3 Algebraic expressions

In this chapter you will learn how to …

• use algebraic notation and write algebraic expressions.
• simplify and manipulate algebraic expressions.
 or more resources relating
F
• use common factors to factorise expressions.
to this chapter, visit GCSE
• use algebra to solve problems in different contexts. Mathematics Online.

Using mathematics: real-life applications

Algebra lets you describe and represent patterns using concise mathematical
language. T his is useful in many different careers including accounting,
navigation, building, plumbing, health, medicine, science and computing.

“You are unlikely to think about algebra

when you watch cartoons or play video
games, but animators use complex
algebra to program the characters and
make objects move.” (Games designer)

Before you start …

KS3 You need to understand 1 Choose the correct way to write each of these.
the basic conventions of a n3n
algebra. A 2n B n2 C 2n D 2(n)
b c multiplied by 3 and then added to 5
A 3c 1 5 B 3(c 1 5) C c 1 15
c n squared and then multiplied by 2
A 2n2 B (2n)2 C 4n2

KS3 You should be able to 2 a Evaluate the following expressions for n 5 5 and n 5 25.
substitute numbers for i 3n 1 4 ii 3(n 1 4)
letters and evaluate ​(2n 1 4)​​2​
expressions. b What is the value of ​______​ when n 5 3?
5
Ch2 You should be able to find 3 Write down the HCF of:
the highest common factor a 12xy and 18y   2. b 45x and 50xy.
in a group of terms.

KS3 You need to know how to 4 Match the simplified expressions (A–D) to the mathematical
apply the rules of indices to statements a–d:
simplify expressions. a am 3 an b am 4 an c (am)n d a0
m2n m1n
A 1 B a C a D am 3 n

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23
GCSE Mathematics for OCR (Higher)

Assess your starting point using the Launchpad

Step 1

1 Write each statement as an algebraic expression.

a Multiply n by 3 and add 4 to the result.
b Subtract 4 from n and multiply the result by 3.
c Multiply n squared by 4, add 3 and divide the result by 2. Go to
Section 1:
Algebraic notation
✓
Step 2

2 Simplify these expressions by collecting like terms.

a 3a 1 2b 1 2a 2 b
b 4x 1 7 1 3x 2 3 2 x
c 4a2 1 8ab 2 10a2 2 5ab Go to
Section 2:
Simplifying expressions
✓
Step 3

3 Multiply out the brackets and simplify.

a m(n 2 p) b 3(x 1 5) 1 4(x 1 2) c 2z(z 1 4) 2 z(z 1 5)
Go to
Section 3:
✓ Multiplying out brackets

Step 4

4 Complete the following.

a 3x 1 12 5   (x 1 4) b 5x 1 10y 5    (x 1 2y)
c x 2 3x 5    (x 2 3)
2
d ab 2 ac 5 a( 2 ) Go to
e 2x 1 7x2 5 2x( ) Section 4:
5 Factorise each expression and write it as a product of its factors. Factorising expressions
a 2x 1 4y b 23x 2 9 c 5x2 1 5xy

✓
Go to
Section 5:
Using algebra to solve problems

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 3 Algebraic expressions

Section 1: Algebraic notation

In algebra, letters are used to represent unknown numbers.
For example: x 1 y 5 20.
Key vocabulary
T his means that two unknown numbers add up to 20.
T he letters can represent many different numbers so they are called variables. variable: a letter representing an
unknown number.
Letters and numbers can be combined and linked together with operation signs
to form expressions such as 5a3 2 2xy 1 3. This expression has three terms. expression: a group of numbers
and letters linked by operation
Terms are separated by 1 or 2 signs, and the sign belongs with the term that signs.
follows it. Terms should always be written in the shortest, simplest way: term: a combination of letters
2
2 3 h is written as 2h and x 3 x 3 y is written as x y. and/or numbers.
4x x14 product: the result of multiplying
4x 4 3 is written as __
​ ​and (x 1 4) 4 2 is written as ____
​ ​​. numbers and/or terms together.
3 2
T he rules for the four operations are the 63 a 5 6a
same for letters as they are for numbers.
For example, to find a product, you
factor factor product
multiply the factors together: (or multiplier) (or multiplicand)

