ALGEBRA

Eddie G. Santillan, Jr.

Basic Laws of Natural Numbers
Let a, b, and c be any real numbers
1. Law of closure for addition: a + b
2. Commutative law for addition: a + b = b + a
3. Associative law for addition:
a + (b + c) = (a + b) + c
4. Law of closure for multiplication: a x b
5. Commutative law for multiplication: a*b = b*a
6. Associative law for multiplication: a*(b*c) = (a*b)*c
7. Distributive law: a(b + c) = ab + ac
Basic Laws of Equality
Let a, b, and c be any real numbers
1. Reflexive property: a = a
2. Symmetric property: If a = b, then b = a.
3. Transitive property: If a = b and b = c, then a = c.
4. If a = b and c = d, then a + c = b + d.
5. If a = b and c = d, then a*c = b*d.
Board Exam Question 1:
Solve for x: 37x+1 = 6561.
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4

Ans.: A.
Board Exam Question 2(ECE,Apr1991):
Solve for a from the ff. equations:
(am)(an) = 100,000 ; amn = 100,000 ; and an/am = 10.
a. 15.85
b. 10
c. 12
d. 12.56

Ans.: A
Board Exam Question 3 (ECE,Apr1993):
Find x from the ff. equations:
27x=9y 81y3-x = 243.
a. 2.5
b. 2
c. 1
d. 1.5

Ans.: C
Board Exam Question 4:
Solve for x: log 6 + x log 4 = log 4 + log (32 + 4x).
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4

Ans.: C
Factorization
Factorization is process of breaking down a long
expression into a shorter expression (factors).
Example: 2x2 6x + 4 = 2(x2 3x + 2) = 2(x-2)(x-1)
Division of Polynomials
METHODS OF SOLVING:
1. Long division
2. Synthetic division

Example: Divide (x4 10x2 9x 20) by (x-4).

Answer: (x3 + 4x2 + 6x + 15) r. 40/(x 4)

REMAINDER THEOREM
If a polynomial f(x) is divided by (x-r) until a remainder
is constant is obtained, the remainder is f(r).

Example:
Find the remainder when x4 10x2 9x 20 is
divided by x-4.

Solution:
f(x) = x4 10x2 9x 20
x-r = x-4
Remainder = f(4) = 44 10(4)2 9(4) 20 = 40
Board Exam Question 5(ECE,Apr1999):
Given: f(x)=(x+3)(x-4)+4 when divided by (x-k), the
remainder is k. Find k.
a. 2
b. 3
c. 4
d. -3

Ans.: C
Binomial Expansion
is in the form of (a+b)n and determining the rth term,

Example:
Find the 3rd term in the expansion of (x2+y)5.

Solution:
3rd term = 5! / {(5-3+1)!(3-1)!} (x2)5-3+1(y)3-1
3rd term = 10x6y2
Board Exam Question 6(ECE,Apr1993):
Find the constant term in the expansion:

a. 3003
b. 5005
c. 6435
d. 7365

Ans.: B
Sum of Coefficient of Variables
To get the sum of the coefficients in the expansion of
(ax + bx + )n, substitute 1 to each of the variables x, y,
..
Examples:
1. Find the sum of the coefficient of the variables in the
expansion of (2x+3y-z)8.
Solution:
Sum = [2(1)+3(1)-1]8 = 65,536

2. Find the sum of the coefficient of the variables in the

expansion of (3x-5)6.
Solution:
Sum = [3(1)-5]6 - (5)6 = -15,561
Board Exam Question 7:
What is the sum of the coefficients of the expression of
(2x-1)20?
a. 1
b. 0
c. 215
d. 225

Ans. B
VARIATION
Variation is a mathematical function that relates the
values of one variable to those of other variables.
1. Direct Variation
If x is directly proportional to y, then
x y or x = ky
2. Inverse Variation
If x is inversely proportional to y, then
x 1/y or x = k/y
3. Joint Variation
If x is directly proportional to y and inversely proportional
to the square of z, then
x y/z2 or x = k(y/z2)
Board Exam Question 8:
Given that w varies directly as the product of x and y and
inversely as the square of z and that w = 4 when x = 2, y =
6, and z = 3. What is the value of w when x = 1, y = 4, and z
= 2?
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4

Ans. C. 3
RATIO AND PROPORTION

Ratio of two numbers a and b can be written as:

a to b, a : b, or a/b
where a is called the antecedent and b is called the
consequent.

Proportion is a statement of equality between two

ratios.
In the following proportion:
a : b = c : d or a/b = c/d
where b and c are the means.
a and d are the extremes.
d is the fourth proportion to a, b, and c.
RATIO AND PROPORTION
Mean Proportional
The mean proportional (x) to two terms a and b is
a/x = x/b
x2 = ab
where x is the mean proportional.
Properties of Proportion
1. Proportion by Inversion: If a/b = c/d, then b/a = d/c.

