Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions

Solutions to Exercise 1A
1a
3𝑥 + 𝑥 = 4𝑥 Adding like terms
1b
3𝑥 − 𝑥 = 2𝑥 Subtracting like terms
1c
−3𝑥 + 𝑥 = −2𝑥 Adding like terms
1d
−3𝑥 − 𝑥 = −4𝑥 Subtracting like terms
2a
−2𝑎 + 3𝑎 + 4𝑎 = 5𝑎 Adding like terms
2b
−2𝑎 − 3𝑎 + 4𝑎 = −𝑎
2c
−2𝑎 − 3𝑎 − 4𝑎 = −9𝑎
2d
−2𝑎 + 3𝑎 − 4𝑎 = −3𝑎
3a
−𝑥 + 𝑥 = 0
3b
2𝑦 − 3𝑦 = −𝑦
3c
−3𝑎 − 7𝑎 = −10𝑎
3d
−8𝑏 + 5𝑏 = −3𝑏
3e
4𝑥 − (−3𝑥) = 7𝑥
3f
−2𝑎𝑏 − 𝑏𝑎 = −3𝑎𝑏
3g
−3𝑝𝑞 + 7𝑝𝑞 = 4𝑞𝑝
3h
−5𝑎𝑏𝑐 − (−2𝑎𝑏𝑐) = −3𝑎𝑏𝑐
4a
−3𝑎×2 = −6𝑎
4b
−4𝑎× (−3𝑎) = 12𝑎2
4c
𝑎2 ×𝑎3 = 𝑎5 Multiplying powers of the same base
4d
(𝑎2 )3 = 𝑎6 Raising a power to a power

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
5a
−10𝑎 ÷ 5 = −2a
5b
−24𝑎 ÷ (−8a) = 3
5c
𝑎9 ÷ 𝑎3 = 𝑎6 Dividing powers of the same base
5d
7𝑎2 ÷ 7𝑎 = 7𝑎 Dividing powers of the same base
6a
𝑡 2 + 𝑡 2 = 2𝑡 2
6b
𝑡2 − 𝑡2 = 0
6c
𝑡2× 𝑡2 = 𝑡4 Multiplying powers of the same base
6d
𝑡2 ÷ 𝑡2 = 1
7a
−6𝑥 + 3𝑥 = −3𝑥
7b
−6𝑥 − 3𝑥 = −9𝑥
7c
−6𝑥×3𝑥 = −18𝑥 2
7d
−6𝑥 ÷ 3𝑥 = −2
8a
3×−2 + 2 = −6 + 2 = −4
8b
(−2)3 − (−2)2 = −8 − 4 = −12
8c
3×(−2)2 − (−2) + 4 = 12 + 2 + 4 = 18
8d
(−2)4 + 3×(−2)3 + 2× (−2)2 − (−2) = 16 − 24 + 8 + 2 = 2
9a
6𝑥 + 3 − 5𝑥 = 𝑥 + 3
9b
−2 + 2𝑦 − 1 = −3 + 2𝑦
9c
3𝑎 − 7 − 𝑎 + 4 = 2𝑎 − 3
9d
3𝑥 − 2𝑦 + 5𝑥 + 6𝑦 = 8𝑥 + 4𝑦

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
9e
−8𝑡 + 12 − 2𝑡 − 17 = −10𝑡 − 5
9f
2𝑎2 + 7𝑎 − 5𝑎2 − 3𝑎 = −3𝑎2 + 4𝑎
9.
9𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 + 4 − 14𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 − 7 = −5𝑥 2 − 12𝑥 − 3
9h
3𝑎 − 4𝑏 − 2𝑐 + 4𝑎 + 2𝑏 − 𝑐 + 2𝑎 − 𝑏 − 2𝑐 = 9𝑎 − 3𝑏 − 5𝑐
10a
5𝑥
=5
𝑥
10b
−7𝑚3
= 7𝑚2 Dividing powers of the same base
−𝑚
10c
−12𝑎2 𝑏
= −12𝑎
𝑎𝑏
10d
−27𝑝6 𝑞7 𝑟 2
= −3𝑝3 𝑞 4 𝑟
9𝑝3 𝑞3 𝑟
11a
3𝑥 − 𝑥 = 2𝑥
11b
3𝑥 − (−𝑥) = 4𝑥
11c
−4𝑎 − 2𝑎 = −6𝑎
11d
−5𝑏 − (−𝑏) = −4𝑏
12a
5𝑎×2 = 10𝑎
12b
6𝑥×−3 = −18𝑥
12c
−3𝑎×𝑎 = −3𝑎2
12d
−2𝑎2 × −3𝑎𝑏 = 6𝑎3 𝑏
12e
4𝑥 2 × −2𝑥 3 = −8𝑥 5
12f.
−3𝑝2 𝑞×2𝑝𝑞 3 = −6𝑝3 𝑞 4
13a
−2𝑥 ÷ 𝑥 = −2

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
13b
3𝑥 3 ÷ x 2 = 3𝑥
13c
𝑥 3 𝑦 2 ÷ x 2 𝑦 = 𝑥𝑦
13d
𝑎6 𝑥 3 ÷ −𝑎2 𝑥 3 = −𝑎4
13e
14𝑎5 𝑏 4 ÷ −2𝑎4 𝑏 = −7𝑎𝑏 3
13f
−50𝑎2 𝑏 5 c 8 ÷ −10a𝑏 3 𝑐 2 = 5𝑎𝑏 2 𝑐 6
14a
2𝑎2 𝑏 4 × 3𝑎3 𝑏 2 = 6𝑎5 𝑏 6
14b
−6𝑎𝑏 5 × 4𝑎3 𝑏 3 = −24𝑎4 𝑏 8
14c
(−3𝑎3 )2 = 9𝑎6
14d
(−2𝑎4 𝑏)3 = −8𝑎12 𝑏 3
15a
3×2 + 2×−3 = 6 + (−6) = 0
15b
(−3)2 − 5×2 = 9 − 10 = −1
15c
8×(2)2 − (−3)3 = 8×4 − −27 = 59
15d
(2)2 − 3×2×−3 + 2×(−3)2 = 4 − (−18) + 18 = 40
16a
3𝑎×3𝑎×3𝑎 27𝑎3
= = 3𝑎2
3𝑎 + 3𝑎 + 3𝑎 9𝑎
16b
3𝑐×4𝑐 2 ×5𝑐 3 60𝑐 6
= = 5𝑐 4
3𝑐 2 + 4𝑐 2 + 5𝑐 2 12𝑐 2
16c
𝑎𝑏 2 ×2𝑏 2 𝑐 3 ×3𝑐 3 𝑎4 6𝑎5 𝑏 4 𝑐 6
= = 𝑎2 𝑏𝑐 6
𝑎3 𝑏 3 + 2𝑎3 𝑏 3 + 3𝑎3 𝑏 3 6𝑎3 𝑏 3
17a
(−2𝑥 2 )3 −8𝑥 6
= = 2𝑥 5
−4𝑥 −4𝑥
17b
(3𝑥𝑦 3 )3 27𝑥 3 𝑦 9
= = 9𝑥𝑦 5
3𝑥 2 𝑦 4 3𝑥 2 𝑦 4

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
17c
(−𝑎𝑏)3 ×(−𝑎𝑏 2 )2 −𝑎3 𝑏 3 × 𝑎2 𝑏 4 −𝑎5 𝑏 7
= = = 𝑏4
−𝑎5 𝑏 3 −𝑎5 𝑏 3 −𝑎5 𝑏 3
17d
(−2𝑎3 𝑏 2 )2 ×16𝑎7 𝑏 4𝑎6 𝑏 4 ×16𝑎7 𝑏 64𝑎13 𝑏 5
= = = 2𝑎3
(2𝑎2 𝑏)5 32𝑎10 𝑏 5 32𝑎10 𝑏 5
18a
Let 𝑃 denote what must be added.
4𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 + 2 + 𝑃 = 3𝑥 3 + 7𝑥 − 6
𝑃 = 3𝑥 3 + 7𝑥 − 6 − (4𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 + 2) = 3𝑥 3 + 7𝑥 − 6 − 4𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 − 2
= −𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 − 8
18b
[(4𝑐 − 2𝑏) + (5𝑏 − 2𝑎 − 2𝑐)] − [(2𝑎 − 3𝑏 − 4𝑐) + (−4𝑎 + 7𝑏 − 5𝑐)]
= [2𝑐 − 2𝑎 + 3𝑏] − [−2𝑎 + 4𝑏 − 9𝑐]
= 2𝑐 − 2𝑎 + 3𝑏 + 2𝑎 − 4𝑏 + 9𝑐 = 0𝑎 − 𝑏 + 11𝑐 = 11𝑐 − 𝑏
18c
(𝑋 + 𝑌) − (𝑋 − 𝑌) = 𝑋 + 𝑌 − 𝑋 + 𝑌 = 2𝑌 = 2(4𝑑 − 7𝑐 − 𝑏) = 8𝑑 − 14𝑐 − 2𝑏
18d
(−3𝑥 7 𝑦 5 )4 ×(−2𝑥𝑦 6 )3 81𝑥 28 𝑦 20 ×−8𝑥 3 𝑦18 648𝑥 31 𝑦 38
= =− = −18𝑥 25 𝑦 22
(−6𝑥 3 𝑦 8 )2 36𝑥 6 𝑦16 36𝑥 6 𝑦 16
19a
𝑥×𝑥 ≤ 𝑥 + 𝑥
𝑥 2 ≤ 2𝑥
𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 ≤ 0
𝑥(𝑥 − 2) ≤ 0
This is when 𝑥 ≥ 0 and 𝑥 − 2 ≤ 0 → 𝑥 ≤ 2, so 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 2, or when 𝑥 ≤ 0 and 𝑥 −
2 ≥ 0 → 𝑥 ≥ 2 which is impossible.
Thus 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 2
19b
𝑥×𝑥×𝑥 ≤ 𝑥 + 𝑥 + 𝑥
𝑥 3 ≤ 3𝑥
𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 ≤ 0
𝑥(𝑥 2 − 3) ≤ 0
𝑥(𝑥 − √3)(𝑥 + √3) ≤ 0 (Using the difference of 2 squares)
For the equation 𝑥(𝑥 − √3)(𝑥 + √3)
𝑥 -2 −√3 -1 0 1 √3 2
𝑥(𝑥 − √3)(𝑥 + √3) -2 0 2 0 -2 0 2

From the table 𝑥(𝑥 − √3)(𝑥 + √3) ≤ 0 for 𝑥 ≤ −√3 or 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ √3

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
Solutions to Exercise 1B
1a
3(𝑥 − 2) = 3𝑥 − 6
1b
2(𝑥 − 3) = 2𝑥 − 6
1c
−3(𝑥 − 2) = −3𝑥 + 6
1d
−2(𝑥 − 3) = −2𝑥 + 6
1e
−3(𝑥 + 2) = −3𝑥 − 6
1f
−2(𝑥 + 3) = −2𝑥 − 6
1g
−(𝑥 − 2) = −𝑥 + 2
1h
−(2 − 𝑥) = −2 + 𝑥
1i
−(𝑥 + 3) = −𝑥 − 3
2a
3(𝑥 + 𝑦) = 3𝑥 + 3𝑦
2b
−2(𝑝 − 𝑞) = −2𝑝 + 2𝑞
2c
4(𝑎 + 2𝑏) = 4𝑎 + 8𝑏
2d
𝑥(𝑥 − 7) = 𝑥 2 − 7𝑥
2e
−𝑥(𝑥 − 3) = −𝑥 2 + 3
2f
−𝑎(𝑎 + 4) = −𝑎2 − 4𝑎
2g
5(𝑎 + 3𝑏 − 2𝑐) = 5𝑎 + 15𝑏 − 10𝑐
2h
−3(2𝑥 − 3𝑦 + 5𝑧) = −6𝑥 + 9𝑦 − 15𝑧
2i
𝑥𝑦(2𝑥 − 3𝑦) = 2𝑥 2 𝑦 − 3𝑥𝑦 2
3a
2(𝑥 + 1) − 𝑥 = 2𝑥 + 2 − 𝑥 = 𝑥 + 2 Collecting like terms after expanding
3b
3𝑎 + 5 + 4(𝑎 − 2) = 3𝑎 + 5 + 4𝑎 − 8 = 7𝑎 − 3

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
3c
2 + 2(𝑥 − 3) = 2 + 2𝑥 − 6 = 2𝑥 − 4
3d
−3(𝑎 + 2) + 10 = −3𝑎 − 6 + 10 = −3𝑎 + 4
3e
3 − (𝑥 + 1) = 3 − 𝑥 − 1 = 2 − 𝑥
3f
𝑏 + 𝑐 − (𝑏 − 𝑐) = 𝑏 + 𝑐 − 𝑏 + 𝑐 = 2𝑐
3g
(2𝑥 − 3𝑦) − (3𝑥 − 2𝑦) = 2𝑥 − 3𝑦 − 3𝑥 + 2𝑦 = −𝑥 − 𝑦
3h
3(𝑥 − 2) − 2(𝑥 − 5) = 3𝑥 − 6 − 2𝑥 + 10 = 𝑥 + 4
3i
4(2𝑎 − 3𝑏) − 3(𝑎 + 2𝑏) = 8𝑎 − 12𝑏 − 3𝑎 − 6𝑏 = 5𝑎 − 18𝑏
3j
4(𝑠 − 𝑡) − 6(𝑠 + 𝑡) = 4𝑠 − 4𝑡 − 6𝑠 − 6𝑡 = −2𝑠 − 10𝑡
3k
2𝑥(𝑥 + 6𝑦) − 𝑥(𝑥 − 5𝑦) = 2𝑥 2 + 12𝑥𝑦 − 𝑥 2 + 5𝑦𝑥 = 𝑥 2 + 17𝑥𝑦
3l
5(2𝑎 − 5𝑏) − 6(−𝑎 − 4𝑏) = 10𝑎 − 25𝑏 + 6𝑎 + 24𝑏 = 16𝑎 − 𝑏
4a
(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 + 3) = 𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 + 6
4b
(𝑦 + 4)(𝑦 + 7) = 𝑦 2 + 11𝑦 + 28
4c
(𝑡 + 6)(𝑡 − 3) = 𝑡 2 + 3𝑡 − 18
4d
(𝑥 − 4)(𝑥 + 2) = 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 8
4e
(𝑡 − 1)(𝑡 − 3) = 𝑡 2 − 4𝑡 + 3
4f
(2𝑎 + 3)(𝑎 + 5) = 2𝑎2 + 13𝑎 + 15
4g
(𝑢 − 4)(3𝑢 + 2) = 3𝑢2 − 10𝑢 − 8
4h
(4𝑝 + 5)(2𝑝 − 3) = 8𝑝2 − 12𝑝 + 10𝑝 − 15 = 8𝑝2 − 2𝑝 − 15
4i
(2𝑏 − 7)(𝑏 − 3) = 2𝑏 2 − 6𝑏 − 7𝑏 + 21 = 2𝑏 2 − 13𝑏 + 21
4j
(5𝑎 − 2)(3𝑎 + 1) = 15𝑎2 + 5𝑎 − 6𝑎 − 2 = 15𝑎2 − 𝑎 − 2

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
4k
(6 − 𝑐)(𝑐 − 3) = 6𝑐 − 18 − 𝑐 2 + 3𝑐 = −𝑐 2 + 9𝑐 − 18
4l
(2𝑑 − 3)(4 + 𝑑) = 8𝑑 + 2𝑑 2 − 12 − 3𝑑 = 2𝑑 2 − 11𝑑 − 12
5a
(𝐴 + 𝐵)(𝐴 + 𝐵) = 𝐴2 + 𝐴𝐵 + 𝐴𝐵 + 𝐵 2 = 𝐴2 + 2𝐴𝐵 + 𝐵 2 (LHS matches the
RHS)
5bi
(𝐴 − 𝐵)(𝐴 − 𝐵) = 𝐴2 − 𝐴𝐵 − 𝐴𝐵 + 𝐵 2 = 𝐴2 − 2𝐴𝐵 + 2𝐵 2 (LHS matches the
RHS)
5bii
(𝐴 − 𝐵)(𝐴 + 𝐵) = 𝐴2 + 𝐴𝐵 − 𝐴𝐵 − 𝐵 2 = 𝐴2 − 𝐵 2 (LHS matches the RHS)
6a
(𝑥 + 𝑦)2 = 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 2 (square of a Sum)
6b
(𝑥 − 𝑦)2 = 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 2 (square of a difference)
6c
(𝑥 − 𝑦)(𝑥 + 𝑦) = 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 (the difference of squares)
6d.
(𝑎 + 3)2 = 𝑎2 + 6𝑎 + 9 (square of a Sum)
6e
(𝑏 − 4)2 = 𝑏 2 − 8𝑏 + 16 (square of a difference
6f
(𝑐 + 5)2 = 𝑐 2 + 10𝑐 + 25 (square of a Sum)
6g
(𝑑 − 6)(𝑑 + 6) = 𝑑 2 − 36 (the difference of squares)
6h
(7 + 𝑒)(7 − 𝑒) = 49 − 𝑒 2 (square of a difference)
6i
(8 + 𝑓)2 = 64 + 16𝑓 + 𝑓 2 (square of a Sum)
6j
(9 − 𝑔)2 = 81 − 18𝑔 + 𝑔2 (square of a difference)
6k
(ℎ + 10)(ℎ − 10) = ℎ2 − 100 (the difference of squares)
6l
(𝑖 + 11)2 = 𝑖 2 + 22𝑖 + 121 (square of a Sum)
6m
(2𝑎 + 1)2 = 4𝑎2 + 4𝑎 + 1 (square of a Sum)
6n
(2𝑏 − 3)2 = 4𝑏 2 − 12𝑏 + 9 (square of a Sum)

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
6o
(3𝑐 + 2)2 = 9𝑐 2 + 12𝑐 + 4 (square of a Sum)
6p
(2𝑑 + 3𝑒)2 = 4𝑑2 + 12𝑑𝑒 + 9𝑒 2 (square of a Sum)
6q
(2𝑓 + 3𝑔)(2𝑓 − 3𝑔) = 4𝑓 2 − 9𝑔2 (difference of squares)
6r
(3ℎ − 2𝑖)(3ℎ + 2𝑖) = 9ℎ2 − 4𝑖 2 (the difference of squares)
6s
(5𝑗 + 4)2 = 25𝑗 2 + 40𝑗 + 16 (square of a Sum)
6t
(4𝑘 − 5𝑙)2 = 16𝑘 2 − 40𝑘𝑙 + 25𝑙 2 (square of a difference)
6u
(4 + 5𝑚)(4 − 5𝑚) = 16 − 25𝑚2 (the difference of squares)
6v
(5 − 3𝑚)2 = 25 − 30𝑛 + 9𝑛2 (square of a difference)
6w
(7𝑝 + 4𝑞)2 = 49𝑝2 + 56𝑝𝑞 + 16𝑞 2 (square of Sum)
6x
(8 − 3𝑟)2 = 64 − 48𝑟 + 9𝑟 2 (square of a difference)
7a
1 2 1 1 𝑡 𝑡 1 1 1
(𝑡 + ) = (𝑡 + ) (𝑡 + ) = 𝑡 2 + + + 2 = 𝑡 2 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 𝑡 2 + 2 + 2
𝑡 𝑡 𝑡 𝑡 𝑡 𝑡 𝑡 𝑡
7b
1 2 1 1 𝑡 𝑡 1 1 1
(𝑡 − ) = (𝑡 − ) (𝑡 − ) = 𝑡 2 − − + 2 = 𝑡 2 − 1 − 1 + 2 = 𝑡 2 − 2 + 2
𝑡 𝑡 𝑡 𝑡 𝑡 𝑡 𝑡 𝑡
7c
1 1 1 1 1 1
(𝑡 + ) (𝑡 − ) = 𝑡 2 − + − 2 = 𝑡 2 − 2
𝑡 𝑡 𝑡 𝑡 𝑡 𝑡
8a
1022 = (100 + 2)(100 + 2) = 10000 + 200 + 200 + 4 = 10404 (split 102 into
100 and 2)
8b
9992 = (1000 − 1)(1000 − 1) = 1000000 − 1000 − 1000 + 1 = 998001 (split
999 into 1000 and − 1)
8c
203×197 = (200 + 3)(200 − 3) = 40000 − 600 + 600 − 9 = 39991 (split 203
into 200 and 3 and 197 into 200 and − 3)
9a
(𝑎 − 𝑏)(𝑎2 + 𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏 2 ) = 𝑎3 + 𝑎2 𝑏 + 𝑎𝑏 2 − 𝑎2 𝑏 − 𝑎𝑏 2 − 𝑏 3 = 𝑎3 − 𝑏 3

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
9b
(𝑥 + 2)2 − (𝑥 + 1)2 = (𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 4) − (𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 1)
= 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 2𝑥 + 4 − 1 = 2𝑥 + 3
9c
(𝑎 − 3)2 − (𝑎 − 3)(𝑎 + 3) = 𝑎2 − 6𝑎 + 9 − (𝑎2 − 9) = 𝑎2 − 𝑎2 − 6𝑎 + 9 + 9
= 18 − 6𝑎
9d
(2𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 − 1) − (𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 1) = 2𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 3𝑥 − 3 − (𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 2𝑥 − 2)
= 2𝑥 2 − 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 3𝑥 + 2𝑥 − 𝑥 − 3 + 2 = 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 1
9e
(𝑥 − 2)3 = (𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 − 2) = (𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 4)(𝑥 − 2)
= 𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 + 4𝑥 − 8
= 𝑥 3 − 6𝑥 2 + 12𝑥 − 8
9f
(𝑝 + 𝑞 + 𝑟)2 − 2(𝑝𝑞 + 𝑞𝑟 + 𝑟𝑝) = (𝑝 + 𝑞 + 𝑟)(𝑝 + 𝑞 + 𝑟) − 2(𝑝𝑞 + 𝑞𝑟 + 𝑟𝑝)
= (𝑝2 + 𝑝𝑞 + 𝑝𝑟 + 𝑝𝑞 + 𝑞 2 + 𝑞𝑟 + 𝑝𝑟 + 𝑞𝑟 + 𝑟 2 ) − 2𝑝𝑞 − 2𝑞𝑟
− 2𝑟𝑝 = 𝑃2 + 𝑞 2 + 𝑟 2 + 2𝑝𝑞 − 2𝑝𝑞 + 2𝑝𝑟 − 2𝑝𝑟 + 2𝑞𝑟 − 2𝑞𝑟
= 𝑃2 + 𝑞 2 + 𝑟 2
10a
(𝑥 − 2)3 = (𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 − 2) = (𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 2𝑥 + 4)
= (𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 4) = 𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 2𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 − 8
= 𝑥 3 − 6𝑥 2 + 12𝑥 − 8
10b
(𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧)2 − 2(𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦𝑧 + 𝑧𝑥) = (𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧)(𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧) − 2(𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦𝑧 + 𝑧𝑥)
= (𝑥 2 + 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑥𝑧 + 𝑦𝑥 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑦𝑧 + 𝑧𝑥 + 𝑧𝑦 + 𝑧 2 )
− 2(𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦𝑧 + 𝑧𝑥)
= (𝑥 2 + 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑧𝑥 + 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑦𝑧 + 𝑧𝑥 + 𝑦𝑧 + 𝑧 2 )
− 2(𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦𝑧 + 𝑧𝑥)
= (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 + 2𝑥𝑦 + 2𝑦𝑧 + 2𝑧𝑥) − 2(𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦𝑧 + 𝑧𝑥)
= (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 + 2𝑥𝑦 + 2𝑦𝑧 + 2𝑧𝑥) − 2(𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦𝑧 + 𝑧𝑥)
= 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 + 2𝑥𝑦 + 2𝑦𝑧 + 2𝑧𝑥 − 2𝑥𝑦 − 2𝑦𝑧 − 2𝑧𝑥
= 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 + 𝑧2
10c
(𝑥 + 𝑦 − 𝑧)(𝑧 − 𝑦 + 𝑧) = (𝑥 + (𝑦 − 𝑧))(𝑥 − (𝑦 − 𝑧))
= 𝑥 2 − (𝑦 − 𝑧)2 (Using the difference of 2 squares)
= 𝑥 − (𝑦 − 2𝑧𝑦 + 𝑧 2 ) = 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 + 2𝑥𝑦 − 𝑧 2
2 2

10d
(𝑎 + 𝑏 + 𝑐)(𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 + 𝑐 2 − 𝑎𝑏 − 𝑏𝑐 − 𝑐𝑎)
= 𝑎3 + 𝑏 2 𝑎 + 𝑐 2 𝑎 − 𝑎2 𝑏 − 𝑎𝑏𝑐 − 𝑐𝑎2 + 𝑎2 𝑏 + 𝑏 3 + 𝑏𝑐 2 − 𝑎𝑏 2
− 𝑏 2 𝑐 − 𝑎𝑏𝑐 + 𝑎2 𝑐 + 𝑏 2 𝑐 + 𝑐 3 − 𝑎𝑏𝑐 − 𝑏𝑐 2 − 𝑐 2 𝑎
= 𝑎3 + 𝑏 3 + 𝑐 3 − 3𝑎𝑏𝑐

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
11a
[𝑏(𝑐 + 𝑎 − 𝑏) + 𝑐(𝑎 + 𝑏 − 𝑐)] − [𝑎(𝑏 + 𝑐 − 𝑎)]
= [𝑏𝑐 + 𝑎𝑏 − 𝑏 2 + 𝑎𝑐 + 𝑏𝑐 − 𝑐 2 ] − [𝑎𝑏 + 𝑎𝑐 − 𝑎2 ]
= 𝑏𝑐 + 𝑎𝑏 − 𝑏 2 + 𝑎𝑐 + 𝑏𝑐 − 𝑐 2 − 𝑎𝑏 − 𝑎𝑐 + 𝑎2
= 𝑎2 − 𝑏 2 − 𝑐 2 + 2𝑏𝑐
11b
[5𝑥 2 − (𝑥 − 2) + 𝑥 2 − 2(𝑥 + 1)] − [2𝑥 2 − 3(𝑥 − 1) + 2𝑥 + 3(𝑥 2 − 2)]
= [5𝑥 2 − 𝑥 + 2 + 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 2] − [2𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 3 + 2𝑥 + 3𝑥 2 − 6]
= [6𝑥 2 − 3𝑥] − [5𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 3] = 6𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 5𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 3
= 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 3
11c
(𝑌 − 𝑋)(𝑋 + 3𝑌) = ((2𝑥 + 𝑎) − (𝑥 − 𝑎))((𝑥 − 𝑎) + 3(2𝑥 + 𝑎))
= (2𝑥 + 𝑎 − 𝑥 + 𝑎)(𝑥 − 𝑎 + 6𝑥 + 3𝑎) = (𝑥 + 2𝑎)(7𝑥 + 2𝑎)
= 7𝑥 2 + 2𝑎𝑥 + 14𝑎𝑥 + 4𝑎2 = 7𝑥 2 + 16𝑎𝑥 + 4𝑎2
12
1
𝑥+ =3
𝑥
1 2
(𝑥 + ) = 9
𝑥
1 1
𝑥 2 + 2×𝑥× + 2 = 9
𝑥 𝑥
1
𝑥2 + 2 + 2 = 9
𝑥
1
𝑥2 + 2 = 7
𝑥
13a
𝐿𝐻𝑆 = (𝑎 + 𝑏 + 𝑐)(𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏𝑐 + 𝑐𝑎) − 𝑎𝑏𝑐
= 𝑎2 𝑏 + 𝑎𝑏𝑐 + 𝑐𝑎2 + 𝑎𝑏 2 + 𝑏 2 𝑐 + 𝑎𝑏𝑐 + 𝑎𝑏𝑐 + 𝑏𝑐 2 + 𝑐 2 𝑎 − 𝑎𝑏𝑐
= 𝑎2 𝑏 + 𝑐𝑎2 + 𝑎𝑏 2 + 𝑏 2 𝑐 + 𝑏𝑐 2 + 𝑐 2 𝑎 + 2𝑎𝑏𝑐
𝑅𝐻𝑆 = (𝑎 + 𝑏)(𝑏 + 𝑐)(𝑐 + 𝑎) = (𝑎 + 𝑏)(𝑏𝑐 + 𝑎𝑏 + 𝑐 2 + 𝑎𝑐)
= 𝑎𝑏𝑐 + 𝑎2 𝑏 + 𝑎𝑐 2 + 𝑎2 𝑐 + 𝑏 2 𝑐 + 𝑎𝑏 2 + 𝑏𝑐 2 + 𝑎𝑏𝑐
= 𝑎2 𝑏 + 𝑐𝑎2 + 𝑎𝑏 2 + 𝑏 2 𝑐 + 𝑏𝑐 2 + 𝑐 2 𝑎 + 2𝑎𝑏𝑐 = 𝐿𝐻𝑆
13b
𝐿𝐻𝑆 = (𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑦)2 + (𝑎𝑦 − 𝑏𝑥)2 + 𝑐 2 (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )
= 𝑎2 𝑥 2 + 2𝑎𝑏𝑥𝑦 + 𝑏 2 𝑦 2 + 𝑎2 𝑦 2 − 2𝑎𝑏𝑥𝑦 + 𝑏 2 𝑥 2 + 𝑐 2 𝑥 2 + 𝑐 2 𝑦 2
= 𝑎2 𝑥 2 + 2𝑎𝑏𝑥𝑦 + 𝑏 2 𝑦 2 + 𝑎2 𝑦 2 − 2𝑎𝑏𝑥𝑦 + 𝑏 2 𝑥 2 + 𝑐 2 𝑥 2 + 𝑐 2 𝑦 2
= 𝑎2 𝑥 2 + 𝑏 2 𝑦 2 + 𝑎2 𝑦 2 + 𝑏 2 𝑥 2 + 𝑐 2 𝑥 2 + 𝑐 2 𝑦 2

