Unit 1. Algebraic Reasoning.

Part 1.
Order of operations
Absolute value
Evaluate expressions
Distribute and simplify
Part 2.
Solve equations with
multiple steps but the variable on one side
multiple steps but the variable on both sides
Transpose formulae

See pages 8 -12 of your textbook for vocabulary.

Order of Operations.
Order of operations steps:

1. Brackets and other grouping symbols

2. Exponents
3. Multiplication and division from left to right
4. Addition and subtraction from left to right

12 4 3 5 6 4 2 3

12 4 3 5 24 2 32
12 4 3 5 12 32
3 3 5 12 9
9 60 9
60
NOW USE YOUR CALCULATOR TO CHECK

Do the following questions and check your answers with a calculator

1. 12 (4 4 2) 4 6 2 2
2. (11 6 2 3) (4
3 2
1)
2

3. 3 2 3 2
4.

3 2

3 2 2
2

18 2 5 2
5.
5 3 1
6. 18 2 10 5 7 3

7. 16 4 3 10 2 23 8

Absolute Value:
The formal definition is The distance between the number and zero on a number
line. The common understanding is the positive value or size of the number
See page 58 in your textbook.

the symbol is x

Examples:

3 3

17 17

23 23

1234 1234

3(2) 1

2 3(4) 5

4 5 2(3) 1

6 1

2 12 5

4 5 6 1

2 7

4 5 6 1

27
14

4 11 1
4 11 1
44 1

45

1. 2(5) 1 11
2. 1 2( 5) 7 2 or 2
3. 5 2( 3) 1 12
4. ( 3)( 2) 7
5. 1 4( 1)

1
3

6. 1 2 5 2 or 2

7. 4 2 2( 5)
8. 7 1 2 4

24
4

9. 2 3 2 5

12

10. 7 2(5) 1

See pages 13 of your textbook for vocabulary.

Evaluating expressions means find the value of the expression.

If you are given

m2 n 3 t 5
2
2mn t
You need to replace the letters with the numbers
2 2 3 5
12 25
37

If you are given

m2 n 3 t 5
t 5m n 2
tn

5 5 2 3

53

5 10 9

2
5

Evaluating the following expressions

If you are given

x 2 y 3 z 2
1. 5x y(z 6)
2. xy y 1 z 6
3. x 2 y yz

4. xy y 1
2

5. xy xyz x 2 y 2
xy x z
6.

z
xy
2
2
z y x z
7.

2
x
x y2

Evaluating expressions with absolute values

if x 3 and y 2 evaluate these expressions

xy 1
= ( 3)( 2) 1

2 3y x
2 3( 2) 3

2( 2) 3( 3) 2
4 9 2

6 1

2 63

23

=5

2y 3x 2

23
6

49 2
5 2
52
7

Evaluate the following expressions.

1. xy z

10

2. x y z

3. 2 x y z 0
4. 5 3x 2 y 7
5. z 2 y 3z 16
6. 2 z 3 x y 2
7. 2 y z 4 3 x

8. 2 z y 4 x 3 0

if x 2 ; y 4 and z 2

Distributive Property. See page 88 in your textbook

Problems With Brackets.

5(2x 3) means 5 (2x 3)

We distribute the terms to get

5 2x 5
3 10x 15
A negative outside the bracket it will effect signs in your answer

2(3x 5) 2 3x 2 5 6x 10
Distribute and simplify

3(3x 5) 3(2x 1) 3(3x 5) 3(2x 1) 3(3x 5) 3(2x 1)

9x 15 6x 3
9x 15 6x 3 9x 15 6x 3)
3x 12
3x 18
15x 18

1. 4(2x 3) 3(3x 5) 2. 4(2x 3) 3(3x 5)

8x 12 9x 15
17x 27
3. 4(2x 3) 3(3x 5)
8x 12 9x 15
x 27
5. 2(3x 2) 3(4 x 2)
6x 4 12x 6
6x 10

8x 12 9x 15
x 3
4. 2(3x 2) 3(4 x 2)
6x 4 12x 6
18x 2

All equation solving is based on the concept of inverse operations.

To understand what is meant by algebraic symbols do some substitution exercises.
If x=6 find the value of the following terms

5x+2 5 6+2 30 2 32
6
x
1 1 3 1 2
2
2
3(x 2) 3(6 2) 3 4 12
x 8

6 8 14
2
7
7

If x=2 find the value of the following terms

5 2x 5 2 2 5 4 1
2
x
3 3 2 3 1 4
2
3(5 2x) 3(5 2 2) 3 5 4 3 1 3
8 2x 8 2 2 8 4 12 4
3
3
3
3

Solving Equations: See page 117 in your textbook.

