3.

1 Simplifying algebraic expressions

Master

1 Simplify
Guided

a p 1 p 1 p Think of a rod that An algebraic expression, for example Worked

is p cm long. 3x + 2y, contains numbers and letters. example
Each part of an algebraic expression is
p
When you put three called a term.
rods together the Like terms contain the same letter (or do
total length is 3p cm. not contain a letter).
p p p

3p So p + p + p = 3p

T
b w + w + w + w + w c
3p + 4p d
5w – 2w

You simplify an expression

2 Simplify by collecting like terms. by collecting like terms.
Guided

a 3t + 2t + 5 = 5t + b
5w – 3w + 2y
c 5h + 2h + 5j + 2 = 7h + + d
7h + 1 – 4h + 2

3 Simplify
a t × t
b n × n × n
c i × i × i × i

4 Simplify
AF 2 × 2 × 2 = 23
In the same way we can write t × t × t = t3
Guided

Like terms must have

a 3d + 5d = 8
2 2
5b + 4b + 3b =
b 2 2
+ 3b exactly the same letters
and powers.
c 7h + 3h + 2h
3 3
d
4c + 4c + 4c 2
For example, 2x 2 and 3x 3
are not like terms as the
e 6k5 – k5 f
6m2 + 4m3 – 3m3 powers of x are different.
DR
5 Simplify
Write letters in alphabetical order.
a b × c a × a × c × c
b n × m = mn
Write numbers before letters.
c s × 3 d×3×c
d a × 2 = 2 × a = 2a

6 Simplify
Guided

a 5c × 3c = 5 × c × 3 × c b
The order of 2d × 7d
multiplication
=5×3×c×c does not matter.
= c2
10b
means 10b ÷ 5.
c 10b = 2b 5
d 18t
5 Work out 10 ÷ 5 6

Test with some

7 Write ≡ or Þ between equivalent expressions. numerical values
for x and y.
a x + y y + x b x – y y–x
c xy yx d x÷y y÷x The identity symbol (≡) shows that two
expressions are always equivalent.
For example, a + 2b ≡ 2b + a

Check Tick each box as your Need extra help? Go to page 27 and tick
confidence in this the boxes next to Q1, 2, 4, 5 and 7. Then try
22 topic improves. them once you’ve finished 3.1–3.5.
3.2 Writing algebraic expressions
Master

1 Hannah collects football cards. She has c cards. c 1

Write an expression for how many she has when there are
a 10 more b
7 fewer c 10

c 12 fewer d
twice as many
Finding half is the
e 4 times as many f
half as many. same as dividing by 2.

2 a Barney has f football cards and r rugby cards.

T
Write an expression for the total number of football and rugby cards he has.
b Barney gives away 5 football cards and is given 3 rugby cards.
Write an expression for the total number of football and rugby cards he has now.

Try it with numbers.

3 Write an algebraic expression for How would you write
5 more than 3?
a d more than c c multiplied by d
b
c d less than c

i c divided by d
AF
e 5 times d add 3 times c
g 9 times d multiplied by itself
d more than 7 times c
d
c multiplied by itself
f
1 less than c multiplied by itself
h
7 more than 9 divided by c.
j

4 Write an expression for the output of each function machine.

a b
a is multiplied by 3
then 5 is added.

Input Output Input Output To show that the

whole expression is
a a 33 15 b b 14 45 divided by 5 draw a
a Input Output b Input Output long division line.
Guided

c Input Output d Input b+ 4Output

a
a × 33
+35 = 3a 1+5 5 (b
b + 4)1÷
4 5 = 45
5
DR
ca 33
8 25
1 2 b
d 12
4 4 15
4 3
c d
c
e d
f
c 38 22 d 42 13
ce 3 83 3 23
2 f
d 43
1 2 12
4 3
e f
e f
e 33 33 f 13 42
e 33 33 f 13 42

5 A rectangle has width w. The height is 2 more than the width.

a Write an expression for the height.
b Write and simplify an expression for the perimeter.

c Calculate the perimeter of the rectangle when w = 8 cm. w

Check Tick each box as your Need extra help? Go to page 28 and tick
confidence in this the boxes next to Q12–14. Then try them
topic improves. once you’ve finished 3.1–3.5. 23
 X.X
3.3 STEM Xxxxxxxx
STEM: Using formulae
Master

