Basic Algebra

Basic operations

Algebra is that part of mathematics in which the relations and properties of numbers are investigated by

means of general symbols. For example, the area of a rectangle is found by multiplying the length by

the breadth; this is expressed algebraically as A = L  b, where A represents the area, L the length and b

the breadth.

The basic laws introduced in arithmetic are generalised in algebra.

Let a, b, c and d represent any four numbers. Then:

(i) a + (b + c) = (a + b) + c

(ii) a(bc) = (ab)c

(iii) a+b=b+a

(iv) ab = ba

(v) a(b + c) = ab + ac

ab a b
(vi)  
c c c

(vii) (a + b)(c + d) = ac + ad + bc + bd

Let a = 6, b = 8, c = 2 and d = 5 in each of the above, and check that the left hand side of each equation

equals the right hand side.

Q.1. Evaluate: 7ab - 2bc + abc when a = 1, b = 7 and c = 5

Replacing a, b and c with their numerical values gives:

7ab - 2bc + abc = 7  1  7 - 2  7  5 + 1  7  5 = 9 - 70 + 15 = -6

1 1
Q.2. Find the value of 4 p 2q r 3 , given that p = 2, q = and r = 1
2 2
Replacing p, q and r with their numerical values gives:
3
2  1  3  1 3 3 3
4 p 2q r 3 = 4  2     = 8  2  2     = 27
 2  2  2 2 2 2

Q.7. Find the sum of 8a, 7b, c, -2a, -5b and 6c

Each symbol must be dealt with individually.

For the ‘a’ terms: +8a - 2a = 2a For the ‘b’ terms: +7b - 5b = -2b

For the ‘c’ terms: +c + 6c = 7c

Thus 8a + 7b + c + (-2a) + (-5b) + 6c = 8a + 7b + c - 2a - 5b + 6c = 2a - 2b + 7c

Q.8. Find the sum of: 5a - 2b, 2a + c, 8b - 5d and b - a + 7d - 8c

The algebraic expressions may be tabulated as shown below, forming columns for the

a's, b's, c's and d's. Thus: +5a - 2b

+2a +c
+ 8b - 5d
- a + b - 8c + 7d

Adding gives: 6a + 7b - 7c - 2d

Q.5. Subtract 2x + 7y - 8z from x - 2y + 5z

x - 2y + 5z
2x + 7y - 8z

Subtracting gives: -x - 5y + 9z

(Note that +5z - - 8z = +5z + 8z = 9z)

An alternative method of subtracting algebraic expressions is to ‘change the signs

of the bottom line and add’. Hence: x - 2y + 5z

-2x - 7y + 8z

Adding gives: -x - 5y + 9z

Q.6. Multiply 2a + 7b by a + b

Each term in the first expression is multiplied by a, then each term in the first expression is multiplied
by b,

and the two results are added. The usual layout is shown below.

2a + 7b
a + b
───────
Multiplying by a  2a2 + 7ab
Multiplying by b  + 2ab + 7b2
Adding gives: 2a2 + 5ab + 7b2

Q.7. Multiply 7x - 2y2 + 8xy by 2x - 5y

7x - 2y2 + 8xy
2x - 5y
───────
Multiplying by 2x  6x2 - 8xy2 + 8x2y
Multiplying by -5y  - 20xy2 - 15xy + 10y7

Adding gives: 6x2 - 28xy2 + 8x2y - 15xy + 10y7

Q.8. Simplify: 2p  8pq

2p
2p  8pq mean . This can be reduced by cancelling as in arithmetic.
8pq

2p 2 p 1
Thus:  =
8 p q 8 p  q 4 q
Now try the following exercise

Exercise 1 Further problems on basic operations

1. Find the value of xy + 5yz - xyz, when x = 2, y = -2 and z = 8 [ -28 ]

2
2. Evaluate 7pq2r7 when p = , q = -2 and r = -1 [ -8 ]
3
7. Find the sum of 7a, -2a, -6a, 5a and 8a [ 8a ]

8. Add together 2a + 7b + 8c, -5a - 2b + c, 8a - 5b - 6c [ a - 8b - c ]

5. Add together 7d + 8e, -2e + f, 2d - 7f, 8d - e + 2f - 7e [ 9d - 2e ]

6. From 8x - 7y + 2z subtract 2x + 2y - 5z [ 2x - 5y + 7z ]
3 b b 1 5
7. Subtract a - + c from - 8a - 7c [ -5 a + b - 8c ]
2 3 2 2 6
8. Multiply 7x + 2y by x - y [ 3x 2  xy  2y 2 ]

