We can only combine

the terms that
areexactly alike!

-10x and -2x is

-12x

So we can combine the

"ab" terms and the "x"
terms.

Put the two terms

together for our
answer:
-4ab -12x
-11y and 4y is -7y
-c and -7c is -8c

-11y -c + 4y -7c

We can combine the

"y" terms and the "c"
terms.

Put the two terms

together for our
answer:
-7y -8c

Let's practice!!!
Solve each problem.

-5xyz +9xyz -8xyz -xyz

10a -15b +3b -9a -2b

-7y +11z -12y -9 +z +7

6x -13p -10x +13p -x

-4r -3s +12r -8r -2s +8s

Calculate the folowing operations:

3x + 5x x =

x + 6x 9x =

7x 15x + 2x = 4x 5x =

10x 20x 10x =

9a a =

6x 45x 3 =

41x 10x 10x =

6a

3a a a =
124b 2b =

2x 30x 7a =

3 5 + 2x =

75b

14m 12m 2m =
3y =

34t 12t 95t = t 4t t =

6y 2y

And now try these ones:

5x 7x + 2x =
7a + 2a =

x 10x 5x = 4q 6q + q 2q =

15k 10k 16k =

5x 6x x =

9x 7b + x =

4e 6e e =
6p 2p =

9h 8h + h =

3y + 3y 7y =
9as =

7b + 4b b b =

3a

b + 2b 6b =
d d 5d + 2d =

8m 9m 7m = 2as + 3as