Republic of the Philippines

PALAWAN STATE UNIVERSITY

College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology
Puerto Princesa City

MEP 1/L: MECHANICAL ENGINEERING PROBLEMS 1

Topic 1: Algebra 1

SIGNIFICANT FIGURES
Significant figures are numbers in a digit that represent the accuracy of the value.

Example:
1. 46
2. 34000
3. 3.4 x 104
4. 45.60
5. 68.00
6. 1.0230
7. 0.0010300

FACTORING
Factoring is the process of reducing a mathematical expression into a product of simpler elements.
1. a(x + y) = ax + ay

2. (x +a)(x + b) = x2 + (a + b)x + ab

3. x2 – y2 = (x + y)(x – y) (difference of squares)

4. (x + y)2 = x2 + 2xy + y2

5. (x – y)2 = x2 – 2xy + y2

6. (x + y)3 = x3 + 3x2y + 3xy2 + y3

7. (x - y)3 = x3 - 3x2y + 3xy2 – y3

8. x3 – y3 = (x – y)(x2 + xy + y2) (difference of cubes)

9. x3 + y3 = (x + y)(x2 - xy + y2) (sum of cubes)

10. (x + y + z)2 = x2 + y2 + z2 + 2xy + 2yz + 2xz

LAWS OF EXPONENTS

Laws of exponents are a set of rules in algebra that define how exponents of numbers can be
algebraically operationalized.

1. x0 = 1 5. xa/xb = xa-b 9. xa = xb then 13. 1/∞ = 0

a=b

𝑏
2. xa/b = √𝑥 𝑎 6. (xy)a = xaya 10. 1/1 = 1 14. 0/0 =

indeterminate

3. (xa)b = xab 7. (x/y)a = xa/ya = 11. 0/1 = 0 15. ∞/∞ =

xa.y-a indeterminate

4. [Link] = xa+b 8. 1/x-a = xa 12. 1/0 = infinity 16. 00 =

indeterminate
PROBLEMS:

1. Which number has 4 significant figures?

A. 0.0014 B. 0.01414 C. 0.141 D. 1.4140

2. Solve 3.(9)2k = (35)k for k.

3. Expand (x – 2)3 – 8y3.

4. Find the value of k that will make the statement identity. (x – k)(x + 2k) = x2 – 3x - 18

EQUATIONS

1. LINEAR EQUATION (First Degree Equation)

A. Linear equations with one unknown
Solution: simple transposition

Example: Solve for x: 3x – 8 = x +12

B. Linear Equations with two or more unknowns

Solution:
• Substitution Method
• Elimination Method
• Determinants

Example: Solve for x and y: x + y = 8 and x – y = 4

Solution: By elimination method

2. QUADRATIC EQUATION (Second Degree Equation)

A. Quadratic equations with only one unknown
General Equation: ax2 + bx + c = 0
Solution:
• Quadratic Formula

−𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑥=
2𝑎
where 𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 is known as discriminant.
a. A positive discriminant indicates that the quadratic has two distinct real number
solutions.
b. A discriminant of zero indicates that the quadratic has a repeated real number
solution.
c. A negative discriminant indicates that neither of the solutions are real numbers.

Note: 𝑏 2 = 4𝑎𝑐 – the roots are equal

𝑏 2 > 4𝑎𝑐 – the roots are real and unequal
𝑏 2 = 4𝑎𝑐 – the roots are imaginary
• Completing the squares
• Factoring (if factorable)

Example: Solve for x: x2 – 7x + 12 = 0

By factoring

By completing the squares:

By quadratic formula:

B. Quadratic equations with two unknowns

Solution:
• Elimination Method
• Substitution Method
• Determinants
 Example: Solve for x and y:

x2 – y2 = 8 and x2 + y2 = 10

3. CUBIC EQUATION (Third Degree Equation)

Best Solution: Using Calculator
4. QUADRIC EQUATION (Fourth Degree Equation)
Best Solution: Trial and Error

PROBLEMS
1. What is the solution to the following system of simultaneous linear equations?
10x + 3y + 10z = 5 8x – 2y + 9z = 3 8x + y – 10z = 7
2. What are the solutions to the following equations? x2 – x – 12 = 0
3. What are the roots of the cubic equation x3 – 8x – 3 = 0?
4. Find the value of x which will satisfy the following expression: √𝑥 − 2 = √𝑥 + 2
a. x = 3/2 b. x = 9/4 c. x = 18/6 d. none of these

MATRICES
1. Transpose Matrix
The transpose (AT) of an m x n matrix matrix A is an n x m matrix constructed by taking ith row
and making it the ith column.

