Secondary 1 Mathematics – Algebraic Expressions and Formulae

1. Evaluating Algebraic Expressions and Formulae

Worked Example 1
If 𝑎 = 3, 𝑏 = 2, 𝑐 = −1 and 𝑑 = 5, evaluate the following.
(a) 3𝑎 + 2𝑏 (b) 5𝑐 − 2𝑑 (c) 𝑎𝑏 − 7

(d) 𝑎𝑏 ! (e) 𝑏(𝑑 − 2𝑐) (f) 𝑎𝑐 − 3𝑏𝑑

Worked Solutions:

(a) 3𝑎 + 2𝑏 = 3(3) + 2(2) (b) 𝑎𝑏 ! = 3(2)!

=9+4 = 3(4)
= 13 = 12

(b) 5𝑐 − 2𝑑 = 5(−1) − 2(5) (e) 𝑏(𝑑 − 2𝑐) = 2[5 − 2(2)]

= −5 − 10 = 2(5 − 4)
= −15 = 2(1)
=2

(c) 𝑎𝑏 − 7 = (3)(2) − 7 (f) 𝑎𝑐 − 3𝑏𝑑 = 3(−1) − 3(2)(5)

=6−7 = −3 − 30
= −1 = −33

1
2. Four Operations of Algebra
Worked Example 2 – Addition
Add the following algebras.
(a) 3𝑎 + 2 (b) 𝑥 + 3𝑥 + 4𝑥 (c) 𝑥 + 𝑦 + 3𝑥 + 𝑦
(d) 2𝑥 ! + 2𝑥 + 𝑥 + 3𝑥 ! (e) (−2𝑥) + (−2𝑥) (f) 9 − 4𝑦 ! + 3𝑦 + (−2𝑦)!

Worked Solutions:

(a) 3𝑎 + 2 = 𝟑𝒂 + 𝟐 (d) 2𝑥 ! + 2𝑥 + 𝑥 + 3𝑥 ! = 𝟓𝒙𝟐 + 𝟑𝒙

(b) 𝑥 + 3𝑥 + 4𝑥 = 𝟖𝒙 (e) (−2𝑥) + (−2𝑥) = −𝟒𝒙

(c) ) 𝑥 + 𝑦 + 3𝑥 + 𝑦 = 𝟒𝒙 + 𝟐𝒚 (f) 9 − 4𝑦 ! + 3𝑦 + (−2𝑦)!

= −𝟔𝒚𝟐 + 𝟑𝒚 + 𝟗

Worked Example 3 – Subtraction

Subtract the following algebras.
! $
(a) 3𝑥 − 1 (b) 15𝑥 − 4𝑥 (c) # 𝑥 + 2𝑦 − % 𝑥 − 𝑦

(d) 7𝑥 ! + 4𝑥 − 𝑥 ! − 5𝑥 (e) 3𝑥 − (−2𝑥) (f) (−3𝑥)! − (−4𝑥) − (−5𝑥 ! )

Worked Solutions:

(a) 3𝑥 − 1 = 𝟑𝒙 − 𝟏 (d) 7𝑥 ! + 4𝑥 − 𝑥 ! − 5𝑥 = 𝟔𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙

(b) 15𝑥 − 4𝑥 = 𝟏𝟏𝒙 (e) 3𝑥 − (−2𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 2𝑥

= 𝟓𝒙

! $ ! $
(c) # 𝑥 + 2𝑦 − % 𝑥 − 𝑦 = # 𝑥 − % 𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 𝑦 (f) (−3𝑥)! − (−4𝑥) − (−5𝑥 ! )
𝟏
= 𝟏𝟓 𝒙 + 𝟑𝒚 = −3𝑥 ! + 4𝑥 + 5𝑥 !

= 2𝑥 ! + 4𝑥

2
Worked Example 4 – Multiplication
Multiply the following algebras.
(a) 𝑥 × 2𝑥 (b) 𝑥 ! × 𝑥 ! (c) 4𝑥 × 2𝑦 !
$ ( $#)
(d) 𝑥 ! × 6𝑥 (e) #) ×
! !(

Worked Solutions:
( $#) $ %)
(a) 𝑥 × 2𝑥 = 𝟐𝒙𝟐 (e) #) × !(
=)× *
$ $
(b) 𝑥 ! × 𝑥 ! = 𝒙𝟒 =$×!
𝟏
(c) 4𝑥 × 2𝑦 ! = 𝟖𝒙𝒚𝟐 =𝟐
$
(d) 𝑥 ! × 6𝑥 = 𝟑𝒙𝟑
!

