Problem Solving in

Algebra
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2/5/14
 Introduction
The First Step in Problem Solving with Algebra

1. Read the problem very carefully and verbalize it to yourself.

2. List the information given and restate the question being asked. Select a variable or variables to represent any

unknown(s) and clearly state what each variable represents.

For example, let t = the flight time, in hours.

3. Find additional information. Look up formulas or definitions with which you are familiar.

4. Create a table, using variables, in which both known and unknown information is listed. Look for possible
patterns.

The Second Step in Problem Solving with Algebra

Convert the problem to mathematical expression.

The Third Step in Problem Solving with Algebra

After converting it to an equation use the mathematical manipulation to solve it.

The Fourth Step in Problem Solving with Algebra 2/5/14

 Division algorithms

Given two integers a and b, with b ≠ 0, there exist unique

integers q and r such that,

a = bq + r and 0 ≤ r < |b|

In short we can write,

Divident = (Divisor * quotient ) + Remainder

Note: 0 < = Remainder < |Divisor|

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 Question

When ‘k’ is divided by 12 it gives remainder 5, what will be the

remainder when k^2 is divided by 8?

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When ‘k’ is divided by 12 it gives remainder 5, what will be the
remainder when k^2 is divided by 8?

Solution:
Given that when k is divided by 12 it leaves a remainder of 5.
So, k will be of the form,

k = 12m + 5
k^2 = 144m^2 + 25 + 120m
= 8(18m^2 + 15m) + 25

So, if k^2 is divided by 8 it will leave a remainder which is equal to the

remainder when 25 is divided by 8 (Since first term is a multiple of 8
and so it leaves a remainder of 0)

Remainder when 25 is divided by 8 is 1.

Hence the remainder is 1.

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 Question

A number when divided by a divisor leaves a remainder of 24.

When twice the original number is divided by the same divisor,
the remainder is 11. What is the value of the divisor?

A. 22
B. 36
C. 37
D. None of these

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 A number when divided by a divisor leaves a remainder of 24. When twice
the original number is divided by the same divisor, the remainder is 11.
What is the value of the divisor?
Solution:
Given that, “a number when divided by a divisor leaves
a remainder of 24”.

Let the number be X and the divisor be D, then there

exist a quotient 'a' when X is divided by D and leaves a
remainder 24.

X = aD + 24 ---->(1)
Also, it is given that “when twice the original number
(2X) is divided by the same divisor (D), leaves the
remainder 11”. Suppose there exist a quotient 'b', when
2X is divided by the same divisor D and leaves the
remainder 11.

2X = bD + 11--->(2)
Eqn (1) can also be written as
2X = 2aD +48 --->(3)
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A number when divided by a divisor leaves a remainder of 24. When twice
the original number is divided by the same divisor, the remainder is 11.
What is the value of the divisor?
Eqn (2) – (3)
bD +11 - 2aD -48 = 0
bD – 2aD = 48 -11
bD – 2aD = 37
(b-2a)D = 37

Either (b-2a) divides 37 or D divides 37

Also, 37 is prime number (37 doesn't have any
factors other than 1 and itself).

b-2a is 37 or D is 37
Also, if b-2a is 37, then D is 1 (or) if D is 37, then
b-2a is 1.
Since D cannot be 1 (because any number divided
1 will not leave any remainder(0), but here it 2/5/14
leaves
 Question

If a number, when divided by 5 gives remainder 3 and when

divided by 4 gives remainder 2, then what is the remainder
when the same number is divided by 10?

2/5/14
 If a number, when divided by 5 gives remainder 3 and when divided by 4
gives remainder 2, then what is the remainder when the same number is
divided by 10?
Solution:
Given that 5q + 3 = 4p + 2 = X.
5q+3 = 2(2p+1) ----->(1)
Since RHS is an even number which implies that LHS must also be even number
5q+3 is an even number
(Sum of 2 odd numbers is an even number and sum of 1 odd and 1 even is an
odd number)
Since 3 is an odd number 5q must also be an odd number Now 5q can be odd if and
only if q is odd.
Any odd number can be written in the form of 2k+1

q = 2k+1 ------>(2)
Now sub (2) in (1)
=> 5(2k+1) + 3 = 10k+ 5 + 3
X=> 10k +8

Hence the remainder when given number is divided by 10 is 8

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 Definition

A function associates an argument or input quantity with exactly one

value or output quantity. The value of a function f with argument x is
denoted by f(x), read "f of x".