In algebraic notation, multiplication is shown by writing the factors next to

each other. You write a 3 b as ab and 5 3 z as 5z.
Tip
Equations and identities
When you have numbers and
An equation is a mathematical statement that includes an equals sign, for letters in a term, the number is
example a 1 3 5 27. An identity is an equation that includes the symbol ‘;’, written first and letters are usually
which means ‘exactly the same as’ or ‘identical to’. This means that the written in alphabetical order.
left-hand side is a different way of representing the right-hand side. So, you write 5x not x5 and 3xy
not 3yx.
For example, the following are all identities:
a 5
a 3 b ; ab 5 3 z ; 5z ​ a ÷ b ; ​ __ ​​ ​5 ÷ z ; __
​  z ​​
b
Identities are true for all values of the variables. Tip
An identity is not the same as two equivalent terms. For example, you can say It is fine to use an 5 sign instead
2n 5 n 1 2 but you cannot say 2n ; n 1 2. of an ; for example, 2 1 3 5 5
2n 5 n 1 2 is an equation and has one unique answer, n 5 2 but 2n and and 2 1 3 ; 5 are both accurate.
But it is not ok to use a ; sign for
n 1 2 are not identical terms. When n ? 2, then 2n ? n 1 2 so it is not true for
anything other than an identity.
all values of n, and is not an identity.
Work it out 3.1

Johan was asked to write three identities and to justify his choices.
Is each option correct or incorrect? Why?
Option A Option B Option C
3(x 2 5) ; 15 2 3x (2x)² 1 1 ; 4x² 1 1 2y 1 2 ________
______ 3
​​   ​​ ; ​​   ​​
3x 2 15 ; 15 2 3x LHS 5 2x 3 2x 1 1 3 2(y 1 1)
LHS is the same as the RHS, 5 4x² 1 1 2y 1 2 5 2(y 1 1)
true for all values of x. 5 RHS 2y 1 2 5 2y 1 2
[ this is an identity, true for all LHS is divided by 3 and on RHS 3 is divided
values of x. by the expression.
[ this is an identity, true for all values of x.

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25
GCSE Mathematics for OCR (Higher)

exercise 3A
1 Write the algebraic expression for:
a x multiplied by 3 and added to y multiplied by 7.
b 4 subtracted from x squared and the result multiplied by 5.
c x cubed added to y squared and the result divided by 4.
d 6 added to x, the result multiplied by 4 and then y subtracted.
e x multiplied by itself and then divided by 2.
f five less than three-fifths of a number.

2 Match the statements (a–i) to their correct algebraic expression from

(A–I).
6x 1 2
_____
a Take a number and multiply it by 3 then add 2 to it. A ​ ​
3
b Take a number and add 3 to it, then double it. B 3x 1 2
c Take a number and multiply it by itself then add
C 5(x 2 4)
three to it.
d Add 6 to a number then divide it by 2. D (3x)2
_7
e Take 4 away from a number all multiplied by 5. E ​x​​  ​  3 ​​​
f Square a number then multiply by 9. F 2x2 2 3x3
g Square a number and multiply by 2 and subtract
G 2(x 1 3)
the number cubed multiplied by 3.
h Twice the sum of one third and a number. 61x
____
H ​ ​
2
i T he cube root of a number multiplied by the
I x2 1 3
square of a number.

3 Use algebra to write these as simply as possible.

a 2 3 3a b 4b 3 5 c d 3 (29)
d 4a 3 3b e 5c 3 2d f 2
3m 3 4n
g 2
2p 3 ( 3q) 2
h a3a i m3m
j 2a 3 4a k 2
3a 3 5a l 2
2m 3 (24m)
m 7a 3 8ab n 26cd 3 (22de) o 2a 3 2a 3 2a