Worked Example 5 – Division

Divide the following algebras.
() *)
(a) 10𝑥 ÷ 5 (b) ÷2 (c) 8 ÷
# -
% )
(d) 15𝑎! ÷ 5 (e) #) ÷ G− *H

Worked Solutions:
3
$.) ! $#/ !
(a) 10𝑥 ÷ 5 = (d) 15𝑎 ÷ 5 =
# #1

= 2𝑥 = 3𝑎!

2
() () $ % ) % 0*
(b) ÷2= ×! (e) #) ÷ G− *H = #) ×
# # )
1
!) $1
= = − #) !
#

*) 4 -
(c) 8 ÷ = 8 × *)
-
3
-
= 4 × %)
!1
= %)

3
3. Simplification of Linear Algebraic Expressions
Worked Example 6
Multiply the following algebraic expressions.
(a) 3(𝑥 + 5𝑦) (b) −(4𝑥 − 𝑦) (c) 𝑎(3𝑎 − 𝑏)
$
(d) − ! (4𝑚 − 6𝑛) (e) 7(3ℎ − 2𝑘 + ℎ)

Worked Solutions:
$ $ $
(a) 3(𝑥 + 5𝑦) = 𝟑𝒙 + 𝟏𝟓𝒚 (d) − ! (4𝑚 − 6𝑛) = − ! (4𝑚) − ! (−6𝑛)

= −𝟐𝒎 + 𝟑𝒏

(b) −(4𝑥 − 𝑦) = −4𝑥 − (−𝑦) (e) 7(3ℎ − 2𝑘 + ℎ) = 7(4ℎ − 2𝑘)

= −𝟒𝒙 + 𝒚 = 𝟐𝟖𝒉 − 𝟏𝟒𝒌

(c) 𝑎(3𝑎 − 𝑏) = 𝟑𝒂𝟐 − 𝒂𝒃

4. Algebraic Factorization – Basic Factorization

• Key: Factorizing common terms and multiples.
• Example: 𝑥 ! + 2𝑥 = 𝑥(𝑥 + 2)

Worked Example 7
Factorize the following algebraic expressions.
(a) 4𝑥 + 24 (b) 6𝑥 ! 𝑦 − 2𝑥𝑦 ! (c) 2𝑥𝑦 % + 𝑥𝑦 − 6𝑥𝑦 !

Worked Solution:

(a) 4𝑥 + 24 = 4(𝑥 + 6)

(b) 6𝑥 ! 𝑦 − 2𝑥𝑦 ! = 2𝑥𝑦(3𝑥 − 𝑦)

(c) 2𝑥𝑦 % + 𝑥𝑦 − 6𝑥𝑦 ! = 𝑥𝑦(2𝑦 ! + 1 − 6𝑦)

4
5. Simplifying/Manipulating Algebraic Fractions

Worked Example 4
Simplify the following algebraic expressions into a single fraction.
!)2$ % *3 !)2$ )2!3 %32$
(a) +! (b) − (c) −
( # # ! (
%)2$ $0!) %30$ !3 32$
(d) − (e) + $. −
! % # !

Worked Solution:
!)2$ % !)2$ %×! *3 !)2$ *30(!)2$)
(a) +!= + !×! (b) − =
( ( # # #
!)2$ * *30!)0$
= +( =
( #
!)2$2*
= (
!)2-
= (

)2!3 %32$ ()2!3)×! %32$ %)2$ $0!) (%)2$)×% ($0!))×!

(c) − = − (d) − = −
! ( !×! ( ! % !×% %×!
!)2(3 %32$ 7)2% !0()
= − = −
( ( * *
!)2(30(%32$) 7)2%0(!0())
= =
( *
!)2(30%30$ 7)2%0!2()
= =
( *
!)230$ $%)2$
= =
( *

%30$ !3 32$ (%30$)×! !3 (32$)×#

(e) + $. − = + $. −
# ! #×! !×#
*30! !3 #32#
= + $. −
$. !
*30!2!30(#32#)
= $.
*30!2!30#30#
= $.
%30-
= $.

5
 Algebraic Expressions and Formulae – Practice Questions 1

1. Given that 𝑎 = 4, 𝑏 = −3, 𝑐 = 5, 𝑑 = 2 and 𝑒 = 0, evaluate the following algebraic

expressions.
(a) 4𝑎 − 3𝑒 (b) 𝑎 + 5𝑐 (c) 2𝑎𝑑
(d) 14 − 4𝑏 + 5𝑎 (e) 𝑎 + 𝑏 − 2𝑐 − (−𝑑) (f) 8𝑎 − 5𝑑𝑒
(g) 𝑏 % (h) 2𝑎(−𝑏) + 4𝑑𝑐 (i) 𝑎𝑐 − 𝑎𝑑
(j) 𝑐 8 %/0!8 / ! 0#9
(k) (l)
9 (8

Answers:

(a) _____________________ (b) _____________________ (c) _____________________

(d) _____________________ (e) _____________________ (f) _____________________

(g) _____________________ (h) _____________________ (i) _____________________

(j) _____________________ (k) _____________________ (l) _____________________

6
2. The speed of a particle can be calculated using the formula, 𝑣 = 𝑢 + 𝑎𝑡. Find the value of
v if the values of u, a, and t are 20, 10 and 5 respectively.

