My Notes

Today, we will cover…

4A Expanding and factorising

4B Algebraic fractions

4C Surds
My Notes Lesson 4: Algebra 3

4A Expanding and factorising

4A Practice Questions
Question 1

Write down the expansion of the following.

( )( )
(a) (2x + 1)2 1 1
(f) x+ x−
x x
(b) (3x − 4)2
(c) (3xy − 4)2 (g) (2x + 1)(3x − 4)
(d) (3x − 4y)2
(h) (2x − 3y)(2x + 3y)
( )2
1
(e) x+ (i) (2x + y)(3x − 4y)
x
My Notes Lesson 4: Algebra 4

Question 2
Factorise the following.

(a) x2 + 6x + 9 (f) 2x2 − 7x − 15

(b) x2 + 2x − 15
(g) x2 − y 2 + 2x − 2y
(c) 4x − 8x − 5
2

(h) (x − 3) − x(3 − x)
(d) 48x2 − 27y 2
2
(e) 25 − (x + y) (i) x4 − y 4
My Notes Lesson 4: Algebra 5

Question 3

(a) Expand (x − 1)(1 + x + x2 ).

x3 − 1
(b) Deduce that 1 + x + x2 = , for x ̸= 1.
x−1
My Notes Lesson 4: Algebra 6

4A Harder Problems
Question 1
Factorise the following.

(a) 16 − 81x4 (c) 6x2 − 5x − 6

(b) a2 (a + 2) − 4(a + 2) (d) 6x2 − 5xy − 6y 2
My Notes Lesson 4: Algebra 7

Question 2

Use the formula a3 − b3 = (a − b)(a2 + ab + b2 ) to factorise the following.

(a) x3 − 1 (b) 27x3 − 8 (c) (2x + 1)3 − 8

My Notes Lesson 4: Algebra 8

Question 3
Expand the following.

(a) (x − y)3 (b) (x + y)3

My Notes Lesson 4: Algebra 9

Question 4
Let n ≥ 2 be a positive integer.

(a) Show that ( )

xn − 1 = (x − 1) 1 + x + x2 + . . . + xn−1 .

(b) Deduce that for x ̸= 1,

xn − 1
= 1 + x + x2 + . . . + xn−1 .
x−1

(c) Hence, simplify 1 + 2 + 22 + . . . + 299 .

My Notes Lesson 4: Algebra 10

Question 5
Show that ( )( √ )( √ )
z6 + 1 = z2 + 1 z2 − z 3 + 1 z2 + z 3 + 1 .
My Notes Lesson 4: Algebra 11

Question 6
Show that ( )
a3 + b3 + c3 − 3abc = (a + b + c) a2 + b2 + c2 − ab − bc − ac .
My Notes Lesson 4: Algebra 12

4B Algebraic fractions

4B Practice Questions
Question 1

Simplify the following expressions.

2x 4x x x
(a) + (g) −
5 5 x−1 x+1
3x 11x 3x + 5 x + 7
(b) + (h) −
10 15 x−2 x−2
3x − 1 7 − 2x 2 1
(c) − (i) +
3 3 x−2 x
5x + 3 1 − 4x 3 5
(d) − (j) 2
+
6 8 4x 6x
5 3 1 5 2
(e) + + (k) +
4x 4x 8x x(x − 2) x(x + 2)

5 2 3 2
(f) − (l) − 2
4x x x(x − 4) x − 3x + 2
My Notes Lesson 4: Algebra 13

Question 2
Simplify the following expressions.

5x 3y x−2 x2 − x − 6
(a) × (c) × 2
5y 20x2 x + 3 x − 6x + 9
5x 15xy x2 − 9 x2 − 5x + 6
(b) ÷ (d) ÷
6 9 x2 − 2x − 15 3x2 − 12
My Notes Lesson 4: Algebra 14

Question 3
Simplify the following expressions.

4x2 + 6xy
(a)
8x2
( )
1 1
(b) − ÷ (x − y)
x y
( )( )
1 1 1 1
(c) + −
x y x y
My Notes Lesson 4: Algebra 15

Question 4
Complete the following.

1 1 1 1 1 1
x− x− + +
(a) x = x ×x x x+1 = x x + 1 × x(x + 1)
1 1 x 1 1 1 1 x(x + 1)
x+ x+ (b) − −
x x x x+1 x x+1
= =
My Notes Lesson 4: Algebra 16

Question 5
Simplify the following by multiplying the numerator and denominator by an appropriate term.

1 y x
+
x x y
(a) (c) y x
1 −
1+ x y
x
1 1 2 1
+ +
x y x x+3
(b) (d)
1 1 3 1
− −
x y x x+3
My Notes Lesson 4: Algebra 17

Question 6
Simplify the following.

1 x 3 2
(a) − (c) − 2
x−1 x−1 x2 − 4 x − 3x + 2
t2 − 9 2 1 5
(b) . (d) − −
3t − 9 x2 − 9 x − 3 x + 3
My Notes Lesson 4: Algebra 18

Question 7
Suppose a and b are numbers such that a + b = 5 and ab = 3. Find the following without
explicitly finding the value of a and b.