1 6 9 1 2 7
𝐴 = |2 3 4| 𝐴𝑇 = |6 3 1|
7 1 5 9 4 5

2. Multiplication and Addition of Matrix

Use calculator
3. Determinant (can be solved using calculator)
A. If A has a row or column of zeros, the determinant is zero.
B. If A has two identical rows or columns, the determinant is zero.
4. Inverse Matrix

𝑎 𝑏 | 𝑑 −𝑏|
−1 −𝑐 𝑎
For 2 x 2 matrix: 𝐴=| | 𝐴 =
𝑐 𝑑 |𝐴|

5. Cofactor and Classical Adjoint

A. Cofactors are determinants of submatrices associated with particular entries in the original square
matrix.
𝑎11 𝑎12 𝑎13
For 3 x 3 matrix: 𝐴 = |𝑎21 𝑎22 𝑎23 |
𝑎31 𝑎32 𝑎33

The minor corresponding to entry 𝑎12 in a 3 x 3 matrix is the determinant of the matrix created by eliminating
row 1 and column 2.
𝑎21 𝑎23
minor 𝑎12 = |𝑎 𝑎33 |
31

𝑎21 𝑎23 𝑎22 𝑎23

And the cofactor entry of 𝑎12 = − |𝑎 𝑎33 | 𝑎11 = + |𝑎 𝑎33 |
31 32

B. The classical adjoint is the transpose of the cofactor matrix.

PROBLEMS
1 6 0 1 −2 −4
1. Given: 𝐴 = |4 2 7| 𝐵 = |−3 6 7|
0 5 3 4 −4 −6

Find: A. Determinant of Matrix A and Matrix B.

B. Difference of Matrix A – Matrix B

C. Product of Matrix A and Matrix B

 D. Inverse of Matrix A.

E. Transpose of Matrix B.

F. Cofactor of Matrix A.

G. Classical Adjoint of Matrix A.

3 7 𝑥1 2
2. Determine the values of x1 and x2 and satisfy the following: ( ) (𝑥 ) = ( )
2 6 2 4

4 2 −2 −4
a. ( ) b. ( ) c. ( ) d. ( )
−2 −4 4 2
cos 𝜃 − sin 𝜃
3. What is the inverse matrix A? ( )
sin 𝜃 cos 𝜃

4. The determinant of Matrix A is -5. What is the value of a?

1 −3 2
𝐴 = [0 1 2]
3 −1 𝑎
5. If the determinant of matrix A is -40, what is the determinant of matrix B?
4 3 2 1 2 1.5 1 0.5
0 1 2 −1 0 1 2 −1
𝐴=[ ] 𝐵=[ ]
2 3 −1 1 2 3 −1 1
1 1 1 2 1 1 1 2

COMPLEX OPERATIONS

Consist of real and imaginary numbers

1. Rectangular Form: Z = a + bi
where i = √−1
2. Polar Form: Z = r 𝜃 (from calculator)
Z = r (cos 𝜃 + 𝑖 sin 𝜃)
𝑏
where a = r cos 𝜃 b = 𝑟 sin 𝜃 r = √𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 𝜃 = tan−1
𝑎

3. Exponential Form: Z = r 𝑒 𝑖𝜃

4. Power: Z = (a + bi)n = rn [cos(n𝜃) + 𝑖 sin(𝑛𝜃)]

𝜃 360° 𝜃 360°
5. Roots: Z = (a + bi)1/k = r1/k [cos( + 𝑛( ))] + [𝑖 sin ( + 𝑛( ))]
𝑘 𝑘 𝑘 𝑘

PROBLEMS

1. What is the product of the complex numbers 3 + 4i and 7 – 2i?

6+2.5𝑖
2. What is the rationalized value of the following complex quotient?
3+4𝑖
7𝜋
3. What is the rectangular form of the complex number 7.2e𝑖(13 )?
4. What is the product of the complex numbers 2 – 2i and √32 𝑒 𝑖 𝜋/4 ?
5. What is the polar form of the complex number z = 3 + 4i?
a. (3)(cos 36.87° + 𝑖 sin 36.87°) b. (3)(cos 53.15° + 𝑖 sin 36.87°)
c. (4)(cos 53.15° + 𝑖 sin 53.15°) d. (5)(cos 53.15° + 𝑖 sin 53.15°)
6. What is the cube root of complex number (8, 60°)?
a. 2(cos60° + isin60°) b. 2(icos20° + sin20°)
c. 2.7(cos20° + isin20°) d. 2(cos(20°+120°n) + isin(20°+120°n)
7. Evaluate (2 – 3i)6.
VECTORS

