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1078 Basic Algebra Questions: Factoring, Expanding, and Simplifying
1078 Basic Algebra Questions: Factoring, Expanding, and Simplifying
1078 Basic Algebra Questions: Factoring, Expanding, and Simplifying
and simplifying
1. Simplify and find the answer of the following expressions in fractional form.
3 1 1
(A) + - =
10 3 5
4 1 1
(B) 2 - 0 =
5 3 6
2 1
+ 5-
(C) 3 2=
1 1
-3
4 2
1. 4 x 2 y - 6 xy 2 = 0
2. 3 x 3 y - 6 x 2 y 2 + 3xy 3
3. 2 x2 - 5x - 3
4. 2 x 2 + 3 xy - 2 y 2
5. 6 x 2 - 25 xy + 4 y 2
6. m3 + n3 and m3 - n3
7. z3 -1
8. 2m 2 + mn - n 2
9. x 2 - 16 y 2
10. 3m 4 - 24mn3
11. 18 x3 - 8 x
Try to find the LCD (least common denominator) for these fractions:
2 3 11 5
1. - + -
5 7 25 28
7 6 2
2. - +
ab b(a - b) (a - b)(a + b)
1. 4(x-2y) – 3(2x-7y)
2. (4x-1)(3x+1)
3. (2 x - 3)(2 x 2 + 3 x - 2)
4. 4(2 x 4 - 4 x 3 + 1) + ( x + 1)(4 x 4 - 9 x) + 4[ x 6 - (2 x 3 + 4)]
3 1 1
1. + - =
7 3 5
4 1 1
2. 2 - 0 =
5 3 6
2 1
+5-
3 2=
3.
1 1
-3
4 7
4. a + 2b – (c + 2a – 3b) =
1. Combine terms:
-1 8
a. -
x- y y-x
1 2
b. +
2x 3y
3x x
c. �
2 6
2. Simplify
ax + ay
a.
a
b. [( a + b) x + (a + b) z ] �(a + b)
1. 1. ( x - 2 y ) = x 2 - 4 xy + 4 y 2
2
{
m - ( m - 1) �
m- m-�
� }
�= m - { m - [ m - m + 1] } = m - { m - 1} = m - m + 1 = 1
3.
{ x - ( x + 5) �
2x - 3 x + 2 �
� }
�+ 1 = 2 x - 3{ x + 2 [ x - x - 5] + 1} = 2 x - 3{ x + 2 [ -5] + 1}
= 2 x - 3{ x - 9} = 2 x - 3x + 27 = - x + 27
( 2 x - 3) ( 2 x 2 + 3x - 2 ) = ( 2 x ) ( 2 x 2 ) + ( 2 x ) ( 3x ) - ( 2 x ) ( 2 ) - ( 3) ( 2 x 2 ) - ( 3) ( 3x ) + 6
4.
= 4 x 3 + 6 x 2 - 4 x - 6 x 2 - 9 x + 6 = 4 x 3 - 13x + 6
2 2 2
(�2 x - 1) - x ( 3x + 1) �
2
� =�
4 x 2 - 4 x + 1 - 3x 2 - x �
� � �= �
x 2 - 5 x + 1�
� �
( )(
5. = x 2 - 5x + 1 x 2 - 5x + 1
)
= x 4 - 10 x 3 + 27 x 2 - 10 x + 1
d 5 �d 2 a � d5 � 1 � d5
1. �� � 3 �= �� �= � 24ad = 8d 6
3a �6a 2 4d � 3a �24 ad � 3a
2 1 2 ( x - 3) x 2 ( x - 3) - x 2 x - 6 - x x-6
2. - = - = = =
x x - 3 x ( x - 3) x ( x - 3) x ( x - 3) x ( x - 3) x ( x - 3)
3x + 8 2 x - 1 5
- 3 -
4 x2 x 8x
=
( 3x + 8) 2 x - ( 2 x - 1) 8 - 5 x 2
8 x3 8 x3 8x3
3.
6 x 2 + 16 x 16 x - 8 5 x 2
= - - 3
8 x3 8x3 8x
6 x + 16 x - 16 x + 8 - 5 x 2 x 2 + 8
2
= =
8 x3 8 x3
2 x2 + 7 x + 3
�( x + 3) =
( x + 3) ( 2 x + 1) � 1 = 1
4.
