Algebraic Expressions

By Muralee.V.

Expanding One Brackets

Example 1
Removing the bracket in an algebraic expression. Simplify
a) –(4mn
– rs + 7)

a(b + c) = ab + ac Solution

Always be careful when removing bracket of operators. 1 2 3

a) –(4mn
+(a + b) = +a + b – rs + 7) = –
+(a – b) = +a – b 4mn + rs – 7
+ (–a – b) = –a – b
–(a + b) = –a – b Expanding
–(a – b) = –a + b two brackets
–(–a – b) = a + b - Expanding
the brackets
involve
multiplication
of linear expression in two separate brackets

Example 2
Expand the following
a) (4m – 3k) (5n – g)
b) (x + y) 2
c) (x + y) (x - y)

Solution
1 2 3 4
a) 2

(4m – 3k) (5n – g) = 4m  5n – 4m  g – 3k  5n – 3k  (-g)

= 20mn – 4mg -15kn + 3kg
= 20mn – 4gm -15kn + 3gk
1 2
b) (x + y) 2
= (x + y) (x + y)
3 4

= x 2 + xy + yx + y 2
= x 2 + xy + xy + y 2
= x 2 + 2xy + y 2

1 2
c) (x + y) (x - y) = (x + y) (x - y)
3 4
 = x 2 - xy + yx - y 2
= x 2 - xy + xy - y 2
=x2 +y2

Tips
1. (x + y) 2 = x 2 + 2xy + y
2

2. (x - y) 2 = x 2 - 2xy + y 2

Factorisation

1. Factors = numbers or terms which can divide a term exactly.

2. State the term as a product of two different terms to find the factors of that term.
Example : 3ab = 1  3ab
= 3  ab
= a  3b
= b  3a
Therefore, the factors for 3ab are 1, 3, a, b, 3a, 3b, ab, 3ab
3. Factorisation of algebraic expression is the reverse of expansion
Expansion

Example : 3m(m + 9) 3m 2 + 27m

Factorisation

Example 3
Factorise each of the following
a) r 2 s t 2 - 3rs 2 t
b) 4y 2 - 20y + 25
c) 36r – 4s – 3rs + 27 r 2

Solution
a) r 2 s t 2 - 3rs 2 t = r(rs t 2 - 3s 2 t) take out the common factor r
= rs(r t 2 - 3st) take out the common factor s
= rst(rt - 3s) take out the common factor t
b) 4y - 20y + 25 = (2y) - 2(2y)(5) + 5
2 2 2
form x 2 - 2xy + y 2
= (2y – 5) 2
c) 36r – 4s – 3rs + 27 r 2 = 36r + 27r 2 - 4s – 3rs Rearrange
expression
= 9r(4 + 3r) – s(4 + 3r)
= (4 + 3r)(9r – s) take out the common factor (4 + 3r)
 4. When factorizing and simplifying algebraic fractions,
- factorise the expansion
- eliminate the common factors

Example 4
Simplify the following
a) - 28m 2 n  4mn
27 s 2  75
b) 9 s  15

Solution
 27 m 2 n
a) - 28m 2 n  4mn =
4mn
7
 28  m  m  n
= 4 m  n
= -7m
27 s  75
2
3(9 s 2  25)
b) = eliminate the common factor 3
9 s  15 3(3s  5)
(9 s 2  25)
=
(3s  5)
(3s  5)(3s  5)
= factorise the numerator and
(3s  5)
eliminate the common factor
= 3s + 5

Adding and subtracting algebraic fractions

1. Similar denominator
I. Maintain the denominator
II. Add or subtract both the numerator
III. Simplify

3x  5 6x  7 3x  5  6 x  7
Example: 2 y  3 - 2y  3 = 2y  3
3x  6 x  5  7
= 2y  3
= -3x + 2
2. Different denominators without common factors
I. Multiply the numerator and denominator with the other denominator
II. Add or subtract both the numerator
III. Simplify, if possible
3b 8 3b  c 8a
Example: a - = a  c - ca
c
 3bc 8a
= ac -
ca
3bc  8a
= ac
3. Different denominators with having one common factor
I. Find the LCM for both the denominators
II. Change the algebraic fraction to equivalent fraction
III. Add or subtract both the numerator
IV. Simplify, if possible
2m  3 6  3m ( 2m  3)  3 (6  3m)  2
Example: - 6n
= 4n  3
- 6n  2
4n

6m  9 12  6m
= -
12n 12n
6m  9  12  6m
=
12n
12m  21
= 12 n
3( 4m  7)
= 3( 4n)
4m  7
=
4n

Multiplying algebraic fractions

1. Denominator with one term : multiply terms separately

x t x  t
Example: yz  sy
= yz  sy
xt
=
sy 2 z
Onewith
2. Denominator termtwo terms
3( a  b) b  a 3( a  b)  ( a  b)
Example : a  b  a  b
= a  b
 a  b
= -3
Two terms

Dividing algebraic fractions

1. Denominator with one term : multiply terms separately

m c m 2d
Example: 4n  2d
= 4n  c
dm
= 2cn
Onewith
2. Denominator termtwo terms
 3x  1 x  5 3x  1
Example : 3 x  21  4 x  28
= 3 x  21 
4 x  28
x  5
3x  1 4( x  7)
= 3( x  7)  x  5
Two terms
12 x  4
= 3 x  15

Test yourself
1. Expand each of the following
a) (2x + 3)(2x – 1)
b) (6 – 7p)
2. Factorise each of the following
a) 4a 2 + 18a
b) 9y 2 + 48yz + 64z 2
3. Simplify the following
a) (-120x 3 y)  30xy 3
( a  b) 2
b)
a 2  b2
4. Solve the following
y  z 4( y  z )
a)
2( y 2  z 2 )
 3( y  z )
5x x2  x
b) x 2  x 
4( x  1)