Chapter 1 Business Mathematics Basic algebraic preliminaries

Math 121 Algebra and calculus

Chapter 1

Basic algebraic preliminaries

1.1 Introduction
In this chapter, some of the most important mathematical relations
on basic operations and mathematical manipulations are presented. This
chapter is very important to gather the required background for this
course and the proceeding courses.

Dr. Omar M. Sallah 1

Chapter 1 Business Mathematics Basic algebraic preliminaries
Math 121 Algebra and calculus

1.2 First degree equations in one variable

In this section, we will solve the first-degree equations on the form
3 x − 8 = 20 − 4 x ,

where, all the required is to find the value of the unknown variable x
through a serious of mathematical manipulations.

Dr. Omar M. Sallah 2

Chapter 1 Business Mathematics Basic algebraic preliminaries
Math 121 Algebra and calculus

Steps of solution:
1- Rearrange the equation such that the variables are in one side while
all the numbers are on the other side.
3x − 8 = 20 − 4 x  3x + 4 x = 20 + 8

2- Finish the addition process.

7 x = 28

3- Divide both sides on the unknown's coefficient if exist.

x = 28 / 7  x=4

Dr. Omar M. Sallah 3

Chapter 1 Business Mathematics Basic algebraic preliminaries
Math 121 Algebra and calculus

Variable examples:
- Solve the following first-degree equations:-
-:‫حل كال من معادالت الدرجة األولي األتية‬
1) x − 5 = 2 x − 8 2) − 5x + 2 = 16 − 3x 3) 10 y − 20 = 6 y + 4
4t + 6
4) 3t + 10 = 4t − 6 5) 3 (2t + 8) = 6 (4 + t ) 6) = 3t + 2
2
v v
7) − 13 = 5 +
2 2

Solution

1) x − 5 = 2 x − 8

x − 5 = 2x − 8  − 5 = 2x − x − 8

 8 − 5 = 2x − x  x=3

Dr. Omar M. Sallah 4

Chapter 1 Business Mathematics Basic algebraic preliminaries
Math 121 Algebra and calculus

2) − 5x + 2 = 16 − 3x

14
− 5 x + 2 = 16 − 3x  − 5 x + 3x = 16 − 2  − 2 x = 14  x =  x = −7
−2

3) 10 y − 20 = 6 y + 4

10 y − 20 = 6 y + 4  10 y − 20 = 6 y + 4  10 y − 6 y = 20 + 4

24
4 y = 24  y = =6
4

4) 3t + 10 = 4t − 6

3t + 10 = 4t − 6  3t − 4t = −10 − 6  − t = −16  t = 16

Dr. Omar M. Sallah 5

Chapter 1 Business Mathematics Basic algebraic preliminaries
Math 121 Algebra and calculus

5) 3 (2t + 8) = 6 (4 + t )

3 (2t + 8) = 6 (4 + t )  6t + 24 = 24 + 6t  6t − 6t = 24 − 24  0 = 0

‫ ستجعل‬t ‫ بمعني أن كل قيمة لـ‬.‫المعادلة هي من المعادالت ذات العدد الالنهائي من الحلول‬

.‫طرفي المعادلة صحيح‬

4t + 6
6) = 3t + 2
2
4t + 6
= 3t + 2  2t + 3 = 3t + 2  2t − 3t = −3 + 2
2
− t = −1  t = 1

.‫المعادلة هي من المعادالت ذات الحل الواحد‬

v v
7) − 13 = 5 +
2 2
v v v v
− 13 = 5 +  − = 5 + 13  0 = 18
2 2 2 2

Dr. Omar M. Sallah 6

Chapter 1 Business Mathematics Basic algebraic preliminaries
Math 121 Algebra and calculus

.‫المعادلة من المعادالت التي ليس لها حل وذلك لوجود خطئ بها‬

Dr. Omar M. Sallah 7

Chapter 1 Business Mathematics Basic algebraic preliminaries
Math 121 Algebra and calculus

1.3 Quadratic equations (Second-degree equations)

This section is for the solution of the second-degree equations

where the unknown variable appears in the equation-squared i.e.
a x2 + b x + c = 0 ,

here the solution is very simple and will be given by the law:
− b  b 2 − 4a c
x1, 2 =
2a

The solution contains two roots i.e.