4 Write each of the following divisions as simply as possible using the

conventions of algebra.
a 15x 4 5 b 27y 4 3 c 24a² 4 8
d 7 3 15p 4 21 e 24x 4 (8 3 3) f 18y 4 (6 3 2)
g 2
18x² 4 9 h 2
16a² 4 ( 4)
2
i 15 4 (3 3 n 3 n)
Tip 5 Simplify.
Use the laws of indices for this a x6 3 x7 b y4 3 y9 c 3a4 3 5a5
question:
d 2x3 3 5x6 e a2 4 a4
12b7
_____
f ​
​  2 ​​
am 3 an 5 am 1 n 6b
am 4 an 5 am 2 n 18p10
(am) n 5 am 3 n
g ​​ _____
11
 ​​ h (x4)3 i (2a7)3
9p
a0 5 1
j 4x2y3 3 5xy4 4 2x5y3 k 5x0 l 3x 3 (x)3

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 3 Algebraic expressions

6 Write expressions to represent the perimeter and area of each shape.

a x 6 b x 4 c x 7 d x y
1 2
2 2
x x

7 A man is x years old.

a How old will he be ten years from now?
b How old was he ten years ago?
c His daughter is a third of his age.
How old is his daughter?

8 A CD and a DVD together cost C pounds.

a If the CD cost £5, what did the DVD cost?
b If the DVD cost twice as much as the CD, what did the CD cost?
c If the CD cost £(C 2 15), what did the DVD cost?

Substitution Key vocabulary

You can evaluate expressions by substituting given values for the variables evaluate: means to find the value
into the expression. of, to solve.

For example, if x 5 22, you can work out that

2x 1 1 5 2 3 22 1 1 5 24 1 1 5 23.
Tip
Worked example 1
When you substitute values into
Given that a 5 22 and b 5 8, evaluate: a term such as 2y you need to
remember that 2y means 2 3 y.
a ab b 3b 2 2a c 2a3 d 2(a 1 b)
So, if y 5 6, you need to write 2y
as 2 3 6 and not as 26.
a ab 5 a 3 b
5 22 3 8
5 216
b 3b 2 2a 5 3 3 b 2 2 3 a
5 3 3 8 2 2 3 22
5 24 2 (24)
5 28
c 2a 5 2 3 a3
3

5 2 3 (22)3 Tip
5 2 3 28
Substitution is an important skill.
5 216 You will need to substitute values
d 2(a 1 b) 5 2 3 (a 1 b) for letters when you work with
Remember to do the
formulae for perimeter, area and
5 2 3 (22 1 8) calculation in brackets first. volume of shapes, and when
5236 you solve problems involving
5 12 Pythagoras’ theorem.

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GCSE Mathematics for OCR (Higher)

EXercise 3B
1 Given that x 5 3 and y 5 6, evaluate these expressions.
a 2x 1 3y b 3x 1 2y c 10y 2 2x
d x 1 2y e 6x 1 y f 5x 2 5y
g 2xy
1
h ​​ __ ​​  xy i 2x2 2 y2
2
2 Find the value of each expression when a 5 22 and b 5 5.
10
a 25ab 1 10 b 23ab 2 6 ​__​
c ​
b
400 6 15 15 24 ​
d ​​___
a ​
__
​a ​2 ​__​
e ​ f ​__
​ ​2 ​__
b b 2a
g 8 2 2a 1 2b h 7a 2 4 1 2b i 2
3a2

j 4 2 3(ab)3 k ​
3a2b4
​ _____ ​​ l 2
12a2b 4 22ab2
3
2b

Section 2: Simplifying expressions

When you are asked to simplify an expression, you need to use the rules of
arithmetic and algebra to write an expression as simply as possible.

Adding and subtracting like terms

Like terms have exactly the same letters or combination of letters and powers.
You can simplify expressions by adding or subtracting like terms.
3a and 4a are like terms. 7xy and 2xy are like terms. 5x2 and 3x2 are like terms.
3a 1 4a 5 7a 7xy 2 2xy 5 5xy 5x2 2 3x2 5 2x2
5ab2 and 2a2b are not like terms so 5ab2 2 2a2b cannot be simplified further.

Work it out 3.1

Here are two terms: 3x  2y and 2xy  2.