1 Work out the value of each expression when a = 5.

Guided

Worked
a 3a = 3 × a = 3 × 5 = 15 b 7a a+7
c example

d a – 7 a
e 9–a
f 2

2 Given a = 3, b = 4 and c = 6 work out the value of

a ab ac + 2
b c
3(b + 1)
c b+c
d 2(a + c) e f

T
2 5
mass
3 STEM  Use the formula density = to work out the density of
volume
a a piece of plastic with a mass of 12 g and a volume of 6 cm3 A formula is a general rule for a
relationship between quantities.
Guided

density = 126 Substitute the values into the formula.

Write the units.
You use a formula to work out an
unknown quantity by substituting.

= 2 g/cm3
AF g/cm3 means grams per cubic cm.

b a lump of metal with a mass of 28 g and a volume of 8 cm

c a sample of liquid with a mass of 250 g and a volume of 200 cm3.

3
Literacy hint
Density is the mass
(in grams) of 1 cm3 of a
substance.

4 STEM  Use the formula distance = speed × time to work out the distance travelled when
a speed = 20 m/s, time = 4 seconds
Guided

m/s means metres per second.

distance = 20 × 4 = metres km/h means kilometres per hour.
mph means miles per hour.
b speed = 5 m/s, time = 30 seconds
c speed = 50 km/h, time = 2 hours
DR
d speed = 4 mph, time = 12 hour.

5 STEM  The formula to calculate pressure (P) in N/m2, is P = F , where F is the force in N and A is
A
the area in m2
Work out the pressure when F = 40 and A = 5

6 STEM  The formula for converting from temperature in Celsius (C) to Fahrenheit (F) is
F = 1.8C + 32.
Convert these temperatures into °F.
a 100 °C b
0 °C
c –100 °C d
–40 °C

Check Tick each box as your Need extra help? Go to pages 27 and 28
confidence in this and tick the boxes next to Q8–11. Then try
24 topic improves. them once you’ve finished 3.1–3.5.
3.4 Writing formulae
Master

1 A mobile phone company charges £0.25 per minute for talk time and £2.50 per gigabyte (GB)
for downloads. It uses the formula C = 0.25t + 2.5d.
a What do you think t stands for?
b What do you think d stands for?
c How much would 100 minutes of talk time and 2 GB of downloads cost?

2 Renting a car costs £15 per day. Write down the Literacy hint

T
cost per day. ‘per day’ means each day.
a How much does it cost to rent a car for 4 days?
Guided

Multiply the cost by

£15 × 4 = £60 the number of days.

b How much does it cost to rent a car for a week?

c Write an expression for how much a car costs to rent for d days. 15d
d Write a formula for the cost, C, of renting a car for d days. C =

AF
3 Davina organises graduation parties. She always orders 5 more party bags than the number of
guests.
Write a formula that connects the number of guests, g, to the number of party bags, b.

4 Modelling
a Write an algebraic expression for finding the mean of 4 numbers a, b, c and d.
b Write a formula for the mean of 4 numbers.
sum of 4 numbers
mean of 4 numbers = 4
c Use your formula to work out the mean
when a = 2, b = 5, c = 6 and d = 7.
Write m = u
DR
5 Real / STEM  The mean total lung volume is worked out from 3 different readings.
The readings are p, q and r.
Write a formula to work out the mean total lung volume, T.

6 A function machine multiplies each input by 2 and then adds 7.

Draw the function machine.
a What is the output if the input is
i 5 ii –4 iii a?
b Write a formula which connects the output, b,
with the input, a.

7 A taxi charges £1.25 a mile plus an extra £4.

a How much does a 3-mile taxi ride cost?
b Write a formula which connects the charge, C, to the distance travelled, d.

Check Tick each box as your Need extra help? Go to page 28 and tick
confidence in this the boxes next to Q15 and 16. Then try them
topic improves. once you’ve finished 3.1–3.5. 25
 3.5 Brackets and formulae
Master

1 Expand
Guided

a 3(y + 5) = 3 × y + 3 × 5 = 3y +
Expand a bracket means multiply every
b 7(h – 2) = 7 × h – 7 × 2 =
number inside the bracket by the number
c 2(d + 10) or letter outside the bracket.
d 5(p – 5)
e 2(2 + k)
f 5(3 − a)

T
g 4(2 − c)
h 3(3 − n)
i 4(6 + t)
j 5(x + 6).