− b + b 2 − 4a c − b − b 2 − 4a c
x1 = , x2 =
2a 2a

Remarking, that depending on the sign of the discernment the solution

will be identified:-

Two distinct real roots Two equal roots No real roots

b2 − 4 a c  0 b2 − 4 a c = 0 b2 − 4 a c  0

Dr. Omar M. Sallah 8

Chapter 1 Business Mathematics Basic algebraic preliminaries
Math 121 Algebra and calculus

Steps of solution:
1- write the equation on the form a x 2 + b x + c = 0

2- determine the various values of a, b, c

− b  b 2 − 4a c
3- substitute into the solution form x1, 2 =
2a

- Solve the following second-degree equations:-

1) x 2 + 3 x + 2 = 0 2) 3 x 2 − 2 x + 5 = 0 3) x 2 + 10 x + 25 = 0

4) x 2 + 3 x − 4 = 0 5) t 2 − 2t = 8 6) 5 r 2 = 3 − 2r

7) x 2 − 16 = 0 8)- x 2 + x + 10 = 0 9) x2 + 3 x + 4 = 0

Solution

Dr. Omar M. Sallah 9

Chapter 1 Business Mathematics Basic algebraic preliminaries
Math 121 Algebra and calculus

1) x 2 + 3 x + 2 = 0

− b  b 2 − 4a c
x1, 2 =
2a

a = 1, b = 3, c = 2

− b  b 2 − 4a c − 3  32 − 4 *1* 2
x1, 2 =  x1, 2 =
2a 2 *1

− 3  9 − 8 − 3  1 − 3 1 − 3 −1 − 3 +1
x1, 2 = = =  x1 = , x2 =
2 2 2 2 2
− 3 −1 − 4 −2
x1 = = = −2, x2 = = −1
2 2 2

i.e.

x1 = −2, x 2 = −1

Dr. Omar M. Sallah 10

Chapter 1 Business Mathematics Basic algebraic preliminaries
Math 121 Algebra and calculus

2) 3 x 2 − 2 x + 5 = 0

− b  b 2 − 4a c
x1, 2 =
2a

a = 3, b = −2, c = 5

− b  b 2 − 4a c − (−2)  (−2) 2 − 4 *3* 5

x1, 2 =  x1, 2 =
2a 2 *3

2  4 − 60 − 2  − 56
x1, 2 = =
6 6

3) x 2 + 10 x + 25 = 0

a = 1, b = 10, c = 25

− b  b 2 − 4a c − 10  (10) 2 − 4 *1* 25
x1, 2 =  x1, 2 =
2a 2 *1

− 10  0 − 10
x1, 2 = = = −5 x1 = −5, x 2 = −5
2 2

Dr. Omar M. Sallah 11

Chapter 1 Business Mathematics Basic algebraic preliminaries
Math 121 Algebra and calculus

4) x 2 + 3 x − 4 = 0

a = 1, b = 3, c = −4

− b  b 2 − 4a c − 3  32 − 4 *1* (−4)
x1, 2 =  x1, 2 =
2a 2 *1

− 3  9 + 16 − 3  25 − 3  5 −3−5 −3+5
x1, 2 = = =  x1 = , x2 =
2 2 2 2 2
−8 2
x1 = = −4, x2 = = 1
2 2

x1 = −4, x2 = 1 ‫و بالتالي يصبح الحل‬

5) t 2 − 2t = 8

t 2 − 2t − 8 = 0

a = 1, b = −2, c = −8

− b  b 2 − 4a c − (−2)  (−2) 2 − 4 *1* (−8)

x1, 2 =  x1, 2 =
2a 2 *1

Dr. Omar M. Sallah 12

Chapter 1 Business Mathematics Basic algebraic preliminaries
Math 121 Algebra and calculus

2  4 + 32 2  36 2  6 2+6 2−6
x1, 2 = = =  x1 = , x2 =
2 2 2 2 2
8 −4
x1 = = 4, x2 = = −2
2 2

x1 = 4, x 2 = −2

6) 5 r 2 = 3 − 2r , 5 r 2 + 2r − 3 = 0 , a = 5, b = 2, c = −3

− b  b 2 − 4a c − (2)  (2) 2 − 4 *5* (−3)

x1, 2 =  x1, 2 =
2a 2 *5

2  4 + 60 2  64 2  8 2+8 2−8
x1, 2 = = =  x1 = , x2 =
10 10 10 10 10
10 −6
x1 = = 1, x2 = = −3 / 5
10 10

x1 = 1, x 2 = −0.6

Dr. Omar M. Sallah 13

Chapter 1 Business Mathematics Basic algebraic preliminaries
Math 121 Algebra and calculus

