4.

4.1.1

CHAPTER 4
ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSION I, II, III

Unknown
Important Concept
An unknown is a quantity whose value has not been determined

Example
1. Azmi bought some durians

1.

Exercise
There were a lot of people in the fun fair.
Solution:

Solution:
The unknown is the number of
durian.

2.

Mr.Tan lost a large amount of money

when he dropped his wallet
Solution:

3.

A number of students are studying in the

library.
Solution:

4.

My father bought a few kilograms of

rambutans yesterday.
Solution:

5.

Ketty gained a few kilograms of weight

during the holidays
Solution:

Algebraic term
identifying algebraic terms with one unknown.

4.1.2

Important concept:
An algebraic term with one unknown is the product of a number and an unknown
EXAMPLE
6 x is the multiplication of the number 6 with
the unknown x
1.

2.

Algebraic Expressions

EXERCISE
Determine the algebraic term
with one unknown for each
of the following.
3e
Solution:
-5t
Solution:

EXERCISE
3.

EXERCISE

0.8t
Solution:

4.

80w
Solution

Identify Coefficients in given algebraic term

Important concept:
the number is known as the coefficient of the unknown

4.1.3

EXAMPLE
1.

6 x : 6 is the coefficient of

EXERCISE

3a : -3 is the coefficient of
2.

r
8

1
8

is the coefficient of

because
3.

1.

8k
Solution:

2.

0.65q

Solution:

r
8

3.

p : 1 is the coefficient of p

13t
Solution:

4.

5
p
8
Solution:

5.

j
Solution:

Identify Like Algebraic Term and Unlike algebraic Term.

Important concept:
Like term : are term have that same unknowns

Algebraic Expressions

Unlike term : are term that have different unknowns

4.1.4
EXAMPLE

EXERCISE
Determine the term in each of the
following pairs of term given below like
terms or unlike terms.

Like Term:
9 p and

same

1
0.8 x and x
4
y
9 y and
6

unknowns

1.

2.

3.
Unlike Term :

4.

9 p and 9q

j
10
Solution:
100 j ,

4 z ,9 z 3

Solution:
11q ,5q

Solution:

different

1
y
0.8 x and
2
70 w and 17w 2

4.56k ,20kmn

Solution:

unknowns

5.

7t ,0.8t

Solution:

Algebraic Expressions
Important concept:
group all the like terms together
add/subtract the coefficient of the terms
leave the terms as your answer

4.1.5
EXAMPLE
1.

EXERCISE
Simplify the following algebraic
expressions.

6m 2n m
6m m 2n
7 m 2n

2.

3.

1.

10k 3k u 9k
10k 3k 9k u
22k u
u 7v 4u
u 4u 7v
5u 7v
11q 5b 3b 17 q
11q 17 q 5b 3b

4.

6q 2b

Algebraic Expressions

9 y 12 y
Solution :

2.

11n 8n 10n
Solution :

3.

4w 8x x
Solution :

4.

12 4k 9
Solution :

EXERCISE
5.

EXERCISE

21v 11v 7 d 8d

6.

Solution :

5u 6 9 5 y
Solution :

An algebraic term in two or more unknowns is a product of two or more

unknowns and a number.

4.1.6
EXAMPLE
5 xy

1.

1.

= 5 xy The coefficient of xy is 5
= 5 x y The coefficient of y is 5 x
= 5 y x The coefficient of x is 5 y

2.

EXERCISE
Write the unknowns in the
following algebraic terms.
2ab
Solution:
p2q

Solution :

7 xyz

3.

Solution:

4.

5t
Solution:

Finding the product of two algebraic terms.

4.1.7
EXAMPLE
1.

8 p 5qr
8 p 5 q r
8 5 q p r
40 pqr

EXERCISE
1.

ab 2 abc 2
Solution:

1
rs ( 8s )
2
Solution:

2.
2.
Algebraic Expressions

n 2 p 2 np 3
nn p p
n p p p
n

3.

4.

4( 2 x 1)
4 2 x 4 ( 1)
8 x ( 4)
8x 4

( 4 x 8) 2
4x 8

2
4x 8

2
2
2x 4

3.

3r 3 s rs
Solution:

4.

6a 4 b 3 2 a 3 b
Solution:

5.

3(5 p 2 p )
Solution:

6.

8( 2m 5n)
Solution:

EXERCISE
7.

9.

5(6m 4)
2
Solution:

( 4ab 9ab 2 6a ) 6
Solution:

Algebraic Expressions

EXERCISE
8.

10.

(20 pq 24 p ) 4
Solution:

30 s 2 t 2 18st
3
Solution:

Expanding single brackets and two brackets.

4.1.8
EXAMPLE
Expanding single brackets
a ( x y ) ax ay
1.

1.

10( x 2)
Solution :

EXERCISE

5( x y )
5 x 5 y
5x 5 y

2.

3b( 2m 2n)
3b 2m 3b 2n

2.

3( y 8)
Solution :

6bm 6bn
7 p ( 2a 5b )
Solution :

5 p ( 4 p 3q )
5 p 4 p ( 5 p ) 3q

3.