Student A said that these two terms are like terms and can be added
together to be written as: 5x  2y  2
Student B said that these two terms are not like terms and can only be
written added together as: 3x2y 1 2xy  2
Which student is correct? Why?

When an expression contains many different terms you may be able to

simplify it by collecting and combining like terms.

Worked example 2

Simplify 2x 2 4y 1 3x 1 y
Rearrange the terms so like terms are together.
5 2x 1 3x 2 4y 1 y
Keep the signs with the terms they belong to.

5 5x 2 3y Combine the like terms. Remember y 5 1y.

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 3 Algebraic expressions

Multiplication and division

In Section 1 you saw how to simplify expressions by writing them without

multiplication or division signs.
When you divide, you can simplify fractions by cancelling them down to
lowest terms.

Worked example 3

Simplify.
6​x​2​
____
2
8xy 1​ 2ab​​  2​
a 5 × 4a b 2x × 6y c 2a2 × 7ab d 12a ÷ 24 e ​
​   ​​ f ​​ _____
 ​​ g ​​ ______ ​​
2 16
2
36ab
a 5 3 4a 5 20a
Multiply numbers by numbers and write
b 2x 3 6y 5 12xy letters in alphabetical order.

c 2a2 3 7ab 5 14a3b a2 5 a 3 a, so a2 3 a 5 a 3 a 3 a 5 a3

Tip
d 12a 4 24 5 ____ ​​  12a  ​​ 5 23a Write the division as a fraction and reduce
2
4 it to its lowest terms by cancelling. Expanding a term can help you to
​6x​​  ​​2​ 5 3x2
e ​​ ____ understand it more clearly.
2 5ab2 5 5 3 a 3 b 3 b
28xy xy 2a2b 5 2 3 a 3 a 3 b
f ​​ _____ ​ 5 ​ ___ ​​
216 2
12​ab​​  2 ​​ 5 ​ __
b  ​​ Write the numerator as b not 1b by
g ​​ ______ convention.
36ab 3

exercise 3C
1 Decide whether each of these are like or unlike terms.
a 4a and 3b b 5b and −3b c 3b and 9b
d 4p and 6p e 8p and 4q −
f 5a and 6b
g 7mn and 3mn h 4ab and −2ab i 6xy and −7x
−

j 9ab and 3a k 9x2 and 6x2 l 6a2 and −7a2

2 Simplify.
a 9x 1 4y 2 4y 2 3x 1 5y b 3c 1 6d 2 6c 2 4d
c 2xy 1 3y2 − 5xy 2 4y2 d 2a2 2 ab2 1 3ab2 1 2ab
e 5f – 7g 2 6f 1 9g f 7a2b 1 3a2b 2 4a2b
g 6mn3 2 2mn3 1 8mn3 h 3st2 2 4s2t 1 5s2t 1 6st2

3 Copy and complete.

a 2a 1 5 7a b 5b 2 5 2b
c 8mn 1 5 12mn d 11pq 2 5 6pq
e 4x2 1 5 7x  2 f 6m2 2 5 m2
g 8ab 2 5 22ab h 23st 1 5 5st

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GCSE Mathematics for OCR (Higher)

4 Copy and complete.

a 8a 3 5 16a b 9b 3 5 18b c 8a 3 5 16ab
d 5m 3 5 15mn e 3a 3 5 12a2 f 6p 3 5 30p2
g 2
5b 3 5 10b2 h 4m 3 5 12m2n

5 Rewrite each expression in the simplest possible form.

a 7 3 2x 3 22 b 4x 3 2y 3 2z c 2a 3 5 3 a
d ab 3 bc 3 cd e 2
4x 3 2x 3 23y f ​
1
__
​ 3​ 4y 3 2y
4x
g 2
9x 4 3 h 24y 4 2x
2
i 18x2 4 6
j 2 2
25x 4 5x

6 Simplify.
4x 3a 2
12m
a __
​ ​ b ​__​ c ​​ ______
 ​​
8 9 18
15p 22​x​2​ 15xy
d ​____​ e ____
​ ​ f ​____​
21 55 20
12ab 2xy 100x2
g ____
​ a ​ h ​___​ i ​​ ______ ​​
6xy 10xy

Key vocabulary Section 3: Multiplying out brackets

expanding: multiplying out Removing brackets is called expanding the expression.
an expression to get rid of the
brackets.
To expand an expression such as 2(a 1 b) you multiply each term inside the
bracket by the value outside the bracket.