𝑅𝐻𝑆 = (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )(𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 + 𝑐 2 ) = 𝑎2 𝑥 2 + 𝑏 2 𝑥 2 + 𝑐 2 𝑥 2 + 𝑎2 𝑦 2 + 𝑏 2 𝑦 2 + 𝑐 2 𝑦 2
= 𝐿𝐻𝑆

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
14
(𝑎 + 𝑏)2 + (𝑏 + 𝑐)2 + (𝑐 + 𝑑)2 = 4(𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏𝑐 + 𝑐𝑑)
𝑎2 + 2𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏 2 + 𝑏 2 + 2𝑏𝑐 + 𝑐 2 + 𝑐 2 + 2𝑐𝑑 + 𝑑 2 = 4𝑎𝑏 + 4𝑏𝑐 + 4𝑐𝑑
𝑎2 − 2𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏 2 + 𝑏 2 − 2𝑏𝑐 + 𝑐 2 + 𝑐 2 − 2𝑐𝑑 + 𝑑 2 = 0
(𝑎 − 𝑏)2 + (𝑏 − 𝑐)2 + (𝑐 − 𝑑)2 = 0
In order for this to occur
(𝑎 − 𝑏)2 = 0 → 𝑎 − 𝑏 = 0 → 𝑎 = 𝑏
(𝑏 − 𝑐)2 = 0 → 𝑏 − 𝑐 = 0 → 𝑏 = 𝑐
(𝑐 − 𝑑)2 = 0 → 𝑐 − 𝑑 = 0 → 𝑐 = 𝑑
Hence
𝑎 = 𝑏 = 𝑐 = 𝑑 Q.E.D

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
Solutions to Exercise 1C
1a
2𝑥 + 8 = 2(𝑥 + 4)
1b
6𝑎 − 15 = 3(2𝑎 − 5)
1c
𝑎𝑥 − 𝑎𝑦 = 𝑎(𝑥 − 𝑦)
1d
20𝑎𝑏 − 15𝑎𝑐 = 5𝑎(4𝑏 − 3𝑐)
1e
𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 = 𝑥(𝑥 + 3)
1f
𝑃2 + 2𝑝𝑞 = 𝑝(𝑝 + 2𝑞)
1g
3𝑎2 − 6𝑎𝑏 = 3𝑎(𝑎 − 2𝑏)
1h
12𝑥 2 + 18𝑥 = 6𝑥(2𝑥 + 3)
1i
20𝑐𝑑 − 32𝑐 = 4𝑐(5𝑑 − 8)
1j
𝑎2 𝑏 + 𝑏 2 𝑎 = 𝑎𝑏(𝑎 + 𝑏)
1k
6𝑎2 + 2𝑎3 = 2𝑎2 (3 + 𝑎)
1l
7𝑥 3 𝑦 − 14𝑥 2 𝑦 2 = 7𝑥 2 𝑦(𝑥 − 2𝑦)
2a
𝑚𝑝 + 𝑚𝑞 + 𝑛𝑝 + 𝑛𝑞 = 𝑚𝑝 + 𝑛𝑝 + 𝑚𝑞 + 𝑛𝑞 = 𝑝(𝑚 + 𝑛) + 𝑞(𝑚 + 𝑛) = (𝑝 +
𝑞)(𝑚 + 𝑛) (take out the common factor and m + n is a common factor)
2b
𝑎𝑥 − 𝑎𝑦 + 𝑏𝑥 − 𝑏𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 − 𝑎𝑦 − 𝑏𝑦 = 𝑥(𝑎 + 𝑏) − 𝑦(𝑎 + 𝑏)
= (𝑥 − 𝑦)(𝑎 + 𝑏)
2c
𝑎𝑥 + 3𝑎 + 2𝑥 + 6 = 𝑎𝑥 + 2𝑥 + 3𝑎 + 6 = 𝑥(𝑎 + 2) + 3(𝑎 + 2) = (𝑥 + 3)(𝑎 + 2)
2d
𝑎2 + 𝑎𝑏 + 𝑎𝑐 + 𝑏𝑐 = 𝑎(𝑎 + 𝑏) + 𝑐(𝑎 + 𝑏) = (𝑎 + 𝑐)(𝑎 + 𝑏)
2e
𝑧 3 − 𝑧 2 + 𝑧 − 1 = 𝑧 2 (𝑧 − 1) + (𝑧 − 1) = (𝑧 2 + 1)(𝑧 − 1)
2f
𝑎𝑐 + 𝑏𝑐 − 𝑎𝑑 − 𝑏𝑑 = 𝑐(𝑎 ∓ 𝑏) − 𝑑(𝑎 + 𝑏) = (𝑐 − 𝑑)(𝑎 + 𝑏)
2g
𝑝𝑢 − 𝑞𝑢 − 𝑝𝑣 + 𝑞𝑣 = 𝑢(𝑝 − 𝑞) − 𝑣(𝑝 − 𝑞) = (𝑢 − 𝑣)(𝑝 − 𝑞)

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
2h
𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 𝑥𝑦 + 3𝑦 = 𝑥(𝑥 − 3) − 𝑦(𝑥 − 3) = (𝑥 − 𝑦)(𝑥 − 3)
2i
5𝑝 − 5𝑞 − 𝑝𝑥 + 𝑞𝑥 = 5(𝑝 − 𝑞) − 𝑥(𝑝 − 𝑞) = (5 − 𝑥)(𝑝 − 𝑞)
2j
2𝑎𝑥 − 𝑏𝑥 − 2𝑎𝑦 + 𝑏𝑦 = 𝑥(2𝑎 − 𝑏) − 𝑦(2𝑎 − 𝑏) = (𝑥 − 𝑦)(2𝑎 − 𝑏)
2k
𝑎𝑏 + 𝑎𝑐 − 𝑏 − 𝑐 = 𝑎(𝑏 + 𝑐) − (𝑏 + 𝑐) = (𝑎 − 1)(𝑏 + 𝑐)
2l
𝑥 3 + 4𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 12 = 𝑥 2 (𝑥 + 4) − 3(𝑥 + 4) = (𝑥 2 − 3)(𝑥 + 4)
2m
𝑎3 − 3𝑎2 − 2𝑎 + 6 = 𝑎2 (𝑎 − 3) − 2(𝑎 − 3) = (𝑎2 − 2)(𝑎 − 3)
2n
2𝑡 3 + 5𝑡 2 − 10𝑡 − 25 = 𝑡 2 (2𝑡 + 5) − 5(2𝑡 + 5) = (𝑡 2 − 5)(2𝑡 + 5)
2o
2𝑥 3 − 6𝑥 2 − 𝑎𝑥 + 3𝑎 = 2𝑥 2 (𝑥 − 3) − 𝑎(𝑥 − 3) = (2𝑥 2 − 𝑎)(𝑥 − 3)
3a
𝑎2 − 1 = (𝑎 − 1)(𝑎 + 1)
3b
𝑏 2 − 4 = (𝑏 − 2)(𝑏 + 2)
3c
𝑐 2 − 9 = (𝑐 − 3)(𝑐 + 30)
3d
𝑑 2 − 100 = (𝑑 − 10)(𝑑 + 10)
3e
25 − 𝑦 2 = (5 − 𝑦)(5 + 𝑦)
3f
1 − 𝑛2 = (1 − 𝑛)(1 + 𝑛)
3g
49 − 𝑥 2 = (7 − 𝑥)(7 + 𝑥)
3h
144 − 𝑝2 = (12 − 𝑝)(12 + 𝑝)
3i
4𝑐 2 − 9 = (2𝑐 − 3)(2𝑐 + 3)
3j
9𝑢2 − 1 = (3𝑢 − 1)(3𝑢 + 1)
3k
25𝑥 2 − 16 = (5𝑥 − 4)(5𝑥 + 4)
3l
1 − 49𝑘 2 = (1 − 7𝑘)(1 + 7𝑘)

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
3m
𝑥 2 − 4𝑦 2 = (𝑥 − 2𝑦)(𝑥 + 2𝑦)
3n
9𝑎2 − 𝑏 2 = (3𝑎 − 𝑏)(3𝑎 + 𝑏)
3o
25𝑚2 − 36𝑛2 = (5𝑚 − 6𝑛)(5𝑚 + 6𝑛)
3p
81𝑎2 𝑏 2 − 64 = (9𝑎𝑏 − 8)(9𝑎𝑏 + 8)
4a
𝑎2 + 3𝑎 + 2 = (𝑎 + 2)(𝑎 + 1) the numbers with Sum 3 and product 2 are 2 and 1
4b
𝑘 2 + 5𝑘 + 6 = (𝑘 + 2)(𝑘 + 3) the numbers with Sum 5 and product 6 are 2 and 3
4c
𝑚2 + 7𝑚 + 6 = (m + 1)(m + 6) the numbers with Sum 7 and product 6 are 6
and 1
4d
𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 + 15 = (𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 + 5) the numbers with Sum 8 and product 15 are 3
and 5
4e
𝑦 2 + 9𝑦 + 20 = (𝑦 + 4)(𝑦 + 5) the numbers with Sum 9 and product 20 are 4
and 5
4f
𝑡 2 + 12𝑡 + 20 = (𝑡 + 2)(𝑡 + 10) the numbers with Sum 12 and product 20 are 2
and 10
4g
𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 3 = (𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 − 3) the numbers with Sum − 4 and product 3 are − 3
and − 1
4h
𝑐 2 − 7𝑐 + 10 = (𝑐 − 2)(𝑐 − 5) the numbers with Sum − 7 and product 10 are −
2 and − 5
4i
𝑎2 − 7𝑎 + 12 = (𝑎 − 3)(𝑎 − 4) the numbers with Sum − 7 and product 12 are −
3 and − 4
4j
𝑏 2 − 8𝑏 + 12 = (𝑏 − 2)(𝑏 − 6) the numbers with Sum − 8 and product 12 are −
2 and − 6
4k
𝑡 2 + 𝑡 − 2 = (𝑡 + 2)(𝑡 − 1) the numbers with Sum 1 and product − 2 are 2 and −
1

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
4l
𝑢2 − 𝑢 − 2 = (𝑢 − 2)(𝑢 + 1) the numbers with Sum − 1 and product − 2 are − 2
and 1
4m
𝑤 2 − 2𝑤 − 8 = (𝑤 − 4)(𝑤 + 2) the numbers with Sum − 2 and product − 8 are
− 4 and 2
4n
𝑎2 + 2𝑎 − 8 = (𝑎 − 2)(𝑎 + 4) the numbers with Sum 2 and product − 8 are 4
and − 2
4o
𝑝2 − 2𝑝 − 15 = (𝑝 − 5)(𝑝 + 3) the numbers with Sum − 2 and product − 15 are
− 5 and 3
4p
𝑦 2 + 3𝑦 − 28 = (𝑦 + 7)(𝑦 − 4) the numbers with Sum 3 and product − 28 are 7
and − 4
4q
𝑐 2 − 12𝑐 + 27 = (𝑐 − 3)(𝑐 − 9) the numbers with Sum − 12 and product − 27
are − 3 and − 9
4r
𝑢2 − 13𝑢 + 42 = (𝑢 − 6)(𝑢 − 7) the numbers with Sum − 13 and product 42 are
− 6 and − 7
4s
𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 90 = (𝑥 − 10)(𝑥 + 9) the numbers with Sum − 1 and product − 90 are
− 10 and 9
4t
𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 40 = (𝑥 + 8)(𝑥 − 5) the numbers with Sum − 3 and product − 40 are
8 and − 5
4u
𝑡 2 − 4𝑡 − 32 = (𝑡 − 8)(𝑡 + 4) the numbers with Sum − 4 and product − 32 are −
8 and 4
4v
𝑝2 + 9𝑝 − 36 = (𝑝 + 12)(𝑝 − 3) the numbers with Sum − 9 and product − 36
are − 3 and 12
4w
𝑢2 − 16𝑢 − 80 = (𝑢 − 20)(𝑢 + 4) the numbers with Sum − 16 and product − 80
are − 20 and 4
4x
𝑡 2 + 23𝑡 − 50 = (𝑡 + 25)(𝑡 − 2) the numbers with Sum 23 and product − 50 are
− 2 and 25

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
5a
3𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 1 = the numbers with Sum 4 and product 1 × 3 = 3 are 3 and 1
= (3𝑥 2 + 3𝑥) + (𝑥 + 1) split 4𝑥 into 3𝑥 and 𝑥
= 3𝑥(𝑥 + 1) + (𝑥 + 1) = (3𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 + 1) take out the HCF in both steps
5b
2𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 + 2 = the numbers with Sum 5 and product 2 × 2 = 4 are 4 and 1
= (2𝑥 2 + 4𝑥) + (𝑥 + 2) split 5𝑥 into 4𝑥 and 𝑥
= 2𝑥(𝑥 + 2) + (𝑥 + 2) = (2𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 + 2) take out the HCF in both steps
5c 3𝑥 2 + 16𝑥 + 5 = the numbers with Sum 16 and product 5 × 3 = 15 are 15
and 1
= (3𝑥 2 + 15𝑥) + (𝑥 + 5)split 16x into 15x and x
= 3𝑥(𝑥 + 5) + (𝑥 + 5) = (3𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 + 5) take out the HCF in both steps
5d
3𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 + 4 = the numbers with Sum 8 and product 4 × 3 = 12 are 6 and 2
= (3𝑥 2 + 6𝑥) + (2𝑥 + 4) split the 8𝑥 into 6𝑥 and 2𝑥
= 3𝑥(𝑥 + 2) + 2(𝑥 + 2) = (3𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 + 2)take out the HCf in both steps
5e
2𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 1 = the nymbers with Sum − 3 and product 1 × 2 = 2 are − 2 and −
1
= (2𝑥 2 − 2𝑥) − (𝑥 − 1) split − 3𝑥 into − 2𝑥 and − 𝑥
= 2𝑥(𝑥 − 1) − (𝑥 − 1) = (2𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 − 1) take out the HCF in both steps
5f
5𝑥 2 − 13𝑥 + 6 = the numbers with Sum − 13 and product 6 × 5 = 30 are − 10
and − 3
= (5𝑥 2 − 10𝑥) − (3𝑥 − 6) split − 13𝑥 into − 10𝑥 and − 3𝑥
5𝑥(𝑥 − 2) − 3(𝑥 − 2) = (5𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 − 2) take out the HCF in both steps
5g
5𝑥 2 − 11𝑥 + 6 = the numbers with Sum − 11 and product 6 × 5 = 30 are − 5
and − 6
= (5𝑥 2 − 5𝑥) − (6𝑥 − 6) split − 11𝑥 into − 5𝑥 and − 6𝑥
= 5𝑥(𝑥 − 1) − 6(𝑥 − 1) = (5𝑥 − 6)(𝑥 − 1) take out the HCF in both steps
5h 6𝑥 2 − 11𝑥 + 3 = the numbers with Sum − 11 and product 3 × 6 = 18 are − 9
and − 2
= (6𝑥 2 − 9𝑥) − (2𝑥 − 3) split − 11𝑥 into − 9𝑥 and − 2𝑥
= 3𝑥(2𝑥 − 3) − (2𝑥 − 3) = (3𝑥 − 1)(2𝑥 − 3) take out the HCF in both steps
5i
2𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 3 = the numbers with Sum − 1 and product − 3 × 2 = − 6 are − 3
and 2
= (2𝑥 2 + 2𝑥) − (3𝑥 + 3) split − 𝑥 into 2𝑥 and − 3𝑥
= 2𝑥(𝑥 + 1) − 3(𝑥 + 1) = (2𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 1) take out the HCF in both steps

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
5j
2𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 5 = the numbers with Sum 3 and product − 5 × 2 = − 10 are 5 and
−2
= (2𝑥 2 − 2𝑥) + (5𝑥 − 5) split 3x into − 2𝑥 and 5𝑥
= 2𝑥(𝑥 − 1) + 5(𝑥 − 1) = (2𝑥 + 5)(𝑥 − 1) take out the HCF in both steps
5k
3𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 5 = the numbers with Sum 2 and product − 5 × 3 = − 15 are − 3
and 5
= (3𝑥 2 − 3𝑥) + (5𝑥 − 5) split 2𝑥 into − 3𝑥 and 5𝑥
= 3𝑥(𝑥 − 1) + 5(𝑥 − 1) = (3𝑥 + 5)(𝑥 − 1) take out the HCF in both steps
5l
3𝑥 2 + 14𝑥 − 5 = the numbers with Sum 14 and product − 5 × 3 = − 15 are 15
and − 1
= (3𝑥 2 + 15𝑥) − (𝑥 + 5) split 14𝑥 into 15𝑥 and − 1𝑥
= 3𝑥(𝑥 + 5) − (𝑥 + 5) = (3𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 5) take out the HCF in both steps
5m
2𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 − 15 = the numbers with Sum − 7 and product − 15 × 2 = − 30 are −
10 and 3
= (2𝑥 2 − 10𝑥) + (3𝑥 − 15) split − 7𝑥 into − 10𝑥 and 3𝑥
= 2𝑥(𝑥 − 5) + 3(𝑥 − 5) = (2𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 = 5) take out the HCF in both steps
5n
2𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 15 = the numbers with Sum 1 and product − 15 × 2 = − 30 are − 5
and 6
= (2𝑥 2 + 6𝑥) − (5𝑥 + 15) split 𝑥 into 6𝑥 and − 5𝑥
= 2𝑥(𝑥 + 3) − 5(𝑥 + 3) = (2𝑥 − 5)(𝑥 + 3) take out the HCF in both steps
5o
6𝑥 2 + 17𝑥 − 3 = the numbers with Sum 17 and product − 3 × 6 = − 18 are 18
and − 1
= (6𝑥 2 + 18𝑥) − (𝑥 + 3) split 17𝑥 into 18𝑥 and − 𝑥
= 6𝑥(𝑥 + 3) − (𝑥 + 3) = (6𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 3) take out the HCF in both steps
5p
6𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 − 3 = the numbers with Sum − 7 and product − 3 × 6 = − 18 are − 9
and 2
= (6𝑥 2 − 9𝑥) + (2𝑥 − 3) split − 7𝑥 into − 9𝑥 and 2𝑥
= 3𝑥(2𝑥 − 3) + (2𝑥 − 3) = (2𝑥 + 1)(2𝑥 − 3) take out the HCF in both steps
5q
6𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 6 = the numbers with Sum 5 and product − 6 × 6 = − 36 are − 4
and 9
= (6𝑥 2 + 9𝑥) − (4𝑥 + 6) split 5x into − 4𝑥 and 9𝑥
= 3𝑥(2𝑥 + 3) − 2(2𝑥 + 3) = (3𝑥 − 2)(2𝑥 + 3) take out the HCF in both steps

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
5r
5𝑥 2 + 23𝑥 + 12 = the numbers with Sum 23 and product 12 × 5 = 60 are 20 and
3
= (5𝑥 2 + 20𝑥) + (3𝑥 + 12) split 23𝑥 into 20𝑥 and 3𝑥
= 5𝑥(𝑥 + 4) + 3(𝑥 + 4) = (5𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 + 4) take out the HCF in both steps
5s
5𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 12 = the numbers with Sum 4 and product − 12 × 5 = − 60 are − 6
and 10
= (5𝑥 2 + 10𝑥) − (6𝑥 + 12) split 4𝑥 into 10x and − 6𝑥
= 5𝑥(𝑥 + 2) − 6(𝑥 + 2) = (5𝑥 − 6)(𝑥 + 2) take out the HCF in both steps
5t
5𝑥 2 − 19𝑥 + 12 = the numbers with Sum − 19 and product 12 × 5 = 60 are −
15 and − 4
= (5𝑥 2 − 15𝑥) − (4𝑥 − 12) split − 19𝑥 into − 15𝑥 and − 4𝑥
= 5𝑥(𝑥 − 3) − 4(𝑥 − 3) = (5𝑥 − 4)(𝑥 − 3) take out the HCF in both steps
5u
5𝑥 2 − 11𝑥 − 12 = the numbers with Sum − 11 and product − 12 × 5 = − 60 are
− 15 and 4
= (5𝑥 2 − 15𝑥) + (4𝑥 − 12) split − 11𝑥 into − 15𝑥 and 4𝑥
= 5𝑥(𝑥 − 3) + 4(𝑥 − 3) = (5𝑥 + 4)(𝑥 − 3) take out the HCF in both steps
5v
5𝑥 2 + 28𝑥 − 12 = the numbers with Sum 28 and product − 12 × 5 = − 60 are −
2 and 30
= (5𝑥 2 + 30𝑥) − (2𝑥 + 12) split 28𝑥 into 30𝑥 and − 2𝑥
= 5𝑥(𝑥 + 6) − 2(𝑥 + 6) = (5𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 6) take out the HCF in both steps
5w
9𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 − 8 = the numbers with Sum − 6 and product − 8 × 9 = − 72 are − 12
and 6
= (9𝑥 2 + 6𝑥) − (12𝑥 + 8) split − 6𝑥 into − 12𝑥 and 6𝑥
= 3𝑥(3𝑥 + 2) − 4(3𝑥 + 2) = (3𝑥 − 4)(3𝑥 + 2) take out the HCF in both steps
5x
3𝑥 2 + 13𝑥 − 30 = the numbers with Sum 13 and product − 30 × 3 = − 90 are −
5 and 18
= (3𝑥 2 + 18𝑥) − (5𝑥 + 30) split 13𝑥 into 18𝑥 and − 5𝑥
= 3𝑥(𝑥 + 6) − 5(𝑥 + 6) = (3𝑥 − 5)(𝑥 + 6) take out the HCF in both steps
6a
𝑎2 − 25 = (𝑎 − 5)(𝑎 + 5) difference of perfect squares
6b
𝑏 2 − 25𝑏 = 𝑏(𝑏 − 25) take out the common factor

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
6c
𝑐 2 − 25𝑐 + 100 = (𝑐 − 20)(𝑐 − 5) the numbers with Sum − 25 and product of
100 are − 20 and − 5
6d
2𝑑 2 + 25𝑑 + 50 = the numbers with Sum 25 and product 50 × 2 = 100 are 20
and 5
= (2𝑑2 + 5𝑑) + (20𝑑 + 50) split the 25d into 20d and 5d
= 𝑑(2𝑑 + 5) + 10(2𝑑 + 5) = (10 + 𝑑)(2𝑑 + 5) take out the HCF
6e
𝑒 3 + 5𝑒 2 + 5𝑒 + 25 = (𝑒 3 + 5𝑒 2 ) + (5𝑒 + 25) = 𝑒 2 (𝑒 + 5) + 5(𝑒 + 5)
= (𝑒 2 + 5)(𝑒 + 5)
6f
16 − 𝑓 2 = (4 − 𝑓)(4 + 𝑓) difference of perfect squares
6g
16𝑔2 − 𝑔3 = 𝑔2 (16 − 𝑔) take out the common factor
6h
ℎ2 + 16ℎ + 64 = (ℎ + 8)(ℎ + 8) the numbers with Sum 16 and product 64 are 8
and 8
6i
𝑖 2 − 16𝑖 − 36 = (𝑖 − 18)(𝑖 + 2) the numbers with Sum − 16 and product − 36
are − 18 and 2
6j
5𝑗 2 + 16𝑗 − 16 = the numbers with Sum 16 and product − 16 × 5 = − 80 are 20
and − 4
= (5𝑗 2 + 20𝑗) − (4𝑗 + 16) split the 16j into 20j and − 4j
= 5𝑗(𝑗 + 4) − 4(𝑗 + 4) = (5𝑗 − 4)(𝑗 + 4) take out the HCF in both steps
6k
4𝑘 2 − 16𝑘 − 9 = the numbers with Sum − 16 and product − 9 × 4 = − 36 are −
18 and 2
= (4𝑘 2 + 2𝑘) − (18𝑘 + 9) split − 16k into − 18k and 2k
= 2𝑘(2𝑘 + 1) − 9(2𝑘 + 1) = (2𝑘 − 9)(2𝑘 + 1) take out the HCF
6l
2𝑘 3 − 16𝑘 2 − 3𝑘 + 24 = (2𝑘 3 − 16𝑘 2 ) − (3𝑘 − 24) = 2𝑘 2 (𝑘 − 8) − 3(𝑘 − 8)
= (2𝑘 2 − 3)(𝑘 − 8)
6m
2𝑎2 + 𝑎𝑏 − 4𝑎 − 2𝑏 = 2𝑎2 − 4𝑎 + 𝑎𝑏 − 2𝑏 = 2𝑎(𝑎 − 2) + 𝑏(𝑎 − 2)
= (2𝑎 − 𝑏)(𝑎 − 2)
6n
6𝑚3 𝑛4 + 9𝑚2 𝑛5 = 3𝑚2 𝑛4 (2𝑚 + 3𝑛)
6o
49𝑝2 − 121𝑞 2 = (7𝑝 − 11𝑞)(7𝑝 + 11𝑞) difference of perfect squares

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
6p
𝑡 2 − 14𝑡 + 40 = (𝑡 − 4)(𝑡 − 10) the numbers with Sum − 14 and product 40 are
− 4 and − 10
6q
3𝑡 2 + 2𝑡 − 40 = the numbers with Sum 2 and product − 40 × 3 = − 120 are −
10 and 12
= (3𝑡 2 + 12𝑡) − (10𝑡 + 40) split 2t into 12t and − 10t
= 3𝑡(𝑡 + 4) − 10(𝑡 + 4) = (3𝑡 − 10)(𝑡 + 4) take out the HCF
6r
5𝑡 2 + 54𝑡 + 40 = the numbers with Sum 54 and product 40 × 5 = 200 are 50
and 4
= (5𝑡 2 + 50𝑡) + (4𝑡 + 40) split 54𝑡 into 50𝑡 and 4𝑡
= 5𝑡(𝑡 + 10) + 4(𝑡 + 10) = (5𝑡 + 4)(𝑡 + 10) take out the HCF
6s
5𝑡 2 + 33𝑡 + 40 = the numbers with Sum 33 and product 40 × 5 = 200 are 25
and 8
= (5𝑡 2 + 25𝑡) + (8𝑡 + 40) split 33𝑡 into 25𝑡 and 8𝑡
= 5𝑡(𝑡 + 5) + 8(𝑡 + 5) = (5𝑡 + 8)(𝑡 + 5) take out the HCF
6t
5𝑡 3 + 10𝑡 2 + 15𝑡 = 5𝑡(𝑡 2 + 2𝑡 + 3)
6u
𝑢2 + 15𝑢 − 54 = (𝑢 + 18)(𝑢 − 3) the numbers with Sum 15 and product − 54
are 18 and − 3
6v
3𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 2 𝑦 − 15𝑥 + 10𝑦 = (3𝑥 3 − 15𝑥) − (2𝑥 2 𝑦 − 10𝑦)
= 3𝑥(𝑥 2 − 5) − 2𝑦(𝑥 2 − 5)
= (3𝑥 − 2𝑦)(𝑥 2 − 5)
6w
(𝑝 + 𝑞)2 − 𝑟 2 = (𝑝 + 𝑞 − 𝑟)(𝑝 + 𝑞 + 𝑟) difference of perfect squares
6x
4𝑎2 − 12𝑎 + 9 = numbers with Sum − 12 and product 9 × 4 = 36 are − 6 and −
6
= (4𝑎2 − 6𝑎) − (6𝑎 − 9) split − 12a into − 6a and − 6a
= 2𝑎(2𝑎 − 3) − 3(2𝑎 − 3) = (2𝑎 − 3)(2𝑎 − 3)
7a
3𝑎2 − 12 = 3(𝑎2 − 4) take out the HCf
= 3(𝑎 − 2)(𝑎 + 2) difference of perfect squares
7b
𝑥 4 − 𝑦 4 = (𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 )(𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 ) = (𝑥 − 𝑦)(𝑥 + 𝑦)(𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 ) difference of perfect
squares

