ALGEBRA

BY: K. JOHNSON
EXPANDING ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS
 Removing Brackets using the Distributive Law

Scenario 1

At the beginning of the Premier League John and his friend Tony bet on
which team would take home the trophy. John bet $5000 on Arsenal
while Tony said Chelsea was his team. Mark, another friend bet John that
he would double the bet he made with Tony because he was sure
Leicester City would take the win.
The following expression would represent if John won both bets
2(500+500)
2 x 1000 (Work the bracket first)
= $ 2000
Expand and Simplify the following
a. (3x + 2)(4x + 5)

b. (2x + 1)(3x - 4)

c. (4x – 3)(2x + 5)

d. (3x – 2)(4x – 7)
(3x + 2)(4x + 5)

3x (4x + 5) + 2(4x+5)

12x2 + 15x + 8x + 10

12x2 + 23x + 10
(2x + 1)(3x - 4)

2x (3x – 4) + 1 (3x – 4)

6x2 – 8x + 3x – 4

6x2 – 5x – 4
(4x – 3)(2x + 5)

4x ( 2x + 5) – 3 (2x + 5)

8x2 + 20x – 6x – 15

8x2 + 14x – 15
(3x – 2)(4x – 7)

3x ( 4x – 7) – 2 (4x – 7)

12x2 – 21x – 8x + 14

12x2 – 29x + 14
Simplify each of the following expressions

1. 8(2x – 5)(3x + 4)
2. 4x – (3x + 2)(4x – 1)
3. (5x + 3)(2x – 7) - (3x – 2)(4x + 1)
8(2x – 5)(3x + 4)
8 [ 2x (3x + 4) – 5 (3x + 4)]
8[ 6x2 + 8x – 15x – 20]
8(6x2 – - 7x – 20)
48x2 – 56x - 160
 4x – (3x + 2)(4x – 1)
=4x – [3x (4x -1) + 2 (4x-1)]
= 4x – (12x2 – 3x + 8x – 2)
= 4x – 1 (12x2 + 5x – 2)
= 4x – 12x2 – 5x + 2
= -12x2 + 4x – 5x + 2
= -12x2 – x + 2
`

(5x + 3)(2x – 7) - (3x – 2)(4x + 1)

=5x(2x-7) + 3(2x-7) – [3x(4x+1) – 2(4x+1)]
= 10x2 – 35x + 6x – 21 – 1(12x2 + 3x – 8x – 2)
= 10x2 – 35x + 6x – 21 – 12x2 – 3x + 8x + 2
= 10x2 – 12x2 + 6x – 35x – 3x + 8x – 21 + 2
= - 2x2 – 24x – 19
Simplify the following
a) (x + 4q)2

b) (x + c)(x – c)

c) (1-5x)(1 + 5x)

d) (x-3p)2

e) (1 – 4x)2
Solutions
(x + 4q)2
= (x + 4q) (x + 4q)
= x(x + 4q) + 4q (x + 4q)
= x2 + 4xq + 4xq + 16q2
= x2 + 8xq + 16q2
Solution Cont’d

(x + c)(x – c)
x(x – c) + c (x – c)
x2 – cx + cx – c2
x2 – c2 (the difference between two squares)
Solution Cont’d

(1-5x)(1 + 5x)
= 1( 1 + 5x) – 5x (1 + 5x)
= 12 + 5x – 5x – 25
= 1 – 25x2
 (x – 3p)2
(x-3p)(x-3p)
x(x-3p) – 3p(x-3p)
x2 – 3px – 3px + 9p2
x2 - 6px + 9p2
 (1 – 4x)2
(1 – 4x) (1 – 4x)
1(1-4x) – 4x (1-4x)
1 – 4x – 4x + 16x2
1 – 8x + 16x2
Factorization
What is factorization?

Factorization can be said to be the opposite

of expansion.

It is the adding of brackets by writing an

expression as the product of its factors.
Factorizing Algebraic Expressions

Factorize each of the following algebraic expressions.

a) 5x + 5y

b) 64a2 – 8a

c) 25x – 10

d) -49p2 + 7p

e) -64x – 16

f) 5wx + 10wy – 15wz

 5x + 5y
Step 1 : Identify the highest common
factor. (H.C.F.)
In this case it is 5

Step 2: Divide each term by the H.C.F.

Place the division in brackets with the H.C.F. outside the bracket

5( )

5(x+y)

At the end of factorizing there should be no common factors in the bracket. If there is it is likely the highest common factor was not used.
b) 64a2 – 8a
8a (8a – 1)

c) 25x-10
= 5(5x-2)

d) -49p2 + 7p or -7p (7p – 1)

= 7p(-7p + 1)

e) – 64x – 16 or -16 (4x + 1)

= 16 ( -4x – 1)

f) 5wx + 10wy – 15wz

= 5w (x + 2y – 3z)
Factorize each of the following algebraic expressions.

a) 42x + 24x2
b) 9x – 27y3
c) 20abc – 8bcd

d) 4x4 + 16x2
e)5 + 10r2
a) 42x + 24x 2 e) 5 + 10r2

= 6x (7 + 4x)

b)
9x – 27y 3
=9(x - 3y 3)