Tip 2(a 1 b) 5 2 3 a 1 2 3 b
5 2a 1 2b
Remember that 2(a 1 b) means
2 3 (a 1 b). In algebraic notation
you don’t write the multiplication
2
2(a 1 b) 5 22 3 a 1 (22 3 b)
sign. 5 22a 2 2b
Pay careful attention to the
rules for multiplying negative Worked example 4
and positive numbers when you
multiply out. Expand.
a 3x(y 1 2z) b 2
2x(4 1 y) c (3x 2 2)
2

a 3x(y 1 2z) 5 3x 3 y 1 3x 3 2z Multiply each term inside the

brackets by the term outside
5 3xy 1 6xz the brackets; write out each
b 22x(4 1 y) 5 22x 3 4 1 (22x 3 y) term and then simplify.
5 28x 2 2xy
c 2(3x 2 2) 5 21 3 3x 1 (21 3 22)
5 23x 1 2

You are able to expand brackets this way because multiplication is

distributive over addition and subtraction. T he distributive law states that:
a(b 1 c) ; ab 1 ac

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 3 Algebraic expressions

Both sides of the expression are identical, so we can use the ; symbol.
If two algebraic expressions are identical, the values calculated will be equal
for any numbers which are substituted for the variables.
We call identical expressions identities.
You can prove this rule works by substituting in values.

Worked example 5

Show that 3(2x 2 4) ; 6x 2 12.

x 5 3, 3(2x 2 4) Choose a value for x and substitute it
into the expression on the left to solve.
3(6 2 4) 5 3(2) 5 6
x 5 3, 6x 2 12 Substitute x into the expression on the
right-hand side and solve, if you get the
18 2 12 5 6 same value, the expressions are identical.

Both expressions have You can test it with other values

of x to make sure it works.
a value of 6.

Worked example 6

Use substitution to determine whether (a 1 b)2 ; a2 1 b2.

Choose small values to make your
Let a 5 1 and b 5 2
calculations as simple as possible.
(a 1 b)2 5 (1 1 2)2 5 (3)2 5 9
a2 1 b2 5 12 1 22 5 1 1 4 5 5
9?5 So the expressions are not identical.

When you have expanded an expression it may contain like terms.

Add or subtract like terms to simplify the expression further.

Worked example 7

Expand and simplify. a 6x 2 3(2x 1 1) b 2x(x 1 y) 2 x(3x 2 4y)

a 6x 2 3(2x 1 1) b 2x(x 1 y) 2 x(3x 2 4y)
5 6x 2 6x 2 3 5 2x2 1 2xy 2 3x2 1 4xy
5 23 5 2x2 1 6xy

EXercise 3D
1 Some of these expansions are incorrect.
Check each one and correct those that are wrong.
a 4(a 1 b) 5 4a 1 b b 5(a 1 1) 5 5a 1 6
c 8(p 2 7) 5 8p 2 56 d 23(p 2 5) 5 23p 2 15
e a(a 1 b) 5 2a 1 ab f 2m(3m 1 5) 5 6m2 1 10m
g 6(x 2 5) 5 6x 1 30
2
h 3a(4a 2 7) 5 12a2 2 7
i 4a(3a 1 5) 5 12a2 1 20a j 3x(2x 2 7y) 5 6x2 2 21y

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31
GCSE Mathematics for OCR (Higher)

2 Expand and simplify.

a 2(c 1 7) 2 9 b (a 1 2) 1 7 c 5(b 1 3) 1 10
d 2(e 2 5) 1 15 e 3(f 2 4) 2 6 f 2a(4a 1 3) 1 7a
g 5b(2b 2 3) 1 6b h 2a(4a 1 3) 1 7a² i 3b(3b 2 5) 2 7b2