Answer: _____________________

$
3. The distance of a moving object can be calculated using the formula 𝑠 = 𝑢𝑡 + ! 𝑎𝑡 ! . Find

the value of s if u = 25, t = 5, and a = −10.

Answer: _____________________

4. Add the following algebras.

(a) 𝑥 + 2𝑥 (b) 11𝑥 + 8𝑥 + 3𝑥
(c) 4𝑥 + 7𝑥 + 1 (d) 2𝑥 + 8𝑥 + 3 + 5𝑥 + 1

Answer: (a) _____________________ (b) _____________________

(c) _____________________(d) _____________________

7
5. Add the following algebras.
(a) 4𝑦 + 9 (b) 11𝑦 + 3𝑦 (c) 13𝑦 + 8𝑦 + 5𝑦
$ $ ! $
(d) 2𝑦 + 4 + 8𝑦 (e) 𝑦 + 8𝑥 + 5𝑦 + 4𝑥 (f) % 𝑦 + % 𝑥 + % 𝑦 + %
$ ( $ ! # -
(g) ! 𝑦 + 2𝑥 + # 𝑦 + * 𝑥 (h) # 𝑦 + 𝑥 + - 𝑥 + * 𝑦

Answers:

(a) _____________________ (b) _____________________ (c) _____________________

(d) _____________________ (e) _____________________ (f) _____________________

(g) _____________________ (h) _____________________

8
6. Subtract the following algebras.
(a) 𝑥 − 2 (b) 34𝑥 − 30𝑥
(c) 16𝑥 − 7𝑥 − 2𝑥 (d) (−6𝑥) − 7𝑥

Answer: (a) _____________________ (b) _____________________

(c) _____________________(d) _____________________

7. Evaluate the following algebras.

(a) 𝑥 + 6 + 3𝑥 − 2 (b) 5𝑥 − 4𝑥 + 8 + 2𝑥 − 6
(c) 3𝑥 + 6𝑦 − 𝑥 − 4𝑦 + 3 (d) 8 − 𝑥 − 7𝑦 − 3𝑥 + 11𝑦 + 3

Answer: (a) _____________________ (b) _____________________

(c) _____________________(d) _____________________

9
 Algebraic Expressions and Formulae – Homework 1

1. Given that p = −2, 𝑞 = 3, 𝑟 = −1 and 𝑠 = 0.5, evaluate the following algebraic

expressions.
(a) 3𝑝 + 2𝑟 (e) 𝑟𝑠 − 2𝑝
(b) 4𝑠 + 3𝑞 (f) 5𝑞 + 7𝑝𝑠
(c) 𝑝 + 2𝑞 − 3𝑟 (g) 𝑝! 𝑞!
(d) 𝑝(2𝑞 − 3𝑟)

Answers:

(a) _______________ (e) _______________

(b) _______________ (f) _______________

(c) _______________ (g) _______________

(d) _______________

10
 : ! 0;!
2. The distance of a moving object can be calculated using the formula 𝑠 = . Find the
!/

value of s if v = 50, u = 26, and a = 4.

Answer: _____________________

3. Add the following algebras.

(a) 2𝑥 + 4 + 8𝑥 (b) 3𝑥𝑦 + 2𝑥𝑦 + 3𝑥
! $ $
(c) 𝑥 + 3 + 𝑥 (d) 3.1𝑥 + 3 + !. 𝑥
# %

Answer: (a) _____________________ (b) _____________________

(c) _____________________(d) _____________________

4. Add the following algebra.

%)3 $ $
+ 2.1𝑥 + 3.2𝑦 + ! 𝑥 + 1.4𝑥𝑦 + # 𝑦
!

Answer: _____________________

11
5. Subtract the following algebras.
(a) 9𝑥 − 2 (d) (−𝑔) − 5𝑔)
(b) 3𝑦 − 7𝑦 (e) 12 − 3𝑛 − 2𝑛
(c) (−4𝑡) − 2𝑡 (f) 29 − 4ℎ − 11ℎ

Answer: (a) _____________________ (d) _____________________

(b) _____________________ (e) _____________________

(c) _____________________ (f) _____________________

6. Evaluate the following algebras.

(a) 4𝑥 + (−9𝑥) − 13𝑥 (c) 5𝑦 − (−4𝑦) − 20𝑦
(b) 5𝑏 − 8𝑏 + (−3𝑏) (d) (−2𝑥) − (−5𝑥) − 16𝑥

