702 Introduction to Algebra

2 Introduction to Algebra
1. Algebraic Expression
A. Basic Knowledge

An algebraic expression consists of numbers and unknown variables.

We usually use English alphabet letters or Greek letters to represent unknown variables. (Sometimes
other symbols may be used. )

Unknowns 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐, 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧, 𝜃, 𝛼
3 8
Numbers 2, 0, −4, 4.5, −3.5, , −
5 3

E.g. 3𝑥 − 2𝑦 2 + 𝑧 is an algebraic expression.

In the expression, 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 are unknowns, 2 and 3 are numbers, ‘−’ and ‘+’ are operation signs.

E.g. 3𝑎 × 5 − 2𝑦 is an algebraic expression.

In the expression,
𝑎, 𝑦 are unknowns,
2, 3, and 5 are numbers,
−, × are operation signs.

Note: Expressions that only involve numbers and operation signs are called numerical expression.
10 5
E.g. 3 − 5 × (9 − 4), × ÷ (−2)
3 8

Usage of algebraic expressions

1) We can use algebraic expressions to model real world problems mathematically.
Example 1
Steve has n books. Harry has borrowed 5 books from Steve. How many books does Steve have
now?
Ans: Steve has (n – 5) books now.

Example 2
The prices of a pen and a pencil are $5 and $3 respectively.
Express the total price of x pens and y pencils.
Ans: The total price is $ 5𝑥 + 3𝑦 .

702_Introduction.to.Algebra.docx_1
 702 Introduction to Algebra
B. Operations and Notations in Algebra
The operations and notations in algebra are similar to those in arithmetic.
1. Basic Operations
Operation In Arithmetic In Algebra

Addition Add 3 to 5  3 + 5 Add x to y  𝑥 + 𝑦

Subtraction Subtract 3 from 5  5 − 3 Subtract y from x  𝑥 − 𝑦

Multiply 8 by 4  8 × 4 Multiply a by b 
Multiplication 𝑎 × 𝑏, 𝑎 ⋅ 𝑏, or 𝑎𝑏
8+8+8+8= 8⋅4 𝑎 + 𝑎 + 𝑎 + 𝑎 = 4𝑎

8 𝑎
Division Divide 8 by 4  8 ÷ 4 or Divide a by b  𝑎 ÷ 𝑏 or
4 𝑏

The followings are some terminology of the four basic operations.

Example

Sum 𝑎 + 𝑏 means the sum of 𝑎 and 𝑏. 5 + 3 = 8 means the

sum of 5 and 3 is 8.
Difference 𝑏 − 𝑎 means the difference of 𝑎 subtract 5 − 3 = 2 means the
from 𝑏. difference of 3 subtract
from 5 is 2.
Product 𝑎 × 𝑏 means the product of 𝑎 and 𝑏. 5 × 3 = 15 means the
product of 5 and 3 is 15.
Quotient 𝑎 ÷ 𝑏 means the quotient of 𝑎 divided by 𝑏. 6 ÷ 3 = 2 means the
quotient of 6 divided by
3 is 2.

Note: In algebra, the order of operation still applies.

702_Introduction.to.Algebra.docx_2
 702 Introduction to Algebra
2. Index notation
When a number is multiplied by itself a number of times, we can use index notation to
represent the product. Let us look at the expressions in the following table.
Numerical Expression Index notation
6× 6 62
6× 6× 6 63
6× 6× 6× 6 64
6× 6× 6× 6× 6 65
In 65 , the base is 6 and the index is 5.

Similarly, in algebra we can also use index notation to represent an expression of an unknown (a)
multiplying by itself n times, we write it as an.
Algebraic Expression Index notation
𝑎× 𝑎 𝑎2
𝑎× 𝑎× 𝑎 𝑎3
𝑎× 𝑎× 𝑎× 𝑎 𝑎4
𝑎× 𝑎× 𝑎× 𝑎× 𝑎 𝑎5

In algebra, we can multiply the numbers and the variables together and express the product
using index notation.
Algebraic Expression Index notation
a × a × b × b × b a2b3
4 × 4 × a × a × a 42a3
a × b × c × d Abcd
a × a × b × b × c a2b2c

Example
(a) Simplify 2a + a + b × 8b2 ÷ 2b.
(b) Does the above expression equal to 3a + 4b3?

