LECTURE 1: Basic Algebra

LECTURE 1C:
Basic Algebra
 LECTURE 1: Basic Algebra

TOPICS COVERED
• Algebra - p. 12
• Evaluating Algebraic Expressions - p. 12
• Solving First-Degree Equations - p. 13
 LECTURE 1: Basic Algebra

ALGEBRA
The Language of Algebra
 Algebra, an extension of arithmetic, is
an organized system of rules that
help to solve problems.
 Uses letters or symbols to represent
unknown quantities. These
letters/symbols are called variables.
These letters are variables because
they change or vary value/s from
problem to problem.
 LECTURE 1: Basic Algebra

ALGEBRA
The Language of Algebra
 Constants are fixed values. The
value of a constant is known and
its value never changes.
 Whenever a number and a variable
are multiplied together, the number
part is called the coefficient. In the
expression 7𝑥, the coefficient of 𝒙 is
𝟕. The variable 𝒙 is multiplied to 𝟕.
 LECTURE 1: Basic Algebra

ALGEBRA
Algebraic Expressions
 An algebraic term can be a
constant, a variable, or the product
or quotient of numbers with
variables.
2𝑥 4
Examples: 4, 𝑦, 3𝑛, , 𝑎
3 5
 LECTURE 1: Basic Algebra

ALGEBRA
Algebraic Expressions
 An algebraic expression is any
combination of numbers, variables,
grouping symbols, and operations.
 LECTURE 1: Basic Algebra

ALGEBRA
Algebraic Expressions
 In an algebraic expression, terms
are separated by + and − signs.
The sign before them belongs to
the term.
𝒎
For example, 𝟓 − 𝟑𝒚, 𝒂 + 𝟒, + 𝟐
𝟒
are algebraic expressions.
 LECTURE 1: Basic Algebra

ALGEBRA
Evaluation Algebraic Expressions
To evaluate an algebraic
expression, plug in the given
or corresponding values for
the variables and compute
according to GEMDAS
procedure.
 LECTURE 1: Basic Algebra

ALGEBRA
Evaluation Algebraic Expressions

Example 1:
2
Evaluate 𝑡 − 𝑡 + 3 when 𝑡 = 4.

ANSWER: 𝟏𝟓
 LECTURE 1: Basic Algebra

ALGEBRA
Evaluation Algebraic Expressions

Example 2:
Evaluate 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 5 when 𝑥 = −1.

ANSWER: −𝟔
 LECTURE 1: Basic Algebra

ALGEBRA
Evaluation Algebraic Expressions

Example 3:
2 3
Evaluate 2𝑎 − 5𝑏𝑐 + 3𝑐 if
𝑎 = −1, 𝑏 = 3, and 𝑐 = −2.

ANSWER: 𝟖
 LECTURE 1: Basic Algebra

ALGEBRA
Equations
An equation states that one
expression is equal to another
expression. For example, the
equation 𝑥 + 7 = 10 sets the
expression 𝑥 + 7 equal to the
expression 10.
 LECTURE 1: Basic Algebra

ALGEBRA
Equations
It is important to recognize
the difference between an
expression and an equation.
An equation always has an
equal sign.
 LECTURE 1: Basic Algebra

ALGEBRA
Equations
An equation may be true or false
depending on the replacement
value for the variables. The
equation 𝑥 + 7 = 10 says that
some number 𝒙 added to 7
equals 10, so you know that 𝒙 = 𝟑
is the solution of the equation.
 LECTURE 1: Basic Algebra

ALGEBRA
Equations
The solution is the value of the
variable that makes the
statement true. You solve an
equation when you find the
solution of the variable.
 LECTURE 1: Basic Algebra

ALGEBRA
Isolating the Desired Variable in
an Equation
Transposition is a method to
isolate the desired
variable to one side of
the equation (usually left side)
and everything else to the
other side so that you can
solve the equation.
 LECTURE 1: Basic Algebra

ALGEBRA
Isolating the Desired Variable in
an Equation
Transposition uses the
principle wherein when a term
is moved from one side of
the equation to the other
side of the equation, the sign
of that term changes.
 LECTURE 1: Basic Algebra

ALGEBRA
Isolating the Desired Variable in
an Equation
Algebraic equations can be
solved using the Law of
equations.
The Law of equations states
that whatever you do on one
side of an equation, you must
do it on the other side as well.
 LECTURE 1: Basic Algebra

ALGEBRA
Additive Inverse (aka
opposite)
𝐛 + −𝐛 = −𝐛 + 𝐛 = 𝟎

Multiplicative Inverse (aka

reciprocal)
𝟏 𝟏
𝐚⋅ = ⋅𝐚=𝟏
𝒂 𝒂
 LECTURE 1: Basic Algebra

ALGEBRA
Identity Property

𝐚+𝟎=𝟎+𝐚=𝐚
[𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐧𝐭
𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝟎]

𝐚⋅𝟏=𝟏⋅𝐚=𝐚
[multiplication: identity element
for multiplication is 1]
 LECTURE 1: Basic Algebra

Solving First-Degree Equations

Example 1: Solve the equation.

𝟑𝒙 + 𝟒 = 𝟏𝟔

ANSWER: 𝒙 = 𝟒
 LECTURE 1: Basic Algebra

Solving First-Degree Equations

Example 2: Solve the equation.

𝟓𝒙 + 𝟏𝟐 = 𝟒𝟕

ANSWER: 𝒙 = 𝟕
 LECTURE 1: Basic Algebra

Solving First-Degree Equations

Example 3: Solve the equation.

−4 = 2𝑥 − 6

ANSWER: 𝒙 = 𝟏
 LECTURE 1: Basic Algebra

Solving First-Degree Equations

Example 4: Solve the equation.

5𝑥 + 3 − 2𝑥 = 𝑥 − 15

ANSWER: 𝒙 = −𝟗
 LECTURE 1: Basic Algebra

Solving First-Degree Equations

Example 5: Solve the equation.

5 2𝑥 + 1 = 4 3𝑥 − 7

𝟑𝟑 𝟏
ANSWER: 𝒙 = or 𝟏𝟔
𝟐 𝟐
 LECTURE 1: Basic Algebra

Solving First-Degree Equations

Example 6: Solve the equation.

3 𝑥 − 2 + 18 = 6 + 2 𝑥 + 6

ANSWER: 𝒙 = 𝟔
 LECTURE 1: Basic Algebra

Solving First-Degree Equations

Example 7: Solve the equation.

3𝑥 + 9 = 15

ANSWER: 𝒙 = 𝟐
 LECTURE 1: Basic Algebra

Solving First-Degree Equations

Example 8: Solve the equation.

2 5𝑥 − 11 + 12𝑥 = 0

ANSWER: 𝒙 = 𝟏
 LECTURE 1: Basic Algebra

Solving First-Degree Equations

Example 9: Solve the equation.

𝟓𝒚 − 𝟖 − 𝒚 = 𝟐 −𝟒 − 𝟑 + 𝟓𝒚 − 𝟏𝟑

ANSWER: 𝒚 = −𝟐
 LECTURE 1: Basic Algebra

Solving First-Degree Equations

Example 10: Solve the equation.

− 𝒛 − 𝟒𝒛 + 𝟐 = 𝟐 + 𝟐𝒛 + 𝟕

ANSWER: 𝒛 = 𝟕