Chapter 3: Algebra
1. Basic Algebraic Operations
• Addition and Subtraction of Algebraic Terms: Combine like terms by adding or subtracting
their coefficients.
• Multiplication of Terms: Multiply coefficients and apply the laws of indices to the variables.
• Division of Terms: Divide coefficients and subtract the exponents of like variables.
2. Algebraic Expressions
Simplifying Expressions
1. Apply the distributive property: a(b + c) = ab + ac. 2. Combine like terms.
Example:
3x + 5x − 2 = 8x − 2
Expanding Expressions
1. Multiply each term inside the bracket by the term outside. 2. For binomials, apply the distributive
property twice (FOIL method for (a + b)(c + d)).
Example:
(x + 2)(x + 3) = x2 + 3x + 2x + 6 = x2 + 5x + 6
3. Factoring Algebraic Expressions
Factoring is expressing an expression as a product of its factors.
Common Factor
1. Identify the greatest common factor of the terms. 2. Factor out the common factor.
Example:
6x2 + 9x = 3x(2x + 3)
Difference of Squares
1. Recognize the pattern a2 − b2 = (a + b)(a − b).
Example:
x2 − 9 = (x + 3)(x − 3)
4. Polynomials
Addition and Subtraction of Polynomials
1. Align like terms vertically. 2. Add or subtract the coefficients of like terms.
Example:
(2x2 + 3x + 4) + (x2 − 2x + 5) = 3x2 + x + 9
1
Multiplication of Polynomials
1. Distribute each term of the first polynomial to each term of the second polynomial. 2. Combine like
terms.
Example:
(x + 2)(x2 + x + 1) = x3 + x2 + x + 2x2 + 2x + 2 = x3 + 3x2 + 3x + 2
5. Division of Polynomials
To divide polynomials: 1. Use long division by dividing the leading term of the dividend by the leading
term of the divisor. 2. Multiply the divisor by this term, subtract, and repeat until reaching a remainder.
Example (Division by a Binomial): Divide x3 − 3x2 + 4x − 2 by x − 2.
x − 2 x3 − 3x2 + 4x − 2
xx22 − 2x= x
6. Solving Equations
Linear Equations
1. Simplify each side of the equation. 2. Isolate the variable by performing inverse operations.
Example:
2x + 3 = 11
Subtract 3 from both sides:
2x = 8
Divide by 2:
x=4
Quadratic Equations
Quadratic
√
equations are solved using: 1. Factoring. 2. Completing the square. 3. Quadratic formula:
b2 −4ac
x = −b± 2a .
Example: Solve x2 + 5x + 6 = 0 by factoring.
(x + 2)(x + 3) = 0
Thus, x = −2 or x = −3.