Diploma in Management Studies

Business Mathematics BUS003

Lecture 1- Fundamentals of Algebra (I)

Topics to be discussed:
Real Numbers
Polynomials and Factoring Polynomials
Rational Expressions
Integral Exponents
Solving Equations
Ref: Tan, Chapter 1

Learning Outcomes
After this lecture, students should be able to:
Understand the concept of real numbers and
represents real numbers on a number line
Factor, expand and simplify polynomial,
rational and exponential expressions
Solve equations involving linear
linear, rational
rationallinear and square root expressions

Real Numbers

The set of real numbers:

Natural (counting) numbers: N = {1, 2, 3, .}
Whole numbers: W = {0, 1, 2, 3, }
Integers: I = {,-3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3,}
Rational numbers: Q = a/b, where a and b
are integers and b0. e.g. Q = or 2/1
Irrational numbers: Ir = Numbers that cannot
be expressed in the form a/b, b0. e.g. Ir 2

Decimal Numbers
Every real number can be written as a
decimal
Rational number can be represented as
either repeating or terminating decimal
e.g. 2/3 = 0.6666, = 0.5
Irrational number is represented
p
as nonterminating and non-repeating decimals
e.g. 2 1.414213.....
4

Number Line
Real numbers may be represented by points on
a line
line, known as number line
Select a point on a straight line to represent the
number 0, which is called the origin
The point representing each positive real
number x lies x units to the right of 0
The
Th point
i t representing
ti each
h negative
ti reall
number x lies -x units to the left of 0

The Real Number Line

Origin
Negative direction

Positive direction
x

-3

-2

-1

Exercise 1.1
Indicate whether the statement is true or
false (a and b are real numbers)
(a) If ab = 1, then a = 1 or b = 1
(b) If ab = 0 and a 0, then b = 0
(c) a b = b a
(d) ab = ba
((e)) ((a b)) c = a ((b c))
(f) a (bc)= (ab)c

Answers to Exercise 1.1

Rules of Operations for Real Numbers

Let a and b be any real numbers:

Addition:
1. a + b = b + a (Commutative Law)
2. a + (b + c) = (a + b) + c (Associative Law)
3. a + 0 = a (Identity Law)
4. a + (-a) = 0 (Inverse Law)

Rules of Operations for Real Numbers

Let a and b be any real numbers:

Multiplication:
1 ab
1.
b=b
ba (C
(Commutative
t ti L
Law))
2. a(bc) = (ab)c (Associative Law)
3. a.1= 1.a (Identity Law)
4. a 1 = 1 (a 0) (Inverse Law)
a

Addition and Multiplication

1. a(b + c) = ab + ac (Distributive Law)
10

Properties of Negatives &

Properties Involving Zero

Properties of Negatives
1 -(-a)
1.
( )=a
2. (-a)b = -(ab) = a(-b)
3. (-a)(-b) = ab
4. (-1)a = -a
p
Involving
g Zero
Properties
1. a.0 = 0
2. If ab=0, then a = 0, b = 0 or both
11

Properties of Quotients
a
c
if ad = bc (b, d 0)

b
d
ca
a
(b, c 0)
2.

cb
b
a
a
a
(b0)

3.
b
b
b
a
c
ac
(b, d 0)

4.
b
d
bd
a
c
a
d
ad
(b, c, d 0)

5.
b
d
b
c
bc
a
c
ad bc
(b, d 0)
6.

b
d
bd
a
c
ad bc
(b, d 0)
7.

b
d
bd

1.

12

Exponent and Base

If n is a natural number and a is a real number,
p
the p
product of the real
then an represents
number a and itself n times.
e.g. a6 = a.a.a.a.a.a (6 factors of a)
The natural number n is called the exponent and
the real number a is called the base.
If m and n are natural numbers and a is any real
number,, then am.an = am+n
The exponent is applied to the base only
e.g.-32 = -9 (-3)2 = 9

13

Polynomials
A polynomial in x is an expression of the
form:
anxn + an-1xn-1 + . + a2x2 + a1x + a0
n is a nonnegative integer and a0, a1, , an
are real numbers, with an 0
akxk are the terms of the polynomial
a0, a1, , an are the coefficients
The integer n gives the degree of the
polynomial

14

Manipulating Polynomial
Constant terms and terms having the
same variable and exponent are called like
or similar terms.
They may be combined by adding or
subtracting their numerical coefficients.
The products of two polynomials can be
f
found
d using
i th
the di
distributive
t ib ti property
t ffor
real numbers