Solution
8× 𝑏× 𝑏 2
(a) 2a + a + b × 8b2 ÷ 2b = (a + a) + a +
2× 𝑏
2
= 3a + 4b

(b) 3a + 4b2 = 3 × a + 4 × b × b
3a + 4b3 = 3 × a + 4 × b × b × b
∴ 3a + 4b2 and 3a + 4b3 are not equal.

702_Introduction.to.Algebra.docx_3
 702 Introduction to Algebra
Try These
1. Express each of the following word sentences in an algebraic expression.
a) Add 3 to t. b) Subtract y from x and then plus z.

___________________________________ ___________________________________
c) Divide the product of 10 and 2q by 8r. d) Multiply the difference between 3s and
2r by the sum of r and 2s.

___________________________________ __________________________________

2. Express each of the following word sentences in an algebraic expression.

a) In a fruit market, the price of a pear is $x, while the price of an orange is $y. Find the total price of
2 pears and 3 oranges.

_____________________________________________________________________

b) In a toy store, the price of a robot is $36 and the price of a toy gun is $y. If Emma buys x robots
and 3 toy guns, find the amount she needs to pay.

_____________________________________________________________________

3. Write each of the following expressions using index notation.

a) 6  6  6  6  6 b) 4  4  4  9  9  9  9  9  9

___________________________________ ___________________________________
c) r  r  s  s  s  r d) c  7d  2c  9d

___________________________________ __________________________________

702_Introduction.to.Algebra.docx_4
 702 Introduction to Algebra
2. Method of Substitution and Formulas
A. Method of Substitution
An algebraic expression can be evaluated by substituting the numbers into the unknown variables.
This is called method of Substitution.

Example 1
Consider an algebraic expression, 2𝑛 + 3.
We can obtain the value of the algebraic expression by replacing the variable n by a number.

When 𝑛 = 3, the value of the algebraic expression = 2 3 + 3 = 9.

When 𝑛 = 5, the value of the algebraic expression = 2 5 + 3 = 13.
When 𝑛 = 8, the value of the algebraic expression = 2 8 + 3 = 19.

Example 2
Consider an algebraic expression, 5𝑎 + 3𝑏 − 7.

When 𝑎 = 3 and 𝑏 = −2, the value of the algebraic expression = 5 3 + 3 −2 − 7 = 2.

When 𝑎 = −3 and 𝑏 = 2, the value of the algebraic expression = 5 −3 + 3 2 − 7 = −16.
When 𝑎 = −1 and 𝑏 = −3, the value of the algebraic expression = 5 −1 + 3 −3 − 7 = −21

B. Equations
Equation is an equality that shows the relationship between two or more variables.
e.g. 𝐸 = 𝑚𝑐 2 is an equation.

For the above equation, there are 3 unknowns (𝐸, 𝑚, and 𝑐) called variables. We call the left hand
side of the equation (𝐸) the subject of the equation.
We can find the remaining variable if all the other variables are known.
Example 𝐸 = 𝑚𝑐 2 . If 𝑚 = 3 and 𝑐 = 5, then 𝐸 = 3 52 = 75.

Try These
1. Find the value of following algebraic expression by the method of substitution.
a) Given that 𝑦 = 3 𝑥 − 1 + 5. If 𝑥 = −3, b) Given that 𝑙 = 3𝑠 + 5𝑠 2 . If 𝑠 = −2, find
find the value of 𝑦. the value of 𝑙.

702_Introduction.to.Algebra.docx_5
 702 Introduction to Algebra
2.3 Number Patterns
A sequence is a list of numbers arranged in order.
e.g. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, … is a sequence of positive odd numbers.

Each number in the sequence is called a term of the sequence.

e.g. A sequence 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 has 7 terms.
1 is the 1st term of the sequence.
11 is the 6th term of the sequence.
Term 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th
Sequence
1 3 5 7 9 11 13
number

For a sequence that follows a certain pattern, we can use a general term to summarize it.
General term can be expressed by an algebraic expression such as 2𝑛 − 1 or 2𝑛 −1 , depending on
the different types of pattern.
The value of the General term can be evaluated by substituting the corresponding value of 𝑛 in a
sequence.
e.g. 2n –1 is the general term of the sequence of positive odd number.
Term Substitute value Term value
1st term n=1 2(1) – 1 = 1
nd
2 term n=2 2(2) – 1 = 3
rd
3 term n=3 2(3) – 1 = 5
th
4 term n=4 2(4) – 1 = 7
th
5 term n=5 2(5) – 1 = 9
Example of common sequence
Sequence Name Sequence General term
Odd Number 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11… 2n – 1
Even Number 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12… 2n
Square Number 1, 4, 9, 16, 25… n2
Triangular Number 1, 3, 6, 10, 15… (n2 + n)/2
Arithmetic Sequence 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21… 4n – 3
Geometric Sequence 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64… 2n

