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mathematicsprinted 32 · PDF 33
165 pagesrevision 46935
printed 32 · PDF 33
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Examples:
a + b
c + d – e
However for multiplication, no symbol is used, and for division, fractions are used
Examples:
ab (means a × b)
(means a ÷ b)
3ab (means 3 × a × b)
We can have combinations of these of course
Powers (indices) and roots are used the same way as with numbers
Examples:
a2 means a × a
4a2 means 4 × a2
With the order of operations, a2 will happen before multiplying by 4
Brackets also work in the same way as with numbers
How will I need to use algebraic notation?
Algebraic expressions are used in many parts of the course
You need to be able to understand their meaning and work with them
e.g. for rearranging a formula
You may be given a situation in words that you then have to write in algebra
Which could lead to an equation you may then have to solve
Worked example
At the start of a competition, Raheem has p conkers and Howard has 2q conkers.
At the end of the competition Raheem still has the same number of conkers he
started with but Howard won 6 and lost none.
(a)
Write down an expression for the number of conkers that Howard has at the end of
the competition.
Howard has 2q + 6
At the end of the competition, Raheem and Howard have a total of 40 conkers.
(b)
Write an equation in terms of p and q that shows the number of conkers Raheem
and Howard have in total at the end of the competition.
p + 2q + 6 = 40
This can be simplified to p + 2q = 34
What is a term?
A term is either…
…a letter (variable) on its own, e.g. x
..a number on its own, e.g. 20