GRACE MISSION COLLEGE

Catiningan, Socorro, Oriental Mindoro, 5207

E-mail: [email protected]

ADVANCED ALGEBRA:
MODULE 1
THE LANGUAGE OF ALGEBRA

Intended Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this Module, you should be able to:

 The student will represent verbal quantitative situations algebraically and

evaluate these expressions for given replacement values of the variables.
 You'll learn some important new vocabulary words, and you'll see how to
translate from plain English to the "language" of algebra.
Learning algebra is a little like learning another language. In fact, algebra is a simple language,
used to create mathematical models of real-world situations and to handle problems that we can't solve
using just arithmetic. Rather than using words, algebra uses symbols to make statements about things. In
algebra, we often use letters to represent numbers.
Since algebra uses the same symbols as arithmetic for adding, subtracting, multiplying and
dividing, you're already familiar with the basic vocabulary.

The first step in learning to "speak algebra" is learning the definitions of the most
commonly used words.

Algebraic Expressions | Variables | Coefficients | Constants | Real Numbers |

Rational Numbers | Irrational Numbers | Translating Words into Expressions

Algebraic Expressions
An algebraic expression is one or more algebraic terms in a phrase. It can include variables, constants,
and operating symbols, such as plus and minus signs. It's only a phrase, not the whole sentence, so it
doesn't include an equal sign.
Algebraic expression:
3x2 + 2y + 7xy + 5

In an algebraic expression, terms are the elements separated by the plus or minus signs. This example has
four terms, 3x2, 2y, 7xy, and 5. Terms may consist of variables and coefficients, or constants.
Variables

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 GRACE MISSION COLLEGE
Catiningan, Socorro, Oriental Mindoro, 5207
E-mail: [email protected]

In algebraic expressions, letters represent variables. These letters are actually numbers in disguise. In this
expression, the variables are x and y. We call these letters "variables" because the numbers they represent
can vary—that is, we can substitute one or more numbers for the letters in the expression.
Coefficients
Coefficients are the number part of the terms with variables. In 3x2 + 2y + 7xy + 5, the coefficient of the
first term is 3. The coefficient of the second term is 2, and the coefficient of the third term is 7. If a term
consists of only variables, its coefficient is 1.
Constants
Constants are the terms in the algebraic expression that contain only numbers. That is, they're the terms
without variables. We call them constants because their value never changes, since there are no variables
in the term that can change its value. In the expression 7x2 + 3xy + 8 the constant term is "8."
Real Numbers
In algebra, we work with the set of real numbers, which we can model using a number line.
Real numbers describe real-world quantities such as amounts, distances, age, temperature, and so on. A
real number can be an integer, a fraction, or a decimal. They can also be either rational or irrational.
Numbers that are not "real" are called imaginary. Imaginary numbers are used by mathematicians to
describe numbers that cannot be found on the number line. They are a more complex subject than we will
work with here.

Rational Numbers
We call the set of real integers and fractions "rational numbers." Rational comes from the word "ratio"
because a rational number can always be written as the ratio, or quotient, of two integers.
Examples of rational numbers
The fraction ½ is the ratio of 1 to 2.
1
2
Since three can be expressed as three over one, or the ratio of 3 to one, it is also a rational number.
3
3=
1
The number "0.57" is also a rational number, as it can be written as a fraction.

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 GRACE MISSION COLLEGE
Catiningan, Socorro, Oriental Mindoro, 5207
E-mail: [email protected]

57
0.57=
100

Irrational Numbers
Some real numbers can't be expressed as a quotient of two integers. We call these numbers "irrational
numbers". The decimal form of an irrational number is a non-repeating and non-terminating decimal
number. For example, you are probably familiar with the number called "pi". This irrational number is so
important that we give it a name and a special symbol!
Pi cannot be written as a quotient of two integers, and its decimal form goes on forever and never repeats.

π=3.14159
Translating Words into Algebra Language
Here are some statements in English. Just below each statement is its translation in algebra.

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 GRACE MISSION COLLEGE
Catiningan, Socorro, Oriental Mindoro, 5207
E-mail: [email protected]

the sum of three times a number and eight

3x + 8

The words "the sum of" tell us we need a plus sign because we're going to add three times a number to
eight. The words "three times" tell us the first term is a number multiplied by three.
In this expression, we don't need a multiplication sign or parenthesis. Phrases like "a number" or "the
number" tell us our expression has an unknown quantity, called a variable. In algebra, we use letters to
represent variables.

the product of a number and the same number less 3

x (x – 3)

The words "the product of" tell us we're going to multiply a number times the number less 3. In this case,
we'll use parentheses to represent the multiplication. The words "less 3" tell us to subtract three from the
unknown number.

a number divided by the same number less five

X
X−5

The words "divided by" tell us we're going to divide a number by the difference of the number and 5. In
this case, we'll use a fraction to represent the division. The words "less 5" tell us we need a minus sign
because we're going to subtract five.

Check Your Progress 1:

True or False
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 GRACE MISSION COLLEGE
Catiningan, Socorro, Oriental Mindoro, 5207
E-mail: [email protected]

1) In the expression 2n + 4, the coefficient of n is 4.

2) "Five increased by twice a number" can be written as 10 + n.
3) 2 is a real number.
4)
5) "Seven less than a number equals nine" can be written as n - 7 = 9.
6) "Twice a number is greater than 15" can be written as.

7)
8) "Five less than four times a number" can be written as 5 - 4n.

Check Your Progress 2:

Write the expression for:
1. the sum of a number and 6
2. 12 times a number less 30
3. the sum of the girl's age and half the boy's age
4. The product of two and nine
5. five times the sum of m and n
6. the sum of five times m and n
7. The sum of six and five

Check Your Progress 3:

Translate each word phrase into an algebraic expression:
1. How old will you be in eight years? What age is eight more years than your age now? Did you
add 8 to your present age? Eight more than means eight added to your present age.

2. How old were you seven years ago? This is seven years less than your age now. You subtract 7
from your present age. Seven less than means seven subtracted from your present age

Check Your Progress 4:

Tell whether the ff. are rational, irrational or real numbers.

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 GRACE MISSION COLLEGE
Catiningan, Socorro, Oriental Mindoro, 5207
E-mail: [email protected]

3
1.
4
2. π (pi)
3. 10
31
4.
45
5. √ 5

Check Your Progress 5:

Answer the ff.
1. The sum of two unknown numbers can be written as
2. The difference of two unknown numbers can be written as
3. The quotient of two unknown numbers can be written as
4. The product of two unknown numbers can be written as