MTH 4271 – Algebraic and Graphical Modelling - Notes and Exercises

Part 1

Table of Contents
Factoring Polynomials ........................................................................................................... 2
Review: Polynomials ......................................................................................................................2
Add and Subtract Polynomials (IXL grade 10 – 0.4) ..............................................................................................2

Review: Laws of exponents.............................................................................................................2

1. Negative exponents (IXL grade 10 – B.3) ..........................................................................................................2
2. Multiplication with exponents (IXL grade 10 – B.4) ..........................................................................................3
Division with exponents (IXL grade 10 – B.5) ........................................................................................................3
3. If the Exponent is zero ......................................................................................................................................3
4. Power rule (Brackets) (IXL grade 10 – B.7, B.9) ................................................................................................3
5. Rational Exponents (handout) ..........................................................................................................................3

Review: Multiplying polynomials ....................................................................................................4

Multiplying polynomial with monomial (IXL grade 10 – 0.6) ................................................................................4
Multiplying polynomials (IXL grade 10 – 0.8) ........................................................................................................4
Multiplying polynomials: special cases (IXL grade 10 – 0.9) .................................................................................4

Review: Factoring ...........................................................................................................................5

Greatest Common Factor (GCF) of monomials (IXL grade 10 – P.1) .....................................................................5

Factoring Polynomials ....................................................................................................................5

Factor by removing a common factor (IXL grade 10 – P.2) ...................................................................................5
Factor Trinomials: Shortcut when leading coefficient =1 (IXL grade 10 – P.3) .....................................................6
Factor Trinomials (IXL grade 10 – P.4) ..................................................................................................................6
Factor trinomials: special cases (IXL grade 10 – Q.6 and P.6) ...............................................................................7
Factor by grouping (IXL grade 10 – P.7) ................................................................................................................7
Factoring Polynomials [handout or IXL grade 10 – P.8] ........................................................................................7

Simplifying Algebraic Fractions (handout) .......................................................................................8

Multiplying algebraic fractions .............................................................................................................................8
Dividing algebraic fractions ...................................................................................................................................8

Adding Algebraic Fractions (handout) .............................................................................................9

Review: Least common denominator (IXL grade 8 – D.2) .....................................................................................9
Review: Add fractions with unlike denominators (IXL grade 8 – D.5 ....................................................................9
Adding and Subtracting 2 algebraic functions ....................................................................................................10

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Factoring Polynomials
Review: Polynomials
An algebraic expression is a set of variables and numbers related to each other by arithmetic operations
(+, –, ×, ÷).

Each “piece” of an algebraic expression separated by a + or a – is called a term.

one term two terms three terms

3(5x) 4y – 3x 4x + 3 + y

Five to the power of three

Add and Subtract Polynomials (IXL grade 10 – 0.4)

Terms that have the exact same letters (and exponents) are called similar (or like) terms. You can add or
subtract the coefficients of similar terms.

because the terms are different

Review: Laws of exponents

1. Negative exponents (IXL grade 10 – B.3)

𝟏 𝟏
𝒂−𝒏 = = 𝒂𝒏
𝒂𝒏 𝒂−𝒏
Ex:
1 𝑥2
𝑥 −4 = = 𝑥2𝑦3
𝑥4 𝑦 −3

2
2. Multiplication with exponents (IXL grade 10 – B.4)
Division with exponents (IXL grade 10 – B.5)
Multiplication Division Common mistake:
(keep the same base (keep the same base and cannot add exponents if they do not
and add exponents) subtract exponents) have the same base
𝒂𝒎 × 𝒂𝒏 = 𝒂𝒎+𝒏 𝒂𝒎
𝒏
= 𝒂𝒎−𝒏
𝒂
Ex: Ex:
6
5 ×5 = 53 9 𝑥6 272 × 33 ≠ (27 × 3)2+3
= 𝑥4
𝑥2
𝑥 5 ∙ 𝑥 −2 = 𝑥 3
58 ÷ 53 = 55

3. If the Exponent is zero

𝒂𝟎 = 𝟏 Ex: 340 = 1 (−3𝑥)0 = 1

4. Power rule (Brackets) (IXL grade 10 – B.7, B.9)

Power of a Product Power of a Quotient Power of a Power
(𝒂𝒃)𝒏 𝒏 𝒏
=𝒂 𝒃 𝒂 𝒏 𝒂𝒏 (𝒂𝒎 )𝒏 =𝒂 𝒎×𝒏
( ) = 𝒏
𝒃 𝒃
Ex: Ex: Ex:
(5𝑥)2 = 52 𝑥 2 = 25𝑥 2 5 5 2
25 2 (𝑥 3 )4 = 𝑥 12
( ) = 2= 2
𝑥 𝑥 𝑥

5. Rational Exponents (handout)

𝟏 𝟏
𝒏
√𝒂 = 𝒂 𝟐
√𝒂 = 𝒂𝒏
Ex:
√6𝑥 = (6𝑥)1/2 3
√8𝑥 3 = (8𝑥 3 )1/3

3
Review: Multiplying polynomials
Multiplying polynomial with monomial (IXL grade 10 – 0.6)
Use the distributive property (rainbow effect), just like when we multiply a number with a bracket.

