Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Mathematics For Engineering Basic Algebra Tutorial 1
Mathematics For Engineering Basic Algebra Tutorial 1
BASIC ALGEBRA
This tutorial is useful to anyone studying engineering. It uses the principle of learning
by example.
© D.J.Dunn www.freestudy.co.uk 1
1. BASIC ALGEBRAIC MANIPULATION
If you have got the idea then you can do algebra. The pictures are symbols and in algebra we don’t
use pictures but letters to represent unknown numbers and the most common ones are a, b, c and x,
y, z but any letter can be used.
Many symbols are letters from the Greek alphabet such as α (alpha), β Beta) and γ (gamma). It is a
good idea to speak these symbols by name as you read them until it is natural to read equations
containing them.
1. x + 140 = 180
2. y – 27 = 3
3. z ÷ 7 = 28
4. 20/α = 5
5. 7–β=2
6. 9 x γ = 27
Note that when using symbols we often leave out the multiplication sign so in the last question we
could write 9 γ = 27 instead of 9 x γ = 27
The multiplication sign x is easily confused with the symbol x.
In many maths text books you will find a dot is used to show multiplication so that for example,
7 x 2 = 14 becomes 7 . 2 = 14 but take care as this is easily confused with the decimal point.
© D.J.Dunn www.freestudy.co.uk 2
1.2. UNITS AND DIMENSIONS
The purpose of algebra is to help us solve unknown quantities in equations that represent real
things. It is useful for engineers to realise that the numbers and symbols must have units and that
the units must make sense. This is called dimensional compatibility. For example it would be
nonsense to write an equation such as:
2 apples + 3 plums = 5 pears
To avoid confusion between symbols and units, the units will be written in square brackets.
We could not have an equation that mixed the units up so the following is nonsense.
3 [kg] + 5 [m] = 8
In multiplication and division the units must make sense as well. For example
2[m] x 3[m] = 6 [m2]
This is because the product of metres (m) and metres is square metres [m2]
We can mix the units so long as the product is correct for example
2 [N] x 3 [m] = 6 [Nm]
The product of Newton [N] and metre [m] is Newton Metre [Nm]
When you need to work out the units of the answers, it is a good idea to use the square bracket
method.
Never mix multiples of the same units in equation. For example never mix mm and m or g and kg
or seconds and minutes. Be consistent.
Although units are vitally important, you don’t have to worry about units until you come to replace
symbols with numbers in order to work out the answer so most of the equations will not show units.
The equality is the same so when ever we want to, we can simple swap the two sides of the equals
sign over.
© D.J.Dunn www.freestudy.co.uk 3
1.4. DIVIDING and MULTIPLYING BOTH SIDES
In an equation such as a = b x c a is the subject for obvious reasons. We can make b the subject
by dividing both sides of the equation by c. Let’s write the equation as a = b c
a bc
Put a dividing line under both sides and c on the bottom. =
c c
a c
This is the same as = b
c c
a
Since anything divided by itself is one then = b
c
a
We can swap sides and write b = and b is now the subject. Similarly we could have divided both
c
a
sides by b to make c the subject. c = Note that this involved simply changing c with b
b
What we have done is move the c from above on one side to below on the other and this is called
cross multiplication. The rule can be written like this.
SOLUTION
B
Now consider the equation A =
C
If we multiply both sides by C the equality is maintained and A C = B
SOLUTION
V
R= Multiply both sides by I and R I = V
I
V
Divide both sides by R and: I= Evaluate and I = 20/5 = 4 Amperes.
R
Note the units are not the same in this equation but the equation defines the Ohm as Volts per
Ampere and this makes it correct.
© D.J.Dunn www.freestudy.co.uk 4
1.5 SUBTRACTING OR ADDING TO BOTH SIDES
This is always true if we subtract the same number from both sides. Say we subtract 3 from both
sides.
20 - 3 = 15 + 5 – 3 or 17 = 15 + 5 – 3 = 17 Again the sum is still correct.
If we add or subtract a number or symbol the same as one already there, we make it disappear on
one side.