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
7c
𝑥 3 − 𝑥 = 𝑥(𝑥 2 − 1) take out common factors
= 𝑥(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1)
7d
5𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 − 30 = 5(𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 6) take out common factor of 5
= 5(𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 2) numbers with Sum − 1 and product − 6 are − 3 and 2
7e
25𝑦 − 𝑦 3 = 𝑦(25 − 𝑦 2 ) = 𝑦(5 − 𝑦)(5 + 𝑦) factories and then difference of
perfect square
7f
16 − 𝑎4 = (4 − 𝑎2 )(4 + 𝑎2 ) = (2 − 𝑎)(2 + 𝑎)(4 + 𝑎2 ) difference of perfect
squares
7g
4𝑥 2 + 14𝑥 − 30 = 2(2𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 − 15) the numbers that
7h
𝑎4 + 𝑎3 + 𝑎2 + 𝑎 = 𝑎(𝑎3 + 𝑎2 + 𝑎 + 1) = 𝑎[(𝑎3 + 𝑎2 ) + (𝑎 + 1)]
= 𝑎[𝑎2 (𝑎 + 1) + (𝑎 + 1)] = 𝑎[(𝑎2 + 1)(𝑎 + 1)]
= 𝑎(𝑎2 + 1)(𝑎 + 1)
7i
𝑐 3 + 9𝑐 2 − 𝑐 − 9 = 𝑐 2 (𝑐 + 9) − (𝑐 + 9) = (𝑐 2 − 1)(𝑐 + 9) = (𝑐 − 1)(𝑐 + 1)(𝑐 +
9)
7j
𝑥 3 − 8𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 = 𝑥(𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 + 7) = 𝑥(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 − 7) number with Sum − 8 and
product 7 are − 7 and − 1
7k
𝑥 4 − 3𝑥 2 − 4 numbers with Sum − 3 and product − 4 are − 4 and 1
= (𝑥 4 + 𝑥 2 ) − (4𝑥 2 + 4) split − 3𝑥 2 into − 4𝑥 2 and − 𝑥 2
= 𝑥 2 (𝑥 2 + 1) − 4(𝑥 2 + 1) = (𝑥 2 − 4)(𝑥 2 + 1) = (𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 2 + 1)
difference of perfect squares
7l
𝑎𝑥 2 − 𝑎 − 2𝑥 2 + 2 = 𝑎(𝑥 2 − 1) − 2(𝑥 2 − 1) = (𝑎 − 2)(𝑥 2 − 1)
= (𝑎 − 2)(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1)
8a
Using the difference of perfect squares
(2𝑝 − (𝑞 + 𝑟))(2𝑝 + (𝑞 + 𝑟)) = (2𝑝 − 𝑞 − 𝑟)(2𝑝 + 𝑞 + 𝑟)
8b
Using the difference of perfect squares
(𝑎 − 𝑏)(𝑎 + 𝑏) − (𝑎 + 𝑏) = (𝑎 + 𝑏)(𝑎 − 𝑏 − 1)

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
8c
𝑎(𝑎2 − 10𝑎𝑏 + 24𝑏 2 ) taking out common factors
= 𝑎(𝑎 − 6𝑏)(𝑎 − 4𝑏) the numbers with sum −10 and product 24 are −6
and −4.
8d
𝑥 2 (6𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 2) taking out common factors
the numbers with sum −1 and product 6×−2 = −12 are −4 and 3
= 𝑥 2 ((6𝑥 2 − 4𝑥) + (3𝑥 − 2)) splitting −𝑥 into −4𝑥 + 3𝑥
2
= 𝑥 (2𝑥(3𝑥 − 2) + (3𝑥 − 2))
= 𝑥 2 (2𝑥 + 1)(3𝑥 − 2)
8e
4𝑥 4 − 37𝑥 2 + 9
= 4(𝑥 2 )2 − 37𝑥 2 + 9 this is a quadratic if 𝑥 2 is treated as the variable
the numbers with sum −37 and product 4×9 = 36 are −1 and −36
= (4(𝑥 2 )2 − 36𝑥 2 ) + (−𝑥 2 + 9) splitting −37𝑥 2 into −36𝑥 2 − 𝑥 2
= 4((𝑥 2 )2 − 9𝑥 2 ) − (𝑥 2 − 9)
= 4𝑥 2 (𝑥 2 − 9) − (𝑥 2 − 9)
= (4𝑥 2 − 1)(𝑥 2 − 9)
8f
−40𝑥 2 − 18𝑥 + 40
∆= 𝑏(−18)2 − 4(−40)×40 = (82)2
4 5
−40𝑥 2 − 18𝑥 + 40 = −40 (𝑥 − ) (𝑥 + ) = 2(4 − 5𝑥)(4𝑥 + 5)
5 4
8g
4𝑥 3 − 12𝑥 2 − 𝑥 + 3 = 4𝑥 2 (𝑥 − 3) − (𝑥 − 3) = (4𝑥 2 − 1)(𝑥 − 3)
= (2𝑥 − 1)(2𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 3)
8h
𝑥 2 + 2𝑎𝑥 + 𝑎2 − 𝑏 2 = (𝑥 + 𝑎)2 − 𝑏 2 = (𝑥 + 𝑎 − 𝑏)(𝑥 + 𝑎 + 𝑏)
8i
𝑥 4 − 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 1 = 𝑥 4 − (𝑥 + 1)2 = (𝑥 2 − (𝑥 + 1))(𝑥 2 + (𝑥 + 1))
= (𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 1)
9a
Expanding
𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑎 + 𝑏 3 = 𝑎2 + 𝑏𝑎 + 𝑏 2 𝑎 + 𝑏 3 = 𝑎(𝑎 + 𝑏) + 𝑏 2 (𝑎 + 𝑏)
= (𝑎 + 𝑏 2 )(𝑎 + 𝑏)
9b
(𝑥 2 + 𝑥𝑦)2 − (𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 2 )2 = 𝑥 2 (𝑥 + 𝑦)2 − 𝑦 2 (𝑥 + 𝑦)2 = (𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 )(𝑥 + 𝑦)2
= (𝑥 − 𝑦)(𝑥 + 𝑦)(𝑥 + 𝑦)2 = (𝑥 − 𝑦)(𝑥 + 𝑦)3

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
9c
2
(𝑎2 − 𝑏 2 )2 − (𝑎 − 𝑏)4 = ((𝑎 − 𝑏)(𝑎 + 𝑏)) − (𝑎 − 𝑏)4
= (𝑎 − 𝑏)2 (𝑎 + 𝑏)2 − (𝑎 − 𝑏)4 = (𝑎 − 𝑏)2 ((𝑎 + 𝑏)2 − (𝑎 − 𝑏)2 )
= (𝑎 − 𝑏)2 (4𝑎𝑏) = 4𝑎𝑏(𝑎 − 𝑏)2
9d
4𝑥 4 − 2𝑥 3 𝑦 − 3𝑥𝑦 3 − 9𝑦 4 = 4𝑥 4 − 9𝑦 4 − 2𝑥 3 𝑦 − 3𝑥𝑦 3
= (2𝑥 2 − 3𝑦 2 )(2𝑥 2 + 3𝑦 2 ) − 𝑥𝑦(2𝑥 2 + 3𝑦 2 )
= (2𝑥 2 + 3𝑦 2 )(2𝑥 2 + 3𝑦 2 − 𝑥𝑦) = (2𝑥 2 + 3𝑦 2 ))𝑥 + 𝑦)(2𝑥 − 3𝑦)
9e
(𝑎2 − 𝑏 2 − 𝑐 2 )2 − 4𝑏 2 𝑐 2 = (𝑎2 − 𝑏 2 − 𝑐 2 − 2𝑏𝑐)(𝑎2 − 𝑏 2 − 𝑐 2 + 2𝑏𝑐)
= (𝑎2 − (𝑏 2 + 2𝑏𝑐 + 𝑐 2 ))(𝑎2 − (𝑏 2 − 2𝑏𝑐 + 𝑐 2 ))
= (𝑎2 − (𝑏 + 𝑐)2 )(𝑎2 − (𝑏 − 𝑐)2 )
= (𝑎 − (𝑏 + 𝑐))(𝑎 + (𝑏 + 𝑐))(𝑎 − (𝑏 − 𝑐))(𝑎 + (𝑏 − 𝑐))
= (𝑎 − 𝑏 − 𝑐)(𝑎 + 𝑏 + 𝑐)(𝑎 − 𝑏 + 𝑐)(𝑎 + 𝑏 − 𝑐)
9f
(𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑦)2 + (𝑎𝑦 − 𝑏𝑥)2 + 𝑐 2 (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )
= 𝑎2 𝑥 2 + 2𝑎𝑥𝑏𝑦 + 𝑏 2 𝑦 2 + 𝑎2 𝑦 2 − 2𝑎𝑏𝑥𝑦 + 𝑏 2 𝑥 2 + 𝑐 2 (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )
= 𝑎2 𝑥 2 + 𝑏 2 𝑦 2 + 𝑎2 𝑦 2 + 𝑏 2 𝑥 2 + 𝑐 2 (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )
= 𝑎2 (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 ) + 𝑏 2 (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 ) + 𝑐 2 (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )
= (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )(𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 + 𝑐 2 )
9g
𝑎4 + 𝑎2 𝑏 2 + 𝑏 2 = 𝑎4 + 𝑎2 𝑏 2 + 𝑏 2 + 𝑎2 𝑏 2 − 𝑎2 𝑏 2
= 𝑎4 + 2𝑎2 𝑏 2 + 𝑏 2 − 𝑎2 𝑏 2 = (𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 )2 − 𝑎2 𝑏 2
= (𝑎2 − 𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏 2 )(𝑎2 + 𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏 2 )
9h
𝑎4 + 4𝑏 4 = 𝑎4 + 4𝑏 4 + 4𝑎2 𝑏 2 − 4𝑎2 𝑏 2 = (𝑎2 + 2𝑏 2 )2 − 4𝑎2 𝑏 2 =
= (𝑎2 − 2𝑎𝑏 + 2𝑏 2 )(𝑎2 + 2𝑎𝑏 + 2𝑏 2 )

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
Solutions to Exercise 1D
1a
𝑥
=1
𝑥
1b
2𝑥
=2
𝑥
1c
𝑥 1
=
2𝑥 2
1d
𝑎 1
2
=
𝑎 𝑎
1e
3𝑥 2 𝑥
=
9𝑥𝑦 3𝑦
1f
12𝑎𝑏 3
=𝑎
4𝑎2 𝑏
2a
𝑥 3
× 𝑥 = 1 Reciprocal fractions multiply to 1
3
2b
𝑎 𝑎 𝑎 2 2 1
÷ = × = =
4 2 4 𝑎 4 2
2c
3
𝑥2× = 3𝑥
𝑥
2d
1 𝑏
×𝑏 2 =
2𝑏 2
2e
3𝑥 2 3×2 6 3
× 2= = =
4 𝑥 4𝑥 4𝑥 2𝑥
2f
5 5 1 1
÷ 10 = × =
𝑎 𝑎 10 2𝑎
2g
2𝑎𝑏 6 12𝑎𝑏 4
× 2= =
3 𝑎𝑏 3𝑎𝑏 2 𝑏
2h
8𝑎𝑏 4𝑎𝑏 8𝑎𝑏 15
÷ = × 4𝑎𝑏 Cancel out common factors = 6
5 15 5
3a
𝑥 2𝑥 𝑥 3𝑥
𝑥 + = + =
2 2 2 2

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
3b
𝑦 𝑦 𝑦 2𝑦 3𝑦
+ = + =
4 2 4 4 4
3c
𝑚 𝑚 3𝑚 𝑚 2𝑚
− = − =
3 9 9 9 9
3d
𝑛 𝑛 5𝑛 2𝑛 7𝑛
+ = + =
2 5 10 10 10
3e
𝑥 𝑦 3𝑥 2𝑦 3𝑥 − 2𝑦
− = − =
8 12 24 24 24
3f
2𝑎 3𝑎 4𝑎 9𝑎 13𝑎
+ = + =
3 2 6 6 6
3g
7𝑏 19𝑏 21𝑏 19𝑏 2𝑏 𝑏
− = − = =
10 30 30 30 30 15
3h
𝑥𝑦 𝑥𝑦 2𝑥𝑦 5𝑥𝑦 3𝑥𝑦 𝑥𝑦
− = − = − = −
30 12 60 60 60 20
4a
1 1 2
+𝑎 =𝑎
𝑎
4b
1 2 1
− =−
𝑥 𝑥 𝑥
4c
1 1 2 1 3
+ = + =
𝑎 2𝑎 2𝑎 2𝑎 2𝑎
4d
1 1 3 2 1
− = − =
2𝑥 3𝑥 6𝑥 6𝑥 6𝑥
4e
3 4 9 16 25
+ = + =
4𝑎 3𝑎 12𝑎 12𝑎 12𝑎
4f
5 1 5 2 3 1
− = − = =
6𝑥 3𝑥 6𝑥 6𝑥 6𝑥 2𝑥
5a
𝑥+1 𝑥+2 3𝑥+3 2𝑥+4 3𝑥+2𝑥+3+4 5𝑥+7
+ = + = =
2 3 6 6 6 6
5b
2𝑥 − 1 2𝑥 + 3 8𝑥 − 4 10𝑥 + 15 8𝑥 + 10𝑥 − 4 + 15 18𝑥 + 11
+ = + = =
5 4 20 20 20 20

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
5c
𝑥 + 3 𝑥 − 3 2𝑥 + 6 𝑥 − 3 2𝑥 + 𝑥 + 6 − 3 3𝑥 + 3 3(𝑥 + 1) 𝑥 + 1
+ = + = = = =
6 12 12 12 12 12 12 4
5d
𝑥 + 2 𝑥 + 3 3𝑥 + 6 2𝑥 + 6 3𝑥 − 2𝑥 + 6 − 6 𝑥
− = − = =
2 3 6 6 6 6
5e
2𝑥 + 1 2𝑥 − 3 10𝑥 + 5 8𝑥 − 12 10𝑥 − 8𝑥 + 5 + 12 2𝑥 + 17
− = − = =
4 5 20 20 20 20
5f
2𝑥 − 1 2𝑥 + 1 4𝑥 − 2 2𝑥 + 1 4𝑥 − 2𝑥 − 2 − 1 2𝑥 − 3
− = − = =
3 6 6 6 6 6
6a
2𝑝 + 2𝑞 2(𝑝 + 𝑞)
= =2
𝑝+𝑞 𝑝+𝑞
6b
3𝑡 − 12 3(𝑡 − 4) 3
= =
2𝑡 − 8 2(𝑡 − 4) 2
6c
𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 𝑥(𝑥 + 3) 𝑥
= =
3𝑥 + 9 3(𝑥 + 3) 3
6d
𝑎 𝑎 1
= =
𝑎𝑥 + 𝑎𝑦 𝑎(𝑥 + 𝑦) 𝑥 + 𝑦
6e
3𝑎2 − 6𝑎𝑏 3𝑎(𝑎 − 2𝑏) 3
2 2
= =
2𝑎 𝑏 − 4𝑎𝑏 2𝑎𝑏(𝑎 − 2𝑏) 2𝑏
6f
𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 𝑥(𝑥 + 2) 𝑥
2
= =
𝑥 −4 (𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 2) 𝑥 − 2
6g
𝑎2 − 9 (𝑎 − 3)(𝑎 + 3) 𝑎 + 3
= =
𝑎2 + 𝑎 − 12 (𝑎 − 3)(𝑎 + 4) 𝑎 + 4
6h
𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 1 (𝑥 + 1)2 𝑥+1
= =
𝑥2 − 1 (𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1) 𝑥 − 1
6i
𝑥 2 +10𝑥+25 (𝑥+5)(𝑥+5) 𝑥+5
= (𝑥+5)(𝑥+4) = 𝑥+4
𝑥 2 +9𝑥+20
7a
1 1 𝑥+1 𝑥 2𝑥 + 1
+ = + =
𝑥 𝑥 + 1 𝑥(𝑥 + 1) 𝑥(𝑥 + 1) 𝑥(𝑥 + 1)

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
7b
1 1 𝑥+1 𝑥 1
− = − =
𝑥 𝑥+1 𝑥(𝑥 + 1) 𝑥(𝑥 + 1) 𝑥(𝑥 + 1)
7c
1 1 𝑥−1 𝑥+1 𝑥+𝑥−1+1 2𝑥
+ = + = 2
= 2
𝑥 + 1 𝑥 − 1 (𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 1) (𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 1) 𝑥 −1 𝑥 −1
7d
2 3 2𝑥 − 4 3𝑥 − 9 3(𝑥 − 3) 3
+ = + = =
𝑥 − 3 𝑥 − 2 (𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 − 2) (𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 − 2) (𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 − 2) 𝑥 − 2
7e
3 2 3𝑥 − 3 2𝑥 + 2 3𝑥 − 2𝑥 − 3 − 2
− = − =
𝑥 + 1 𝑥 − 1 (𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 1) (𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 1) (𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 1)
𝑥−5
=
(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 1)
7f
2 2 2𝑥 + 6 2𝑥 − 4 2𝑥 − 2𝑥 + 6 + 4
− = − =
𝑥 − 2 𝑥 + 3 (𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 3) (𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 − 3) (𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 3)
10
=
(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 − 3)
8a
3𝑥+3 𝑥2 3(𝑥+1) 𝑥2
× = × (𝑥−1)(𝑥+1) (Factor 3𝑥 + 3 and 𝑥 2 − 1)
2𝑥 𝑥 2 −1 2𝑥
3 𝑥
= × Cancel (𝑥 + 1) and 𝑥
2 (𝑥−1)
3𝑥
=
2(𝑥 − 1)
8b
𝑎2 +𝑎−2 𝑎2 −3𝑎 (𝑎−1)(𝑎+2) 𝑎(𝑎−3)
× 𝑎2 −4𝑎+3 = × (𝑎−3)(𝑎−1) (Cancel 𝑎 + 2 and 𝑎 − 3)
𝑎+2 𝑎+2
𝑎
= (𝑎 − 1 )× 𝑎−1 Cancel 𝑎 − 1
=𝑎
8c
𝑐 2 +5𝑐+6 𝑐+3 𝑐 2 +5𝑐+6 𝑐−4
÷ = × Factorise the first fraction
𝑐 2 −16 𝑐−4 𝑐 2 −16 𝑐+3
((𝑐+2)(𝑐+3)) 𝑐−4
= (𝑐−4)(𝑐+4)
× 𝑐+3 Cancel 𝑐 − 4 and 𝑐 + 3
𝑐+2
=
𝑐+4

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
8d
𝑥 2 −𝑥−20 𝑥 2 −𝑥−2 𝑥+1
× 𝑥 2 +2𝑥−8 ÷ 𝑥 2 +5𝑥 Factorise
𝑥 2 −25
(𝑥−5)(𝑥+4) (𝑥−2)(𝑥+1) 𝑥+1
= (𝑥−5)(𝑥+5) × (𝑥−2)(𝑥+4) ÷ 𝑥(𝑥+5)
(𝑥−5)(𝑥+4) (𝑥−2)(𝑥+1) 𝑥(𝑥+5)
= (𝑥−5)(𝑥+5) × (𝑥−2)(𝑥+4) × Reciprocal of last fraction
𝑥+1
1 𝑥(𝑥+5)
= 𝑥+5 ×(𝑥 + 1)× Cancel (𝑥 + 5) and (𝑥 + 1)
𝑥+1
=𝑥
9a
𝑏 − 𝑎 −1(𝑎 − 𝑏)
= = −1
𝑎−𝑏 𝑎−𝑏
9b
1 1 1 1 2 2
− = − − = − =
𝑎−𝑏 𝑏−𝑎 𝑏−𝑎 𝑏−𝑎 𝑏−𝑎 𝑎−𝑏
9c
𝑚 𝑛 𝑚 𝑛 𝑛−𝑚
+ = − + = =1
𝑚−𝑛 𝑛−𝑚 𝑛−𝑚 𝑛−𝑚 𝑛−𝑚
9d
𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 6 (𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 − 3) (2 − 𝑥)(𝑥 − 3)
= = − = −(𝑥 − 3) = 3 − 𝑥
2−𝑥 2−𝑥 2−𝑥
10a
1 1 𝑥2 − 𝑥 𝑥2 + 𝑥 𝑥2 − 𝑥 + 𝑥2 + 𝑥
+ = + =
𝑥 2 + 𝑥 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 (𝑥 2 + 𝑥)(𝑥 2 − 𝑥) (𝑥 2 − 𝑥)(𝑥 2 + 𝑥) (𝑥 2 − 𝑥)(𝑥 2 + 𝑥)
2𝑥 2
= 2
(𝑥 − 𝑥)(𝑥 2 + 𝑥)
2𝑥 2
= 𝑥(𝑥−1)𝑥(𝑥+1) Factorise 𝑥 out of the brackets
2𝑥 2
= 𝑥 2 (𝑥 2 −1) Combine 𝑥 into 𝑥 2 and the two brackets
2
=
𝑥2 − 1
10b
1 2𝑥 − 𝑦 𝑥+𝑦 2𝑥 − 𝑦 𝑥 + 𝑦 + 2𝑥 − 𝑦 3𝑥
+ 2 2
= 2 2
+ 2 2
= 2 2
= 2
𝑥−𝑦 𝑥 −𝑦 𝑥 −𝑦 𝑥 −𝑦 𝑥 −𝑦 𝑥 − 𝑦2
10c
3 2 3 2
− 2 = −
𝑥2 + 2𝑥 − 8 𝑥 + 𝑥 − 6 (𝑥 + 4)(𝑥 − 2) (𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 3)
3𝑥 + 9 2𝑥 + 8
= −
(𝑥 + 4)(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 3) (𝑥 + 4)(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 3)
3𝑥 + 9 − 2𝑥 − 8
=
(𝑥 + 4)(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 3)
𝑥+1
=
(𝑥 + 4)(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 3)

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
10d
1 1 1
+ −
𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 3 𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 6 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 2
1 1 1
= + −
(𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 − 1) (𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 − 3) (𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 − 1)

𝑥−2 𝑥−1 𝑥−3 𝑥−2+𝑥−1−𝑥+3

= (𝑥−3)(𝑥−1)(𝑥−2)
+ (𝑥−3)(𝑥−1)(𝑥−2) − (𝑥−3)(𝑥−1)(𝑥−2) = (𝑥−3)(𝑥−1)(𝑥−2)
=
𝑥
(𝑥−3)(𝑥−1)(𝑥−2)
11a
1 1
1−2 1−2 2 2−1 1
= × = =
1 1
1+2 1+2 2 2+1 3
11b
1 1
2+3 2+3 3 6+1 7
= × = =
2 2
5−3 5 − 3 3 15 − 2 13
11c
1 1 1 1
2 − 5 = 2 − 5 × 10 = 5 − 2 = 3
1 1
1 + 10 1 + 10 10 10 + 1 11
11d
17 3 17 3
20 − 4 = 20 − 4 × 20 = 17 − 15 = 2 = 1
4 3 4 3 20 16 − 6 10 5
− −
5 10 5 10
11e
1 1
𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 1
= × =
2 2 𝑥 𝑥+2
1+𝑥 1+𝑥
11f
1 1
(𝑡 − 𝑡 ) (𝑡 − 𝑡 )
𝑡 𝑡2 − 1
= × = 2
1 1 𝑡 𝑡 +𝑡
𝑡+𝑡 𝑡+𝑡
11g
1 1 1 𝑎𝑏 𝑎𝑏
= = × =
1 1 𝑎 𝑏 𝑎 𝑏 𝑎𝑏 𝑎 + 𝑏
+ + +
𝑏 𝑎 𝑎𝑏 𝑎𝑏 𝑎𝑏 𝑎𝑏
11h
𝑥 𝑦 𝑥2 𝑦2 𝑥2 𝑦2
𝑦 + 𝑥 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑥𝑦 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑥𝑦 𝑥𝑦 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2
𝑥 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 𝑦 2 = 𝑥 2 𝑦 2 × 𝑥𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2
𝑦 − 𝑥 𝑥𝑦 − 𝑥𝑦 𝑥𝑦 − 𝑥𝑦

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
11i
1 1 1
1 − (𝑥 + 1) 1 − (𝑥 + 1) 1 − (𝑥 + 1)
𝑥(𝑥 + 1)
= = ×
1 1 𝑥+1 𝑥 𝑥+1 𝑥 𝑥(𝑥 + 1)
+ + +
𝑥 𝑥+1 𝑥(𝑥 + 1) 𝑥(𝑥 + 1) 𝑥(𝑥 + 1) 𝑥(𝑥 + 1)
𝑥(𝑥 + 1) − 𝑥 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 𝑥 𝑥2
= = =
𝑥+1+𝑥 2𝑥 + 1 2𝑥 + 1
11j
3 2 3𝑥+3 2𝑥+4 3𝑥+3 2𝑥+4
− − − (𝑥+2)(𝑥+1) 3𝑥+3−2𝑥−4 𝑥−1
𝑥+2 𝑥+1 (𝑥+2)(𝑥+1) (𝑥+1)(𝑥+2) (𝑥+2)(𝑥+1) (𝑥+1)(𝑥+2)
5 4 = 5𝑥+5 4𝑥+8 = 5𝑥+5 4𝑥+8 × (𝑥+2)(𝑥+1) = 5𝑥+5−4𝑥−8 = 𝑥−3
− − −
𝑥+2 𝑥+1 (𝑥+2)(𝑥+1) (𝑥+1)(𝑥+2) (𝑥+2)(𝑥+1) (𝑥+1)(𝑥+2)