7) x 2 − 16 = 0

a = 1, b = 0, c = −16

− b  b 2 − 4a c − (0)  0 − 4 *1* (−16)

x1, 2 =  x1, 2 =
2a 2 *1

 64  8
x1, 2 = =  x1 = 4, x2 = −4
2 2

x1 = 4, x 2 = −4

8) x 2 + x + 10 = 0

a = 1, b = 1, c = 10

− b  b 2 − 4a c − (1)  1 − 4 *1* (10)

x1, 2 =  x1, 2 =
2a 2 *1

− 1  − 39
x1, 2 =
2

Dr. Omar M. Sallah 14

Chapter 1 Business Mathematics Basic algebraic preliminaries
Math 121 Algebra and calculus

9) x 2 + 3 x + 4 = 0

a = 1, b = 3, c = 4

‫و بالتالي‬

− b  b 2 − 4a c − (3)  (3) 2 − 4 *1* (4)

x1, 2 =  x1, 2 =
2a 2 *1

− 3  9 − 16 − 3  − 7
x1, 2 = =
2 2

Dr. Omar M. Sallah 15

Chapter 1 Business Mathematics Basic algebraic preliminaries
Math 121 Algebra and calculus

1.4 Inequalities
This is a very important section, as it will be needed in many
mathematical processes. The treatment of this part is the same as the
first-degree equations but with two differences,
1- The first is when we multiply the inequality by negative or divide
by a negative value, the inequality sign will change.

2- Also, if we have to get the reciprocal of the two sides the

inequality sign will change.

Dr. Omar M. Sallah 16

Chapter 1 Business Mathematics Basic algebraic preliminaries
Math 121 Algebra and calculus

Remark the following:

x  b → conditional → x is greater than b.

x  b → conditional → x is less than b.

x  b or x  = b → conditional → x is greater than or equal to b.

x  b or x =  b → conditional → x is less than or equal to b.

a  x  b → double inquality → x is greater than a and less than b.

a  x  b → double inquality → x is greater than or equal to a and

less than or equal to b.

a  x  b → double inquality → x is greater than a and less than or

equal to b.

a  x  b → double inquality → x is greater than or equal to a and

less than b.

a  x  b → double inquality → x is less than or equal to a and is

greater than or equal to a.

Dr. Omar M. Sallah 17

Chapter 1 Business Mathematics Basic algebraic preliminaries
Math 121 Algebra and calculus

- Interval definition of inequalities. ‫ تعريف الفترات للمتباينات‬-

- x  (a, b)  a  x  b i.e. (a, b) = x : a  x  b

x is less than b and is greater than a.

. )a( ‫) و أكبر من‬b( ‫) أقل من‬x( ‫ المتغير‬-

− (a b) 

- x  [a, b]  a  x  b i.e. [a, b] = x : a  x  b

x is less than or equal to b and is greater than or equal to a.

. )a( ‫) و أكبر من أو يساوي‬b( ‫) أقل من أو يساوي‬x( ‫ المتغير‬-

− [a b] 

Dr. Omar M. Sallah 18

Chapter 1 Business Mathematics Basic algebraic preliminaries
Math 121 Algebra and calculus

- x  (a, b]  a  x  b i.e. (a, b] = x : a  x  b

x is less than or equal to b and is greater than a.

. )a( ‫) و أكبر من‬b( ‫) أقل من أو يساوي‬x( ‫ المتغير‬-

− (a b] 

- x  [a, b )  a  x  b i.e. [a, b) = x : a  x  b

x is less than b and is greater than or equal to a.

