Algebra Notes

Algebra contains formulas, variables, expressions, equations, and

inequalities. All of these things help us to solve problems.

• Variables: are letters that represent numbers. – Example: n, x, and y: they are the most commonly

used variables.

• Algebraic Expression: a combination of numbers, variables, and operations (x, +, -, ).– Example: 2n + 1

• Verbal Expression: The meaning of an algebraic expression written out in words (directions).– Example: Two times a number n increased by one.

What is the difference between an expression

and an equation?

An equation has an equal sign and an expression does not.

Examples• A number y increased by seven is twelve

y + 7 = 12• The product of two and a number is equal to fourteen

2n = 14• Four less a number equals two times that number

4 – n = 2n• Twice a number increased by six is ten less than a

number 2n + 6 = n - 10

• Fourteen divided by a number increased by 6 is seven less than twice a number. 14/n + 6 = 2n – 7

• y + 3 = 9 a number y increased by three is nine.

• 6n – 17 = 3n Six times a number n minus seventeen equals three times

that number.• 4n – 5 = 30/n

The product of four and a number less five is the same as the quotient of thirty and that number

• 12 x = 4 + x Twelve divided by a number equals four more than the

number 12x - 10 = 8 – n

Ten less than twelve times a number is eight less than that number

Terms of an Expression

•Terms are parts of a math expression separated by addition or subtraction signs.

3x + 5y – 8 has 3 terms.

Terms of an Expression

•Polynomial: an expression that contains one or more terms.Examples:

3x + 2 4xy

x²+ 3x + 4 3

Non-Examples:

2 x

monomials

binomials trinomials

Monomials

•Monomial: an expression that contains only ONE term.

Examples: Non-Examples:

x²+ 3x - 4 x²

3

4xy 2x - 1

Binomials

•Binomial: an expression that contains exactly TWO terms.

Examples: Non-Examples: 3x²+ y - 1

3xyz

3x²+ x

y - 5

y²- 7xy

Trinomials

•Trinomial: an expression that contains THREE terms.

Examples: Non-Examples:

TERMS NAME

1

2

3

4 or more

Binomial

Monomial

Trinomial

Polynomial

Like Terms

•Like Terms: have the same variables to the same powers

8x²+2x²+5a +a

8x²and 2x² are like terms

5a and a are like terms

LIKE terms: Yes or No?

3x and 7x

Yes - Like

5x and 5y

No - Unlike

x and x² No - Unlike

6 and 10 Yes - Like

Identify the LIKE terms

3m – 2m + 8 – 3m + 6

5x + b – 3x + 4 + 2x – 1 – 3b

-6y + 4yz + 6x² + 2yz – 4y + 2x² - 5

Coefficients

•A Coefficient: a number.

The coefficient is written in front of the variable.

Example: 6x

The coefficient is 6.

•You can simplify an expression combining like terms.

•Combine LIKE terms by adding their coefficients.

•You can ONLY combine LIKE TERMS

•You can NEVER combine UNLIKE TERMS

•Simplify: means to combine like terms.

Simplify

If there is no number written in front of a variable, its coefficient is ONE.

Example: x = 1x

When an expression has a subtraction sign in front of it, the subtractions sign stays with that term.

Simplifying Rules

Example: 3x + 12 + x – 5 – 2x

3x + 1x – 2x = 2x

12 – 5 = 7= 2x + 7

+

3c + 4c

=7c

Write an expression:

-8a - 1a = 7a


+5c + 4d


-5a – 4b

This expression cannot be simplified. Why not?


3x + 8x + 2y =

11x + 2y7x + 3y – 4 + 5x +

2x = 14x + 3y -410x – 3y + 4x + 5y =

14x + 2y5z – 7y + 3x + z – y +

x = 6z – 8y + 4x

Simplify the following:

4x + 5y + 3x - 2y =

7x + 3y

5x + 3 – 4x - 12 + 4y = x + 4y - 9-3x + 3 + 3y + 5y – y = 7y – 3x +

33+ 4y + 2x²- 7x + 3xy – 2xy + 4= 2x²+ xy -7x + 4y +

7


The Distributive Property

•Distributive Property: the process of distributing the number on the outside of the parentheses to each term in the inside.

a(b + c) = ab + ac

Example:

5(x + 7) =5x + 35

5•x 5•7

+

Practice #1

3(m - 4)3 • m - 3 • 4

3m – 12

Practice #2

-2(y + 3)-2 • y + (-2) • 3

-2y + (-6)-2y - 6

3(x + 6) =3x + 18

4(4 – y) =16 – 4y

6(3y - 30) =18y + 180

5(2a + 3) = 10a + 15


2x + 3(5x - 3) + 5 =17x - 4

3 + 4(x + 6) =

4x + 27

6(3y – 5) =

18y - 30


REVIEW

Which of the following is the simplified form of 5x - 4 - 7x + 14 ?