An example of such a value is f(x) = 2x, given by a function which

associates with every number x the number twice as large: in the case
x = 5, f(5) = 10.

The set of all inputs for a function is known as domain, and the
set of all outputs known as range or image.

2/5/14
 Question

If f(x) = x^5 + 2 and g(x) = 2x^2 + 3 , then

Col A: f(2) – 2 x f(4) + g(6)

Col B: g(2) + 2 x g(6) – g(5)

a) Column A is Lesser than Column B

b) Column A is Greater than Column B
c) Column A is Equal to Column B
d) Relationship can't be determined

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If f(x) = x^5 + 2 and g(x) = 2x^2 + 3 , then
Col A: f(2) – 2 x f(4) + g(6)
Col B: g(2) + 2 x g(6) – g(5)

Solution:
Column A : f(2) – 2f(4) + g(6)
= (2^5 +2)-2(4^5+2)-(2(6)^2+3)
= 34 – 2(1026) + 75
= -2093

Column B : g(2) + 2g(6) – g(5)

=(2(2)^2 +3)+(2(6)^2+3)-(2(5)^2 +3)
= 11 + 150 – 53
= 108

Column A is less than Column B.

Hence the Answer is A.

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 Question

If y = 2x + 3 , 1 < x < 5 then find out the ranges, where x is an

integer.

A. 13
B. 11
C. 9
D. 7
E. 20

2/5/14
 If y = 2x + 3 , 1 < x < 5 then find out the ranges, where x is an
integer.

Solution

Given that y = 2x + 3.
The Possible Values of x will be 2,3,4.

Now find the values of y, with respect to x.

If x = 2 then y = 2(2) + 3 =7
If x = 3 then y = 9
If x = 4 then y = 11

Hence the ranges are 7,9 and 11.

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 Question

If 'S' is a set of all integers that are multiples of 3 or multiples

of 5, provided it should be of 2 digits, then find the range of S?

A. 81
B. 77
C. 87
D. 89
E. 91

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 If 'S' is a set of all integers that are multiples of 3 or multiples of 5, provided
it should be of 2 digits, then find the range of S?

Solution:

Multiples of 3 or Multiples of 5 with the condition they should be

of 2 digits.

Multiples of 3 = { 12 ,15,18,21,,,......................... 99}

Multiples of 5 = { 10,15,20,25, .............................95}
Therefore, S = { 10,12,15,18,...........................99}

Range = Maximum number – Minimum Number

Range of S = 99 – 10 = 89

Answer : Option D (89)

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 Question

In a quiz competition team A scored 72, 75, 88, and 95 in four

rounds. What score on the fifth quiz will make their average
quiz grade at least 82?

2/5/14
 In a quiz competition team A scored 72, 75, 88, and 95 in four rounds. What
score on the fifth quiz will make their average quiz grade at least 82?

Solution:
First concentrate on the part “average quiz grade must be at least 82.” “At least 82”
means your grade must be 82 or higher. That is average grade ≥ 82

Let x be the fifth quiz score

Average quiz grade = sum of all the scores / No. of quizzes
= (72 +75 +88+ 95 +x)/5
Average grade ≥ 82
(72 + 75 + 88 + 95 + x)/5 ≥ 82

Solve for x
(330 + x)/5 ≥ 82
Multiply both sides by 5.
330 + x ≥ 410
x ≥ 80

“The fifth quiz grade must be greater than or equal to 80.”

Hence the required score is greater than or equal to 80.
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 Question

Mr. James rent a bike for one day and he offered 2 payment
Plans . He can pay $25 plus 15 cents per mile (Plan A) or He can
pay $10 plus 40 cents per mile (Plan B). For _____ miles Plan A
will be the cheaper plan?