Solving Equations.
To solve an equation we use inverse operations to eliminate values
and leave the variable by itself
What are the inverse operations for the following?

x 1
x 1
x 2
x2
2
x

1
1
2
2
x

2x 3 7
Ask yourself the questions:
What do I want to eliminate?
What is the operation for that value?
What is the inverse operations?
Then do the inverse operation to both sides of the equation.

2x 3 7
3 3
2x 4
2
2
x
2

Be aware of alternative methods for solving an equation.

2m
48
5

2m
48
5

2m
48
5

4 on both sides

5 on both sides

2 on both sides

2m 4
5

2m 20 40

m 24
5

5 on both sides

20 on both sides

2 on both sides

2m 20

2m 20

2 on both sides

2 on both sides

m 2
5
5 on both sides

m 10

m 10

m 10

Be aware of alternative methods for solving an equation.

2(2m 8) 6 14

2(2m 8) 6 14

2(2m 8) 6 14

6 on both sides

6 on both sides

2 on both sides

2(2m 8) 8

2(2m 8) 8

2m 8 3 7

2 on both sides

distribute

simplify

2m 8 4

4m 16 8

2m 11 7

8 on both sides

16 on both sides

11 on both sides

2m 4

4m 8

2m 4

2 on both sides

4 on both sides

2 on both sides

m 2

m 2

m 2

2x 1
47
5
Subtract 4 on both sides
2x 1
3
5
Multiply by 5 on both sides
2x 1 15
Subtract 1 on both sides

2x 14
x7

Divide by 2 on both sides

Check your answer by substituting in your calculator

3(4y 1) 4 17
Add 4 on both sides

3(4y 1) 21
Divide by 3 on both sides

4y 1 7
4y 8
y2

Add 1 on both sides

Divide by 4 on both sides

Check your answer by substituting

3m
5 20
2
3m
15
2

Subtract 5 on both sides

Multiply by 2 on both sides

3m 30
Divide by 3 on both sides

m 10
Check your answer by substituting

4(2g 3) 11
In this case dividing by 4 will give a fraction so we distribute instead.

8g 12 11

8g 23

Add 12 on both sides

Divide by 8 on both sides.

Doesn't give a whole number so leave as a fraction.

23
g
8

Check your answer by substituting with your calculator

5 2y 1 3y

When the variables are on opposite side of the equation.

Always try to get a positive amount of the variable.
Add 2y on both sides

5 1 5y
Subtract 1 on both sides

4 5y

Divide by 5 on both sides.

4
y
5

Check your answer by substituting with your calculator

1 5x 11 7x
Try to get a positive amount of the variable.
Add 7x on both sides

1 2x 11
Subtract 1 on both sides

2x 10

Divide by 2 on both sides.

x 5
Check your answer by substituting mentally

5n 4 3n 8

5n 4 3n 8 (alternate method)

Subtract 3n on both sides

Subtract 5n on both sides

2n 4 8

4 2n 8

Subtract 4 on both sides

Add 8 on both sides

Divide by 2 on both sides.

Divide by 2 on both sides.

2n 12
n 6

12 2n
6 n

1 5x 11 7x 1 5x 11 7x (alternate method)
Add 7x on both sides

Add 5x on both sides

1 2x 11

1 11 2x

Subtract 1 on both sides

Subtract 11 on both sides

Divide by 2 on both sides.

Divide by 2 on both sides.

2x 10
x 5

10 2x
x 5

Equations with more than one lot of the variable

3g 4(2g 3) 11

When the variables are on the same side of the equation

you should simplify first.

3g 8g 12 11
11g 12 11 Add 12 on both sides
11g 23

Divide by 11 on both sides.

Doesn't give a whole number so leave as a fraction.

23
g
11

Check your answer by substituting with your calculator

Transposing: This means to rearrange the equation.

It follows the same logic as solving equations

2x 4y 8 transpose for x
Subtract 4y on both sides

2x 4y 8 transpose for y
Subtract 2x on both sides

2x 8 4y

4y 8 2x

Divide 2 on both sides

Divide 4 on both sides

x 4 2y
4y 8 2x transpose for x

y2 1x
2
8 4y 2x transpose for y

Subtract 8 on both sides

Subtract 8 on both sides

4y 8 2x

4y 2x 8

Divide 2 on both sides

Divide 4 on both sides

2y 4 x

y 1x2
2

Perimeter 2 (L W)
If we want to know the length
Divide 2 on both sides

Perimeter
LW
2

bh
Area
2
If we want to know the base
Multiply 2 on both sides

2 Area b h

Subtract W on both sides

Divide h on both sides

Perimeter
W L
2

2 Area
b
h

Circumference 2 r
If we want to know the radius
Divide 2 on both sides

C
r
2

Area r 2
If we want to know the radius
Divide on both sides

Area
r2

Square root on both sides

Area
r

We only consider the positive square root

because a measurement can't be negative.