Math 7 Second Quarter

By: Manuel L. Hermosa, EdD Professor

 UNDERSTANDING ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS, VARIABLES, COEFFICIENTS, AND CONSTANTS Any combination of numbers and symbols involving the fundamental operations of algebra which when taken as a whole represent a value is called algebraic expression. The following are examples of an algebraic expression: 14x 7x2y + 3xy2 + 2 3ac + 4ab - 16a2 - 2ab2 6x3 + 2x2 - 3x + 5 X5 - 7x4 Y4 + 3y3 - 8y2 - 10y + 2 (3x + 25y) . 4x Remember that dot symbol ( . ) means multiplication.

 The numbers 0, 1, 2, .9 and any combination there at also called constant since these symbols have definite values or their values are fixed and do not change over time. While the letters x, y, a, b, c, or any other symbol other than the numbers 0, 1, 2, ..9 and their combinations are referred to as variables. Hence, a variable is a non-numerical symbol used to represent one or more numbers. In the example 7 x2y + 5xy2 + 4, the numbers 7, 5 and 4 are constants and the symbols x and y are variables. In the example 14x, the number 14 is a constant while the symbol x is a variable.

 Going back to our algebraic expression: 3ac + 4ab 16a2 - 2ab2 the given example consists of four distinct parts separated by the plus (+) or minus (-) sign, namely: 3ac; + 4ab; -16a2; and 2ab2 Each of the distinct parts, including its sign is called a term of the algebraic expression. The algebraic expression consisting of distinct parts separated by plus (+) or minus (-) sign is called an algebraic sum. Note however that when no sign precedes a term, it is understood that the term is positive just like in our first term 3ac.

 When a term is expressed as a product of two or more factors, then each of the factors is called the coefficient of the product of the other factors. Let us consider the term 7xy4 as an example. From the above definition it follows that: 7 is the coefficient of xy4; 7x is the coefficient of y4; 7y4 is the coefficient of x; and Xy4 is the coefficient of 7

Normally, we identify the numerical coefficients and letter symbol coefficients. Further to our discussion of coefficients in our example 7xy4, the number 7 is called the numerical coefficient and x and y4 are letter symbol coefficients or the so called non-numerical coefficients. Two terms are said to be like terms or similar terms if they have exactly the same numerical and non-numerical coefficients or they differ only in their numerical coefficients.

 Example 1: 4x2y and 4x3y are like terms more specifically theses are identical terms Example 2: 11x3y and -4x3y are like terms, they differ only in numerical coefficients Example 3: 11x3y and 4x3y and 4x3y are like terms, they differ only in numerical coefficients Example 4: X4 and x3 are not like terms. These are called dissimilar terms, non-numerical coefficients are not the same Example 5: 11xy3 and 11x3y are not like terms Example 6: 2xy and xy2 are not like terms

At this point, it is important to note that in dealing with algebraic expressions, we can combine only similar or like terms. And we can do this by adding or combine only similar or like terms. And we can do this by adding or combining the numerical coefficient(s). The unlike or dissimilar terms cannot be combined or simplified further.

 Examples: 11x3y + - 4x3y

= 7x3y

combine a and 4; copy x3y

11x3y + (-4) x3y = 7x3y combine 11 and -4; copy x3y 4x3y - 4x3y = 0x3y or 0 combine 4 and -4, copy x3y

11x3y + - 4x2y =

 When an algebraic expression has only one term, it is called monomial. The expressions 14x, 17y2x, -3ab2 are examples of monomial. An algebraic sum of two terms is called a binomial. Here are a few examples of binomials. 4ab + 7b 6x2y + 14xy 2x2 - 5 2a2 4a ----- + ---- b b

An algebraic sum consisting of three terms is called a trinomial. Our example 7x2y + 3xy2 + 2 is a trinomial. In general, an algebraic sum with two or more terms is called a multinomial. From our original examples at the start of this chapter, examples b,c,d,e,f, and g are multinomials while example a is a monomial. All these are polynomials.

