AMC 10 Preparation 2. Algebraic Simplification BASIC KNOWLEDGE Below is a list of useful equations to be aware of and know. They can all be derived through expanding or factoring 1. SOME USEFUL FORMULARS Perfect square trinomial 5é42°/"77 xt a Q Difference and sum of two squares Ff, “FAH x+y? =(x+y) -2xy (63) x -y=(x-yfety) 4) Difference and sum of two cubes 37/1, WH% = (x+y)? —xy+y") () =(x- ya? tay ty’) © 2. FRACTIO! Division of Fractions 4} #i/N iY To divide by a fraction, we simply multiply by its reciprocal. a) 30AMC 10 Preparation 2. Algebraic Simplification The reciprocal of a number is obtained by switching the numerator and the denominator. For example, the reciprocal of 2 is ; , and the reciprocal of 2 (note that 2 can be written as 2) is > (8) Sum of Fractions 1 11 — 9 ntl) on n+l ® 1 11 1 -—) (10) nntk) ken nvk Continued Fraction £47 The simple continued fraction representation of a number is given by: a ft T where ay is an integer, any other a; members are positive integers. 3. EXPONENTS AND RADICALS Exponent Rules #2573!) Power a 31AMC 10 Preparation 2. Algebraic Simplification al (12) (13) (4) ds) (16) (7) EXAMPLES Example 1. Find m’ +— if m+ i m (A)4 (B)8 © 14 (D) 12 (E) 10 32AMC 10 Preparation 2. Algebraic Simplification 1 Example 2. Find m' +— if m+—=2 m m (A)4 (B)8 14 ()2 (E) 10AMC 10 Preparation 2. Algebraic Simplification Example 3. Ifr=2 +13 2 , find the value of x— i x (A)3 (B)4 ©10 (p) 12 ®1 34AMC 10 Preparation 2. Algebraic Simplification Example 4. Simplify the following rational function. —~—” Faxy ay -y -~y 1 A, eo, o (0) 1, ©) none of xtayty vaayty vty these Example 5. Which of the following is the same as 2-6+10-14+18-22+26 3-9415—21+27—-334 2 2 . 14 (A)-1 @)-5 OF @)1 ®Z 14+3+5 2+4+6 - 9 Example 6. What is 24446 14345 34 3 5 7 7 “A! B-y~ O-G Oy ©) 35AMC 10 Preparation 2. Algebraic Simplification 1 Example 7. Which of the following is equal to 2 2 i 3 I 34 1 1 3 4 AY B) — S) 2 D) = E) = “®;, ®7 © OF, &F Example 8. Which of the following is equal to 1+———? T+1 3 35 5 A) = B) = — C1 ‘D)2 E) = ¢ Ms ) 24 © @) ©) 3 Example 9. Which of the following is equal to the product 6912 3n43 2019, 3°69 an “2016 (A)673 (BY) 1346 (©) 2019 (D) 2016 -—(B) 4038, 36AMC 10 Preparation 2. Algebraic Simplification Example 10. a, 6, and c are nonzero numbers. If (a,b,c) = ‘ +245, what is (2, ca 12,9)? (6 (Bs 4 (3 ®2 Example 11. For positive integers a, b, and c, find (3, 5, 7) if (a,b,c) = a . atb+e (A)4 (B)5 ©6 (D)7 (E)8 L 1 1 Example 12. Find the sum; = ++ 1x2) 2x3 49x50 5 49 5 50 (A) = B) — Cc) = ‘D) — E) 1 Ay Bo OF Oa (E) 37AMC 10 Preparation 1 1 2. Algebraic Simplification Example 13. Find the sum: — +— +... +—— 1x3 "3x5 1ixi3 6 3 3 5 A) B) = Ql D) = E) 3 AG @s OG OFZ () -. -, 1 1 1 Example 14, Calculate: +1 4...+—1_, 2 4x6 98x 100 49 3 5 49 2 AS B) = 92 yD ws Ao ®> O; ©) x00 © 3 Example L 3 oy BL, x7 7x10 19x 22 1 21 5 19 3 A) = B) — oO = D) = E) As Ba OF Ox Oa 38AMC 10 Preparation 2. Algebraic Simplification Example 16. Evaluate (A)-1 (B)-1/2 (C0 (D) 1/2 ()1 2x+3 ; x-2y-y | x Example 17. FindAMC 10 Preparation 2. Algebraic Simplification 1 3 5 19 3 A) = B) — y= D) — E) = Ws B® 7 OG o> ® > 40AMC 10 Preparation 2. Algebraic Simplification Example 18, The number 40000 x 40000“ is the same as which of the following? (A) 2005 (B) 80000" (©) 200%! (D) 1,600,000,000°" (E) 4000800 Example 19. Which of the following is the same as the ratio 32017, 52019 > Te? (A) 5/6 (B) 6/5 (O53 (0) 23 (6) 3/2 aAMC 10 Preparation 2. Algebraic Simplification 292019 292017 Example 20. The ratio 207 — 39" is the same as which of the following numbers? (A) 20 (B) 19 ©4 (D)8 () 10 252-92 (ayo (B) 9/2 (© 2/9 (D3 (&) 0 Example 21. The fraction simplifies to which of the following? >= Example 22. Find the equivalent expression to the expression x VxVx vx . Ose Bi" © OW Ov 42AMC 10 Preparation 2. Algebraic Simplification Example 23. Ifx is a positive integer, find the expression equivalent to Vxvx . ax (B) x? «© x (D) x* (® x Example 24. Suppose that x < 0. Which of the following is equivalent to - (B)x © (D G () xwW-1 43