For example if we have 20 = 15 + 5
Subtract 5 from both sides. 20 – 5 = 15 + 5 - 5
20 – 5 = 15
Here is another example. 16 – 4 = 12
Add 4 to both sides. 16 = 12 + 4
SOLUTION
When you are use to this you would go straight to the solution by moving x over and changing
the sign. Here is a harder example.
SOLUTION
P 2D 2B
First divide both sides by 2 = + = D+B
2 2 2
P
Now subtract B from both sides to get rid of B on the right − B = D + B-B
2
P P
−B= D Now swap both sides over D = −B
2 2
200
Put in numbers and evaluate D= − 40 = 100 − 40 = 60 and the units must be mm.
2
© D.J.Dunn www.freestudy.co.uk 5
WORKED EXAMPLE No.5
A
Given the equation R = + C make B the subject. Given A = 12, C = 2 and R = 4 evaluate B
B
SOLUTION
A
First take C to the other side and change sign. R -C =
B
Multiply both sides by B BR – BC = A
C
3. The law of a lifting jack is E = + D Make η the subject of the formula.
η
Given E = 20 N, C = 5 (constant no units) and D = 2 N, calculate η (Greek letter ETA)
E
4. The electric current I flowing from a battery is given by I = where E is the EMF, r the
R+r
internal resistance and R the external resistance. Measurements gave I = 4 Amps, E = 12.08 V
and R = 3 Ohms. Determine the internal resistance.
i. yz = x
ii. x = 2yz
iii. x = 4z/y
iv. z = 4x – 2y
v. 2xy = 4 + x
vi. 2x/y = 3z
vii. 12 – 3z + 2y – 4x = 0
© D.J.Dunn www.freestudy.co.uk 6
1.6. DISTRIBUTIVE LAW
The equality is maintained if we multiply (or divide) everything by the same number. Suppose we
multiply every term by 5
We could have written this as (3 + 9 – 2)x5 = 10x5 and get 10x5 = 10x5 This is also
correct.
If instead of the number 5 we could have used a symbol say y and the same would be true. We
would have:
SOLUTION
(a + b + c) x z = az + bz + cz
SOLUTION
12a – 3b – 6c
SOLUTION
The common factor must be a number that common to each term and trying the lowest number
3 we can write the expression as 3x4a – 3b – 3 x 2c
Now 3 is a common factor and we can remove it and form brackets.
3(4a – b –2c)
© D.J.Dunn www.freestudy.co.uk 7
SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE No.4
5n(2a+3b-4c)
3x(a – b + 2c)
2. Remove the common factor and create brackets for the following expressions.
2x + 2y + 2z
10x – 5y + 20
We could get the answer by first multiplying (5 – 1) by 3 and then by 2 and adding the two results
as follows.
( 3 + 2) x (5 – 1) = 3 x (5 – 1) + 2 x (5 – 1) = 3 x 4 + 2 x 4 = 12 + 8 = 20
Multiply out (a + b) x (c + d)
SOLUTION
(a + b) x (c + d) = a(c + d) + b(c + d) = ac + ad + bc + bd
(2 + x) (y + z) (p – q) (a – b) (2g + n) (a – b)
© D.J.Dunn www.freestudy.co.uk 8
ANSWERS TO SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISES
SAE 1
=7 = 12 = 24 =8½
SAE 2
x = 40y = 30 z = 196 α=4 β=5 γ=3
SAE 3
1. H=V/A = 2 ½ cm
2. R = V/I = 12 Ohms
C 5
3. η= = (no units)
E - D 18
4. 0.02 Ohms
5. i. y = x/z ii. y = x/2z iii. y = 4z/x iv. y = (4x – z)/2
v. y = (4 + x)/2x vi. y = 2x/3z vii. y = (4x +3z -12)/2
SAE 4
1. 10na + 15nb – 20nc and 3xa - 3xb + 6xc
SAE 5
2y + 2z + xy + xz pa – pb –ga + gb 2ga – 2gb + na – nb
© D.J.Dunn www.freestudy.co.uk 9