CEB 203 : General Algebra
Tutorial sheet 1
Tallie
1 Introductory Notions
1.1 Real Numbers: Algebra Essentials
1. For the following exercises, simplify the given expression
h i2
i) 10 + 2 × (5 − 3) ii) − 2 × 16 ÷ (8 − 4)2 iii) 64 ÷ (8 + 4 × 2) .
2. For the following exercises evaluate the expressions using the given variables
i) 8(x + 3) − 64 for x = 2 ii) 4z − 2z(1 + 4) − 36 for z = 5 iii) 1
4 (8w − 42 ) for w = 1 .
3. Real World Application
i) According to the Cameroonian Mint, the diameter of a quarter is [Link] circumference
of the quarter would be the diameter multiplied by π. Is the circumference of a quarter a whole
number, a rational number or an irrational number?
√
ii) Determine whether the simplified expression is rational or irrational −16 + 4(5) + 5.
1.2 Exponents and Scientific Notation
1. For the following exercises, simplify the given expressions. Write answers with positive expo-
nents.
5
m2 n3 a−7 n−2
i) 92 ii) (80 )2 iii) 5−2 ÷ 52 iv) a2 c−3
· m2 c4
v) 33 ÷ 34 vi) 106 ÷ (1010 )−2
2. For the following exercises, convert each number in scientific notation to standard notation and
from decimal to scientific notation.
i) 1.6 × 1010 ii) 0.0000314
3. For the following exercises, simplify the given expression. Write answers with positive exponents.
√
(16 x)2
i) (x2 y13 ÷ y0 )2 ii) y−1 iii) (ma6 )2 m31a2 iv) (w0 x5 )−1 .
4. Real World Application
A dime is the thinnest win in U.S currency. A dime’s thickness measures 1.35 × 10−3 m. Rewrite
the number in standard notation.
i
1.3 Radicals and Rational Exponents
1. For the following
q√ exercises, simplify each expressions.
√
4 √ √ q
i) √4256 iii) 256 iv) 1− 8√17 v) 15 5 + 7 45 vi) 100 .
96
16
2. For the following exercises, simplify each expressions.
√ √3 √3 q
.
4 162x6
i) 400x4 ii) 128z3 − −16z3 iii) 16x4
3. Real World Application
√
A car accelerates at a rate of 6 − √4 ms−2 where t is the time in seconds after the car moves from
t
rest. simplify the expression.
1.4 Polynomials
1. Identify the degree of the following polynomials.
i) 6y4 − y5 + 3y − 4 ii) 14m3 + m2 − 16m + 8 iii) x2 + 4x + 4.
2. For the following exercises, find the sum, differences and product.
i) (49p2 − 25) + (16p4 − 32p2 + 16) ii) (6w2 + 24w + 24) − (3w62 − 6w + 3) iii) (8n − 4)(n2 + 9)
iv) (9v − 11)(11v − 9) v) (9b + 1)2 vi) (2m − 3)2 .
3. Multiply the following polynomial.
i) (4m − 13)(2m2 − 7m + 9) ii) (3p2 + 2p − 10)(p − 1) iii) (x + y)(x2 − xy + y2 )
iv) (3b + 6)(3b − 6)(9b2 − 36).
5. Write each polynomial in the form (x ± p)(ax2 + bx + c) by dividing:
i. 6x3 + 27x2 + 8 + 14x by (x + 4) ii. −5x3 − 27x2 + 23x + 30 by (x + 6) iii. 2x3 − 15x2 + 14x + 24
by (x − 6).
6. Simplify the following:
3x3 − 8x − 8 x3 − 1 x4 − 16
a. b. c. .
x−2 x−1 x−2
7. Consider the function f defined by f (x) = 2x3 + 3x2 − 8x + 3
1. Show that f (x) = (2x − 1)(ax2 + bx + c) where a, b and c are constants to be determine.
2. Hence factorise f (x) completely.
3. Write down all the real roots of the equation f (x) = 0.
4. Real World Application
A developer wants to purchase a plot of land to build a house. The area of the plot can be descrided
by the following expression: (4x + 1)(8x − 3) where x is measured in meter . Multiply the binomial
to find the area of the plot in standard form.
ii
1.5 Factoring Polynomials
1. For the following exercises, factor the polynomials completely.
i) 16x4 − 200x2 + 625 ii) 81y4 − 256 iii) 90v2 − 181v + 90
2. Factor the polynomials
i) 27y3 − 8 ii) 729q3 + 1331 iii) b3 − 8d3 .
3. Find the greatest common factor.
i) 14x + 4xy − 18xy − 18xy2 ii) 36 j4 k2 − 18 j3 k3 + 54 j2 k4 iii) 49mb2 − 35m2 ba + 77ma2 .
4. Real World Application
A school is installing a flagpole in the central plaza. The plaza is a square side length 100yd as
shown in the figure below. The flagpole will take up a square plot with are a x2 − 6x + 9yd2
Find the length of the base of the flagpole by factoring.
1.6 Rational Expressions
1. Simplify the following rational expressions.
x2 −16 3c2 +25c−18 y2 +10y+25
i) x2 −5x+4
ii) 3c2 −23c+14
iii) y2 +11y+30
2. Multiply the following rational expressions and express the product in simplest form.
x2 −x−6 2x2 +7x−15 10h2 −9h−9 h2 −16h+64
i) 2x2 +x−6
· x2 −9
ii) 2h2 −19h+24
· 5h2 −37h−24
3. Divide the following rational expressions.
3y2 −7y−6 y2 +y−2 16a2 −24a+9 16a2 −9
i) 2y2 −3y−9
÷ 2y2 +y−3
ii) 4a2 +17a−15
÷ 4a2 +11a+6
4. Add and subtract the following rational expressions and then simplify.
i) 4
x + 10
y ii) c+2
3 − c−4
4 iii) 3z
z+1 + 2z+5
z−2
5. Simplify the following rational expressions.
6 4 x y
3 + 7
2x 4x
y−x y−x
i) ii) iii) x y .
y+x
x
y 2
6. Real World Application
Elroi wants to mulch his garden. His garden is x2 +18x+81 f t2 . One bag of mulch covers x2 −81 f t2 .
Divide the expressions and simplify to find how many bags of mulch Elroi needs to mulch his
garden.
iii
1.7 Complex numbers
1. If y = x2 + x − 4, evaluate y given x = 2i
2. If y = x3 − 2, evaluate y given x = i
3. Plot the complex numbers on the complex plane.
i) 1 − 2i ii) − 2 + 3i iii) i
4. Perform the indicated operation and express the result as a simplified complex number. i) (3 +
2i) + (5 − 3i) ii) (−5 + 3i) − (6 − i) iii) (2 + 3i)(4i) iv) (4 − 2i)(4 + 2i) v) 3+4i
2−i
5. Evaluate the expression, writing the result as a simplified complex number
i) i7 (1 + i2 ) ii) 4+i
i + 3−4i
1−i iii) (1+i) .
(2+i)(4−2i)