UNIT

Fundamentals of Algebra

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES = 3\/I-3\/3 =0

Ans: 0

Example 1. Ifa = 2 and 6=5, the value of the expression Example 4. The expression (5x - 8)3 - (3.v -8)3 - 6x
(5x - 8) (3x - 8) when simplifies gives....
2a-[3a + 46-(2a-6) + 5a} -76] is: Sol: If 5x - 8 = a, 3* - 8 = b, the given expression is
Sol: The given expression is simplified as 2(6 -- 2a) ai -3(a-b)x a = (a-i)3
=> 2 (5-4) = 2 (Zv3) = 8a3
=>
Ans: 2 Ans: 8a3
Example 2. If « + 6 = 15 and ab = 56, the value of Example 5. If M= a{rn + n) and b(m - n), then the
(a3 + 63) (a2 + 62) is:
Sol: Clearly a = 7 and b = 8 M N\ M N
value ot — + — = ------— is:
a b a b J
73 + 83 3 43 + 5 1 2 855
Given expreSsion= M N
72 +82 49 + 64 113 Sol: — = m + n-, — = m-n
a 6
64
= 7— M N
113 ^+*u
a 6 a
— =2m + 2« = -
6 n
64
Ans: 7-— m
113 Ans: —
n
Example 3. If a + — = V3 , the value of - -ij is: Example 6. Ifz varies aspx +y, and ifz = 5 when a = 1
a a andy = 2. Also ifz = 5 when a = 2 and_y =3 , find
the value ofp.
n3 -3 p
Sol: °3+-at = a +-
a
+
<*)
Sol: Let z = m (/?a +y), m being a constant.
Now z = 3, a = 3 andy = 2, we have
 3 = m (p + 2) ...(/) Example 11. Find the value ofxif
Again z = 5,x = 2,y=?> so5 = m{2p + 3) ...(z/7)
{x - 4)3 + (x - 9)3 + (x - 8)3 = 3(x - 4) (x - 9) (x - 8)
3 p+2 Sol: We know that o' + b7" + c3 = 2abc if^ + 6 + c = 0
From (/) and (/'/), we have 5 “ 2^ + 3 => p = \ x-4+x-9+x-8 = 0 => 3x = 21 orx= 7
Ans: 1 Ans:x = 7

Example 7. If (x + 1) be a common factor ofx2 +/?x + Example 12. The sum of two numbers is 184. If one-
q and x2 + px + q', the value of a is: third of the one exceeds one-seventh of the
Sol: Since (x + a) is a common factor so other by 8, find the smaller number.
a2-pa + £/= 0 and a2 - pa + <7' = 0 Sol: Let the numbers be x and (184 -x)

q-q' 1 (184-x)
=r> -XX- =8
=> a= , 3 7
P-P
=> x = 72. Thus the numbers are 72 and 112. Hence
q-q' the smaller number is 72.
Ans: Ans: 72
p-p'
Note: Example 13. Of the two numbers, 4 times the smaller
(i) x"-/' is always divisible byx-y [in is +ve. one is less than 3 times the larger one by 5. Ifthe
integer, odd or even. sum of the numbers is larger than 6 times their
(ii) x" -y is always divisible by (x +>’) when n difference by 6. Find the sum of the digits of two
is even integers. numbers.
(iii) x” -y is always divisible by (x + y) when n Sol: Let the two numbers be x and y such that x >3^,
is odd integer. => 3x - 4>’ = 5 ■..(/)

(iv) x" + y1 is not divisible by (x - y) for any (x + x) -6 (x-_y) = 6 or -5x + 7 v = 6 ...(H)