Answer: (a) _____________________ (c) _____________________

(b) _____________________(d) _____________________

12
 Algebraic Expressions and Formulae – Practice Questions 2

1. Multiply the following algebras.

$
(a) 4𝑥 × 3 (b) 3 × % 𝑥 (c) 6𝑥 × 7 × 2𝑥

(d) (−6𝑥) × 7𝑥 (e) 2𝑥 × 4𝑦 (f) 2𝑥 × 4𝑦 × 4𝑥 × 𝑦

* $ $!) $
(g) $( 𝑥 × 7 × 2𝑥 (h) ( × (i) *) × 12𝑥
%

Answers:

(a) _____________________ (b) _____________________ (c) _____________________

(d) _____________________ (e) _____________________ (f) _____________________

(g) _____________________ (h) _____________________ (i) _____________________

13
2. Multiply the following algebras.
(a) 4𝑥 ÷ 3 (b) 20𝑥 ÷ 5 (c) 16𝑥 ÷ 6
(
(d) 20𝑥 ! ÷ 2𝑥 (e) 20𝑥 ÷ 2𝑥 ! (f) 2𝑥 ÷ #
() #) # 1 $
(g) 2𝑥 ÷ (h) ÷( (i) #) ÷ !) !
# (

Answers:

(a) _____________________ (b) _____________________ (c) _____________________

(d) _____________________ (e) _____________________ (f) _____________________

(g) _____________________ (h) _____________________ (i) _____________________

14
3. Evaluate the following algebras.
(a) (4 × 3𝑥) ÷ 6 (b) (7𝑦 × 8𝑥) ÷ 2
(c) 3𝑥 × (6𝑦 ÷ 12) (d) 5𝑥𝑦 × (12 ÷ 60𝑥)

Answer: (a) _____________________ (b) _____________________

(c) _____________________(d) _____________________

4. John has $3𝑥 in his savings account. His sister, Jolin, has thrice as much savings as him.
What is the sum of money the siblings have in all?

Answer: _____________________

15
5. Luke spent $(5𝑥 + 3) last weekend. His friend, Kevin spent $4𝑥 more. Find the amount
Kevin spent last weekend.

Answer: _____________________

6. In a recent Mathematics test, Sandy scored a total of (5𝑥 − 9) marks, whereas her good
friend, Nancy, scored 8 marks fewer. Write an expression, in terms of x, for Nancy’s marks.

Answer: _____________________

%
7. The population of School A is 8y. The population of School B is times the population of
(

School A. Write an expression, in terms of y, for the total population of the two schools.

Answer: _____________________

16
8. Joe bought x pencils at y cents per dozen. She sold them for z cents each. Find an expression
for the profit in cents that she made. (1 dozen = 12)

Answer: _____________________

9. PQRS is a rectangle and T is a point on PS. PQ = (2𝑥 + 3) cm. ST =(5 − 𝑥) cm and the
perimeter of the rectangle is (14𝑥 − 10) cm. Find, in terms of x, an expression for
(a) QR
(b) PT
giving each answer in its simplest form.

Answer: (a) _____________________

(b) _____________________

17
 Algebraic Expressions and Formulae – Homework 2

1. Multiply the following algebras.

%
(a) 4𝑎 × 7 (b) × 8𝑏 (c) 3𝑎 × 2𝑏
(

(d) 5𝑝 × 2𝑞 (e) 6𝑎 × 2𝑎 (f) 3𝑝 × 9𝑡

$
(g) 𝑝 × 𝑝 × 2𝑝 (h) 6𝑚% × 2𝑚 (i) 3𝑚 × 2𝑛 × ! 𝑛
! 1
(j) ×
% 7<

Answers:

(a) _____________________ (b) _____________________ (c) _____________________

(d) _____________________ (e) _____________________ (f) _____________________

(g) _____________________ (h) _____________________ (i) _____________________

(j) ____________________

18
2. Divide the following algebras.
(a) 2𝑥 ÷ 3 (b) 15𝑦 ÷ 9 (c) 20𝑥 ÷ 4
(d) 24𝑡 ÷ 3 (e) 5𝑡 ! ÷ 𝑡 (f) 18𝑚! ÷ 3𝑚
!
(g) 54 ÷ 6𝑛 (h) 108 ÷ 12𝑝 (i) 4𝑚 ÷ %
7
(j) 27𝑦 ! ÷ $.

