Form 1 / Exploring / Using Algebra to Solve Problems

Chapter 2 Using Algebra to Solve Problems

Level 1
1. Use algebraic expression to represent each of the followings.
(a) Add 42 to 14.
(b) Subtract 3 from 5.
(c) The product of 4 and 6.
(d) Divide 625 by 25.
2. Use algebraic expression to represent each of the followings.
(a) Subtract d from c, then add 4 to the difference.
(b) Divide f by g, then multiply the quotient by 8.
(c) Subtract n from m, then divide the difference by 3.
3. Use algebraic expression to represent each of the followings.
(a) 3p equals the product of q and 5.
(b) The sum of a and 2b is less than 8.
(c) The quotient obtained by dividing 2m by 2n is greater than 10.
4. Complete the following table.
Algebraic Expression Number of terms Coefficient of x Constant term
(a) 2x2 + 9x – 6
(b) x2 – 2x
5. Solve the following equations.
(a) x – 4 = 30
(b) 3a = 108

(c) = 60

6. Solve the following inequalities.

(a) 4x + 5 > 13
(b) 3x – 11 < 4
7. Use the method of substitution to find the value of the unknown in each formula
below.
(a) In the formula A = 4n – 2. If n = 7, find A.
(b) In the formula B = 6c + 7d – 2. If c = 3 and d = 4, find B.

(c) In the formula C = + + 1. If m = 6 and n = 12, find C.

1
 Form 1 / Exploring / Using Algebra to Solve Problems

8. Guess the pattern of the following sequence and write down the next 3 terms.
1, 4, 9, 16, …

9. The general term of a sequence is n(n + 2). Find

(a) the first 4 terms,
(b) the 100th term
of the sequence.

10. In the formula y = , y is a function of x. Find the corresponding value of

y for each of the following values of x.

(a) 2
(b) 0
Level 2
1. Use algebraic expression to represent each of the followings.
(a) Divide the sum of x and 5 by 3.
(b) Subtract z from the product of x and y.
(c) Subtract y from x and then multiply the difference by 4.
2. Solve the following equations.

(a) –4=8

(b) (3x + 3) = 3

3. Solve the following inequalities.

(a) 2y + 5 < 3

(b) 4x – 1 > 6

4. Subtract half of a certain number from 4, the result is 10. Find this number.
5. Given that n(n + 1) is the general term of a sequence, find
(a) the first 3 terms,
(b) the 10th term
of the sequence.
6. Guess the pattern of the following sequence and write down the next 3 terms of
the sequence.
1, –4, 16, –25, 49, –64, …

2
 Form 1 / Exploring / Using Algebra to Solve Problems

7. The given figure shows a quarter of a circle. Its

radius is r cm and its perimeter is P cm. The value
of P can be calculated by using the formula

P = r + 2r.

(a) If  = and r = , find the value of P.

(b) If  = 3.14 and r = 10, find the value of P.

8. An outdoor barbecue is organized by a class of students. The cost of renting the

coach is $480.
(a) If each set of barbecue food costs $ x and there are y participants, then the
total cost that barbecue is $ C. C is function of x and y. Write down this
function.
(b) If each packet of barbecue food costs $20 and there are 30 participants, find
(i) the total amount to be shared among the participants,
(ii) the amount that each participant has to pay.

Level 3
1. Solve the following equations.

(a) –3x + 6 + 19 = –7

(b) + 90 = 180

2. Solve the following inequalities.

(a) 5(x + 1) – 6 > 9
(b) 25 – [5x – (7x – 11) + 8] < 0
3. The sum of five times x and 3 is less than 38. Write down the range of values of
x.

4. Consider the sequence 1, , , , ,…

(a) Write down the value of the nth term of the sequence in terms of n.
(b) Use the result of (a) , find the eighth term of the sequence.
5. For each participant of a charity walk campaign, a donation of $8x would be
given to those who could finish x km. If the participant finishes the whole
journey, there will be an extra donation of $100. Find
(a) the amount of donation for finishing 12 km.
(b) the amount of donation for finishing the whole journey of 50 km.

3
 Form 1 / Exploring / Using Algebra to Solve Problems

6. The price of renting a certain golf course are as follows:

On weekdays, the price is $x per hour. On Holidays, the price is $20 higher per
hour than that on weekdays.
(a) A man rented it for 2 hours on weekdays, how much did he pay?
(b) A man rented it for 3 hours on holidays, how much did he pay?
(c) Suppose the rental charge on holidays is $C for y hours. Write down the
formula with C as the subject of the formula.
7. A picnic is organized by a class of students. It is planned to hire a 45-seater
travel bus and it costs $480. Besides, the cost of catering per student is $20.
(c) If there are 30 students joining the picnic, find the total cost. How much
does each student has to pay?
(d) If there are n students joining the picnic, find the cost per student.
(e) If the cost of hiring the travel bus is $x, the cost of catering per student is $y
and there are n students joining the picnic, then the cost per student is $C.
Write down a formula to calculate the value of C.