value of n. from (0 and (//) x = 59, y = 43
Now sum of the digits of 59 and 43 is
Example 8. For what least positive value of n, the 5 + 9+4 + 3 = 21
expression 34"-43" is exactly divisible? Ans: 21
Sol: (34” — 43”) = (34)”-(43)"
= 81”-64" 2
So, by (/) above, this expression is divisible by Example 14. A fraction becomes — if 1 is added to
(81 -64) is by 17.
both its numerator and denominator. The same
Ans: 17
I
Example 9. For what least value of n, (26" - 62") is fraction becomes - ifl is subtracted from both
divisible by ? n being even +ve,
Sol: 26" - 62" = (26)" - (62)" = 64" - 36" the numerator and denominator. Such a fraction
is:
Clearly it is divisible by 64 + 36 = 100
Ans: 100 x
Sol: Let the fraction be —
Example 10. If the polynomial/(x) = 2x3 + mx2 + nx — y
14 has (x - 1) and (x + 2) as its factors, find the x +1 2
value ofm * y + \~ 3 ...(/)
Sol: Since (x - 1) and (x +2) are the factors of/(x) so
x— 1 1
/(1) = 0 andy(-2) = 0. Hence w + /? - 12 = 0 and 2 and ...(//)
m-n- 15 = 0 y-1 _ 2
=> m = 9,n = 3. Thus m * n = 27 Solving (/) and (ii), we havex = 3,_y = 5.
Ans: 27 Required fraction = ^ .
 3 (a) 66 (b) 72
Ans: - (c) 76 (d) 80

Example 15. The ages of two persons differ by 16 4. The simplified value of the expression
years. If 6 years ago, the elder one be 3 times as (a + b-c)2+2{a + b-c)(a-b + c)+(a-6 + c)2
old as the younger one, find sum of their present is
ages. (a) 0 (b) 4a2
Sol: Let the age of the younger person be x years, (c) 4b2 (d) c2
then age of the elder person = (x + 16) years.
3(x-6) = (x+16-6) 5. The value of (x-y)3 + (x +^)3 + 3(x-y)2 (x +y)
x = 14. + 3 (x + y)2 (x -y) is
So, their present ages are 14 years and 30 years. (a) 27X3 (b) 8(x3 -y3)
Hence, sum of their present ages = 44 years. (c) 8x3v3 (d) 8x3
Ans: 44 years
6. lfp + q = 2, then the value ofp3 + q} + 6p2 + 5q2
Example 16. One year ago, the ratio of Anil’s and + 6pq is
Sunil’s age was 6 : 7. Four years hence, their (a) 19 (b) 18
ratio would become 7 : 8. How old is Sunil?
(c) 15 (d) 23
Sol: Let Anil’s and Sunil’s ages one year ago be 6x
and lx respectively. Then their ages 4 years
hence are (6.x + 5) years and (lx + 5) years. 7. If x-- = 3, then the value of xJ—- is
X x
6x + 5 _1
^ lx + 5 ~ 8 or x = 5. (a) 27 (b) 32
Hence, Sunil’s present age = lx+ \ = 36 years. (c) 36 (d) 42
Ans: 36 years 8. If x = 3, ^ = 2 and z = - 1, then the value of

x3+y+1
-z
3 is
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
(a) 4 (b) 1
Tick ('O the correct choice amongst the following: (c) -2 (d) 0

1. Ifw = 2, « = 3,p = 4,^ = 0, r = 7 and 5'= 10, then 9. If a = 15, b = 12 and c = 9, find the value of
3w + 2/7 _ 4/7-3/? 2/7 + 3//? (2a + 2b)(2c + a)
the expression
q+p q+r q +m 2(a-b)(2b + c) ‘
has the value (a) 10 (b) 6
(a) 5 (b) 9 (c) 9 (d) 3
(c) 11 (d) 13
10. Ifx = 40, ^ = 43, z = 47, find the value ofx3 +>>3 +
2. If a = 29, b = 24 and c = 27, find the value of a3 + z3 - 3xyx.
b3 + c3- 3abc. (a) 1300 (b) 4520
(a) 1620 (b) 1640 (c) 4910 (d) 4810
(c) 1520 (d) 1580
11. IfP varies directly as QR and the values of P, Q,
3. Ifx= 16,^= 10,zand/ = -l, find the value of
be 6, 9, 10 repectively, then the value of P
(x - y)(5yfx - y) + j(x-yu){z + t). when (2 = 5 and /? = 3 is
 1 (a) S\[l (b) 10V2
(a) - (b) 3
(c) 20 (d) 5

19. In a pair of fractions, fraction A is twice the

(c) 3 (d) I fraction B and the product of two fractions is
2
12. If(x + a) is a factor of^A) = a3 + or2 - 2v +' a + 4, — . What is the value of fraction A!
then a is 25