Answers:

(a) _____________________ (b) _____________________ (c) _____________________

(d) _____________________ (e) _____________________ (f) _____________________

(g) _____________________ (h) _____________________ (i) _____________________

(j) ____________________

19
3. Evaluate the following algebras.
(a) (4𝑎 × 3) ÷ 6 (b) (6𝑚 × 4𝑚) ÷ 12 (c) 8𝑝 × (8𝑞 ÷ 4)
(d) 5𝑚 × [15𝑛 ÷ (−5)] (e) [(−3𝑚) × (−𝑚)] ÷ 9 (f) 12 ÷ [(−2𝑥) × (−3𝑥)]

Answers:

(a) _____________________ (b) _____________________ (c) _____________________

(d) _____________________ (e) _____________________ (f) _____________________

4. The total cost of 2 cars is $7x. If one car is $x more expensive than the other, find the cost
of the cheaper car, in terms of x.

Answer: _____________________

20
 $
5. If car A costs $9x and is 3 times more expensive than car B, while car C costs ! as much as

Car A, find the cost of the car B and Car C, in terms of x.

Answer: Car B : $ _____________________

Car C : $ _____________________

6. Gem bought 2 dozens of eggs for baking (1 dozen = 12). If the eggs cost $x in total,
(a) what is the cost of each egg, in terms of x?
(b) what is the cost of 9 eggs, in terms of x?

Answer: (a) _____________________

(b) _____________________

21
 Algebraic Expressions and Formulae – Practice Questions 3

1. Simplify the following algebras.

(a) 3(1 + 𝑥) (b) 2(𝑦 − 𝑥) (c) 3𝑦(𝑥 + 1)
(d) 5𝑥(𝑥 − 𝑦) (e) 5(𝑥 + 𝑦 + 1) (f) 2(2𝑦 − 6𝑥 + 1)
(g) 2(1 + 𝑥 + 6𝑦) (h) 7(𝑦 − 3𝑥 − 2) (i) 3𝑥(3𝑥 + 1 − 2𝑦)

Answers:

(a) _____________________ (b) _____________________ (c) _____________________

(d) _____________________ (e) _____________________ (f) _____________________

(g) _____________________ (h) _____________________ (i) _____________________

22
2. Simplify the following algebras.
(a) −3(1 + 𝑥) (b) −2(𝑦 + 𝑥) (c) −3𝑦(𝑥 + 1)
(d) −5𝑥(𝑥 − 𝑦) (e) −5(𝑥 + 𝑦 + 1) (f)−2(2𝑦 − 6𝑥 + 1)
(g) −2(1 + 𝑥 + 6𝑦) (h) −7(𝑦 − 3𝑥 + 2) (i) −3𝑥(3𝑥 + 1 − 2𝑦)

Answers:

(a) _____________________ (b) _____________________ (c) _____________________

(d) _____________________ (e) _____________________ (f) _____________________

(g) _____________________ (h) _____________________ (i) _____________________

23
3. Evaluate the following algebraic expressions.
(a) 2(𝑥 + 2) + 3(𝑥 + 1) (b) 6(𝑦 − 1) + 3(2 − 2𝑦)
(c) 2(𝑦 + 𝑥) + 𝑥(4 + 𝑦) (d) 3𝑦(𝑥 + 1) + 𝑥(2𝑦 − 1)

Answers:

(a) __________________________ (b) __________________________

(c) __________________________ (d) __________________________

24
4. Evaluate the following algebraic expressions.
(a) −2(𝑥 + 2) + 3(𝑥 + 1) (b) 6(𝑦 + 1) − 3(2 − 2𝑦)
(c) −2(𝑦 + 𝑥) − 𝑥(4 + 𝑦) (d) −3𝑦(𝑥 − 1) + 𝑥(2𝑦 − 1)

Answers:

(a) __________________________ (b) __________________________

(c) __________________________ (d) __________________________

25
5. Factorize the following algebraic expressions.
(a) 2 + 2𝑥 (b) 2𝑦 + 2𝑥 (c) −3𝑦𝑥 − 𝑦
(d) −10𝑥 ! + 5𝑥 (e) 2𝑥 − 4𝑦 + 10 (f)−2𝑦 − 6𝑥 + 2
(g) 2(1 + 𝑥) + 𝑥(1 + 𝑥) (h) 𝑦(2𝑥 − 4) − 7(𝑥 − 2) (i) 12𝑥𝑦 − 6𝑥𝑤

Answers:

(a) _____________________ (b) _____________________ (c) _____________________

(d) _____________________ (e) _____________________ (f) _____________________

(g) _____________________ (h) _____________________ (i) _____________________

26
6. The total cost of buying a toaster and an electric oven is $(4𝑦 + 30). If the cost of the
electric oven is $150 more than the toaster, find the cost of the toaster, in terms of y.

Answer: _____________________

7. The average speed of an aircraft is 8y km/h. If the aircraft has travelled for 2x hours, find
the distance travelled in terms of x and y.

Answer: _____________________

27
8. (a) Marc bought x identical photo frames for a total cost of $q. Write down an expression
in terms of x and q, for the cost of 1 photo frame.
$
(b) Jenna bought 8 stalks of roses. Each stalk of rose cost $ (𝑦 + 3). Write down an
!

expression in terms of y, for the total amount she paid for the 8 stalks of roses.

