3.

1 Basic Concepts of Algebra

3.2 Understanding Algebraic Expressions
3.3 Linear Equations in One Unknown
3.4 Formulating Equations to Solve Problems
3.1 Basic Concepts of Algebra 1A Chapter 3

We can use letters such as A, B, C, x, y, z, etc. to represent

numbers. Such letters are called unknowns.

e.g. There are 4 mooncakes in each box.

Total number of mooncakes in n boxes = 4  n

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3.2 Understanding Algebraic Expressions 1A Chapter 3

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3.2 Understanding Algebraic Expressions 1A Chapter 3

By using letters to represent numbers, we can study the

relation and operations among quantities. This branch of
mathematics is called Algebra.

The expression formed by numbers, letters and operation

signs (such as +, –, , ) are called algebraic expressions.
e.g. 4  n, a + 3, x  2 and r  n – 4 are algebraic
expressions.

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3.2 Understanding Algebraic Expressions 1A Chapter 3

The notations used in arithmetic and algebra are similar.

The following tables compare the notations of the four

operations used in arithmetic and algebra.

Arithmetic Algebra
Addition ‘Add 2 to 1’ is written as ‘Add y to x’ is written as
(sum) ‘1 + 2’. ‘x + y’.

Subtraction ‘Subtract 3 from 6’ is ‘Subtract y from x’ is

(difference) written as ‘6 – 3’. written as ‘x – y’.

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3.2 Understanding Algebraic Expressions 1A Chapter 3

Arithmetic Algebra
‘Multiply a by b’ is written
Multiplication ‘Multiply 4 by 8’ is
as ‘a  b’.
(product) written as ‘4  8’.
(or a ． b, ab)

‘Divide a by b’ is written
Division ‘Divide 10 by 5’ is
a
(quotient) written as ‘10  5’. as ‘a  b’ or ‘ b ’.

Note: (a) When a letter is multiplied by a number, we always

write the number first, followed by the letter.
e.g. m  4 = 4m
(b) When a letter is multiplied by 1, 1 can be omitted.
e.g. 1  n is written as n. 1  n is written as
n.

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3.2 Understanding Algebraic Expressions 1A Chapter 3

The table below shows the index notations used in arithmetic

and algebra.
Arithmetic Algebra
‘The square of 8’ is ‘The square of a’ is a2 = a  a
written as ‘82’. written as ‘a2’. ‘Square’ is also called
‘to the power 2’.
Index ‘The cube of 8’ is ‘The cube of a’ is a3 = a  a  a
notation written as ‘83’. written as ‘a3’. ‘Cube’ is also called
‘to the power 3’.
‘8 to the power 4’ ‘a to the power 4’
is written as ‘84’. is written as ‘a4’.

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3.2 Understanding Algebraic Expressions 1A Chapter 3

Note: For any positive integer n,

a  a  …  a = an, a1 can be simplified as a.

an is read as ‘a to the power
a appears n times n’.

where a is called the base and

n is called the index.

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3.2 Understanding Algebraic Expressions 1A Chapter 3

• The rules of operations in algebra are similar to those in

arithmetic. For example,

1+2=2+1 x+y=y+x

ab=ba
48=84
(or ab = ba)
Note that 1 – 2  2 – 1 In general, x – y  y – x
and 4  8  8  4. and a  b  b  a.

• Always perform multiplication and division first, followed

by addition and subtraction.

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3.2 Understanding Algebraic Expressions 1A Chapter 3

Represented by word phases

We can represent
the same idea using
2+x Sum of 2 and x word phrases and
algebraic
expressions.
Represented by algebraic expressions

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3.2 Understanding Algebraic Expressions 1A Chapter 3

Solution

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3.2 Understanding Algebraic Expressions 1A Chapter 3

Solution

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3.2 Understanding Algebraic Expressions 1A Chapter 3

Solution

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3.2 Understanding Algebraic Expressions 1A Chapter 3

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3.2 Understanding Algebraic Expressions 1A Chapter 3

Solution

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3.2 Understanding Algebraic Expressions 1A Chapter 3

Consider the algebraic expression 2x + 3y – 4z – 5.