2. Proportion by Alteration: If a/b = c/d, then a/c = b/d.

3. Proportion by Composition: If a/b = c/d, then (a + b)/b = (c
+ d)/d.
4. Proportion by Division: If a/b = c/d, then (a b)/b = (c
d)/d.
5. Proportion by Composition and Division: If a/b = c/d, then
(a + b)/(a b) = (c + d)/(c d).
Board Exam Question 9:
If (x + 3) : 10 = (3x 2) : 8, find (2x 1).
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4

Ans: C
Board Exam Question 10:
If 1/a : 1/b : 1/c = 2 : 3 : 4, find (a + b + c) : (b + c).
a. 13:7
b. 15:6
c. 10:3
d. 7:9

Ans. : A
Properties of Roots
If the roots of the quadratic equation Ax2+Bx+C=0 are
x1 and x2, then;
Sum of roots,
x1 + x2= -B/A
Product of roots,
x1* x2= C/A
Board Exam Question 11:
What is the sum of the following finite sequence of terms:
18, 25, 32, 39, ,67?
a. 234
b. 181
c. 213
d. 340

Ans. D. 340
Board Exam Question 12:
Solve for x if x + 3x + 5x + 7x ++ 49x = 625?
a. 0.25
b. 0.5
c. 1
d. 1.25

Ans. C
Board Exam Question 13:
The geometric mean and the harmonic mean of two
numbers are 12 and 36/5, respectively. What are the two
numbers?
a. 36 and 4
b. 72 and 8
c. 36 and 8
d. 72 and 4

Ans. A
Board Exam Question 14:
A besieged fortress is held by 5700 men who have
provisions for 66 days. If the garrison loses 20 men each day,
for how many days can the provision hold out?
a. 60
b. 72
c. 76
d. 82

Ans. A
Board Exam Question 15:
In the complex number 3+4i, the absolute value is
a. 10
b. 7.211
c. 5
d. 5.689

Ans. C. 5
Board Exam Question 16:
Expand (2 + 9)3.
a. 9 + 46i
b. 46 - 9i
c. -46 - 9i
d. -46 + 9i

Ans. C
Systems of Linear Equations
System of equations a set of equations that
involve the same variables.
System of linear equations a system of equations
in which each equation is linear.
Substitution Method 3 x 4(1 2 x ) 14
1.Solve for one variable. 3 x 4 8 x 14
2. Substitute. 5 x 4 14
3. Back Substitute. 5 x 10
x 2
Find all solutions of the
system
Back substitute : x 2
2x + y = 1
int o the equation y 1 2 x
3x + 4y = 14
Solve for one variable. y 1 2( 2) 5
y = 1 2x Thus x 2 and y 5
so the so ln is ( 2,5).
Elimination Method
Adjust the coefficients. Add the equations to
Add the equations. eliminate y
Back substitute. 3x + 2y = 14
x - 2y = 2
4x = 16
Find all solutions of the
system x = 4
3x + 2y = 14 Back substitute
x - 2y = 2 x 2y = 2
4 - 2y = 2
y = 1
Soln set ( 4, 1 )
Graphical Method
1. Graph each equation. 2. The system has no
2. Find the intersection solution. ( Lines are
points. parallel inconsistent)
3. The system has infinitely
many solutions ( Lines
Number of solutions of a coincide dependent)
Linear System in Two
Variables
1. The system has exactly
one solution. (Lines
coincide consistent)
Guidelines for Modeling with
Equations
Identify the variable.
Translate from words to algebra.
Set up the model.
Solve the equation and check your answer.
Mixture Problems
Many real-world problems involve mixing different
types of substances.
This type of problem can be solved by taking into
account the amount of species in each solution that
you are mixing.
Examples:
1. A manufacturer of soft drinks advertises its orange
soda as naturally flavored juice although it
contains only 5% orange juice. A new federal
regulation stipulates that to be called natural, a
drink must contain at least 10% fruit juice. How
much pure orange juice must this manufacturer
add to 900 gal of orange soda to conform to the
new regulation?
Let x = the amount ( in gallons ) of pure orange juice
to be added

5% 100% 10%
orange + orange juice

900 gallons x 900 + x

900(0.05) x(1) (900 + x)(0.1)
45 gallons + x gallons = (900 + x )(0.1) gallons
45 + x = 90 + 0.1x
0.9x = 45
x = 45/0.9
x = 50 gallons
2. Ten liters of 25% salt solution and 15 liters of 35%
salt solution are poured into a drum originally
containing 30 liters of 10% salt solution. What is
the percent concentration of salt in the mixture?