12
1 1 𝑦
𝑥= (1) 𝑦 = 1−𝑥 (2) 𝑧 = 𝑦−1 (3)
𝑡
(1) in(2)
1 𝑡
𝑦= 1 = 𝑡−1 (4)
1−
𝑡
(4) in (3)
𝑡
𝑡 𝑡
𝑧= 𝑡 1 =
𝑡 − = =𝑡
𝑡 − (𝑡 − 1) 1
𝑡−1−1
13a
(𝑎 − 𝑏)2 − 𝑐 2 𝑐 𝑎𝑐 − 𝑏𝑐 + 𝑐 2
× ÷
𝑎𝑏 − 𝑏 2 − 𝑏𝑐 𝑎2 + 𝑎𝑏 − 𝑎𝑐 𝑎2 − (𝑏 − 𝑐)2
(𝑎 − 𝑏)2 − 𝑐 2 𝑐 𝑎2 − (𝑏 − 𝑐)2
= × ×
𝑎𝑏 − 𝑏 2 − 𝑏𝑐 𝑎2 + 𝑎𝑏 − 𝑎𝑐 𝑎𝑐 − 𝑏𝑐 + 𝑐 2
(𝑎 − 𝑏 − 𝑐)(𝑎 − 𝑏 + 𝑐) 𝑐
= ×
𝑏(𝑎 − 𝑏 − 𝑐) 𝑎(𝑎 + 𝑏 − 𝑐)
(𝑎 − (𝑏 − 𝑐))(𝑎 + 𝑏 − 𝑐)
×
𝑐(𝑎 − 𝑏 + 𝑐)
(𝑎 − 𝑏 − 𝑐)(𝑎 − 𝑏 + 𝑐) 𝑐 (𝑎 − 𝑏 + 𝑐)(𝑎 + 𝑏 − 𝑐)
= × ×
𝑏(𝑎 − 𝑏 − 𝑐) 𝑎(𝑎 + 𝑏 − 𝑐) 𝑐(𝑎 − 𝑏 + 𝑐)
(𝑎 − 𝑏 + 𝑐) 𝑐 (𝑎 + 𝑏 − 𝑐) (𝑎 − 𝑏 + 𝑐)
= × × =
𝑏 𝑎(𝑎 + 𝑏 − 𝑐) 𝑐 𝑎𝑏
13b
8𝑥 2 + 14𝑥 + 3 12𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 18𝑥 2 − 6𝑥
× ÷
8𝑥 2 − 10𝑥 + 3 4𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 + 1 4𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 3
8𝑥 2 + 14𝑥 + 3 12𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 4𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 3
= 2 × 2 ×
8𝑥 − 10𝑥 + 3 4𝑥 + 5𝑥 + 1 18𝑥 2 − 6𝑥
(4𝑥 + 1)(2𝑥 + 3) 6𝑥(2𝑥 − 1) (4𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 1)
= × ×
(2𝑥 − 1)(4𝑥 − 3) (4𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 + 1) 6𝑥(3𝑥 − 1)
(2𝑥 + 3) 1 1 2𝑥 + 3
= × × =
1 1 (3𝑥 − 1) (3𝑥 − 1)

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
13c
4𝑦 3𝑥 3𝑥 − 2𝑦 4𝑦 3𝑥 3𝑥 − 2𝑦
− + = − +
𝑥2 + 2𝑥𝑦 𝑥𝑦 + 2𝑦 2 𝑥𝑦 𝑥(𝑥 + 2𝑦) 𝑦(𝑥 + 2𝑦) 𝑥𝑦
4𝑦×𝑦 3𝑥×𝑥 (3𝑥 − 2𝑦)(𝑥 + 2𝑦)
= − +
𝑥(𝑥 + 2𝑦)×𝑦 𝑦(𝑥 + 2𝑦)×𝑥 𝑥𝑦(𝑥 + 2𝑦)
4𝑦 − 3𝑥 + 3𝑥 + 6𝑥𝑦 − 2𝑥𝑦 − 4𝑦 2
2 2 2
4𝑥𝑦 4
= = =
𝑥𝑦(𝑥 + 2𝑦) 𝑥𝑦(𝑥 + 2𝑦) 𝑥 + 2𝑦
13d
1 2 3𝑥 − 2 1
+ − 2 − 2
𝑥 − 1 𝑥 + 1 𝑥 − 1 (𝑥 + 2𝑥 + 1)
1 2 3𝑥 − 2 1
= + − −
(𝑥 − 1) (𝑥 + 1) (𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1) (𝑥 + 1)2
(𝑥 + 1)2 2(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1) (3𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 1)
= + −
(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1)2 (𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1)2 (𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1)2
(𝑥 − 1)
−
(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1)2
(𝑥 + 1)2 + 2(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1) − (3𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 1) − (𝑥 − 1)
=
(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1)2
𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 1 + 2(𝑥 2 − 1) − (3𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 2𝑥 − 2) − (𝑥 − 1)
=
(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1)2
𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 1 + 2𝑥 2 − 2 − 3𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 2𝑥 + 2 − 𝑥 + 1
=
(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1)2
2
=
(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1)2

14a
1 1 1
+ +
(𝑎 − 𝑏)(𝑎 − 𝑐) (𝑏 − 𝑐)(𝑏 − 𝑎) (𝑐 − 𝑎)(𝑐 − 𝑏)
(𝑏 − 𝑐) (𝑐 − 𝑎)
= +
(𝑎 − 𝑏)(𝑎 − 𝑐)(𝑏 − 𝑐) (𝑎 − 𝑏)(𝑎 − 𝑐)(𝑏 − 𝑐)
(𝑎 − 𝑏)
+ =0
(𝑎 − 𝑏)(𝑎 − 𝑐)(𝑏 − 𝑐)

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
14b
45 26 65 8
(1 + − ) (3 − + )
𝑥−8 𝑥−6 𝑥+7 𝑥−2
(𝑥 − 8)(𝑥 − 6) 45(𝑥 − 6) 26(𝑥 − 8) 3(𝑥 + 7)(𝑥 − 2)
=( + − )(
(𝑥 − 8)(𝑥 − 6) (𝑥 − 8)(𝑥 − 6) (𝑥 − 6)(𝑥 − 8) (𝑥 + 7)(𝑥 − 2)
65(𝑥 − 2) 8(𝑥 + 7)
− + )
(𝑥 + 7)(𝑥 − 2) (𝑥 + 7)(𝑥 − 2)
𝑥 2 − 14𝑥 + 48 + 45𝑥 − 270 − 26𝑥 + 208 3(𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 14) − 65𝑥 + 130 + 8𝑥 + 56
=( )( )
(𝑥 − 8)(𝑥 − 6) (𝑥 + 7)(𝑥 − 2)
𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 14 3𝑥 2 + 15𝑥 − 42 − 65𝑥 + 130 + 8𝑥 + 56
=( )( )
(𝑥 − 8)(𝑥 − 6) (𝑥 + 7)(𝑥 − 2)
𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 14 3𝑥 2 − 42𝑥 + 144 (𝑥 + 7)(𝑥 − 2) 3(𝑥 − 6)(𝑥 − 8) 1 3
=( )( )=( )( )= ×
(𝑥 − 8)(𝑥 − 6) (𝑥 + 7)(𝑥 − 2) (𝑥 − 8)(𝑥 − 6) (𝑥 + 7)(𝑥 − 2) 1 1
=3
14c
3𝑛 9𝑛2 − 2𝑚2 3𝑛 9𝑛2 − 2𝑚2
(2 − + )=2− +
𝑚 𝑚2 + 2𝑚𝑛 𝑚 𝑚(𝑚 + 2𝑛)
2𝑚(𝑚 + 2𝑛) − 3𝑛(𝑚 + 2𝑛) + 9𝑛2 − 2𝑚2 3𝑛2 + 𝑚𝑛
= =
𝑚(𝑚 + 2𝑛) 𝑚(𝑚 + 2𝑛)
𝑛(3𝑛 + 𝑚)
=
𝑚(𝑚 + 2𝑛)
And
1 1 1 1
( − )=( − )
𝑚 4𝑛2 𝑚 (𝑚 + 𝑛)(𝑚 − 2𝑛) − 4𝑛2
𝑚 − 2𝑛 − 𝑚 + 𝑛 𝑚+𝑛
1 1
=( − 2 )
𝑚 𝑚 − 2𝑚𝑛 + 𝑚𝑛 − 2𝑛2 − 4𝑛2
𝑚+𝑛
1 1 1 1
=( − 2 2 )=( − )
𝑚 𝑚 − 𝑚𝑛 − 6𝑛 𝑚 (𝑚 − 3𝑛)(𝑚 + 2𝑛)
𝑚+𝑛 𝑚+𝑛
1 𝑚+𝑛 (𝑚 − 3𝑛)(𝑚 + 2𝑛) − 𝑚(𝑚 + 𝑛)
=( − )=
𝑚 (𝑚 − 3𝑛)(𝑚 + 2𝑛) 𝑚(𝑚 − 3𝑛)(𝑚 + 2𝑛)
2
−2𝑚𝑛 − 6𝑛 −2𝑛(𝑚 + 3𝑛)
= =
𝑚(𝑚 − 3𝑛)(𝑚 + 2𝑛) 𝑚(𝑚 − 3𝑛)(𝑚 + 2𝑛)

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
Hence
3𝑛 9𝑛2 − 2𝑚2 1 1
(2 − + 2 )÷ ( − )
𝑚 𝑚 + 2𝑚𝑛 𝑚 4𝑛2
𝑚 − 2𝑛 − 𝑚 + 𝑛
𝑛(3𝑛 + 𝑚) −𝑚(𝑚 − 3𝑛)(𝑚 + 2𝑛) (𝑚 − 3𝑛) (3𝑛 − 𝑚)
= × =− =
𝑚(𝑚 + 2𝑛) 2𝑛(𝑚 + 3𝑛) 2 2
14d
4 1
1 1 𝑥− 1 1 𝑥 2 −2+ 2
𝑥 𝑥
1 × 1 ÷ 1 = 1 × 1 × 4
𝑥+ 𝑥+ 𝑥 2 −2+ 2 𝑥+ 𝑥+ 𝑥−
𝑥
𝑥+2 𝑥−2 𝑥 𝑥+2 𝑥−2
(𝑥 + 2) (𝑥 − 2) 𝑥 4 − 2𝑥 2 + 1
= × ×
𝑥(𝑥 + 2) + 1 𝑥(𝑥 − 2) + 1 𝑥 3 − 4𝑥
(𝑥 + 2) (𝑥 − 2) 𝑥 4 − 2𝑥 2 + 1
= 2 × 2 ×
𝑥 + 2𝑥 + 1 𝑥 − 2𝑥 + 1 𝑥(𝑥 2 − 4)
(𝑥 + 2) (𝑥 − 2) (𝑥 2 − 1)2
= × ×
(𝑥 + 1)2 (𝑥 − 1)2 𝑥(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 2)
(𝑥 + 2) (𝑥 − 2) (𝑥 − 1)2 (𝑥 + 1)2 1
= × × =
(𝑥 + 1)2 (𝑥 − 1)2 𝑥(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 2) 𝑥

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
Solutions to Exercise 1E
1a
2x 1  7 Subtracting 1 on both sides
2x  6
x  6/ 2 3 Dividing by 2 on both sides
1b 5𝑝 − 2 = −2
5𝑝 = −2 + 2 Adding 2 on both sides
5𝑝 = 0
𝑝=0 Dividing by 5 on both sides
1c
𝑎/2 − 1 = 3
𝑎/2 = 3 + 1 = 4 Adding 1 on both sides
𝑎 = 4×2 Multiplying by 2 on both sides
𝑎=8
1d
3−𝑤 =4
3= 4+𝑤 Adding w on both sides
𝑤 =3−4 Subtracting 4 on both sides
𝑤 = −1
1e
3𝑥 − 5 = 22
3𝑥 = 22 + 5 Adding 5 on both sides
𝑥 = 27/3 = 9 Dividing by 3
𝑥=9
1f
4𝑥 + 7 = −13
4𝑥 = −13 − 7 Subtracting 7 on both sides
4𝑥 = −20
𝑥 = −20/4 = −5 Dividing by 5 on both sides
1g
1 − 𝑥/2 = 9
1 = 9 + 𝑥/2 Adding 𝑥/2 on both sides
𝑥/2 = 1 − 9 Subtracting 9 on both sides
𝑥 = −8×2 = −16 Multiplying by 2
1h
11 − 6𝑥 = 23
11 = 23 + 6𝑥 Adding 6𝑥 on both sides
6𝑥 = −12
𝑥 = −12/6 = −2 Dividing by 6
𝑥 = −2

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
2a
3𝑛 − 1 = 2𝑛 + 3
3𝑛 = 2𝑛 + 3 + 1 Adding 1 on both sides
3𝑛 = 2𝑛 + 4
3𝑛 − 2𝑛 = 4 Subtracting 2𝑛 on both sides
𝑛=4
2b
4𝑏 + 3 = 2𝑏 + 1
4𝑏 = 2𝑏 + 1 − 3 Subtracting 3 on both sides
4𝑏 = 2𝑏 − 2
2𝑏 = −2 Subtracting 2𝑏 on both sides
𝑏 = −1 Dividing by 2
2c
5𝑥 − 2 = 2𝑥 + 10
5𝑥 = 2𝑥 + 10 + 2 Adding 2
5𝑥 = 2𝑥 + 12
5𝑥 − 2𝑥 = 12 Subtracting 2𝑥
3𝑥 = 12
𝑥=4 Dividing by 3
2d
5 − 𝑥 = 27 + 𝑥
2 − 27 − 𝑥 = 𝑥 Subtracting 27
−22 = 2𝑥 Adding 𝑥 on both sides
𝑥 = −22/2 = −11 Dividing by 2
2e
16 + 9𝑎 = 10 − 3𝑎
16 − 10 + 9𝑎 = −3𝑎 Subtracting 10
6 + 9𝑎 = −3𝑎
6 = −12𝑎 Subtracting 9𝑎
𝑎 = 6/−12 = −1/2 Dividing by − 12
2f
13𝑦 − 21 = 20𝑦 − 35
−21 = 20𝑦 − 13𝑦 − 35 Subtracting 13𝑦
−21 = 7𝑦 − 35
35 − 21 = 7𝑦 Adding 35
14 = 7𝑦
𝑦=2 Dividing by 7

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
2g
13 − 12𝑥 = 6 − 3𝑥
13 − 6 − 12𝑥 = −3𝑥 Subtracting 6 on both sides
7 − 12𝑥 = −3𝑥
7 = 9𝑥 Adding 12𝑥
𝑥 = 7/9 Dividing by 9
2h
3𝑥 + 21 = 18 − 2𝑥
3𝑥 = 18 − 21 − 2𝑥 Subtracting 21 on both sides
3𝑥 = −3 − 2𝑥
5𝑥 = −3 Adding 2𝑥
𝑥 = −3/5 Dividing by 5
3a
𝑎/12 = 2/3
𝑎 = 2/3 × 12 Multiplying by 12
𝑎 = 2×4
𝑎=8
3b
𝑦
= 4/5
20
𝑦 = (4/5)×20 Multiplying by 20
𝑦 = 4×4 = 16
𝑦 = 16
3c
1
=3 Multiplying by 𝑥
𝑥
1 = 3𝑥
1
𝑥=3 Dividing by 3
3d
2
=5 Multiplying by a
𝑎
2 = 5𝑎
2
𝑎=5 Dividing by 5
3e
1 = 3/2𝑦
2𝑦×1 = 3 Multiplying by 2𝑦
3 = 2𝑦
𝑦 = 3/2 Dividing by 2

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
3f
(2𝑥 + 1)/5 = −3
2𝑥 + 1 = −3×5 Multiplying by 5
2𝑥 = −15 − 1 Subtracting 1 on both sides
2𝑥 = −16
𝑥 = −16/2 = −8 Dividing by 2
3g
(3𝑎 − 5)/4 = 4
3𝑎 − 5 = 4×4 Multiplying by 4
3𝑎 = 16 + 5
𝑎 = 21/3 = 7 Dividing by 3
3h
(7 − 4𝑥)/6 = 3/2
7 − 4𝑥 = (3/2)×6 Multiplying by 6
7 − 4𝑥 = 9
7 − 9 − 4𝑥 = 0 Subtracting 9 on both sides
−2 = 4𝑥 Adding 4𝑥 on both sides
𝑥 = −1/2 Dividing by 2
3i
(20 + 𝑎)/𝑎 = −3
20 + 𝑎 = −3×𝑎 Multiplying by a
20 = −3𝑎 − 𝑎 Subtracting a on both sides
𝑎 = 20/−4 = −5 Dividing by − 4
3j
(9 − 2𝑡)/𝑡 = 13
9 − 2𝑡 = 13×𝑡 Multiplying the equation by 𝑡
9 = 15𝑡 Adding 2𝑡 on both sides
𝑡 = 9/15 = 3/5 Dividing by 15
3k
3/(𝑥 − 1) = −1
2 = −1×(𝑥 − 1) Multiplying by (𝑥 − 1)
3 = −𝑥 + 1
𝑥 = 1 − 3 = −2 Simplifying
𝑥 = −2
3l
3𝑥/(2𝑥 − 1) = 5/3
3𝑥 = (5/3)×(2𝑥 − 1) Multiplying by (2𝑥 − 1)
3×3𝑥 = 5×(2𝑥 − 1) Multiplying by 3
9𝑥 = 10𝑥 − 5 Subtracting 9𝑥 on both sides
𝑥−5=0
𝑥=5

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
4a
𝑦 + 𝑦/2 = 1
3×𝑦/2 = 1
3×𝑦 = 2
𝑦 = 2/3
4b
(𝑥/3) − (𝑥/5) = 2
Multiplying the entire equation by Least common multiple of the denominator
Thus, LCM of 3 and 5 is 15
(15𝑥/3) − (15𝑥/5) = 2×15
5𝑥 − 3𝑥 = 30
2𝑥 = 30
𝑥 = 15
4c
(𝑎/10) − (𝑎/6) = 1
Least common multiple of 10 and 6 is 30
Multiplying the equation by 30
(30𝑎/10) − (30𝑎/6) = 30
3𝑎 − 5𝑎 = 30
−2𝑎 = 30
𝑎 = 30/−2 = −15
4d
(𝑥/6) + 2/3 = 𝑥/2 − 5/6
Least common multiple of 6,3 and 2 is 6
Thus, multiplying the entire equation by 6
(6𝑥/6) + (6×2/3) = (6𝑥/2) − (6×5/6)
𝑥 + 4 = 3𝑥 − 5
4 = 3𝑥 − 𝑥 − 5 Subtracting 𝑥 on both sides
4 + 5 = 2𝑥
𝑥 = 9/2

4e
(𝑥/3) − 2 = (𝑥/2) − 3
Multiplying by least common multiple of 3 and 2 that is 6
(6𝑥/3) − 6×2 = (6𝑥/2) − 6×3
2𝑥 − 12 = 3𝑥 − 18
18 − 12 = 3𝑥 − 2𝑥 Subtracting 2𝑥 on both sides
𝑥=6

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
4f
(1/𝑥) − 3 = 1/2𝑥
Multiplying by 2𝑥
(2𝑥/𝑥) − 3×2𝑥 = (2𝑥/2𝑥)
2 − 6𝑥 = 1
2 − 1 = 6𝑥 Adding 6𝑥 on both sides
1 = 6𝑥
𝑥 = 1/6
4g
(1/2𝑥) − 2/3 = 1 − (1/3𝑥)
Multiplying by the Least common multiple of 3,2𝑥 and 3𝑥 ie 6𝑥
(6𝑥/2𝑥) − 6𝑥×(2/3) = 6𝑥 − (6𝑥/3𝑥)
3 − 4𝑥 = 6𝑥 − 2
3 + 2 = 6𝑥 + 4𝑥 Adding 4𝑥 on both sides
5 = 10𝑥
𝑥 = 5/10 = 1/2 Dividing by 10
4h
(𝑥 − 2)/3 = (𝑥 + 4)/4
Multiplying the equation by least common multiple of 3 and 4 i.e. 12
12(𝑥 − 2)/3 = 12(𝑥 + 4)/4
4(𝑥 − 2) = 3(𝑥 + 4)
4𝑥 − 8 = 3𝑥 + 12
4𝑥 − 3𝑥 = 12 + 8 Subtracting 3𝑥 on both sides
𝑥 = 20
4i
3/(𝑥 − 2) = 4/(2𝑥 + 5)
Taking the reciprocal of the equation
(𝑥 − 2)/3 = (2𝑥 + 5)/4
Multiplying the equation by least common multiple of 3 and 4 i.e. 12
12(𝑥 − 2)/3 = 12(2𝑥 + 5)/4
4𝑥 − 8 = 6𝑥 + 15
4𝑥 − 6𝑥 − 8 = 15 Subtracting 6𝑥 on both sides
−2𝑥 = 23
𝑥 = −23/2

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
4j
(𝑥 + 1)/(𝑥 + 2) = (𝑥 − 3)/(𝑥 + 1)
Multiplying the equation by 𝑥 + 1
(𝑥 + 1)2/(𝑥 + 2) = (𝑥 − 3)
Multiplying the equation by (𝑥 + 2)
(𝑥 + 1)2 = (𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 2)
Squaring of Sum
𝑥2 + 2𝑥 + 1 = 𝑥2 − 𝑥 − 6
2𝑥 + 1 = −𝑥 − 6
2𝑥 + 𝑥 = −6 − 1 Adding 𝑥 on both sides
3𝑥 = −7
𝑥 = −7/3
5a
𝑣 = 𝑢 + 𝑎𝑡
Substituting the given values
20 = 8 + 4𝑡
20 − 8 = 4𝑡 Subtracting 8 on both sides
12 = 4𝑡
𝑡=3
5b
𝑣 2 = 𝑢2 + 2𝑎𝑠
102 = 62 + 2×2×𝑠 Substituting the values
100 = 36 + 4𝑠
100 − 36 = 4𝑠 Subtracting 36 on both sides
64/4 = 𝑠
𝑠 = 16
5c
1/𝑢 + 1/𝑣 = 1/𝑡
1/(−1) + (1/𝑣) = 1/2 Substituting the values
− 1 + (1/𝑣) = 1/2
1/𝑣 = 1 + 1/2 Adding 1 on both sides
1/𝑣 = 3/2
Taking the reciprocal
𝑣 = 2/3

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
5d
𝑆 = 𝑛/2×(𝑎 + 𝑙)
−15 = 10/2×(−24 + 𝑙) Substituting the values
−15 = 5×(−24 + 𝑙)
−15/5 = (−24 + 𝑙) Dividing by 5
−3 = −24 + 𝑙 Adding 24 on both sides
24 − 3 = 𝑙
𝑙 = 21
5e
𝐹 = (9/5)×𝐶 + 32
Substituting the given vales
95 = (9/5)×𝐶 + 32
95 − 32 = (9/5)𝐶 Subtracting 32 on both sides
63/9 = 𝐶/5 Dividing by 9 on both sides
7 = 𝐶/5
𝐶 = 7×5 = 35 Multiplying 5
𝐶 = 35
Thus, the temperature corresponding to 95 F is 35 °C
5f
1/(𝑐 + 1) = 5/(𝑑 − 1)
1/(𝑐 + 1) = 5/(4 − 1) Substituting the given values
1/(𝑐 + 1) = 5/3
𝑐 + 1 = 3/5 Taking the reciprocal
𝑐 = 3/5 − 1 Subtracting 1 on both sides
𝑐 = −2/5
6a
𝑎 = 𝑏𝑐 − 𝑑
Adding 𝑑 on both sides
𝑎 + 𝑑 = 𝑏𝑐
Dividing by 𝑐
(𝑎 + 𝑑)/𝑐 = 𝑏
𝑏 = (𝑎 + 𝑑)/𝑐
6b
𝑡 = 𝑎 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑
Subtracting 𝑎 on both sides
𝑡 − 𝑎 = (𝑛 − 1)𝑑
dividing by 𝑑
(𝑡 − 𝑎)/𝑑 = 𝑛 − 1
Adding 1 on both sides
𝑛 = (𝑡 − 𝑎)/𝑑 + 1
𝑛 = (𝑡 − 𝑎 + 𝑑)/𝑑

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
6c
𝑝/(𝑞 + 𝑟) = 𝑡
(𝑞 + 𝑟)/𝑝 = 1/𝑡 Taking reciprocal of the equation
Multiplying by 𝑝
𝑞 + 𝑟 = 𝑝/𝑡
Subtracting 𝑞
𝑟 = (𝑝/𝑡) − 𝑞
𝑟 = (𝑝 − 𝑞𝑡)/𝑡
6d
𝑢 = 1 + 3/𝑣
𝑢 − 1 = 3/𝑣 Subtracting 1 on both sides
1/(𝑢 − 1) = 𝑣/3 Taking the reciprocal
𝑣 = 3/(𝑢 − 1) Multiplying by 3
7a
Expanding the brackets of the given equation
x 2  3x  18  x 2  9 x  20 Subtracting 𝑥 2 on both sides
3𝑥 − 18 = −9𝑥 + 20 Adding 9𝑥 on both sides
12𝑥 = 38
𝑥 = 19/6
7b
Expanding the brackets on both sides of the equation
6 x 2  11x  4  6 x 2  17 x  10
11𝑥 + 4 + 17𝑥 = 10 Subtracting 6x 2 on both sides
28𝑥 = 6
𝑥 = 3/14
7c
Squaring the brackets
x2  6x  9  x2  2x  1
6𝑥 + 9 = −2𝑥 + 1 Subtracting x 2 on both sides
8𝑥 = −8
𝑥 = −1
7d
Expanding the brackets
4 x 2  25  4 x 2  12 x  9
−25 = −12𝑥 + 9 Subtracting 4x 2 on both sides
12𝑥 = 25 + 9
12𝑥 = 34
𝑥 = 34/12 = 17/6

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
8a
(𝑎 + 5)/2 − (𝑎 − 1)/3 = 1
Multiplying by least common multiple of 2 and 3 i.e. 6
6(𝑎 + 5)/2 − 6(𝑎 − 1)/3 = 6
3𝑎 + 15 − 2𝑎 + 2 = 6
𝑎 + 17 = 6
𝑎 = −11
8b
3/4 – (𝑥 + 1)/12 = 2/3 − (𝑥 − 1)/6
Multiplying the equation by 12
12×3/4 − 12×(𝑥 + 1)/12 = 12×2/3 − 12×(𝑥 − 1)/6
9 − (𝑥 + 1) = 8 − 2𝑥 + 2
9 − 𝑥 − 1 = 10 − 2𝑥
8 − 𝑥 = 10 − 2𝑥
2𝑥 − 𝑥 = 10 − 8 Adding 2𝑥 on both sides
𝑥=2

8c
¾(𝑥 − 1) − 1/2(3𝑥 + 2) = 0
Multiplying the equation by 4
3(𝑥 − 1) − 4(3𝑥 + 2)/2 = 0
3𝑥 − 3 − 6𝑥 − 4 = 0
−3𝑥 − 7 = 0
𝑥 = −7/3
8d
(4𝑥 + 1)/6 − (2𝑥 − 1)/15 = (3𝑥 − 5)/5 − (6𝑥 + 1)/10
Multiplying the equation by 30 i.e. least common multiple of denominator
30×(4𝑥 + 1)/6 − 30×(2𝑥 − 1)/15 = 30×(3𝑥 − 5)/5 − 30×(6𝑥 + 1)/10

Simplifying the equation

5×(4𝑥 + 1) − 2×(2𝑥 − 1) = 6×(3𝑥 − 5) − 3×(6𝑥 + 1)

20𝑥 + 5 − 4𝑥 + 2 = 18𝑥 − 30 − 18𝑥 − 3

16𝑥 + 7 = −33
16𝑥 = −40
𝑥 = −5/2
9a
2𝑛 + 5 = 𝑛 + 1
𝑛 = −4

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
9b
Let 𝐹 denote $5 notes and 𝑇 denote $10 notes
5𝐹 + 10𝑇 = 175 (1)
𝑇 = 2𝐹 (2)
(2) in (1)
5𝐹 + 10(2𝐹) = 175
5𝐹 + 20𝐹 = 175
25𝐹 = 175
𝐹 = 7 $5 notes
9c
Let 𝐴 denote their age and 𝐹 denote their fathers age
𝐹 = 𝐴 + 24 (1)
𝐹 − 12 = 2(𝐴 − 12) (2)
(1) in (2)
𝐴 + 24 − 12 = 2(𝐴 − 12)
𝐴 + 12 = 2𝐴 − 24
𝐴 = 36
9d
0.4𝐹 + 28 = 0.75𝐹
28 = 0.35𝐹
𝐹 = 80 litres
9e
𝑉𝑓𝑢𝑙𝑙
𝑉𝑖𝑛 = ×𝑡
6
𝑉𝑓𝑢𝑙𝑙
𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 = ×𝑡
10
𝑉𝑖𝑛 − 𝑉𝑜𝑢𝑡 = 𝑉𝑓𝑢𝑙𝑙 in order for the tank to completely fill after being empty
𝑉𝑓𝑢𝑙𝑙 𝑉𝑓𝑢𝑙𝑙
×𝑡 − ×𝑡 = 𝑉𝑓𝑢𝑙𝑙
6 10
1 1
×𝑡 − ×𝑡 = 1
6 10
10𝑡 − 6𝑡 = 60
4𝑡 = 60
𝑡 = 15 minutes
9f
Let 𝑛 denote the average over the next 3 games
312 + 3𝑛
= 20
18
312 + 3𝑛 = 360
3𝑛 = 48
𝑛 = 16

