VBP 228 Apply Mathematical

Solutions to Engineering Problems

 Review:
 Index form (Exponential notation)
 am x an=am+n
m
am  an= n = am - n
a

a

0
a =1
 (am)n= am x n
 (ab)m = ambm

. 1
a m 
am

K. Cho Lecture 3 1
Review (continued)
1
 a = a
2

1
a = 3
 3
a

 Scientific notation (standard form)

 Engineering notation

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 Algebra
The branch of mathematics in which variable
quantities and numbers are represented by symbols
such as letters of the alphabet. 1550s, from Arabic
al jebra "reunion of broken parts“.
 Pronumeral
 Algebraic expression
 Terms, Like terms
 Coefficient
 Constant
 Variable

K. Cho Lecture 3 3
Algebra -Continued

 Substitutions
 When no sign is placed between two
pronumeral, multiplication is implied.
 The negative of a negative number is
positive.(the like signs, the unlike signs)

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Algebra (Substitutions)

 Given that a = 2 and b = -3. Evaluate:

 2a – 5b
 a3 -3b2
. 2a  b a  2b
 
ab b

2a  b (a 2  2b)
 .   (a  b 2 )
ab b

K. Cho Lecture 3 5
Algebra -Continued

 Addition of like terms

 Subtraction of like terms
 Removal of brackets
 Multiplication/division of terms
 Distributive law

K. Cho Lecture 3 6
Algebra (Examples)

 2x - 3y - 4x +4y +x
 3ab2 - 3a2b – 5ab2 -2ab
 2p x 3t x 4t x 4p x p
 3ab2 x 3a2b x 5ab2 x 2ab
 (a + b)2 = (a + b)(a + b)
 (a - b)2 = (a - b)(a – b)
 (a + b)(a – b)
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Algebraic fractions
 Added, subtracted, multiplied and
divided inexactly the same way
as arithmetical fractions.

K. Cho Lecture 3 8
 Algebraic fractions
 Examples:
 . a  2a 1

1

2 3  . 2
1
x

,
1
2x
 . a  2a 1

1

2 3  . 2
1
x
1
2x
 . 1

3
3m 2m 2  . 2  4t  8t  4
4
 . 1

3
3m 2m 2

K. Cho Lecture 3 9
Transposition
 When one variable is expressed in
terms of other variables, this
variable is called the subject of the
formula.

K. Cho Lecture 3 10
Transposition (Examples)

 Make the pronumeral in bracket the

subject of the formula.
 .f = ma (a)
w
 . p  (w)
t

 .M  k L1L2 (L1)

1 1 1
 .R  R  R (R)
1 2

K. Cho Lecture 3 11
 Surds
 A surd is an irrational number which can only be expressed exactly
using the radical or root sign ( ). Relating to the root of a
number. From Latin radix “root”.

 Rules:
 . a b  ab

 . a

a
b b
 .
a a 2 a
 . 7 b 2 b 5 b
 . 27  9  3  3 3
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Surds (Continued)

 The like terms

 The same number inside the square root
sign( ) in simplest form.
 To simplify, the like terms can ONLY be
added or subtracted.

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Example:
 Simplify the
following:  .  2 40
 . 5 7 5
3
 . 8 30
 .10 2  5 2  18 5
 . 5  11 2
 . 32
 .2 200  6 12  3 72  20

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Surds and the Distributive Law
 a(b + c) = ab + ac

 (a + b)(c + d) = ac+ad+bc+bd

 .( a  b )( a  b )

 Rationalise the denominator (Conjugate Surds)

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Examples:
 .2 3 (5  3 )

 . (2 2  1)( 6  4 3 )

32
 . (2 5  7 ) 2
2 3

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Tutorial Class !
 Do “Exercises described in subject outline”
in your working exercise book.
 Show your work to class room teacher.
 Thank you. "Poetry has become the higher algebra of
metaphors.

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