Mathematics

Basic Arithmetic and Algebra Quiz

Time allowed: 15 minutes

Name:
Date:

Arithmetic with Pronumerals

1. Rewrite the following:
(a) ax ay =
1
(b) x =
a

ax
=
ay
(d) (ax )n =

(e) (ab)x =
 a x
(f)
=
b

(c)

2. Complete the following special expansions:

(a) (A + B)2 =

(b) (A B)2 =

3. Factorise the following:

(a) A2 B 2 =
4. Simplify

(c) A3 B 3 =

22x1 2x1
.
22x1


5. Simplify

(b) A3 + B 3 =


1
1+
(x 1)
4x


, x > 0.
1

1+ x

2015

6. Fully factorise x3 + x2 x 1.

7. Fully factorise x6 2x3 + 1.

8. (a) Write down the factorisations of x2 1 and x3 1.

(b) Show, by factorising the left hand side first, that x4 1 = (x 1)(x3 + x2 + x + 1).

(c) Use the difference of cubes formula to show that x6 1 = (x 1)(x5 + x4 + x3 + x2 + x + 1).

(d) If n is an integer, can you guess what the factorisation for xn 1 is?

2015