AF
2 A company making hockey sticks works out their profit, P, by subtracting £17 from the cost of
a hockey stick, H, and multiplying the answer by the number of hockey sticks sold, a.
Write a formula for calculating P.

3 Expand
Guided

a t(t + 2) = t × t + t × 2 = t2 +
b d(d + 5)
c s(s – 3)
d y(5y + 3) = y × 5y + y × 3 = 5y2
e j(5 – 7j)
f 3q(2q + 4) = 3q × 2q + 3q × 4 = 6q2
DR
g 5t(5t – 1)
h 3x(10 – 3x)

4 Naima has £x. Kate has the square of Naima's amount. Meinir has £10 more than Kate.
a Write an expression for Kate’s money.
b Write an expression for Meinir’s money.
c Write and simplify an expression for the sum of all their money.
d Naima has £5. What is the sum of all their money?

Check Tick each box as your Need extra help? Go to page 27 and tick
confidence in this the boxes next to Q3 and 6. Then try them
26 topic improves. once you’ve finished 3.1–3.5.
 3
Strengthen

Simplifying expressions
1 Complete Draw bars to help.
t t t
a t + t + t = t b
p+p+p+p= p

2 Simplify
n
a 2n + 3n = 5 b
6a + 3a
Guided

n n n n n

T
c 9q − q = 9q − 1q = d 3b + b
2n 3n
e 3g + 2 + 4g = 3g + 4g + 2 = 7g +
f 6s + 5t − 2s

3 Expand 3 3 (n 1 4)

a 3(n + 4) = (n + 4) + (n + 4) + (n + 4) = 3n + n 4 n 4 n 4
Guided

c 4(a + 3)
d 5(4 − b)
AF
b 2(p + 5) = (p + 5) + (p + 5) =

4 Fill in the missing numbers.

t × t × t × t × t = t 
a 5 × 5 × 5 = 5  b
533n
n n n
1
4 4
334
4

5 Simplify 6p × 3p

6 Expand n3n

a n(n + 2) = n × n + n × 2 = n2 + t(t + 3)
b n(n 3 2)
Guided

DR
c p(5 + p) g(1 − g)
d n32

You can only add

7 Simplify by collecting like terms. terms with the
same letters and
a a2 + a2 + 5a = a2 +
Guided

powers.
b 5b + b + 4b
2

Substitution
8 The formula to work out the distance a train travels is distance = speed × time.
A train travels at a speed of 100 km per hour for 3 hours.
How far does it travel?
Guided

distance = speed × time

 
= 100 × 3 = km

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 3
Strengthen

9 Work out the value of each expression when x = 4 and y = 8.

x+6
a x + 6 b y−5 x+y
c
d 10x e xy + 3 y
f
4+6=
2

10 T = 4(p + q). Work out the value of T when p = 5 and q = 3.

T
11 Use the formula T = 4 + p to work out the value of T when T = 4 + −2
=4−2
a p = −2 p = −4
b

Writing expressions and formulae

12 Match each algebraic expression to its description.
x15

5 times x
AF x25

5 less than x
52x

5 more than x

13 Write an expression for each function machine.

a a 15
5x

One fifth of x
x
5

x less than 5

b r 32

c x 24

14 Write a description for each expression. Use these phrases:

DR
more than, less than,
a a + b multiplied by, divided by.
b ab For example, b more than ….

c b − a
d a
b

15 To convert from cm, C, to inches, I, multiply by 4 then divide by 10.

Write the formula.

16 I think of a number, add 12, and then divide by 9.

a What would the result be if the original number was 15?
b Complete the function machine.

x y

c Which of these formulae correctly connects x with y?

x + 12
y = 12x + 9    y = 9    y = 9(x + 12)    y = x + 9   
12

28
 3
Extend

1 A hexagon has sides of length x.

Write and simplify an expression for its perimeter.

2 A cube has edges of length 4 cm.

4 cm
a Work out the area of one of the square faces.
b The cube is painted.

