Module PMR

CHAPTER 4 : ALGEBRAIC FORMULAE

1. A variable is a quantity where its value is not fixed.

2. A constant is a quantity where its value is fixed.
3. An algebraic formula is an equation that relates several variables with
constants.
4. The subject of an algebraic formula is a variable expressed as a term in
terms of other variables.
5. An algebraic formula can be rearranged to let another variable to be the
subject of the formula. The process involves:
(a) change the operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division;
(b) change roots and square roots
(c) combined operations and determination of roots and power.

A. VARIABLES AND CONSTANTS.

State whether each of the following quantities is a variable or a constant.
Example: Exercise:
The number of sides of a pentagon. 1) The age of your parents.
Constant.

2) The number of colours of the rainbow. 3) The daily sales of PTA Stationaries.

State the possible values for each of the following variables.

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Example: Exercise:
The mass (m) of a watermelon, in 4) The volume of food (V) consume by
kg. your friends, everyday, in g.
2.5 kg

5) The number of students who 6) The water charges (q) per month of a
scored A’s in Mathematics in school, in RM.
the PMR.

B. FORMULAE
Write formulae based on statements and situations.

An iron pipe measures 95 cm long while a PVC pipe is 7.5 m long. Write a formula
for the total length L, in m, of b iron pipes and p PVC pipes.

Errors Correct Steps

L = 95b + 7.5p L = 0.95b + 7.5p

Unit in m
Units are in m
unit is in cm
Incorrect because unit is in m
Correct because

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Example: Exercise:
The entrance fees to a museum are 1) Saiful has RMp. After spending RM(q
RM4 for an adult and RM3 for a child. + 2) per day for a week, the remainder
If, on a certain day, p adults and q is RM18. Find a formula for p.
children visited the museum, write a
formula for the total collection of that
day.
Solution:
Let A = Total collection (in RM)
A = (Number of adults × 4) +
(Number of children × 3)
A = 4p + 3q

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Example: 4)
WriteSyafik
2) a formula relating
is b years old.mHis
andmother
n Write a formula
3) The price ofrelating m and
a bicycle n basedWrite
is RM500. on
basedis on thehis
twice table below.
sister’s age. If Syafik the table downbelow.
a formula for the new price, N, if
M is 5 1 years2 younger 3 than 4 his 5 m the1price is2increased 3 by r%.4 5
sister, write Values
a of m are
formula forsubstituted
the sum here
N 3 5 7 9 11 n 3 6 9 12 15
(S) of their ages.
Solution: Solution:
From the table:
m = 1 => n = 2(1) + 1 = 3
m = 2 => n = 2(2) + 1 = 3
m = 3 => n = 2(3) + 1 = 3
‫׃‬ ‫׃‬ ‫׃‬
‫׃‬ ‫׃‬ ‫׃‬
Hence; n = 2m + 1

5) 6)
Write a formula relating m and n Write a formula relating m and n based on
based on the table below. the table below.
m -1 0 1 2 3 M 0 1 2 3 4
n -3 -2 -1 0 1 n -5 -3 -1 1 3
Solution: Solution:

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C. Change the subject

2n
1) Given that 3m – = 1, express m in terms of n.
3

Common Errors
Error Correct Steps
2n 2n
3m – =1 3m – =1
3 3
3m – 2n = 3 9m – 2n = 3
3m = 3 + 2n 9m = 3 + 2n
3 + 2n 3 + 2n
m= m=
3 9

Incorrect because 3m is not multiplied

by 3

1 1 1
2) Given + = , express u in terms of v
u v 5

Common Error
Errors Correct Steps
1 1 1 1 1 1
+ = + =
u v 5 u v 5
u+v=5 v+u 1
=
u=5–v uv 5
5v + 5u = uv
Incorrect because the concept of LCM
is not applied uv – 5u = 5v
u(v – 5) = 5v
5v
u=
v−5

3) Given that a2 – b2 = 9c2, express a in terms of b and c.