20 p 2 15 pq

3.

a ( a 2b 6)
a a a 2b a 6
a

11m( 4 9n)
Solution :

2ab 6a

4.
4.

5.

EXERCISE
3 x( 2 xy 4 y )
Solution :

Algebraic Expressions

EXERCISE
5ab(7 a 2b 1)
Solution :

22c(5cd 2c d )

7.

6 s (7 s 3t )

Solution :

8.

Solution :

EXAMPLE
Expanding two brackets;

9.

( x a )( y 2b)

EXERCISE

Solution :

(a b)( x y )
ax ay bx by

1.

(2a 5)(4b 3)
2a (4b 3) 5(4b 3)
2a 4b 2a 3 5 4b 5 3

10.

(3 p q )(5r 7t )
Solution :

8ab 6a 20b 15
( 2c d )(e 12)
Solution

(m 2 p )(n q )

2.

m( n q ) 2 p ( n q )

11.

mn mq 2np 2 pq
(6 x 11)(2 y 3)
Solution

12.

13.

EXERCISE
( a 2)(a 9)

14.

Solution :

15.

( p 3q )(5 p 10)

Solution :

16.

Solution :

Algebraic Expressions

EXERCISE
(3 x 5)(4 x 3)

( 4m 5n)(7 3m)
Solution :

EXAMPLE

EXERCISE
17.

3.

( x 2) 2

( 2a 5b)

Solution :

x 2 2( x)(2) 2 2
x 2 4x 4

4.

(3m 5n) 2
(3m) 2 2(3m)(5n) (5n) 2

18.

9m 2 30mn 25n 2

19.

20.

Algebraic Expressions

( 7 m 2) 2
Solution :

(6 p q ) 2
Solution :

(8 3r ) 2
Solution :

Factorising Algebraic Expressions.

4.1.9
EXAMPLE
1.

EXERCISE

ab ac a (b c)
4a 6

1.

8m 40
Solution :

2 2a 2 3
2(2a 3)
9 x 2 3x
3x 3x 3x 1

2.

2.

3 x(3 x 1)
30mn 2 18m 2 n

50r 2 s 35rs 2 15rs

Solution :

6mn 5n 6mn 3m

3.

4ax 6bx
Solution :

6mn(5n 3m)

3.
2 p 6 p 12 p
3

m 2 36

2p p 2p 3p 2p 6
2

Solution :

2 p ( p 2 3 p 6)

4.

16a 2 25

4.

( 4a ) 2 (5) 2

49 x 2 4 y 2
Solution :

( 4a 5)( 4a 5)

5.

225a 2 9b 2

144 x 2 81 y 2
(12 x ) 2 (9 y ) 2
(12 x 9 y )(12 x 9 y )

5.

6.
6.

Algebraic Expressions

Solution :

EXAMPLE
7.

4m 12mn 9n
2

EXERCISE
7.

(2m) 2 2( 2m)(3n) (3n) 2

9m 6mn n 2
Solution :
2

(2m 3n) 2

8q 4 p 6 pq 3 p 2
Solution :

13m 2 5mn 6m 10n

8.

(3m 2 5mn) (6m 10n)

m(3m 5n) 2(3m 5n)
(m 2)(3m 5n)

8.

9 x 32 y 12 xy 24
Solution :

9.

Algebraic Expressions

10

Questions based on examination format

5. 6 y 5( y 2)
A. 11 y 2
B. y 10
C . 11 y 2
D. 11 y 10

1.( n 8)( n 7)
A..n n 1
2

B.n 2 56 n 56
C .n 2 15n 56
D.n 2 15n 65

6.4 p 3q

2.( 4m 3)(3m 6)
A.12m 2 15m 18

A.12 pq

B.12m 2 15m 18

B.12qr
C .6 pqr
D.12 pqr

C .12 m 2 15m 18
D.12 m 2 15m 18

1
r
2

7. 6k 5( k 2)
A. k 2
B. k 10

3.36 12m m 2
A.( m 6) 2
B.( m 6)(m 6)
C .( m 13)( m 2)

C. k 2
D. k 10

D.( m 6) 2

8. 3( 2 a ) 5a 1
A.2 a 7
B.4 a 5
C .6a 5
D.8a 7

4. Factorize 9 y 2 25
A.(3 y 5)(3 y 5)
B.(3 y 5) 2
C.(3 y 5) 2
D.(5 y 3 y )(3 y 5)

9.8a 3( 2 a )
A.5a 6
B.7 a 5
C .7 a 6
D.11a 6

Algebraic Expressions

11

16.If x 3 and r 1 , find the value

10. 2(kx x 2 ) ( kx x 2 )
A.3kx 2 x

x2
(6 x).
r
A. 81
of
B. 27
C.18
D.54

B. 3kx 2 x 2
C. 3kx 3 x 2
D. 3kx 3 x 2
6 px (10 x)

12 p
A.5 px

11.

17.Find the value of ( px x 2 ) when

p 2 and x 3

B. 5 px 2

A.4
B.0
C . 12
D. 15

C. 5 p 2 x 2
D.(5 px) 2
14t 56m

7
A.t 4m

12.