15

Addition and Subtraction of Polynomials

(3x3 + 2x2 4x + 5) + (-2x3 -2x2 -2)

= 3x3 + 2x2 4x + 5 - 2x3 - 2x2 - 2
= 3x3 - 2x3 + 2x2 - 2x2 4x + 5 2
= x3 - 4x + 3

(2x4 + 3x3 + 4x + 6) - (3x4 + 9x3 + 3x2)

= 2x4 + 3x3 + 4x + 6 - 3x4 - 9x3 3x2
= 2x4 - 3x4 + 3x3 - 9x3 3x2 + 4x + 6
= -x4 - 6x3 - 3x2 + 4x + 6
16

Multiplication of Polynomials

(a) (3x + 5)(2x -3)

= 3x(2x 3) + 5(2x 3)
= 3x(2x) + 3x(
3x(-3)
3) + 5(2x) + 5(
5(-3)
3)
2
2
= 6x - 9x + 10x 15 = 6x + x 15

(b) (3x - y)(4x2 -2y)

= 3x(4x2 -2y) y(4x2 - 2y)
= 3x(4x
( 2) - 3x(2y)
( y) y(
y(4x2) + y(
y(2y)
y)
3
2
2
= 12x - 6xy 4x y + 2y
= 12x3 4x2y 6xy + 2y2

17

Special Products Formulas

1. (a + b)2 = a2 + 2ab + b2
2. (a - b)2 = a2 - 2ab + b2
3. (a + b)(a b) = a2 - b2

18

Exercise 1.2
Perform the indicated operations and
simplify
y)2
((a)) ((2x + 3y)
(b) (t2 2t + 4)(2t2 +1)
((c)) ((2x - 3))2 - 3(x
( + 4)(x
)( - 4)) + 2(x
( - 4)) + 1

19

Answers to Exercise 1.2

20

10

Factoring Polynomials
Factoring a polynomial is the process of
expressing it as a product of two or more
polynomials
The first step is to check if it contains any
common factors. If it does, the common factor
of highest degree is then factored out
e.g.
e g -3t
3t2 + 3t = 3t(
3t(-tt + 1) = 3t(1 - t)
e.g. 6a4b4c 9a2b2 = 3a2b2(2a2b2c 3)

21

Factoring Formulas
Let a and b be any real numbers:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5
5.

a2 b2 = (a + b)(a b)
(a + b)2 = a2 + 2ab + b2
(a - b)2 = a2 - 2ab + b2
a3 + b3 =(a + b)(a2 - ab + b2)
a3 - b3 =(a - b)(a2 + ab + b2)

22

11

Examples of Factoring
(a) 4a2-12ab + 9b2
= (2a)2 2(2a)(3b) +(3b)2
=(2a 3b)(2a 3b) = (2a 3b)2
(b) 27a3 64b3 = [(3a)3 (4b)3]
= (3a 4b)[(3a)2 + (3a)(4b) + (4b)2]
= (3a 4b)(9a2 + 12ab + 16b2)
23

Trial and Error Factorization

The factors of the second degree polynomial

px2 + qx + r
where p, q and r are integers, have the form
(ax + b)(cx + d)
where ac = p, ad + bc = q and bd = r
Use a trial-and-error method to factor
polynomials having this form
e.g. x2 2x
2 3 = ((x +1)(x
1)( 3)
e.g. 3x2 + 4x 4 = (3x - 2)(x + 2)

24

12

Factoring by Regrouping
Sometimes a polynomial may be factored by
regrouping
g p g and rearranging
g g terms so that a
common term can be factored out.
e.g. x3 + x + x2 + 1 = x3 + x2 + x + 1
= x2(x + 1) + x + 1 =(x + 1)(x2 + 1)

e.g. 3x2y + 9x2 12y 36

= 3(x2y + 3x2 4y 12)
= 3[x2(y + 3) 4(y + 3)]
= 3(y + 3)(x2 4) = 3(y + 3)(x 2)(x + 2)
25

Exercise 1.3
Factor the Polynomial
(a) 9x3y 4xy3
(b) (a 2b)2 (a + 2b)2
(c) 8m3 + 1

26

13

Answers to Exercise 1.3

27

Rational Expressions
Quotients of polynomials are called rational
expressions.
expressions
e.g 3 x 2 y 3 2 xy
4x y
The denominator of a rational expression
must not be equal to zero (y4x).
A rational expression is simplified if its
numerator and denominator has no common
factors other than 1 and -1.