3 Expand and simplify.

a 2(y 1 1) 1 3(y 1 4) b 2(3b 2 2) 1 5(2b 2 1)
c 3(a 1 5) 2 2(a 1 7) d 5(b 2 2) 2 4(b 1 3)
e x(x 2 2) 1 3(x 2 2) f 2p(p 1 1) 2 5(p 1 1)
g 3z(z 1 4) 2 z(3z 1 2) h 3y(y 2 4) 1 y(y 2 4)

4 T he expression in each box is obtained by adding the expressions in the

two boxes directly below it.
9x 1 14y
5x 1 5y 4x 1 9y
2x 1 y 3x 1 4y x 1 5y

Complete these two pyramids.

a b 11p 1 2q
6p 2 3q
2x 2 3y 4x 1 y 5x 2 2y 4p 2 q

5 Use substitution to show that the following expressions are not

identities.
a a 1 a and a2 b 3x 1 4 2 x 1 2 and 2x 1 2
x13
c (m 1 2)2 and m2 1 4 ​____​​and x 1 1
d ​
3

Key vocabulary Section 4: Factorising expressions

factorising: writing a number of Factorising is the opposite of expanding.
expression as a product of its
factors. When you factorise an expression you use brackets to write it as a product of
its factors.
multiply out
to expand

5(x 1 7) 5x 1 35

remove the
HCF to factorise
Tip
If you expand 5(x 1 7) you get 5x 1 35.
T he highest common factor can To factorise 5x 1 35 you find the highest common factor of the terms.
be a number or a variable. It may
also be a negative quantity. 5 is the HCF of 5x and 35, so 5 is written outside the bracket and the
remaining factors are written in brackets.

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 3 Algebraic expressions

Worked example 8

Factorise each expression. a 10a 1 15b b 22x 2 8 c 3x2 2 6xy d 3(m 1 2) 2 n(m 1 2)

a 10a 1 15b HCF of 10 and 15 is 5. T here are no common variables.

10a 1 15b 5 5(2a 1 3b)
b 22x 2 8
HCF of 22 and 28 is 22.
2
2x 2 8 5 22(x 1 4)
c 3x2 2 6xy
3x2 2 6xy 5 3x(x 2 2y) HCF is 3x.

d 3(m 1 2) 2 n(m 1 2)
T his looks like an expansion, but you are asked to factorise!
3(m 1 2) 2 n(m 1 2) 5 (m 1 2)(3 2 n) (m 1 2) is common to both terms, so it is the HCF.
Combine 3 and 2n to make the second bracket.

exercise 3E
1 Factorise each expression and write it as the product of its factors.
a 2x 1 4 b 12m 2 18n c 3a 2 3b 2 6
d xy 2 xz e 5xy 2 15xyz f 14ab 2 21bc
g pq 2 pr h x 2x 2
i 18abc 2 12ac
j 2x 2 4xy
2
k 2x y 2 4xy2 2
l 2
6a 2 12
m 3a 2 9
2
n 2
xy 2 5x o 2 2
x 1 6x Tip
2 Factorise. You will learn other methods
a 7x 2 xy 1 x2 b 2xy 1 4xz 1 10x c 10x 2 5y 1 15z of factorising expressions in
Chapter 7.
d x(x 2 2) 1 5(x 2 2) e a(a 2 7) 2 (a 2 7) f (x 2 3) 2 3(x 2 3)
g 3x2y 1 6xy2
1
h ​36​x​3​2 ​ __ ​​x​​4​ i 2
ax2 2 ay2
4

Section 5: Using algebra to solve problems

Algebra allows you to describe and make sense of patterns.
This is very useful for solving problems, particularly if they involve unknown amounts.
Working with expressions you can work out and prove rules.