8. Given that F = 32 + C represents a function relation.

The following table shows the conversion between Fahrenheit degrees and
Celsius degrees.
Celsius (°C) 10 15 20 25 30
Fahrenheit (°F) 50 59 68 77 86
(a) Check whether the values of each pair of C and F in the above table satisfy
the given function.
(b) Use the result of (a), find the corresponding value in Fahrenheit degrees
when the temperature is 35°C.
Level 4
1 Use numerical expression to represent each of the followings.
(a) The sum of 3 and 8.
(b) The product of 2 and 9.
(c) Subtract 4 from 7.
(d) Divide 15 by 3.
(e) Divide 2 by 5.

4
 Form 1 / Exploring / Using Algebra to Solve Problems

2 In each of the followings, find the value represented by the symbols △, ☆ and □ .
(a) △  5  3
(b) 4  □  20
☆

(c) 6

(d) △ 4  10
3 If l, w, and P represent the length, the breadth and the perimeter of a rectangle
respectively; and b, h, and A represent the base, the altitude and the area of a
triangle.
(a) Use algebraic expression to represent each of the followings:
( i ) the perimeter of the rectangle;
( ii ) the area of the triangle.
(b) If l  2, w  3, b  4 and h  5, find P and A.
4 Write down the next 2 terms in each of the following sequences.
(a) 3, 5, 7, 9, …
(b) 100, 97, 94, 91, …
(c) 1, 3, 9, 27, …
(d) 128, 64, 32, 16, …
(e) 2,  4, 8, 16, …
Level 5
1. Which pair of terms in the followings are like terms?
C. c + d，c – d
A. cd，
D. 2cd 2，3cd 2
B. 2c2d，3cd 2
2. The number of terms of the algebraic expression a × b ÷ 9c + 3d – cd ×
5e – 4 is
A. 3. B. 4. C. 5. D. 7.
3. Find the constant term of a + b – 1 – (2a + b – 3).
A. –4 B. 2 C. 3 D. 4
4. “ When p is divided by q, the quotient obtained is less than r” can be
written algebraically as:

A. r. B. < r.

5
 Form 1 / Exploring / Using Algebra to Solve Problems

C. < r. D. r.

5. Given the formula + = . If u = 15 and v = 30, find the value of f.

A. 3 B. 5 C. 10 D. 15

6. If m = 5, v = 6, u = 4 and t = 3, then =

A. 1.
B. 1 . C. 3 . D. 3 .

7. “Subtract b from a, then subtract the product of 2 and c from the difference
obtained” can be written algebraically as:
A. a – b – 2c

B. a–

C. a – (b – 2c)
D. b – a – 2c

8. Given the formula d = (–a + b)(b + c). If a = , b = 3 and c = 2, find the value of

d.
A. –17.5 B. 5 C. 12.5 D. 17.5

9. Solve the equation 3 + = 10.

A. 10 B. 11 C. 19 D. 20

10. Solve the equation 1 = – 2.

A. –18 B. –6 C. 8 D. 18
11. When a number is divided by 5, then subtract 3.5 from the quotient
obtained, the result is 7.5. Find this number.
A. 60 B. 55 C. 50 D. 20
12. A quarter of a certain number equals 2. Find the number.
A. 6.25 B. 6.5 C. 8 D. 21
13. 1, 2, 4, ___, 11, ___, 22, 29, 37, …
Which two numbers should be used to fill in the blanks of the above sequence?
A. 6, 15 B. 6, 16 C. 7, 15 D. 7, 16
14. In the sequence 1, 10, 21, 34, 49, 66, … , the next 3 terms are
A. 82, 96, 112.
B. 84, 105, 128.