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
9g
5𝑠 + 4×(6 + 𝑠) = 294
5𝑠 + 24 + 4𝑠 = 294
9𝑠 = 270
𝑠 = 30 km/h
9h
72𝑡 + 48𝑡 = 600
120𝑡 = 600
𝑡 = 5 hours
10a
𝑎/2 − 𝑏/3 = 𝑎
Subtracting 𝑎/2 on both sides
−𝑏/3 = 𝑎 − 𝑎/2
−𝑏/3 = 𝑎/2
Multiplying by 2
𝑎 = −2𝑏/3
10b
1/𝑓 + 2/𝑔 = 5/ℎ
Subtracting 1/𝑓 on both sides
2/𝑔 = 5/ℎ − 1/𝑓
2/𝑔 = (5𝑓 − ℎ)/𝑓ℎ
Taking the reciprocal
𝑔/2 = 𝑓ℎ/(5𝑓 − ℎ)
Multiplying by 2
𝑔 = 2𝑓ℎ/(5𝑓 − ℎ)
10c
𝑥 = 𝑦/(𝑦 + 2)
Multiplying by 𝑦 + 2
𝑥×(𝑦 + 2) = 𝑦
𝑥𝑦 + 2𝑥 = 𝑦
Subtracting by 𝑥𝑦
2𝑥 = 𝑦 − 𝑥𝑦
2𝑥 = 𝑦(1 − 𝑥)
Dividing by (1 − 𝑥)
𝑦 = 2𝑥/(1 − 𝑥)

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
10d
𝑎 = (𝑏 + 5)/(𝑏 − 4)
multiplying by (𝑏 − 4)
𝑎×(𝑏 − 4) = (𝑏 + 5)
𝑎𝑏 − 4𝑎 = 𝑏 + 5
Subtracting ab on both sides
−4𝑎 = 𝑏 − 𝑎𝑏 + 5
Subtracting 5 on both sides
− 5 − 4𝑎 = 𝑏(1 − 𝑎)
Multiplying the equation by − 1
4𝑎 + 5 = 𝑏(𝑎 − 1)
Dividing by (𝑎 − 1)
(4𝑎 + 5)/(𝑎 − 1) = 𝑏
11a
Multiplying both sides by (𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 − 4)
𝑥(𝑥 − 4) + 3(𝑥 − 2) = (𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 − 4)
𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 3𝑥 − 6 = 𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 8
𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 6 = 𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 8
5𝑥 = 14
14
𝑥=
5
11b
Multiplying both sides by 2(2𝑎 − 3)(𝑎 + 10)
2(3𝑎 − 2)(𝑎 + 10) − 2(𝑎 + 17)(2𝑎 − 3) = (2𝑎 − 3)(𝑎 + 10)
2(3𝑎2 + 30𝑎 − 2𝑎 − 20) − 2(2𝑎2 − 3𝑎 + 34𝑎 − 51) = 2𝑎2 + 20𝑎 − 3𝑎 − 30
2(3𝑎2 + 28𝑎 − 20) − 2(2𝑎2 + 31𝑎 − 51) = 2𝑎2 + 20𝑎 − 3𝑎 − 30
6𝑎2 + 56𝑎 − 40 − 4𝑎2 − 62𝑎 + 102 = 2𝑎2 + 20𝑎 − 3𝑎 − 30
2𝑎2 − 6𝑎 + 62 = 2𝑎2 + 17𝑎 − 30
92 = 23𝑎
𝑎=4
12a
𝑥−1 𝑥−3+2 𝑥−3 2 2
= = + = 1+
𝑥−3 𝑥−3 𝑥−3 𝑥−3 𝑥−3

Alternatively

Multiplying both sides by 𝑥 − 3

𝑥−1 =𝑥−3+2
−1 = −3 + 2
2=2
Which is true
Hence this equation is true for all values of 𝑥

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
12b
𝑥−1 𝑥−3 𝑥−5 𝑥−7
− = −
𝑥−3 𝑥−5 𝑥−7 𝑥−9
2 2 2 2
1+ − (1 + )= 1+ − (1 + )
𝑥−3 𝑥−5 𝑥−7 𝑥−9
2 2 2 2
− = −
𝑥−3 𝑥−5 𝑥−7 𝑥−9
1 1 1 1
− = −
𝑥−3 𝑥−5 𝑥−7 𝑥−9

Multiplying by (𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 − 5)(𝑥 − 7)(𝑥 − 9)

(𝑥 − 5)(𝑥 − 7)(𝑥 − 9) − (𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 − 7)(𝑥 − 9)

= (𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 − 5)(𝑥 − 9) − (𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 − 5)(𝑥 − 7)
𝑥 − 21𝑥 + 143𝑥 − 315 − (𝑥 3 − 19𝑥 2 + 111𝑥 − 189)
3 2

= 𝑥 3 − 17𝑥 2 + 87𝑥 − 135 − (𝑥 3 − 15𝑥 2 + 71𝑥 − 105)

−2𝑥 2 + 32𝑥 − 126 = −2𝑥 2 + 16𝑥 − 30
16𝑥 = 96
𝑥=6

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
Solutions to Exercise 1F
1a
𝑥2 = 9
𝑥2 − 9 = 0
(𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 3) = 0 (Sum of + 3 and − 3 is 0 and product is − 9)
Thus, 𝑥 = 3 or 𝑥 = −3
1b
𝑦 2 = 25
𝑦 2 − 25 = 0
(𝑦 − 5)(𝑦 + 5) = 0 (Sum of 5 and − 5 is 0 and product is − 25)
Thus, 𝑦 = 5 or 𝑦 = −5
1c
𝑎2 − 4 = 0
(𝑎 − 2)(𝑎 + 2) = 0 (Sum of − 2 and 2 is 0 and product is − 4)
𝑎 = −2 or 𝑎 = 2
1d
𝑐 2 − 36 = 0
(𝑐 − 6)(𝑐 + 6) = 0 (Sum of − 6 and 6 is 0 and product is − 36)
𝑐 = 6 or 𝑐 = −6
1e
1 − 𝑡2 = 0
(1 − 𝑡)(1 + 𝑡) = 0 (Sum of 1 and − 1 is 0 and product is − 1)
𝑡 = 1 or 𝑡 = −1
1f
𝑥 2 = 9/4
𝑥 2 − 9/4 = 0
(𝑥 − 3/2)(𝑥 + 3/2) = 0 (Sum of − 3/2 and 3/2 is 0 and product is 9/4)
𝑥 = 3/2 or 𝑥 = −3/2
1g
4𝑥 2 − 1 = 0
4𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 2𝑥 − 1 = 0 (Adding and subtracting 2𝑥 to factorise)
(2𝑥 − 1)(2𝑥 + 1) = 0
𝑥 = 1/2 or 𝑥 = −1/2
1h
9𝑎2 − 64 = 0
9𝑎2 − 24𝑎 + 24𝑎 − 64 = 0 (Adding and subtracting 24𝑎 to factorise)
(3𝑎 − 8)(3𝑎 + 8) = 0
𝑎 = 8/3 or 𝑎 = −8/3

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
1i
25𝑦 2 = 16
25𝑦 2 − 16 = 0
25𝑦 2 − 20𝑦 + 20𝑦 − 16 = 0 (Adding and subtracting 20𝑦 to factorise)
(5𝑦 − 4)(5𝑦 + 4) = 0
𝑦 = 4/5 or 𝑦 = −4/5
2a
𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 = 0
𝑥(𝑥 − 5) = 0 Factorising
𝑥 = 0 or 𝑥 = 5
2b
𝑦2 + 𝑦 = 0
𝑦(𝑦 + 1) = 0 (Factorising)
𝑦 = 0 or 𝑦 = −1
2c
𝑐 2 + 2𝑐 = 0
𝑐(𝑐 + 2) = 0 (Factorising)
𝑐 = 0 or 𝑐 = −2
2d
𝑘 2 − 7𝑘 = 0
𝑘(𝑘 − 7) = 0 Factorising
𝑘 = 0 or 𝑘 = 7
2e
𝑡2 = 𝑡
𝑡2 − 𝑡 = 0
𝑡(𝑡 − 1) = 0 Factorising
𝑡 = 0 or 𝑡 = 1
2f
3𝑎 = 𝑎2
𝑎2 − 3𝑎 = 0
𝑎(𝑎 − 3) = 0 Factorising
𝑎 = 0 or 𝑎 = 3
2g
2𝑏 2 − 𝑏 = 0
𝑏(2𝑏 − 1) = 0 Factorising
𝑏 = 0 or 𝑏 = 1/2
2h
3𝑢2 + 𝑢 = 0
𝑢(3𝑢 + 1) = 0 Factorising
𝑢 = 0 or 𝑢 = −1/3

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
2i
4𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 = 0
𝑥(4𝑥 + 3) = 0 Factorising
𝑥 = 0 or 𝑥 = −3/4
2j
2𝑎2 = 5𝑎
2𝑎2 − 5𝑎 = 0
𝑎(2𝑎 − 5) = 0 Factorising
𝑎 = 0 and 𝑎 = 5/2
2k
3𝑦 2 = 2𝑦
3𝑦 2 − 2𝑦 = 0
𝑦(3𝑦 − 2) = 0 Factorising
𝑦 = 0 or 𝑦 = 2/3
2l
5𝑛2 + 3𝑛 = 0
𝑛(5𝑛 + 3) = 0 Factorising
𝑛 = 0 or 𝑛 = −3/5
3a
𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 3 = 0
𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 𝑥 + 3 = 0 (Sum of 3 and 1 is 4 and product is 3)
𝑥(𝑥 + 3) + 1(𝑥 + 3) = 0
(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 + 3) = 0 (Factorising)
𝑥 = −1 or 𝑥 = −3
3b
𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 2 = 0
𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 𝑥 + 2 = 0 (Sum of − 2 and − 1 is − 3 and product is 2)
𝑥(𝑥 − 2) − 1(𝑥 − 2) = 0
(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 − 2) = 0
𝑥 = 1 or 𝑥 = 2
3c
𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 + 8 = 0
𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 2𝑥 + 8 = 0 (Sum of 4 and 2 is 6 and product is 8)
𝑥(𝑥 + 4) + 2(𝑥 + 4) = 0
(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 + 4) = 0
𝑥 = −2 or 𝑥 = −4

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
3d
𝑎2 − 7𝑎 + 10 = 0
𝑎2 − 5𝑎 − 2𝑎 + 10 = 0 (Sum of − 5 and − 2 is 7 and product is 10)
𝑎(𝑎 − 5) − 2(𝑎 − 5) = 0
(𝑎 − 2)(𝑎 − 5) = 0
𝑎 = 2 or 𝑎 = 5
3e
𝑡 2 − 4𝑡 − 12 = 0
𝑡 2 − 6𝑡 + 2𝑡 − 12 = 0 (Sum of − 6 and 2 is − 4 and product is − 12)
𝑡(𝑡 − 6) + 2(𝑡 − 6) = 0
(𝑡 + 2)(𝑡 − 6) = 0
𝑡 = −2 or 𝑡 = 6
3f
𝑐 2 − 10𝑐 + 25 = 0
𝑐 2 − 5𝑐 − 5𝑐 + 25 = 0 (Sum of − 5 and − 5 is − 10 and product is 25)
𝑐(𝑐 − 5) − 5(𝑐 − 5) = 0
(𝑐 − 5)(𝑐 − 5) = 0
𝑐=5
3g
𝑛2 − 9𝑛 + 8 = 0
𝑛2 − 8𝑛 − 𝑛 + 8 = 0 (Sum of − 8 and − 1 is − 9 and product is 8)
𝑛(𝑛 − 8) − 1(𝑛 − 8) = 0
(𝑛 − 1)(𝑛 − 8) = 0
𝑛 = 1 or 𝑛 = 8
3h
𝑝2 + 2𝑝 − 15 = 0
𝑝2 + 5𝑝 − 3𝑝 − 15 = 0 (Sum of 5 and 3 is 8 and product is 15)
𝑝(𝑝 + 5) − 3(𝑝 + 5) = 0
(𝑝 − 3)(𝑝 + 5) = 0
𝑝 = 3 or 𝑝 = −5
3i
𝑎2 − 10𝑎 − 24 = 0
𝑎2 − 12𝑎 + 2𝑎 − 24 = 0 (Sum of − 12 and 2 is − 10 and product is − 24)
𝑎(𝑎 − 12) + 2(𝑎 − 12) = 0
(𝑎 + 2)(𝑎 − 12) = 0
𝑎 = −2 or 𝑎 = 12

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
3j
𝑦 2 + 4𝑦 = 5
𝑦 2 + 4𝑦 − 5 = 0
𝑦 2 + 5𝑦 − 𝑦 − 5 = 0 (Sum of 5 and − 1 is 4 and product is − 5)
𝑦(𝑦 + 5) − 1(𝑦 + 5) = 0
(𝑦 − 1)(𝑦 + 5) = 0
𝑦 = 1 or 𝑦 = −5
3k
𝑝2 = 𝑝 + 6
𝑝2 − 𝑝 − 6 = 0
𝑝2 − 3𝑝 + 2𝑝 − 6 = 0 (Sum of − 3 and 2 is 1 and product is − 6)
𝑝(𝑝 − 3) + 2(𝑝 − 3) = 0
(𝑝 + 2)(𝑝 − 3) = 0
𝑝 = −2 or 𝑝 = 3
3l
𝑎2 = 𝑎 + 132
𝑎2 − 𝑎 − 132 = 0
𝑎2 − 12𝑎 + 11𝑎 − 132 = 0 (Sum of − 12 and 11 is − 1 and product is − 132)
𝑎(𝑎 − 12) + 11(𝑎 − 12) = 0
(𝑎 + 11)(𝑎 − 12) = 0
𝑎 = −11 or 𝑎 = 12
3m
𝑐 2 + 18 = 9𝑐
𝑐 2 − 9𝑐 + 18 = 0 Rearranging
𝑐 2 − 6𝑐 − 3𝑐 + 18 = 0 (Sum of − 6 and − 3 is − 9 and product is 18)
𝑐(𝑐 − 6) − 3(𝑐 − 6) = 0
(𝑐 − 6)(𝑐 − 3) = 0
𝑐 = 6 or 𝑐 = 3
3n
8𝑡 + 20 = 𝑡 2
𝑡 2 − 8𝑡 − 20 = 0 Rearranging
2
𝑡 − 10𝑡 + 2𝑡 − 20 = 0 (Sum of − 10 and 2 is − 8 and product is − 20)
𝑡(𝑡 − 10) + 2(𝑡 − 10) = 0
(𝑡 + 2)(𝑡 − 10) = 0
𝑡 = −2 or 𝑡 = 10

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
3o
𝑢2 + 𝑢 = 56
𝑢2 + 𝑢 − 56 = 0 Rearranging
𝑢2 + 8𝑢 − 7𝑢 − 56 = 0 Sum of 8 and − 7 is 1 and product is − 56
𝑢(𝑢 + 8) − 7(𝑢 + 8) = 0
(𝑢 − 7)(𝑢 + 8) = 0
𝑢 = 7 or 𝑢 = −8
3p
𝑘 2 = 24 + 2𝑘
𝑘 2 − 2𝑘 − 24 = 0 Rearranging
𝑘 2 − 6𝑘 + 4𝑘 − 24 = 0 Sum of − 6 and 4 is − 2 and product is − 24
𝑘(𝑘 − 6) + 4(𝑘 − 6) = 0
(𝑘 + 4)(𝑘 − 6) = 0
𝑘 = −4 or 𝑘 = 6
3q
50 + 27ℎ + ℎ2 = 0
ℎ2 + 27ℎ + 50 = 0 Rearranging
2
ℎ + 25ℎ + 2ℎ + 50 = 0 Sum of 25 and 2 is 27 and product is 50
ℎ(ℎ + 25) + 2(ℎ + 25) = 0
(ℎ + 2)(ℎ + 25) = 0
ℎ = −2 or ℎ = −25
3r
𝑎2 + 20𝑎 = 44
𝑎2 + 20𝑎 − 44 = 0
𝑎2 + 22𝑎 − 2𝑎 − 44 = 0 Sum of 22 and − 2 is 20 and product is − 44
𝑎(𝑎 + 22) − 2(𝑎 + 22) = 0
(𝑎 − 2)(𝑎 + 22) = 0
𝑎 = 2 or 𝑎 = −22
4a
2𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 1 = 0
2𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 1𝑥 + 1 = 0 Sum of 2 and 1 is 3 and product is 2×1 = 2
2𝑥(𝑥 + 1) + 1(𝑥 + 1) = 0
(2𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 + 1) = 0
𝑥 = −1/2 or 𝑥 = −1
4b
3𝑎2 − 7𝑎 + 2 = 0
3𝑎2 − 6𝑎 − 𝑎 + 2 = 0 Sum of − 6 and − 1 is − 7 and product is 3×2 = 6
3𝑎(𝑎 − 2) − 1(𝑎 − 2) = 0
(3𝑎 − 1)(𝑎 − 2) = 0
𝑎 = 1/3 or 𝑎 = 2

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
4c
4𝑦 2 − 5𝑦 + 1 = 0
4𝑦 2 − 4𝑦 − 𝑦 + 1 = 0
Sum of − 4 and − 1 is − 5 and product is 4×1 = 4
4𝑦(𝑦 − 1) − 1(𝑦 − 1) = 0
(4𝑦 − 1)(𝑦 − 1) = 0
𝑦 = 1/4 or 𝑦 = 1
4d
2𝑥 2 + 11𝑥 + 5 = 0
2𝑥 2 + 10𝑥 + 𝑥 + 5 = 0
Sum of 10 and 1 is 11 and product is 2×5 = 10
2𝑥(𝑥 + 5) + 1(𝑥 + 5) = 0
(2𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 + 5) = 0
𝑥 = −1/2 or 𝑥 = −5
4e
2𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 3 = 0
2𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 2𝑥 − 3 = 0
Sum of 3 and − 2 is 1 and product is 2×(−3) = −6
𝑥(2𝑥 + 3) − 1(2𝑥 + 3) = 0
(𝑥 − 1)(2𝑥 + 3) = 0
𝑥 = 1 or 𝑥 = −3/2
4f
3𝑛2 − 2𝑛 − 5 = 0
3𝑛2 − 5𝑛 + 3𝑛 − 5 = 0
Sum of − 5 and 3 is − 2 and product is 3×(−5) = −15
𝑛(3𝑛 − 5) + 1(3𝑛 − 5) = 0
(𝑛 + 1)(3𝑛 − 5) = 0
𝑛 = −1 or 𝑛 = 5/3
4g
3𝑏 2 − 4𝑏 − 4 = 0
3𝑏 2 − 6𝑏 + 2𝑏 − 4 = 0
Sum of − 6 and 2 is − 4 and product is 3×(−4) = −12
3𝑏(𝑏 − 2) + 2(𝑏 − 2) = 0
(3𝑏 + 2)(𝑏 − 2) = 0
𝑏 = −2/3 or 𝑏 = 2

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
4h
2𝑎2 + 7𝑎 − 15 = 0
2𝑎2 + 10𝑎 − 3𝑎 − 15 = 0
Sum of 10 and − 3 is 7 and product is 2×(−15) = −30
2𝑎(𝑎 + 5) − 3(𝑎 + 5) = 0
(2𝑎 − 3)(𝑎 + 5) = 0
𝑎 = 3/2 or 𝑎 = −5
4i
2𝑦 2 − 𝑦 − 15 = 0
2𝑦 2 − 6𝑦 + 5𝑦 − 15 = 0
Sum of − 6 and 5 is − 1 and product is 2×(−15) = −30
2𝑦(𝑦 − 3) + 5(𝑦 − 3) = 0
(2𝑦 + 5)(𝑦 − 3) = 0
𝑦 = −5/2 or 𝑦 = 3
4j
3𝑦 2 + 10𝑦 = 8
3𝑦 2 + 10𝑦 − 8 = 0
3𝑦 2 + 12𝑦 − 2𝑦 − 8 = 0
Sum of 12 and − 2 is 10 and product is 3×(−8) = −24
3𝑦(𝑦 + 4) − 2(𝑦 + 4) = 0
(3𝑦 − 2)(𝑦 + 4) = 0
𝑦 = 2/3 or 𝑦 = −4
4k
5𝑥 2 − 26𝑥 + 5 = 0
5𝑥 2 − 25𝑥 − 𝑥 + 5 = 0
Sum of − 25 and − 1 is − 26 and product is 5×5 = 25
5𝑥(𝑥 − 5) − 1(𝑥 − 5) = 0
(5𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 − 5) = 0
𝑥 = 1/5 or 𝑥 = 5
4l
4𝑡 2 + 9 = 15𝑡
4𝑡 2 − 15𝑡 + 9 = 0
4𝑡 2 − 12𝑡 − 3𝑡 + 9 = 0
Sum of − 12 and − 3 is − 15 and product is 4×9 = 36
4𝑡(𝑡 − 3) − 3(𝑡 − 3) = 0
(4𝑡 − 3)(𝑡 − 3) = 0
𝑡 = 3/4 or 𝑡 = 3

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
4m
13𝑡 + 6 = 5𝑡 2
5𝑡 2 − 13𝑡 − 6 = 0
5𝑡 2 − 15𝑡 + 2𝑡 − 6 = 0
Sum of − 15 and 2 is − 13 and product is 5×(−6) = −30
5𝑡(𝑡 − 3) + 2(𝑡 − 3) = 0
(5𝑡 + 2)(𝑡 − 3) = 0
𝑡 = −2/5 or 𝑡 = 3
4n
10𝑢2 + 3𝑢 − 4 = 0
10𝑢2 + 8𝑢 − 5𝑢 − 4 = 0
Sum of 8 and − 5 is 3 and product is 10×(−4) = −40
2𝑢(5𝑢 + 4) − 1(5𝑢 + 4) = 0
(2𝑢 − 1)(5𝑢 + 4) = 0
𝑢 = 1/2 or 𝑢 = −4/5
4o
25𝑥 2 + 1 = 10𝑥
25𝑥 2 − 10𝑥 + 1 = 0
25𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 − 5𝑥 + 1 = 0
Sum of − 5 and − 5 is − 10 and product is 25×1 = 25
5𝑥(5𝑥 − 1) − 1(5𝑥 − 1) = 0
(5𝑥 − 1)(5𝑥 − 1) = 0
𝑥 = 1/5
4p
6𝑥 2 + 13𝑥 + 6 = 0
6𝑥 2 + 9𝑥 + 4𝑥 + 6 = 0
Sum of 9 and 4 is 13 and product is 6×6 = 36
3𝑥(2𝑥 + 3) + 2(2𝑥 + 3) = 0
(3𝑥 + 2)(2𝑥 + 3) = 0
𝑥 = −2/3 or 𝑥 = −3/2
4q
12𝑏 2 + 3 + 20𝑏 = 0
12𝑏 2 + 18𝑏 + 2𝑏 + 3 = 0
Sum of 18 and 2 is 20 and product is 12×3 = 36
6𝑏(2𝑏 + 3) + 1(2𝑏 + 3) = 0
(6𝑏 + 1)(2𝑏 + 3) = 0
𝑏 = −1/6 or 𝑏 = −3/2

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
4r
6𝑘 2 + 13𝑘 = 8
6𝑘 2 + 13𝑘 − 8 = 0
6𝑘 2 + 16𝑘 − 3𝑘 − 8 = 0
Sum of 16 and − 3 is 13 and product is 6×(−8) = 48
2𝑘(3𝑘 + 8) − 1(3𝑘 + 8) = 0
(2𝑘 − 1)(3𝑘 + 8) = 0
𝑘 = 1/2 or 𝑘 = −8/3
5a
𝑥2 − 𝑥 − 1 = 0
Comparing with 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐
We have 𝑎 = 1,𝑏 = −1,𝑐 = −1
−𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑥 =
2𝑎
𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 = 1 − 4×(1)×(−1) = 5
𝑥 = (1 + √5)/2 or 𝑥 = (1 − √5)/2
5b
𝑦2 + 𝑦 = 3
Comparing with 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐
We have 𝑎 = 1,𝑏 = 1,𝑐 = −3
−𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑦 =
2𝑎
𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 = 1 − 4×(1)×(−3) = 13
𝑦 = (−1 + √13)/2 or 𝑦 = (−1 − √13)/2
5c
𝑎2 + 12 = 7𝑎
Comparing with 𝑚𝑎2 + 𝑛𝑎 + 𝑜
We have 𝑚 = 1,𝑛 = −7,𝑜 = 12
−𝑛 ± √𝑛2 − 4𝑚𝑜
𝑎 =
2𝑚
𝑛2 − 4𝑚𝑜 = 49 − 4×(1)×(12) = 1
𝑎 = (8)/2 = 4 or 𝑎 = (6)/2 = 3
5d
𝑢2 + 2𝑢 − 2 = 0
Comparing with 𝑎𝑢2 + 𝑏𝑢 + 𝑐
We have 𝑎 = 1,𝑏 = 2,𝑐 = −2
−𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑢 =
2𝑎
𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 = 4 − 4×(1)×(−2) = 12
𝑢 = (−2 + √12)/2 or 𝑢 = (−2 − √12)/2
𝑢 = (−1 + √3) or 𝑢 = (−1 − √3)

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5e
𝑐 2 − 6𝑐 + 2 = 0
Comparing with 𝑚𝑐 2 + 𝑛𝑐 + 𝑜
We have 𝑚 = 1,𝑛 = −6,𝑜 = 2
−𝑛 ± √𝑛2 − 4𝑚𝑜
𝑐 =
2𝑚
2
𝑛 − 4𝑚𝑜 = 36 − 4×(1)×(2) = 28
𝑐 = (6 + √28)/2 or 𝑐 = (6 − √28)/2
𝑐 = (3 + √7) or 𝑐 = (3 − √7)
5f
4𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 1 = 0
Comparing with 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐
We have 𝑎 = 4,𝑏 = 4,𝑐 = 1
−𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑥 =
2𝑎
𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 = 16 − 4×(4)×(1) = 0
𝑥 = (−4)/2×4 or 𝑥 = (−4)/2×4
𝑥 = −1/2
5g
2𝑎2 + 1 = 4𝑎
Comparing with 𝑚𝑎2 + 𝑛𝑎 + 𝑜
We have 𝑚 = 2,𝑛 = −4,𝑜 = 1
−𝑛 ± √𝑛2 − 4𝑚𝑜
𝑎 =
2𝑚
𝑛2 − 4𝑚𝑜 = 16 − 4×(2)×(1) = 8
𝑎 = (4 + √8)/4 or 𝑎 = (4 − √8)/4
𝑎 = (2 + √2)/2 or 𝑎 = (2 − √2)/2
5h
5𝑥 2 + 13𝑥 − 6 = 0
Comparing with 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐
We have 𝑎 = 5,𝑏 = 13,𝑐 = −6
−𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑥 =
2𝑎
𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 = 169 − 4×(5)×(−6) = 289
𝑥 = (−13 + √289)/2×5 or 𝑥 = (−13 − √289)/2×5
𝑥 = (−13 + 17)/10 or 𝑥 = (−13 − 17)/10
𝑥 = 2/5 or 𝑥 = −3

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
5i
2𝑏 2 + 3𝑏 = 1
Comparing with 𝑚𝑏 2 + 𝑛𝑏 + 𝑜
We have 𝑚 = 2,𝑛 = 3,𝑜 = −1
−𝑛 ± √𝑛2 − 4𝑚𝑜
𝑏 =
2𝑚
2
𝑛 − 4𝑚𝑜 = 9 − 4×(2)×(−1) = 17
𝑏 = (−3 + √17)/4 or 𝑏 = (−3 − √17)/4

