3.

1
What are you going to learn?
To describe the notions of terms, factor, and like terms To carry out mathematical operations of like and unlike terms To apply the properties of algebraic multiplication to solve problems

What will you do if you get sick? Do you go to a doctor? If you consult a doctor, you usually get a prescription. You have to go to a pharmacy or drug store to buy the medicine that is written on the prescription. Here are examples of information that are written on the label of the medicine: 3 x 1 tablet per day 2 x 2 teaspoons per day

Key Terms :
variable algebraic form like terms coefficient factor

What do 3 x 1 and 2 x 2 mean? How many times should someone take the medicine a day?

Mathematically, 3x 1 =1+1+1 2x 2 =2+2

Notice.
1 a or a x 1 is written as a.

The numbers such as 1, 2, or 4 can be replaced by any letter such as a to represent integers. If it is replaced by the letters a, we have 2 x a or written as 2a, and 2a = a + a. 3 x a or written as 3a, and 3a = a + a + a 4 x a or written as 4a, and 4a = a + a + a + a, and so on.

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Multiplication of the same number such as 2 x 2 can be written as 22. Can the prescription be labeled as 2 ? Why? Explain.
2

Mathematically, 2 x 2 x 2 is written as 23. 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 is written as 25, and so on.

Notice.
a 1 is written as a

The rule also applies for any whole number, say y. Thus we have the following forms. y4 = y x y x y x y. y5 = y x y x y x y x y, and so on.

Consider a in 2a, 3a or a2. The letter a is called a variable, and 2a, 3a or a2 are called algebraic forms. Here are some examples of algebraic forms: 1) 3a2 + a -2, and -2a 2) b2 + 4, 3b +5 3) b2 + a, 3b + 5a

EXAMPLE 1

Express in the simplest forms. a. 6 y b. a a a a a a a

112/Students Book Algebraic Forms and Their Operations

Solution: a. b. 6 y = y + y + y + y + y + y = 6y a a a a a a a = a7

Notice that 6y can be written as 1 6y or 2 3y or 6 y. 1, 2, 3, 6, y, 2y, 3y and 6y are called the factors of 6y. Can you determine the factors of 10ab2?

Look at the following algebraic form; 5a 3 + 4 a 2 a 2 + 9a + 6 The expression such as 5a 3 , respectively is called a term. 4a 2 , a 2 , 9a and 6

Thus, this algebraic

form has 5 terms. This algebraic form is called polynomial.

In 5x3, 5 is called the coefficient of x3 and 3 is called the power or exponent of a. Similarly, in 4a2, 4 is called the coefficient of a2 and 2 is called the power or exponent of a.

Given the terms 4a2 and a2. The powers of a in both terms are equal, that is, 2. Such terms are called like terms. Like terms contain the same variable and have the same power. If an algebraic form has like terms, it can be simplified by adding or subtracting.

EXAMPLE 2

Simplify the following algebraic forms. a. b. 3a 2 + 4a 2 2b 3 + 4b 3

Mathematics for Junior High School Year 7/113

c.

9a 13a

Solution: a. 3a 2 + 4a 2 = (a 2 + a 2 + a 2 ) + (a 2 + a 2 + a 2 + a 2 ) = 7a 2 or by using distributive law to yield 3a 2 + 4a 2 = (3 + 4)a 2 = 7a 2 . The distributive law is useful to add or to subsract like terms. b. 2b 3 + 4b 3 = (2 + 4)b 3 = 2b 3 c. 9a 13a = (9 13)a = 4a Algebraic form 5a3 + 4a2 a2 + 9a + 6 can be simplified by collecting and then summing up or subtracting them. 5a3 + 4a2 a2 + 9a + 6 = 5a3 + (4-1) a2 + 9a + 6 = 5a3 + 3a2 + 9a + 6 The last form consists of 4 terms; that is, 5a3, 3a2, 9a and 6

EXAMPLE 3

Simplify the following algebraic forms. a. 3x 4 + 2x 2 + x 2 b. 6s 3 + 2s 2 3s 2 + s 5 Solution: a. Are there any like terms on this form? b. 6s3 + 2 s2 3 s3 + s 5 = 6s3 + (2 3) s2 + s 5 = 6s3 + ( 1) s2 + s - 5 = 6s 3 s 2 + s - 5

Sometimes, an algebraic form is the product of numerals and variables. To simplify it, we use the distributive law

114/Students Book Algebraic Forms and Their Operations

with respect to addition or subtraction. To make it clearer, look at the following example.