1 1
(a) +
a b
1 1
(b) + 2
a2 b
1 1
(c) +
a2 + ab b2 + ab
My Notes Lesson 4: Algebra 19

Question 8
Simplify
x 1
+ .
x + 1 (x + 1)(x + 2)
My Notes Lesson 4: Algebra 20

4B Harder Problems
Question 1
Show that the following expression will always have the same value, regardless of the value of n.
1 (n + 1)(n − 1)
+ − (n + 1)
n n
My Notes Lesson 4: Algebra 21

Question 2
Simplify the following.

1 a b
a+ +
a b a
(a) (b)
1 a b
a− −
a b a
My Notes Lesson 4: Algebra 22

Question 3

1 1 q
Suppose p = ,q= and r = . Show that r = a.
a 1−p q−1
My Notes Lesson 4: Algebra 23

Question 4

1 1 a+b
(a) Show that the average of and , where a and b are positive, is x = .
a b 2ab

1 1 1
(b) Bob claims that the average of and is because 6 is the average of 2
2 10 6
and 10. Use the formula from (a) to calculate the actual average value, and
show that Bob’s claim is incorrect.
2
(c) Let y be the ‘average’, according to Bob’s argument. Show that y = .
a+b

(d) Show that

(a − b)2
x−y = ,
2ab(a + b)
and deduce that Bob’s ‘average’ y will always be less than the actual average
x.
My Notes Lesson 4: Algebra 24

Question 5
Consider the equation
1 1 1
+ = .
u v f
vf
(a) Show that u = .
v−f
(b) Briefly explain why v ̸= f .
(c) Let x1 = u − f and x2 = v − f . Show that x1 x2 = f 2 .
My Notes Lesson 4: Algebra 25

4C Surds

4C Practice Questions
Question 1

Simplify the following.

√ √ √ √
(a) 45 + 80 − 72 4+ 12
(c)
2
√ √
√ √ √ 2 6×3 7
(b) 3 24 + 6 150 − 5 54 (d) √
12 21
My Notes Lesson 4: Algebra 26

Question 2
Simplify the following.
√ √ √
(a) 3
125 − 3
8 (c) 3
2000
√
3
√
5
(b) 24 (d) 64
My Notes Lesson 4: Algebra 27

Question 3
Simplify the following.
√ √ √
3
√
(a) a2 b (b) a4 b2 (c) a6 b3 (d) a5 b3
My Notes Lesson 4: Algebra 28

Question 4
Simplify the following by first rationalising the denominator.
√
1 5+ 2
(a) √ (e) √
2 5 5− 2
√
5 2
(b) √ √
3 10 1 3−1
√ (f) √ +
5 3 3+1 4
(c) √
3 5
√
2 42 6
(d) √ (g) √ −√
5− 2 63 7+2
My Notes Lesson 4: Algebra 29

Question 5
Rationalise the denominator.
√
a b 1
(a) √ (d) √
c d a b−c
1 1
(b) √ (e) √ √
a+ b a b+c d
1 1
(c) √ −√
a b
My Notes Lesson 4: Algebra 30

Question 6
Simplify the following.
( √ )( √ )
(a) 2+5 2− 5
( √ )2
(b) 5+ 3
( √ )2
(c) −5+2 3
(√ √ )2
(d) 2+ 3
( )2
1
(e) 1+ √
2
( )2
√ 1
(f) 3− √
3
My Notes Lesson 4: Algebra 31

Question 7
Find the values of a and b in each of the following.
√ √
(a) 3+4 5=a+2 b
( √ )2 √
(b) 2−3 5 =a+b 5
( √ √ )2 √
(c) 2 3−3 6 =a+b 2
( √ )2 ( √ )2 √
(d) 1−3 2 − 2+3 2 =a+b 2
My Notes Lesson 4: Algebra 32

Question 8
Find x in each of the following.
√ √ √ √ √ √ √
(a) x= 18 + 8 (b) x 2 = 18 + 3 8 − 32
My Notes Lesson 4: Algebra 33

Question 9

√ √ 1 1
(a) Let x = 3+ , find the value of x2 + 2 . You
2. By first simplifying x +
x x
do not need to find the value of x2 to do this question.
1 √
(b) Use a similar technique to calculate x2 − , if x = −2 + 5.
x2
My Notes Lesson 4: Algebra 34

Question 10
√
Show that x = −3 + 2 2 satisfies the equation x2 + 6x + 1 = 0
My Notes Lesson 4: Algebra 35

4C Harder Problems
Question 1

4 1
Show that √ − √ is a rational number.
2+ 5 9−4 5
My Notes Lesson 4: Algebra 36

Question 2

(a) Rationalise the denominator of

1
√ √ .
n+ n+1

(b) Hence, simplify

1 1 1 1
√ +√ √ +√ √ + ··· + √ √ .
1+ 2 2+ 3 3+ 4 99 + 100
My Notes Lesson 4: Algebra 37

Question 3
Suppose x and y are rational numbers. Show that
(√ √ )2
x y
xy √ − √
y x

is also a rational number.

