Chapter 1: Introduction to Algebra Notes Introduction to Algebra

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1.1 Variables: To simplify numerical expressions and evaluate algebraic expressions

Suppose you have an after school job at McDonalds and you get paid $6. ! an hour. The amount of money you earn depends on ho" many hours you "or#.

$umber of hours Money %arned & ' ( ) The money earned follo"s this pattern Money earned * * The letter ++++ stands for the hours sho"n on the table,&- '- ( or ). .lso- ++++ can stand for other hours not on the table. /e call ++++ a variable. . variable is The numbers are called +++++++ of the variable. .n expression that contains a variable such as 6.50 h - is called a ++++++++++++++++++. .n expression such as 6.50 4 - that names a particular number is called a +++++++++++++++++++ or +++++++++++++ Notation 6.50 4 can also be "ritten as 6.50 4 to represent multiplication 0roducts of variables are usually "ritten "ithout the multiplication sign because it loo#s too much li#e the letter x. 19 n can be "ritten as ++++++ a b can be "ritten as ++++++ 1 x can be "ritten as ++++++ 2 The symbol * means ) 1 ' * 6 is read or or The symbol 2 means )1'2
a b

is read

means

ab means a 1 b means a 3 b means

Order of Operations 0 % M D . S 1. 2 rouping !"mbols: To simplify expressions "ith and "ithout grouping symbols. 5raction 4ar

There are three types of grouping systems 0arentheses 4rac#ets

/hen solving a problem involving grouping systems al"ays evaluate inside the grouping symbol firsts. 6f an expression contains more than one grouping symbol- first simplify in the innermost grouping system. Then "or# to"ards the outermost grouping symbol until the simplest expression is found.

%xample & Simplify each expression a7 9 + (5 4) b7

(13 +11) ( 6 2)

c7 (12 11) (2 11)

Substitution 0rinciple8 .n expression may be replaced by another expression that has the same value. %xample ' %valuate each expression if a * &- b * '- and c * ( a7 6a c7 : c7 3 )

b7 9 3 b

d7 (a + b) c

%xample ( Simplify the expression on each side of the ;. To ma#e a true statement replace the ; "ith the * or 2 symbol. (8 2) a7 6 3 # 3 6 b7 :&) 8(7 8& # &) 8 :( 3 &7 c7 #<3& 2

1.$% &ranslating 'ords and !entences into !"mbols: To translate phrases into variable expressions /rite do"n all the "ords you can thin# of that mean each operation. .ddition Subtraction

Multiplication

Division

.ddition

0hrase The sum of < and x . number increased by = more than a number

Translation

Subtraction

The difference bet"een a number and ) . number decreased by < less than a number 6 minus a number

Multiplication

The product of

and a number

Seven times a number >ne third of a number Division The ?uotient of a number and <

. number divided by &! CA(&ION: )e careful *ith phrases in+ol+ing subtraction. &he phrase ,- less than ./ is translated to . 0 - not - 1 . %xample & Translate each phrase into a variable expression a7 ( less than half of x

b7 @alf the difference bet"een x and (

@ere are four formulas commonly used in .lgebra. A * lw .rea of a rectangle e?uals the length of the rectangle times the "idth of the rectangle P * 'l 1 'w 0erimeter of the rectangle e?uals t"o times the length plus t"o times the "idth D * rt Distance traveled e?uals the rate times the time traveled C * np Aost e?uals the number of items times the price per item %xample ' 5ind the area and perimeter of a rectangle "ith length &! and "idth ".

%xample ( Bou travel :h 1 C7 hours at <! #mDh :#ilometers per hour7. @o" far do you travel;

/hat "ords can you use to represent e?uals :*7;

%xample ) T"ice the sum of a number and four is ten.

%xample /hen a number is multiplied by four the result is decreased by 6- the final result is &!.

uided 2ractice Translate each phrase into a variable expression. Use n for the variable. &. %ight times a number '. The product of three and a number (. 5ive more than a number ). >ne fourth of a number . . number decreased by four 6. . number divided by five =. $ine less than half a number <. $ine more than t"ice a number Complete each statement with a variable expression. 9. . rectangle has "idth 6 units and length x units. The area is ++++++ s?uare units. &!. Bou travel for :t 3 '7 hours at = #mDh. Bou traveled ++++++++ #m. &&. .l earns :p 1 (7 dollars per hour. 6n < hours- he earns +++++++ dollars. &'. The Eolden Eate 4ridge "as built n years ago. Three years from no" it "ill be standing ++++++ years. &(. $ine years from no" 5en"ay 0ar# "ill be g years old. 6t is no" +++++ years old. &). /or#ers on an assembly li#e produce :x 1 &!7 cars each day. 6n produce ++++++ cars. Translate each sentence into an equation. & . >ne third a number is seven. &6. Six less than a number is t"elve. &=. @alf of the sum of three and a number is four. days they

&<. 5our less than t"ice a number is nine. &9. T"ice a number is &< more than five times a number. '!. . number is 9 more than one third of itself. '&. %leven less than t"ice n is seven more than n. ''. Ten times x is t"ice the sum of x and eight.