5j
3𝑐 2 = 4𝑐 + 3
Comparing with 𝑚𝑐 2 + 𝑛𝑐 + 𝑜
We have 𝑚 = 3,𝑛 = −4,𝑜 = −3
−𝑛 ± √𝑛2 − 4𝑚𝑜
𝑐 =
2𝑚
𝑛2 − 4𝑚𝑜 = 16 − 4×(3)×(−3) = 52
𝑏 = (4 + √52)/6 or 𝑏 = (4 − √52)/6
𝑏 = (2 + √13)/3 or 𝑏 = (2 − √13)/3
5k
4𝑡 2 = 2𝑡 + 1
Comparing with 𝑎𝑡 2 + 𝑏𝑡 + 𝑐
We have 𝑎 = 4,𝑏 = −2,𝑐 = −1
−𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑡 =
2𝑎
𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 = 4 − 4×(4)×(−1) = 20
𝑥 = (2 + √20)/2×4 or 𝑥 = (2 − √20)/2×4
𝑥 = (1 + √5)/4 or 𝑥 = (1 − √5)/4
5l
𝑥2 + 𝑥 + 1 = 0
Comparing with 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐
We have 𝑎 = 1,𝑏 = 1,𝑐 = 1
−𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑥 =
2𝑎
𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 = 1 − 4×(1)×(1) = −3
Since 𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 < 0, the equation has no real solution

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
6a
𝑥 = (𝑥 + 2)/𝑥
Multiply by 𝑥
𝑥2 = 𝑥 + 2
𝑥2 − 𝑥 − 2 = 0
𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 𝑥 − 2 = 0 Sum of − 2 and 1 is − 1 and product is − 2
𝑥(𝑥 − 2) + 1(𝑥 − 2) = 0
(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 2) = 0
𝑥 = −1 or 𝑥 = 2
6b
10
𝑎+ =7
𝑎
Multiplying the equation by 𝑎
𝑎2 + 10 = 7𝑎
𝑎2 − 7𝑎 + 10 = 0
𝑎2 − 5𝑎 − 2𝑎 + 10 = 0 Sum of − 5 and − 2 is − 7 and product is 10
𝑎(𝑎 − 5) − 2(𝑎 − 5) = 0
(𝑎 − 2)(𝑎 − 5) = 0
𝑎 = 2 or 𝑎 = 5
6c
2 9
𝑦+ =
𝑦 2
Multiplying the equation by 2𝑦
2𝑦 2 + 4 = 9𝑦
2𝑦 2 − 9𝑦 + 4 = 0
2𝑦 2 − 8𝑦 − 𝑦 + 4 = 0
Sum of − 8 and − 1 is − 9 and product is 2 × 4 = 8
2𝑦(𝑦 − 4) − 1(𝑦 − 4) = 0
(2𝑦 − 1)(𝑦 − 4) = 0
1
𝑦 = 2 or 𝑦 = 4
6d
(5𝑏 − 3)(3𝑏 + 1) = 1
15𝑏 2 + 5𝑏 − 9𝑏 − 3 = 1
15𝑏 2 4𝑏 − 4 = 0
15𝑏 2 − 10𝑏 + 6𝑏 − 4 = 0
Sum of − 10 and 6 is − 4 and product is 15 × ( − 4) = − 60
5𝑏(3𝑏 − 2) + 2(3𝑏 − 2) = 0
(5𝑏 + 2)(3𝑏 − 2) = 0
𝑏 = −2/5 or 𝑏 = 2/3

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
7a
1
𝑥= +2
𝑥
Multiplying the equation by 𝑥
𝑥 2 = 1 + 2𝑥
𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 1 = 0
𝑎 = 1, 𝑏 = −2 ,𝑐 = −1
Using the formula for quadratic equation
𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 = 4 − 4×1×(−1) = 8
−𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑥 =
2𝑎
Inserting the values in the equation
𝑥 = (2 + √8)/2 or 𝑥 = (2 − √8)/2
𝑥 = 1 + √2 or 𝑥 = 1 − √2
7b
4𝑥 − 1
=𝑥
𝑥
Multiplying the equation by 𝑥
4𝑥 − 1 = 𝑥 2
𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 1 = 0
Using the formula for quadratic equation
𝑎 = 1, 𝑏 = −4, 𝑐 = 1
−𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑥 =
2𝑎
𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 = 16 − 4×1×(1) = 12
𝑥 = (4 + √12)/2 or 𝑥 = (4 − √12)/2
𝑥 = (2 + 3) or 𝑥 = (2 − 3)
7c
𝑎+4
𝑎=
𝑎−1
Multiplying the equation by 𝑎 − 1
𝑎(𝑎 − 1) = 𝑎 + 4
𝑎2 − 𝑎 = 𝑎 + 4
𝑎2 − 2𝑎 − 4 = 0
Using the formula for quadratic equation
𝑎 = 1,𝑏 = −2,𝑐 = −4 (Standard formula of 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐)
−𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑥 =
2𝑎
𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 = 4 − 4×1×(−4) = 20
𝑎 = (2 + √20)/2 or 𝑎 = (2 − √20)/2
𝑎 = (1 + √5) or 𝑎 = (1 − √5)

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7d
5𝑚 1
=2+
2 𝑚
Multiplying by 2𝑚
5𝑚2 = 4𝑚 + 2
5𝑚2 − 4𝑚 − 2 = 0
Using the formula for quadratic equation
𝑎 = 5,𝑏 = − 4,𝑐 = − 2 (Standard formula of 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐)
−𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑚 =
2𝑎
𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 = 16 − 4×5×(−2) = 56
𝑚 = (4 + √56)/10 or 𝑚 = (4 − √56)/10
𝑚 = (2 + √14)/5 or 𝑚 = (2 − √14)/5
8a
𝑦 = 𝑝𝑥 − 𝑎𝑝2
Substituting the given values
1 = 3𝑝 − 2𝑝2
2𝑝2 − 3𝑝 + 1 = 0
Using the formula for quadratic equation
𝑎 = 2,𝑏 = −3,𝑐 = 1 (Standard formula of 𝑎𝑝2 + 𝑏𝑝 + 𝑐)
−𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑝 =
2𝑎
𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 = 9 − 4×2×(1) = 1
𝑝 = (3 + 1)/4 or 𝑝 = (3 − 1)/4
𝑝 = 1 or 𝑝 = 1/2
8b
(𝑥 − 𝑎)(𝑥 − 𝑏) = 𝑐
Substituting the given values
(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 4) = 7
𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 8 = 7
𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 15 = 0
𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 3𝑥 − 15 = 0
𝑥(𝑥 − 5) + 3(𝑥 − 5) = 0
(𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 − 5) = 0
𝑥 = −3 or 𝑥 = 5

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
8c
𝑛
𝑠= (2𝑎 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑)
2
Substituting the values in the equation
𝑛
80 = (8 + (𝑛 − 1)6)
2
160 = 𝑛(8 + 6𝑛 − 6)
160 = 8𝑛 + 6𝑛2 − 6𝑛
160 = 6𝑛2 + 2𝑛
6𝑛2 + 2𝑛 − 160 = 0
Dividing the equation by 2
3𝑛2 + 𝑛 − 80 = 0
Using the formula for quadratic equation
𝑎 = 3,𝑏 = 1,𝑐 = −80 (Standard formula of 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐)
−𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑛 =
2𝑎
2
𝑏 − 4𝑎𝑐 = 1 − 4×3×(−80) = 961
𝑛 = (−1 + √961)/6 or 𝑛 = (−1 − √961)/6
𝑛 = 5 or 𝑛 = (−1 − 31)/6 = −16/3
Since 𝑛 cannot be negative
𝑛=5
9a
Let the positive integer be 𝑥
According to the given equation we have
𝑥 + 30 = 𝑥 2 − 12
𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 42 = 0
𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 + 6𝑥 − 42 = 0 Sum of − 7 and 6 is − 1 and product is − 42
𝑥(𝑥 − 7) + 6(𝑥 − 7) = 0
(𝑥 + 6)(𝑥 − 7) = 0
𝑥 = −6 or 𝑥 = 7
Since 𝑥 is positive
𝑥=7
9b
Let the positive number be 𝑥
Given that they differ by 3
Thus, second positive number is (𝑥 − 3)
Also,
𝑥 2 + (𝑥 − 3)2 = 117
𝑥 2 + 𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 9 = 117
2𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 − 108 = 0
2𝑥 2 − 18𝑥 + 12𝑥 − 108 = 0
Sum of − 18 and 12 is − 6 and product is 2 × ( − 108) = − 216

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
2𝑥(𝑥 − 9) + 12(𝑥 − 9) = 0
(2𝑥 + 12)(𝑥 − 9) = 0
𝑥 = − 6 or 𝑥 = 9
Since 𝑥 is positive
𝑥 = 9
and the second number is 𝑥 − 3 = 6
9c
According to the Pythagoras’ theorem, we have
(𝑥 + 2)2 = 𝑥 2 + (𝑥 − 7)2
𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 4 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 2 − 14𝑥 + 49
𝑥 2 − 18𝑥 + 45 = 0
𝑥 2 − 15𝑥 − 3𝑥 + 45 = 0
Sum − 15 and − 3 is − 18 and product is 45
𝑥(𝑥 − 15) − 3(𝑥 − 15) = 0
(𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 − 15) = 0
𝑥 = 3 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = 15
Since − 4 cannot be the length of the side
𝑥 = 15
10a
𝑎2 − 5𝑎𝑏 + 6𝑏 2 = 0
(𝑎 − 2𝑏)(𝑎 − 3𝑏) = 0
𝑎 = 2𝑏 or 𝑎 = 3𝑏
10b
3𝑎2 + 5𝑎𝑏 − 2𝑏 2 = 0
The numbers that have a sum of −5 and a product of 3×−2 = −6 are −6 and 1
3𝑎2 + 6𝑎𝑏 − 𝑎𝑏 − 𝑏 2 = 0
3𝑎(𝑎 + 2𝑏) − 𝑏(𝑎 + 2𝑏) = 0
(3𝑎 − 𝑏)(𝑎 + 2𝑏) = 0
3𝑎 = −2𝑏
𝑏
𝑎=
3
11a
Using the difference of perfect squares
(2𝑥 − 𝑦)(2𝑥 + 𝑦) = 0
𝑦 = 2𝑥 or 𝑦 = −2𝑥

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
11b
(𝑥 − 11𝑦)(𝑥 + 2𝑦) = 0
11𝑦 = 𝑥
𝑥
𝑦=
11
2𝑦 = −𝑥
1
𝑦=− 𝑥
2
12a
5𝑘 + 7
= 3𝑘 + 2
𝑘−1
Multiplying by (𝑘 − 1)
5𝑘 + 7 = (3𝑘 + 2)(𝑘 − 1)
5𝑘 + 7 = 3𝑘 2 − 𝑘 − 2
3𝑘 2 − 6𝑘 − 9 = 0 Rearranging
2
3𝑘 − 9𝑘 + 3𝑘 − 9 = 0 (Sum of − 9 and 3 is − 6 and the product is
( − 9) × 3 = 27)
3𝑘(𝑘 − 3) + 3(𝑘 − 3) = 0 Factorising
3(𝑘 + 1)(𝑘 − 3) = 0
𝑘 = − 1 or 𝑘 = 3
12b
𝑢 + 3 2𝑢 − 1
=
2𝑢 − 7 𝑢 − 3
Multiplying the equation by (𝑢 − 3) × (2𝑢 − 7)
(𝑢 + 3) × (𝑢 − 3) = (2𝑢 − 1) × (2𝑢 − 7)
Expanding the equation
𝑢2 − 9 = 4𝑢2 − 16𝑢 + 7
Rearranging the equation and simplifying
3𝑢2 − 16𝑢 + 16 = 0
3𝑢2 − 12𝑢 − 4𝑢 + 16 = 0 (Sum of − 12 and − 4 is − 16 and product is
48)
3𝑢(𝑢 − 4) − 4(𝑢 − 4) = 0 Factorising
(3𝑢 − 4)(𝑢 − 4) = 0
4
𝑢 = 4 𝑜𝑟 𝑢 =
3

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
12c
𝑦 + 1 3 − 𝑦
=
𝑦 + 2 𝑦 − 4
Multiplying the equation by (𝑦 + 2) × (𝑦 − 4)
(𝑦 + 1) × (𝑦 − 4) = (3 − 𝑦) × (𝑦 + 2)
Expanding the equation
𝑦 2 − 3𝑦 − 4 = 6 − 𝑦 2 + 𝑦
2𝑦 2 − 4𝑦 − 10 = 0 Rearragning and simplifying
2
𝑦 − 2𝑦 − 5 = 0 Dividing the equation by 2
2
Comparing with 𝑎𝑦 + 𝑏𝑦 + 𝑐
We have 𝑎 = 1,𝑏 = − 2,𝑐 = − 5
−𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑦 =
2𝑎
𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 = 4 − 4×(1)×(−5) = 24
𝑦 = (2 + 24)/2 or 𝑦 = (2 − 24)/2
𝑦 = (1 + 6) or 𝑦 = (1 − 6)
12d
4 − 5𝑘
2(𝑘 − 1) =
𝑘 + 1
Multiplying the equation by (𝑘 + 1)
2(𝑘 − 1) × (𝑘 + 1) = 4 − 5𝑘
2𝑘 2 − 2 = 4 − 5𝑘
2𝑘 2 + 5𝑘 − 6 = 0
Comparing with 𝑎𝑘 2 + 𝑏𝑘 + 𝑐
We have 𝑎 = 2,𝑏 = 5,𝑐 = − 6
−𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑘 =
2𝑎
𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 = 25 − 4×(2)×(−6) = 73
𝑘 = ( − 5 + √73)/2 × 2 or 𝑘 = ( − 5 − √73)/2 × 2
𝑘 = ( − 5 + √73)/4 or 𝑘 = ( − 5 − √73)/4

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
12e
2 𝑎 + 3 10
+ =
𝑎 + 3 2 3
Multiplying the equation by (𝑎 + 3) × 6 and simplifying
𝑎 + 3 6 6
2×6× + (𝑎 + 3)2 × = 10(𝑎 + 3)×
𝑎 + 3 2 3
12 + 3𝑎2 + 18𝑎 + 27 = 20𝑎 + 60
Rearranging and simplifying
3𝑎2 − 2𝑎 − 21 = 0
3𝑎2 − 9𝑎 + 7𝑎 − 21 = 0 (Sum of − 9 and 7 is − 2 and product
is 63)
3𝑎(𝑎 − 3) + 7(𝑎 − 3) = 0 Factorising
(3𝑎 + 7)(𝑎 − 3) = 0
𝑎 = − 7/3 or 𝑎 = 3
12f
𝑘 + 10 10 11
− =
𝑘 − 5 𝑘 6
Multiplying the equation by (𝑘 − 5) × 𝑘 × 6
(𝑘 + 10) × 𝑘 × 6 − 10 × (𝑘 − 5) × 6 = 11(𝑘 − 5) × 𝑘
6𝑘 2 + 60𝑘 − 60𝑘 − 300 = 11𝑘 2 − 55𝑘
Rearranging and simplifying
5𝑘 2 − 55𝑘 − 300 = 0
Dividing equation by 5
𝑘 2 − 11𝑘 − 60 = 0
𝑘 2 − 15𝑘 + 4𝑘 − 60 = 0
Sum of − 15 and 4 is − 11 and the product is 60
𝑘(𝑘 − 15) + 4(𝑘 − 15) = 0
(𝑘 + 4)(𝑘 − 15) = 0 Factorising
𝑘 = − 4 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑘 = 15
12g
3𝑡
= √3
𝑡2 − 6
Multiplying the equation by 𝑡 2 − 6
3𝑡 = √3× (𝑡 2 − 6)
√3𝑡 2 − 6√3 − 3𝑡 = 0
√3𝑡 2 − 6𝑡 + 3𝑡 − 6√3 = 0 Factorising
√3𝑡(𝑡 − 2√3) + 3(𝑡 − 2√3) = 0
(√3t + 3)(t − 2√3) = 0
𝑡 = − √3 or 𝑡 = 2√3

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
12h
3𝑚 + 1 3𝑚 − 1
− = 2
3𝑚 − 1 3𝑚 + 1
Multiplying the equation by (3𝑚 + 1) × (3𝑚 − 1)
(3𝑚 + 1)2 − (3𝑚 − 1)2 = 2(3𝑚 + 1) (3𝑚 − 1)
Let 3𝑚 + 1 = 𝑥 and 3𝑚 − 1 = 𝑦
Thus
𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 = 2𝑥𝑦
(𝑥 + 𝑦)(𝑥 − 𝑦) = 2𝑥𝑦 Factorising
Substituting the values of 𝑥 and 𝑦
(3𝑚 + 1 + 3𝑚 − 1)(3𝑚 + 1 − 3𝑚 + 1) = 2
(6𝑚)(2) = 2(9𝑚2 − 1)
6𝑚 = 9𝑚2 − 1
9𝑚2 − 6𝑚 − 1 = 0
Comparing with 𝑎𝑚2 + 𝑏𝑚 + 𝑐
We have 𝑎 = 9,𝑏 = − 6,𝑐 = − 1
−𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑚 =
2𝑎
2
𝑏 − 4𝑎𝑐 = 36 − 4×(9)×(−1) = 72
6 +√72 6 − √72
𝑚 = × 9 or 𝑚 =
2 18
1 +√2 1 −√2
𝑚 = or 𝑚 =
3 3
13a
Let the length of each tile be 𝑥
Thus, rectangular area is completed by 200 tiles
Therefore, the rectangular area is 200 × 𝑥 2 (1)
Now when we increase the length and breadth of the tile by 1cm the new area is
Covered by 128 tiles
The same rectangular area is also 128 × (𝑥 + 1)2 (2)
Equating (1) and (2)
200𝑥 2 = 128𝑥 2 + 256𝑥 + 128
72𝑥 2 − 256𝑥 − 128 = 0
Dividing the equation by 8
9𝑥 2 − 32𝑥 − 16 = 0
9𝑥 2 − 36𝑥 + 4𝑥 − 16 = 0 Sum of − 36 and 4 is − 32 and product is 144
9𝑥(𝑥 − 4) + 4(𝑥 − 4) = 0Factorising
(9𝑥 + 4)(𝑥 − 4) = 0
4
𝑥 = − 9 and 𝑥 = 4
Since the length of the tile cannot be negative
𝑥 = 4

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
13b
Let the width of the frame be 𝑥

Area of photograph = 18 × 12 cm2

Length of outer rectangle of the frame = 18 + 2𝑥
Breadth of outer rectangle of frame = 12 + 2𝑥

Area of frame (shaded area) = Area of frame with photograph – area of

photograph
= (18 + 2𝑥)(12 + 2𝑥) − 18 × 12 (Frame is of uniform width)
Since both the areas are equal
We have
18 × 12 = (18 + 2𝑥)(12 + 2𝑥) − 18 × 12
4𝑥 2 + 60𝑥 − 216 = 0 ↔ 𝑥 2 + 15𝑥 − 64 = 0
Factorising and solving
𝑥 2 + 15𝑥 − 64 = 0
(𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 18) = 0
𝑥 = 3 or 𝑥 = − 18
Since the length cannot be negative
𝑥 = 3
The length of the frame is 3 cm

13c
Let the speed of one train be 𝑥 km/hr
It is given that the second train is 5 km/hr faster
Thus, speed of second train is 𝑥 + 5 km/hr
The total distance covered is 330 km
So, the time taken to cover 330 km at speed of 𝑥 is
330
hrs
𝑥
330
Time taken by second train is 𝑥
+ 5 hrs

1
It is given that the second train reaches 30 mins or 2 hrs early

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
Therefore, we have
330 330 1
= +
𝑥 𝑥 + 5 2
Multiplying the equation by 𝑥 × (𝑥 + 5) × 2
330(𝑥 + 5) × 2 = 330𝑥 × 2 + (𝑥 + 5) × 𝑥
Simplifying
660𝑥 + 3300 = 660𝑥 + 𝑥 2 + 5𝑥
𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 3300 = 0
𝑥 2 + 60𝑥 − 55𝑥 − 3300 = 0 Sum of 60 and − 55 is 5 and product is 3300
(𝑥 + 60)(𝑥 − 55) = 0 Factorising
Since speed cannot be negative
𝑥 = 55 km/hr
Speed of the second train is 55 + 5 = 60 km/hr
14a
Multiplying by 2𝑐(3𝑥 − 2𝑐)(2𝑥 − 3𝑐)
2×2𝑐(2𝑥 − 3𝑐) + 3×2𝑐(3𝑥 − 2𝑐) = 7(3𝑥 − 2𝑐)(2𝑥 − 3𝑐)
4𝑐(2𝑥 − 3𝑐) + 6𝑐(3𝑥 − 2𝑐) = 7(6𝑥 2 − 13𝑐𝑥 + 6𝑐 2 )
8𝑐𝑥 − 12𝑐 2 + 18𝑐𝑥 − 12𝑐 2 = 42𝑥 2 − 91𝑐𝑥 + 42𝑐 2
42𝑥 2 − 117𝑐𝑥 + 66𝑐 2 = 0
14𝑥 2 − 39𝑐𝑥 + 22𝑐 2 = 0
The numbers that add to −39 and multiply to 14×22 = 308 are −28 and −11
14𝑥 2 − 28𝑐𝑥 − 11𝑐𝑥 + 22𝑐 2 = 0
14𝑥(𝑥 − 2𝑐) − 11𝑐(𝑥 − 2𝑐) = 0
(14𝑥 − 11𝑐)(𝑥 − 2𝑐) = 0
14𝑥 = 11𝑐
11
𝑥= 𝑐
14
or
𝑥 = 2𝑐

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
14b
𝑎2 𝑏 𝑏𝑎 𝑎2
+𝑎+ = 2𝑏 +
𝑥2 𝑥 𝑥
Multiplying by 𝑥 2
𝑎2 𝑏 + 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑎𝑥 = 2𝑏𝑥 2 + 𝑎2 𝑥
(𝑎 − 2𝑏)𝑥 2 + (𝑏𝑎 − 𝑎2 )𝑥 + 𝑎2 𝑏 = 0

Using the quadratic formula

−(𝑎𝑏 − 𝑎2 ) ± √(𝑎𝑏 − 𝑎2 )2 − 4×(𝑎 − 2𝑏)×𝑎2 𝑏
𝑥=
2(𝑎 − 2𝑏)
2
(𝑎 − 𝑎𝑏) ± √𝑎4 − 2𝑎3 𝑏 + 𝑎2 𝑏 2 − (4𝑎3 𝑏 − 8𝑎2 𝑏 2 )
=
2(𝑎 − 2𝑏)
(𝑎2 − 𝑎𝑏) ± √𝑎4 − 6𝑎3 𝑏 + 9𝑎2 𝑏 2 (𝑎2 − 𝑎𝑏) ± √𝑎2 (𝑎 − 3𝑏)2
= =
2(𝑎 − 2𝑏) 2(𝑎 − 2𝑏)
2
(𝑎 − 𝑎𝑏) ± 𝑎(𝑎 − 3𝑏) 𝑎[(𝑎 − 𝑏) ± (𝑎 − 3𝑏)]
= =
2(𝑎 − 2𝑏) 2(𝑎 − 2𝑏)

𝑎𝑏
𝑥 = (𝑎−2𝑏) or 𝑥 = 𝑎

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
Solutions to Exercise 1G
1a
𝑦 = 𝑥(1)
2𝑥 + 𝑦 = 9(2)
𝑆𝑢𝑏𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 (1) 𝑖𝑛 (2)
2𝑥 + 𝑥 = 9
3𝑥 = 9
𝑥 = 3
𝑦 = 3
1b
𝑦 = 2𝑥(1)
3𝑥 − 𝑦 = 2(2)
𝑆𝑢𝑏𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 (1) 𝑖𝑛 (2)
3𝑥 − 2𝑥 = 2
𝑥 = 2
𝑦 = 4
1c
𝑦 = 𝑥 − 1(1)
2𝑥 + 𝑦 = 5(2)
𝑆𝑢𝑏𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 (1) 𝑖𝑛 (2)
2𝑥 + 𝑥 − 1 = 5
3𝑥 = 6
𝑥 = 2
𝑦 = 1
1d
𝑎 = 2𝑏 + 1(1)
𝑎 − 3𝑏 = 3(2)
Substituting the values of (1) in (2)
2𝑏 + 1 − 3𝑏 = 3
−𝑏 = 2
𝑏 = −2
𝑎 = −3
1e 𝑝 = 2 − 𝑞(1)
𝑝 − 𝑞 = 4(2)
Substituting the values of (1) in (2)
2 − 𝑞 − 𝑞 = 4
2 − 2𝑞 = 4
Dividing by 2
1 − 𝑞 = 2
𝑞 = −1
𝑝 = 3

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
1f
𝑣 = 1 − 3𝑢(1)
2𝑢 + 𝑣 = 0(2)
Substituting the values of (1) in (2)
2𝑢 + 1 − 3𝑢 = 0
−𝑢 + 1 = 0
𝑢 = 1
𝑣 = 1 − 3
𝑣 = −2
2a
𝑥 + 𝑦 = 5(1)
𝑥 − 𝑦 = 1(2)
Adding two equations
2𝑥 = 6
𝑥 = 3
Substituting the value in (1)
3 + 𝑦 = 5
𝑦 = 2
2b
3𝑥 − 2𝑦 = 7(1)
𝑥 + 2𝑦 = − 3(2)
Adding two equations
4𝑥 = 4
𝑥 = 1
Substituting the value in (1)
3 − 2𝑦 = 7
𝑦 = −2
2c
2𝑥 + 𝑦 = 9(1)
𝑥 + 𝑦 = 5(2)
Subtracting two equations
𝑥 = 4
Substituting the value in (1)
8 + 𝑦 = 9
𝑦 = 1

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
2d
𝑎 + 3𝑏 = 8(1)
𝑎 + 2𝑏 = 5(2)
Subtracting two equations
− 2𝑏 + 3𝑏 = 3
𝑏 = 3
Substituting the value in (1)
𝑎 = −4 + 3
𝑎 = −1
2e
4𝑐 − 𝑑 = 6(1)
2𝑐 − 𝑑 = 2(2)
Subtracting two equations
2𝑐 = 4
𝑐 = 2
Substituting the value in (1)
𝑑 = 8 − 6
𝑑 = 2
2f
𝑝 − 2𝑞 = 4(1)
3𝑝 − 2𝑞 = 0(2)
Subtracting two equations
− 2𝑝 = 4
𝑝 = −2
Substituting the value in (1)
− 2 − 2𝑞 = 4
𝑞 = −3
3a
𝑦 = 2𝑥(1)
3𝑥 + 2𝑦 = 14(2)
Substituting values from (1) in (2)
3𝑥 + 4𝑥 = 14
7𝑥 = 14
𝑥 = 2
Substituting the value in (1)
𝑦 = 4

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
3b
𝑦 = − 3𝑥(1)
2𝑥 + 5𝑦 = 13(2)
Substituting values from (1) in (2)
2𝑥 − 15𝑥 = 13
− 13𝑥 = 13
𝑥 = −1
Substituting the value in (1)
𝑦 = 3
3c
𝑦 = 4 − 𝑥(1)
𝑥 + 3𝑦 = 8(2)
Substituting values from (1) in (2)
𝑥 − 3(4 − 𝑥) = 8
𝑥 − 12 + 3𝑥 = 8
𝑥 = 2
Substituting the value in (1)
𝑦 = 4 − 2 = 2
3d
𝑥 = 5𝑦 + 4(1)
3𝑥 − 𝑦 = 26(2)
Substituting values from (1) in (2)
3(5𝑦 + 4) − 𝑦 = 26
15𝑦 + 12 − 𝑦 = 26
14𝑦 = 14
𝑦 = 1
Substituting the value in (1)
𝑥 = 9
3e
2𝑥 + 𝑦 = 10(1)
7𝑥 + 8𝑦 = 53(2)
Rearranging equation (1)
𝑦 = 10 − 2𝑥(3)
Substituting values from (3) in (2)
7𝑥 + 8(10 − 2𝑥) = 53
7𝑥 + 80 − 16𝑥 = 53
− 9𝑥 = − 27
𝑥 = 3
Substituting the value in (1)
𝑦 = 4

