10 Chapter 1 Algebraic techniques 2 and indices

Substitution and equivalence

One common thing to do with algebraic expressions is to replace the pronumerals (also known as
variables) with numbers. This is referred to as substitution, or evaluation. In the expression 4 + x we can
substitute x = 3 to get the result 7. Two expressions are called equivalent if they always give the same
result when a number is substituted. For example, 4 + x and x + 4 are equivalent, because no matter what
the value of x, 4 + x and x + 4 will be equal numbers.

Let’s start: AFL algebra

In Australian Rules football, the final team score is given by 6x + y, where x is the number of goals and
y is the number of behinds scored.
• State the score if x = 3 and y = 4.
• If the score is 29, what are the values of x and y? Try to list all the possibilities.
• If y = 9 and the score is a two-digit number, what are the possible values of x?

To evaluate an expression or to substitute values means to replace each pronumeral in an

Key ideas

expression with a number to obtain a final value.

For example, if a = 3 and b = 4, then we can evaluate the expression 7a + 2b + 5:
7a + 2b + 5 = 7(3)
7 )+22(4)) 5
= 21 + 8 5
= 34
■ Two expressions are equivalent if they have equal values regardless of the number that is
substituted for each pronumeral. The laws of arithmetic help to determine equivalence.
■ The commutative laws of arithmetic tell us that a + b = b + a and a × b = b × a for any values of
a and b.
■ The associative laws of arithmetic tell us that a + (b + c) = (a + b) + c and
a × (b × c) = (a × b) × c for any values of a and b.

Example 3 Substituting values

Substitute x = 3 and y = 6 to evaluate the following expressions.
a 5x b 5x2 + 2y + x

SOL UT IO N EX P LA NAT I O N

a 5 5( 3) Remember that 5(3) is another way of writing 5 × 3.

= 15

Replace all the pronumerals by their values

b 5 x 2 + 2 y + x = 5(3)2 + 2(6) + (3)
and remember the order in which to evaluate
= 5(9) + 12 + 3
(multiplication before addition).
= 45 + 12 + 3
= 60

ISBN: 9781107671812 © David Greenwood et al. 2014 Cambridge University Press

Photocopying is restricted under law and this material must not be transferred to another party
 Number and Algebra 11

Example 4 Deciding if expressions are equivalent

a Are x − 3 and 3 − x equivalent expressions?
b Are a + b and b + 2a − a equivalent expressions?

SOL UT IO N EX P LA NAT IO N
a No. The two expressions are equal if x = 3 (both equal zero).
But if x = 7 then x − 3 = 4 and 3 − x = −4.
Because they are not equal for every single value of x, they are not
equivalent.
b Yes. Regardless of the values of a and b substituted, the two
expressions are equal. It is not possible to check every single
number but we can check a few to be reasonably sure they are
equivalent.
For instance, if a = 3 and b = 5, then a + b = 8 and b + 2a − a = 8.
If a = 17 and b = −2 then a + b = 15 and b + 2a − a = 15.

Exercise 1B
U F
1 What number is obtained when x = 5 is substituted into the expression 3 × x? C
R PS

2 What is the result of evaluating 20 − b if b is equal to 12?

3 What is the value of a + 2b if a and b both equal 10?

4 a State the value of 4 + 2x if x = 5.

b State the value of 40 − 2x if x = 5.
c Are 4 + 2x and 40 − 2x equivalent expressions?

U F
Example 3a 5 Substitute the following values of x into the expression 7x + 2. C
R PS
a 4 b 5 c 2 d 8
e 0 f −6 g −9 h −3

Example 3b 6 Substitute a = 4 and b = −3 into each of the following.

a 5a + 4 b 3b c a+b
d ab − 4 + b e 2 × (3a + 2b) f 100 − (10a + 10b)

g 12 + 6 h ab + b i 100
a b 3 a b
j a2 + b k 5 × (b + 6)2 l a − 4b

ISBN: 9781107671812 © David Greenwood et al. 2014 Cambridge University Press

Photocopying is restricted under law and this material must not be transferred to another party