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Edexcel GCSE Maths: Your notes

Foundation
Algebra Toolkit
Contents
Algebraic Notation & Vocabulary
Algebra Basics

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Algebraic Notation & Vocabulary

Your notes
Algebraic Notation
What is algebra?
Algebra is a topic in mathematics that uses letters to represent general (or unknown) numbers
x and y are two unknown numbers
More information is needed to find their values
Letters are also called variables

How do I write calculations in algebra?

Writing mathematical ideas in letters is called using algebraic notation
You can use + and – to mean add and subtract
a+b
c+d–e
However no symbol is used for multiplication
ab (means a × b)
3ab (means 3 × a × b)
Fractions are used for division
a
(means a ÷ b)
b
You can combine the ideas above
c
ab + (means a×b + c÷3)
3
The order of operations for numbers still works
work out a×b and c÷d before adding them together
Powers (indices) and roots are the same as with numbers
a2 means a × a
4a2 means 4 × a2
With the order of operations, a2 happens before multiplying by 4
a means the square root of a
Brackets work in the same way as they do with numbers
3( a + b ) means 3 × ( a + b )
Add the a and b first, then multiply the result by 3

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Worked example
Your notes
Raheem is playing a game and has q points.
He then earns a further 6 points.

(a) Use algebra to write down the number of points that Raheem has.
Raheem has q + 6 points
At this point, the game doubles his number of points.

(b) Use algebra to write down the number of points that he now has.

Raheem has 2(q + 6) points

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Algebraic Vocabulary
What is a term? Your notes
A term is either:
a letter (variable) on its own, or a variable raised to a power
For example, x or x2
a number on its own
For example, 20
These are also called constants as they can't change value
or a number multiplied by a letter
For example, 5x
The number in front of a letter is called a coefficient
The coefficient of x in 6x is 6
The coefficient of y in -5y is -5
Terms can include powers and more than one letter,
6xy
4x 2
ab3c
What is a factor?
A factor is any number or letter that divides a term exactly
There is no remainder
The factors of 3x are 1, 3, x and 3x
The factors of 4xy are 1, 2, 4, x, 2x, 4x, y, 2y, 4y, xy, 2xy and 4xy
A term can be separated into factors that multiply together to give that term
Two factors of 5x are 5 and x
5 × x = 5x
To factorise means to write something as a multiplication of factors
When comparing two terms, a common factor is one that divides both
Compare 6xy with 4x
Common factors are 1, 2, x and 2x
The highest (or greatest) common factor is 2x

What is an expression?
An expression is an algebraic statement that does not have an equals sign
There is nothing to solve
An expression is made by adding, subtracting, multiplying or dividing terms
2x + 5 y
b2 – 2cd

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6y
5t Your notes
A single term is still an expression
Expressions can be simplified (made easier)
x + x + x simplifies to 3x
What is an equation?
An equation is an algebraic statement with an equals sign between a left-hand side and a right-hand
side
Both sides are equal in value
For example, if 2x has the same value as 10, then 2x = 10
An equation can be solved by finding the values of the letters that make both sides equal
The equation 2x = 10 is solved when x has the value of 5
x = 5 is called the solution
What is a formula?
A formula is a rule, definition or relationship between different quantities, written in shorthand using
letters
For example, weight, w, is mass, m, multiplied by gravitational acceleration, g
The formula is w = mg
It is common to substitute numbers into a formula
But a formula on its own cannot be solved
To turn a formula into an equation, more information is needed
For example, if w = 50 and m = 5, the formula w = mg becomes the equation 50 = 5g

Exam Tip
Knowing the differences between an expression, an equation and a formula will help you to
understand the wording of exam questions.

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Worked example
Your notes
(a) From the list below, write down
(i) an expression,
(ii) an equation.
2x + 5 = 4 7x – 9 x = vt – w

(i) An expression does not have an equals sign

7x – 9 is the expression
(ii) An equation has an equals sign and can be solved

2x + 5 = 4 is the equation

(b) If x = 10, v = 2 and w = 3, use the formula shown to write an equation in t.

x = vt – w is the formula shown (a group of different quantities forming a relationship)

Substitute x = 10, v = 2 and w = 3 into the formula

10 = 2t – 3

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Algebra Basics
Your notes
Substitution
What is substitution?
Substitution means replacing a letter (variable) in a formula with a given number

How do I substitute numbers into a formula?

Write down the formula
Replace (substitute) the letters in the formula with the given numbers
If substituting in a negative number, it is important to put brackets around it
For example, (-3)
Simplify any numerical calculations
Calculate the final value
Sometimes the result is an equation which you can then solve

Exam Tip
In the calculator paper, use your calculator to work out the final value.
Don't forget to type out brackets around any substituted negative numbers!

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Worked example
Your notes
(a) Find the value of the expression 2x (x + 3y ) when x = 2 and y = − 4 .

Substitute the numbers given

Use brackets () around negative numbers

Complete the calculation

Show every step of working, following the order of operations correctly
= 2 × 2 × 2 - 12
= 2 × 2 × -10
= 4 × -10

-40

(b) The formula 𝑃 = 2𝑙 + 2𝑤 is used to find the perimeter, 𝑃, of a rectangle of length 𝑙 and width 𝑤.
Given that the rectangle has a perimeter of 20 cm and a width of 4 cm, find its length.

Substitute the values you are given for 𝑃 and 𝑤 into the formula
20 = 2 × 𝑙 + 2 × 4

Simplify
20 = 2𝑙 + 8

Solve the resulting equation to find the value of 𝑙

Start by subtracting 8 from both sides
12 = 2𝑙

Divide both sides by 2

𝑙 = 6 cm

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Collecting Like Terms

What happens if there is more than one term? Your notes
Terms can be added and subtracted
The numbers in front of the letters are called coefficients
Each term has a positive or negative sign in front
In 2x - 3y the sign of the x term is positive and the sign of the y term is negative
Subtractions can be thought of as adding a negative
2x - 3y is the same as 2x + (-3y)
Just like 20 - 30 is the same as 20 + (-30)
The order of two terms can be swapped, but the signs must move with their terms
2x - 3y is the same as -3y + 2x
A plus is now needed in front of the 2x
Just like 20 - 30 is the same as -30 + 20
If no number appears in front of a term, then its number is 1
x is the same as 1x

What is a like term?

Like terms are terms with exactly the same letters and powers
The numbers in front can be different
For example:
2x and 3x
4x2 and 6x2
5xy and -7xy
These are not like terms:
2x and 3y (different letters)
4x2 and 6x4 (different powers)
5xy and 7xyz (different letters)
Remember multiplication can be done in any order
xy and yx are like terms
So are 2xy and 3yx

How do I collect like terms?

Collecting like terms means simplifying by adding or subtracting the numbers in front
2x + 3x becomes 5x
4y - 10y becomes -6y
A negative sign is needed here
If there are different types of like terms, collect them separately

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For 2x + 4y + 5x - 3y
Collecting the x's gives 2x + 5x = 7x
Collecting the y's gives 4y - 3y = y Your notes
The answer is 7x + y

Exam Tip
Don't leave terms like 1x in your final answer in an exam - always simplify them to just x.

Worked example
Simplify

8a − 5b − 6a + 4b

Collect the a terms first

Then collect the b terms

Don't forget the minus sign in front of the 5b

Add together the two answers

Simplify the signs

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