ALGEBRA II

(A) Evaluation of Algebraic Expressions

Evaluate means to find the value of an algebraic expression by replacing numbers in the variables.
The process of replacing the numbers in the variables is called substitution.

How to evaluate an expression with one variable:

Let’s say we want to evaluate the expression a + 4 when a = 1.
Just substitute a with 1.
Therefore,
a+4
= 1 + 4,
=5

Example 1:
If a = 4, evaluate the following algebraic expressions:
16
(a) a + 4, (b) 5a, (c) 3a + 5, (d) 2𝑎

Solution: (b) 5a (c) 3a + 5 (d)

16 16
= 2×4
2𝑎
(a) a+4 =5×4 =3×4+5
16
=4+4 = 20 = 12 + 5 =
2×4
=8 = 17
16
= 8

=2

Example 2:
Evaluate
(a) 3 + 4x when x = 5 (b) 2x2 – 9 when x = -7

Solution:
(a) 3 + 4x = 3 + 4(5) (b) 2x2 – 9 = 2(-7)2 – 9
= 3 + 20 = 2(49) – 9
= 23 = 98 – 9
= 89

Example 3:
If p = 4, q = 3 and r = -2, find the value of each of the following.
2𝑝
(a) p3 + 2q2 + r (b) + 𝑞 2 + 3𝑟
5

Solution:
2𝑝 2(4)
(a) p3 + 2q2 + r = 43 +2(3)2 + (-2) (b) + 𝑞 2 + 3𝑟 = + 32 + 3(−2)
5 5
8
= 64 + 2(9) – 2 = +9−6
5
3
= 64 + 18 – 2 = 10 5 − 6
3
= 82 – 2 = 45
= 80

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Example 4:
The expression P = 2(l + b) is a formula for finding the perimeter P of a rectangle when its length and breadth b
are given. Find P if l = 8.5 cm and b = 5.5 cm.

Solution:
Algebraic expression is, P = 2(l + b)
P = 2(8.5 + 5.5)
P = 2(14)
P = 28 cm

(B) Simplification of Algebraic Expression.

We can simplify an algebraic expression by combining the like terms.

Like terms are terms that are either constant or have the same variables. They only differ in their coefficients.
Otherwise, they are called unlike terms.

Steps to simplify an algebraic expression that consists of both like and unlike terms:
(1) Add and Subtract Terms:

Identify the like terms.

Rearrange the expression so like terms are together. Remember to move the + or – attached in front
of them when moving the terms.
Add and subtract the coefficients of the like terms.
EXAMPLE, 3x + 9y + x – 3y = 3x + x + 9y – 3y
= 4x + 6y

(2) Multiply and Divide Terms:

Multiply the coefficient and variables separately.

EXAMPLE, 2a × 3b = 2 × 3 × a × b
= 6ab

Express the division as fraction then divide the numerator and denominator.
16𝑎𝑏
EXAMPLE, 16ab ÷ 4a = 4𝑎
=4 16 × a × b
4×a
1
= 4b

Example 1:
Choose and list all the like terms in each of the following.
1 1 5𝑎 𝑝 1
(a) 2𝑏, 2𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑎, (b) , 5𝑞, 3𝑝, 𝑞, −3𝑝
2 2 3 5 5

Solution:
1 5𝑎 𝑝
(a) the like terms are = 2𝑎 , 𝑎 and . (b) the like terms are = , 3𝑝 and −3𝑝.
2 3 5
1 1
= 2𝑏 and 𝑏. = 5𝑞 and 𝑞.
2 5

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Example 2:
Simplify the following by adding or subtracting like terms.
(a) 18 – 7x – 12 + 9x
(b) 10b + 8a + 2b + 20 – 3a + 7c – 5
1 4
(c) 𝑥 − 3𝑦 + 2𝑥 − 𝑦
2 5

Solution:
(b) 10b + 8a + 2b + 20 – 3a + 7c – 5
(a) 18 – 7x – 12 + 9x
= – 7x + 9x + 18 – 12
= 2x + 6
= 8a – 3a + 10b + 2b + 7c + 20 – 5

= 5a + 12b + 7c + 15

1 4
(c) 𝑥 − 3𝑦 + 2𝑥 − 5 𝑦
2
1 4
= 𝑥 + 2𝑥 − 3𝑦 − 𝑦
2 5
1 4
= 22𝑥 − 35𝑦

Example 3:
Simplify the following.
(a) 10x + 2x + x (b) 17p – 5p – 2p (c) 3a × 8b (d) 36a ÷ 6a

Solution:
(b) 17p – 5p – 2p (c) 3a × 8b (d) 36a ÷ 6a
(a) 10x + 2x + x
= 10p =3×8×a×b =
36𝑎

= 13x 6𝑎
= 24ab =6

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