Part 2 Additional Examples

2 Introduction to Algebra

Section 2.1
1 Write each of the following in algebraic form.
(a) Add 4 times x to y
(b) Divide m by the sum of a and 5

(a) 4x + y
m
(b)
a +5

2 Mrs. Lee has m kg of cooking oil. She uses n kg every day.

(a) After how many days will all the cooking oil be used up?
(b) If she uses p kg more every day, after how many days will all the cooking oil be used up?

m
(a) days
n
m
(b) days
n+p

Section 2.2
3 Find the value of H in each of the following formulas when a = 4 and b = 3.
(a) H = 7a – 6b
5a 2
(b) H=
b +1

(a) Substituting a = 4 and b = 3,

H = 7(4) – 6(3) = 28 – 18 = 10
(b) Substituting a = 4 and b = 3,
5( 4) 2 80
H= = = 20
3 +1 4

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Part 2 Additional Examples

4 The grapes cost $15 per kg and the watermelon costs $5 per kg. Helen buys x kg of grapes and a
watermelon of y kg for $C.
(a) Write a formula to represent the relation between C, x and y.
(b) If x = 3 and y = 5, how much does Helen pay?

(a) C = 15x + 5y
(b) Substitute x = 3 and y = 5, we have C = 15 × 3 + 5 × 5 = 70
∴ Helen pays $70.

Section 2.3
5 In the sequence 1, 6, 11, 16, 21, ... , find
(a) the general term,
(b) the 20th term.

(a)  1 = 5 × 1 – 4, 6 = 5 × 2 – 4, 11 = 5 × 3 – 4, 16 = 5 × 4 – 4 and 21 = 5 × 5 – 4,
∴ an = 5n − 4
(b) The 20th term = 5 × 20 − 4 = 96

6 The following is part of a sequence of dot patterns.

1st pattern 2nd pattern 3rd pattern 4th pattern

(a) How many dots are there in the 5th pattern?

(b) How many dots are there in the 6th pattern?
(c) Write down an expression for the nth pattern.

(a)  Number of dots in the 1st pattern = 1 = 3(1), Number of dots in the 2nd pattern = 6 = 3(2),
Number of dots in the 3rd pattern = 9 = 3(3), Number of dots in the 4th pattern = 12 = 3(4),
∴ Number of dots in the 5th pattern = 3(5) = 15
(b) Number of dots in the 6th pattern = 3(6) = 18

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 2 Introduction to Algebra

(c) Number of dots in the nth pattern = 3n

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