Tutorial 2: Basic Algebra 2

6E3Z1007 Foundation Mathematics for Engineering 1

Aim
The aim is that you become familiar with basic algebra.

Follow‐on Learning Activities

You will be able to apply and test your learning in the following activities:

 Lecture classes

Further Reading
Stroud, K. A., & Booth, D. J. (2009). Foundation Mathematics. The Mathematical Gazette. Palgrave
Macmillan. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/3619921?origin=crossref

Summative Assessment
This topic forms part of the learning for the following learning outcome(s) and assessment(s) in this
unit:

Learning Outcome Assessed by:

Simplify expressions by gathering terms and
expanding brackets
Factorise simple algebraic expressions
Understand and apply laws of indices
Assessment 1 – Examination
Assessment 1 – Examination
Assessment 1 – Examination

References
Stroud, K. A., & Booth, D. J. (2009). Foundation Mathematics. The Mathematical Gazette. Palgrave
Macmillan. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/3619921?origin=crossref

About this resource

Document last updated: September 2023 Note that printed or emailed copies of this
document may be out of date. Always check
Next scheduled review date: June 2024 Moodle for the latest version.
Comments and feedback on this document should be
Unit Team
sent to the author(s):

Department of Engineering Undergraduate Programmes 2023‐24

Tutorial 2: Basic Algebra 2
6E3Z1007 Foundation Mathematics for Engineering 1

1 Factorise the following:

a) 12 5𝑥 b) 20𝑥 2𝑦

c) 5𝑥𝑦 9𝑥 d) 44𝑥 2𝑥 𝑦
e) 12𝑥𝑦 20𝑥 𝑦 f) 𝑥 𝑦 20𝑥𝑦 2𝑥 𝑦 9𝑥𝑦

g) 𝑥 2𝑥 2 𝑥 1 𝑥 h) 6𝑥 4𝑥 15𝑥 10

2 Evaluate the following expressions

if a = ‐5, b = 3, c = ‐2

a) 5𝑏 2𝑐 𝑎 b) 20𝑐 𝑎

c) 𝑎 2𝑐 𝑎𝑏𝑥 d) ax aby ac x 2

e) 𝑐 2𝑐 1 f) 𝑎 10𝑏 𝑎 3 0.25

g) h)

i) 𝑎 𝑏𝑐 j) 𝑐 1

3 Simplify the following:

a) x 1 x 3 b) x 1 x 3 c) x 5 x 7

d) 2x 1 x 3 e) 4x x 2 f) 2 𝑥 13 𝑥 4

g) 𝑥 31 𝑥 5 h) 8𝑥 𝑥 2 𝑥 3 i) 2𝑥 𝑥 2 𝑥 6

j) 𝑥 𝑥 2𝑥 1 𝑥 k) 𝑥 𝑥 2 𝑥 1

Department of Engineering Undergraduate Programmes 2023‐24

Tutorial 2: Basic Algebra 2
6E3Z1007 Foundation Mathematics for Engineering 1

4 Factorise the following quadratic equations:

a) x 15x 36 0 b) x 13x 22 0 c) x 7x 18 0
d) x 2𝑥 24 0 e) x 7𝑥 12 0 f) x 3x 18 0

g) x 2𝑥 24 h) x 9𝑥 20 i) x 3𝑥 10

j) x 10𝑥 16 k) x 11𝑥 28 l) x 2𝑥 35

5 Simplify the following expressions:

a) x 2𝑥 b)

c) 𝑥 𝑥 d)
e) 2𝑡 3𝑡 4𝑡 f) 3√𝑥
√ √
g) h) 2𝑦 𝑧
i) 2𝑥 5𝑥 𝑥 j) 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥

k)

l) 4𝑥 𝑦 𝑧 𝑥 𝑧 𝑦 81 𝑥 𝑦 𝑧

m) 16 𝑥 𝑦

6 Transpose the formula to make y the subject:

a) y 2 7 b) 9 y 8

c) 3y 27 d) 9
e 2y 2 0 f 11 12

g 12 h 4 9
i y x 3 j 𝑦 𝑥𝑦 1
k 𝑎𝑥 𝑏𝑦 𝑐 l 𝑥𝑡 𝑎𝑦 1

m 12𝑦 8 n 𝑥
o 4 4𝑦 2 3
p 𝑦 1

q 2 r 𝑎

s 8 t 𝑎

Department of Engineering Undergraduate Programmes 2023‐24

Tutorial 2: Basic Algebra 2
6E3Z1007 Foundation Mathematics for Engineering 1

7 Transpose to make the specified variable the subject

1. v u at; u
2. 2𝑎𝑠 𝑣 𝑢 ; s
3. s – vt 𝑎𝑡 ; 𝑎
4. 𝑝 2𝑤 2ℎ; ℎ
5. 𝐴 2𝜋𝑟 2𝜋𝑟ℎ; ℎ
6. 𝐸 𝑚𝑔ℎ 𝑚𝑣 ; 𝑣
7. 𝐸 𝑚 𝑣 𝑔ℎ ; 𝑚
8. 3𝑎𝑏 𝑎 2𝑏 2; 𝑏
9. 𝑡 3𝑠 2𝑡 𝑠 ; 𝑡

