Chapter 4- (algebra)- Math notes

A pronumeral is a letter used in place of a number BASIC PURPOSE ALGEBRA- Solve mathematical problems involving an unknown Patterns and Rules
No. of flowerbeds (x) No. of sleepers (y) 6 1 2 3 4 5 6

11

16

21

26

31

Rule: y= 5x + 1 If numbers in the first row are consecutive (1,2,3 etc.) look at the 2nd row find the difference between each number multiply the top number by that number and then add or subtract whatever is necessary to get to the number at the bottom. Substitution When a pronumeral is replaced by a number. Division shown as fraction multiplication sign not shown- this means multiplication 2m= 2 x m Grouping Symbols Grouping symbols include (parentheses, brackets, braces) 3 (a + 5) equal to 3 x (a + 5) Grouping symbols first evaluated. If substituting positive and negative numbers just remember the rules for directed numbers. Like terms terms which have the same pronumeral (example: 2e + 3e= 5e) Called simplifying an expression. Cannot add or subtract unlike terms. Left as they are. (answer must still be

written either way) Multiplying pronumerals Order doesn't matter Multiplication sign usually left out multiple of the same pronumerals will result in powers (example: 3e x 3e= 9e2 Pronumerals usually written alphabetical order (though it does not matter) Numbers in front of letters. Numbers first. Dividing pronumerals Rewrite as a fraction if not already done so Remember to simplify by cancelling- same pronumerals cancel out. Expanding expressions with grouping symbols This is expanding expressions with grouping symbols 3 x (2 + 1) in expansion is 3 x 2 + 3 x 1 Then you evaluate Factorising Factorising is the opposite of expanding. To factorise 1. Find HCF 2. Put that outside- add brackets and then evaluate how to get from there to there Algebraic fractions Addition and subtraction same as always except with pronumerals Multiplication and division same as always except simplifying with pronumerals as well. Indices/ index/ power In multiplication a number of pronumerals of same value multiplied together result in a power. B2 = B x B In multiplication when multiplying pronumerals with powers you must add the powers In division you must subtract the powers In addition and subtraction you cannot add or subtract pronumerals with different powers as they are not like terms.

Raising a power to another power You can tell if it is suggesting to raise a power to another power if it is in brackets and there is a power inside and outside the brackets. To raise a power to another power you must raise everything inside to that power. If there is another power inside that would multiply with the other power to give you the new power. Then you evaluate. SUMMARY A pronumeral is a letter that is used in place of a number Replacing a pronumeral with a number is called substitution When dividing pronumerals, the division sign is rarely used. Normally we rewrite the expression as a fraction and simplify it by cancelling. When multiplying pronumerals, leave out the x sign. The term 3y means 3 x y. Parentheses are grouping symbols. For example, 3 (x + 4) means 3 x (x + 4) or 3xX+3x4 When simplifying an expression, terms may be collected only if they are like. Expanding an expression involves removing grouping symbols. The distributive law fives the rule for expanding expressions. Factorising an expression means breaking it down into smaller factors,or putting grouping symbols back into the expression . When adding or subtracting algebraic fractions, you first must find the denominators. When multiplying algebraic fractions, multiply the numerators together and the denominators together. Try to simplify by cancelling the numerator and denominator by any common factors. When dividing algebraic fractions change the division sign to multiplication sign and write the following fraction as its reciprocal.