. )a( ‫) و أكبر من أو يساوي‬b( ‫) أقل من‬x( ‫ المتغير‬-

− [a b) 

Dr. Omar M. Sallah 19

Chapter 1 Business Mathematics Basic algebraic preliminaries
Math 121 Algebra and calculus

- Solve the following inequalities:-

-:‫حل كال من المتبينات األتية‬
1) 3 x + 2  5 2) 2 x + 4  3x − 1 3) 7 x + 3  17
4) − 2 x + 1  x  6 − x 5) 2 x + 4  x  2 x − 7
Solution ‫الحل‬

1) 3 x + 2  5

‫ و األرقام كلها في الطرف‬،‫ الخطوة األولي البد و أن نوجد المتغير في جانب و احد‬-

‫األخر‬

3
3 x 5− 2  3 x  3  divide on 3 both sides  x 
3

x  1 , i.e. x  (−, 1]  −   x  1

. ) −  ( ‫) و أكبر من‬1( ‫) أقل من أو يساوي‬x( ‫ المتغير‬-

− (− ,1 ] 

Dr. Omar M. Sallah 20

Chapter 1 Business Mathematics Basic algebraic preliminaries
Math 121 Algebra and calculus

2) 2 x + 4  3x − 1

‫ و األرقام كلها في الطرف‬،‫ الخطوة األولي البد و أن نوجد المتغير في جانب و احد‬-

‫األخر‬

2 x + 4  3x − 1  2 x  3x − 5  2 x − 3x  − 5

− x  −5  x 5

x  5,

i. e. x  (−, 5]  −   x  5

. ) −  ( ‫) و أكبر من‬5( ‫) أقل من أو يساوي‬x( ‫ المتغير‬-

− (− ,5 ] 

Dr. Omar M. Sallah 21

Chapter 1 Business Mathematics Basic algebraic preliminaries
Math 121 Algebra and calculus

3) 7 x + 3  17
14
7 x + 3  17  7 x  17 − 3  7 x  14  x   x2
7

, i. e. x [2, )  2  x  
. )2( ‫ ) و أكبر من أو يساوي‬ ( ‫) أقل من‬x( ‫ المتغير‬-
− [ 2,  ) 

Dr. Omar M. Sallah 22

‫‪Chapter 1‬‬ ‫‪Business Mathematics‬‬ ‫‪Basic algebraic preliminaries‬‬
‫‪Math 121‬‬ ‫‪Algebra and calculus‬‬

‫‪4) − 2 x + 1  x  6 − x‬‬

‫‪x  6 − x  x + x  6  2 x  6  divide on 2  x  3‬‬ ‫)‪(1‬‬

‫‪1‬‬
‫‪− 2 x + 1  x  1  x + 2 x  1  3x   x‬‬ ‫)‪(2‬‬
‫‪3‬‬

‫‪ -‬الخطوة الثانية نقوم برسمهم علي رسمة و احدة لنستطيع تحديد المجال المشترك‬

‫‪ -1‬المتغير (‪ )x‬أقل من (‪)3‬‬

‫‪−‬‬ ‫] ‪(− ,3‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪ -2‬المتغير (‪ )x‬أكبر من ( ‪) 1 / 3‬‬

‫‪−‬‬ ‫) ‪[1/ 3, ‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫نقوم بتجميعهم مع بعض‪ ،‬للحصول علي المنطقة المشتركة‬

‫‪1/3‬‬ ‫‪3‬‬

‫‪1/3‬‬ ‫‪3‬‬

‫و بالتالي فالحل الذي يحقق المتباينة هو ‪x [1/ 3, 3]  1/ 3  x  3‬‬

‫‪Dr. Omar M. Sallah‬‬ ‫‪23‬‬

‫‪Chapter 1‬‬ ‫‪Business Mathematics‬‬ ‫‪Basic algebraic preliminaries‬‬
‫‪Math 121‬‬ ‫‪Algebra and calculus‬‬

‫‪5) 2 x + 4  x  2 x − 7‬‬

‫‪2x+ 4  x‬‬ ‫و‬ ‫‪x  2x − 7‬‬ ‫‪ -‬الخطوة األولي نقوم بقسمة المتباينة إلي جزئين‬

‫‪x  2 x − 7  x − 2 x  − 7  − x  − 7  multiplay by − 1  x  7‬‬ ‫)‪(1‬‬

‫‪2 x + 4  x  2 x − x  − 4  x  −4‬‬ ‫)‪(2‬‬

‫‪ -‬الخطوة الثانية نقوم برسمهم علي رسمة و احدة لنستطيع تحديد المجال المشترك‬

‫‪ -1‬المتغير (‪ )x‬أكبر من ( ‪) 7‬‬

‫‪−‬‬ ‫) ‪[ 7, ‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫نقوم بتجميعهم مع بعض‪ ،‬للحصول علي المنطقة المشتركة‬

