1

Unit 1
Chapter-3
Partial Fractions, Algebraic Relationships, Surds, Indices, Logarithms

3.1 Partial Fractions:

3x 2  7
A fraction of the form 3 where the degree of the numerator is less than the degree of
x 1
the denominator is referred to as a proper fraction. If the degree of the numerator is greater
than or equal to the degree of the denominator the fraction is referred to as an improper
fraction.

x2 1
An improper fraction of the form may be written as
x2 1

x2 1 x2 1 2 2
 2  2  1 2
x 1 x 1 x 1
2
x 1

This process is called expressing or decomposing a single fraction as a sum of two (or
several) separate fractions or Partial fractions.

Example1

2 x
Consider the rational expression  2 .
x 1 x 1

 
2 x 2  1  xx  1 3x 2  x  2
   
This expression can be expressed in the compact form as = .
x  1 x 2  1 x  1 x 2  1
Example 2

x3
Consider the expression .
x  2x  4
This expression can be expressed as the sum of two Partial fractions as

x3 A B
=  .
x  2x  4 x  2 x  4
Here the values of A and B are to be determined in the following way,

x3 A B
=  .
x  2x  4 x  2 x  4
 x  3  Ax  4  Bx  2
1
 2

5 1
Substituting x  2 gives A  and substituting x  4 gives B  . So
6 6

x3 5 1
=  .
x  2x  4 6x  2 6x  4
3.1.1 Supplementary Problems

3 3 x 1
1) 2) 3)
( x  1)( x  1) ( x  4)( x  1) ( x  2)( x  2)

3 x3 2x  1
4) 5) 6)
(2 x  1)( x  2) ( x  1) x ( x  1)(3x  2)

3x x 2  2x  4 2x  1
7) 8) 9)
( x  1)( x  2)( x  3) 2 x( x  3)( x  1) (3x  1)(2 x  1)

5x  x 2 1  3x x( x  1)
10) 11) 12)
x( x  1)(2 x  1) (2 x  1)( x  2) ( x  1)( x  2)

x2  4
13)
x( x  1)( x  3)

Multiple choice Exercise

Type 1

x p q 2
1) If   , the value of p and q are:
( x  1)( x  c) x  1 x  3

(a) p  2, q  1 (b) p  2, q  1 (c) p  1, q  2 (d) p  1, q  1 (e) p  1, q  1

2. If x 2  px  6  0 has equal roots and p  0, p is :

(a) 48 (b)0 (c) 6 (d)3 (e) 24

3. If x 2  4 x  p  ( x  q) 2  1 , the values of p and q are:

(a) p  5, q  2 (b) p  1, q  2 (c) p  2, q  5 (d) p  1, q  5 (e) p  0, q  1

3.2 Algebraic Relationships

Solving a quadratic equation ax 2  bx  c  0 .

2
 3

b c
Let x2  2 x 0
2a a

b b2  b2 c
 x2  2 x  2   2    0
2a 4a  4a a

 b 
2
 b2 c
  x     2  
 2a   4a a

b b 2  4ac
 x 
2a 4a 2

b b 2  4ac
x  .
2a 2a

b b 2  4ac b b 2  4ac
Hence the two values for x are x    and x   
2a 2a 2a 2a

Note: i) when b 2  4ac  0 , x has two distinct roots.

ii) when b 2  4ac  0 , x has two equal roots.

iii) when b 2  4ac  0 , x has no real roots.

Example:

Solve; x 2  16  0

x 2  16

 x    16

x 42  1

 x  4   1

But 1  a , when a is a real number.

Note:

The number  1 is not a real number. It is considered as an imaginary number and denoted
with the letter i. i.e. i   1 . So, in the above example the solutions of the given equation
are x  4i and x  4i .
3
 4

3.2.1 Solve the following quadratic equations by completing the square

1) 2x 2  6x  4  0 2) x 2  4 x  8  0 3) 2 x 2  7 x  3  0

4) x 2  2x  a  0 5) x 2  2ax  b  0 6) ax 2  bx  c  0

Determine the nature of the roots of the following equation but do not solve the equations.

7) x 2  6 x  9  0 8) x 2  6 x  10  0 9) 2 x 2  5x  3  0

10) 3x 2  4 x  2  0 11) 4 x 2  12 x  9  0 12) 4 x 2  12 x  9  0

13) For what values of K is 9 x 2  kx  16 a perfect square?

14) The roots of 3x 2  kx  12  0 are equal .Find K.

15)Find a if x 2  5x  a  0 has equal roots.

3.3 Surds

3.3.1 General rules of Surds

A number which can be expressed as a fraction of integers (assuming the denominator is

5 4
never 0) is called a rational number. Examples of rational numbers are , and 2. A
2 5
number which cannot be expressed as a fraction of two integers is called an irrational
number. Example of irrational numbers are 2 , 3 7 and Π. An irrational number involving a
root is called a Surd.

