Expressions, Equations and Linear Relationships

YEAR 9
SYLLABUS:
Review of Algebra:
• A term is either a single number or a variable. Terms are often separated by
operations like ‘+’ and ‘-‘.
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- A term is something like: 5𝑥, 9𝑥 ! , 𝑦 " , !$

- A constant term is just a number. i.e. 5, 9, 500.

• Co-efficient is the number in-front of the variable.
For example, consider the term: 5x, the co-efficient of the variable x is 5.
• Expression includes terms separated by operations (±,×,÷).
Can you make your own algebraic expression?

• Equation is a statement which is similar to an expression; however, we have a

dependent and an independent variable.
Examples of an equation can be x=3, y=3x + 2.

Notice how each equation has two sides (i.e., this describes the relationship between two
variables. This is a distinctive feature in all equations).

• Substitution means replacing the variables with numerical values.

Can you substitute x=4 into the equation y=9x+2?

• Like terms as the name suggests are terms which have the same
variables/pronumerals.
Can you find the like terms in the following: 5𝑥, 9𝑝𝑞, 8𝑝! , −6𝑞𝑝

• In algebra we express multiplication and division as shown below:

- 𝑎 × 𝑏 = 𝑎𝑏
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- 𝑎 ÷ 𝑏 = &
 • The distributive law is used to expand brackets:
- 𝑎(𝑐 + 𝑏) = 𝑎𝑐 + 𝑎𝑏

• Factorisation involves writing expressions as a product of factors. Many expressions

are factorised by taking out the highest common factor (HCF).

Can you factorise the following?

3𝑥 ! − 6𝑥

9𝑦𝑥 ! + 6𝑥𝑦 + 3𝑥 ! 𝑦 !

• Some other general properties to remember are:

- Associative and commutative law: the order we multiply and add in does not
matter.

- A variable multiplied by 1 is just the variable. A variable multiplied by 0 is 0.

- Inverse means the opposite.
CONCEPT CHECK 1.1:
Solve the expression for x:
Algebraic Fractions

Highlight the main components of the fraction below:

𝑿
𝒚

• For addition and subtraction of fractions, follow the following steps:

1. If the denominator of the fractions is not the same, start by making it the same
denominator. This can be done by multiplying the fractions to get the same
denominator.
2. Once the denominator is the same, simply add and minus as per normal.

" '
Solve this fraction: !
+ #(

Practice Questions:
Find the value of a for the following fraction:
 • For multiplication of fractions, simply multiple the numerator and denominator
together and simplify wherever possible.

Solve the following:

2 𝑥+2
×
𝑥 4

• For division of fractions follow the following steps:

1. To make division easier, we can swap the division sign to a multiplication by
taking the reciprocal of the fraction.
2. Then we can multiply as per normal.

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Example: & ÷ &
Solving Linear Equations:
• When solving for linear equations, we are simply trying to solve for x (meaning we
are trying to find the value of x by re-arranging the equation).
• Solving linear equations allow us to find values for which the statement holds/ is true
for. For example, consider the equation 2x +6 = 0. This equation is only true when
x=-3.
• Linear equations contain only pronumerals to the power of 1. If an equation is given
with a pronumeral that contains a power more than 1, then it is not a linear
equation.
Consider the following equations, can you deduce the linear equation?
1. 2x – 8p – 9c = 5
2. Pq + 2r + 9𝑐 ! = 3

• Common ways to solve for linear equations is to put all the like terms in one side and
the constant in the other and solve.
• Remember when solving always follow BODMAS

NOTE: calculators are designed to follow/solve according to BODMAS.

Practice Questions: