MATH 048

ALGEBRA
NOTES
BY
DAVID
McWILLIAM
LESSON 1– ALGEBRA
OBJECTIVES
 WHAT IS ALGEBRA
 ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS
 POLYNOMIALS
 TERMS OF A POLYNOMIAL
 COEFFICIENTS (NUMERICAL) OF A POLYNOMIAL
 COLLECTING LIKE TERMS
 THE DISTRIBUTIVE PROPERTY
 THE PRODUCT RULE OF EXPONENTS
 ADDITION/SUBTRACTION OF POLYNOMIALS
 ADDITION/SUBTRACTION OF MULTIPLES OF POLYNOMIALS
 MULTIPLICATION OF BINOMIALS

LESSON 2– ALGEBRA
OBJECTIVES
 DIVISION OF MONOMIALS
 DEFINITION OF FACTORIZATION
 THE QUOTIENT RULE OF EXPONENTS
 FACTORIZATION TECHNIQUES
o HCF (GCF)
o DIFFERENCE OF TWO SQUARES (D.O.T.S)

LESSON 3– ALGEBRA
OBJECTIVES
 FACTORIZATION TECHNIQUES
o GROUPING
o QUADRATIC TRINOMIALS (Q.T)

LESSON 4– ALGEBRA
OBJECTIVES
 DEFINITION OF AN EQUATION
 TYPES OF EQUATIONS
o LINEAR
o QUADRATIC
o SIMULTANEOUS EQUATIONS
  LINEAR EQUATIONS
o DEFINITION OF A LINEAR EQUATION
o SOLUTIONS OF A LINEAR EQUATION
o TYPES OF LINEAR EQUATIONS
 EQUIVALENT EQUATIONS
 CONDITIONAL EQUATIONS
 IDENTITIES
 CONTRADICTIONS

LESSON 5– ALGEBRA
OBJECTIVES
 QUADRATIC EQUATIONS
o DEFINITION OF A QUADRATIC EQUATION
 SOLVING QUADRATIC EQUATIONS BY METHOD 1
o FACTORIZATION
 SOLVING QUADRATIC EQUATIONS BY METHOD 2
o THE QUADRATIC FORMULA (Q.F)
 THE DISCRIMINANT
 TYPES OF SOLUTIONS

LESSON 6– ALGEBRA
OBJECTIVES
 SIMULTANEOUS EQUATIONS
 TYPES OF SOLUTIONS
o ONE SOLUTION
o NO SOLUTION
o INFINITELY MANY SOLUTIONS
 SOLVING SIMULTANEOUS EQUATIONS BY ELIMINATION

LESSON 7– ALGEBRA
OBJECTIVES
 SOLVING SIMULTANEOUS EQUATIONS BY SUBSTITUTION
 SOLVING EQUATIONS FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE
LESSON 8– ALGEBRA
OBJECTIVES
 WORD PROBLEMS
 STEPS TO SOLVING WORD PROBLEMS
 SOLVING WORD PROBLEMS
o LINEAR