3.3.2 Multiplication of Surds:

a  b  ab

For example:

i. 3  12  3  12  36  6

ii. 32  2  32  2  64  8

3.3.3 Division of Surds:

a
a b
b

For example:

4
 5

72
i. 72  2   36  6
2

45
ii. 45  5   9 3
5

3.3.4 Addition and Subtraction of Surds:

a  b  ab
a  b  a b

Example (1):

Simplify (a) 243  12  2 75 and (b) 50  8  32

(a)

243  12  2 75
 81  3  4  3  2 25  3
 81  3  4  3  2 25  3
 9 3  2 3  10 3
 17 3

(b)

50  8  32
 25  2  4  2  16  2
5 2 2 2 4 2
 11 2

5
 6

3.3.5 Rationalization of the Denominator

( 9  5 )( 9  5 )  ( 9 ) 2  ( 5 ) 2  9  5 4
For example: ( 7  3 )( 7  3 )  ( 7 ) 2  ( 3 ) 2  7  3 4
( m  n )( m  n )  ( m ) 2  ( n ) 2  mn

Example (2):

5
Simplify
3

5 5 3 5 3
  
3 3 3 3

Example (3):

4
Simplify
7 3

4 4 7  3 4( 7  3 )
    7 3
7 3 7 3 7 3 73

Example (4)

1 1
Find, without using tables or calculators, the value of 
3 2 3 2

1 1 (3  2 )  (3  2 ) 3  2  3  2 6
   
3 2 3 2 (3  2 )(3  2 ) 92 7

3.3.6 Supplementary Problems

1. Simplify each of the following:

i. 27 vi. 27 3  27

ii. 243 vii. 112  63  224

28
iii. 18  98
1
viii. 2  1
iv. 28  175  112 1 2

1 1
v. 5  125  8 ix. 
3 7 3 7

6
 7

2. Express the following in the form of a  b c :

i. (3  2 ) 2 3 22 3 72
iv. vi.
3 2 2 3 7 2
ii. (3  2 3 ) 2

iii. ( 3  1) 2 2 3 3 2
v.
2 33 2

3. Rationalize the denominators of the following, giving your answer in the

simplest form possible:

1 2 1 2 14
i.  iii.
5 3 5 3 7 2

7 32 5
ii.
3 52 3

4. Find the value of each of the following:

1 1 1 1
i.  iii. 
3 5 3 5 (1  5 ) 2
(1  5 )2

50  18
ii.
32  8

7
 8

3.4 Indices

If a positive integer a is multiplied by itself three times .We get a 3 , i.e. a  a  a  a 3 .Here a
is called the base and 3, the index or power .Thus a 4 means the 4th power of a, In general,
a n means the power of a , where n is any positive index of the positive integer a.

3.4.1 Rules of indices

There are several important rules to remember when dealing with indices.

If a, b, m and n are positive integers, then

(1) a m  a n  a m  n e.g. 35  38  313

(2) a m  a n  a m  n e.g. 514  53  511

(3) (a m )n  a mn e.g. (52 )5  510

(4) a m  b m  (a  b)m e.g. 35  25  (3  2)5

m 4
a 5
(5) a m  b m    e.g. 54  34   
b  3

(6) a0  1 e.g. 50  1

1 1
(7) a  n  e.g. 5  3 
an 53

1 1
(8) a  a
n n
e.g. 8  3 8
3

m 2
(9) a n  (n a )m e.g. 8 3  (3 8 )2

Example 1
1 3 3

Evaluate: (i) 23 (ii) 8 3 (iii) 16 4 (iv) 25 2

1 1
 16   2
3
i. 23   iii. 16 4  4
3 3
8
23 8
3 3
1 1  1  1 1
ii. 8  82
3 3 iv. 25 2  3
   3
2  25  5 125
25
8
 9

Example 2

   
1 2 1 1
4
Evaluate: (i) a 3  a 5  a 2 (ii) a3b2 (iii) 3
a  5 a 2  a 1 2

 
1 2 1 1
a a a
3 5 2 3
a  5 a 2  a 1 2

1 2 1 1 2 1
 
a 3 5 2  a3  a5  a 2
i. iii.
10 12 15 1 2 1
 
a 30  a3 5 2

7 17

a 30  a 30

a b 3 2 4

ii.  a 34b 24

 a12b8

3.4.2 Solving Exponential Equations

Example 3

Solve the following exponential equations: (i) 2 x  32 (ii) 4 x 1  0.25

2 x  32 4 x 1  0.25
i.  2 x  25  4 x 1 
1
x  5 4
ii.  4  4 1
x 1

 x  1  1
 x  2

Example 4 8 y2  8 y  1  y

Solve the equation: 22 x 3  2x 3  1  2x  8 y2  7 y 1  0

 8 y  1 y  1  0
1
 y  or  1
22 x  3  2 x  3  1  2 x 8
 2 x  2 x  23  2 x  23  1  2 x
1
When y 
Let y  2 x 8