Answer: (a) _____________________

(b) _____________________

9. Simplify
(a) 12𝑥 − 15𝑦 − 3(6𝑥 − 9𝑦)
(b) 6𝑥𝑦 ÷ 2𝑦 × 3𝑥
$ $
(c) % d7𝑥 + # (10𝑥 − 15)e

Answer: (a) _____________________

(b) _____________________

(c) _____________________

28
 Algebraic Expressions and Formulae – Homework 3

1. Simplify the following algebras.

(a) 2(𝑥 + 𝑦) (b) 3(2𝑥 − 𝑦) (c) 𝑥(5 + 𝑥)
$ # %
(d) 𝑝(𝑝 + 𝑞 + 4) (e) 7(2𝑥 + 4𝑦 − 5) (f) 2 G! 𝑦 − ( 𝑥 + !H

Answers:

(a) _____________________ (b) _____________________ (c) _____________________

(d) _____________________ (e) _____________________ (f) _____________________

29
2. Simplify the following algebras.
(a) −(2 + 𝑥) (b) −(2𝑥 + 9) (c) −2(𝑝 − 𝑞)
$ $ $ $ $ $
(d) −8 G! − ( 𝑦H (e) −5 G4𝑥 + 2𝑦 − # 𝑥H (f) −8 G! 𝑥 + ( 𝑥 − 1 𝑥H

Answers:

(a) _____________________ (b) _____________________ (c) _____________________

(d) _____________________ (e) _____________________ (f) _____________________

30
3. Evaluate the following algebraic expressions.
(a) 11(𝑥 − 1) + 6(2𝑥 + 3)
(b) −3𝑥(1 + 𝑦) − (𝑥 + 2𝑦)
% !
(c) ! (4𝑥 − 2) + % (3 − 3𝑥)

Answers:

(a) _____________________ (b) _____________________ (c) _____________________

31
4. Factorize the following algebraic expressions.
$ $
(a) ! 𝑥 + ! (b) 4𝑦 − 8 (c) 3𝑥 − 𝑥 ! 𝑦

(d) 𝑥 ! + 𝑥 (e) 2𝑥 ! − 6𝑥𝑦 − 10𝑥 (f)𝑥𝑦 − 𝑥𝑦 ! + 2𝑥 ! 𝑦

(g) 4(2𝑥 − 1) − 𝑥(2𝑥 − 1) (h) (𝑥 − 2) − 𝑦(3𝑥 − 6) (i) 3𝑥 ! 𝑦 − 6𝑥𝑤 !

Answers:

(a) _____________________ (b) _____________________ (c) _____________________

(d) _____________________ (e) _____________________ (f) _____________________

(g) _____________________ (h) _____________________ (i) _____________________

32
5. The total time taken for a car to travel (20𝑥 + 4) km is 2x hours. Find the average speed
of the car, in terms of x.

Answer: _____________________

6. The average speed of a car is 4x km/h. Find in terms of x, taken by the car to travel
(𝑥 + 10)! km.

Answer: _____________________

33
7. Five men bought some electric cables at a shop. Andy bought p pieces of cables each of
length 50 m. Ben bought q pieces of cables of length 65 m, Carl bought q pieces of cables
each at length 80 m, Dennis and Edward each bought p pieces of cables each of length 125
m. Write down an expression in terms of p and q for

(a) the total number of cables bought by the men

(b) the total length of all the cables

Answer: (a) _____________________

(b) _____________________

8. Jenna is n years old. Terence, her brother is 8 years older than Jenna. Their Father is 3 times
as old as Jenna. Find the father’s age when Terrence was born.

Answer: _____________________

34
 Algebraic Expressions and Formulae – Practice Questions 4

1. Factorize the following algebraic expressions.

(a) 2 + 10𝑥 (d) 3𝑥𝑦 + 9𝑥 % 𝑦 !
(b) 3𝑥 ! + 𝑥 (e) 𝑥 ! 𝑦 ! − 2𝑦 ! 𝑥
(c) 4𝑥 % + 2𝑥 ! − 10𝑥 (f) 5𝑥𝑦 ! 𝑧 % + 𝑥 ! 𝑦𝑧

Answer: (a) _________________ (d) _________________

(b) _________________ (e) _________________

(c) _________________ (f) _________________

35
2. Factorize the following algebraic expressions.
(a) 4𝑥𝑦 − 2𝑥𝑦 ! + 8𝑥 ! 𝑦 (d) 𝑎% 𝑏 ! − 9𝑏 % 𝑎! 𝑐
(b) 7𝑎! 𝑏 + 14𝑎𝑏 − 21𝑎𝑏 ! (e) 4𝑥 % 𝑦 ! 𝑧 ! − 2𝑥 ! 𝑦 ! 𝑧 !
(c) 9𝑥𝑦𝑏 + 3𝑥 ! 𝑦𝑏 + 21𝑥𝑦 ! 𝑏 ! (f) 3𝑥𝑦 ! 𝑧 % + 12𝑥 ! 𝑦𝑧 − 24𝑥𝑦𝑧 !

