Algebra

Learning Objectives

 Introduction
 Variables
 Equation with One Variable
 Algebra Expressions
 Problems Based on Algebra Equations

Introduction

We live in the world of numbers. We see them everyday, on clocks, in sports, and all over the news. Algebra is all
about figuring out the numbers we don't see. In this chapter, we will study about basic algebra and simple problems
based on it.

Variables

Algebra is the branch of mathematics that uses letters in place of some unknown numbers we use numerals to
represent numbers in arithmetic, in a similar way in Algebra, letters of the alphabet are used to represent numbers
and these letters are called variables. Let us look at the puzzle of an unknown number.
?– 7  6
Here, we see, 13 - 7 = 6
In algebra, we do not used blank boxes, we use a letter (say a, b, c, x, y, z, etc.). So, we can write it as: x - 7 = 6
Where, x is a variable or unknown number. Now, x - 7 = 6, or, (x - 7) = 6, x - 0 = 7 + 6 or x - 0 = 13. Or, x = 13
Clearly, here, x = 13 stands for the unknown number given in the box above.

We use letter for unknown number because, it is easier to write x than drawing empty boxes and also it is easier to
say x than say empty box. If there are several empty boxes, or several unknown, we use different letters for different
unknown.

Equation with One Variable

A linear equation in one variable has a single unknown quantity represented by a letter. The process of finding out
the variable value that makes the equation true is called 'solving’ the equation. Clearly, an equation is a statement
that two quantities are equivalent. For example, x + 3 = 5 means that when we added 3 to an unknown value ‘x’
the answer is equal to 5.

 Example:
Solve for ‘x’: x - 19 = 34
Solution: Given equation is: x - 19 = 34
Now, add 19 to both side of the equation: (x - 19) + 19 = 34 + 19
Or, x + 0 = 53, or x = 53
Verification: x - 19 = 34, or 53 -19 = 34.

Equation and Formula

We know that, perimeter of rectangle =2× length+breadth=2× l + b

Then, variable 'l' stands for the length of rectangle and 'b' stands for the breadth of rectangle. Clearly, the letters ‘l’
and ‘b’ will represent different numbers for different rectangles.
 1. Area of rectangle =length×breadth=I×b
2. The formula, distance = speed  time is written as D  S  T , by making use of the letter 'D' for distance, 'S' for
speed and 'V for time.
5
3. The relation between temperatures in Fahrenheit and Celsius is: C     F – 32
9
Here, the letter 'C’ is used to denote the temperature in degrees in the Celsius scale and 'F' is used to denote the
temperature in degrees in the Fahrenheit scale.
4. Formula for simple interest is:

Prinidpal×Rate of Interest×Time
Simple Interest =
100

P  RT
Or, l .  ; Here, P, R and T stands for principal, rate of interest and time respectively.
100

Algebraic Expressions
As we know, an algebraic equation is a complete mathematical sentence that includes a sign of equality (or equal
sign).
An algebraic expression is not a mathematical sentence. It is a mathematical phrase because it does not have an
equal sign.
Algebraic Expression Algebraic Equation
x + 3 or, 7 + 3 x + 3 = 10 Or, 7 + 3 = 10

3x or 3  6 3x = 18 Or, 3  6  18

2  1  7  Or, 2  x  7  2  1  7   16 Or, 2   x  7   16

An expression is made up of terms, where these terms are separate values in an expression. They can be separated
by operations, like plus and minus signs.
There are three parts of most expressions which are as follow:
Terms

Variable: It is the unknown number x in the given expression above.

Coefficient: It is the number that is multiplied by the variable x. In the above expression, x is multiplied by 7, so 7
is the coefficient of x.
Constant: It is a fixed number that does not change. In the above expression, 2 is a constant.
 An expression like 'x + y' indicates the sum of two numbers represented by x and y. It means any number x plus any
number y. For example. If x = 3 and y = 7 then x + y = 3 + 7 = 10. Clearly, x represents 3 and y represents 7.
 The expression x - y indicates that the number represented by y is subtracted from the number represented by x,
For example, if x = 12 and y = 4, then x - y = 12 - 4 = 8.
Where, x represents the number 12 and y represents the number 4.
  The expression xy or x  y indicates that the number represented by x is multiplied by the number represented by
y.
For example, if x = 7 and y = 4, then x  y  xy  7  4  28 .
Where, x represents 7 and y represents 4.
x
 The expression x  y , or, indicates that the number represented by x is divided by the number represented by y.
y
x 27
For example, if x = 27 and y = 3, then, x  y   9
y 3
Where, x represents 27 and y represents 3.
 An expression like x 2 and x 3 means  x    x  and  x    x    x  respectively.
For example, if x = 3 then x 2   x    x   3  3  9 and
x 3   x   x   x   33  3  27 .