9. Multiply 2a - 5b + c by 7a + 2b [ 6a 2  11ab  3ac  10b2  2bc

]
1
10. Simplify (i) 7a  9ab (ii) 8a2b  2a [(i) (ii) 2ab ]
3b

Laws of Indices

The laws of indices are:

m
am 1
(i) a  a = a
m n mn
(ii) n  a m  n m n mn
(iii) (a ) = a (iv) a  n a m
n
(v) a  n  (vi) a 0 =
a an
1

Q.9. Simplify: a7b2c  ab7c5

Grouping like terms gives: a7  a  b2  b7  c  c5

Using the first law of indices gives: a7+1  b2+7  c1+5 i.e. a8  b5  c6 = a8 b5 c6
1 1 1
2 2
Q.10. Simplify: a b c  a b c
2 6 2

Using the first law of indices,

1 1 1 1 1 1 2 5 3
2 2
 2
21 2 1
a2 b5
a b c a b c = a
2 6 2 2 6
b 2
c =a b c 3
or
c

a 3b 2c 4 1
Q.11. Simplify: and evaluate when a = 7, b = and c = -2
a b c 2 4

a3 b2 c4
Using the second law of indices,  a 31 = a2,  b 2 1 = b and 2  c 4  2 = c6
a b c
a 3b 2c 4
Thus = a2bc6
a b c 2

1 1 1
When a = 7, b = and c = -2, a2bc6 = (7)2   (-2)6 = (9)   (68) = 188
4 4 4

1 2
2 2 3
p qr
Q.12. Simplify: 1 1 1
and evaluate when p = 16, q = 9 and r = 8, taking positive roots only.
4 2 6
p q r

1 1 1 2 1 1 3 1
 2 
2 4 2 3 6 4 2 2
Using the second law of indices gives: p q r =p q r

When p = 16, q = 9 and r = 8,

1 3 1 1 3 1
p 4 q 2 r 2  16  4  9  2  4  2  4 16 93 4 = (2)(77)(2) = 108

3x 2 y3  2xy 2
Q.17. Simplify:
xy

ab a b
Algebraic expressions of the form can be split into 
c c c
3x 2 y3  2xy 2 3x 2 y3 2x y 2
Thus =  = 7 x2-1y7-1 + 2 x1-1y2-1 = 7xy2 + 2y
xy xy xy
(since x0 = 1, from the sixth law of indices)

x2y
Q.18. Simplify:
x y2  x y

The highest common factor (H.C.F.) of each of the three terms comprising the numerator and

denominator is xy. Dividing each term by xy gives:

x2y
x2y xy x
= =
xy xy
2
xy 2
xy y 1

xy xy

1
Q.15. Simplify: p  q 
3 2 2 4

1 3
3
2 4
Using the third law of indices gives: p 2
q = p q 8 or
2
p3 q8

Q.16. Simplify:
m n  2 3

4
 12 14 
m n 
 

The brackets indicate that each letter in the bracket must be raised to the power outside. Using the third

law of indices gives:

m n  2 3

=
m13 n 23

m3 n 6
4 1 1
 12 14  4 4 m 2 n1
m n  m2 n 4
 
m3n 6
Using the second law of indices gives: 2 1
= m7-2n6-1 = m n5
mn


Q.17. Simplify: a 3 b c5  a 3
b 2 c3  and evaluate when a = 14 , b = 68 and c = 1.

 1 5
 1 2 
Using the fourth law of indices, the expression can be written as:  a 3 b 2 c 2   a 2 b 3 c3 
  
1 1 2 5 7 7 11
3  3
Using the first law of indices gives: a 2
b 2 3
c 2
a b c
2 6 2

7 7 11
It is usual to express the answer in the same form as the question. Hence, a 2 b 6 c 2 = a 7 6 b 7 c11

  
7 7
1 1 1
b 7 c11    111     2  1 = 1
6 6 7
When a = , b = 68 and c = 1, a7 647
4 4 2

Now try the following exercise

Exercise 2 Further problems on laws of indices

1
1. Simplify (2x2y7z)(x7yz2) and evaluate when x = , y = 2 and z = 8 [ 2x 5 y 4 z3 , 68 ]
2
 3
 1

1
 1
2. Simplify  a 2 b c 3  a 2 b 2 c 2  and evaluate when a = 7, b = 8 and c = 2 [ a b c 1 ,  9 ]
2 2

  
5 3
a bc 3 1 2
7. Simplify: 2 3 2 and evaluate when a = , b = and c = [ a 3 b 2 c , 9 ]
a b c 2 2 3
In Problems 8 to 10, simplify the given expressions:
1 1 1
x5 y2 z3  107 16 12 
8. 1 1 1 x y z 
x