1
2x 
8
 2  2 3
x

 x  3
9
 10

2 x  1(inadmissib le)

When y  1

1 1
 2x   3  2 3
8 2

Hence x  3

Example 5

1
If 3x  92 y  27 and 2 x  4  y  , calculate the value of x and y.
8

3x  92 y  27      1
.
2 x  4 y 
1
 2
8

From (1):

3x  32   33
2y

 3x  34 y  33
 3x  4 y  33
 x  4 y  3      3

From (2):

2 x  22  y

1
23
 2 x  2 2 y  2 3
 2 x  2 y  2 3
 x  2 y  3      4

6y  6
(3) – (4):
 y 1

Substitute y = 1 into (3):

x43
 x  1

 x  1 and y  1

10
 11

3.4.3 Supplementary Problems

1. Evaluate each of the following without using a calculator:

i. 7 1 
4 2
 1  3
xi. 8 3  4 1
vii.  
ii. 17 0  27 
1

 1  4
3
1
2 xii.    4 3
iii. 49 2 viii.    625 
4
2

3 1
iv. 8 
 1  2
ix.  
3  576 
5
v. 243
4

3
1 x. 512
4
vi. 81

2. Simplify each of the following giving your answer in index form:

24
8a 3
1 1 1
a a a   14 3

i. 2 3 6
vi.  a  b8  xi. 3
  64b  3
 

a3  a 4  a 2
3
ii.  ab 2 
xii.  2 4 
vii. 3
a a  9a b 
iii. 12a 4  4a 6
viii. 8
a7  a


5

3 ix. 4
a3  a  3 a 2
iv. 16a 2
 4a 2

15
x. 6
a x  2  9 a x 3
 1 2

v. a b 3 5 
 
 

3. Solve the following equations:

i. 3x  81 iii. 32 x  8 v. 16 x 
1
2
ii. 5x  125 iv. 2x 
1
8

11
 12

vi. 7x 
1 ix. 4x  32 x  6 xii. 53 x  4 x 1 
1
49 125

vii. 5x  1 x. 2x  4x 1  82 x 1

viii. 34 x  27 x  3
xi. 3x  92 x  272 x 1

4. By using appropriate substitution, or otherwise, solve the following equations:

i. 22 x  2x  2  12 v.  
9 x  3  4 3x

1 5  2x  2  4x  2
ii. 32 t  3t  2  3 vi.
3
2 x 1 x2
vii.  
9 x 1  28 3x  3  0
iii. 2  9 2 1  0
viii.  
32 x  2  81  246 3x
iv. 32 x 1  9  3x 3  3x
5. Solve the following pairs of simultaneous equations:

i. 7 x  y  49, 7 x  y  343

ii. 75  ab 2 , 375  ab3

iii. 3x  y  243, 22 x  5 y  8

1
iv. 52 x  y  625, 2 4 x  2 y 
16

1
v. 3 x  81y  27, 2x  8y 
16

12
 13

3.5 Logarithms

For any number y such that y  a x (a>0 and a≠1), the logarithm of y to the base a is defined
to be x and is denoted by log a y .

Thus
y  a x means that log a y =x

For example,

81  34  log 3 81  4
100  10  log 10 100  2
2

Note: The logarithm of 1 to any base is 0, i.e. log a 1  0

The logarithm of a number to a base of the same number is 1, i.e. log a a  1

The logarithm of a negative number is not defined.

Example 1

1
Find the value of (i) log 2 64 (ii) log 9 3 (iii) log 3 (iv) log 8 0.25
9

i. Let log 2 64  x

 64  2 x 1
iii. Let log 3 x
9
 26  2 x
x  6 1
  3x
9
ii. Let log 9 3  x
 9 1  3 x

 3  9x  3 2  3 x
 x  2
 31  32 x
 2x  1 iv. Let log 8 0.25  x
1
x 
2

13
 14

 0.25  8 x
1
  23 x
4
 2  2  23 x
 3 x  2
2
x  
3

Example 2

Find the logarithm of the following to the base indicated in brackets: (i) 27 (3) (ii) 64 (8)
(iii) 1000 (10) (iv) 0.25 (2)