10 L 15 L 30L 55 L
25% 35% 10% x%

0.25(10) 0.35(15) 0.10(30) x(55)

x 19.55%
WORK PROBLEMS
If a man can finish a job in X days, then
in one day he can only finish 1/X of the job.
If both X and Y are the number of days that each
man can work alone, then when they work
together they can finish it in t days such that

1 1 1

X Y t
Examples:
1. A 400 mm pipe can fill the tank alone in 5 hrs
and another 600 mm pipe can fill the tank alone
in 4 hours. A drain pipe 300 mm can empty the
tank in 20 hours. With all the 3 pipes open, how
long will it take to fill the tank?

1 1 1 1

5 4 20 t
t 2.5hours
2. Peter can paint a fence 50% faster than Dennis
and 20% faster than Kian, and together they can
paint a given fence in 4 hours. How long will it
take Peter to paint the same fence if he had to
work alone?

Let P = no. of hours, Peter can paint the house

D = no. of hours, Dennis can paint the house
K = no. of hours, Kian can paint the house
 1 1 1 1

P D K 4

1 1 1 1
but : 1.5 ;
P D
D 1.5 P
1 1 1 1
1.2 ;
P
K K 1.2 P
1 1 1 1

P 1.5P 1.2 P 4
P 10 hours
Digit Problems
If u = units digit ; t = tens digits ; and h = hundreds
digits then
[100h + 10t + u] is the number.
The reversed number would be
[100u + 10t + h]
Examples:
1. The difference of the squares of the digits of a
two-digit positive number is 27. If the digits are
reversed in order and the resulting number
subtracted from the original number, the difference
is also 27. What is the original number?
Let ab be the number
(10a + b)
a2 - b2 = 27 (condition 1)
ab-ba=27 (condition 2)
(3 + b)2 b2 = 27
9 + 6b + b2 b2 = 27
6b = 18
b=3
Therefore: a = 6

(10a + b) (10b + a ) = 27 The number is 63

9a 9b = 27
a-b = 3
a=3+b
2. Find the fraction such that if 2 is subtracted from
its terms it becomes , but if 4 is added to its
terms it becomes .
x
Let be the fraction
y

x2 1

y2 4
4x 8 y 2
y 4 x 6 eq.1
x4 1

y4 2
2x 8 y 4
y 2 x 4 eq.2

equate 1 and 2 : y 14
4x 6 2x 4 5
Thus, the fraction is .
2 x 10 14
x5
Age Problems
Age problems are simply number-relation problems
that must be solved meticulously by giving
emphasis to the tenses.
Examples:
1. Six years ago, Nida was five times as old as Rina.
In five years, Nida will be three times as old as Rina.
What is the present age of Rina?
Past Present Future
Nida y-6 y y+5
Rina x6 x x+5

y6=5(x6) y + 5 = 3( x + 5 )
y = 5x 30 + 6 y = 3x + 15 5
y = 5x - 24 y = 3x + 10
3x + 10 = 5x 24
2x = 34
x = 17 years old
2. Patrick is now 18 years old and his brother, James
is 14 years old. How many years ago was Patrick
twice as old as James?
PAST PRESENT
Patrick 18-x 18
James 14-x 14
18 x 2(14 x)
18 x 28 2 x
x 10 years ago
Rate or Motion Problems
Unless otherwise stated, motion problems in
algebra deals with constant rate.
distance = (rate)(time)
d = rt
Examples:
1. A boat travels downstream in 2/3 of the time as it
goes going upstream. If the velocity of the rivers
current is 8 kph, determine the velocity of the
boat in still water.

Let x velocity of the boat in still water

s1 dis tan ce traveled upstream
s2 dis tan ce traveled downstream
 s1 s2
2
( x 8)t ( x 8) t
3
(3 x 24)t (2 x 16)t
x 40kph
2. A jogger starts a course at a steady rate of 8 kph.
Five minutes later, a second jogger starts the
same course at 10 kph. How long will it take the
second jogger to catch up with the first jogger?
Let: v1 = velocity of the first jogger
= 8 kph
= 8 km / 60 min
v2 = velocity of the second jogger
= 10 kph
= 10 km/60 min
 s1 s2
8 10
t1 (t1 5)
60 60
t1 25 min
t 2 20 min
Clock Problems
In clock problems , it is important to know how the
movement of one hand is related to the movement
of the other hand.
HH = MH/12 where MH is in number of minutes
HH = SH/720 where SH is in number of seconds
Examples:
1. What time after 3 oclock will the hands of the
clock be together for the first time?

x X = 15 + x/12
X = 16.36 minutes

x/12

The time is 3:16.36

2. In how many minutes after 7 oclock will the
hands of the clock extend in opposite direction for
the first time?
x
x 5
12
x 5.454 min
The end. . .

for now ! ! !