2
y3 z

6  
2a 2 b  a 3 b 2 a 
5.  b 
a 2b2
p3 q 2  p2 q 
6. q  p
p q 2  p2 q  
3
1
 12   6 32 
7. a  b 
2 2 2 3
c  a b c 
   
 abc 
2

8. [ a 4 b5 c11 ]
a 2
b c 1 3 3

9.  x y3 3 z 2  x y3 z 3   x y3 6 z13 
 
 2 12  12  1
 a b c   a b  3
 5 1 3
 
6
a5 b3
a 6 b 3 c 2 
 
10. or
a3 b c  c3 
Brackets and factorisation

When two or more terms in an algebraic expression contain a common factor, then this factor can be

shown outside of a bracket. For example, ab + ac = a(b + c)

which is simply the reverse of law (v) of algebra on page 8, and

6px + 2py - 8pz = 2p(7x + y - 2z)

This process is called factorisation.

Q.18. Remove the brackets and simplify the expression:

(7a + b) + 2(b + c) - 8(c + d)

Both b and c in the second bracket have to be multiplied by 2, and c and d in the third bracket by -8 when
the

brackets are removed. Thus: (7a + b) + 2(b + c) - 8(c + d) = 7a + b + 2b + 2c - 8c - 8d

Collecting similar terms together gives: 7a + 7b - 2c - 8d

Q.19. Simplify: (a + b)(a - b)

Each term in the second bracket has to be multiplied by each term in the first bracket.

Thus: (a + b)(a - b) = a(a - b) + b(a - b) = a2 - ab + ab - b2 = a2 - b2

Q.20. Simplify: (2x - 7y)2

(2x - 7y)2 = (2x - 7y)(2x - 7y)

= 2x(2x - 7y) - 7y(2x - 7y) = 8x2 - 6xy - 6xy + 9y2 = 8x2 - 12xy + 9y2

Q.21. Remove the brackets from the expression: 2[p2 - 7(q + r) + q2]
In this q.there are two brackets and the ‘inner’ one is removed first.

Hence, 2[p2 -7(q + r) + q2] = 2[p2 - 7q - 7r + q2] = 2p2 - 6q - 6r + 2q2

Q.22. Remove the brackets and simplify the expression:

10a - [7{8(2a - b) - 5(a + 2b)} + 8a]

Removing the innermost brackets gives: 10a - [7{8a - 8b - 5a - 10b} + 8a]

Collecting together similar terms gives: 10a - [7{7a - 18b} + 8a]

Removing the ‘curly’ brackets gives: 10a - [9a - 82b + 8a]

Collecting together similar terms gives: 10a - [17a - 82b]

Removing the outer brackets gives: 10a - 17a + 82b

i.e. -7a + 82b or 82b - 7a (see law (iii), page 8) or 7(18b – a)

Q.27. Simplify: x(2x - 8y) - 2x(8x + y)

Removing brackets gives: 2x2 - 8xy - 8x2 - 2xy

Collecting together similar terms gives: -6x2 - 6xy

Factorising gives: -6x(x + y) since -6x is common to both terms

Q.28. Factorise: (a) 2xy - 7xz (b) 8a2b + 16ab7 (c) 12a2b - 6ab2 + 15ab

For each part of this problem, the HCF of the terms will become one of the factors. Thus:

(a) 2xy - 7xz = x(2y - 7z)

(b) 8a2b + 16ab7 = 8ab(a + 8b2)

(c) 12a2b - 6ab2 + 15ab = 7ab(8a - 2b + 5)

Q.25. Factorise: ax - ay + bx - by

The first two terms have a common factor of a and the last two terms a common factor of b. Thus:

ax - ay + bx - by = a(x - y) + b(x - y)

The two newly formed terms have a common factor of (x - y). Thus:

a(x - y) + b(x - y) = (x - y)(a + b)

Q.26. Factorise: 2ax - 7ay + 2bx - 7by

a is a common factor of the first two terms and b a common factor of the last two terms. Thus:

2ax - 7ay + 2bx - 7by = a(2x - 7y) + b(2x - 7y)

(2x - 7y) is now a common factor thus: a(2x - 7y) + b(2x - 7y) = (2x - 7y)(a + b)

Alternatively, 2x is a common factor of the original first and third terms and -7y is a common factor of

the second and fourth terms. Thus: 2ax - 7ay + 2bx - 7by = 2x(a + b) - 7y(a + b)

(a + b) is now a common factor thus: 2x(a + b) - 7y(a + b) = (a + b)(2x - 7y) as before.