2x + 3y – 4z – 5

We see that there are 4 terms: 2x, +3y, –4z, –5

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3.2 Understanding Algebraic Expressions 1A Chapter 3

Note: The ‘+’ sign of the first term of an algebraic expression

is usually omitted.
e.g. +2a is written as 2a.
+7b  1 is written as 7b  1.

For any algebraic expression:

(a) Terms that are numbers only are called constant terms.
e.g. In algebraic expression 2x – 1, –1 is a constant term.
(b) Terms that contain the same letter with the same index
are called like terms.
e.g. In algebraic expression x + 8 – 4x – 3,
(i) x and –4x are like terms,
(ii) 8 and –3 are like terms.

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3.2 Understanding Algebraic Expressions 1A Chapter 3

Like terms can be combined and simplified by addition or

subtraction.
e.g. (i) 3a + 4a = (3 + 4)a
= 7a
(ii) 5a – 2a = (5 – 2)a
= 3a

(a) x + 2x + 3x = (1 + 2 + 3)x
= 6x
(b) 4y + 5y – 6y = (4 + 5 – 6)y
= 3y

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3.2 Understanding Algebraic Expressions 1A Chapter 3

If there are more than one group of like terms in an algebraic

expression, we can simplify the algebraic expression
involving addition or subtraction through the following steps:

Step 1: Group the like terms together.

Step 2: Combine the like terms.

Let’s see the following example.

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3.2 Understanding Algebraic Expressions 1A Chapter 3

Solution

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3.2 Understanding Algebraic Expressions 1A Chapter 3

We can also simplify algebraic expressions involving

multiplication or division.

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Solution

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Solution

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3.2 Understanding Algebraic Expressions 1A Chapter 3

Solution

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3.2 Understanding Algebraic Expressions 1A Chapter 3

Solution

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3.2 Understanding Algebraic Expressions 1A Chapter 3

Solution

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3.3 Linear Equations in One Unknown 1A Chapter 3

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3.3 Linear Equations in One Unknown 1A Chapter 3

An algebraic equation consists of two expressions connected

by an equal sign ‘=’ with one or more unknowns.

The value of the unknown that can make both sides of the
equation equal (i.e. the value that satisfies the equation) is
called the solution (or root) of the equation.

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3.3 Linear Equations in One Unknown 1A Chapter 3

e.g. Consider 4n = 120.

When n = 30,
L.H.S. = 4(30)
= 120
R.H.S. = 120
Since both sides are equal, 30 is the solution of the
equation.

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3.3 Linear Equations in One Unknown 1A Chapter 3

An equation containing only one unknown with index 1 is

called a linear equation in one unknown.
e.g. x + 3 = 5, 2y – 1 = y are linear equations in one
unknown.

The process of finding the solution of an equation is called

‘to solve the equation’.

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3.3 Linear Equations in One Unknown 1A Chapter 3

At primary level, we learnt how to apply the following

principle to solve simple equations.

If we perform the same operation (i.e. addition, subtraction,

multiplication or division) to both sides of an equation, then
the two sides of the equation remain equal.

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3.3 Linear Equations in One Unknown 1A Chapter 3

e.g. (i) Solve the equation x + 8 = 15.

x + 8 = 15
x + 8 – 8 = 15 – 8
x = 15 – 8
Now, we are going to study
=7 some common techniques
for solving linear equations
(ii) Solve the equation 3x = 15. in one unknown.

3x = 15
3x 15
=
3 3
15
x=
3
=5

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3.3 Linear Equations in One Unknown 1A Chapter 3

Refer to the example (i) on the previous slide.

If we omit the step shaded in grey, it will
look like we have moved the term ‘+8’
x + 8 = 15
from left to right and changed its sign to
x + 8 – 8 = 15 – 8
become ‘–8’. x = 15 – 8
=7
x + 8 = 15

x = 15 – 8
=7
This process is called transposing a term.

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3.3 Linear Equations in One Unknown 1A Chapter 3

(a) x – 6 = 7 Transposing a term: x – 6 = 7

x=7+6
When x = 13,
= 13 L.H.S. = 13 – 6 = 7 = R.H.S.
∴ 13 is the solution of the
equation.

