Lecture Notess 2 – v20 (B.
Coppin Algebra Lecture Notes)
Simplifying Expressions
Expressions with surds
4√2√3 − √2 − 3√3 − 2√3√2
Like terms are the terms with similar surds, hence
4√2√3 − 2√3√2 = 4√2√3 − 2√2√3 = (4 – 2)√2√3 = 2√2√3
− 3√3 + √3 = (−3 + 1)√3 = −2√3
Hence our answer: 2√2 √3 − √2 − 2√3
Expressions with variables
4x y – x – 3xy + x y + 5x
xx
Like terms are the terms with similar variable factor(s), hence
4 + = (4 + 1) =5
− + 5 = (−1 + 5) = −4
Hence our answer is: 5 +4 −3
Example: Simplify – × ×
Solution: −
Example: Simplify × + −6 ×
Solution: + −6
Clearing brackets
(2 − 3)( + 1) is an expression – the product of two factors.
Each term in factor one is multiplied by factor two: 2 ( + 1) − 3( + 1)
We have 2 ( ) + 2 (1) − 3( ) − 3(1)
That is 2 + 2 − 3 − 3
Tthat is 2 + (2 − 3) − 3
That is 2 − − 3
Perfect Squares
(2 − 3) = (2 − 3)(2 − 3)
Clearing out the brackets of a perfect square:
( + 5) = + 2( )(5) + 5 = + 10 + 25
Note for the two terms in the brackets: we Square the first term + two by the first
term by the second term + the square of the second term.
Binomial Expansion
…( + ) =Ʃ
(a + b)n = nC0 an-0b0 + nC1 an-1b1 + nC2 an-2b2 + nC3 an-3b3+ … + nCn an-nbn
Note: 3! reads 3 factorial. 3! = 3 × 2 × 1
! !
Note: 3 = ( )! = = =3
! ! ! ×
(x + 2) = C0 x (2) + C1 x (2)1 + 3C2 x3-2(2)2 + 3C3 x3-3(2)3
3 3 3-0 3 3 3-1
! ! ! !
= ( )! x3-0(2)3 + ( )! x3-1(2)1 + ( )! x3-2(2)2 + ( )! !
x3-3(2)3
! ! !
= x3 +3x2(2) + 3x(2)2 + 23
= x3 + 6x2 + 12x + 8
Factorization/Factoring - representing an expression as product of factors
Given 2 + 4 , what are the common factors?
The common factors of the two terms are 2 and .
Hence we have 2 ( + 2 )
Factor + 3 + 2 ( )
This expression is of the form + + , where = 1, = 3 and = 2
Locating two factors (1 and 2) whose product equals = 2 and whose sum
is = 3, we rewrite the expression as
+ +2 +2
= ( + 1) + 2( + 1)
( +1) is common to both terms, so we have
( + 1)( + 2
Factoring the difference of squares: −4
We rewrite the expression as: −2
Which is equivalent to: ( − 2)( + 2)
Factorize the following:
i) +5 +6
ii) − −2
iii) 2 +7 +3
iv) 3 −4 +1
v) 9 − 1
vi) 4 − 9
vii) Factorization of polynomials of degree greater than two
viii) Example: Factorize − 4 + 3 + 8
ix) If we substitute −1 in the expression, we get 0. That is, (−1) −
4(−1) + 3(−1) + 8 gives 0.
x) Hence − (−1) which equals + 1 is a factor of − 4 +
3 +8
xi) How do we find the other factors?
xii)
xiii) Example: Factorize 2 − − 3 − 12 (from briapps.com)
xiv) If we substitute 2 for in the expression, we get 0. That is, 2(2) −
(2) − 3(2) − 12 gives 0.
xv) Hence, − 2 is a factor of 2 − − 3 − 12
xvi) How do we find the other factors?
xvii)