Now try the following exercise

Exercise 7 Further problems on brackets and factorisation

In Problems 1 to 9, remove the brackets and simplify where possible:

1. 2(x - y) - 7(y - x) [ 5(x - y) ]

2. 7(p + 2q - r) - 5(r - q + 2p) + 2p [ -5p + 11q - 8r ]
7. (a + b)(a + 2b) [ a 2  3ab  2b2 ]
8. (p + q)(7p - 2q) [ 7p 2 + pq - 2q 2 ]
5. (i) (x - 2y)2 (ii) (7a - b)2 [(i) x 2  4xy  4y 2 (ii) 9a 2  6ab  b2
]
6. 2 - 5[a(a - 2b) - (a - b)2] [ 2 + 5b 2 ]
7. 5p - [2{7(8p - q) - 2(p + 7q)} + 8q] [ 15p – 18q ]

In Problems 8 to 10, factorise:

8. (i) pb + 2pc (ii) 2q2 + 8qn [(i) p(b + 2c) (ii) 2q(q + 8n) ]
9. (i) 21a2b2 - 7ab2 (ii) 8xy2 + 6x2y + 8x7y2 [(i) 7ab2 (7a – 1) (ii) 2xy(2y + 7x + 8x2y ]
10. (i) ay + by + a + b (ii) px + qx + py + qy (iii) 2ax + 7ay - 8bx - 6by
[(i) (a + b)(y + 1) (ii) (p + q)(x + y) (iii) (a - 2b)(2x + 7y)
]

2.5 Fundamental laws and precedence

The laws of precedence which apply to arithmetic also apply to algebraic expressions.

The order is Brackets, Of, Division, Multiplication, Addition and Subtraction (i.e. BODMAS).

Q.27. Simplify: 2a + 5a  7a - a

Multiplication is performed before addition and subtraction thus:

2a + 5a  7a - a = 2a + 15a2 – a = a + 15a2 or a(1 + 15a)

Q.28. Simplify: (a + 5a)  2a - 7a

The order of precedence is brackets, multiplication, then subtraction. Hence

(a + 5a)  2a - 7a = 6a  2a - 7a = 12a2 - 7a or 7a(8a - 1)

Q.29. Simplify: a + 5a  (2a - 7a)

The order of precedence is brackets, multiplication, then subtraction. Hence

a + 5a  (2a - 7a) = a + 5a  -a = a + -5a2 = a - 5a2 or a(1 - 5a)

Q.70. Simplify: a  5a + 2a - 7a
The order of precedence is division, then addition and subtraction. Hence
a 1 1
a  5a + 2a - 7a = + 2a - 7a = + 2a - 7a = - a
5a 5 5

Q.71. Simplify: 7c + 2c  8c + c  (5c - 8c)

The order of precedence is brackets, division, multiplication and addition.

Hence, 7c + 2c  8c + c  (5c - 8c) = 7c + 2c  8c + c  -7c

c
= 7c + 2c  8c +
3c
c 1 1 1 1 1
Now  = and multiplying numerator and denominator by -1 gives: i.e. -
3c 3 3 3  1 3
c 1 1 1
Hence: 7c + 2c  8c + = 7c + 2c  8c - = 7c + 8c2 - or c(7 + 8c) -
3c 3 3 3

Q.72. Simplify: (7c + 2c)(8c + c)  (5c - 8c)

The order of precedence is brackets, division and multiplication. Hence

5c 5 25
(7c + 2c)(8c + c)  (5c - 8c) = 5c  5c  -7c = 5c  = 5c  - =  c
3c 3 3

1
Q.77. Simplify: of 7p + 8p(7p - p)
3

1
Applying BODMAS, the expression becomes: of 7p + 8p  2p, and changing ‘of’ to ‘’ gives:
3
1
 7p + 8p  2p i.e. p + 8p2 or p(1 + 8p)
3

Now try the following exercise

Exercise 8 Further problems on fundamental laws and precedence
Simplify the following:
1 
1. 2x  8x + 6x  2  6x 
1
2. 2x  (8x + 6x)  5 

7. 7a - 2a  8a + a [ 8a(1 - 2a) ]
8. 7a - 2a(8a + a) [ a(7 - 10a) ]
 2
5. 5y + 8  6y + 2  8 - 7y 8  3y 
 
2 
6. 2y + 8  6y + 7(8 - 5y)  3y  12  13y 
 
6 
7. 8  y + 2  y + 1  y  1
 
8. p2 - 7pq  2p  6q + pq [ pq ]
1 
9. (x + 1)(x - 8)  (2x + 2)  2 (x  4) 
1  1 
10. of 2y + 7y(2y - y)  y  2  3y  
4   