6
 Form 1 / Exploring / Using Algebra to Solve Problems

C. 85, 106, 129.

D. 86, 107, 130.

15. In k = 7 – , k is a function of m. If m = 6, find the corresponding value of k.

A. 16 B. 2 C. –2 D. –16
16. The table shows y as a function of x, that is y = 29 + mx. Find m, and hence find
z.
x 1 2 3 4 5 9
y 32 35 38 41 44 z
m z
A. 1 47 C. 4 56
B. 3 56 D. 5 74

17. The length of each side of a square is 2x cm and its perimeter is 32 cm.
Find the value of x.
A. 2 B. 4 C. 8 D. 16

18. A certain school has 950 students and the number of girls exceeds the
number of boys by 50. Find the number of girls in the school.
A. 300 B. 400 C. 450 D. 500

19. The pocket money per week of an elder brother is 3 times that of the younger
brother. If they have $100 of pocket money altogether per week, find the weekly
pocket money of the younger brother.
A. $15 B. $20 C. $25 D. $30

20. If it is known that there is one rotten egg in each dozen of eggs and there are 132
good eggs in a box of eggs for baking cakes, find the original number of eggs in
the box.
A. 138
B. 140
C. 142
D. 144

7
 Form 1 / Exploring / Using Algebra to Solve Problems

Solution

1. (a) 14 + 42
(b) 5 – 3
(c) 4 × 6
(d) 625 ÷ 25

2. (a) c – d + 4

(b) f ÷ g × 8 or or

(c) (m – n) ÷ 3 or

3. (a) 3p = q × 5 or 3p = 5q
(b) a + 2b < 8

(c) 2m ÷ 2n > 10 or

4. Algebraic Expression Number of terms Coefficient of x Constant term

(a) 2x2 + 9x – 6 3 9 –6
(b) x2 – 2x 2 –2 0

5. (a) x – 4 = 30
x – 4 + 4 = 30 + 4
x = 34
(b) 3a = 108

a = 36

8
 Form 1 / Exploring / Using Algebra to Solve Problems

(c) = 60

× 5 = 60 × 5

4a = 300

a = 75

6. (a) 4x + 5 > 13
4x + 5 – 5 > 13 – 5
4x > 8

>

x>2
(b) 3x – 11 < 4
3x – 11 + 11 < 4 + 11
3x < 15

<

x<5

7. (a) A = 4n – 2
=4×7–2
= 26
(b) B = 6c + 7d – 2
=6×3+7×4–2
= 44

(c) C = + +1

= + +1

= 8 + 15 + 1
= 24

8. 1, 4, 9, 16, …
The first term：1 = 1 × 1

9
 Form 1 / Exploring / Using Algebra to Solve Problems

The second term：4 = 2 × 2

The third term：9 = 3 × 3
The fourth term：16 = 4 × 4
∴ The next 3 terms are 5 × 5, 6 × 6 and 7 × 7,
i.e. 25, 36 and 49.

9. General term, an = n(n + 2)

(a) Substitute n = 1, 2, 3, 4 into an, we obtain
a1 = 1×(1 + 2) = 3
a2 = 2×(2 + 2) = 8
a3 = 3×(3 + 2) = 15
a4 = 4×(4 + 2) = 24
∴ The first 4 terms of the sequence are 3, 8, 15 and 24.
(b) Substitute n = 100 into an, we obtain
a100 = 100×(100 + 2)
= 10200
∴ The 100th term of the sequence is 10200.

10. (a) y =

(b) y =

Level 2
1. (a) (x + 5) ÷ 3 or

(b) xy – z
(f) (x – y) × 4 or 4 (x – y)

2. (a) –4 =8

10
 Form 1 / Exploring / Using Algebra to Solve Problems

–4+4 =8+4

= 12

× 2 = 12 × 2

3x = 24

x =8

(b) (3x + 3) = 3

× (3x + 3) × 4 = 3 × 4

3x + 3 = 12
3x + 3 – 3 = 12 – 3
3x = 9

x =3

3. (a) 2y + 5 < 3
2y + 5 – 5 < 3 – 5
2y < –2

<

y < –1

(b) 4x – 1 > 6

4x – 1 +1 >6 +1

4x > 8

>

x>2

4. Let the number be x.

11
 Form 1 / Exploring / Using Algebra to Solve Problems

Then 4– = 10

4– – 4 = 10 – 4

– =6

– × (–2) = 6 × (–2)

x = –12
∴ The number is –12.

5. The general term, an = n(n + 1)

(a) Substitute n = 1, 2, 3 into an, we obtain
a1 = 1(1 + 1) = 2
a2 = 2(2 + 1) = 6
a3 = 3(3 + 1) = 12
∴ The first 3 terms of the sequence are 2, 6 and 12.
(b) Substitute n = 10 into an, we obtain
a10 = 10(10 + 1)
= 110
∴ The 10th term of the sequence is 110.