8 Transpose to make the specified variable the subject

1. 𝑦𝑥 𝑎𝑥 1; 𝑥
2. 𝑦 𝑎 ; 𝑥
3. 𝑃 1 𝑟 𝑃; 𝑟
4. 𝑚 𝑘 𝑎 1 𝑥 ; 𝑥
5. 𝑉 ; 𝑟

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Answers
Question 1

a) 12+5x b) 2(10x+y) c) x(5y‐9) d) 2x2(22‐y) e) 4xy(3‐5x) f) xy(3x‐11)

g) (x‐2)(x+1) h) (3x‐2)(2x‐5)

Question 2

a) 16 b) ‐65 c) 21‐15x d) ‐15x‐15y‐20 e) ‐12 f) 69

g) ‐9 h) 34 i) ‐113 j) 22

Question 3

𝑎 𝑥 4𝑥 3 b) 𝑥 2𝑥 3 c) 𝑥 12𝑥 35 d) 2𝑥 5𝑥 3 e) 4𝑥 8𝑥;

f)2𝑥 18𝑥 104 g) 𝑥 26𝑥 155 h) 8𝑥 8𝑥 48𝑥 i) 2𝑥 8𝑥 24𝑥 ;

𝑗 𝑥 𝑥 2𝑥 k)𝑥 𝑥 2𝑥 2𝑥

Question 4

a) x 3 x 12 0 b) x 2 x 11 0 c) x 9 x 2 0 d) x 4 x 6 0

e) x 3 x 4 0 f) x 6 x 3 0 g) x 6 𝑥 4 0 h) x 4 x 5 0

Department of Engineering Undergraduate Programmes 2023‐24

Tutorial 2: Basic Algebra 2
6E3Z1007 Foundation Mathematics for Engineering 1

i) x 5 x 2 j) x 2 x 8 0 k) x 4 x 7 0 l) x 7 x 5 0

Question 5:
a) 2x b) c) 𝑥 d) e) 24𝑡 f) 27𝑡 g) 𝑥 h) 64𝑦 𝑧 i) 10 j) √𝑥 k) 8𝑥

l) 0.198 𝑥 𝑦 𝑧 m) 2.5𝑥 𝑦

Question 6
a)y 5 b) y 1 c) y 9 d)y 36 e)y 1 f)y 4 g)y 46 h)y 0.938 i)y 3 x

j)y k)y l)y m)y n)y o)y 0.8 p)y q)y 𝑥 8

r)y s)y t)y

Question 7
1. v= u + at; u = v – at
2. 2𝑎𝑠 𝑣 𝑢 ;𝑠 =
3. s – vt = 𝑎𝑡 ; ‐2(s ‐ vt) = at2 ; 𝑎 ;𝑎
4. 𝑝 2𝑤 2ℎ; 𝑝 2𝑤 2ℎ; ℎ 𝑤
5. 𝐴 2𝜋𝑟 2𝜋𝑟ℎ; ℎ r

6. 𝐸 𝑚𝑔ℎ 𝑚𝑣 ; 𝑣 ;𝑣

7. 𝐸 𝑚 𝑣 𝑔ℎ ; 𝑚

8. 3𝑎𝑏 𝑎 2𝑏 2; 3𝑎𝑏 2𝑏 𝑎 2; 𝑏 3𝑎 2 𝑎 2; 𝑏
9. 𝑡 3𝑠 2𝑡 𝑠 ;𝑡 6𝑠𝑡 3𝑠 ; 6𝑠𝑡 𝑡 3𝑠 ; 𝑡 6𝑠 1 3𝑠 ; 𝑡

Question 8
1. 𝑦𝑥 𝑎𝑥 1; 𝑦𝑥 𝑎𝑥 1; 𝑦 𝑎 𝑥 1; 𝑥
2. 𝑦 𝑎 ; 𝑦 𝑎 1 𝑥 1; 𝑦 𝑎 𝑎𝑥 𝑥𝑦 1; 𝑦 𝑎 𝑥 𝑎 𝑦 1; 𝑥 𝑎
𝑦 1 𝑦 𝑎; 𝑥

3. 𝑃 1 𝑟 𝑃;𝑃 𝑃𝑟 𝑃 ;𝑃 𝑃 𝑃𝑟 ; 1 𝑟 ;𝑟 1

4. 𝑚 𝑘 𝑎 1 𝑥 ;𝑚 𝑘 𝑎 𝑘 𝑎𝑥 ; 𝑘 𝑎𝑥 𝑘 𝑎 𝑚 ;𝑥 1

5. 𝑉 ;𝑉 𝑟 1 𝑉 ;𝑟 1 ;𝑟 1

Department of Engineering Undergraduate Programmes 2023‐24