Algebra Terminology
Equations and Expressions
A number sentence with an equals sign is called an equation.
A number sentence without an equals sign is called an expression.
equation
This equation is made of two
expressions.
𝟐𝒚 + 𝒙 = 𝟒𝒙𝟐 − 𝟐𝒙𝒚 + 𝟕 It tells us that the left-hand
side (LHS) is equal to the
right-hand side (RHS)
LHS RHS
expression expression
Terms
When there’s no operator
The expression 4𝑥 2 − 2𝑥𝑦 + 7 has 3 terms. between variables or
coefficients, it means they
+𝟒𝒙𝟐 (or just 4𝑥 2 ) are multiplied
−𝟐𝒙𝒚 (not just 2𝑥𝑦)
+𝟕 (or just 7) −2𝑥𝑦 means −2 × 𝑥 × 𝑦
4𝑥 2 means 4 × 𝑥 × 𝑥
NOTE: The sign before the term belongs to the term.
This is especially important when there’s a “-” sign
Variables, Coefficients and Constants
When there’s no coefficient,
The term −𝟐𝒙𝒚 has two variables, 𝑥 and 𝑦. there really is a coefficient!
The letters 𝑥 and 𝑦 are also called pronumerals.
6𝑦 = 5 + 𝑥
The coefficient of the term −𝟐𝒙𝒚 is −2.
NOTE: The sign in front of the term belongs to the In the equation above, the
coefficient coefficient of x is 1
The term +7 is called a constant because it 6𝑦 = 5 − 𝑥
includes no variables. It is always equal to 7 no
matter what x and y are. It is constant! In the equation above, the
coefficient of x is -1
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Algebra - Working with Terms
Get your variables alphabetical order!
With your
The order for writing a term is: variables in
Sign, coefficient, then variables in alphabetical order alphabetical
order, it’s much
𝑔 × ℎ × 𝑎 × −6 should be written as −6𝑎𝑔ℎ easier to spot
‘like terms’ (see
12𝑥𝑦𝑥𝑥 should be written as 12x 3 𝑦 below)
Adding and Subtracting Like Terms
5𝑝𝑞 − 7𝑎2 + 3𝑝𝑞
“Like terms” have exactly the
same pronumeral part. 5𝑝𝑞 and 3𝑝𝑞 are “like terms”
If an expression has like terms, you can combine them by adding their
coefficients and keeping the pronumeral part the same. Examples:
5𝑝𝑞 + 3𝑝𝑞 = 12𝑝𝑞 5𝑗𝑘 2 + 8𝑗𝑘 − 𝑗𝑘 2 = 4𝑗𝑘 2 + 8𝑗𝑘
7𝑎𝑏 − 4𝑎𝑏 = 3𝑎𝑏 4𝑎2 𝑏 + 10𝑎𝑏 2 cannot be simplified
NOTE: 4𝑎2 𝑏 + 10𝑎𝑏 2 cannot be simplified
because 4𝑎2 𝑏 and 10𝑎𝑏 2 are NOT like terms.
Multiplying Terms Dividing Terms
Multiply the coefficients and Write the division as a fraction.
combine the variables. Use index Divide the coefficients. Cancel
laws to combine powers. Examples: variables if you can.
Examples:
2𝑎 × 3𝑏 × 𝑐 = 6𝑎𝑏𝑐
2
5
10𝑥 2 5𝑥
5𝑝𝑞 × −3𝑝 = −15𝑝2 𝑞 10𝑥 ÷ 2𝑥 = = = 5𝑥
2𝑥 1
−𝑑𝑒𝑓 × −5𝑓 4 = 5𝑒𝑓 5 4
12𝑎𝑏 4𝑏
12𝑎𝑏 ÷ 3𝑎 = = = 4𝑏
3𝑎 1
Remember your index laws!
32 2
3
4𝑎𝑏 2𝑏 2 𝑎
𝑥 𝑚 × 𝑥 𝑛 = 𝑥 𝑚+𝑛 4𝑎𝑏 ÷ 2𝑏𝑐 = =
2𝑏𝑐 𝑐
𝑥 𝑚 ÷ 𝑥 𝑛 = 𝑥 𝑚−𝑛
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Algebra – Expanding Brackets
Expanding Brackets (Distributive Law) with numbers
First, recall how you do brackets with numbers:
1 1 2 +
= +
2 3+4 =2×3+2×4 +
2
2 3+4 = 2×3 + 2×4
Examples: 8 4+3 =8×4+8×3 8 4−3 =8×4−8×3
Expanding brackets in algebra is exactly the same method, just with pronumerals!
Expanding Brackets (Distributive Law) in algebra
𝑏+𝑐 𝑏 𝑐
𝑎 = 𝑎 + 𝑎
𝑎 𝑏+𝑐 = 𝑎×𝑏 + 𝑎×𝑐
Without a diagram:
1 1 2
Examples:
𝑎 𝑏 + 𝑐 = 𝑎𝑏 + 𝑎𝑐
6 𝑎 + 2 = 6𝑎 + 12
2
8 4 − 𝑥 = 32 − 8𝑥
What if there’s a subtraction?
1 1 2
2𝑎 𝑏 − 𝑐 = 2𝑎𝑏 − 2𝑎𝑐
𝑎 𝑏 − 𝑐 = 𝑎𝑏 − 𝑎𝑐 6𝑎𝑏 𝑎 + 𝑏 + 𝑐 = 6𝑎2 𝑏 + 6𝑎𝑏 2 + 6𝑎𝑏𝑐
Even more examples with tricky negative signs:
−6 𝑎 − 2 = −6𝑎 − −12 − 𝑥 + 2 = −1 𝑥 + 2
= −6𝑎 + 12 = −𝑥 − 2
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Algebra – Factorising
Factorising is just expanding brackets in reverse!
𝑎 𝑏 + 𝑐 = 𝑎𝑏 + 𝑎𝑐 𝑎𝑏 + 𝑎𝑐 = 𝑎 𝑏 + 𝑐
Factorised Expanded Expanded Factorised
form form form form
Expanding Factorising
It’s called factorising because you find common factors and put them
in front of the brackets.
5𝑥 + 5𝑦 = 5(𝑥 + 𝑦) The highest common factor of 5𝑥 and 5𝑦 is 5
How to Factorise
Find the highest common factor (HCF).
1 12𝑏 + 8 =? The highest common factor of 12𝑏 and 8 is 4
Put the HCF outside the brackets.
2 12𝑏 + 8 = 4( ___ + ___ ) Next, work out what goes inside the brackets.
What, when multiplied by 4, gives 12𝑏 + 8 ?
3 12𝑏 + 8 = 4( 3𝑏 + 2) 4 × 𝟑𝒃 = 12𝑏 and 4 × 𝟐 = 8 so 3b and 2 go
inside the brackets. You’re done!
4 Checking your Answer 4 × 3𝑏 = 12𝑏
It’s always a good idea to 4 3𝑏 + 2 = 12𝑏 + 8
check your answer by
Yay! This is what we started
expanding again to see if you 4×2 = 8
with, so we got it right!
got it correct.
More Examples
7𝑝 + 14𝑞 = 7(𝑝 + 2𝑞) 6𝑟 − 9 = 3(𝑟 − 3) −4𝑥 − 𝑥 = −𝑥(4 + 1)
(HCF is 7) (HCF is 3) (HCF is −4)
2𝑑 2 + 4𝑑3 = 2𝑑 2 (1 + 2𝑑) 4𝑎 − 12𝑎𝑏 = 4𝑎(1 − 3𝑏)
(HCF is 2d2 ) (HCF is 4𝑎)
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