18.Tickets to a circus for child is RM p and

for an adult is RM q . The total price of
tickets for 10 children and 2 adults, in RM,
is

B.2t m
C. 2(t 4m)

A.10q 2 p
B.2q 10 p
C .12( p q )

D.2(t 4m)
13. 3a (2b a )

D. p q

A. 5ab 3a
B. 5ab 3a
C. 6ab 3a
D. 6ab 3a 2

19.The value of 2e 2 3ef when e 4

1
and f is
2

1
(6 x 45 y )
9
2
A. x 5 y
3
2
B. x 5 y
3
2
C. x 5 y
3

14.

D.

A.22
B.26
C .38
D.70

2
x 5y
3

1
m3

4m 8m 2
A.m( m 3

20

15. The length of a football field (4h-3) m

and its width is (3h +2) m. The perimeter of
the field, in m, is

m3
8m 2
C.4m( m 3)
B.

A.7 h 1
B.10h 1
C .12h 2
D.14 h 2

D.

PAST YEAR SPM QUESTIONS.

Algebraic Expressions

12

m3
8m 2

November 2003
1. (3 p m)( p 2m)

A. 3 p 2 5 pm 2m 2
B. 3 p 2 5 pm 2m 2

C. 3 p 2 7 pm 2m 2
D. 3 p 2 7 pm 2m 2

November 2004
2. 3 x ( x 2 y ) (3 x y ) 2

A. 6 xy y 2
B. 6 x 2 y 2

C. 6 x 2 6 xy y 2
D. 3 x 2 9 xy y 2

November 2005
3. (3h 4)(2h 5)
A. 6h 2 7h 20
B. 6h 2 7 h 20

C. 6h 2 23h 20
D. 6h 2 23h 20

Jun 2006
4. (y + x)(2y - x) =
A. 2y2 - xy + x2
B. 2y2 - xy - x2
November 2006
5. 3x2 - x(1 - x) =
A. 2x2 - 1
B. 2x2 - x

C. 2y2 + xy - x2
D. 2y2 + xy - x2

C. 4x2 - 1
D. 4x2 - x

Jun 2007
6. (x y) (5x + 3y) x(x y) =
A. 4x2 xy -3y2
B. 4x2 -3xy 3y2

C. 4x2 xy + 3y2
D. 4x2 -3xy + 3y2

November 2007
7. (2x y) 2 x ( x y) =
A.3x2 - 3xy + y2
B. 3x2 - 5xy + y2

C. 3x2 + xy y2
D. 3x2 - 5xy y2

November 2008
8. 5pq 2( 1 pq) =
A. 3pq - 2
B. 4pq - 2

Algebraic Expressions

C. 6pq - 2
D. 7pq - 2

13

ANSWERS
Chapter 4 Algebraic Expressions
4.1.1
1. a lot of people
2. a large amount of money
3. a number of students
4. a few kilograms of rambutans
5. a few kilograms
4.1.2
1.e
2.t
3.t
4.w
4.1.3
1. 8
2. 0.65
3.-13
5
4.
8
5. -1
Algebraic Expressions

14

4.1.4
1.unlike terms
2.like terms
3.unlike terms
4.like terms
5. like terms
4.1.5
1.-3y
2. -7n
3. -4w-9x
4. -4k-3
5. 10v-d
6. -3u-15
4.1.6
1.a and b
2. p and q
3. x, y and z
4. t
4.1.7
1. a 2 b 3 c 2
2. 4rs 2
3. 3r 2
4. 3ab 2
5. 15 p 2 3 p
6. 16m 40n
7. 15m 10
8. 5 pq 6 p
2
3 2
9. ab ab a
3
2
10. 10 s 2 t 2 6 st
4.1.8

Algebraic Expressions

15

1.10 x 1
2.24 y
3.14ap 35bp
4. 44m 99mn
5.42s 2 18st
6.6 x 2 y 12 xy
7. 35a 2b 10 ab 2 5ab
8.110 c 2 d 44c 2 22cd
9.xy 2bx ay 2ab
10.15 pr 21 pt 5qr 7 pt
11.2ce 24c de 12d
12.12 xy 18 x 22 y 33
13.a 2 7 a 18
14.12 x 2 11x 15
15 5 p 2 10 p 15 pq 30q
16.28m 12 m 2 35n 15mn
17.4a 2 20ab 25b 2
18.49m 2 28m 4
19.36 p 2 12 pq q 2
20.9r 2 48r 64

4.19
1.8( m 500
2.2 x(2a 3b)
3.5rs(10r 7 s 30
4.( m 6)( m 6)
5.(7 x 2 y )(7 x 2 y )
6.(15a 3b)(15a 3b)
7.(3m n) 2
8.(2q p)(4 3 p)
9.(3x 8)(4 y 3)
Examination Format Questions
1.
C
11.
2.
B
12.
3.
D
13
4.
A
14.
Algebraic Expressions

C
C
D
B
16

5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

D
C
D
A
A
C

SPM Past year questions.

1. A
2. B
6. A
7. A

Algebraic Expressions

15
16
17
18
19
20

D
A
D
B
C
B
3. B
8. D

4. C

17

5. D