 38

Lesson 4: Algebra Question 5

See full worked solutions.
4A Expanding and factorising
Question 6
Practice Questions See full worked solutions.

Question 1 4B Algebraic fractions

2
(a) 4x + 4x + 1 (b) 9x − 24x + 16
2

(c) 9x2 y 2 − 24xy + 16 (d) 9x2 − 24xy + 16y 2 Practice Questions

1 1
(e) x2 + 2 + (f) x2 − Question 1
x2 x2
6x 31x
(g) 6x2 − 5x − 4 (h) 4x2 − 9y 2 (a) (b)
5 30
(i) 6x2 − 5xy − 4y 2
5x − 8 32x + 9
Question 2 (c) (d)
3 24
(a) (x + 3)2 (b) (x + 5)(x − 3)
17 3
(c) (2x + 1)(2x − 5) (d) 3(4x + 3y)(4x − 3y) (e) (f) −
8x 4x
(e) (5 + x + y)(5 − x − y) (f) (2x + 3)(x − 5)
(g) (x + y + 2)(x − y) (h) (x − 3)(1 + x) 2x 2(x − 1)
(g) (h)
(i) (x2 + y 2 )(x + y)(x − y) (x − 1)(x + 1) x−2

3x − 2 10x + 9
Question 3 (i) (j)
x(x − 2) 12x2
(a) x3 − 1
(b) See full worked solutions. 7x + 6 x2 − x + 6
(k) (l)
x(x − 2)(x + 2) x(x − 1)(x − 2)(x − 4)
Harder Problems
Question 2
Question 1 3 1
(a) (b)
(a) (4 + 9x2 )(2 + 3x)(2 − 3x) 20x 2y
(b) (a + 2)2 (a − 2) (x − 2)(x + 2) 3(x + 2)
(c) (3x + 2)(2x − 3) (c) (d)
(x − 3)(x + 3) x−5
(d) (3x + 2y)(2x − 3y)
Question 3
Question 2
2x + 3y 1 y 2 − x2
(a) (x − 1)(x2 + x + 1) (a) (b) − (c)
4x xy y 2 x2
(b) (3x − 2)(9x2 + 6x + 4)
(c) (2x − 1)(4x2 + 8x + 7)
Question 4
Question 3 x2 − 1
(a) (b) 2x + 1
(a) x3 − 3x2 y + 3xy 2 − y 3 x2 + 1
(b) x3 + 3x2 y + 3xy 2 + y 3
Question 5
Question 4 1 y+x
(a) (b)
(a) See full worked solutions. x+1 y−x
(b) See full worked solutions. y 2 + x2 3(x + 2)
(c) 2100 − 1 (c) (d)
y 2 − x2 2x + 9
ANSWERS
 39

Question 6 4C Surds
t+3
(a) −1 (b) Practice Questions
3

x−7 2(7 − 3x) Question 1

(c) (d) √ √ √
(x + 2)(x − 2)(x − 1) (x + 3)(x − 3)
(a) 7 5 − 6 2 (b) 21 6
√
√ 2
Question 7 (c) 2 + 3 (d)
2
5 19 1
(a) (b) (c)
3 9 3 Question 2
√
(a) 3 (b) 2 3 3
Question 8 √ √
(c) 10 3 2 (d) 2 5 2
x+1
x+2 Question 3
√
(a) a b (b) a2 b
√
Harder Problems (c) a2 b (d) a2 b ab

Question 1 Question 4
√ √ √
−1 5 5 15
(a) (b) (c)
10 3 3
Question 2 √ √ √
2+5 2 27 + 10 2 3( 3 − 1)
a2 + 1 a2 + b2 (d) (e) (f)
(a) 2 (b) 2 23 23 4
a −1 a − b2
(g) 4
Question 3
Question 5
See full worked solutions. √ √ √ √
a bd a− b a b
(a) (b) 2 (c) −
Question 4 cd a −b a b
√ √ √
(a) See full worked solutions. a b+c a b−c d
(b) See full worked solutions. (d) 2 (e)
a b − c2 a2 b − c2 d
(c) See full worked solutions.
(d) See full worked solutions. Question 6
√ √
(a) −1 (b) 28 + 10 3 (c) 37 − 20 3
Question 5
√ 3 √ 4
(a) See full worked solutions. (d) 5 + 2 6 (e) + 2 (f)
2 3
(b) The denominator will be zero.
(c) See full worked solutions.
Question 7
(a) a = 3, b = 20 (b) a = 49, b = −12
(c) a = 66, b = −36 (d) a = −3, b = −18

Question 8
(a) 50 (b) 5

Question 9
√
(a) 10 (b) −8 5
ANSWERS
 40

Question 10 Question 2
√ √
See full worked solutions. (a) n+1− n (b) 9

Harder Problems Question 3

See full worked solutions.
Question 1
See full worked solutions.
ANSWERS