6. 1, –4, 16, –25, 49, –64, …

The first term：1 = 1 × 1
The second term：–4 = –(2 × 2)
The third term：16 = 4 × 4
The fourth term：–25 = –(5 × 5)
The fifth term：49 = 7 × 7
The sixth term：–64 = –(8 × 8)
.
.
.
Observation 1：The sign of the terms are changed alternatively.
Observation 2：Each term is made up of a square number preceded by a positive/
negative sign.
Observation 3：32 and 62 are missing.
∴ The next 3 terms are 10 × 10, –(11 × 11) and 13 × 13,
i.e. 100, –121, 169.

12
 Form 1 / Exploring / Using Algebra to Solve Problems

7. (a) P = r + 2r

= × × +2×

= +

(b) ∵ P = r + 2r

∴ The perimeter = cm

= (15.7 + 20) cm
= 35.7 cm

8. (a) The required function is C = 480 + x y.

(b) (i) From (a), C = 480 + x y
∵ x = 20 and y = 30
∴ C = 480 + 20 × 30
= 1080
∴ The total amount to be paid is $1080.
(ii) Amount paid by each participant
=$(1080 ÷ 30)
=$36
Level 3
1. (a) –3x + 6 + 19 = –7

–3x + 25 = –7

–3x + 25 – 25 = –7 – 25

–3x = –33

x = 11

13
 Form 1 / Exploring / Using Algebra to Solve Problems

(b) + 90 = 180

+ 90 – 90 = 180 – 90

= 90

× 4 = 90 × 4

n – 2 = 360
n – 2 + 2 = 360 + 2
n = 362

2. (a) 5(x + 1) – 6 > 9

5x + 5 – 6 > 9
5x – 1 > 9
5x – 1 + 1 > 9 + 1
5x > 10

>

x>2
(b) 25 – [5x – (7x – 11) + 8] < 0
25 – [5x – 7x + 11 + 8] < 0
25 – [–2x + 19] < 0
25 + 2x – 19 < 0
2x + 6 < 0
2x + 6 – 6 < 0 – 6
2x < –6

<

x < –3

3. 5x + 3 < 38
5x + 3  3 < 38 – 3
5x < 35

<

x<7

14
 Form 1 / Exploring / Using Algebra to Solve Problems

4. (a) 1, , , , ,…

The first term： 1 =

The second term： =

The third term： =

The fourth term： =

The fifth term： =

.
.
.

The nth term： =

∴ an =

(b) Substitute n = 8 into an, we obtain

a8 =

∴ The 8th term of the sequence is .

5. (a) ∵ The donation for finishing x km = $8x

∴ The donation for finishing 12 km = $8 × 12
= $96
(b) The donation for finishing 50 km = $8 × 50
= $400
The extra donation for finishing the whole journey = $100
∴ The donation for finishing the whole journey of 50 km
= $(400 + 100)
= $500

15
 Form 1 / Exploring / Using Algebra to Solve Problems

6. (a) The charge for renting a golf course for 2 hours on weekdays
= $x × 2
= $2x
(b) The charge for renting a golf course for 3 hours on holidays
= $[(x + 20) × 3]
= $(3x + 60)
(c) The formula for the charge for renting a golf course for y hours on holidays
is C = (x + 20) y.(or C = xy + 20y)

7. (a) The total expenditure

= $(480 + 20 × 30)
= $(480 + 600)
= $1 080
Amount that each student needs to pay = $(1 080 ÷ 30)
= $36
(b) Total expenditure = $(480 + 20 × n)
= $(480 + 20n)
∴ Amount that each student needs to pay

=$(480+20n) ÷ n (or $ )

(c) The formula to find the amount that each student needs to pay is

C = (x + ny) ÷ n

8. (a) F = 32 + C

If C = 10, F = 32 + × 10

= 32 + 18
= 50

If C = 15, F = 32 + × 15

= 32 + 27
= 59

If C = 20, F = 32 + × 20

= 32 + 36
= 68

16
 Form 1 / Exploring / Using Algebra to Solve Problems

If C = 25, F = 32 + × 25

= 32 + 45
= 77

If C = 30, F = 32 + × 30

= 32 + 54
= 86
∴ The values of all pairs of C and F in the table satisfy the given function.

(b) F = 32 + C

= 32 + × 35

= 32 + 63
= 95
∴ The corresponding temperature in Fahrenheit degree for 35°C is 95°F.

