When we play games with computers we play by running, jumping and or finding secret things. Well, with Algebra we play with letters, numbers and symbols. And we also get to find secret things.
Once we learn some of the ‘tricks’ it becomes a fun challenge to work with our skills in solving each puzzle. So, Algebra is all about solving puzzles. In this chapter we are going to learn some of the skills that help in solving mathematics puzzles.
Binary Operations
The Binary Operations
Describe the binary operations
We see that addition of two numbers lead to one number and multiplication of two numbers produce one number. This is binary operation. The instructions can be given either by symbols like X,*,∇and so on or by words.
Performing Binary Operations
Perform binary operations
Topic 2: Algebra – Mathematics Notes Form Two
Brackets in Computation
Brackets are used to group items into brackets and these items inside the brackets are considered as whole. For example,15 ÷(X + 2) ,means that x and 2 are added first and their sum should divide 15. If we are given expression with mixed operations, the following order is used to perform the operations: Brackets (B) are opened (O) first followed by Division (D) then Multiplication (M), Addition (A) and lastly Subtraction (S). Shortly is written as BODMAS.
Basic Operations Involving Brackets
Perform basic operations involving brackets
Example 6
- 4 + 2b – (9b ÷3b)
- 4z – (2x + z)
Algebraic Expressions Involving the Basic Operations and Brackets
Simplify algebraic expressions involving the basic operations and brackets
Example 7
Evaluate the following expressions:
Identities
For example, 3(2y + 3) = 6y + 9, when y = 1, the right hand side (RHS) and the left hand side (LHS) are both equals to 15. If we substitute any other, we obtain the same value on both sides.
Therefore the equations which are true for all values of the variables on both sides are called Identities.
We can determine whether an equation is an identity or not by showing that an expression on one side is identical to the other expression on the other side.
Example 8
Determine whether or not the following expressions are identities:
Quadratic Expressions
Quadratic expression has the general form of ax2 + bx + c where a ≠ 0 and a is a coefficient of x2 , b is a coefficient of x and c is a constant. its highest power of variable is 2. Examples of quadratic expressions are 2x2 + x + 1, 4y2 + 3, 3z2 – 4z + 1 and so on. In a quadratic expression 3z2 – 4z + 1, a = 3, b = -4 and c = 1. Also in quadratic expression 4y2 + 3, a = 4, b = 0 and c = 3
Example 9
If you are told to find the area of a rectangle with a length of 4y + 3 and a width of 2y + 1.
Example 10
3x items were bought and each item costs (4x – 3) shillings. Find total amount of money used.
Factorization
Quadratic Expressions
Factorize quadratic expressions
When we write the quadratic expression as a product of two factors we say that we have factorized the expression. We are going to learn two methods used to factorize quadratic expressions. These methods are factorization by Splitting the middle term and factorization by Inspection.
Factorization by splitting the middle term
Factorization by Inspection
Example 15
factorize x2 + 3x + 2 by inspection.