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Solution:
Let x be the number of miles driven daily

Given that,
Cost of plan A < Cost of plan B
Cost of plan A = $25 a day plus 15 ￠ a mile
25 + 0.15x
Cost of plan B = $10 a day plus 40 ￠ a mile
10 + 0.40x
25 + 0.15x < 10 + 0.40 x
15 < 0.25x
60 < x
x > 60

Plan A will be the cheaper plan if you drive more than 60 miles per day.
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 Quadratic Formula:

The solutions for the equation ax^2 + bx + c = 0 are

Example
Solve 2x^2 + 6x - 5 = 0.
In this case, a = 2, b = 6, c = -5. Substituting these values in the
Quadratic Formula yields.

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 Question

A Curve is defined by the following equation y =x^2 +5x +6

then which of the following points intersect with the x axis?

a) -2,-3
b) 2,3
c) -2,2
d) 3,-4
e) -3,1

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 A Curve is defined by the following equation y =x^2 +5x +6 then which of
the following points intersect with the x axis?

Solution :

Given that y = x^2 +5x +6

We need to find the intersection points with the x axis.

Substitute y = 0 in the above equation.
We get,
x^2 +5x +6 = 0
Now Factorize the above equation.
We know that, 6 = 3*2 and 5 = 2+3.
Thus, (x+2)(x+3) = 0
x = - 2,-3.

Hence the given equation will intersect at -2 and -3 with x axis.

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2/5/14
 Question

The value of (14^10 + 7^2)^2 - (14^10 - 7^2)^2 is _____

a) 14^12
b) 7*2^2
c) 7^2
d) 2(14^12)
e) 12^2

2/5/14
 The value of (14^10 + 7^2)^2 - (14^10 - 7^2)^2 is _____

Solution:
Use the formula a^2 – b^2 = (a +b)(a-b)
Here a = 14^10 + 7^2 and
b = 14^10 – 7^2
(14^10+7^2)^2*(14^10-7^2)^2
(14^10+7^2+ 14^10-7^2) * (14^10+7^2-14^10+ 7^2)
(14^10+ 14^10+7^2-7^2) x*(14^10-14^10+7^2+7^2)
2 (14^10) x*2( 7^2)
2 (2 x 7)^10 x*2 ( 7^2)
2(2^10)(7^10) * 2 ( 7^2)
2^12 * (7^12)
(2 * 7)^12
Hence (14^12) is the correct answer

2/5/14
 Question

Given x > 0
Col A: (10)^(-2) * (x)^(-1)
Col B: (10)^(2) * x

a) Column A is Lesser than column B

b) Column A is Greater than column B
c) Column A is Equal to column B
d) Relation can't be determined

2/5/14
 Given x > 0
Col A: (10)^(-2) * (x)^(-1)
Col B: (10)^(2) * x
Solution:
Here x > 0 means 0 < x < 1 and x >=1
Column A = 0.01/x and Column B = 100x
Case1:
Let x lies between 0 and 1
So assume it to be 0.001
Column A = 0.01/ 0.001 = 10
Column B = 100*0.001 = 0.1
In this case Column A is greater than Column B.
Case 2:
X>=1
Assume x = 10
Column A = 0.01/10 = 0.001
Column B = 100*10 = 1000
In this case Column A is Lesser than Column B.
Hence from the above two cases the relation between these two
columns cannot be determined
2/5/14
 Question

The sum of the ages of a father and his son is 52. 3 years ago,
father's age is two years more than thrice the sons age. Find the age
of the son 2 years hence.

2/5/14
 The sum of the ages of a father and his son is 52. 3 years ago, father's age is
two years more than thrice the sons age. Find the age of the son 2 years
hence.

Solution;
Let the present age of the son = x years

Therefore the age of the father = 52 - x

(Sum of their ages is 52)

3 years ago:
Son's age = x - 3
and father's age = 52 - x - 3 = 49 – x

Given,
Father's age = 2 + 3(Son's age)

=> 49 - x = 2 + 3(x - 3)
=> 49 - x = 2 + 3x – 9
=> 49 - x = 3x – 7
=> 49 + 7 = 3x + x
=> 56 = 4x

Divide each side by 4

=> 14 = x, present age of the son.
Therefore, the age of the son 2 years hence = 14 + 2 = 16.
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 Question

Solve the
following:

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Solution

2/5/14
 Question

Solve the following

inequality:

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Solution

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2/5/14
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