(b) y + 5 = 9 Transposing a term: y + 5 = 9

y=9–5
When y = 4,
=4 L.H.S. = 4 + 5 = 9 = R.H.S.
∴ 4 is the solution of the
equation.

Note: After solving an equation, we should check if the

solution obtained satisfies the original equation.
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3.3 Linear Equations in One Unknown 1A Chapter 3

Refer to the example (ii) on the slide P.33.

If we omit the step shaded in grey, it will
look like we have moved ‘× 3’ from left
3x = 15
to right and changed it to ‘÷ 3’. 3x 15
3 = 3
3x = 15 15
x= 3
15
x= =5
3
=5
In general, we can convert the multiplication (or division)
operation from one side of the equation to the other side to
become division (or multiplication) operation.

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3.3 Linear Equations in One Unknown 1A Chapter 3

(a) 2x = 6
6 When x = 3,
x= 2x = 6 L.H.S. = 2(3) = 6 = R.H.S.
2 ∴ 3 is the solution of the
=3 equation.

y
(b) = –5
4 y When y = –20,
y = –5  4 4
= –5
L.H.S. = –20 = –5 = R.H.S.
4
= –20 ∴ –20 is the solution of the
equation.

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3.3 Linear Equations in One Unknown 1A Chapter 3

Solution

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3.3 Linear Equations in One Unknown 1A Chapter 3

Solution

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3.3 Linear Equations in One Unknown 1A Chapter 3

‘Transposing a term’ and ‘converting multiplication/division

operations’ are commonly used in solving equations. We can
use the following examples to help us memorize.

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3.3 Linear Equations in One Unknown 1A Chapter 3

In §3.2C, we learnt how to combine like terms. This technique

can help us solve equations with like terms.

Let’s look at the following examples.

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Solution

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Solution

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3.3 Linear Equations in One Unknown 1A Chapter 3

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Solution

We can also transpose terms first,

and then combine the like terms.

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3.3 Linear Equations in One Unknown 1A Chapter 3

In algebraic expressions, brackets can be removed by the

distributive law of multiplication.

a(b + c) = ab + ac

(b + c)a = ba + ca

Similarly, we have

a(b – c) = ab – ac

(b – c)a = ba – ca

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3.3 Linear Equations in One Unknown 1A Chapter 3

Recall:
The product of two directed
numbers is
(i) positive if their signs
are the same,
(ii) negative if their signs
are different.

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3.3 Linear Equations in One Unknown 1A Chapter 3

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Solution

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Solution

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3.3 Linear Equations in One Unknown 1A Chapter 3

Solution

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3.3 Linear Equations in One Unknown 1A Chapter 3

When solving equations with fractions, we can first simplify

the equation by multiplying both sides of the equation by the
L.C.M. of all the denominators.

Let’s look at the following examples.

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3.3 Linear Equations in One Unknown 1A Chapter 3

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Solution

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Solution

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3.4 Formulating Equations to Solve Problems 1A Chapter 3

In daily life, we can solve problems by formulating and

solving equations.

The principal steps for formulating an equation to solve a

practical problem are as follows.

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3.4 Formulating Equations to Solve Problems 1A Chapter 3

Step 1 Read the question carefully and identify the

unknown in the question.

Step 2 Choose a letter to represent the unknown, and

express the other quantities in terms of the letter.

Step 3 Find an equivalent relation according to the

information in the question, and set up an
equation.

Step 4 Solve the equation.

Step 5 Write down the answer to the question clearly.

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3.4 Formulating Equations to Solve Problems 1A Chapter 3

Note: (a) Recognize the relation between the solution of an

equation and the answer to the question.
(b) Diagrams or tables are useful to formulate
equations.
(c) Make sure that an appropriate unit is given to the
answer.
Jackson has x pencils originally. After buying 4 pencils,
he has a total of 12 pencils. How many pencils does he
have originally?
x + 4 = 12
x = 12 – 4
=8
∴ Jackson has 8 pencils originally.

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3.4 Formulating Equations to Solve Problems 1A Chapter 3

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Solution

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Solution

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Solution

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 1A Chapter 3

The End

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