4 2 1 1
(a) 3 (b) -- (a) - (b) 77
25

4 7 2
(O -3 (0 - (c) - (d) None of these

13. If n is any positive integer, then the last two 20. The difference between the numerator and the
digits in the expression (81)'" (121)'” - 1 are denominator of a fraction is 5. If 5 is added to
(a) 02 (b) 12 the denominator, the fraction is decreased by
(c) 21 (d) 00 1
1- . Find the value of the fraction.
4
a x-b a- c
14. If- —1--------- 1----------- = 3, then the value ofa is
b+c c+a a+b 1 1
M 3 (b) 24
(a) abc <b) ^ 1
(c) 3- (d) 6
1
(c) a+b+c (d)
a+b+c
2
21. A person’s present age is - th of the age of his
15. The value of a that satisfies the equation
4 5 9 mother. After 8 years, he will be one-half of the
—c_—rr age of his mother. How old is the mother at
a-3 a-5 a-13 15
present?
(a) 4 (b) 3
(a) 32 years (b) 36 years
(c) 2 (d) 1
(c) 40 years (d) 48 years
16. If 0.3a - 0.37 = 0.37a - 0.3, then a has the value
22. Tanya’s grandfather was 8 times older to her 16
(a) 1 (b) -1
years ago. He would be 3 times of her age 8
(c) 2 (d) -2
years from now. Eight years ago, what was the
ratio of Tanya’s age to that of her grandfather?
17. If—+— = 4 and ——^- = 4- (a) 1:2 (b) 1:5
6 15 3 12 4
(c) 3:8 (d) 11:53
(a) (6,15) (b) (18,15)
(c) (15,18) (d) (12,30) 23. A person was asked to state his age in years.
His reply was, “Take my age three years hence,
18. If A + _y = V3, a - y = >/2 , then the expression multiply it by 3 and then substract three times
Sxy (x2+y2) has the value my age 3 years ago and you will know how old I
am.” What was the age of the person?
 (a) 18 years (b) 20 years = 65x74-4810
(c) 24 years (d) 32 years 11. P=K*QR
1
=> 6 = A:x9xlO => K= —
15
1 I
?=—QR =»/> = —x5x3 = l
1. (b) 2. (c) 3. (a) 4. (b) 5. (d)
13. (8irx(l2ir-l
6. (a) 7. (c) 8. (a) 9. (d) 10. (d)
= (81 x 121)"'—1
11. (d) 12. (c) 13. (d) 14. (c) 15. (a)
This expression is always divisible by
16. (b) 17. (b) 18. (d) 19. (c) 20. (b)
(81 x 121-1) i.e. 9800, which is possible only
21. (c) 22. (d) 23. (a) if the last two digits of the given expression
are 00.
14. x = a + 6 + c is satisfied by the given equation
17. x= 18,.^= 15 satisfy the equation
[For Some Selected Problems] 18. 2(x2 + v2) = (*+_y)2 + (*-v)2
= (3 + 2) = 5
Axy = (x + y)2 - (x -y)2
2. a3 + b3+c3-3a6c = —fy + 6 + c)[(a-6)~
= (3-2)= 1
+ (b-c)2 +(c-a)2] 8xv(x2+y) = 5x1=5
19. Let A and B be two fractions.
= 1520
2
4. Given expression = {(a + b-c) A = 2B and AB= —
25
+ (a - b + c)}2
. A 2 4
= (2a)2 = 4a2 => Ax — = — or A2=-
2 25 25
5. Given expression = [(x-y) + (x +jy)]3
2
= 8x3 so A=j
6. p + q = 2 => p=\,q=\ 20. Le the numerator be x, so that denominator is
x + 5.
7. x—
n3 i
= X3---- r-3 X----
i
x+5 x+5 5
X3 =>
X X
x x+5 4
x+5
x----lY + 3 x----
X3--^ 1 1 =>
X 4
X X
1
= 27 + 3x3=36 So, the fraction is 2— .

I
21. Mother’s present age = x years
10. Given expression = ~ (x+y + z)x[(x- y)2 2
—x years
Persons present age = -
+ (y-z)2+ (z-x)2]
1
= ^ x 130 x (9+16 +49) =?• —x + 8 = -(x + 8)
5
x = 40
22. 16 years ago. Let Tanya’s age = .y years and 48
her grandfather’s age = By. or y =
5
After 8 years from now 0 T y+8 11
8 years ago, - = —
T = (y + 24)
and G = By+ 24 23. Present age of the person be y years.
By+ 24 = 3 (y+24) Then 3 (y +3)-3 (y-3) = y
5y = 48 => y = 18