4x -1
2
( 2 x + 1) ( 2 x - 1) ( x + 3 ) 2 x - 1
x y x y-x
1- -
y y y y y - x 2x - y y - x x yx - x 2
5. = = = � = � =
2-
y 2x y 2x - y
- y x y 2x - y y ( 2x - y )
x x x x
x � x�
1- �1 - �xy
y � y� xy - x 2
or = =
y � y� 2 xy - y 2
2- 2 - xy
x � � x�
�
x2 x -1 1
+ -
x + 2 x + 1 3x + 3 6
2
6.
x2 x -1 1
: find LCD which is ( x + 1) ��
3 2 = 6 ( x + 1)
2 2
= + -
( x + 1) 3 ( x + 1) 6
2
2 ( x - 1) ( x + 1) ( x + 1)
2
6 x2 6 x2 + 2x2 - 2 - x2 - 2x -1 7 x2 - 2x - 3
= + - = =
6 ( x + 1) 6 ( x + 1) 6 ( x + 1) 6 ( x + 1) 6 ( x + 1)
2 2 2 2 2
( x + h)
3
- x3
=/ ( x + 1) - x 3 = 3 x 2 + 3 x + 1
3
h
For first step, we cannot simply cancel out the h in both the numerator and denominator.
We can take this step only if h is a common factor for both numerator and denominator,
hx x
like = .
hy y
For this question, firstly I will apply the formula: difference of cubes to numerator.
( x + h)
3
- x3 ( ( x + h) - x ) ( ( x + h) + ( x + h) x + x
2 2
)
=
h h
(
h ( x + h ) + ( x + h) x + x2
2
)=
=
h
( ( x + h) 2
)
+ ( x + h ) x + x 2 = 3x 2 + 3xh + h 2
8.
2 x+3 2 ( x + 1) ( x + 3)
- 2 = -
x - 1 x - 1 ( x + 1) ( x - 1) ( x + 1) ( x - 1)
2 ( x + 1) - ( x + 3) 2 x + 2 - x - 3 x -1
= = =
( x + 1) ( x - 1) ( x + 1) ( x - 1) ( x + 1) ( x - 1)
{ 2 + 4 �[ 7 - 4] - 8} �3 = { 2 + 4 �9 - 8} �3 = { 2 + 36 - 8} �3 = 30 �3 = 10
2
2
b. (-8) 3 ____ 4_______
2 1
( )
�2 2
= ( -2 ) = 4
2
( -8) 3 = ( -8) 3 = 3
-8
7 1
-
5 2
c. ______3______
3
10
7 1 14 5 9
- -
5 2 = 10 10 = 10 = 9 �3 = 9 �10 = 3
3 3 3 10 10 10 3
10 10 10
( x - 3)( x - 7) = x 2 - 10 x + 21
2. [ a - ( 2b - c )][a + ( 2b - c)]
2. 2 x 2 y - 8 xy 2 + 8 y 3
2 x 2 y - 8 xy 2 + 8 y 3 = 2 y ( x 2 - 4 xy + 4 y 2 ) = 2 y ( x - 2 y )
2
3. u 4 - v 4
u4 - v4 = ( u2 + v 2 ) ( u2 - v 2 ) = ( u2 + v2 ) ( u + v ) ( u - v )
Factoring Polynomials:
3. a(3c+d)-4d(3c+d)
=(3c+d)(a-4d)
4. 2 x 2 - x + 4 x - 2
= x (2 x - 1) + 2(2 x - 1)
= (2 x - 1)( x + 2)
5. 3 y 2 - 3 y + 2 y - 2
= 3 y ( y - 1) + 2( y - 1)
= ( y - 1)(3 y + 2)
6. wy-wz+xy-xz
=w(y-z)+x(y-z)
=(y-z)(w+x)
7. 2 x 4 - 24 x 3 + 40 x 2
= 2 x 2 ( x 2 - 12 x + 20)
= 2 x 2 ( x - 10)( x - 2)
8. 4 xy 2 - 12 xy + 9 x
= x(4 y 2 - 12 y + 9)
= x(2 y - 3) 2
9. 16 x 2 y - 8 xy + y
= y (16 x 2 - 8 x + 1)
= y (4 x - 1)2
10. 6m 2 - mn - 12n 2
= (2m - 3)(3m + 4)
11. 6( x - y ) 2 + 23( x - y ) - 4 :think of the whole part (x-y) as a single variable, use ac
test to decompose this two-degree polynomial
= [6( x - y ) - 1][( x - y ) + 4]
= (6 x - 6 y - 1)( x - y + 4)
d 5 �d 2 a �
1. �� g �
3a �6a 2 4d 3 �
d5 � 1 � d5
= �� �= g24ad = 8d
6
3a �24ad � 3a
4m - 3 3 2 m - 1
2. + -
18m3 4m 6 m2
2(4m - 3) + 9m 2 *3 - 6m(2m - 1)
=
36m3
8m - 6 + 27 m2 - 12m 2 + 6m
=
36m3
15m 2 + 14m - 6
=
36m3
1st denominator: 2.3.3.m.m.m
2nd one: 2.2.m.m 2.3.3.m.m.m .2 36m3 (LCD)
rd
3 one: 2.3.m.m (from 1st ) (from 2nd)
x 2 - 6 x + 9 x 2 + 2 x - 15
3. � 2 first step to take is to decompose all the two-degree
x2 - x - 6 x + 2x
( x - 3)2 x ( x + 2) polynomial using the way you good at (either ac test, or
= �
( x + 2)( x - 3) ( x - 3)( x + 5) some formula like the perfect square), and change the
division into multiplication by flipping the 2nd fraction.
x
=
x+5 x +1
4. -1 For those mixed
x -1
operation with fraction and integer, we
x +1 x -1 should think of all the items as fraction. So firstly, find
= -
x -1 x -1
x +1- x +1 2 the LCD.