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Common Error
Error Correct Steps
a2 – b2 = 9c2 a2 – b2 = 9c2
a2 = 9c2+ b2 a2 = 9c2+ b2
a = 3c + b a = 9c 2 + b 2

Incorrect because
√(9c2+ b2) ≠ √9c2 + √ b2

4) Given that 2 h + k = 3m, express h in terms of k and m.

Error Correct Steps

2 h + k = 3m 2 h + k = 3m
2(h + k) = (3m)2 [2 h + k ]2 = [3m]2
(3m) 2 4(h + k) = 9m2
(h + k) =
2
9m 2
2 (h + k) =
(3m) 4
h= −k
2
9m 2
h= −k
2 should be squared 4
Incorrect because

Exercise: b
2) Given a = , express b in terms of
1) Express a in terms of w, if b+c

2 − 3a a and c
w=
a

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v−w m
3) Given p = , express w in 4) Given 2k – = m, express m in terms
w 2n
terms of p and v of k and n.

5) Given 3(x – z) = 4xy, express x 1 1 1

6) Given − = , express u in terms of
in terms of y and z. f u v
f and v.

7) Given 5pq = qr – 2p, express p l

8) Given 2π = T, express g in terms
in terms of q and r. g
l
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of T and

8 10) Given 5 m − n = t, express n in

9) Given v = , express x in
x+2
terms of m and t.
terms of v.

D Finding the value of a variable.

Example: Exercise:
1 1) Given p = 3q + 5r, find the values of
Given that W = 3a – b , find
2 (a) p when q = 4 and r = 3
(a) W when a = 2 and b = 4, (b) q when p = 7 and r = 1
(b) b when a = 3 and W = 5. Solution:
Solution:
1
W = 3a – b
2
(a) Substitute a = 2 and b = 4 into
the formula
1
W = 3(2) – (4)
2
=6–2
=4
1
(b) 5 = 3(3) – b
2
1
b =9–5
2
b=4×2
=8
2) Given k = 2m – 3n2, find the 3) Given y = 2r – 3s + 6t, find the values
values of of
(a) k when m = 3 and n = -2 1
(b) m when k = -5 and n = 3 (a) y when r = 3, s = -2 and t =
2
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Solution: (b) t when y = 4, s = 3 and r = -1

Solution:

PMR past year questions

2003 2004
1). Given that 3h = 5k + 4, express k 2(p− 3)
= 5,
2). Given that express p in
k
in terms of h.
terms of k.

[2 marks]
[2 marks]
2005 2006
4y - 3 3n- nk
3). Given = 2 , express y in terms 4). Given F =
5
, express n in terms of
y+p
of p. F and k.

[2 marks] [2 marks]
2007 2008
5). Given that r2 + 7 = p, express r in 6). Given qr + s = p, express r in terms of
terms of p. p , q and s.

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[2 marks] [2 marks]

CHAPTER 4 : ALGEBRAIC FORMULAE

ANSWERS

A. Variable and Constant

1) Variable 2) Constant

3) Variable 4) 15cm3

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5) 20 students 6) RM300

B. Formulae
1) p = 7(q + 2) + 18 2) S = 4b + 15

3) N = 500 + 5r 4) n = 3m

5) n=m–2 6) n = 2m – 5

C. Change The Subject

1) 2 2) ac
a= b=
w+3 1− a

3) v 4) 4kn
w=
p +1 2n + 1
5) 3z 6) vf
x= u=
3− 4y v− f

7) qr 8) 4 2l
p= g 2
5q + 2 T

9) 8  2v 10) t2
x n  m
v 25

D Finding the value of a variable

1) 2)
a) P= 27 a) k=-6
b) q = 2/3 b) m=11

3) Y=15
5
T=
2

PMR past year questions

2003
1). 5k = 3h - 4 1
3h  4
k= 1
5

2004
2). 2p - 6 = 5k 1
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2p = 5k + 6 1
5k  6
p = 1
2

2005
3). 4y - 3 = 2y + 2p 1
2y = 2p + 3 1

2p 3 1
y =
2

2006
4). 5F = 3n - nk 1
n(3 - k) = 5F 1
5F
n = 1
3 k

2007
5). r 2 = p - 7 1
r = p7 1

2008
6). qr = p - s 1
ps
r= 1
q

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