LESSON 9– ALGEBRA
OBJECTIVES
 SOLVING WORD PROBLEMS
o QUADRATIC
o SIMULTANEOUS
AN INTRODUCTION TO ALGEBRA
ALGEBRA
Algebra is the branch of Mathematics that deals with numbers and letters.
Letters that represent numbers are knowns as Variables.
ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS
An Algebraic Expression is a combination of numbers and/or variables combined with
operations of arithmetic.
Examples of Algebraic Expressions
6
4
2𝑥 − 8𝑥𝑦 +
𝑥
3√𝑥 + 9𝑥 2 − 2
4𝑦 2 − 8𝑦 + 3
12𝑥 3 𝑦 2 𝑧 − 8𝑥 4 𝑦 3 𝑧 4 + 3𝑥 5 𝑧 6
POLYNOMIALS
Monomial
A monomial is a specific type of algebraic expression consisting of one term with whole number
exponents on the variable(s).
Examples of Monomials
3
4𝑥 3
12𝑥 4 𝑦 3
Binomial
A binomial is a specific type of algebraic expression consisting of two terms with whole number
exponents on the variable(s). Alternatively, it is the sum of two monomials.
Examples of Binomials
3𝑥 + 6𝑦
4𝑥 3 𝑦 − 15𝑥𝑦 2
𝑥−5
Trinomial
A trinomial is a specific type of algebraic expression consisting of three terms with whole
number exponents on the variable(s). Alternatively, it is the sum of three monomials.
Examples of Trinomials
4𝑥𝑦 − 12𝑥 3 𝑦 + 16𝑦 3 𝑧 2
4𝑥 3 − 24𝑥 2 − 9
6𝑥 2 − 10𝑥 − 5
A Polynomial is a specific type of algebraic expression consisting of ‘n’ terms with whole
number exponents on the variable(s). It can be a monomial or the sum of monomials.
A polynomial in one variable is an algebraic expression written in the form of
𝑎𝑛 𝑥 𝑛 + 𝑎𝑛−1 𝑥 𝑛−1 + ⋯ + 𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎0
Examples of Polynomials
6 A Polynomial in Zero Variables (Constant Term)
7𝑥 − 28 A Polynomial in One Variable
4𝑦 2 − 8𝑦 + 3 A Polynomial in One Variable
12𝑥 3 𝑦 2 𝑧 − 8𝑥 4 𝑦 3 𝑧 4 + 3𝑥 5 𝑧 6 A Polynomial in Three Variables
In this course, we primarily focus on Polynomials, so from this point on, we will be
concentrating on Polynomials.
Terms of a Polynomial
Algebraic Expressions, more specifically Polynomials, can be separated into various parts by
means of addition signs. These parts are known as terms.
Identifying the Terms of a Polynomial
We may use the following property to determine the terms of a Polynomial.
If 𝑎 and 𝑏 represent integers, then
𝑎 − 𝑏 = 𝑎 + (−𝑏)
In other words, subtracting a number is the same as adding its opposite.
Coefficients (Numerical) of a Polynomial
Numerical value(s) placed in front of a variable (or variables) in each term of the polynomial.
Examples of Polynomials

Polynomial Re-writing the No. of Terms of the Coefficients

polynomial as the terms polynomial
addition of the opposite
4 4 1 4 4
2 2 2
4𝑥 − 3 4𝑥 + (−3) 2 4𝑥 , −3 4, −3
3𝑥 + 2𝑦 3𝑥 + 2𝑦 2 3𝑥, 2𝑦 3, 2
−5𝑏 2 − 4𝑏 − 8 −5𝑏 2 + (−4𝑏) + (−8) 3 −5𝑏 2 , −4𝑏, −8 −5, −4, −8
6𝑎4 𝑏 6 𝑐 4 + 12𝑎2 𝑏 3 6𝑎4 𝑏 6 𝑐 4 + 12𝑎2 𝑏 3 2 6𝑎4 𝑏 6 𝑐 4 , 12𝑎2 𝑏 3 6,12

Combining Like Terms

It is possible to simplify an expression by combining like terms. Like terms are terms with the
exact same variable part.
Example
Simplify the following polynomial.
12𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 − 5𝑥𝑦 2 + 3𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 + 11 − 8𝑥𝑦 2
Solution
12𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 − 5𝑥𝑦 2 + 3𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 + 11 − 8𝑥𝑦 2
= 12𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 + 3𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 − 5𝑥𝑦 2 − 8𝑥𝑦 2 + 11
= 𝟏𝟓𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝒛 − 𝟏𝟑𝒙𝒚𝟐 + 𝟏𝟏
Polynomials in One Variable
In this course, we primarily focus on Polynomials in one variable, so from this point on, we will
be concentrating on those Polynomials. However, we will focus on polynomials involving two
or more variables when we factorize polynomials using the HCF (GCF).
Degree of a Monomial
The degree of a monomial is the exponent on the variable.
Example
Find the degree of −4𝑥 5
Solution
The degree of −4𝑥 5 is 5.
Degree of a Polynomial
The degree of a polynomial is the exponent on the variable in the term with the highest degree.
Example
Find the degree of −2𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 − 3.
Solution
The degree of −2𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 − 3 is 𝟑.
Leading Coefficient
The coefficient of the monomial term with the highest degree.
Example
Find the leading coefficient of −2𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 − 3.
Solution
The leading coefficient of −2𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 − 3 is −𝟐.
Constant Term
The term in a polynomial without a variable.
Example
State the constant term of −2𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 − 3.
Solution
The constant term is −𝟑.
The Distributive Property