1. -12x + 102. -2x + 103. 2x - 184. 12x – 18

Answer Now

Bonus! Which of the following is the simplified

form of a - 3a - 4(9 - a) ?1. -36

2. 3a - 363. 2a - 364. 8a + 36

Answer Now

Which of the following is the simplified form of (x + 3) – (x + 4) ?

1. -2x + 72. 2x - 13. 74. -1

Answer Now

Which of the following is the simplified form of

-4x + 7x ?1. -42. 3x3. -3x4. 4

Answer Now

Which statement demonstrates the distributive property

incorrectly?

1. 3(x + y + z) = 3x + 3y + 3z

2. (a + b) c = ac + bc

3. 5(2 + 3x) = 10 + 3x

4. 6(3k - 4) = 18k - 24

Answer Now

Steps to Solving Equations

2n – 10 = 50

Equation: a mathematical sentence using an equal (=) sign.

• Step 1: Get rid of the 10. Look at the sign in front of the 10, since it is subtraction we need to use the opposite operation (addition) to cancel out the 10– Add 10 to both sides. Remember, what you do to one

side of the equation, you have to do to the other.

+10 +10

2n = 60


2n = 60

• Step 2: Next, we need to look at what else is happening to the variable. 2n means that two is being multiplied to n, therefore we need to do the opposite (division) to “undo” the multiplication.– Divide both sides by 2. Remember, what you do to

one side of the equation, you have to do to the other.

2 2

n = 30


2n – 10 = 50

• Step 3: “Plug & Chug” then CHECK your solution!! First, rewrite the original equation– We already solved for n, so wherever you see the

variable, n, plug in the answer.– Evaluate the equation, SHOWING ALL WORK!– Does it check?

2 (30) – 10 = 5060 – 10 = 50

50 = 50

Solve & Check

1. 5n – 15 = 100

2. 105 = 10n + 5

3. n/5 + 3 = 6

4. -44 + 7n = 250

5. 200 = 100 – 25n

6. 12 + 4n = 112

n = 23

n = 42

n = 10

n = -4

n = 15

n = 25

Steps to Solving Multi-Step Equations

4(n – 5) - 7 = 9 + 2n – 4n

• Step 1: Distribute if necessary variable. – Distribute the 4 to the n and 5.

4n – 20 - 7 = 9 + 2n – 4n


• Step 2: Combine like terms on each side of the equations.– On the left side -20 and -7 combine to get -27– On the right side 2n and -4n combine to get -2n

4n – 20 - 7 = 9 + 2n – 4n

4n – 27 = 9 – 2n


• Step 3: Get all variables to one side of the equation.– First we want to get rid of the -27. Look at the sign in

front of -27, since it is subtraction (or a negative) we need to use the opposite operation (addition) to cancel it out. Therefore add 27 to both sides.

4n = 36 – 2n

4n – 27 = 9 – 2n+27 +27


• Step 4: Get all “plain numbers” to one side of the equation– First we want to get rid of the -2n. Look at the sign in

front of -2n, since it is subtraction (or a negative) we need to use the opposite operation (addition) to cancel it out. Therefore add 2n to both sides.

4n = 36 – 2n +2n+2n

6n = 36


• Step 5: Next, since we have all the variables on one side and all the “plain numbers” on the other side we need to look at what else is happening to the variable.– 6n means the 6 is being multiplied by n, therefore we

need to do the opposite (division) to “undo” the multiplication. So, divide both sides by 6.

n = 6

6 66n = 36


• Step 6: “Plug & Chug” then CHECK your solution!! First, rewrite the original equation– We already solved for n, so wherever you see the

variable, n, plug in the answer.– Evaluate the equation, SHOWING ALL WORK!– Does it check?

