Topic 1: Algebra — Form 5 Pure Mathematics

ZIMSEC A-LEVEL MATHEMATICS • 2024–2030 SYLLABUS

Component 1: Pure Mathematics | Form 5

Topic 1: Algebra
Task Sheet — Notes, Worked Examples & ZIMSEC-Style Practice Questions

Learning Objectives
By the end of this topic, learners should be able to:
• state and apply the laws of indices; simplify and solve equations involving surds
• solve problems involving direct, inverse, joint and partial proportionality
• carry out polynomial operations and apply the Remainder and Factor theorems
• complete the square, sketch quadratic graphs and use the discriminant
• distinguish identities, equations and inequalities; solve simultaneous and rational
inequalities
• decompose rational expressions into partial fractions
• work with relations, functions, domain/range, inverse and composite functions
• sketch and solve problems involving logarithmic, exponential and modulus functions
• carry out matrix operations (up to 3x3), find determinants and inverses, and solve linear
systems

1.1 Indices, Surds and Proportionality

Key Notes Summary

Laws of indices am x an = am+n; am / an = am-n; (am)n = amn; a0=1; a-n = 1/an; a1/n = n√a

Surds √a x √b = √(ab); √a/√b = √(a/b); rationalise denominators by

multiplying by the conjugate

Variation Direct: y = kx; Inverse: y = k/x; Joint: y = kxz; Partial: y = a + bx

Worked Example
Solve 22x - 5(2x) + 4 = 0.
Solution
Let y = 2x. Then y² - 5y + 4 = 0, so (y-1)(y-4) = 0, giving y = 1 or y = 4.
2x = 1 ⟹ x = 0. 2x = 4 ⟹ x = 2. Solutions: x = 0 or x = 2.

Practice Questions

1. Simplify (27x6)2/3 / (9x2)1/2, giving your answer in the form kxn.

2. Solve the equation 32x+1 = 5, giving your answer correct to 3 significant figures.

3. (a) Simplify (3 + √5)/(3 - √5), giving your answer in the form a + b√5.

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Topic 1: Algebra — Form 5 Pure Mathematics

(a) Given that y varies inversely as the square of x, and y = 4 when x = 3, find y when x =
6. [3]

1.2 Polynomials
Key Notes Summary

Remainder theorem When p(x) is divided by (x - a), the remainder is p(a)

Factor theorem (x - a) is a factor of p(x) if and only if p(a) = 0

Completing the ax² + bx + c = a(x + b/2a)² + (c - b²/4a)

square

Discriminant b² - 4ac > 0: two real roots; = 0: equal roots; < 0: no real roots

Worked Example
Show that (x - 2) is a factor of p(x) = x³ - 3x² - 4x + 12, and hence factorise p(x) completely.
Solution
p(2) = 8 - 12 - 8 + 12 = 0, so (x - 2) is a factor.
Dividing: x³ - 3x² - 4x + 12 = (x - 2)(x² - x - 6) = (x - 2)(x - 3)(x + 2).

Practice Questions

4. The polynomial p(x) = x³ + ax² - 5x + b leaves a remainder of 3 when divided by (x - 2), and
(x + 1) is a factor of p(x). Find the values of a and b. [5]

5. Express f(x) = 2x² - 8x + 5 in the form a(x + p)² + q. State the minimum value of f(x) and the
value of x at which it occurs. [4]

6. Find the set of values of k for which the equation kx² + 4x + (k - 3) = 0 has no real roots.
[4]

1.3 Identities, Equations and Inequalities

Key Notes Summary

Identity vs equation An identity holds for all values of the variable; an equation holds only
for particular value(s)

Inequalities Reverse the inequality sign when multiplying/dividing by a negative

number; sketch a graph or use a sign table for
quadratic/cubic/rational inequalities

Partial fractions Express a proper rational function as a sum of simpler fractions over
its factors (linear, repeated linear, or quadratic)

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Topic 1: Algebra — Form 5 Pure Mathematics

Worked Example
Express (3x + 1)/((x - 1)(x + 2)) in partial fractions.
Solution
(3x+1)/((x-1)(x+2)) ≡ A/(x-1) + B/(x+2) ⟹ 3x + 1 ≡ A(x+2) + B(x-1)
x = 1: 4 = 3A ⟹ A = 4/3. x = -2: -5 = -3B ⟹ B = 5/3.
So (3x+1)/((x-1)(x+2)) = (4/3)/(x-1) + (5/3)/(x+2).