28

14

Simplify Rational Expressions

x 2 2 x 3 ( x 3)( x 1) x 1

x 2 4 x 3 ( x 3)( x 1) x 1
3 4 x 4 x 2 (1 2 x)(3 2 x)
(2 x 1)(2 x 3)

2x 1
2x 1
2x 1
(2 x 3)
(k 4) 2 (k 1) (k 4) 2 (k 1) (k 4)(k 1)

k 2 16
(k 4)(k 4)
( k 4)
29

Manipulation of Rational Expressions

P, Q, R and S are polynomials
P
R
PR

Q
S
QS

Q , S

P
R
P
S
PS

Q
S
Q
R
QR

Q , R , S

P
Q
P Q

R
R
R

P
Q
P Q

R
R
R

30

15

Examples of manipulation of Rational

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

x2
x 2 16
x 2 ( x 4)( x 4)
2( x 4)( x 2)( x 2) 2( x 2)

x4
( x 2)( x 4)( x 4)
1
1
1
x 1 xh


xh x xh x x xh
x
xh
xxh
h

x ( x h ) x ( x h) x ( x h )
x ( x h)

(2)

31

Compound Fractions
A fractional expression that contains
fractions in its numerator or denominator is
called a compound fraction.
e.g. 1 1
y x
2 2
x
1
x2

y
1
y2

xy
y x
x2 y2
2

yx x y
2
xy
y x2

yx
x2 y2
xy

xy ( y x)( y x) y x
32

16

Exercise 1.4
Perform the indicated operation and
simplify
2m 6 3m 9
(a)

3
6

(b)

3
2

x2 x 6 x2 x 2

x2
2
(c ) x

x2 x2
33

Answers to Exercise 1.4

34

17

Integral Exponents
Exponential expression an, where a is a real
number and n is a positive integer
a n a.
a .a .....

a
nfactors
f t

For any nonzero real number a, a0 = 1

If a is any nonzero real numbers and n is a positive
integer, then a n 1
an

e.g.
g

1
1

42
16

23
8

33
27

35

Properties of Exponents
1 .a

2 .

a
a

3 .( a

4 .(( ab
a
5 .
b

mn

a
b

36

18

Examples of Simplifying Exponential

Expressions
(a ).

2 x 5 2 5 4 2
x x
3x 4 3
3

(b).( x 2 ) 3 x ( 2 )

( 3)

x6
1

1 1
yx
xy

(c).( x y )
yx
x y
xy
1

1 1

2 4 (2 1 ) 2 2 4 2 2
1
1

2 4 21 2 5 5
(d ). 0
1
1
(2)
2
32
(2 1)
37

Exercise 1.5
Simplify the expressions using positive
exponents
1
(a )(2 x 3 ) x 2
8
30 4 x 2
(b)
16 ( x 2 ) 3
a 2b 2 2
(c) 1 2
3a b

38

19

Answers to Exercise 1.5

39

Equations
An equation is a statement that two
mathematical expressions are equal.
g 2x + 3 = 7,, 3(2y
( y + 3)) = 4
e.g.
The letters, x and y are called variables. A
variable is a letter that stands for a number
belonging to a set of real numbers.
A solution of an equation involving one
variable is a number that renders the
equation a true statement when it is
substituted for the variable.
A linear equation in the variable x is an
equation that can write in the form ax+ b = 0,
a and b are constants and a0
40

20

Solving Equations
(1)

(2)

Solve 3p + 2(p 1) = -2p 4

3p + 2p 2 = -2p 4
3p
3 + 2p
2 + 2p
2 =24
7p = -2 p = -2/7
x
2
1

Solve

3( x 1) 2( x 1) 3
x
2
1

3( x 1) 2( x 1) 3
x
1
2

6( x 1)
6( x 1) 6( x 1)
3
3( x 1)
2( x 1)
4 3x 2( x 1) 4 3x 2 x 2
4 2 5x 2 5x x

2
5

41

Exercise 1.6
Solve the equations

(a)

1
2 x 3( x 4) 2 ( x 5)
2
3

(b)(2 x 1) 2 (3 x 2) 2 5 x(2 x)

(c )

2x 3 2

x 1 5
42

21

Answers to Exercise 1.6

43

22