= =
x -1 x -1 2x 1 1
5. + - First decompose all the high-
x -y
2 2
x+ y x- y
2x 1 1
order polynomial (order is = + - greater
( x + y )( x - y ) x + y x - y
than one), then find the LCD using the way we
2 x + ( x - y) - ( x + y) use in class.
= For those intermediate steps, don’t get rid of the
( x + y )( x - y )
parentheses so early.
2( x - y ) 2
= =
( x + y )( x - y ) x + y x2 x -1 1
6. + -
x + 2 x + 1 3x + 3 6
2
x2 x -1 1
= + -
( x + 1) 3( x + 1) 6
2
x 2 *6 + ( x - 1) * 2( x + 1) - ( x + 1) 2
=
6( x + 1) 2
First factoring the 2nd order polynomial then find LCD
6x + 2x - 2 - x - 2 x -1
2 2 2
=
6( x + 1) 2
7 x2 - 2x - 3
=
6( x + 1) 2
y 1 2
7. - 2 - 2
y - y - 2 y + 5 y - 14 y + 8 y + 7
2
y 1 2
= - -
( y + 1)( y - 2) ( y - 2)( y + 7) ( y + 1)( y + 7)
y *( y + 7) - ( y + 1) - 2*( y - 2)
=
( y + 1)( y - 2)( y + 7)
y2 + 7 y - y -1- 2 y + 4 y2 + 4 y + 3
= =
( y + 1)( y - 2)( y + 7) ( y + 1)( y - 2)( y + 7)
( y + 1)( y + 3) y +3
= =
( y + 1)( y - 2)( y + 7) ( y - 2)( y + 7)
I expand the numerator as 3rd equality place as I want to combine the like terms, then try
to factor again and find some new factors(some cases cannot like the above question). I
do not expand out the denominator as I want to cancel some factor if there is similar one
appear upstairs.
�x 3 - y 3 y � x 2 + xy + y 2
8. � 3 �
� y x- y� y2
( x - y )( x 2 + xy + y 2 ) �
y y2
= �2
y3 ( x - y) ( x + xy + y 2 )
=1
�3 1 � x+4
9. � - ��
�x - 2 x + 1 � x - 2
3( x + 1) - ( x - 2) x - 2
= �
( x - 2)( x + 1) x + 4
(2 x + 5)( x - 2) (2 x + 5)
= =
( x - 2)( x + 1)( x + 4) ( x + 1)( x + 4)
s2
-s
10. s -2 t
t
+t
s -t
s ( s - t ) s - s + st
2 2
s2
-
= s -2 t s - t = (s - t )
t t (s - t ) t 2 + ts - t 2
+
s -t s -t (s - t )
st ( s - t )
= � =1
( s - t ) ts
Factor completely:
1. x 2 + 2 x - 15
A ( x - 3)( x + 5)
2. 3 x 2 + 5 x - 2
A (3 x - 1)( x + 2)
3. 9 x 2 - 36 y 2
A (3 x - 6 y )(3 x + 6 y )
c) u - v = ( u + v ) ( u - v ) = ( u + v ) ( u + v ) ( u - v )
4 4 2 2 2 2 2 2
directly using the formula: difference of squares
1. 3
16m 4 n 6 = 3 24 m 4 n6 = 2mn 2 2m
x x� x2 /3 x� x2/ 3
2. = 1/ 3 2 / 3 = = x2/ 3
3
x x � x x
3 x 3 4 3 x 3 4 3 x3 * 2 2 4 12 x 3
3. 4 = = =
4 22 22 * 22 2
1 2 7
+
4. x 3 x 2 = x1/ 2 x 2 / 3 = x 2 3
= x6 = x 6 x
5.