For given two vectors: A = a xi + ayj + azk B = bxj + byj + b zk

1. |𝐴| = √𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑎𝑦 2 + 𝑎𝑧 2 |𝐵| = √𝑏𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑦 2 + 𝑏𝑧 2

𝑎𝑥 𝑎𝑦 𝑎
2. Unit Vector of A:
|𝐴|
i + |𝐴| 𝑗 + |𝐴|𝑧 𝑘

3. Sum: A + B = (ax + bx)I + (ay + by)j + (az + bz)k

4. Difference: A – B = (ax – bx)I + (ay – by)j + (az – bz)k

5. Dot Product: A . B = axbx + ayby + azbz

A . B = |𝐴| |𝐵| cos 𝜃
where: 𝜃 = angle between two vectors

𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
6. Cross Product: 𝐴 𝑥 𝐵 = |𝑎 𝑥 𝑎𝑦 𝑎𝑧 |
𝑏𝑥 𝑏𝑦 𝑏𝑧

PROBLEMS

1. Find the length of the resultant of the following vectors.

3i + 4j – 5k 7i + 2j + 3k -16i – 14j + 2k
a. 3 b. 4 c. 10 d. 14
2. Find the unit vector (i.e. the direction vector) associated with the vector 18i + 3j +29k.
a. 0.525i + 0.088j + 0.846k b. 0.892i + 0.178j + 0.416k
c. 1.342i + 0.868j + 2.437k d. 6i + j + 29/3k
3. Refer to the vector A and B.
A = 2i + 4j + 8k B = -2i + j – 4k
Find: A. The resultant vectors A and B

B. The dot product, A.B

C. The cross product A x B

4. Refer to the vectors A, B, and C.

A = 5i + 7j + 8k B = I + 3j + 4k C = 2i + 5j – 8k
A. Find (A x B) . C
B. Find (A + B) . (B + C)
5. What is the angle between the two given vectors A and B?
A = 4i + 12j + 6k B = 24i – 8j + 6k
a. -84.32° b. 84.32° c. 101.20° d. 122.36°
6. What is the volume of a parallelepiped with sides represented by the zero-based vectors A, B and C?
A = 2i – 2j + k B = 4i + 2j + 2k C = I + 5j + 4k

PARTIAL FRACTIONS
Case 1: Linear Factors not repeated.

7𝑥 2 − 23𝑥 + 10 7𝑥 2 − 23𝑥 + 10 𝐴 𝐵 𝐶
2
= = + +
(3𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 𝑥 − 2) (3𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 2) (3𝑥 − 1) (𝑥 − 1) (𝑥 + 2)
Solving the equation, A = -2; B = -1; C = 4

Case 2: Repeated Linear Factors.

 4𝑥 3 + 16𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 3 𝐴 𝐵 𝐶 𝐷
2 2
= + 2
+ +
(𝑥 − 1) ((𝑥 + 2) (𝑥 − 1) (𝑥 − 1) (𝑥 + 2) (𝑥 + 2)2
Solving the equation, A = 2; B = 3; C = 5; D = 1

Case 3: Quadratic Factors not Repeated.

3𝑥 2 − 𝑥 + 1 𝐴 𝐵𝑥 + 𝑐
2 = + 2
(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 𝑥 + 3) (𝑥 + 1) (𝑥 − 𝑥 + 3)
Solving the equation A = 1; B = 2; C = -2

Case 4: Repeated Quadratic Factors

𝑥 4 + 𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 2 − 7 𝐴 𝐵𝑥 + 𝐶 𝐷𝑥 + 𝐸
2 2 = + 2 + 2
(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 + 𝑥 + 1) (𝑥 + 2) (𝑥 + 𝑥 + 1) (𝑥 + 𝑥 + 1)2
Solving the equation, A = 1; B = 2; C = -3; D = 0; E = -1

PROBLEMS
𝑥+2
1. Resolve
𝑥 2 −7𝑥+12
2. Refer to the transform function L(s). What is the partial fraction expansion of L(s)?
𝑠(𝑠+10)
L(s) =
(𝑠+5)(𝑠+15)

….. Nothing follows …..