4 – 7 = 21 - 24

4(n – 5) - 7 = 9 + 2n – 4n4(6 – 5) - 7 = 9 + 2(6) – 4(6)

4(1) - 7 = 9 + 12 – 24

-3 = -3

Solve & Check

1. 9 + 5r = -17 – 8r

2. 3(n + 5) + 2 = 26

3. 58 + 3y = -4y – 19

4. 4 – 2(v – 6) = -8

5. 5(y – 2) + 6 = 6y + 2y – 14 – y

r = -2

v = 12

n = 3

y = 5

y = -11

LESCAAn electrician charges $50 to come to your house. Then he charges $25 for each hour he spends there. If the electrician

charges you a total of $125, how many hours did he spend there?

Let Statement: Let number of hours = x

Equation: $50 + $25x = $125

25x = 75

Solution: x = 3

Check: 50 + 25(3) = 125

50 + 75 = 125

125 = 125

Answer Sentence: The electrician was there for 3 hours

LESCAThe sum of two consecutive integers is 73. What are

the numbers? Let Statement: Let first number = x

second number = x + 1Equation: x + x + 1 = 73

2x = 72

Solution: x = 36

Check: 36 + 36 + 1 = 73

73 = 73

Answer Sentence: The numbers are 36 and 37.

= 36

= 37

LESCAA taxi charges $1.50 plus a fee of $0.60 for each mile

traveled. If a ride costs $5.40, how many miles was the ride?

Let Statement: Let number of miles = x Equation: $1.50 + $0.60x = $5.40

.6x = 3.6

Solution: x = 6

Check: 1.50 + 0.60(6) = 5.40

1.5 + 3.6 = 5.40

5.4 = 5.4

Answer Sentence: The ride was 6 miles.

= 6

LESCATwo years of internet service costs $685, including the

installation fee of $85. What is the monthly fee?

Let Statement: Let monthly fee = x Equation: 24x + $85 = $685

24x = 600

Solution: x = 25

Check: 24(25) + 85 = 685

600 + 85 = 685

685 = 685

Answer Sentence: The monthly fee is $25.

= 25

LESCAThe sum of two numbers is 99. The difference of the

two numbers is 9. What are the numbers? Let Statement: Let first number = x

second number = x – 9Equation: x + x - 9 = 99

2x = 108

Solution: x = 54

Check: 36 + 36 + 1 = 73

73 = 73

Answer Sentence: The numbers are 45 and 54.

= 54

= 45

• Inequality: a mathematical sentence using <, >, ≥ , or ≤.– Example: 3 + y > 8.

• Inequalities use symbols like < and > which means less than or greater than.

• They also use the symbols ≤ and ≥ which means less than or equal to and greater than or equal to.

Inequalities

What’s the difference?

• x < 4 means that x is less than 4 – 4 is not part of the solution– What number is in this solution set?

• x ≤ 4 means that x can be less than OR equal to 4– 4 IS part of the answer– What number is in this solution set?

You graph your inequalities on a

number line:

• This graph shows the inequality x < 4

• The open circle on 4 means that’s where the graph starts, but 4 is NOT part of the graph.

• The shaded line and arrow represent all the numbers less than 4.

What is this inequality?

X > -2

What is this inequality?

X ≥ 2 1/2

• Use an open circle ( ) to graph inequalities with < or > signs.

• Use a closed circle ( ) to graph inequalities with ≥ or ≤ signs.

Graphing inequality solution sets on a number

line:

What do you think this symbol means?

Does not equal…Example: x ≠ 7

≠

Graph x ≠ -1

• X ≠ -1 would include everything on the number line EXCEPT -1.

• Use an open circle to show that -1 is NOT a part of the graph.

Solve, Graph, & Check

1. 2n + 7 > 13

2. 3y – 9 ≤ -3

3. 2n + 10 ≥ 6

4. 5n + 4 < 4n

5. 3x – 3 ≤ 9

6. 4 + 7x < 25

n > 3

x ≤ 4

y ≤ 2

x < 3

n ≥ -2

n < -4

Evaluating Formulas

• Evaluate: means to replace variables with their numerical values and then solve– Example: n + 3 = 5; n = 2

– Example: y – 3, if y = 9 Then, y – 3 = 9 – 3 = 6

Algebra Notes

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