Thursday 20th January 2022

SUBSTITUTION

In Algebra, substitution means replacing a variable or symbol with something else,

usually a constant.

Example 6: Evaluate the following when a = 1, b = – 2 and c = 3

!#$
(a) a+b (b) a+b+c (c) a–b (d)
%

(e) 3a (f) 2a – 3b (g) a2 (h) 2b2

(i) a2 – b2 + c2 (j) √3𝑐 (k) – 4abc

Solution:

(a) a + b = 1 + (– 2) (replace a with 1 and b with – 2, since b = – 2 place – 2

in brackets)

=1–2=–1 (a plus sign and a negative sign placed consecutively

always gives a negative sign)

Answer: a + b = 1 + (– 2) = 1 – 2 = – 1

(b) a + b + c = 1 + (– 2) + 3 (replace variables with correct values, placing negative

value in brackets)

=1–2+3 (simplify consecutive signs)

⟹a+b+c=–1+3=2 OR a+b+c=1+1=2

Answer: a + b + c = 1 + (– 2) + 3 = 1 – 2 + 3 = – 1 + 3 = 2

Alternatively,

a + b + c = 1 + (– 2) + 3 = 1 – 2 + 3 = 1 + 1 = 2

(c) a – b = 1 – (– 2) (replace variables with correct values, placing negative value in

brackets)

=1+2=3 (simplify consecutive signs)

 Answer: a – b = 1 – (– 2) = 1 + 2 = 3

! # $ (" $) " &

(d) = (replace variables with correct values, placing negative value in
% '
brackets)

"'
= (simplify numerator)
'

"'
= =–1 (a negative divided by a positive is a negative)
('

! # $ (" $) " & " ' " '

Answer: = = = =–1
% ' ' ('

(e) 3a = 3 (1) (replace the variable a with 1, placing the number 1 in brackets)

=3×1=3 (between a number and brackets is multiplication)

Answer: 3a = 3 (1) = 3 × 1 = 3

(f) 2a – 3b = 2 (1) – 3 (– 2) (replace variables with correct values, placing both positive and
negative values in brackets)

=2×1–3×–2 (between a number and brackets multiplication)

=2+6=8

Answer: 2a – 3b = 2 (1) – 3 (– 2) = 2 × 1 – 3 × – 2 = 2 + 6 = 8

(g) a2 = (1)2 (replace the variable a with 1, placing the number 1 in brackets)

=1×1=1 (recall the definition of squaring a number, it is multiplied by itself)

Answer: a2 = (1)2 = 1 × 1 = 1

(h) 2b2 = 2 (– 2)2 (replace the variable b with – 2, placing – 2 in brackets)

= 2 × (– 2)2 (between a number and brackets is multiplication)

=2×4=8 [ (– 2)2 = – 2 × – 2 = 4]

Answer: 2b2 = 2 (– 2)2 = 2 × (– 2)2 = 2 × 4 = 8

(i) a2 – b2 + c2 = 12 – (– 2)2 + 32 (replace variables with correct values, placing

the negative value in brackets)

=1–4+9 [evaluate numbers with indices, 12 = 1, (– 2)2 = 4

and 32 = 9]

a2 – b2 + c2 = – 3 + 9 = 6 OR a2 – b2 + c2 = 1 + 5 = 6
 Answer: a2 – b2 + c2 = 12 – (– 2)2 + 32 = 1 – 4 + 9 = – 3 + 9 = 6

Alternatively,

a2 – b2 + c2 = 12 – (– 2)2 + 32 = 1 – 4 + 9 = 1 + 5 = 6

(j) √3𝑐 = &3 (3) (replace the variable with 3)

= √3 × 3 (between a number and brackets is multiplication)

= √9 = 3

Answer: √3𝑐 = &3 (3) = √3 × 3 = √9 = 3

(k) – 4abc = – 4 (1) (– 2) 3 (replace variables with values, put negative numbers in brackets)

=–4×–2×3 (between a number and brackets and between 2 brackets is

multiplication)
=8×3

= 24

Answer: – 4abc = – 4 (1) (– 2) 3 = – 4 × – 2 × 3 = 8 × 3 = 24

&'
Example 7: Determine the value of ! when h = 5 and g = 4 correct to 3 significant figures.
(

Solution:

&' & (*) &×* ./

!( =! ,
=!
,
=!
,
= √2.5 = 1.58113883 ≈ 1.58 (3 s.f)

Example 8: Evaluate the following given that a = – 1, b = – 2 and c = – 4

,!! #&$%
$0!#%

Solution:

,!! #&$% , (# &)! # & (# .) (# ,) , × (# &)! # & × (# .) × (# ,)

= =
$0!#% (# .) 0(# &) # (# ,) #.#&0,

, × , # & × , .2 # 3 3
= = = =8
#10, . .
 Example 9: Calculate the value of V = 3b + 2b2 when b = 4.

Solution:

V = 3b + 2b2 = 3 (4) + 2 (4)2 = 3 × 4 + 2 × (4)2

= 12 + 2 × 16 = 12 + 32 = 44