‫من ( ‪) − 4‬‬ ‫‪ -2‬المتغير (‪ )x‬أقل‬

‫‪−‬‬ ‫] ‪(− ,−4‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫و عند جمعهما مع بعض نحصل علي الشكل التالي‪ ،‬و الذي يوضح أنه ال يوجد جزء يرضي‬

‫المتباينة الموضحة باألعلي و بالتالي اليوجد حل‪.‬‬

‫‪-4‬‬ ‫‪7‬‬

‫‪Dr. Omar M. Sallah‬‬ ‫‪24‬‬

Chapter 1 Business Mathematics Basic algebraic preliminaries
Math 121 Algebra and calculus

1.5 Absolute values

In many situations, we find ourselves facing only positive values
especially when we deal with touchable quantities. In this section, we
will focus on the case of equations and inequalities contain absolute
sign.

a = a = a

-:‫وبالخواص األتية‬
1) a  0.0

2) x− y = y− x

3) −a = a = a

4) a.b = a . b

5) a/b = a / b

‫ باإلضافة إلي أنه عند رفع‬،‫الخواص السابقة تساعد علي استخدام القيم المطلقة بدقة كبيرة‬
.‫عالمة المطلق يتم أخذ القيم الموجبة و السالبة‬

Dr. Omar M. Sallah 25

Chapter 1 Business Mathematics Basic algebraic preliminaries
Math 121 Algebra and calculus

- Solve the following absolute equations and inequalities:-

-:‫حل كال من المتباينات و المعادالت بوجود القيم المطلقة األتية‬
1) x = 3 2) 3 x 2 + 4 = 7 3) t / 2  12

4) 2 x − 4  5
Solution ‫الحل‬
1) x = 3
‫الخطوة األولي هو رفع عالمة المطلق‬
x = 3   x = 3 i.e. x = 3 or − x = 3  x = −3

x  {−3, 3} ‫ويصبح الحل‬

2) 3 x 2 + 4 = 7

‫الخطوة األولي هو رفع عالمة المطلق وبالتالي نالحظ أن المسألة تنقسم إلي جزئيين‬

3 x 2 + 4 = 7   (3 x 2 + 4) = 7 
(3 x 2 + 4) = 7  3 x 2 = 7 − 4  3 x 2 = 3  x 2 = 1  x = 1
or
− (3 x 2 + 4) = 7  3 x 2 + 4 = −7  3 x 2 = −11  x 2 = −11/ 7

x  {−1, 1} ‫و يصبح الحل‬

Dr. Omar M. Sallah 26

Chapter 1 Business Mathematics Basic algebraic preliminaries
Math 121 Algebra and calculus

Exercise (1)
Report (1) will be required after one week. This page must be attached to the report
‫ يجب أن ترفق هذه الصفحة مع التقرير‬.‫ سوف يتطلب تسليمه بعد أسبوع واحد‬:)1( ‫ التقرير‬-
Name: Report Code ( )
- Solve the following first degree equations:-
-:‫حل كال من معادالت الدرجة األولي األتية‬
1) 3x − 15 = 2 x + 8 2) 5x + 21 = 13 − 3x 3) 10 y − 20 = 2 y − 4
9t + 6
4) 2t + 10 = 2t + 16 5) 3 (2t + 8) = 6 (4 − t ) 6) = 3t + 2
3
- Solve the following second degree equations:-
-:‫حل كال من معادالت الدرجة الثانية األتية‬
1) x 2 + 3 x − 4 = 0 2) x 2 − 2 x + 1 = 0 3) x 2 + 10 x + 25 = 0
4) x 2 + 5 x + 4 = 0 5) t 2 − 2t = 8 6) 3 r 2 = 14r − 8
7) 2 x 2 − 32 = 0 8)- x 2 + 4 x + 5 = 0 9) x 2 + 6 x + 5 = 0
- Solve the following inequalities:-
-:‫حل كال من المتباينات األتية‬
1) 2 x − 2  5 2) 3 x + 6  2 x − 1 3) 7 x + 3  17
4) 10  x + 5  30 5) 2 x + 3  x  2 x + 5
- Solve the following absolute equations and inequalities:-
-:‫حل كال من المتباينات و المعدالت بوجود القيم المطلقة األتية‬
1) x = 9 2) 2 x 2 + 2 = 8

Dr. Omar M. Sallah 27