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
3f
2𝑥 − 𝑦 = 9(1)
3𝑥 − 7𝑦 = 19(2)
Rearranging equation (1)
𝑦 = 2𝑥 − 9(3)
Substituting values from (3) in (2)
3𝑥 − 7(2𝑥 − 9) = 19
3𝑥 − 14𝑥 + 63 = 19
11𝑥 = 63 − 19 = 44
𝑥 = 4
Substituting the value in (1)
𝑦 = −1
3g
4𝑥 − 5𝑦 = 2(1)
𝑥 + 10𝑦 = 41(2)
Rearranging equation (2)
𝑥 = 41 − 10𝑦(3)
Substituting values from (3) in (1)
4(41 − 10𝑦) − 5𝑦 = 2
164 − 40𝑦 − 5𝑦 = 2
162 = 45𝑦
162 18
𝑦 = =
45 5
Substituting the value in (3)
𝑥 = 5
18
𝑦 =
5
3h
2𝑥 + 3𝑦 = 47(1)
4𝑥 − 𝑦 = 45(2)
Rearranging equation (2)
𝑦 = 4𝑥 − 45(3)
Substituting values from (3) in (1)
2𝑥 + 3(4𝑥 − 45) = 47
2𝑥 + 12𝑥 − 135 = 47
14𝑥 = 135 + 47 = 182
𝑥 = 13
Substituting the value in (3)
𝑦 = 7

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
4a
2𝑥 + 𝑦 = 1(1)
𝑥 − 𝑦 = − 4(2)
Adding equation (1) and (2)
3𝑥 = − 3
𝑥 = −1
Substituting this value in equation (2)
𝑦 = −1 + 4 = 3
𝑥 = − 1,𝑦 = 3
4b
2𝑥 + 3𝑦 = 16(1)
2𝑥 + 7𝑦 = 24(2)
Subtracting equation (2) and (1)
4𝑦 = 8
𝑦 = 2
Substituting this value in equation (2)
2𝑥 = 10
𝑥 = 5
4c
3𝑥 + 2𝑦 = − 6(1)
𝑥 − 2𝑦 = − 10(2)
Adding equation (1) and (2)
4𝑥 = − 16
𝑥 = −4
Substituting this value in equation (2)
2𝑦 = 10 − 4 = 6
𝑦 = 3
4d
5𝑥 − 3𝑦 = 28(1)
2𝑥 − 3𝑦 = 22(2)
Subtracting equation (1) and (2)
3𝑥 = 6
𝑥 = 2
Substituting this value in equation (2)
3𝑦 = 4 − 22 = − 18
𝑦 = −6

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
4e
3𝑥 + 2𝑦 = 7(1)
5𝑥 + 𝑦 = 7(2)
Multiplying (2) by 2
10𝑥 + 2𝑦 = 14(3)
Subtracting equation (3) and (1)
7𝑥 = 7
𝑥 = 1
Substituting this value in equation (2)
𝑦 = 7 − 5 = 2
𝑦 = 2,𝑥 = 1
4f
3𝑥 + 2𝑦 = 0(1)
2𝑥 − 𝑦 = 56(2)
Multiplying (2) by 2
4𝑥 − 2𝑦 = 112(3)
Adding equation (3) and (1)
7𝑥 = 112
𝑥 = 16
Substituting this value in equation (2)
𝑦 = 32 − 56 = − 24
4g
15𝑥 + 2𝑦 = 27(1)
3𝑥 + 7𝑦 = 45(2)
Multiplying (2) by 5
15𝑥 + 35𝑦 = 225(3)
Subtracting equation (3) and (1)
33𝑦 = 198
𝑦 = 6
Substituting this value in equation (2)
3𝑥 = 45 − 42 = 3
𝑥 = 1
4h 7𝑥 − 3𝑦 = 41(1)
3𝑥 − 𝑦 = 17(2)
Multiplying (2) by 3
9𝑥 − 3𝑦 = 51(3)
Subtracting equation (3) and (1)
2𝑥 = 10
𝑥 = 5
Substituting this value in equation (2)
𝑦 = 15 − 17 = − 2

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
4i
2𝑥 + 3𝑦 = 28(1)
3𝑥 + 2𝑦 = 27(2)
Adding equation (1) and (2)
5𝑥 + 5𝑦 = 55
𝑥 + 𝑦 = 11(3)
Multiplying equation (3) by 2
2𝑥 + 2𝑦 = 22(4)
Subtracting equation (1) and (4)
𝑦 = 6
Substituting value in (3)
𝑥 = 5
4j
3𝑥 − 2𝑦 = 11(1)
4𝑥 + 3𝑦 = 43(2)
Multiplying equation (1) by 3 and (2) by 2
9𝑥 − 6𝑦 = 33(3)
8𝑥 + 6𝑦 = 86(4)
Adding (3) and (4)
17𝑥 = 119
𝑥 = 7
Substituting the value in (1)
21 − 11 = 2𝑦
𝑦 = 5, 𝑥 = 7
5a
𝑦 = 2 − 𝑥(1)
𝑦 = 𝑥 2 (2)
Substituting value of 𝑦 in (1)
2 − 𝑥 = 𝑥2
𝑥2 + 𝑥 − 2 = 0
𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 𝑥 − 2 = 0
(Sum of 2 and − 1 is 1 and product is − 2)
𝑥(𝑥 + 2) − 1(𝑥 + 2) = 0
(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 2) = 0
𝑥 = 1 or 𝑥 = − 2
𝑦 = 1 or 𝑦 = 4

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
5b
𝑦 = 2𝑥 − 3(1)
𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 5(2)
Substituting value of 𝑦 in (1)
2𝑥 − 3 = 𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 5
𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 8 = 0
𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 − 2𝑥 + 8 = 0
(Sum of − 4 and − 2 is − 6 and product is 8)
𝑥(𝑥 − 4) − 2(𝑥 − 4) = 0
(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 − 4) = 0
𝑥 = 2 or 𝑥 = 4
𝑦 = 1 or 𝑦 = 5
5c
𝑦 = 3𝑥 2 (1)
𝑦 = 4𝑥 − 𝑥 2 (2)
Substituting value of 𝑦 in (1)
3𝑥 2 = 4𝑥 − 𝑥 2
4𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 = 0
4𝑥(𝑥 − 1) = 0 Factorising
𝑥 = 0 or 𝑥 = 1
𝑦 = 0 or 𝑦 = 3
5d
𝑥 − 𝑦 = 5 (1)
𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 11(2)
Substituting value of 𝑦 in (1)
𝑥 − (𝑥 2 − 11) = 5
𝑥 − 𝑥 2 + 11 = 5
Multiplying the equation by − 1
𝑥2 − 𝑥 − 6 = 0
𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 2𝑥 − 6 = 0
(Sum of − 3 and 2 is − 1 and product is − 6)
𝑥(𝑥 − 3) + 2(𝑥 − 3) = 0
(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 3) = 0
𝑥 = 3 or 𝑥 = − 2
𝑦 = − 2 or 𝑦 = − 7

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
5e
𝑥 − 𝑦 = 2(1)
𝑥𝑦 = 15(2)
Rearranging equation (1)
𝑦 = 𝑥 − 2
Substituting this value in equation (2)
𝑥(𝑥 − 2) = 15
𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 15 = 0
𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 3𝑥 − 15 = 0 Sum of − 5 and 3 is − 2 and product is − 15
𝑥(𝑥 − 5) + 3(𝑥 − 5) = 0
(𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 − 5) = 0
𝑥 = − 3 or 𝑥 = 5
𝑦 = − 5 or 𝑦 = 3
5f
3𝑥 + 𝑦 = 9(1)
𝑥𝑦 = 6(2)
Rearranging equation (1)
𝑦 = 9 − 3𝑥
Substituting value of y in (2)
𝑥(9 − 3𝑥) = 6
9𝑥 − 3𝑥 2 = 6
3𝑥 2 − 9𝑥 + 6
3𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 6𝑥 + 6 = 0 Sum of − 3 and − 6 is − 9 and product is 3 ×
(6) = 18
3𝑥(𝑥 − 1) − 6(𝑥 − 1) = 0
(3𝑥 − 6)(𝑥 − 1) = 0
𝑥 = 2 or 𝑥 = 1
𝑦 = 3 or 𝑦 = 6
6a
Let the two numbers be 𝑥 and 𝑦
According to the given statement
𝑥 − 𝑦 = 16(1)
𝑥 + 𝑦 = 90(2)
Adding (1) and (2)
2𝑥 = 106
𝑥 = 53
Substituting the value in (1)
𝑦 = 37

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
6b
Let the cost of pen be 𝑥 and that of pencil be 𝑦
𝑥 + 𝑦 = 75(1)
Also,
𝑥 = 4𝑦(2)
Substituting the value of 𝑥 in equation (1)
4𝑦 + 𝑦 = 75
𝑦 = 15
𝑥 = 60
Cost of pen is 60 cents and cost of pencil is 15 cents
6c
Let the cost of apples be 𝑥 and cost of oranges be 𝑦
7𝑥 + 2𝑦 = 4 (1)
5𝑥 + 4𝑦 = 4.40 (2)
Multiplying equation (1) by 2
14𝑥 + 4𝑦 = 8 (3)
Subtracting equation (3) and (2)
9𝑥 = 3.6
𝑥 = 0.40
Substituting the value in equation (1)
2𝑦 = 1.2
𝑦 = 0.6
Cost of apple is 40 cents and cost of orange is 60 cents
6d
Let the number of children be 𝑥
Let the number of adults be 𝑦
Given that
𝑦 = 2𝑥(1)
Total revenue in tickets is given by the below equation
8𝑦 + 3𝑥 = 418(2)
Substituting the values in equation (2)
16𝑥 + 3𝑥 = 418
𝑥 = 22
𝑦 = 44
44 adults and 22 children
6e
Let the age of son be 𝑥 and that of the man be 𝑦
Man is 3 times as old as his son
𝑦 = 3𝑥(1)
In twelve year’s time, age of son is 𝑥 + 12
Age of man is 𝑦 + 12

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
Also,
𝑦 + 12 = 2(𝑥 + 12)
𝑦 + 12 = 2𝑥 + 24(2)
Substituting value in equation (2) from (1)
3𝑥 + 12 = 2𝑥 + 24
𝑥 = 12
𝑦 = 36
Age of son is 12 and that of man is 36 years
6f
Let the number of people voting against be 𝑥 and those for be 𝑦
We have
𝑦 − 𝑥 = 21(1)
𝑥 + 𝑦 = 357(2)
Adding the two equations
2𝑦 = 378
𝑦 = 189
Substituting the value in (1)
𝑥 = 168
Thus, number of people who voted for is 189 and those against is 168

7a
7b
8a
𝑥 + 𝑦 = 15
𝑥 = 15 − 𝑦(1)
𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 125(2)
Substituting the value
(15 − 𝑦)2 + 𝑦 2 = 125
225 − 30𝑦 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑦 2 = 125
2𝑦 2 − 30𝑦 + 100 = 0
𝑦 2 − 15𝑦 + 50 = 0
𝑦 2 − 10𝑦 − 5𝑦 + 50 = 0
(𝑦 − 10)(𝑦 − 5) = 0
𝑦 = 10 or 𝑦 = 5
𝑥 = 5 or 𝑥 = 10
(𝑥 = 5 and 𝑦 = 10) or (𝑥 = 10 and 𝑦 = 5)

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
8b
𝑥 − 𝑦 = 3
𝑥 = 3 + 𝑦(1)
𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 185(2)
Substituting value from equation (1)
(3 + 𝑦)2 + 𝑦 2 = 185
9 + 6𝑦 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑦 2 = 185
2𝑦 2 + 6𝑦 − 176 = 0
Dividing the equation by 2
𝑦 2 + 3𝑦 − 88 = 0
𝑦 2 + 11𝑦 − 8𝑦 − 88 = 0
(𝑦 + 11)(𝑦 − 8) = 0
𝑦 = − 11 or 𝑦 = 8
𝑥 = − 8 or 𝑥 = 11
(𝑥 = − 8 and 𝑦 = − 11) or (𝑥 = 11 and 𝑦 = 8)
8c
2𝑥 + 𝑦 = 5
𝑦 = 5 − 2𝑥(1)
4𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 17(2)
Substituting the value from equation (1)
4𝑥 2 + (5 − 2𝑥)2 = 17
4𝑥 2 + 25 − 20𝑥 + 4𝑥 2 = 17
8𝑥 2 − 20𝑥 + 8 = 0
Dividing the equation by 4
2𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 2 = 0
2𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 − 𝑥 + 2 = 0
Sum of − 4 and − 1 is − 5 and product is 2 × 2 = 4
2𝑥(𝑥 − 2) − 1(𝑥 − 2) = 0
(2𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 − 2) = 0
1
𝑥 = 2 or 𝑥 = 2
Putting these values in equation (1)
(𝑥 = 1/2 and 𝑦 = 4) or (𝑥 = 2 and 𝑦 = 1)

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8d 𝑥 + 𝑦 = 9
𝑥 = 9 − 𝑦(1)
𝑥 2 + 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 2 = 61(2)
Substituting the value from equation (1)
(9 − 𝑦)2 + (9 − 𝑦)𝑦 + 𝑦 2 = 61
81 − 18𝑦 + 𝑦 2 + 9𝑦 − 𝑦 2 + 𝑦 2 = 61
𝑦 2 − 9𝑦 + 20 = 0
𝑦 2 − 5𝑦 − 4𝑦 + 20 = 0 Sum of − 5 and − 4 is 9 and product is 20
(𝑦 − 5)(𝑦 − 4) = 0
𝑦 = 4 or 𝑦 = 5
𝑥 = 5 or 𝑥 = 4
(𝑥 = 5 and 𝑦 = 4) or (𝑥 = 4 and 𝑦 = 5)
8 e 𝑥 + 2𝑦 = 5
𝑥 = 5 − 2𝑦(1)
2𝑥𝑦 − 𝑥 2 = 3(2)
Substituting the values from equation (1)
2(5 − 2𝑦) − (5 − 2𝑦)2 = 3
10 − 4𝑦 − 25 − 20𝑦 + 4𝑦 2 = 3
4𝑦 2 − 24𝑦 + 32 = 0
Dividing the equation by 4
𝑦 2 − 6𝑦 + 8 = 0
𝑦 2 − 4𝑦 − 2𝑦 + 8 = 0 Sum of − 4 and − 2 is − 6 and product is 8
(𝑦 − 4)(𝑦 − 2) = 0
𝑦 = 4 or 𝑦 = 2
𝑥 = − 3 or 𝑥 = 1
(𝑥 = − 3 and 𝑦 = 4) or (𝑥 = 1 and 𝑦 = 2)
8f 3𝑥 + 2𝑦 = 16(1)
𝑥𝑦 = 10
10
𝑦 = (2)
𝑥
Substituting value in equation (1)
20
3𝑥 + = 16
𝑥
Multiplying by 𝑥
3𝑥 2 + 20 − 16𝑥 = 0
3𝑥 2 − 10𝑥 − 6𝑥 + 20 = 0
Sum of − 10 and − 6 is − 16 and product is 20 × 3 = 60
𝑥(3𝑥 − 10) − 2(3𝑥 − 10) = 0
(𝑥 − 2)(3𝑥 − 10) = 0
10
𝑥 = 2 or 𝑥 =
3
𝑦 = 5 or 𝑦 = 3
10
(𝑥 = 2 and 𝑦 = 5) or (𝑥 = and 𝑦 = 3)
3

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
9a
7 5
− =3
𝑥 𝑦
Multiplying by 𝑥𝑦
7𝑦 − 5𝑥 = 3𝑥𝑦 (1)
2 25
+ = 12
𝑥 2𝑦
Multiplying by 2𝑥𝑦
4𝑦 + 25𝑥 = 24𝑥𝑦 (2)
(2) + (1)×5
4𝑦 + 25𝑥 + 5(7𝑦 − 5𝑥) = 24𝑥𝑦 + 5×3𝑥𝑦
39𝑦 = 39
5
𝑥 = 1 and 𝑦 = 4
9b
𝑥𝑦 = 8
8
𝑦 = 𝑥 (1)
9𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 52 (2)
(1) in (2)
2
8 2
9(𝑥) + ( ) = 52
𝑥
64
9𝑥 2 + 2 = 52
𝑥
9𝑥 + 64 = 52𝑥 2
4

9𝑥 4 − 52𝑥 2 + 64 = 0
Using the quadratic formula
52 ± √(−52)2 − 4×9×64 52 ± 20 16
𝑥2 = = = 4 𝑜𝑟
2×9 18 9
𝑥 2 = 4 → 𝑥 = ±2
16 4
𝑥2 = →𝑥=±
9 3
4 4
The solutions are 𝑥 = 2, 𝑦 = 4 or 𝑥 = −2, 𝑦 = −4 or 𝑥 = , 𝑦 = 6 or 𝑥 = − , 𝑦 = −6
3 3

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
10a
12𝑥 2 − 4𝑥𝑦 + 11𝑦 2 = 64 (1)
2 2
16𝑥 − 9𝑥𝑦 + 11𝑦 = 78 (2)
Let 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 (3)
(3) in (1)
12𝑥 2 − 4𝑥(𝑚𝑥) + 11(𝑚𝑥)2 = 64
(12 − 4𝑚)𝑥 2 + 11𝑚2 𝑥 2 = 64 (4)
(3) in (2)
16𝑥 2 − 9𝑥(𝑚𝑥) + 11(𝑚𝑥)2 = 78
(16 − 9𝑚)𝑥 2 + 11𝑚2 𝑥 2 = 78 (5)
(5)-(4)
(4 − 5𝑚)𝑥 2 = 14 → (4 − 5𝑚)𝑥 2 = 7×2 (6)
(5)-4x(6)
(16 − 9𝑚 − 4(4 − 5𝑚))𝑥 2 + 11𝑚2 𝑥 2 = 78 − 4×14
11𝑚𝑥 2 + 11𝑚2 𝑥 2 = 22
𝑚𝑥 2 + 𝑚2 𝑥 2 = 2
(𝑚 + 𝑚2 )𝑥 2 = 2 (7)
(7) in (6)
(4 − 5𝑚)𝑥 2 = 7×(𝑚 + 𝑚2 )𝑥 2
4 − 5𝑚 = 7𝑚 + 7𝑚2
7𝑚2 + 12𝑚 − 4 = 0
Q.E.D.
10b
7𝑚2 + 12𝑚 − 4 = 0
(7𝑚 − 2)(𝑚 + 2) = 0
2
𝑚 = 7 or −2
When 𝑚 = −2
Using (7), 2𝑥 2 = 2
𝑥 = ±1
2
When 𝑚 = 7
7
Using (7), 𝑥 = ± 3
The solutions are
7 2 7 2
𝑥 = 1, 𝑦 = −2 or 𝑥 = −1, 𝑦 = 2 or 𝑥 = 3 , 𝑦 = 3 or 𝑥 = − 3 , 𝑦 = − 3

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
Solutions to Exercise 1H
1a
Coefficient of 𝑥 is 2, half of 2 is 1
Thus, Square of 1 i.e. 1 should be added to the equation
1b
Coefficient of 𝑦 is 6, half of 6 is 3
Thus, square of 3 i.e. 9 should be added
1c
Coefficient of 𝑎 is 10, half of 10 is 5
Thus, square of 5 i.e. 25 should be added
1d
Coefficient of 𝑚 is 18, half of 18 is 9
Thus, square of 9 i.e. 81 should be added
1e
Coefficient of 𝑐 is 3, half of 3 is 3/2
Thus, square of 3/2 i.e. 9/4 should be added
1f
Coefficient of 𝑥 is 1, half of 1 is 1/2
Thus, square of 1/2 i.e. 1/4 should be added
1g
Coefficient of 𝑏 is 5, half of 5 is 5/2
Thus, square of 5/2 i.e. 25/4 should be added
1h
Coefficient of 𝑡 is 9, half of 9 is 9/2
Thus, square of 9/2 i.e. 81/4 should be added
2a
𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 4
= 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 2𝑥 + 4 Factorising
= 𝑥(𝑥 + 2) + 2(𝑥 + 2)
= (𝑥 + 2)2
2b
𝑦 2 + 2𝑦 + 1
= 𝑦2 + 𝑦 + 𝑦 + 1 Factorising
= 𝑦(𝑦 + 1) + 1(𝑦 + 1)
= (𝑦 + 1)2
2c
𝑝2 + 14𝑝 + 49
= 𝑝2 + 7𝑝 + 7𝑝 + 49 Factorising
= 𝑝(𝑝 + 7) + 7(𝑝 + 7)
= (𝑝 + 7)2

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
2d
𝑚2 − 12𝑚 + 36
= 𝑚2 − 6𝑚 − 6𝑚 + 36 Factorising
= 𝑚(𝑚 − 6) − 6(𝑚 − 6)
= (𝑚 − 6)2
2e
𝑡2 − 16𝑡 + 64
= 𝑡 2 − 8𝑡 − 8𝑡 + 64 Factorising
= 𝑡(𝑡 − 8) − 8(𝑡 − 8)
= (𝑡 − 8)2
2f
𝑥 2 + 20𝑥 + 100
= 𝑥 2 + 10𝑥 + 10𝑥 + 100 Factorising
= 𝑥(𝑥 + 10) + 10(𝑥 + 10)
= (𝑥 + 10)2
2g
𝑢2 − 40𝑢 + 400
= 𝑢2 − 20𝑢 − 20𝑢 + 400 Factorising
= 𝑢(𝑢 − 20) − 20(𝑢 − 20)
= (𝑢 − 20)2
2h
𝑎2 − 24𝑎 + 144
= 𝑎2 − 12𝑎 − 12𝑎 + 144 Factorising
= 𝑎(𝑎 − 12) − 12(𝑎 − 12)
= (𝑎 − 12)2
3a
𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 + …
The coefficient of 𝑥 is 6, half of 6 is 3
The constant required to make a perfect square is 32 i.e. 9
𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 + 9 = (𝑥 + 3)2
3b
𝑦 2 + 8𝑦 + …
The coefficient of 𝑥 is 8, half of 8 is 4
The constant required to make a perfect square is 42 i.e. 16
𝑦 2 + 8𝑦 + 16 = (𝑦 + 4)2
3c
𝑎2 − 20𝑎 + …
The coefficient of 𝑥 is 20, half of 20 is 10
The constant required to make a perfect square is 102 i.e. 100
𝑎2 − 20𝑎 + 100 = (𝑎 − 10)2

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
3d
𝑏 2 − 100𝑏 + ⋯
The coefficient of 𝑏 is 100, half of 100 is 50
The constant required to make a perfect square is 502 i.e. 2500
𝑏 2 − 100𝑏 + 2500 = (𝑏 − 50)2
3e
𝑢2 + 𝑢 + …
1
The coefficient of 𝑢 is 1, half of 1 is2
1 1
The constant required to make a perfect square is 22 i.e. 4

2
1 1 2
𝑢 + 𝑢 + = (𝑢 + )
4 2
3f
𝑡 2 − 7𝑡 + …
7
The coefficient of 𝑡 is 7, half of 7 is
2
7 2 49
The constant required to make a perfect square is (2) i.e. 4
2
49 7
𝑡 2 − 7𝑡 + = (𝑡 − )
4 2
3g
𝑚2 + 50𝑚 + …
The coefficient of 𝑚 is 50, half of 50 is 25
The constant required to make a perfect square is 252 i.e. 625
𝑚2 + 50𝑚 + 625 = (𝑚 + 25)2
3h
𝑐 2 − 13𝑐 + …
13
The coefficient of 𝑐 is 13, half of 13 is 2
13 2 169
The constant required to make a perfect square is ( 2 ) i.e. 4
2
169 13
𝑐 2 − 13𝑐 + = (𝑐 − )
4 2
4a
𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 = 3
Adding 1 to both sides
𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 1 = 4
(𝑥 − 1)2 = 4
𝑥 − 1 = 2 or 𝑥 − 1 = − 2
𝑥 = 3 or 𝑥 = − 1

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
4b
𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 = 0
Adding 9 on both sides
𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 9 = 9
(𝑥 − 3)2 = 9
𝑥 − 3 = 3 or 𝑥 − 3 = − 3
𝑥 = 6 or 𝑥 = 0
4c
𝑎2 + 6𝑎 + 8 = 0
Adding 1 on both sides
𝑎2 + 6𝑎 + 9 = 1
(𝑎 + 3)2 = 1
𝑎 + 3 = 1 or 𝑎 + 3 = − 1
𝑎 = − 2 or 𝑎 = − 4
4d
𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 1 = 0
Adding 3 to both sides
𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 4 = 3
(𝑥 + 2)2 = 3
𝑥 + 2 = +√3 or 𝑥 + 2 = −√3
𝑥 = − 2 + √3 or 𝑥 = − 2 − √3
4e
𝑥 2 − 10𝑥 + 20 = 0
Adding 5 to both sides
𝑥 2 − 10𝑥 + 25 = 5
(𝑥 − 5)2 = 5
𝑥 − 5 = √5 or 𝑥 − 5 = −√5
𝑥 = 5 + √5 or 𝑥 = 5 − √5
4f
𝑦 2 + 3𝑦 = 10
9
Adding to both sides
4
9 9
𝑦 2 + 3𝑦 + = 10 +
4 4
2
3 49
(𝑦 + ) =
2 4
3 7 3 7
𝑦 + 2 = 2 or 𝑦 + 2 = − 2
𝑦 = 2 or 𝑦 = − 5

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
4g
𝑏 2 − 5𝑏 − 14 = 0
25
Adding on both sides
4
25 25
𝑏 2 − 5𝑏 + = 14 +
4 4
2
5 81
(𝑏 − ) =
2 4
5 9 5 9
𝑏 − 2 = 2 or 𝑏 − 2 = − 2
𝑏 = 7 or 𝑏 = − 2
4h
𝑦2 − 𝑦 + 2 = 0
1
Adding 4 to both sides
1 1
𝑦2 − 𝑦 + = −2 +
4 4
2
1 7
(𝑦 − ) = −
2 4
Square of a number cannot be negative
Thus, the equation has no real solution
4i
𝑎2 + 7𝑎 + 7 = 0
49
Adding on both sides
4
49 49
𝑎2 + 7𝑎 + + 7 =
4 4
2
7 21
(𝑎2 + ) =
2 4
7 √21 7 √21
𝑎 +2 = or 𝑎 +2 = −
2 2
− 7 +√21 − 7 −√21
𝑎 = or 𝑎 =
2 2

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
5a 2𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 − 1 = 0
Dividing by 2
𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 1/2 = 0
Adding 1 on both sides
3
𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 1 =
2
3
(𝑥 − 1)2 =
2
√3 √3
𝑥 − 1 = or 𝑥 − 1 = −
√2 √2
√3 √3
𝑥 = 1 + or 𝑥 = 1 −
√2 √2
√2 +√3 √2 −√3
𝑥 = or 𝑥 =
√2 √2
Rationalising the denominator
2 +√6 2 −√6
𝑥 = or 𝑥 =
2 2
2
5b 2𝑥 + 8𝑥 + 3 = 0
Dividing the equation by 2
3
𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + = 0
2
Adding 4 on both sides
3
𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 4 = 4 −
2
5
(𝑥 + 2)2 =
2
√5 √5
𝑥 + 2 = or 𝑥 + 2 = −
√2 √2
√5 √5
𝑥 = −2 + or 𝑥 = − 2 −
√2 √2
Rationalising the denominator
− 4 +√10 − 4 −√10
𝑥 = or 𝑥 =
2 2
2
5c 3𝑥 + 6𝑥 + 5 = 0
Dividing the equation by 3
5
𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + = 0
3
2
𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 1 + = 0
3
2
𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 1 = −
3
2
(𝑥 + 1)2 = −
3
Square of a number cannot be negative
Thus, the equation has no real solution

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
5d
4𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 3 = 0
Dividing the equation by 4
3
𝑥2 + 𝑥 − = 0
4
1
Adding 4 on both sides
1 3 1
𝑥2 + 𝑥 + = +
4 4 4
2
1
(𝑥 + ) = 1
2
1 1
𝑥 = 1 − 2 or 𝑥 = − 1 − 2
1 3
𝑥 = 2 or 𝑥 = − 2
5e
4𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 1 = 0
Dividing the equation by 4
𝑥 1
𝑥2 − − = 0
2 4
1
Adding 16 to both sides
𝑥 1 1 1
𝑥2 − + = +
2 16 4 16
1 2 5
(𝑥 − ) =
4 16
√5 1 √5
𝑥 − 1/4 = or 𝑥 − 4 = −
4 4
1 +√5 1 −√5
𝑥 = or 𝑥 =
4 4
5f
2𝑥 2 − 10𝑥 + 7 = 0
Dividing the equation by 2
7
𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + = 0
2
25
Adding to both sides
4
25 25 7
𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + = −
4 4 2
5 2 11
(𝑥 − ) =
2 4
5 √11 5 √11
𝑥 −2 = or 𝑥 −2 = −
2 2
5 +√11 5 −√11
𝑥 = or 𝑥 =
2 2