𝑎(𝑏 + 𝑐) = (𝑏 + 𝑐)𝑎 = 𝑎𝑏 + 𝑎𝑐
Example
Expand
−5(−3𝑥 + 4)
Solution
Multiply each term of the binomial (−3𝑥 + 4) by (−5).
Therefore,
−5(−3𝑥 + 4)
= 15𝑥 − 20
Example
Expand
−2(4𝑥 − 7)
Solution
Multiply each term in the binomial (4𝑥 − 7) by (−2).
Therefore,
−2(4𝑥 − 7)
= −8𝑥 + 14
Product Rule of Exponents
𝑎𝑚 ∙ 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎𝑚+𝑛
Example
Simplify
3−4 ∙ 36
Solution
3−4 ∙ 36 = 3−4+6 = 32 = 9
Addition/Subtraction of Polynomials and Multiples of Polynomials
Example
Expand and simplify
−3(2𝑥 2 − 5) + (𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 3)
Solution
First note that,
−3(2𝑥 2 − 5) + (𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 3)
= −3(2𝑥 2 − 5) + 1(𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 3)
then distribute twice and collect like terms.
Therefore,
−3(2𝑥 2 − 5) + (𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 3)
= −3(2𝑥 2 − 5) + 1(𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 3)
= −6𝑥 2 + 15 + 𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 3
= −6𝑥 2 + 𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 15 + 3
= −𝟓𝒙𝟐 − 𝟓𝒙 + 𝟏𝟖
Example
Expand and simplify
−3(2𝑥 2 − 5) − (𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 3)
Solution
First note that
−3(2𝑥 2 − 5) − (𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 3)
= −3(2𝑥 2 − 5) − 1(𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 3)
then distribute twice and finally collect like terms.
Therefore,
−3(2𝑥 2 − 5) − (𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 3)
= −3(2𝑥 2 − 5) − 1(𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 3)
= −6𝑥 2 + 15 − 1𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 3
= −6𝑥 2 − 1𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 + 15 − 3
= −𝟕𝒙𝟐 + 𝟓𝒙 + 𝟏𝟐
Example
Expand and simplify
−3𝑥 3 (4𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 5) + 5𝑥(2𝑥 3 − 5𝑥 2 + 6)
Solution
Distribute twice using the product rule of exponents above, then collect like terms.
Therefore,
 −3𝑥 3 (4𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 5) + 5𝑥(2𝑥 3 − 5𝑥 2 + 6)
= −12𝑥 5 − 9𝑥 4 + 15𝑥 3 + 10𝑥 4 − 25𝑥 3 + 30𝑥
= −12𝑥 5 − 9𝑥 4 + 10𝑥 4 + 15𝑥 3 − 25𝑥 3 + 30𝑥
= −𝟏𝟐𝒙𝟓 + 𝒙𝟒 − 𝟏𝟎𝒙𝟑 + 𝟑𝟎𝒙
Example
Expand and simplify
4𝑥 2 (7𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 2) − 3𝑥 2 (4𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 − 9)

Solution
Distribute twice using the product rule of exponents above, then collect like terms.
Therefore,
4𝑥 2 (7𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 2) − 3𝑥 2 (4𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 − 9)
= 28𝑥 5 − 8𝑥 4 − 24𝑥 3 + 8𝑥 2 − 12𝑥 4 + 15𝑥 3 + 27𝑥 2
= 28𝑥 5 − 8𝑥 4 − 12𝑥 4 − 24𝑥 3 + 15𝑥 3 + 8𝑥 2 + 27𝑥 2
= 𝟐𝟖𝒙𝟓 − 𝟐𝟎𝒙𝟒 − 𝟗𝒙𝟑 + 𝟑𝟓𝒙𝟐
Multiplication of Polynomials (Two Binomials)
(𝑎 + 𝑏)(𝑐 + 𝑑)
= 𝑎(𝑐 + 𝑑) + 𝑏(𝑐 + 𝑑)
= (𝑐 + 𝑑)(𝑎 + 𝑏)
Example
Expand and Simplify
(3𝑥 − 2)(5𝑥 − 4)
Solution
(3𝑥 − 2)(5𝑥 − 4)
= 3𝑥(5𝑥 − 4) − 2(5𝑥 − 4)
= 15𝑥 2 − 12𝑥 − 10𝑥 + 8
= 𝟏𝟓𝒙𝟐 − 𝟐𝟐𝒙 + 𝟖