 Remember Algebraic sum - Algebraic expression consisting of distinct parts separated by plus or minus sign Coefficient - Part of a term that contains a number and/or one or more variables Constant - Also known as numerical coefficient; symbol/number with definite/fixed value Variable - Also known as non-numerical coefficient; letter/symbol that changes its value in a particular problem

 Term - Part of an algebraic expression preceded by a plus or minus sign Like terms - Terms that differ only in their numerical coefficient Monomial - Algebraic expression which consists of only one term Binomial - Algebraic expression which consists of two terms Trinomial - Algebraic expression which consists of three terms Multinomial - General term for an algebraic expression which consist of at least two terms

 EVALUATING ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS ORDER OF OPERATIONS The effort of evaluating algebraic expressions starts with the idea of simplifying them thru aid of the Rule of Order of Operations. In the expression 20 8 . 4 + 6 / 3 which operation should be done first? To determine the amount of heat needed in a chemical reaction, a chemist needed to evaluate the expression 200 + 8.7 (5). Her calculator gave a result of 1.043.50. Use your own calculator to evaluate the expression. Did you get the same result? In above example, in order to get unique (one and only one) solution for these expressions, mathematicians use the Rule for Order of Operations. This is best remembered by the acronym PEMDAS.

 Order of Operations Perform any operation(s) inside grouping symbols such as parentheses, brackets, braces and fraction bars; Evaluate all powers or exponents; Multiply and Divide in order from left to right; Add and subtract in order from left to right.

 Now, going back to our example and applying PEMDAS rule: Example 1: Simplify 20 8 . 4 + 6 / 3

 Answer: = 20 32 + 2 multiply and divide in order from left to right = -12 + 2 add and subtract in order from left to right = - 10

 Example 2: 200 + 8.7 (5)

If you use a scientific calculator, it will multiply 8.7 by 5 and then add 200, giving an answer of 243.5.

If you use a non-scientific calculator, as the chemist did our previous example, it will add 200 and 8.7 first, then multiply by 5 which will yield an answer of 1,043.50. This error is expected whenever the Rule of Order of Operations is not followed. Hence, there is a need to follow strictly this rule to come up with the correct answer.

 To sharpen our skill in using this rule, let us look at the following additional example: Example 3: Simplify {[3 + 5]2 / 4 ] . 10}

 Answer: {[(3 + 5)2 / 4] . 10) = {[(8)2 / 4] . 10) simplify within parenthesis = {[64 / 4] . 10} find 82 = {16 . 10} simplify within brackets = 160 simplify within braces

 Example 4: Simplify 8 + 62 / 3 . 7

 Answer: 8 + 62 / 3 . 7 = 8 + 36 / 3 . 7 = 8 + 12 . 7 = 8 + 84 = 92

evaluate all powers (multiply 6 by itself) divide 36 by 3, you get 12 multiply and divide: in order from left to right add and subtract in order from left to right

Having familiarized ourselves with the order of operations, lets get to the next topic.

 EVALUATING OF EXPRESSIONS To evaluate an algebraic expression, replace each variable with avalue and then simplify by applying PEMDAS rule.

 Example 1: Evaluate 2x2 + 5xy Xy + 2y y + 3(y-4)

if x = -4 and y = 2 if x = 3 and y = -4 if y = -5

 Answers: 2x2 + 5xy = 2 (-4)2 + 5 (-4) (2) = 2 (16) + 5 (-4) (2) = 32 + (-40) = -8 replace x by -4; and y by 2 find (-4)2 multiply left to right add

Xy + 2y = (3) (-4) + (2) (-4) replace x by 3 and y by -4 = -12 + (-8) multiply = 20 add

y + 3 (y-4) = - (-5) + 3 (-5 4) = (5) + 3 (-9)

= (5) + (-27) = -22

replace y by -5 multiply within parentheses multiply add

 Example 2: The formula V = 4/3 x where radius and is equal to 3.1416. Use your calculator to find the volume of a sphere it is radius is 2.5 cm.

 V = 4/3 x r 3 = 4 / 3 x (2.5)3 Use the key on you calculator, and enter; 4 / 3 x x 2.5 yx3 = 65.4498 cm3

 HOW TO TRANSLATE WORDS INTO ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS Algebra is a powerful tool for translating real life situations into mathematical or algebraic expressions, but before you can do this you should be able to translate simple word phrases into algebraic expressions. The following are a few examples.

See page 7

When translating word phrases into algebraic expressions but the variable is not defined, you can assign a variable to one of the unknown and write an expression for any other unknown quantities in terms of the said variable. Any letter can be used as a variable.

See page 7 Equations can also be used to represent verbal/word sentences. The following examples may help you.

 Remember Working backward can also be a useful strategy when translating verbal phrases to algebraic expressions Example 1. Write at least two verbal phrases for the following algebraic expression 2n + 10

 Answer: 2n + 10

The sum of twice a number and 10 2 times a number increased by 10 The sum of 2n and 10

 Example 2. Write at least two verbal phrases for the following algebraic expression. 2 (x + 1)

 Answer: 2 (x + 1) Twice the sum of a number and 1 Product of 2 and (x + 1) 2 times the number increased by 1