1 1 2( x - 1) - x
( x - 1)1/ 2 - x ( )( x - 1) -1/ 2 x - 1 - x( )
2 = 2 x -1 = 2 x -1 = x - 2
x -1 x -1 x -1 2( x - 1)3/ 2
2 2 3( x + 2) - 2 x
( x + 2) 2 / 3 - x( )( x + 2) -1/ 3 ( x + 2) 2 / 3 - x( )
6. 3 3( x + 2) 1/ 3
3( x + 2)1/ 3 x+6
= = =
( x + 2) 4 / 3 ( x + 2) 4/3
( x + 2) 4/3
3( x + 2) 5 / 3
1. Answer True or False by writing the whole word as ‘T’ and ‘F’ can look alike:
5 -3 2 5
d. = _______T_____
8 -6 1 2
5 -3 2 5 3 2 5 6 2 20 5
� � = � � = � � = =
8 -6 1 8 6 1 8 3 1 8 2
z 1
e. = _______F_____
z + x + y 1+ x + y
We can cancel out the common factor for both the numerator and denominator. Z is not a
factor of the denominator in the question. It is a part of it.
� z 1
� = False
�z + x + y 1 + x + y
Compare the following two cases: �
�z = 1 True
�
�zxy xy
f. - x 3 y = - x 2 (- x )(- y ) ______T______
Polynomial operations
(3 x - 5)(2 x + 1) = 6 x 2 - 7 x - 5
6x 2 3x
4. (4t - 3)(t - 2) = 4t 2 - 11t + 6
5. (3y+2)(3y-2) (Either POIL it OR Use the difference of squares formula)
= 6 y 2 -4
6. (2m-7)(2m+7)= 4m 2 - 49 = (4m) 2 - (3n) 2 = 16m 2 - 9n 2
7. 9 x 2 - 4 y 2
8. a 3 - b3 (difference of cubes)
9. a 3 + b3 (sum of cubes)
10. ( x 2 - 2 xy + y 2 )( x 2 + 2 xy + y 2 )
= ( x - y)2 ( x + y)2
= [( x - y )( x + y )]2
= ( x 2 - y 2 )2
= x4 - 2x2 y 2 + y 4
11.
(2 x - 1) 2 - (3x + 2)(3 x - 2)
= (2 x - 1) 2 - (9 x 2 - 4)
= 4x2 - 4x + 1 - 9x2 + 4
= -5 x 2 - 4 x + 5
12.
(m - 2) 2 - (m - 2)(m + 2)
= m 2 - 4m + 4 - (m2 - 4)
= -4 m + 8
4. Subtract the sum of (A) and (C) from the sum of (B) and (D) and simplify
5. Multiply (C) and (D) and simplify
6. Simplify (E)
A: Commutative property
2. Answer True or False by writing the whole word as ‘T’ and ‘F’ can look alike:
7 -3 2 7
g. = ____________
8 -6 1 2
z 1
h. z + x + y = 1 + x + y ____________
a. T b. F
* note that “b” is true when z = 1 so that it may be an inappropriate question.
a. 5 b. 4 c. 2
Basics of polynomials
1.
3 x 2 y - 4 xy 2 - 4 y 3
y (3 x 2 - 4 xy - 4 y 2 )
y[(3 x 2 - 6 xy ) + ( 2 xy - 4 y 2 )]
y[3 x( x - 2 y ) + 2 y ( x - 2 y )]
y (3 x + 2 y )( x - 2 y )
A5
2.
3p p-3
- 2
p + 8 p + 16 p + 4 p
2
3p p-3
-
( p + 4) 2
p ( p + 4)
3p2 ( p - 3)( p + 4)
-
p ( p + 4) 2
x ( x + 4) 2
3 p 2 - ( p - 3)( p + 4)
p ( p + 4) 2
3 p 2 - ( p 2 + p - 12)
p ( p + 4) 2
2 p 2 - p + 12
p ( p + 4) 2
Order of operations: polynomials:
1. Indicate true or false for the following two expressions. If false provide a counter-
example:
a. a (b + c) = a b + a c
False
a
a (b + c ) =
b+c
Counter Example a=6, b=4, c=2
6(4+2) = 66=1
64 + 62 = 3/2 + 3 = 9/2
19/2
b. (a + b) c = a c + b c
True by distribution of addition over multiplication
1 1 1
( a + b) c = ( a + b) = a + b = a c + b c
c c c
______ 1. If xy=1, then it is always the case that either x=1 or y =1.
______ 2. If x(y+1) = 0, then x = 0 or y+1 =0 or both.
______ 3. a - b = b - a .
______ 4. (a - b) - c = a - (b - c )
______ 5. (a �b) �c = a �(b �c )
______ 6. (a � b) �c =a� (b �c)
______ 7 –(-a)+b = a+b.
x 1
______ 8 =
x + y 1+ y
1. Write the equation for a line with slope of -2/3 and a y-intercept 2 and graph it on
x=[-6,6].
In Slope-Intercept Form: y = -⅔ x + 2
y
6
x
-6 -4 -2 2 4 6
-2
x
-2 -1 1 2 3 4
-2
-4
A a) x 2 - 11x + 18 b) a 2 - 9b 2 + 6bc - c 2