ALGEBRAIC

EXPRESSIONS

Math Division, IMSP, UPLB

Learning Objectives
Upon completion, you should be able to

Give examples of algebraic

expressions; and

Perform operations involving integer

exponents.
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Math Division, IMSP, UPLB

ALGEBRAIC

Introduction

Suppose we are tasked to find the perimeter

of the following rectangle whose dimensions
are shown below:
x
y

Can we find a formula for the perimeter?

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Math Division, IMSP, UPLB

Introduction

A circle of radius r is shown below:

r

What is its area?

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Math Division, IMSP, UPLB

ALGEBRAIC

Introduction
The formulas we obtained

2x 2 y and

r2

are examples of
ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS
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Math Division, IMSP, UPLB

ALGEBRAIC

SYMBOLS
TYPES:

Variable a symbol representing a quantity

but whose value is not known at the moment;
usually letters of the English alphabet ( e.g.,
u, w, x, y, z) are used for variables

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Math Division, IMSP, UPLB

ALGEBRAIC

SYMBOLS
TYPES:

Constant a symbol that represents a

specific value

1
e.g., 2, , 0.43,
2

may also use letters of the English alphabet such

as a, b, c in which case the value of each letter is
fixed

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Math Division, IMSP, UPLB

ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS

ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSION

Combination of variables and constants

which use any operations on numbers.

Examples are

2xy

3x y

x y
z2

x y

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Math Division, IMSP, UPLB

ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS

INTEGER EXPONENTS

Shortcut for writing repeated products

n

n
a a a a ... a a

(n copies of a, provided n is a positive integer,

a is the base, n is the exponent)
Examples:

3 33 3 3 81

3
2 2 2 2 8
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Math Division, IMSP, UPLB

ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS

Integer Exponents
a 1,
0

a 0

Example:
0

3
1,
4

54 1
10

Math Division, IMSP, UPLB

ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS

Integer Exponents
1
a n,
a
n

a 0,n 0

Example:
1
1
1
5 3

5 55 5 125
3

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Math Division, IMSP, UPLB

ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS

Rules on Integer
Exponents
Let a,b 0 and p,q 0

1. a a a
p q

p q

Example:
5 3

22 2
5 3

3 3 3
2

25

3 27
3

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Math Division, IMSP, UPLB

ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS

Rules on Integer
Exponents
p

a
pq
2. q a
a

Example:
5

2
53
2

2
4
3
2
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Math Division, IMSP, UPLB

ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS

Rules on Integer
Exponents

3.

ab a b
p

p p

Example:

2c 2 c 32c
5

5 5

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Math Division, IMSP, UPLB

ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS

Rules on Integer
Exponents

4.

a

b

p
b

Example:
5

2
32
2
5
3 243
3
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Math Division, IMSP, UPLB

ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS

Rules on Integer
Exponents

p q

5.

pq

Example:

2s

3 4

2 s
4

3 4

34

16s 16s

12

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Math Division, IMSP, UPLB

ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS

Rules on Integer
More Examples: SIMPLIFY
Exponents

1. st

st s

4 6

2 10

30

st s

5 34

s t

t
10

34

t
5
s

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Math Division, IMSP, UPLB

ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS

Rules on Integer
More Examples: SIMPLIFY
Exponents
2

2. 9a b 3a b
9a b
2

6a

1 4
6 a b

4 1
6
3 a b a b

10

6b8
4
a

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Math Division, IMSP, UPLB

ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS

Rules on Integer
More Examples: SIMPLIFY
Exponents
2 3 5 2
2 4 6 10
2a b c
2 ab c
3.
2 8 2 4
4 1 2
3a b c
3 abc

3 a b

2
2

14
9c
48
4a b
2

48 6 2 10( 4)

4 8 14

9a b c

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Math Division, IMSP, UPLB

ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS

SUMMARY
In this section you learned the
following terms:
Algebraic expression
Variables
Constants
Exponents
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Math Division, IMSP, UPLB

SUMMARY
You also learned the rules on
integer exponents such as:
p q

a a a
a

a
q
a
pq

p q

pq

(a ) a

pq

p p

(ab) a b
p

a p a
( ) p
b
b
1
0
n
a n
a 1
a
Math Division, IMSP, UPLB

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Quiz #3

(1/8 Y.P., 5mins)

Write TRUE if the set is closed under the given

operation. Otherwise, write FALSE. If FALSE,
justify your answer by giving a counterexample.

1. Q,
c

2. Q ,

3.

1,0,1 , +

Note : Write your recit section on the

upper right corner of your paper.
Mathematics Division, IMSP, UPLB

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