Practice Questions

7. Solve the simultaneous equations y = x + 1 and x² + y² = 13. [5]

8. Solve the inequality (x - 1)/(x + 3) ≥ 2, showing all critical values. [5]

9. Express (5x - 1)/((x+1)(x-2)²) in partial fractions. [6]

1.4 Relations and Functions

Key Notes Summary

Function A mapping where every element of the domain has exactly one
image in the range

Inverse function Exists only for one-to-one functions; reflect y = f(x) in the line y = x to
obtain y = f-1(x)

Composite function fg(x) means f(g(x)) — apply g first, then f

Logs & y = ln x and y = ex are inverses of each other; loga(xy) = logax +

exponentials logay; loga(x/y) = logax - logay; loga(xn) = n logax

Modulus function |x| = x for x ≥ 0 and |x| = -x for x < 0; |x| = k (k>0) gives x = k or x = -
k

Worked Example
Functions f and g are defined for x ∈ ℝ by f(x) = 2x - 3 and g(x) = x² + 1. Find f -1(x) and fg(2).
Solution
Let y = 2x - 3 ⟹ x = (y+3)/2, so f-1(x) = (x+3)/2.
g(2) = 4 + 1 = 5. fg(2) = f(5) = 2(5) - 3 = 7.

Practice Questions

10. Functions f and g are defined by f(x) = (2x+1)/(x-3), x ≠ 3, and g(x) = x² - 1.

(b) Find f-1(x), stating its domain. [3]
(c) Find gf(x) in its simplest form. [3]

11. Solve the equation ln(2x - 1) = 3, giving your answer correct to 3 significant figures. [3]

12. Solve the inequality |2x - 5| < 7. [4]

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Topic 1: Algebra — Form 5 Pure Mathematics

13. Sketch on the same axes the graphs of y = ln x and y = ex, indicating any asymptotes and
the point(s) of intersection with the axes. [4]

1.5 Matrices (up to order 3)

Key Notes Summary

Determinant (3x3) For A = |a b c; d e f; g h i|, det(A) = a(ei-fh) - b(di-fg) + c(dh-eg)

Inverse A-1 = (1/det(A)) x adj(A); A-1 exists only if det(A) ≠ 0 (non-singular)

Useful result (AB)-1 = B-1A-1

Linear systems Write as AX = B, then X = A-1B to solve simultaneous equations in 3

variables

Worked Example
Find the determinant of A = |1 2 0; 3 1 -1; 0 2 4| and state whether A is singular.
Solution
det(A) = 1(1x4 - (-1)x2) - 2(3x4 - (-1)x0) + 0(3x2 - 1x0)
= 1(4+2) - 2(12) + 0 = 6 - 24 = -18.
Since det(A) = -18 ≠ 0, A is non-singular (an inverse exists).

Practice Questions

14. Given A = |2 0; 1 3| and B = |1 -1; 2 0|, find AB and BA. Comment on your results. [4]

15. Find the inverse of the matrix A = |1 2 1; 0 1 -1; 2 3 1|. [6]

16. Use the matrix method to solve the simultaneous equations:

x + y + z = 6, 2x - y + z = 3, x + 2y - z = 2. [6]

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Topic 1: Algebra — Form 5 Pure Mathematics

Worked Solutions
Q1 — Indices

(27x6)2/3 = 272/3 x4 = 9x4. (9x2)1/2 = 3x.

Result: 9x4 / 3x = 3x3. So k = 3, n = 3.

Q2 — Indices

Take logs: (2x+1)ln3 = ln5

2x + 1 = ln5/ln3 = 1.4650 (4 d.p.)
2x = 0.4650 ⟹ x = 0.232 (3 s.f.)

Q3 — Surds & Variation

(a) Multiply top and bottom by the conjugate (3+√5): (3+√5)²/(3²-(√5)²) = (9+6√5+5)/(9-5) =
(14+6√5)/4 = 3.5 + 1.5√5
(b) y = k/x². 4 = k/9 ⟹ k = 36. When x=6: y = 36/36 = 1.

Q4 — Remainder & Factor Theorems

p(2) = 8 + 4a - 10 + b = 3 ⟹ 4a + b = 5
p(-1) = -1 + a + 5 + b = 0 ⟹ a + b = -4
Subtracting: 3a = 9 ⟹ a = 3, and b = -4 - a = -7.
So a = 3, b = -7.

Q5 — Completing the Square

2x² - 8x + 5 = 2(x² - 4x) + 5 = 2[(x-2)² - 4] + 5 = 2(x-2)² - 3

Minimum value is -3, occurring at x = 2.

Q6 — Discriminant

Discriminant: 4² - 4(k)(k-3) < 0 ⟹ 16 - 4k² + 12k < 0

Divide by 4: 4 - k² + 3k < 0 ⟹ k² - 3k - 4 > 0 ⟹ (k-4)(k+1) > 0
So k < -1 or k > 4.