27  33
i.
 log 3 27  3

64  82
ii.
 log 8 64  2

1000  103
iii.
 log 10 1000  3

0.25  22
iv.
 log 2 0.25  2

14
 15

3.5.1 Laws of Logarithms

(1) log a mn  log a m  log a n

m
(2) log a  log a m  log a n
n

(3) log a m n  n log a m

Proof: (1) Let log a m  x and log a n  y

m  a x and n  a y

Multiply m by n: m  n  a x  a y

mn  a x  y
 log a mn  x  y  log a m  log a n

(2) Let log a m  x and log a n  y

m  a x and n  a y

Divide m by n: m  n  a x  a y

m
 a x y
n
m
 log a  x  y  log a m  log a n
n

(3) Let log a m  x

m  ax
m n  a xn
 log a m n  xn  n log a m

Example 3

41 41
Without using tables, evaluate log 10  log 10 70 - log 10  2 log 10 5 :
35 2

15
 16

41 41
log 10  log 10 70 - log 10  2 log 10 5
35 2
 41 2 
 log 10   70   52 
 35 41 
 log 10 100
 log 10 10 2
 2 log 10 10
2

Example 4

Given that log 10 4  2 log 10 p  2 , Calculate the value of p without using tables or
Calculators.

log 10 4  2 log 10 p  2

log 10 (4  p 2 ) =2

4 p 2  10 2

p 2 = 100
4

P=  5

Since p cannot be -5 because log 10 (-5) is not defined, p=5

3.5.2 Supplementary Problems

Write the following in logarithmic from:

1. 5 2  25 2. 120  1 3. 7 3  343

1 1 1
4. 3  5.  2 3 6. 216  6 3
3 8

Write the following in index form:

1
7. log 2 8  3 8. log 5 625  4 9. log 2  1
2

16
 17

1
10. log 9 1  0 11. log 6  2 12. log 10 1000  3
36

Solve the following equations:

1
13. log 3 1  x 14. log 2 2 5  x 15. log 5 x
5

16. log 4 0.25  x 17. log 2 128  x 18. log 7 7x

1
19. log 5
5 x 20. log 4 x   21. log 5 x  3
2

Simply the following logarithms:

22. log 10 5 23. log 8 64 24. log 5 3 5 25. log 5 125 5

1
26. log 16 27. log 5 5 x 28. log 3 12  log 3 4 29. log 7 5  log 7 15
4

30. 3 log 6 5  log 6 25 31. log 2 21  log 2 3  log 2 5

1 81 17 5 3
32. 2 log 3 5  log 3 10  3 log 3 4 33. log 10  log 10  2 log 10  log 10 17
2 17 4 3 2

If log 3 2  .6309 and log 3 5  1.456 , evaluate the following without the use of calculators or
logarithm tables:

34. log 3 10 35. log 3 15 36. log 3 25

1
37. log 3 5 38. log 3 2.5 39. log 3 3
3

1
40. log 3 41. log 3 100 42. log 3 12
8

43. log 3 0.12 44. log 3 0.08 45. log 3 5 2

48. Evaluate the following without using calculators:

(1) 2 log 10 4  log 10 2  3 log 10 5

17
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(2) log 10 27  log 10 14  9 log 10 9  log 10 7  log 10 6

2 3 1
(3) log 2 8  log 2 16  log 2 32
3 2 2

10 24 5
(4) log 4  log 4  3 log 4
9 25 6

(5) log 10 175  log 10 91  log 10 52

4 32 9
(6) log 6  log 6  log 6  log 6 8
15 7 4 105

3.5.3 Common logarithms

Example 1

Solve the Equation 3x  4.7

3x  4.7

Taking logarithms to base 10,

lg 3 x  lg 4.7

x lg 3  lg 4.7

lg 4.7
x= = 1.409
lg 3

Example 2

Given that 2 x  3 x = 18 , find x correct to two decimal places .

2 x  3 x =18

6 x =18

Taking logarithms to base 10,

lg 6 x = lg 18

x lg 6  lg 18

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lg 18
x= = 1.61(correct to 2 decimal places).
lg 6

3.5.4 Supplementary Problems

1. Solve the following equations, giving your answer correct to 3 significant figures , where
necessary :
(1) 7 53  3 x2 (2) 4  5 x  0.74 (3) 5 2 x  100  5 x2

(4) 7 2 x  7  7 x  12  0

lg 27  lg 8  lg 125
Simplify
lg 6  lg 5

10. Given that a  3b ,

1b
(1) Find the value of ( ) in terms of a.
3

(2)Find the value of a and b if 32b  5  32b  14

2.4 Summary

Surds:

a
(1) a  b  ab (2) a b
b

(3) a  b and a  b are conjugate surds. The product of Conjugate surds is a rational
number.

Indices:

(1) a m  a n  a mn (2) a m  a n  a mn (3) (a m ) n  a mn

1 m
n
(4) a  1
0
(5) a  1 (6) a  a
n n
(7) a n
 n a m  (n a ) m
an

Logarithms

(1) log a y  x means a x  y .

(2) log a m  log a n  log a (m  n)

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m
(3) log a m  log a n  log a
n

(4) log a m n  n log a m

(5) log a 1  0

(6) log a a  1

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