Answer: (a) _________________ (d) _________________

(b) _________________ (e) _________________

(c) _________________ (f) _________________

36
3. Express the following algebraic expressions into a single fraction.
) %)
(a) +
! (

Answer: (a) _________________

)2$ %)
(b) +
( !

Answer: (b) _________________

)0$ )2!
(c) +
% (

Answer: (c) _________________

37
 %) )0$
(d) +
# $.

Answer: (d) _________________

!)0$ %)2$
(e) +
% !

Answer: (d) _________________

) ! 2$ !)0$
(f) +
! %

Answer: (f) _________________

38
4. Express the following algebraic expressions into a single fraction.
) %)
(a) −
! (

Answer: (a) _________________

%) )2$
(b) −
! (

Answer: (b) _________________

)0$ )2!
(c) −
% (

Answer: (c) _________________

39
 %) )0$
(d) −
# $.

Answer: (d) _________________

!)0$ %)2$
(e) −
% !

Answer: (e) _________________

) ! 2$ !)0$
(f) −
! %

Answer: (f) _________________

40
5. Express the following algebraic expressions into a single fraction.
) !) )
(a) + −*
! %

Answer: (a) _________________

)2$ !) )0$
(b) + −
! % (

Answer: (b) _________________

41
 !)0$ %)0! )
(c) − +(
* %

Answer: (c) _________________

)2( )0% )0$

(d) − −
* % %

Answer: (d) _________________

42
 Algebraic Expressions and Formulae – Homework 4

1. Factorize the following algebraic expressions.

(a) 3 + 12𝑥 (d) 𝑥 ! 𝑦 + 2𝑥 % 𝑦 !
(b) 𝑥 % + 2𝑥 ! (e) 2𝑥 ! 𝑦 ! − 4𝑦𝑥
(c) 5𝑥 % − 25𝑥 ! − 5𝑥 (f) 3𝑥𝑦 ! 𝑧 % + 2𝑥 ! 𝑦𝑧

Answer: (a) _________________ (d) _________________

(b) _________________ (e) _________________

(c) _________________ (f) _________________

43
2. Express the following algebraic expressions into a single fraction.
) %
(a) −#
%

Answer: (a) _________________

)2$ )0$
(b) +
! -

Answer: (b) _________________

)2$ )0$
(c) −
! -

Answer: (c) _________________

44
45
 Algebraic Expressions and Formulae – Exam Questions

1. (a) Factorize 15𝑥 ! + 5𝑥.

Answer: (a) _____________________

(b) Factorize 8𝑥 ! 𝑦 % − 4𝑥𝑦 # completely.

Answer: (b) _____________________

(c) Expand and simplify 3[−22𝑥 − 2𝑥(15 − 18𝑦)].

Answer: (c) _____________________

46
2. (a) Simplify 2𝑥 ÷ 6 + 1 × 𝑦.

Answer: (a) _____________________

)0)3
(b) Find the value of )323, given x =2 and y = 3.

Answer: (b) _____________________

3. (a) Simplify −11𝑥 − 2𝑥 + 3𝑥.

Answer: (a) _____________________

(b) Factorize 18𝑎 + 21𝑎𝑏 − 33𝑎𝑐.

Answer: (b) _____________________

47
4. Factorize 4𝑎 − 8(𝑏 − 2𝑐) completely.

Answer: _____________________

5. (a) If 𝑧 = −(3) ) − 𝑦 % , find the value of z when x = 2 and y = – 3.

(b) Simplify (−2𝑎) × (−3𝑏) + 5𝑏𝑎 − 7𝑎 + 4𝑏 × (−𝑎) − 𝑎

Answer: (a) _____________________

(b) _____________________

48
6. Simplify 9𝑐 − [7𝑑 − 2(4𝑐 − 𝑑)].

Answer: _____________________

7. (a) Factorize 𝑎𝑐 − 𝑎𝑏 completely.

Answer: (a) _____________________

(b) Hence, find the value of 6300 − 63 × 99.

Answer: (b) _____________________

)(<0%)
8. Factorize + 6(3 − 𝑝).
%

Answer: _____________________

49
9. Simplify the following expressions.
(a) 3(𝑥 − 𝑦) + [5𝑥 − (−2𝑥 + 𝑦)]

Answer: (a) _____________________

()0!) ! )
(b) − 4𝑥.
)

Answer: (b) _____________________

50
10. Factorize the following expressions completely.
(a) 42𝑎𝑐 − 7𝑐 ,

Answer: (a) _____________________

(b) 5𝑥 ! − 10𝑥𝑦 + 15𝑥.