Level 4
1 (a) 3  8
(b) 2  9
(c) 7  4
(d) 15  3
(e) 2  5

2 (a) ∵ 8–5  3
∴ △ 8
(b) ∵ 4  5  20
∴ □5

(c) ∵ 6

∴ ☆  30
(d) ∵ 6 4  10
∴ △ 6

3 (a) ( i ) P  2(lw)

( ii ) A= bh

(b) P  2  ( 2 3)

17
 Form 1 / Exploring / Using Algebra to Solve Problems

 10

A 45

 10

4 (a) ∵ Each number is 2 more than the preceding one.

∴ The next 2 terms are (9 2  )11 and (11 2 )13.
(b) ∵ Each number is 3 less than the preceding one.
∴ The next 2 terms are (91  3 )88 and (88  3 )85.
(c) ∵ Each number is 3 times the preceding one.
∴ The next 2 terms are (27  3 ) 81 and (81  3 ) 243.
(d) ∵ Each number is half of the preceding one.

∴ The next 2 terms are (16  ) 8 and (8  ) 4.

(e) ∵ Neglecting the signs, each number is twice that of the preceding one, but
the
signs of neighbouring terms are opposite to each other.
∴ The next 2 terms are [ (16  2) ]  32 and [  (32  2) ]  64.
Level 5
1. Only 2cd 2, 3cd 2 are like terms.
The answer is D.

2. a × b ÷ 9c + 3d – cd × 5e – 4

= + 3d – 5cde – 4

There are altogether 4 terms.

The answer is B.

3. a + b – 1 – (2a + b – 3)
= a + b – 1 – 2a – b + 3
= –a + 2
∴ The constant term is +2.
The answer is B.

4. <r

The answer is C.

18
 Form 1 / Exploring / Using Algebra to Solve Problems

5. + =

+ =

× 10 × f = × 10 × f

f = 10
The answer is C.

6. =

=3

The answer is C.

7. (a – b) – 2 × c
= a – b – 2c
The answer is A.

8. d = (–a + b)(b + c)

= (3 + 2)

= (5)

= (5)

19
 Form 1 / Exploring / Using Algebra to Solve Problems

= 12.5
The answer is C.

9. 3+ = 10

3+ –3 = 10 – 3

=7

×3 =7×3

2x + 1 = 21
2x + 1 – 1 = 21 – 1
2x = 20

x = 10
The answer is A.

10. 1 = –2

1+2 = –2+2

3 =

3×6 = ×6

∴ y = 18
The answer is D.

11. Let the number be x.

– 3.5 = 7.5

– 3.5 + 3.5 = 7.5 + 3.5

20
 Form 1 / Exploring / Using Algebra to Solve Problems

= 11

×5 = 11 × 5

x = 55
The answer is B.

12. Let the number be x.

x× =2

x× ×4 =2×4

x =8
The answer is C.

13. Observe the following sequence:

1, 2, 4, A, 11, B, 22, 29, 37, …

Difference: 1 2 7 8
Try A – 4 =3
11 – A = 4
B – 11 = 5
22 – B = 6
get A = 7 , B = 16.
The answer is D.

14. Observe the following sequence:

1, 10, 21, 34, 49, 66, A, B, C, …

Difference: 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23
A = 66 + 19 = 85
B = 85 + 21 = 106
C = 106 + 23 = 129
∴ The next 3 terms are 85, 106 and 129.
The answer is C.

21
 Form 1 / Exploring / Using Algebra to Solve Problems

15. k = 7 –

=7–

=7–9
= –2
The correct answer is C.

16. ∵ y = 29 + mx
Substitute x = 1, y = 32 into the above formula,
obtain 32 = 29 + m
∴ m=3
Substitute m = 3, x = 9, we obtain
z = 29 + 3 × 9
= 56
The answer is B.

17. ∵ Length of a side × 4 = perimeter

∴ 2x × 4 = 32
8x = 32

x= 4
The answer is B.

18. Let the number of girls be x.

Then the number of boys is ( x – 50 )
∴ x + ( x – 50) = 950
2x – 50 = 950
2x – 50 + 50 = 950 + 50
2x = 1000

x = 500
The answer is D.

19. Let the pocket money of the younger brother be $x per week.
Then the pocket money of the elder brother is $3x per week.

22
 Form 1 / Exploring / Using Algebra to Solve Problems

∴ x + 3x = 100
4x = 100

x = 25
∴ The pocket money of the younger brother is $25 per week.
The answer is C.

20. Let the box of eggs contain x dozens.

∵ There is one rotten egg in each dozen of eggs.
∴ There are altogether 11 good eggs in each dozen of eggs.
x × 11 = 132
11x = 132

x = 12
∴ There are 12 dozens of eggs in the box,
i.e. altogether (12 × 12) eggs = 144 eggs.
The answer is D.

23