EXAMPLE 4

Use the distributive law of multiplication in respect to addition or subtraction to simplify the following algebraic forms. a. 5(a + 2b) b. Solution: a. 5(a + 2b) = (5 a) + (5 2b) = 5a + 10b b. 7(2x 5) = 7(2x) + 7(5) = 14x 35 c.
25a + 35b 25 35 = a+ b 5 5 5
25a + 35b c. 7(2x 5) d. (2a) 3 5

= 5a + 7b d. (2a) 3 = 2a 2a 2a = (2 2 2 ) (a a a ) = 23 a3 = 23a3

EXAMPLE 5

Simplify the algebraic forms below. a. b. 2x 5y + 6x 2y 4a 3b 5a + 2b

Solution: a. 2x 5y + 6x 2y = 2x + 6x 5y 2y = (2 + 6) x + ( 5 2)y = 8x + (7)y = 8x 7y

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b. 4a 3b 5a + 2b = 4a 5a 3b + 2b = (4 5)a + (3 + 2)b = (1)a + (1)b =ab Notice that algebraic forms always contain one or more variables. The variables can be replaced by any number. In solving problems, we need to substitute a certain number for a variable. How to find the result?

Consider the following example.

EXAMPLE 6

If p = 2, q = 3 and r = 6, find out the results of : a. p + q b. p + q + 2r c. 3 p 2 2r Solution: a. p + q =2+3=5

b. p + q + 2r = 2 + 3 + 2(6) = 2 + 3 + 12 = 17 c. 3 p 2 2r = 3 (2) 2 2 (6) = 3 (4) 12 = 12 12 = 0. Relation with the Real World Sign boards of a company, a hotel or an amusement center commonly have a rectangular shape. If the x length and the width of a sign board are 3x meters dan x meters, respectively, what is its perimeter?

EXAMPLE 7 3x

Solution :

116/Students Book Algebraic Forms and Their Operations

Let the perimeter of the sign board be P meters. Then P = 2(3x + x) P = 2(3x) + 2(x) P = 6x + 2x P = 8x Thus, the perimeter of the sign board is 8x metres.

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1. Simplify the following algebraic forms. a. 4a 3b 5a + 2b e. 3x 2y + 2x + 2y b. 2x + 3(y x) c. 3p 5 (p + k) d. 2a 4 (a b) f. 12x 2 8y 2 + 3x 2 4y 2 g. 3p 2 + 2p k + l h. 4(a + b) 3(2a + b)

2. Given a = 3, b = 2 and c = 1, calculate : a. value of T, if T = a2 2ab + bc. b. value of A, if A = 2ab bc c. value of N, if N = abc + abc2. d. value of E, if E = ab bc ac e. value of I, if I = a3 2bc + c2

3. An object is dropped at a certain height.

Let the

equation of its position be expressed by h = 5t2 + t, where h denotes the position after being dropped in meter and t denotes time measured after being dropped in second. How far is that falling object after a. 2 seconds? b. 3 seconds?

4. Totok is 13 years old now. In the next five years Totok will be twice as much as Tonos age. How old is Tono now? 5. Netty has Rp 57,500.00, while Iin has Rp 6,250.00 more than the amount of Nettys money. How much money does Iin have?

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6. The figure on the left is a square with the side of 3n. 3n a. Express its perimeter in n. b. Express its area in n. c. When n = 3, calculate the perimeter and the area.

7. Ida is 5 years older than Ifa. a. If Ifa now is x years old, express Idas age in x. b. What is the sum of their ages now? Express it in x. c. How old is Ifa 4 years to go? Express it in x.

8. In a mathematics test Maman got a score of 12 points more than Watis score.

a. If Wati got x, express the score that Maman got in x . b. What is their sum? Express it in x.

9. Amar and Bambang played marbles. Amar had 120 marbles. Bambang had 100 marbles. When the game was over, Amar had 112 marbles left. marbles did Bambang have after the game? How many

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