Index (p.

indices)

A number or a variable may have an index. It is the small floating number that
appears after a number or letter. Indices show how many times a number or letter
has been multiplied by itself. An index is also known as an exponent.
Examples:
● 𝑋 = 𝑋ॱ𝑋ॱ𝑋ॱ𝑋
4

● 2 = 2ॱ2ॱ2
3
Open Sentences
An open sentence, also called an open statement, in math is one that uses variables.
Since a variable is an unknown number, it is not known if the open sentence is true
or false. That is why it is called open; the possibility is open whether the statement
really works or not.
When looking at a math sentence, first check to see if there are any variables. If there
is, then it is an open sentence in math. If writing open math sentences is needed, as
long as a variable is used somewhere, it is an open sentence.
Any of the following examples would be an open sentence:
● The square root of 64 is n
● 3x + 2y = 22
● n is less than 71
● 149 - y = 83
● x is an even number
The only way to determine if the statement is true or false is if the value of the
variable is given or calculated.
For instance, in the last example, it said x is an even number. If it is given that x = 11,
then it can be determined that it is a false statement because 11 is not an even
number; 11 is odd. If it were stated that x = 14, then the sentence would be true
since 14 is indeed an even number.

What about the example where the square root of 64 is n? By calculating the square
root of 64, it is determined that n = 8. So, if 8 replaced n in that sentence so that it
said the square root of 64 is 8, then the statement would be true. If any other
number was used, for example, 9, the statement would be false since the square root
of 64 is not mathematically accurate.
Equations
Open sentences that use the symbol ‘=’ are called equations. More clearly, an
algebraic equation can be defined as a mathematical statement in which two
expressions are set equal to each other.
Examples:
● 15 + 5x = 0
● -10x – 19 = 19 – 8x
● 2(x+4) = -3(x–5)-2y
Important Notes on Equations:
● The values of the variables that make an equation true are called the
solution or root of the equation.
● The solution of an equation is unaffected if the same number is added,
subtracted, multiplied, or divided on both sides of the equation.
● The graph of a linear equation with one or two variables is a straight line.
● The curve of the quadratic equation is in the form of a parabola.

Inequalities (also called inequations)

In Algebra, inequality is an open sentence that shows the relation between two
expressions using inequality symbols like ‘>’, ‘<’, ‘≥’, ‘≤’, ‘≠’, etc. An algebraic
inequality occurs when there isn't a specific value or number where both sides equal
each other. Instead, we'll be looking for a range of values that satisfy the statement.
Examples:
● 40x+20y ≤ 120
● 7x+3 < 5x+9
● x>3
Types of Equations

Based upon the number of nonzero terms, Polynomial equations are

2
● Monomial [x=0; xy=0; 𝑧 = 0]
2 2
● Binomial [x=5; 6y+zx=0; 𝑥 +𝑦 =0]
3
● Trinomial [6x+5=𝑥 ; xy+yz+7=0] etc…

Based upon the Degree of equations

● 1st degree or Linear [x=0; x=5, x+y=3]
2 2
● 2nd degree or Quadratic [𝑥 +6x=-5; 𝑧 =0 ]
3 2 3
● 3rd degree or Cubic [𝑦 +5𝑦 -3𝑦+2=0; 6x+5=𝑥 ]
● 4th degree or Quartic [6x4-x3+x-2=0]
● 5th degree or Quintic [x5-3x3+x2+8=0] and so on…

Transcendental equations
● Exponential [3x= 5; 3x + 4 = 81; -23y-7 = -64]
● Logarithmic [log 2 (5 + 2 x ) – log 2 (4 – x) = 3]
● Trigonometric [Sin2x - Sin4x + Sin6x = 0; 2Cos2x + 3Sinx = 0]
● Radical [√(2x+9) − 5 = 0; √(2x−5) − √(x−1) = 1]
1 2 𝑥+9
● Rational [ 𝑥 + 2 = 2 ]
𝑥 2𝑥
2
𝑑𝑦
● Differential [ 2 + k2y = 0]
𝑑𝑥
𝑥
2 −𝑡
● Integral [y(x)=3𝑥 +∫ 𝑒 𝑦(𝑡)𝑑𝑡] etc…
0
Differences between Equations and Expressions:
Equations Expressions

When two expressions are equal in It is a mathematical statement with at

value and written together with an least one term or multiple terms
'equal to' sign in between, it is known connected through operators in
as an equation in math. between.

It has an equal "=" sign. An expression does not contain an

equal "=" sign.

It can be solved by finding the value of It can be simplified to its simplest

the unknown quantity. form.

Common key terms: Common key terms:

● Simplify ● Solve
● Expand
● Factorise

Examples: Examples:
● x - 8 = 16 ● x-8
● 6y = 33 ● 6y
● 3z - 7y = 9 ● 3z - 7y
● x=5, etc. ● - 9, etc.
Degree of equations
It describes the highest index any variable in the equation is raised to. A 1st degree
equation is used to describe an equation where the highest power of any variable is
‘1’. A 2nd degree equation is used to describe one where the highest power of any
variable is ‘2’. This goes on for 3rd degree, 4th degree, etc.
Examples:
● 1st degree equation: 4x+5=9; 7y+3z=4, etc.
2 2 2 2
● 2nd degree equation: 4𝑥 + 5𝑥 = 9; 3𝑦 = 16; 7𝑦 + 3𝑥 = 4𝑥 , etc.
3 2 3
● 3rd degree equation: 4𝑥 + 5𝑥 + 𝑥 = 9; 9 − 7𝑥 = 𝑦, etc.

