C1 CHAPTER 1: Algebra and Functions

1.1 Simplifying Terms

Algebraic expressions can be simplified by

collecting like terms. Remember that only

X’s can be added to x’s

Y’s can be added to y’s

and xy2 ‘s can be collected with xy2 ‘s ….

Example 1:

4x2 – 2xy + y2 – 8x2 – 3y2 - 6xy

Solution 1:

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Example 2:

4(a – b2) – 2(3a + 2b2)

Solution 2:

Example 3:

6x2(x – 2y) – 4y(2x3 – x2)

Solution 3:

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1.2 Rules of Indicies

There are 7 rules for manipulating Index form

expressions….remember that these rules apply
ONLY IF THE BASES ARE THE SAME

am x an = am+n

y-2 x y4 =

2z7 x 3z-2 =

6p-5 x 2p5 =

am ÷ an = am-n

y-4 ÷ y6 =

6z-2 ÷ 3z7 =

16p-5 ÷ 2p5 =

3
 (am )n = amn

(x-1)-3

(3x3)5

(2x3)4 x (3x3)2

a –m = 1/ am

x-2

3x-3

4x-1

3x-2

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 a 1/m = m√a

√15 =

251/2 =

4
√81 =

a m/n = (n√a)m

163/4

272/3

813/4

a0= 1

24310

4x0

Complete Ex 1A & Ex 1B on page 3

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1.3 Expanding Brackets

When you have a term directly on the outside of a

bracket, you have to EXPAND the bracket by
multiplying every term inside the bracket by the
term outside…..you may have to then collect like
terms…….

Example 4:

-2x(3x – 1) + 2x2 - 6x

Solution 4:

Example 5:

-4x(2x2 + 7) – 3x3 + 9

Solution 5:

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Example 6:

2x(2x + 3) – 8(4x – 7)

Solution 6:

Example 7:

Y3 (4 – 6y) – 12y3

Solution 7:

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Example 8:

4x – 6 –(4x - 2)

Solution 8:

Example 9:

6x2 – 3(2x2 – 7) + 8

Solution 9:

Complete Ex 1C on page 4 & Ex 1D on page 5

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1.4 Factorising Expressions
Factorisation is the opposite of expanding
brackets….here we have an algebraic expression
with multiple terms and we must take out the HCM
and then put the rest of the terms in bracket…

Example 10:

3x – 9x2

7x2 + 14x3

4x3y2 – 16y3

6x3y2 – 2x4y2

12x3 + 20x2y

4p3q2r2 – 12p2q3r

3p4q3r2 – 12p4q3

16p5q3r2 + 14p4q3r2

Complete Ex 1D on page 5

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1.5 Factorising Quadratics

You have been introduced to quadratics

expressions at GCSE… Quadratics always have an
squared term, eg x2. These can also be
FACTORISED…….

Remember that quadratics can be of the form

ax2 + bx + c or ax2 + bx or ax2 + c

These are all quadratics as they all have the x 2

term and hence have TWO ROOTS

Example 11:

4x2 + 8x

Solution 11:

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Example 12:

3x2 + 9

Solution 12:

Example 13:

x2 - 5x - 6

Solution 13:

Example 14:

6x2 - 8x – 8

Solution 14:

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Example 15:

12x2 + 23x + 10

Solution 15:

If you have two squared terms which are

separated by a minus sign, these can be factorised
using the follwing rule, this is called the
DIFFERENCE OF TWO SQUARES…….

X2 – Y2 = (X + Y)(X – Y)

Example 16: factorise the following quadratics:

a) x2 - 9

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b) x3 – ab2

c) 8x3 - 2xy2

c) 4a2 - b2

d) 3x2 - 27y2

Complete Ex 1E on page 8

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1.6 More Indicies

Sometimes we have to evaluate indicies to obtain a

numerical value…….

Example 17:

253/2

Solution 17:

Example 18:

16-3/4

Solution 18:

14
Example 19:

272/3

Solution 19:

Example 20:

(0.04)-1/2

Solution 20:

Complete Ex 1F on page 8

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1.7 Surds – Simplifying and manipulating

The definition of a RATIONAL number is one that

can be expressed in the form a/b, where a and b
are integers……

An IRRATIONAL number is one that cannot be

expressed in the form a/b….these are more
commonly expressed as SURDS…..

E.g. , √7, √11, √13

There are rules for simplifying surds….

√(ab) = √a x √b

Example 21:

√48

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Example 22:

√40/2

Solution 22:

Example 23:

5√6 - 12√24

Solution 23:

Complete Ex 1G on page 10

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1.8 Surds – Rationalising the denominator

It is usual not to leave an irrational term in the

denominator of a fraction, hence we must
Rationalise the denominator, eg, turn it from an
irrational number into a rational one…..

To turn an irrational term into a rational one we

multiply it by itself…..

Example 24: Rationalise the following terms:

a) √ 7

b) √ 3

c) 2 √ 11

d) 2 √ 5

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However to rationalize an expression containing a
surd we must multiply the expression by its
opposite or conjugate….
e.g.
The conjugate of (a + √b) is (a - √b)

The conjugate of (√a - √b) is (√a + √b)

Example 25: Rationalise the following terms:

a) (3 + √7)

b) (4 - √3)

c) (√7 - √3)

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d) (√11 - 2√3)

However, if we are to rationalize a denominator of

a fraction we must multiply both the numerator
and denominator by the conjugate…..

Rationalise the following denominators…..

Example 26:

Solution 26:

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Example 27:

Solution 27:

Example 28:

Complete Ex 1H & Ex !I on pages 11 and 12

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