T
Work out the total area that is painted.
Another cube has edges of length e.
c Write an algebraic expression for the area of one of the faces.
d Write an algebraic expression for the total area of all the faces.

AF
3 Finance  A party organising company uses the formula P = 4.5c + 6a for calculating profit
(financial gain), where c is the number of children and a is the number of adults.
Work out the profit when there are
a 20 children and 10 adults b
30 adults.

4 A quadrilateral has one side of length y cm.

The second side is 2 cm more than double this length.
The other two sides are each 3 times the length of the second side.
Sketch and label
the quadrilateral.

Write an expression for the perimeter of the quadrilateral.

Simplify your expression as much as possible.

6x 1 6y

5 In the pyramid each brick is the sum of the two bricks below. 3x 1 2y
DR
Work out the missing expressions. 2x 1 2y
2y

6 A maths teacher uses this number puzzle: Think of a number. Double it. Add 2. Multiply by 5.
Subtract 10 times the number you first thought of. Your answer is 10.
Call the unknown
Explain the teacher’s trick. number ‘x’ and construct
an algebraic expression.

7 When x = 4 all but one of these expressions have the same value.
Which is the odd one out?

x2 − 20    x − 8    x − 5    8 − 2x    −7 + 12
4 x

8 The product of two terms is 12x2. Literacy hint

a What could the two terms be? Product means multiply.
b Give two other possible terms.

9 The sum of two terms is 10x. Their product is 24x2.

What are the terms?

29
 3
Extend

10 The length of a rectangle is 5 times the width. Write and simplify an expression for
a the area b
the perimeter.

11 Show the mapping x r x + 3 on a pair of number lines from 0 to 10.

Guided

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

T
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

When x = 0, x + 3 = 0 + 3 = 3 Substitute each number

When x = 1, x + 3 = 1 + 3 = 4 on the top number line
into the function x + 3.
When x = 2, x + 3 = 2 + 3 = 5

12 Show the mapping x r 2x − 2 on a pair of number lines from −5 to 5.

AF
13 a Complete the mapping diagram for x r 12 x
Guided

25 24 23 22 21 0 1 2 3 4 5

25 24 23 22 21 0 1 2 3 4 5

b What value maps to 5?

14 The first of five consecutive whole numbers is x. Literacy hint

DR
Consecutive numbers
Guided

a Write expressions for the next three numbers.

follow each other.
x, x + 1, x + ,x+ ,x+ 4, 5, 6 are consecutive.
b Write and simplify an expression for the sum of the five numbers.

c Factorise the expression.

d Write an expression for the mean of the five numbers.
What do you notice?

15 The first of three consecutive whole even numbers is x. Look at Q14.

Write an expression for the mean of the three numbers.

16 What value(s) of x would make each of these statements true?

a x2 = 3x x2 > 3x
b x2 < 3x
c

30
 3
Unit test

1 To convert between days and hours use the formula

Hours = number of days × 24
Work out the number of hours in 5 days.

2 The formula for calculating the perimeter of a shape, P, is P = 2x + 5y.

Work out the value of P when x = 12 and y = 3.

T
m
3 Use the formula k = 1000 for changing meters, m, to kilometers, k.
Work out the value of m when k = 4325.

4 Expand 5(p − 3).

AF
5 Write an expression for
a 5 less than t 4 times w
b p divided by 3.
c

6 Sophia jogs one day and swims the next. When she jogs she covers 1 mile. When she swims she
covers 3 miles. Write a formula connecting the total distance she travels, T, with the number
of days she jogs, j, and the number of days she swims, s, over two days.

7 Work out the value of each expression when x = 2 and y = 5.

a 3(x + 4) 2(5x + y)
b
DR
8 By collecting like terms, simplify 4 + 3e − 1 + 2e.

9 Simplify
a t × t × t × t 2p × p
b c
2y × 3y

10 By collecting like terms, simplify 2v3 + 3v2 + 4v3.

11 Expand 5d(3d + 3).

12 Work out the value of x2 when x = 8.

13 Find the value of each expression when p = 3 and q = 7.

a p2 2p + q
b
c 3q − p pq
d
e p + q
2

Check When you have finished the Unit test, fill in the Progression chart on page 110. 31