A Resource for Free-standing Mathematics Units Algebraic Expressions
Information Sheet
Algebraic Terms 2a means 2 × a ab means a × b
a2 means a × a a3 means a × a × a
a a 2b
means a ÷ b means a × a × b ÷ c
b c
Adding and subtracting terms
You can only add or subtract terms if they are the same type of terms.
It may help to think of a thermometer when combining positive and negative terms.
Examples
5x – 4y + 2x + 6y = 7x + 2y a2 + 3ab – 4b2 + 2a2 – 5ab – 7b2 = 3a2 – 2ab – 11b2
a 2 + 2a 2 3ab – 5ab – 4b2 – 7b2
Expanding a bracket
When there is a number (or letter) in front of a bracket, it means everything inside the bracket
must be multiplied by that number (or letter).
Remember the rules for signs when multiplying or dividing positive and negative quantities:
+×+ or – ×– the answer is
When signs are the same
+÷+ or – ÷– +
+×– or – ×+ the answer is
When signs are different
+÷– or – ÷+ –
Examples 3(2 x + 1) = 6 x + 3 a (a − b ) = a 2 − ab
3× 2 x 3 ×1 a ×a a × −b
Expanding 2 brackets
When two brackets are multiplied, each term in the first is multiplied by each term in the second.
Examples (2 x − 3) (4 x + 5) = 8x 2 + 10 x − 12 x − 15 = 8x 2 − 2 x − 15
2x × 4x − 3× 5
− 3× 4 x
2x×5
Here are more examples of expand ing brackets and simplifying.
Examples 5(x – 2y) – 2(2x – 3y) = 5x – 10y – 4x + 6y = x – 4y
4x(x + y) + 3x(x – y) = 4x 2 + 4xy + 3x2 – 3xy = 7x 2 + xy
(5a – b)(2a – 3b) = 10a2 – 15ab – 2ab + 3b2 = 10a2 – 17ab + 3b2
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The Nuffield Foundation 1
A Resource for Free-standing Mathematics Units Algebraic Expressions
Try these:
1. Work out the value of these terms if x = 4, y = 5 and z = 2
a) 3y b) x2 c) x3 d) xy
e) y3 f) 3z2 g) 2x + y h) 4z – y
x yz 2x + z y2
i) j) k) l)
z x y x− z
2. Collect the terms in these:
a) 7a + 5b + 2a – 6b b) 3x – 4y – 2x + 6y c) p – 5q + 3p – q
d) 2x2 + x – 3x – 4 e) a2 – 5ab + 4ab + b2 f) 4p2 – 5p + 1 – p2 – 2p – 7
g) 5ab – 3bc + ab + 6bc h) 7p2 – 4pq – 2q2 + 6pq i) x2 – 2xy – y2 – x2 + 6xy – 2y2
3. Expand the brackets:
a) 3(x – y) b) 4(5x + 2y) c) 2(6a – 5b)
d) x(x + y) e) a(3a – b) f) 3x(2x – 7y)
g) 5(2x + 4y – 3z) h) 2p(3p – q + 4) i) ab(a + 2b)
4. Expand the brackets and collect the terms:
a) (x + 3)(x + 4) b) (5x + 1)(2x – 3) c) (a – 1)(a – 3)
d) (3a – 4)(2a + 5) e) (p + q)(p – q) f) (a + b)(a – 5b)
g) (2x – y)(x + 7y) h) (3p – 2q)(5p – 7q) i) (a + b + c)(a – b – c)
5. Expand the brackets and simplify:
a) 5(x + 3) – 2(x + 4) b) 2(a – b) + 3(a + b)
c) 4(2x – 3y) – 3(x – y) d) 5(p + 2q) + 7(2p – q)
e) x(x – 2y) + 3x(5x – y) f) 3a(a – b) – b(a – b)
g) (x – 2y)(5x – y) h) (5a – b)(2a + 4b)
i) (4p + 3q)(2p – 7q) j) (5x + 3)(4x – 3) – x(3x – 1)
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The Nuffield Foundation 2
A Resource for Free-standing Mathematics Units Algebraic Expressions
Perimeter
The perimeter of a shape is the total length of its sides. l
Perimeter of this rectangle P=l+w+l+w
w
This can also be written as P = 2l + 2w or P = 2(l + w)
Area
Area measures the surface of something.
Area of a rectangle = length × width
For the rectangle shown, the area A = lw
Sometimes you may need to find other algebraic expressions for perimeters and areas.