Linear Equations
1st degree equations are known as linear equations.
More examples:
● y = 2x + 1
● 5x = 6 + 3y
8+𝑥 3−𝑥
● 9 = 5
—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Solutions
The term ‘solution’ is used in mathematics to refer to a specific value or set of values
that satisfy a particular equation or set of equations. Simply, a solution is a value or
set of values we can put in place of a variable that makes the equation true.
Examples:
● For the equation 3x+5=25-7x, x=3 is the solution.
● For the equations 3x+4y=10 and 5x-3y=7, x=2 and y=1 are the solutions.

Solving an equation
To solve an equation is to find the solution(s) for that equation(s).
Differences between ‘Simplifying’, ‘Factoring’ (or Factorisation) and
‘Solving an equation’
In algebra, simplifying and factoring expressions are opposite processes.
Simplifying an EXPRESSION often means removing parentheses;
On the other hand, factoring an EXPRESSION often means applying them
(parentheses).
3 2
Let’s begin with the expression 2𝑥 ✕ (5𝑥 + 15𝑥 + 10𝑥)
To simplify this expression, we remove the parentheses by multiplying 2x by each of
the three terms inside the parentheses:
4 3 2
=10𝑥 + 30𝑥 + 20𝑥

Now we can factor the resulting expression by replacing the parentheses.

2
Simply by dividing each term by a factor of 10𝑥 :
2 2
=10𝑥 (𝑥 + 3𝑥 + 2)

The term (phrase) ‘solving an equation’ only for EQUATIONS, and sometimes we
need ‘simplifying’, ‘factoring’ or both to solve an equation!
2
Let’s solve an equation 𝑥 − 2(3𝑥 − 11) = 4𝑥 − 2
2
⇒ 𝑥 − 10𝑥 + 24 = 0 [simplifying, addition/subtraction property of equality,
combining like terms]
⇒ (𝑥 − 4)(𝑥 − 6) = 0 [factoring]
Thus, 𝑥 − 4 = 0 or 𝑥 − 6 = 0 [zero product property of equality]
Therefore, x = 4 or x = 6 [addition property of equality] [SOLVED]
For x = 4,
2
LHS = 4 − 2(3 ✕ 4 − 11) = 14
RHS = 4 ✕ 4 − 2 = 14
Again For x = 6,
2
LHS = 6 − 2(3 ✕ 6 − 11) = 22
RHS = 4 ✕ 6 − 2 = 22

Equivalent equations
● Equivalent equations are algebraic equations that have identical solutions or
roots.
● Adding or subtracting the same number or expression to both sides of an
equation produces an equivalent equation.
● Multiplying or dividing both sides of an equation by the same non-zero
number produces an equivalent equation.

Examples:
● 5x+7=17 and 4x-5=3; both are equivalent equations, because both of their
solutions are the same, i.e. x=2.
● 5x+7=17 and 5x=10; both are equivalent equations, 7 is subtracted from
both of the sides of the first equation, as well as their solutions are the same,
i.e. x=2.
● 5x=10 and x=2; both are equivalent equations, because both sides of the first
equation is divided by 5.
Properties of equality

General steps for solving a linear equation with one variable using
balancing method
● Remove the parentheses and use the distributive property if required.
● Simplify both sides of the equation by combining like terms.
● If there are fractions, multiply both sides of the equation by the LCD (Least
common denominator) of all the fractions.
● If there are decimals, multiply both sides of the equation by the
appropriate
● lowest power of 10 to convert them into whole numbers.
● Bring the variable terms to one side of the equation and the constant
terms to the other side using the addition and subtraction properties of
equality.
● Make the coefficient of the variable 1, using the multiplication or division
properties of equality.
● isolate the variable and get the solution!
Interesting facts:
While simplifying an algebraic equation, we use the BODMAS rule, where after
removing the brackets (parentheses), we successively calculate the orders (indices
or roots), division/multiplication, addition/subtraction.
But in terms of solving an equation, we follow exactly the opposite order after
removing the brackets and simplifying by collecting like terms.
That is, we do addition/subtraction, division/multiplication and calculation of
orders (indices or roots) successively.

Consider this example:

0.15 (0.1𝑥+0.4) + 0.05(0.4+0.1𝑥) 0.025 (0.1𝑥+0.4) 0.002𝑥+0.1−0.007𝑥+0.02
8
+ 2
= 4
0.015𝑥+0.06+0.02+0.005𝑥 0.0025𝑥+0.01 0.12−0.005𝑥
⇒ 8
+ 2
= 4
[distributive property]
0.02𝑥+0.08 0.0025𝑥+0.01 0.12−0.005𝑥
⇒ 8
+ 2
= 4
[combining like terms]

⇒ 0.02x + 0.08 + 0.01x + 0.04 = 0.24 - 0.01x [multiplied both sides by the LCD]
⇒ 0.03x + 0.12 = 0.24 - 0.01x [combining like terms]
⇒ 3x + 12 = 24 - x [multiplied by 100, the appropriate lowest power of 10]
⇒ 3x + 12 + x = 24 - x + x [addition property of equality]
⇒ 4x + 12 - 12 = 24 - 12 [combining like terms, subtraction property of equality]
⇒ 4x = 12 [combining like terms and simplifying]
4𝑥 12
⇒ 4
= 4
[division property of equality]

⇒ x = 3 [further simplifying]
NB:
● There may be several methods to solve a linear equation with one variable.
Such as the balancing method, the transposing method, and the trial and error
method.
● After mastering the properties of equality, the students will learn the
transposing method, in shaa-Allaah!