Worked example 9

Prove that 3n 1 3 5 the sum of three consecutive numbers.

n Let the first number be n. If the numbers are consecutive, you
know that each number is 1 more than the previous number.
n11
The next number must be 1 more than n, so let it be n 1 1.
n12
The third number is 1 more than n 1 1, so let it be
n 1 1 1 1 5 n 1 2.
The three consecutive numbers are n, n 1 1 and n 1 2.
Continues on next page …

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33
GCSE Mathematics for OCR (Higher)

n 1 n 1 1 1 n 1 2 5 3n 1 3. Sum the numbers to write a

general rule.
The sum of the three numbers is 3n 1 3,
where n is the first number.
Test your rule using a set
n 5 205
of consecutive numbers,
3 × 205 1 3 5 615 1 3 5 618 for example 205, 206, 207.
Check: 205 1 206 1 207 5 618 Substitute 205 for n in 3n 1 3.

General expressions like that in Worked example 9 are very useful for
programmed operations and repeated calculations involving different starting
numbers.

exercise 3F
1 Are the following statements true or false?
a T he expression 3z2 1 5yx 2 z2 2 6yx simplifies to 2z2 2 11xy.
b If you expand the brackets 2p(3p 1 q) you get the expression
6p2 1 2pq.
c T his is a correct use of the identity symbol: 4(a 1 1) ; 4a 1 4.
4 x
d ​__​always has the same value as __
​ ​​.
x 4
​x​2​1 7
e x squared and added to 7 with the result divided by 3 is _____
​ ​​.
3
2 In a magic square the sum of each
row, column and diagonal is the m2p m1p2q m1q
same. Is this a magic square?

m1p1q m m2p2q

m2q m2p1q m1p

3 a Write an expression for each missing length in this rectangle.

b Write an expression for P, the perimeter of the rectangle.
c Given that a 5 2.1 and b 5 4.5, calculate the area of the rectangle.
(area 5 length 3 width)
3b 1 1

2a 1 3

5a 1 4

b ?

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 3 Algebraic expressions

4 a T he area of a rectangle is 2x2 1 4x. Suggest possible lengths for

its sides.
b If the perimeter of a rectangle is 2x  2 1 4, what could the lengths of the
sides be?

5 Draw two diagrams representing areas to prove that (3x)2 and 3x2 are
different.

6 T he diagram represents a room with an area of floor covered by carpet

(shaded).
Divide the room into rectangles in different ways to find different, but
equivalent, expressions for the floor area that is not covered by carpet.
Multiply out the expressions to confirm that they are equivalent.
y y

x x
a a

7 T he number in each cell is made by adding the numbers in the two cells
beneath it.
Fill in the missing expressions for each cell.
Write each expression in its simplest form.
a b 6a2 1 3c
2a 1 4b 5a2
2a 4b 5a 2a2 1 2b
c 3xy 2 z 2
3z2 1 xy 1 y 2
xy 1 2y 2

8 a Paul plays a ‘think of a number game’ with his friends and predicts
what their answer will be.
T hese are the steps he tells his friends to follow:
T hink of a number. Double it.
Add 6 and halve the number you have now.
Take away the number you first thought of.
Paul then guesses that the answer is 3.
Use algebra to show why Paul will guess correctly, no matter what
number his friends choose as a starting number.
b Make up a ‘think of a number’ problem.
Use algebra to check that it works and to see which number you end
up with. Try it on a classmate to check that it works.

Find answers at: cambridge.org/ukschools/gcsemaths-studentbookanswers

35
GCSE Mathematics for OCR (Higher)

9 T he expression 7(x 1 4) 2 3(x 2 2) simplifies to a(2x 1 b).

Work out the values of a and b.

10 Check whether each expression has been fully simplified.

If not, simplify it further.
a 5(g 1 2) 1 8g 5 5g 1 10 1 8g
b 4z(4z 2 2) 2 z(z 1 2) 5 15z² 2 10z
c 25ab 3 (23bc) 5 15ab²c
d _____
18x³ ____ 6x³
​​  ​​ 5 ​​  x ​​
3x
e (x5 3 x7) ___
________ x12
​​   ​ 5 ​   ​​
x4 x  4