Answer: (b) _____________________

!=
11. If 𝑘 = g=0> , find the value of n when k = 2 and m = −4.

Answer: _____________________

51
12. George has $y and Sam has $18 more than George. Tim has half the total amount of George
and Sam.
Find an expression, in terms of y, for
(a) the amount of money Sam has,
(b) the total amount the 3 of them have together.

Answer: (a) _____________________

(b) _____________________

13. Raymond bought a total of 18 Mathematics and Science textbooks during a sale. He bought
y Mathematics textbooks.
(a) Express the number of Science textbooks he bought in terms of y.
(b) The cost of a Mathematics textbook was $6 and the cost of a Science textbook was $10.
Write down and simplify an expression, in terms of y, for the total amount Raymond
spent.

Answer: (a) _____________________

(b) _____________________

52
14. A salesman monthly wage, $W, is based on the formula
W = B + 20C
where B is the basic wage and C is the number of watches he sold in a month.
(a) Given that the salesman received $1250 for selling 28 watches in a particular month,
find B.
(b) What does the number 20 in the formula represent?
(c) If the salesman sold 45 watches in a month, find his monthly wage.

Answer: (a) $ _____________________

(b) ______________________________________________________________________

(c) $ _____________________

53
15. (a) Simplify 5𝑥 − 2(𝑥 + 𝑦)

Answer: (a) _____________________

(b) The figure below shows a trapezium ABCD.

Show that the perimeter is 11x.

$ / ! 0?
16. (a) Given that a = −3, 𝑏 = 2 and 𝑐 = !. Find the value of 9
.

Answer: (a) _____________________

54
 (b) Simplify 5𝑥 − 3𝑦 + 7𝑦 − 2𝑥 + 3.

Answer: (b) _____________________

17. The charges, $y, of a part-time technician by the formula

y = 5x + 60, where x represents the number of hours he spent on the repair work.
(a) Calculate the total charges for a repair lasting 4 hours.
(b) If the technician charged $95, find the time taken for the repair.
(c) What do you think is the significance of the number 60 in the formula above?

Answer: (a) _____________________

(b) _____________________

(c) ________________________________________________________________________

55
18. Jane bought 𝑥 boxes of cupcakes for $50.

(a) Write down an expression, in dollars, for the cost of one box of cupcakes.

Answer: (a) _____________________

She sold each box at a profit of 𝑦 cents at a fundraising carnival.

(b) Write down an expression, in dollars, for the selling price of each box of cupcakes.

Answer: (b) _____________________

19. Simplify the following expression.

𝑥+1 3+𝑥
−
2 5

Answer: _____________________

20. Factorize completely 12𝑚𝑛 − 3𝑚𝑛𝑝 + 27𝑛𝑚.

Answer: _____________________

56
 !)2$ !0)
21. Express as a single fraction in its simplest form 1 + − .
- %

Answer: _____________________

22. Mark and Spencer intends to paint porcelain mugs with unique designs and sell them off.

(a) Mark is able to paint x mugs in 2 hours.

Find the number of mugs Mark paints in1 hour.

Answer: (a) _____________________

(b) Spencer is able to paint (x + 2) mugs in 3 hours.

Form an expression in x for the total number of mugs Mark and Spencer is able to paint
#)2(
in 1hour and show that it reduces to
*

Answer: (b) _____________________

57
23. A notebook and 5 pens cost $x and $4y respectively.
Mabel had $7 left after buying 3 notebooks and 2 pens.

(a) Write down an expression for the cost of a pen.

Answer: (a) _____________________

(b) Write down an expression, in terms of x and y, the total amount of money Mabel had at
first.

Answer: (b) _____________________

(c) Given x = 2.4 and y = 8, find the total amount of money Mabel had at first.

Answer: (c) _____________________

58
 #) )0!
24. Express as a single fraction in its simplest form − .
- %

Answer: _____________________

)2# ()0$
25. Express as a single fraction in its simplest form − .
! %

Answer: _____________________

26. Factorize completely 4𝑥 ! − 8𝑥𝑦.

Answer: _____________________

59
27. Factorize completely 6𝑎𝑏 − 2𝑎! .

Answer: _____________________

28. Subtract the sum of 4𝑦 − 2𝑥 and 5𝑥 + 𝑦 from the sum of 11𝑥 − 3𝑦 and 3(2𝑥 + 5).

Answer: _____________________

29. Factorise 10nx – 5n + 25nm completely.

Answer: _____________________

) )0%
30. Express as a single fraction in its simplest form ( − .
!

Answer: _____________________

60