Multiplying polynomials (IXL grade 10 – 0.8)

Use the distributive property (FOIL). At the end, check to see if you can add similar terms.

Multiplying polynomials: special cases (IXL grade 10 – 0.9)

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Review: Factoring
Greatest Common Factor (GCF) of monomials (IXL grade 10 – P.1)
Coefficients Variables
 Find the prime factors that are common to  Choose the variables that are common to all
both numbers terms
 Choose the smallest exponent for each
common variable

𝑥 4𝑦3𝑧6 𝑥 2𝑦5

GCF = 𝑥 2 𝑦 3

Factoring Polynomials
Factor Polynomials
1. remove common factor
2. choose appropriate method:
a) difference of squares (2 terms)
b) trinomial (3 terms)
c) grouping (4 or 6 terms)

Factor by removing a common factor (IXL grade 10 – P.2)

1. Find the greatest common factor of coefficients and algebraic parts

2. divide each term by common factor
3. put common factor in front of brackets with the new polynomial

* Check your answer using mental math

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Factor Trinomials: Shortcut when leading coefficient =1 (IXL grade 10 – P.3)

ex. x2+8x+15
1. Find two numbers whose product is (a x c) and sum is b Product = 1x15 = 15
2. take two numbers and place then as such: (x+3)(x+5) Factors
1 15
3 5

Sum = 8

The signs of Factors

Product + + - -
Sum + - + -
Factors + + - - -+ +-
Both factors Both factors The largest The largest
will be will be factor will be factor will be
positive negative positive negative

Factor Trinomials (IXL grade 10 – P.4)

1. Find two numbers whose product is (a x c) and sum is b

2. Rewrite original trinomial, but replace bx term with the two numbers
3. Factor by grouping
Product = -8

Factors

-1 8

-2 4

Sum = 2

*If there is a negative sign in front of bracket, you must invert the signs of all terms inside
bracket

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Factor trinomials: special cases (IXL grade 10 – Q.6 and P.6)

*Shortcut when trinomial is a perfect square

A square is a number (or variable) that can be square-rooted perfectly
ex.

ex. √9 = √3 × 3 = 3 or √𝑎6 = √𝑎3 × 𝑎3 = 𝑎3 these are not squares:

24 or 𝑥 5

perfect squares: When the 1st and 3rd term are squares and the middle terms is twice the two square
roots. Take the square root of the 1st and 3rd term and take the sign of the middle term.

ex. 4x2+12x + 9 = (2x+3)(2x+3) ex. 25x2 - 10x + 1 = (5x-1)(5x-1)

Factor differences of two squares

A difference of squares must:
a) be a binomial (2 terms)
b) two terms must have opposite signs (+,-)
c) both terms must be perfect squares

ex. 16x2 - 49 = (4x - 7)(4x + 7)

Factor by grouping (IXL grade 10 – P.7)

Factoring Polynomials [handout or IXL grade 10 – P.8]

7
Simplifying Algebraic Fractions (handout)

1. factor the numerator and denominator

separately
2. Reduce the fraction

Tip Common mistakes

(𝑏 − 𝑎) (𝑏 − 𝑎) ≠ (𝑎 − 𝑏)
= (−𝑎 + 𝑏)
= −(𝑎 − 𝑏)
𝑎2 + 𝑏 2
≠ 𝑎2
𝑏2

Multiplying algebraic fractions

1. Factor the numerator and denominator

2. Simplify

Dividing algebraic fractions

Same as multiplication but invert the terms of the divisor and change to multiplication

8
Adding Algebraic Fractions (handout)

1 3
+
3 5

5 9
= +
15 15

14
=
15

3 3
Adding (or subtracting) Fractions Ex 2 +2
5

1. Find the lowest Common Denominator (L.C.D.) LCD = 5*2 = 10

2 3 3 5
=( ) + ( )
2. Find the equivalent fractions 2 5 2 5

6 15
3. Add or subtract terms on top only = +
10 10
4. Simplify the results 21
=
10

Find the LCD Ex. 3

1. Determine the prime

factors of each
denominator
2. Multiply each factor the
greatest number of times it
occurs in either
denominator.

Review: Least common denominator (IXL grade 8 – D.2)

Review: Add fractions with unlike denominators (IXL grade 8 – D.5

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Adding and Subtracting 2 algebraic functions

1. Factor and simplify each fraction

2. Find the lowest Common Denominator
(C.D.)
3. Find the equivalent fractions
4. Add or subtract similar terms on top only
5. Factor and simplify the results

Finding Common Denominator

a) Any term present in one of
denominators must be in C.D.
b) If there are exponents in denominator,
use largest.
c) use the lowest common multiple for
whole numbers

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