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
6a
𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 4𝑥 − 2𝑦 + 1 = 0
Rearranging the equation
𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 𝑦 2 − 2𝑦 + 1 = 0
Since coefficient of x is 4 and coefficient of 𝑦 is 2 we need to add 4 as well as 1 to
complete the square
However, we already have 1 in the equation

Adding 4 on both sides and rearranging in order to complete square

𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 4 + 𝑦 2 − 2𝑦 + 1 = 4
(𝑥 + 2)2 + (𝑦 − 1)2 = 4
Hence, proved
6b
𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 6𝑥 − 8𝑦 = 0
Coefficient of 𝑥 is 6 and coefficient of 𝑦 is 8
In order to complete the square we add 9 and 16 i.e. to the equation
𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 9 + 𝑦 2 − 8𝑦 + 16 = 25
(𝑥 − 3)2 + (𝑦 − 4)2 = 25
Comparing with the given form
𝑎 = 3, 𝑏 = 4, 𝑐 = 25
6c
𝑥 2 + 1 = 10𝑥 + 12𝑦
Rearranging the equation
𝑥 2 − 10𝑥 + 1 = 12𝑦
Coefficient of 𝑥 is 10, thus to complete perfect square we add 25 on both sides
𝑥 2 − 10𝑥 + 25 + 1 = 12𝑦 + 25
(𝑥 − 5)2 = 12𝑦 + 24
(𝑥 − 5)2 = 12(𝑦 + 2)
6d
𝑦 2 − 6𝑥 + 16𝑦 + 94
Coefficient of 𝑦 is 16, thus we need 64 to complete the square
Splitting 94 and writing as 64 + 30
𝑦 2 + 16𝑦 + 64 − 6𝑥 + 30
(𝑦 + 8)2 − 6(𝑥 − 5)
Thus, comparing the equation with given form we get
𝑎 = − 5, 𝑏 = 6, 𝑐 = 8
7a
(𝑥 + 𝛼)3 = (𝑥 + 𝛼)(𝑥 + 𝛼)(𝑥 + 𝛼) = (𝑥 + 𝛼)(𝑥 2 + 2𝑥𝛼 + 𝛼 2 )
= 𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 2 𝛼 + 𝛼 2 𝑥 + 𝛼𝑥 2 + 2𝑥𝛼 2 + 𝛼 3 = 𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 𝛼 + 3𝑥𝛼 2 + 𝛼 3
= 𝑥 3 + 3𝛼𝑥 2 + 3𝛼 2 𝑥 + 𝛼 3

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
7b
Comparing the coefficient of 𝑥 2 with the above equation
3𝛼 = 12
𝛼=4
Thus, the expression is equal to (𝑥 + 4)3
8
3𝑎2 + 4𝑏 2 + 18𝑐 2 − 4𝑎𝑏 − 12𝑎𝑐 = 0
𝑎2 − 4𝑎𝑏 + 4𝑏 2 + 2𝑎2 − 12𝑎𝑐 + 18𝑐 2 = 0
(𝑎 − 2𝑏)2 + 2(𝑎2 − 6𝑐 + 9𝑐 2 ) = 0
(𝑎 − 2𝑏)2 + 2(𝑎 − 3𝑐)2 = 0
In order for this to be the case, as (𝑎 − 2𝑏)2 ≥ 0 and (𝑎 − 3𝑐)2 ≥ 0
(𝑎 − 2𝑏)2 = 0 → 𝑎 = 2𝑏
and
𝑎 − 3𝑐 = 0
𝑎 = 3𝑐
Hence
𝑎 = 2𝑏 = 3𝑐
Q.E.D

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
Solutions to Chapter 1 Review exercise
1a
−8𝑦 + 2𝑦 = −6𝑦
1b
−8𝑦 − 2𝑦 = −10𝑦
1c
−8𝑥×2𝑦 = −16𝑦 2
1d
8𝑦
− = −4
2𝑦
2a
− 2𝑎2 − 𝑎2
= − 3𝑎2
2b
− 2𝑎2 − ( − 𝑎2 )
= − 2𝑎2 + 𝑎2
= − 𝑎2
2c
( − 2𝑎2 ) × ( − 𝑎2 )
= 2𝑎2 + 2 = 2𝑎4
2d
2𝑎2
−
− 𝑎2
= 2
3a
3𝑡 − 1 − 𝑡
= 2𝑡 − 1
3b
− 6𝑝 + 3𝑞 + 10𝑝
= 4𝑝 + 3𝑞
3c
7𝑥 − 4𝑦 − 6𝑥 + 2𝑦
= 7𝑥 − 6𝑥 − 4𝑦 + 2𝑦
= 𝑥 − 2𝑦
3d
2𝑎2 + 8𝑎 − 13 + 3𝑎2 − 11𝑎 − 5
= 2𝑎2 + 3𝑎2 + 8𝑎 − 11𝑎 − 18
= 5𝑎2 − 3𝑎 − 18
4a − 6𝑘 6 × 3𝑘 3
= − 18𝑘 6 + 3
= − 18𝑘 9

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
4b
6𝑘 6
− 3
3𝑘
= − 2𝑘 6 − 3
= − 2𝑘 3
4c
( − 6𝑘 6 )2
= 36𝑘12
4d
(3𝑘 3 )3
= 33𝑘 3 × 3
= 27𝑘 9
5a
4(𝑥 + 3) + 5(2𝑥 − 3)
= 4𝑥 + 12 + 10𝑥 − 15
= 14𝑥 − 3
5b
8(𝑎 − 2𝑏) − 6(2𝑎 − 3𝑏)
= 8𝑎 − 16𝑏 − 12𝑎 + 18𝑏
= 2𝑏 − 4𝑎
5c
− (𝑎 − 𝑏) − (𝑎 + 𝑏)
= −𝑎 + 𝑏 − 𝑎 − 𝑏
= − 2𝑎
5d
− 4𝑥 2 (𝑥 + 3) − 2𝑥 2 (𝑥 − 1)
= − 4𝑥 3 − 12𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 2
= − 6𝑥 3 − 10𝑥 2
5e
(𝑛 + 7)(2𝑛 − 3)
= 2𝑛2 + 14𝑛 − 3𝑛 − 21
= 2𝑛2 + 11𝑛 − 21
5f
(𝑟 + 3)2
Using identity (𝑎 + 𝑏)2 = 𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 + 2𝑎𝑏
= 𝑟 2 + 6𝑟 + 9
5g
(𝑦 − 5)(𝑦 + 5)
= 𝑦 2 − 5𝑦 + 5𝑦 − 25
= 𝑦 2 − 25

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
5h
(3𝑥 − 5)(2𝑥 − 3)
= 6𝑥 2 − 9𝑥 − 10𝑥 + 15
= 6𝑥 2 − 19𝑥 + 15
5i
(𝑡 − 8)2
= (𝑡 − 8)(𝑡 − 8)
= 𝑡2 − 8𝑡 − 8𝑡 + 64
= 𝑡2 − 16𝑡 + 64
5j
(2𝑐 + 7)(2𝑐 − 7)
= 4𝑐 2 − 14𝑐 + 14𝑐 − 49
= 4𝑐 2 − 49
5k
(4𝑝 + 1)2
(4𝑝 + 1)(4𝑝 + 1)
= 16𝑝2 + 4𝑝 + 4𝑝 + 1
= 16𝑝2 + 8𝑝 + 1
5l
(3𝑢 − 2)2
= (3𝑢 − 2)(3𝑢 − 2)
= 9𝑢2 − 6𝑢 − 6𝑢 + 4
= 9𝑢2 − 12𝑢 + 4
6a
18𝑎 + 36
= 18(𝑎 + 2) Factorising
6b
20𝑏 − 36
= 4(5𝑏 − 9) Factorising
6c
9𝑐 2 + 36𝑐
= 9𝑐(𝑐 + 4) Factorising
6d
𝑑 2 − 36
= 𝑑 2 − 6𝑑 + 6𝑑 − 36
Adding 6𝑑 and subtracting 6𝑑 to factorise
= (𝑑 − 6)(𝑑 + 6) Factorising
6e 𝑒 2 + 13𝑒 + 36
= 𝑒 2 + 9𝑒 + 4𝑒 + 36 Sum of 9 and 4 is 13 and product is 36
= 𝑒(𝑒 + 9) + 4(𝑒 + 9)
= (𝑒 + 4)(𝑒 + 9)

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
6f
𝑓2 − 12𝑓 + 36
= 𝑓2 − 6𝑓 − 6𝑓 + 36 Sum of 6 and 6 is 12 and product is36
= (𝑓 − 6)(𝑓 − 6)
= (𝑓 − 6)2
6g
36 − 25𝑔2
Adding 45𝑔 and subtracting 45𝑔 in order to factorise
= 36 − 45𝑔 + 45𝑔 + 25𝑔2
= (6 − 5𝑔)(6 + 5𝑔)
6h
ℎ2 − 9ℎ − 36
= ℎ2 − 12ℎ + 3ℎ − 36 Sum of − 12 and 3 is − 9 and product is − 36
= ℎ(ℎ − 12) + 3(ℎ − 12)
= (ℎ + 3)(ℎ − 12)
6i
𝑖2 + 5𝑖 − 36
= 𝑖 2 + 9𝑖 − 4𝑖 − 36 Sum of 9 and − 4 is 5 and product is − 36
= 𝑖(𝑖 + 9) − 4(𝑖 + 9)
= (𝑖 + 9)(𝑖 − 4)
6j
2𝑗 2 + 11𝑗 + 12
= 2𝑗 2 + 8𝑗 + 3𝑗 + 12
Sum of 8 and 3 is 11 and product is 2 × 12 = 24
= 2𝑗(𝑗 + 4) + 3(𝑗 + 4)
= (2𝑗 + 3)(𝑗 + 4)
6k
3𝑘 2 − 7𝑘 − 6
= 3𝑘 2 − 9𝑘 + 2𝑘 − 6
Sum of − 9 and 2 is − 7 and product is 3 × ( − 6) = 18
= 3𝑘(𝑘 − 3) + 2(𝑘 − 3)
= (3𝑘 + 2)(𝑘 − 3)
6l
5𝑙 2 − 14𝑙 + 8
= 5𝑙 2 − 10𝑙 − 4𝑙 + 8
Sum of − 10 and − 4 is − 14 and product is 5 × (8) = 40
= 5𝑙(𝑙 − 2) − 4(𝑙 − 2)
= (5𝑙 − 4)(𝑙 − 2)

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
6m
4𝑚2 + 4𝑚 − 15
= 4𝑚2 + 10𝑚 − 6𝑚 − 15
Sum of 10 and − 6 is 4 and product is 4 × ( − 15) = 60
= 2𝑚(2𝑚 + 5) − 3(2𝑚 + 5)
= (2𝑚 − 3)(2𝑚 + 5)
6n
𝑚𝑛 + 𝑚 + 𝑝𝑛 + 𝑝
= 𝑚(𝑛 + 1) + 𝑝(𝑛 + 1)
= (𝑚 + 𝑝)(𝑛 + 1)
6o
𝑝3 + 9𝑝2 + 4𝑝 + 36
= 𝑝2 (𝑝 + 9) + 4(𝑝 + 9)
= (𝑝2 + 4)(𝑝 + 9)
6p
𝑞𝑡 − 𝑟𝑡 − 5𝑞 + 5𝑟
= 𝑡(𝑞 − 𝑟) − 5(𝑞 − 𝑟)
= (𝑡 − 5)(𝑞 − 𝑟)
6q
𝑢2 𝑤 + 𝑣𝑤 − 𝑢2 𝑥 − 𝑣𝑥
= 𝑤(𝑢2 + 𝑣) − 𝑥(𝑢2 + 𝑣)
= (𝑤 − 𝑥)(𝑢2 + 𝑣)
6r
𝑥2 − 𝑦 2 + 2𝑥 − 2𝑦
= 𝑥2 − 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑥𝑦 − 𝑦 2 + 2(𝑥 − 𝑦)
= (𝑥 − 𝑦)(𝑥 + 𝑦) + 2(𝑥 − 𝑦)
= (𝑥 − 𝑦)(𝑥 + 𝑦 + 2)
7a
𝑥 𝑥
+
2 4
2𝑥 + 𝑥
=
4
3𝑥
=
4
7b
𝑥 𝑥
−
2 4
2𝑥 − 𝑥
=
4
𝑥
=
4

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
7c
𝑥 𝑥
×
2 4
𝑥2
= 8
7d
𝑥
(2)
𝑥
(4)
𝑥 4
= ( )×( )
2 𝑥
= 2
7e
3𝑎 2𝑎
+
2𝑏 3𝑏
Least common multiple of 2𝑏 and 6𝑏 is 6
9𝑎 + 4𝑎
=
6𝑏
13𝑎
=
6𝑏
7f
3𝑎 2𝑎
−
2𝑏 3𝑏
Least common multiple of 2𝑏 and 6𝑏 is 6
9𝑎 − 4𝑎
=
6𝑏
5𝑎
=
6𝑏
7g
3𝑎 2𝑎
( )×( )
2𝑏 3𝑏
6𝑎2
= 2
6𝑏
𝑎2
= 2
𝑏
7h
3𝑎
( )
2𝑏
2𝑎
( )
3𝑏
3𝑎 3𝑏
= ( )×( )
2𝑏 2𝑎
9
=
4

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
7i
𝑥 𝑦
+
𝑦 𝑥
𝑥2 + 𝑦2
=
𝑥𝑦
7j
𝑥 𝑦
−
𝑦 𝑥
𝑥2 − 𝑦2
=
𝑥𝑦
7k
𝑥 𝑦
×
𝑦 𝑥
= 1
7l
𝑥
(𝑦 )
𝑦
(𝑥 )
𝑥2
= 2
𝑦
8a
𝑥 + 4 𝑥 − 5
+
5 3
3(𝑥 + 4) 5(𝑥 − 5)
= +
15 15
3𝑥 + 12 + 5𝑥 − 25
=
15
8𝑥 − 13
=
15
8b
5 3
+
𝑥 + 4 𝑥 − 5
[5(𝑥 − 5) + 3(𝑥 + 4)]
=
[(𝑥 + 4)× (𝑥 − 5)]
5𝑥 − 25 + 3𝑥 + 12
=
[(𝑥 + 4)× (𝑥 − 5)]
8𝑥 − 13
=
[(𝑥 + 4)× (𝑥 − 5)]

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
8c
𝑥 + 1 𝑥 − 4
−
2 5
5(𝑥 + 1) 2(𝑥 − 4)
= −
10 10
5𝑥 + 5 − 2𝑥 + 8
=
10
3𝑥 + 13
=
10
8d
2 5
−
𝑥 + 1 𝑥 − 4
[2(𝑥 − 4) − 5(𝑥 + 1)]
=
[(𝑥 + 1)× (𝑥 − 4)]
2𝑥 − 8 − 5𝑥 − 5
=
[(𝑥 + 1)× (𝑥 − 4)]
− 3𝑥 − 13
=
[(𝑥 + 1)× (𝑥 − 4)]
8e
𝑥 𝑥 + 3
−
2 4
[2𝑥 − (𝑥 + 3)]
=
4
2𝑥 − 𝑥 − 3
=
4
𝑥 − 3
=
4
8f
2 4
−
𝑥 𝑥 + 3
[2(𝑥 + 3) − 4𝑥]
=
𝑥(𝑥 + 3)
4𝑥
= 2𝑥 + 6 −
[𝑥(𝑥 + 3)]
6 − 2𝑥
=
[𝑥(𝑥 + 3)]
9a
6𝑎 + 3𝑏
10𝑎 + 5𝑏
3(2𝑎 + 𝑏)
=
5(2𝑎 + 𝑏)
3
=
5

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
9b
2𝑥 − 2𝑦
− 𝑦2
𝑥2
2(𝑥 − 𝑦)
=
(𝑥 − 𝑦)(𝑥 + 𝑦)
2
=
𝑥 + 𝑦
9c
𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 3
𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 4
𝑥 + 3𝑥 − 𝑥 − 3
= 2
𝑥 − 4𝑥 − 𝑥 + 4
(𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 − 1)
=
(𝑥 − 4)(𝑥 − 1)
𝑥 + 3
=
𝑥 − 4
9d
(2𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 1)/(2𝑥 3 + 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 1)
2𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 𝑥 + 1
= 2
𝑥 (2𝑥 + 1) + 1(2𝑥 + 1)
(𝑥 + 1)(2𝑥 + 1)
= 2
(𝑥 + 1)(2𝑥 + 1)
𝑥 + 1
= 2
𝑥 + 1
9e
𝑎+𝑏
𝑎 + 2𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏 2
𝑎 + 𝑏
=
(𝑎 + 𝑏)2
1
=
𝑎 + 𝑏
9f
3𝑥 2 − 19𝑥 − 14
9𝑥 2 − 4
3𝑥 2 − 21𝑥 + 2𝑥 − 14
= (3𝑥 − 2)(3𝑥 + 2)
Factorising
(3𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 7)
=
(3𝑥 − 2)(3𝑥 + 2)
𝑥 − 7
=
3𝑥 − 2
10a 3𝑥 + 5 = 17
3𝑥 = 12
𝑥 = 4

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
10b
3(𝑥 + 5) = 17
3𝑥 + 15 = 17
3𝑥 = 2
2
𝑥 =
3
10c
𝑥 + 5
= 17
3
𝑥 + 5 = 51
𝑥 = 46
10d
𝑥
+ 5 = 17
3
𝑥
= 12
3
𝑥 = 36
10e
7𝑎 − 4 = 2𝑎 + 11
5𝑎 = 15
𝑎 = 3
10f
7(𝑎 − 4) = 2(𝑎 + 11)
7𝑎 − 28 = 2𝑎 + 22
5𝑎 = 50
𝑎 = 10
10g
𝑎 − 4 𝑎 + 11
=
7 2
2 × (𝑎 − 4) = 7(𝑎 + 11)
2𝑎 − 8 = 7𝑎 + 77
5𝑎 = − 85
𝑎 = − 17
10h
𝑎 𝑎
− 4 = + 11
7 2
𝑎 𝑎
− = 11 + 4
7 2
2𝑎 − 7𝑎
= 15
14
− 5𝑎 = 210
𝑎 = − 42

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
11a
𝑎2 − 49 = 0
𝑎2 − 7𝑎 + 7𝑎 − 49 = 0
𝑎(𝑎 − 7) + 7(𝑎 − 7) = 0
(𝑎 − 7)(𝑎 + 7) = 0
𝑎 = 7 or 𝑎 = − 7
11b
𝑏 2 + 7𝑏 = 0
𝑏(𝑏 + 7) = 0
𝑏 = 0 𝑜𝑟 𝑏 = − 7
11c
𝑐 2 + 7𝑐 + 6 = 0
𝑐 2 + 6𝑐 + 𝑐 + 6 = 0 Sum of 6 and 1 is 7 and product is 6
𝑐(𝑐 + 6) + 1(𝑐 + 6) = 0
(𝑐 + 1)(𝑐 + 6) = 0
𝑐 = − 1 or 𝑐 = −6
11d
𝑑 2 + 6𝑑 − 7 = 0
𝑑 2 + 7𝑑 − 𝑑 − 7 = 0 Sum of 7 and − 1 is 6 and product is − 7
𝑑(𝑑 + 7) − 1(𝑑 + 7) = 0
(𝑑 − 1)(𝑑 + 7) = 0
𝑑 = 1 or 𝑑 = − 7
11e
𝑒 2 − 5𝑒 + 6 = 0
𝑒 2 − 3𝑒 − 2𝑒 + 6 = 0 Sum of − 3 and − 2 is − 5 and product is 6
𝑒(𝑒 − 3) − 2(𝑒 − 3) = 0
(𝑒 − 2)(𝑒 − 3) = 0
𝑒 = 2 𝑜𝑟 𝑒 = 3
11f
2𝑓 2 − 𝑓 − 6 = 0
2𝑓 2 − 4𝑓 + 3𝑓 − 6 = 0
Sum of − 4 and 3 is − 1 and product is 2 × ( − 6) = − 12
2𝑓(𝑓 − 2) + 3(𝑓 − 2) = 0
(2𝑓 + 3)(𝑓 − 2) = 0
3
𝑓 = − 2 or 𝑓 = 2
11g 2𝑔2 − 13𝑔 + 6 = 0
2𝑔2 − 12𝑔 − 𝑔 + 6 = 0
Sum of − 12 and − 1 is − 13 and product is 2 × (6) = 12
2𝑔(𝑔 − 6) − 1(𝑔 − 6) = 0
(2𝑔 − 1)(𝑔 − 6) = 0
1
𝑔 = 2 or 𝑔 = 6

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
11h
3ℎ2 + 2ℎ − 8 = 0
3ℎ2 + 6ℎ − 4ℎ − 8 = 0
Sum of 6 and − 4 is 2 and product is 3 × ( − 8) = −24
3ℎ(ℎ + 2) − 4(ℎ + 2) = 0
(3ℎ − 4)(ℎ + 2) = 0
4
ℎ = 3 or ℎ = − 2
12a
𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 1 = 0
Comparing with 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐
We have
𝑎 = 1,𝑏 = − 4,𝑐 = 1
−𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑥 =
2𝑎
2
𝑏 − 4𝑎𝑐 = 16 − 4×1×1 = 12
4 +√12 4 −√12
𝑥 = or 𝑥 =
2 2
𝑥 = 2 + √3 or 𝑥 = 2 − √3
12b
𝑦 2 + 3𝑦 − 3 = 0
Comparing with 𝑎𝑦 2 + 𝑏𝑦 + 𝑐
We have
𝑎 = 1, 𝑏 = 3,𝑐 = − 3
−𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑦 =
2𝑎
𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 = 9 − 4×1×(−3) = 21
− 3 +√21 − 3 −√21
𝑦 = or 𝑦 =
2 2
12c
𝑡 2 + 6𝑡 + 4 = 0
Comparing with 𝑎𝑡 2 + 𝑏𝑡 + 𝑐
We have
𝑎 = 1, 𝑏 = 6, 𝑐 = 4
−𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑡 =
2𝑎
2
𝑏 − 4𝑎𝑐 = 36 − 4×1×4 = 20
− 6 +√20 ( − 6 −√20)
𝑡 = or 𝑡 =
2 2
𝑡 = ( − 3 + √5) or 𝑡 = ( − 3 − √5)

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
12d
3𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 2 = 0
Comparing with 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐
We have
𝑎 = 3,𝑏 = − 2,𝑐 = − 2
−𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑥 =
2𝑎
𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐 = 4 − 4×3×(−2) = 28
2 +√28 (2 −√28)
𝑥 = × 3 or 𝑥 = ×3
2 2
1 +√7 1 −√7
𝑥 = or 𝑥 =
3 3
12e
2𝑎2 − 5𝑎 − 5 = 0
Comparing with 𝑚𝑎2 + 𝑛𝑎 + 𝑜
We have
𝑚 = 2,𝑛 = − 5,𝑜 = − 5
−𝑛 ± √𝑛2 − 4𝑚𝑜
𝑎 =
2𝑚
𝑛2 − 4𝑚𝑛 = 25 − 4 × 2 × ( − 5) = 65
5 +√65 5 −√65
𝑎 = or 𝑎 =
4 4
12f
4𝑘 2 − 6𝑘 − 1
Comparing with 𝑎𝑘 2 + 𝑏𝑘 + 𝑐
We have
𝑎 = 4,𝑏 = − 6,𝑐 = − 1
−𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑘 =
2𝑎
2
𝑏 − 4𝑎𝑐 = 36 − 4×4×(−1) = 52
6 +√52 6 −√52
𝑡 = × 4 or 𝑡 = ×4
2 2
3 +√13 3 −√13
𝑡 = or 𝑡 =
4 4
13a
𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 = 6
Adding 4 on both sides
𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 4 = 10
(𝑥 + 2)2 = 10
𝑥 + 2 = √10 or 𝑥 + 2 = −√10
𝑥 = − 2 + √10 or 𝑥 = − 2 − √10

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
13b
𝑦 2 − 6𝑦 + 3 = 0
Adding 6 to both sides
𝑦 2 − 6𝑦 + 9 = 6
(𝑦 − 3)2 = 6
𝑦 − 3 = √6 or 𝑦 − 3 = −√6
𝑦 = 3 + √6 or 𝑦 = 3 − √6
13c
𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 = 12
Adding 1 to both sides
𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 1 = 13
(𝑥 − 1)2 = 13
𝑥 − 1 = √13 or 𝑥 − 1 = −√13
𝑥 = 1 + √13 or 𝑥 = 1 − √13
13d
𝑦 2 + 10𝑦 + 7 = 0
Adding 18 to both sides
𝑦 2 + 10𝑦 + 25 = 18
(𝑦 + 5)2 = 18
𝑦 + 5 = √18 or 𝑦 + 5 = −√18
𝑦 = −5 + 3√2 or 𝑦 = −5 − 3√2
14
𝑥+𝑦 =5
(𝑥 + 𝑦)2 = 25
𝑥 2 + 2𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 2 = 25
𝑥 2 + 2×7 + 𝑦 2 = 25
𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 25 − 14 = 11
15
𝑥 4 + 𝑥 2 + 1 = 𝑥 4 + 2𝑥 2 + 1 − 𝑥 2 = (𝑥 2 + 1)2 − 𝑥 2 = (𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 2 − 𝑥 + 1)
16
𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 8 𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 𝑥 2 (𝑥 + 2) + 4(𝑥 + 2) 𝑥(𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 4)
× = × 2
2𝑥 3 − 8𝑥 𝑥 4 − 16 2𝑥(𝑥 2 − 4) (𝑥 − 4)(𝑥 2 + 4)
(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 2 + 4) 𝑥(𝑥 − 2)2 1
= × =
2𝑥(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 2) (𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 2 + 4) 2(𝑥 + 2)

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
17
5𝑥 3𝑥 8𝑥
+ −
𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 2 𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 3 𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 + 6
5𝑥 3𝑥 8𝑥
= + −
(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 + 2) (𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 + 3) (𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 + 3)
5𝑥(𝑥 + 3) 3𝑥(𝑥 + 2)
= +
(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 + 3) (𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 + 3)
8𝑥(𝑥 + 1) 5𝑥(𝑥 + 3) + 3𝑥(𝑥 + 2) − 8𝑥(𝑥 + 1)
− =
(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 + 3) (𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 + 3)
2 2 2
5𝑥 + 15𝑥 + 3𝑥 + 6𝑥 − 8𝑥 − 8𝑥 13𝑥
= =
(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 + 3) (𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 + 3)
13𝑥
=
(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 + 3)
18
7 4 1
− =
3𝑥 − 1 𝑥 + 1 4
Multiplying by 4(3𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1)
7×4(𝑥 + 1) − 4×4(3𝑥 − 1) = (3𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1)
28𝑥 + 28 − 48𝑥 + 16 = 3𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 1
3𝑥 2 + 22𝑥 − 45𝑥 = 0
Using the quadratic formula
−22±32 5
𝑥= = −9 or 𝑥 = 3
2×3
19
𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 4 → 𝑥 2 = 𝑦 + 4 in 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 4
𝑦 + 4 + 𝑦2 = 4
𝑦 + 𝑦2 = 0
𝑦(𝑦 + 1) = 0
𝑦 = 0 or −1

When 𝑦 = 0
0 = 𝑥2 − 4
𝑥2 = 4
𝑥 = ±2

When 𝑦 = −1
−1 = 𝑥 2 − 4
𝑥2 = 3
𝑥 = ±√3

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Chapter 1 – Methods in algebra – Worked solutions
Thus the solutions are :
𝑦 = 0, 𝑥 = 2
𝑦 = 0, 𝑥 = −2
𝑦 = 1, 𝑥 = √3
𝑦 = 1, 𝑥 = −√3

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