Example
The general term of a sequence is 2n + 7. Find the first 4 terms.
1st term = 2(1) + 7 = 9
2nd term = 2(2) + 7 = 11
3rd term = 2(3) + 7 = 13
4th term = 2(4) + 7 = 15

702_Introduction.to.Algebra.docx_6
 702 Introduction to Algebra
Example 4
The first 5 terms of a sequence are −1, 3, 7, 11, and 15. Find the 6th and 7th term.
Ans:
Notice that each term is increased by 4.
Therefore, the 6th term of the sequence is 15 + 4 = 19 and the 7th term is 19 + 4 = 23.

Try These
1. Find the 5th and 6th term of the following sequence.
a) 1, 9, 17, 25, … b) 2, 6, 18, 54, …

___________________________________ ___________________________________
c) 15, 11, 7, 3, … d) 𝑟 + 3, 2𝑟 + 1, 3𝑟 − 1, 4𝑟 − 3, …

___________________________________ __________________________________

2. For each of the following general terms of sequence, find the 1st, 5th, and 10th terms.
a) 5 – 3n 𝑛 (𝑛 −1)
b)
2

___________________________________ ___________________________________

3. Find the general term of the following sequence.

a) 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, … b) 3, 7, 11, 15, 19, …

___________________________________ ___________________________________
e) 15, 11, 7, 3, … c) 𝑟 + 3, 2𝑟 + 1, 3𝑟 − 1, 4𝑟 − 3, …

___________________________________ __________________________________

702_Introduction.to.Algebra.docx_7
 702 Introduction to Algebra
Exercise
Answer the following word sentences in an algebraic expression.
1. Anson walks for 3 hours at a speed of m km/h and then rides a bicycle for 2 hours at a speed
of n km/h. Find the distance he travels.

________________________________________________________________________________
2. Represent each of the following expressions using index notations.

a. (–3)  (–3)  (–3)  (–3)  (–3)  5  5  5 = __________

b. a  a  a  a = __________

c. 2a + 4b + 3 + 6a = __________
1
3. Given that s  ut  at 2 . If u = 50, t = 3, and a = 10, find the value of s.
2

_______________________________________________________________________________
4. If the general term of a sequence is n2.
a. Find the first 5 terms of the sequence.

b. From a), find the general term of the following sequence.

i) 5, 8, 13, 20, 29, …….

ii) 3, 12, 27, 48, 75, ……

_________________________________________________________________________________

702_Introduction.to.Algebra.docx_8
 702 Introduction to Algebra
1 1 1
5. The sequence 1, , , , ……
2 3 4
a) Find the general term of the sequence.

b) By a), find the 10th term and 16th term of the sequence.

_____________________________________________________________________
6. Express each of the following word sentences in an algebraic expression.
a) Divide the result of 8d minus 5 by 3, and then subtract 2a from the result.

_____________________________________________________________________
b) Subtract 2n from 3m and then multiply the result by 14k.

_____________________________________________________________________
7. Represent each of the following expressions using index notations

a) d  (5a)  c = __________

b) 2q  q  q  r  r  s = __________

c) y  4x2  (2x)  4y = __________

_____________________________________________________________________
8. Find the value of following algebraic expressions by the method of substitution.
x2  y2
a) Given that z = . If 𝑥 = 2 and 𝑦 = −3, find the value of z.
xy

__________________________________________________________________________________

702_Introduction.to.Algebra.docx_9
 702 Introduction to Algebra
b) Given the formula P = –3(n2 – m3), find the value of P if n = –3 and m = –2.

__________________________________________________________________________________
9. The cost of a notepad is $m, the selling price is $n.
a) Write down the formula for calculating the profit $P of selling x notepads.

__________________________________________________________________________________

b) If m  3 and n  4.5, find the profit of selling 500 notepads.

__________________________________________________________________________________
10. Find the general term of the following sequences
a) 10, 7, 4, 1, –2, –5, …….

__________________________________________________________________________________
b) –2, 4, –8, 16, –32, …….

__________________________________________________________________________________

702_Introduction.to.Algebra.docx_10