Examples 3x
Perimeter = 3x + 2x + 3x + 2x = 10x
2x Area = 3x × 2x = 6x2
4a
Perimeter = 4a + 2b + 4a + 2b = 8a + 4b
2b
Area = 4a × 2b = 8ab
x+5
x–1 Perimeter = x + 5 + x – 1 + x + 5 + x – 1 = 4x + 8
Area = (x + 5)(x – 1) = x 2 – x + 5x – 5 = x 2 + 4x – 5
3y
Perimeter = 4x + 3y + x + 2y + 3x + 5y
= 8x + 10y x
Area of A = 4x × 3y = 12xy 4x A 2y
Area of B = 3x × 2y = 6xy 3x
Total area = 12xy + 6xy = 18xy B
5y
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The Nuffield Foundation 3
A Resource for Free-standing Mathematics Units Algebraic Expressions
Worksheet
1. Find algebraic expressions for the perimeter and area of each rectangle.
b) 3a c) 5x
a) 5x
3x
4a 4y
2. Find algebraic expressions for the perimeter and area of these rectangles.
x+7 y
a) b) c) x+3
x x–1
2y – 1
d) f)
e)
2a – b
2a
x+y
3a – b
x–y
a+1
3 Find algebraic expressions for the perimeter and area of these shapes.
a) b) c)
3a 2x
2x x
3a
3y 6x 3a 2x +1
5a
4y x
3a 2x + 3
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The Nuffield Foundation 4
A Resource for Free-standing Mathematics Units Algebraic Expressions
Teacher Notes
Unit Intermediate Level, Using algebra, functions and graphs
Skills used in this activity:
• Evaluating algebraic terms
• Adding, subtracting and multiplying algebraic terms
• Expanding brackets
• Finding algebraic expressions to represent perimeters and areas
Notes
It is intended that the information sheet (Page 1) should be used alongside the practice questions on pages 2
and 4.
Answers
Page 2
1) a) 12 b) 16 c) 64 d) 20 e) 125 f) 12
g) 13 h) 3 i) 2 j) 2.5 k) 4 l) 12.5
2) a) 9a – b b) x + 2y c) 4p – 6q d) 2x2 – 2x – 4
e) a 2 – ab + b 2 f) 3p 2 – 7p – 6 g) 6ab – 3bc h) 7p 2 + 2pq – 2q 2
i) x2 – 4xy – 3y2
3) a) 3x – 3y b) 20x + 8y c) 12a – 10b d) x2 + xy
e) 3a 2 – ab f) 6x2 – 21xy g) 10x + 20y – 15z h) 6p 2 – 2pq + 8p
i) a 2b + 2ab 2
4) a) x2 + 7x + 12 b) 10x2 – 13x – 3 c) a 2 – 4a + 3 d) 6a 2 + 7a – 20
e) p 2 – q 2 f) a 2 – 4ab – 5b 2 g) 2x2 + 13xy – 7y2 h) 15p 2 – 31pq + 14q 2
i) a 2 – b 2 + c2 – 2bc
5) a) 3x + 7y b) 5a + b c) 5x – 9xy d) 19p + 3q
e) 16x2 – 4xy f) 3a 2 – 4ab + b 2 g) 5x2 – 11xy + 2y2 h) 10a 2 + 18ab – 4b 2
i) 8p 2 – 22pq – 21q 2 j) 17x2 – 2x – 9
Page 4
1) a) Perimeter = 16x, Area = 15x2 b) Perimeter = 14a, Area = 12a 2
c) Perimeter = 10x + 8y, Area = 20xy
2) a) Perimeter = 4x + 14, Area = x(x + 7) = x2 + 7x
b) Perimeter = 6y – 2, Area = y(2y – 1) = 2y2 – y
c) Perimeter = 4x + 4, Area = (x – 1)(x + 3) = x 2 + 2x – 3
d) Perimeter = 6a + 2, Area = 2a(a + 1) = 2a 2 + 2a
e) Perimeter = 4x, Area = (x – y)(x + y) = x2 – y2
f) Perimeter = 10a – 4b, Area = (3a – b)(2a – b) = 6a2 – 5ab + b2
3) a) Perimeter = 12x + 14y, Area = 30xy
b) Perimeter = 34a, Area = 42a2
c) Perimeter = 16x + 8, Area = 12x2 + 18x + 3
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The Nuffield Foundation 5