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Topic 1: Algebra — Form 5 Pure Mathematics

Q7 — Simultaneous Equations

Substitute y = x+1 into x² + y² = 13: x² + (x+1)² = 13

2x² + 2x - 12 = 0 ⟹ x² + x - 6 = 0 ⟹ (x+3)(x-2) = 0 ⟹ x = -3 or x = 2
x = -3: y = -2. x = 2: y = 3. Solutions: (-3,-2) and (2,3).

Q8 — Inequalities

(x-1)/(x+3) ≥ 2 ⟹ (x-1)/(x+3) - 2 ≥ 0 ⟹ (x-1-2(x+3))/(x+3) ≥ 0 ⟹ (-x-7)/(x+3) ≥ 0

Critical values: x = -7, x = -3 (excluded, denominator zero).
Sign analysis gives: -7 ≤ x < -3.

Q9 — Partial Fractions

(5x-1)/((x+1)(x-2)²) ≡ A/(x+1) + B/(x-2) + C/(x-2)²

5x - 1 ≡ A(x-2)² + B(x+1)(x-2) + C(x+1)
x = -1: -6 = 9A ⟹ A = -2/3. x = 2: 9 = 3C ⟹ C = 3.
Compare x² coefficients: 0 = A + B ⟹ B = 2/3.
Result: -2/3 /(x+1) + 2/3 /(x-2) + 3/(x-2)²

Q10 — Inverse & Composite Functions

(a) y = (2x+1)/(x-3) ⟹ y(x-3) = 2x+1 ⟹ xy - 3y = 2x + 1 ⟹ x(y-2) = 3y+1 ⟹ x =

(3y+1)/(y-2)
f-1(x) = (3x+1)/(x-2), domain: x ≠ 2
(b) gf(x) = [f(x)]² - 1 = [(2x+1)/(x-3)]² - 1 = [(2x+1)² - (x-3)²] / (x-3)²
Numerator = (4x²+4x+1) - (x²-6x+9) = 3x² + 10x - 8 = (3x-2)(x+4)
gf(x) = (3x-2)(x+4) / (x-3)²

Q11 — Logarithmic Equation

ln(2x-1) = 3 ⟹ 2x - 1 = e³
2x = e³ + 1 = 21.0855 ⟹ x = 10.5 (3 s.f.)

Q12 — Modulus Inequality

|2x-5| < 7 ⟹ -7 < 2x-5 < 7 ⟹ -2 < 2x < 12 ⟹ -1 < x < 6

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Topic 1: Algebra — Form 5 Pure Mathematics

Q13 — Graphs of ln x and e^{x}

y = ln x: passes through (1,0), asymptote x = 0 (y-axis), defined for x > 0, increasing.

y = ex: passes through (0,1), asymptote y = 0 (x-axis), defined for all x, increasing.
The two curves are reflections of each other in the line y = x. (This is a sketch question —
no algebraic intersection point is required.)

Q14 — Matrix Multiplication

AB = |2 0; 1 3| x |1 -1; 2 0| = |2(1)+0(2) 2(-1)+0(0); 1(1)+3(2) 1(-1)+3(0)| = |2 -2; 7 -1|

BA = |1 -1; 2 0| x |2 0; 1 3| = |1(2)+(-1)(1) 1(0)+(-1)(3); 2(2)+0(1) 2(0)+0(3)| = |1 -3; 4 0|
AB ≠ BA, confirming that matrix multiplication is not commutative in general.

Q15 — Inverse of a 3x3 Matrix

For A = |1 2 1; 0 1 -1; 2 3 1|, det(A) = 1(1+3) - 2(0+2) + 1(0-2) = 4 - 4 - 2 = -2

Find the matrix of cofactors, transpose to get the adjugate, then A-1 = (1/-2) x adj(A).
Working through the cofactors gives adj(A) = |4 1 -3; -2 -1 1; -2 1 1| (transposed cofactor
matrix), so
A-1 = (1/-2)|4 1 -3; -2 -1 1; -2 1 1| = |-2 -0.5 1.5; 1 0.5 -0.5; 1 -0.5 -0.5|

Q16 — Matrix Method for Simultaneous Equations

Write as A X = B where A = |1 1 1; 2 -1 1; 1 2 -1|, X = (x,y,z) T, B = (6,3,2)T

det(A) = 1(1-2) - 1(-2-1) + 1(4+1) = -1 + 3 + 5 = 7
Solving (by elimination or X = A-1B) gives x = 19/7... using elimination is more reliable: from
eqn1 z=6-x-y; substitute into eqn2: 2x-y+6-x-y=3 ⟹ x-2y=-3; substitute into eqn3: x+2y-(6-
x-y)=2 ⟹ 2x+3y=8
Solve x-2y=-3 and 2x+3y=8 simultaneously: from first, x=2y-3; sub: 2(2y-3)+3y=8 ⟹ 7y=14
⟹ y=2, x=1, z=6-1-2=3.
Solution: x = 1, y = 2, z = 3.

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