11 Simplify.

​ ​  ​(__
​   ​ 2 ​ __ ​)​​
2x 7x 3a 5 4 3 a 2
a ​​ ___​​ 1 ___
​​  ​​ b ​​ ___​​ 1 ___
​​  ​​ 2 __
c ​ ​ ​  (25x 2 100)​ 2 __
d ​
y³ 3y³ b 2b 5 5 3 3

12 Simplify.
6x  3y  3 2x  3y  2 14x  5y 12x  4y  2 4p2q3 12p3q3 2 8p5q2
a ​​ _____​​ 1 _____
​​  2 ​​ 2 ______
​​  2 ​​ 1 _______
​​   ​​ b ​​ _____​​ 1 ______________
​​     ​​
xy y   2x   y 2
3x   2pq 2
5pq 2 pq 2

Checklist of learning and understanding

Algebraic notation
You can use letters (called variables) in place of unknown quantities.
An expression is a collection of numbers, operation signs and at least one
variable.
Each part of an expression is called a term.
To evaluate an expression you substitute numbers in place of the variables.
Simplifying expressions
Like terms have exactly the same variables.
Expressions can be simplified by adding or subtracting like terms.
Multiplying out brackets
You can multiply and divide unlike terms.
If an expression contains brackets, you multiply them out and then add or
subtract like terms to simplify it further.
Factorising
Factorising involves putting brackets back into an expression.
If terms have a common factor, write it in front of the bracket and write the
remaining terms in the bracket as a factor. (Check by multiplying out.)
Solving problems
Algebra allows you to make general rules that apply to any number. T his is
useful in problem-solving.

36 © Cambridge University Press. This document is for personal use in accordance with our terms and conditions: gcsemaths.cambridge.org/terms
 3 Algebraic expressions

Chapter review
 or additional questions on
F
the topics in this chapter, visit
1 Expand and simplify. GCSE Mathematics Online.

a 3b(3b 2 5) 2 7b² b 2x(5x 1 4) 2 6x(3x 2 7)

3 1 2y y
c ​​ __ ​​(p 1 2) 1 __
​​   ​​(p 2 1) ​__​(  y 1 5) 1 ​__​(  y 2 4)​
d ​
4 2 3 3
2 Two of these expressions have been incorrectly simplified.
Find them and correct them.
2x 3 6y 5 12xy 2a² 3 7ab 5 14a³b
____ 12a ____ 6x²
​​   ​​ 5 3a ​​   ​​ 5 3x²
4 2
8xy xy 12ab² __ b
​​ ____ ​​ 5 ​​ ___ ​​ ______
​​   ​​5 ​​   ​​
16 4 36ab 3
___15 2 10 6a 2ab ____ 9
​​  ​​ 3 ___
​​  ​​ 5 ___
​​   ​​ ___
​​  ​​ 4 ____
​​   ​​ 5 ​​ 
2x 3x x  ² 7b 3 7b²

 ​​ 3 Determine by substitution whether the following pairs of expressions

are identities or not. For those that you think are identities, show that
the left-hand side is identical to the right-hand side.
a 5(x 1 3) and 5x 1 3
b 2
3(m 2 2) and 23m 2 6
c 4(  y 2 3) 1 2(  y 1 4) and 6y 2 4

4 a Work out the value of x2 2 3x when

i x 5 5, (1 mark)
ii x 5 4,  2
(2 marks)
b Multiply out.
y(  y 1 5)  (1 mark)
c Factorise fully.
4p2 2 8p  (2 marks)
© OCR 2013

5 T he generalised rule for adding or subtracting fractions states that:

a c _________ (ad 6 bc)
​​ __​​ 6 __ ​​  ​​ 5 ​​  ​​
b d bd
A student wrote the following:
​​  1 ​​ 5 _______
​​  1 ​​ 1 __
__ ​​  2  ​​
t w (t 1 w)
Show algebraically that this is incorrect.

6 Prove, using algebra, that the sum of two consecutive whole numbers is
always an odd number.

7 Prove algebraically that the difference between the squares of any two
consecutive integers is equal to the sum of these two integers.

Find answers at: cambridge.org/ukschools/gcsemaths-studentbookanswers

37