Westminster international

schools

Algebra

Contents of Lesson no. 1

o Vocabulary of algebra.

o Writing algebraic expressions.

o Substitution.
 Using Letters To Represent Unknown Values

Algebra is the branch of mathematics which deals with

constants, variables and other symbols to write
mathematical information in shortest way.
 Using Letters To Represent Unknown Values
Vocabulary of algebra
o A constant is a symbol which never change, like numbers.

o A variable is a symbol which represent different numbers and

denoted by letters, x, y, z, … etc.

o A term is a multiplication of a constant by one or more

variable, they separated by plus (+) or minus () signs to form
the expressions.
 Using Letters To Represent Unknown Values
Vocabulary of algebra
o An expression is a group of letters and numbers linked by
mathematical operations (+ , ,  , ÷, … ).

 Has no equal sign.

o An equation an expression with an equal sign.

 Solving equation is the process of finding the values of its

variables.
 Using Letters To Represent Unknown Values
Vocabulary of algebra
o A formula is an equation which can be consider as a general
rule, such as working out the area of different shapes.
 Using Letters To Represent Unknown Values
Writing algebraic expressions
o To write an algebraic expression it is useful to follow the coming
3 steps:
1) Define the variable (unknown quantities).
2) Identify the mathematical verbal phrases
(mathematical operation).
3) Translate the verbal expressions into algebraic
expression (constant, variables and symbols).
 Using Letters To Represent Unknown Values
Examples
1) Let the unknown number be x. write an expression for:
a. Three more than x  x +3

b. Six less than x  x6

c. Ten times x  10x

d. The sum of  8 and x   8 +x

e. The sum of the unknown number and its square  𝑥 + 𝑥 2

 Using Letters To Represent Unknown Values
Examples
1) Let the unknown number be x. write expression for:

f. A number which is twice x more than x  x+2x =3x

g. The fraction obtained when double the unknown number is

divided by the sum of the unknown number and four 

2𝑥
𝑥+4
 Using Letters To Represent Unknown Values
Examples
2) A CD and a DVD cost x dollars

a. The CD cost $10 what does the DVD cost ?

C+D = x, C=10  10+D= x  ∴D= x  10

b. If the DVD cost three times the CD, what does the CD cost?
𝑥
C+D = x, D= 3C C+3C=x  4C= x  ∴ C = 4
 Using Letters To Represent Unknown Values
Examples
2) A CD and a DVD cost x dollars

c. If the CD costs $(x  15), what does the DVD cost?

C+D = x, C= x  15 
x  15 +D= x 

D = x  x +15  ∴D = 15
 Using Letters To Represent Unknown Values
Examples
3) I am twice old as my son. I am T years old.
a. How old my son?
𝑇
T= 2S  S=
2
b. How old will my son be in four years’ time?
𝑇 𝑇+8 1
S = + 4 Or S= Or S = (T + 8)
2 2 2

c. How old was I x years ago? Tx

 Using Letters To Represent Unknown Values
Examples
4) Write down the perimeter for each of these figures
a. b. c. 3t
4m
2x

Square Equilateral triangle Regular hexagon

8x 12m 18t
 Using Letters To Represent Unknown Values
Examples
5) Three people win a prize of $p.

a. If they share the prize equally, how much will each receive?
𝑝
x + x + x = p  3x = p  x=
3
b. If one of these people wins three times as much mony as
other two, how much will each receive?
3x + x + x = p  5x = p  x = 𝑝  3𝑝 𝑝 𝑝
5 , ,
5 5 5
 Using Letters To Represent Unknown Values
Exercise
1) Let the unknown number be m. write an expression for:
a. The sum of the unknown number and 13 
b. A number that will exceed the unknown number by five 
c. The difference between 25 and the unknown number 
d. The unknown number cube 
e. A third of the unknown number plus three 
f. Four times the unknown number less than twice the number 
 Using Letters To Represent Unknown Values
Exercise
2) A woman is t years old.

a. How old she will be in ten years time?

b. How old was she ten years ago?

c. If she is twice old as her son age. How old is her son?

d. Now she is 65 years old. After four years her age will be treble
her son age. How old is her son?