= 5R2 + 2r2)
c) 20abc – 8bcd
= 4bc(5a – 2d)

d) 4x 4 + 16x 2
= 4x 2(x 2 + 4)
Factorize the following algebraic expressions.

a) 4gh1 – 4gh2

b) r3 - r2h

c) 10x3y2 + 5x2y5 – 15xy3

d) - +
Solutions
d) - +
a) 4gh1 – 4gh2 = (1 - + )
= 4g (h1- h2)
ASIDE
Recall, we are using the H.C.F. to divide each term.
b) r3 - r2h
1st term
= r2 (4r – h) ÷

But recall the rules when dividing by a fraction. Change the

c) 10x3y2 + 5x2y5 – 15xy3 sign and reciprocate the divisor

= 5xy2(2x2 + xy3 – 3y) x =1

Factorize each of the following algebraic expressions

1) + -

2) +

3) + +

4) - +

5) + -
Solutions
1) + - 4) - +

(+ -) (- +)

2) +

(+ -)

3) + +

(+ +
Factorizing by grouping

Factorize the following algebraic expressions.

a) px + py + qx + qy
b) 3ax – 6ay + bx – 2by
c) 4px – 4py – 3qx + 3qy
d) mx + nx – my – ny
e) lm(5x – 1) + 3pq(5x-1)
Solution
a) px + py + qx + qy e) lm(5x – 1) + 3pq(5x-1)
p( x + y) + q ( x + y) (lm + 3pq) (5x – 1)
(p + q) (x+y)

b) 3ax – 6ay + bx – 2by

3a (x – 2y) + b (x – 2y)
(3a + b) (x – y)

c) 4px – 4py – 3qx + 3qy

4p (x – y) – 3q( x – y)
(4p – 3q) (x – y)

d) mx + nx – my – ny
x(m + n) – y (m + n)
(m + n) (x – y)
Factorizing as the Product of Two Binomial Expressions

Factorize each of the following quadratic expressions.

a) x2 + 3x + 2x + 6

b) x2 - 5x + 2x – 10

c) x2 + 4x - x – 4

d) x2 - x - 5x + 5
Solutions
c) x2 + 4x - x – 4
a) x2 + 3x + 2x + 6 [x2 + 4x ]– [x – 4 ]
[x2 + 3x] + [2x + 6] x(x + 4) – 1 (x + 4)
(x + 4) (x – 1)
x(x + 3) + 2(x + 3)
(x + 3) (x + 2) OR group like terms

x2 + 4x - x – 4
b) x - 5x + 2x – 10
2
[x2 - x ] + [4x – 4]
[x2 - 5x] + [2x – 10] x (x – 1 ) + 4 (x – 1)
x(x – 5) + 2(x – 5) (x - 1) (x + 4)
(x - 5) (x + 2)

d) x2 - x - 5x + 5
[x2 – x] – [5x + 5]
x(x – 1) – 5(x – 1)
(x-1) (x-5)
Factorizing as a Perfect
Square
Factorizing as a Perfect Square
Example. Simplify the following algebraic expressions.

1) (x + 4) (Perfect square)
2 (a + b)2
(x + 4) (x + 4) (a + b)(a + b)
a(a +b) + b (a + b)
x(x + 4) + 4(x + 4)
a2 + ab + ab + b2
x2 + 4x + 4x + 16 a2 + 2ab + b2
x2 + 8x + 16
Recall, expansion is the opposite of factorization. Therefore the expression
you get to expand is the answer you should get when you factorize.
Let us observe.
What is the relationship between the terms in the question and the terms in
the answer? Meaning, what are the changes you have noticed?
Factorizing as a Perfect Square
YES! You got it!
• The first term in the answer is the square of the first term in the question; x2
• The last term in the answer is the square of the second term in the question; 42
= 16
• Now the middle term. Hmmmm?

The middle term is two times the first term multiplied by the second term from
the question. (x + 4) 2
2 x x x 4 = 8x
Factorizing as a Perfect Square
When expanding the perfect square (a + b)2 = a2 + 2ab + b2

(a – b)2 = a2 – 2ab + b2

Therefore, the factorization of a2 + 2ab + b2 = (a + b)2

and the factorization of a2 - 2ab + b2 = (a – b)2

So in general the factorization of a2 ± 2ab + b2 = (a ± b)2

Factorization as a Perfect Square
Once we can identify that an expression is a perfect square then we can factorize it directly as (a ±
b)2

± means plus or minus

How do we identify a perfect square?

• The first and last terms are squared terms

• The middle term is 2 times the square root of the first term multiplied by the square root of the
last term.
How to Factorize?

• Find the square root of the first and last terms.