1. - &ranslating 2roblems into 34uations: To translate "ord sentences into e?uations Sometimes you "ill need to use a formula in order to "rite an e?uation. %xample & Fse the figure and the information belo" to "rite an e?uation involving x. ) ) 0erimeter * &) x

%xample ' 5irst choose a variable to represent the number described by the "ords in the parentheses- then "rite an e?uation that represents the given information. The distance traveled in ( hours of driving "as ')! #m :hourly rate7

!teps to translate problems into e4uations Step & Gead the problem carefully Step ' Ahoose a variable to represent the un#no"ns Ahoose a variable for the one un#no"n /rite an expression for the other un#no"n using the variable and one of the facts Step ( Geread the problem and "rite an e?uation Fse the other fact from the problem to "rite an e?uation

%xample ( Translate the problem into an e?uation. :&7 Marta has t"ice as much money as @eidi :'7 Together they have $(6 @o" much money does each have;

%xample ) Translate the problem into an e?uation. :&7 . "ooden rod 6!in long is sa"ed into t"o pieces :'7 >ne piece is ) in longer that the other. /hat are the lengths;

uided 2ractice Fse the figure and the information belo" it to "rite and e?uation involving x. &. '. < (. '! = =
x

x < 0erimeter * '6

x &6 0erimeter * 6!

0erimeter * &<

First choose a variable to represent the number described by the words in the parentheses then write an equation that represents the !iven information. ). . doHen eggs cost $&.&9. :Aost of one egg7

. $ine days ago a ne" radio station had been on the air for &( days. :Stations age no"7

6. . student solved all but the last four exercises in the home"or# assignment of (! exercises. :$umber of exercises solved7

=. . sixteen8year8old building is one fourth as old as a nearby bridge. :4ridges age no"7

<. . rectangular floor is tiled "ith 9'< s?uare tiles. The floor is (' tiles long. :$umber of tiles in the "idth7

9. . season tic#et good for (9 bas#etball games cost $&!9'. :Aost of one admission "ith this tic#et.

Translate each problem into an e?uation &!. :&7 Iyn has t"ice as much money as Jo. :'7 Together they have $6(. @o" much does each have;

&&. :&7 State Aollege has 6'! students. :'7 There are '! more "omen than men. @o" many "omen are there;

&'. :&7 4renda drove three times as far as Jim. :'74renda drove ') miles more than Jim. @o" far did Jim drive;

&(. :&7 The Gavens "on t"ice as many games as they lostK :'7 They played 96 games. @o" many games did they "in;

&). :&7 S#ip had eight fe"er job intervie"s than /oody. :'7 Together they had '! intervie"s.

@o" many intervie"s did each have; & . :&7 The number of items on t"o grocery list differs by =. :'7The total number of items is ((. @o" many items are on each list;

&6. The height of a to"er is three times the height of a certain building. 6f the to"er is ! m taller than the building- ho" tall is the to"er;

&=. The length of the rectangle is one unit more than its "idth. 6f the area is (! s?uare units- find the dimensions of the rectangle.

&<. The triangle has t"o e?ual sides and a third side that is & cm long. 6t the perimeter is ! cm- ho" long is each side;

1.5% 1.6 Number 7ine and Absolute Value: To graph real numbers on a number line and to compare real numbers and to use opposites and absolute values Symbols L Nocabulary Eraph of a number Aoordinate of a number /hole number 0ositive integers Geal $umber 0ositive number >pposite of a number $egative integer .bsolute value of a number M K

$egative number 6ntegers

%xample & /rite a real number to represent the situation. Then "rite the opposite of that situation and "rite a number to represent it. a7 5ive "ins d7 5our steps to the right b7 Fp six floors c7 & !m above sea level e7 =O above freeHing :!O A7 f7 . ban# deposit of $ !

%xample ' Translate each statement into symbols a7 5our is greater than negative t"o b7 $egative four is greater than negative six c7 T"o is less than t"o and t"o tenths d7 $egative &' is less than three %xample ( Iist the letters of the points "hose coordinates are given. Fse the number line belo"
. 4 A D % 5 E @ 6 J P I M $ > 0 Q G S

a786- (

! b7 '- 8'- 8( C

c7 !- 8 - ' C

%xample ) Simplify. a7 3:' 1 67 b7 3:= 8 (7

c7 d7

0.2 + 1. 8

8 6

%xample Fse one of the symbols K- M or * to ma#e a statement true. 5 a7 3:8(7 ; 8( b7 3:8)7 ; c7