| GB ‘eentities and Factorization 1. Meaning of identities (a) Concept of identities @ An equation that can be satis Values of the wi ¢ Satisfied by Al oe 3 - falues of the unknown(s) is called an identit instead of =" to represent an identity. Example 1 Determine whether each ofthe following equations isan identity G) 2x42) 2743) = dx—3 () 3@41)-2@x-1)= ax 0 Solution (@) LHS. = 246042) 2843) 0) LHS. =3(¢+1)-2Gx=1) 24 dx- 22-3 =3e+3—6x+2 may a-art5 RHS.=4x-3 RHS.=1-3x LHS.=RHS, ° LHS. ARS. 2 O42) at 49 3¢¢+ 1) -2Gx= 1) = 1-3 isnot an identity, (b) Finding unknown constants in an identity We can make use of the following two properties to find the unknown constants in an idemtity. Property 1: For an identity involving polynomials only, the terms on both sides after expansion and simplification are the same. 2 Property 2: An identity can be satisfied by all values of the unkm ( Example 2 1f2(5x-+2) = 4x4 B, where and Bare constants, find t Solution Method 1 LHS, =26x+2) = 10x+4 RHS.=Ax+B By comparing the like terms, we have A= land B=4 Note: This method is applicable to identities involving polynomials only.