• Separate them with the first sign in the question.
• Place the binomial expression in bracket with square outside the bracket
Factorization as a Perfect Square
Factorize the following algebraic expressions.
a) x2 + 2x + 1

b) 9x2 + 30x + 25

c) x2 – 6x + 9

d) 16x2 – 72x + 81

e) 16 – 56x + 49x2
Solution
Identify if the expression is a perfect square
x2 + 2x + 1
Find the square root of the first and last terms
=x =1
Separate the roots using the first sign in the question
x+1
Place the binomial expression in brackets with the square outside the bracket
(x + 1)2
 b) 9x2 + 30x + 25
(3x + 5) (3x + 5)
= (3x + 5)2

If we were to expand
(3x + 5)2
(3x + 5) (3x +5)
3x (3x + 5) + 5 (3x + 5)
9x2 + 15 x + 15x + 25
9x2 + 30 x + 25
Soln : Factorize the following.
c) x2 – 6x + 9
= (x – 3) (x – 3)
= (x – 3)2

d) 16x2 – 72x + 81
= (4x – 9) (4x – 9)
= (4x – 9)2

e) 16 – 56x + 49x2
49x2 – 56x + 16
(7x – 4) (7x – 4)
(7x – 4)2
NB: Always ensure a quadratic expression is written in the general form
ax2 + bx + c
Where ‘a’ is the coeficient of the variable squared e.g. 3x2 or 2y2 therefore ‘a’ represents 3 and 2
‘b’ is the coeficient of the variable raised to the power of ‘1’ e.g. 6x or 5q, ‘b’ represents 6 & 5
‘c’ is a constant, ie a number standing alone, e.g 4 or 8
Factorizing as the Difference of Two Squares
Factorizing as a Difference of Two Squares
Expand the following expressions
1) (a + b)(a – b)
a(a – b) + b(a – b)
a2 – ab + ab – b2
a2 – b2
What is the relationship between the terms in the questions and
those in the answers?

2) (2y – 3)(2y + 3) What changes have you noticed between the question and the
answer?
2y(2y + 3) – 3(2y + 3)
4y2 + 6y – 6y – 9
4y2 – 9
Factorizing as the Difference of Two Squares
Factorize the following algebraic expressions

1) a2 – b2
Identify if it is a difference of two squares
How?
The first term and second term are squared terms
They are separated by a minus sign
Factorizing as a Difference of Two Squares.
How to factorize?
Example 1
a2 – b 2
Find the square root of the first and second term

=a =b

Place these values in two brackets with one separating them with an addition sign and one separating them with a minus
sign

(a – b) (a + b)

Example 2
Factorize the following algebraic expression.
4y2 – 9
(2y – 3)(2y + 3)
Factorize the following algebraic expressions.
a) x2 – 36

b) 4x2 – 1

c) 16a2 – 9b2

d) 25 – 49y2
Factorize the following expressions
a) x2 – 36
(x – 6) (x + 6)

b) 4x2 – 1
(2x – 1)(2x + 1)

c) 16a2 – 9b2
(4a – 3b)(4a + 3b)

d) 25 – 49y2
(5 – 7y) (5 + 7y)
Factorize the following algebraic expressions.
a) 64x2 – 80x + 25

b) 144x2 – 49

c) x2 – y2 – 5x + 5y

d) (a – b)2 – 1

e) (a + b)2 – 1

f) -

g) -

h) 49p2 + 112x + 64x2

Solutions
a) 64x2 – 80x + 25 c) x2 – y2 – 5x + 5y
= [x2 – y2] – [5x + 5y]
= (8x – 5)(8x – 5) = (x – y)(x + y) – 5(x – y)
Let us view the expression above as a binomial
= (8x – 5)2 expression,
where (x – y)(x + y) is one term like a times b which is
‘ab’
And -5(x-y) is also one term
b) 144x2 – 49 What is common to both of the terms?
(x –y) is common to both terms so we will use it to
= (12x -7)(12x + 7) factorize
So we use the factor to divide each term

( x – y)( - )

( x – y)( - )

= (x – y) (x + y – 5)
(x – y)(x + y) – 5(x – y)

let (x - y) = a

let (x + y) = b

Rewriting expression in a and b

ab – 5a

a (b – 5)

but a = (x – y) and b = ( x + y)

Therefore

(x-y) (x + y – 5)
Factorization
d) (a – b)2 – 1
• Let us pay keen attention to the details.
• Placing terms in a bracket confines these terms.
• Once the bracket is around the terms they are joined and therefore operate as a single term.
• Recall, we have to deal with brackets first. But if an unknown is in the bracket there is little we can do.
• In this case let us look at the bracket as a single term
• So the first term is a squared term because everything in the bracket is supposed to be multiplied by itself.
• Also ‘1’ is a squared term
• Therefore we have a difference of two squares where (a-b) is the first term and ‘1’ is the second term
• Let us follow the same procedure
• Find the square root of the first and last term and separate them with a plus sign and a minus sign in two
different brackets.

• (a – b – 1)(a – b + 1)
Solutions
e) (a + b)2 – 1
(a + b – 1) (a + b + 1)

f) -
Don’t be alarmed by the fractions, look carefully.
Yes! Brilliant it is the difference of two squares
With fractions both the numerator and denominator must be squared terms

( - )(+ )
Solutions
g) -

(- )(+ )

h) 49p2 + 112px + 64x2

(7p + 8x) (7p + 8x)
(7p + 8x)2