 Example:
1. Square of ‘x’ plus four times ‘y’ is:
(b)  x  4 y 
2
(a) x 2  4 y
(c) x 2  4 y 2 (d) x  4 y 2
(e) None of these
Answer: (a)
Explanation: Here, square of ' x '  x 2 and four times y = 4y
So, (square of ‘x’) plus (four times ‘Y’)  x 2  4 y

2. 5x - 2y means:
(a) Five times ‘Y’ minus two times ‘x’.
(b) Five times and two times of the difference of ‘x’ and ‘y’.
(c) Five times ‘x’ minus two times ‘y’.
(d) Two times ‘y’ minus five times ‘x’.
(e) None of these
Answer: (c)
Explanation: 5 x – 2y  5  x – 2  y  Five times ‘x’ - Two times ‘y’.
So, 5x - 2y means five times Y minus two times ‘y’.

Evaluating Expression
We can find the value of a given expression by substituting the value of the variable in the expression. Look at the
following examples.

 Example:
c - 2a
1. If a = 3, b = 4 and c = 7, then find the value of
2b
c  2a 7  2  3 7  6 1
Solution:    .
2b 2 4 8 8

2. If x = 7 and y = 4 then find the value of expression: 5xy2  xy – 3 .

Solution: 5 xy2  xy – 3  (5  x  y  y)  (x  y – 3)
 (5  
7  
4  4)  (7  
4 =– 3)  560  28 – 3  588 – 3  585 .

3. Sum of two odd numbers is 40. If one of them is 17, then find the other odd number.
(a) 19 (b) 17
(c) 23 (d) 27
(e) None of these
Answer: (c)
Explanation: Let be the other odd number is x.
Given that odd number = 17
 Since, the sum of both odd numbers is 40.
Hence, x + 17 = 40, or (x + 17) - 17 = 40 - 17, or, x + 0 = 23, or, x = 23
So, odd numbers are 23 and 17.

Commonly Asked Question

1. Which one of the following is the equation for the statement given "Half of a number (x) subtracted
from 20 is 15"
x x
(a) 15   20 (b)  15  20
2 2
x x
(c) 20   15 (d)  20  15
2 2
(e) None of these
Answer: (c)
1
Explanation: Given number = x Half of the number x  x
2
1
Half of the number  subtracted from 20  20 – x
2
1 x
So, half of a number (x) subtracted from 20 is 15 means 20 – x  15 or, 20 –   15
2 2
a2 - b
2. if a = 4, b = 5 and c = 8 then the value of is:
2c
16 1
(a) (b)
21 8
11 16
(c) (d)
16 11
(e) None of these
Answer: (c)
a 2  b a  a  b 4  4  5 16  5 11
Explanation:    
2c 2 c 2 8 16 16

3. Find the value of x in the given equation.

2x - 5
=4
3
17 15
(a) (b)
2 2
17 15
(c) (d)
3 3
(e) None of these
Answer: (a)
2x  5 2x  5
Explanation:  4, or,  3  43
3 3
Or, 2x - 5 = 12, or, (2x - 5) + 5 = 12 + 5
2 x 17 17
Or, 2x = 17, or,  , or, x 
2 2 2

4. If four times of a number is 56, then the number is:

(a) 7 (b) 21
7
(c) (d) 14
2
(e) None of these
Answer: (d)
Explanation: Let be the number is x.
 Now, four times of the number = 4x
4 x 56
According to question, 4 x  56 , or,  , or, x  14
4 4

5. Find the value of m in the given equation.

3(2m - 1) + 4 = 16
5 5
(a) (b)
4 2
1
(c) 5 (d)
5
(e) None of these
Answer: (b)
Explanation: 3(2m - 1) + 4 = 16, or, 3(2m -1) + 4 - 4 = 16 - 4
3  2m  1 12
Or, 3(2m - 1) = 12, or, 
3 3
Or, 2m - 1 = 4, or, 2m - 1 + 1 = 4 + 1, or 2m = 5
2m 5 5
Or,  , or m 
2 2 2

6. If x = 2 and y = 5, then find the value of x3  y 2 .

(a) 31 (b) 27
(c) 32 (d) 33
(e) None of these
Answer: (d)
Explanation: Given that x = 2 and y = 5.
Now, x 3  y2   x   x   x    y   y   (222)  (55)  8  25  33 .

15a 2 b
7. Simplify:
5a
(a) 3a (b) 3b
(c) 3ab (d) 3a 2b
(e) None of these
Answer: (c)
15a 2b 15  a 2  b 3  5  a  a  b 3  a  b
Explanation:     3ab
5a 5a 5a 1

8. Coefficient of x in 3x2  4x  1 is:

(a) 3 (b) 4
(c) 1 (d) 8
(e) None of these
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Given equation is 3x 2  4 x  1
Coefficient of x 2 is 3 and Coefficient of x is 4, Constant is 1.