PMP Education-2016

IGCSE Mathematics
Lesson 1: Numbers, Expressions, and Equations
Nicole Zhang
jianqiao8869@gmail.com

Abstract
In this lecture, well be spending 1.5 hours studying from numbers to equations. We focus on how
to perform algebraic operations, and develop more mathematical intuition and skills to prepare for
exams.
Topcis:
1. Understand natural numbers, integers, prime numbers, square numbers, common factors,
common multiples;
2. Understand of rational and irrational numbers;
3. Estimate and compare the values of numbers;
4. Solve problems with percentage;
5. Use a calculator to do advanced calculations;
6. Use algebraic method to simplify and expand expressions;
7. Solve linear and quadratic equations;
8. Solve simultaneous equations.

I.

NUMBERS
A.

Warm up (10min)

Question: What are your understandings of natural numbers and integers?

Definition: The integers, or whole numbers, are the numbers ...-6, -5, -4, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1,
2, 3, 4, 5, 6...
1. Two integers can be added, multiplied or subtracted to give another integer.
2. There are infinitely many positive and infinitely many negative integers.
3. The number zero is neither positive nor negative.
Definition: The multiples of a positive integer a are all the products a, 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a, 6a,
. . .; The lowest common multiple or LCM of two positive integers is the smallest number
that is a multiple of both.
Practice: Find the LCM of 27 and 45 (135).

B.

HCF, Prime Numbers and Rational Numbers (10min)

Definition: Division of positive integers yields a quotient and a remainder, when the
remainder is 0, that yields a divisor or a factor. For example, 6 is a divisor of 42.
Definition: The highest common factor or HCF of two positive integers is the largest
number that is a divisor/factor of both number.
Practice: Find the HCF of 54 and 78.
Definition: A prime number is an integer greater than 1 whose only divisors are itself
and 1. An integer that is greater than 1 and is not prime is called a composite number.
Practice: What is the smallest prime number? Are even numbers prime? What is the
smallest composite number?
THE UNIQUE FACTORISATION THEOREM: Every positive integer can be written as
a product of prime numbers in one and only one way, apart from the order of the factors.
Definition of a RATIONAL NUMBER: A rational number is a number that can be written
as a fraction ab , where a and b are integers and b 6= 0.
Examples:
2

1. 2.98 (Terminating Decimal)

2. 6 27
3. 7.6 (Recurring Decimal)
4. 7.8 7 (Recurring Decimal)
The Four Operations on the Rational Numbers: Addition, multiplication, subtraction
and division (except by 0) can all be carried out within the rational numbers. All except
division have already been discussed.
What is Irrational Numbers? (Real but not rational)

C.

Percentage (10min)

How to convert a fraction into a percentage?

Example:

3
, 6
40 125

Solution:
3
=
40
6
=
125

3
100

% = 7.5%
40
1
6
100

% = 4.8%
125
1

Questions:
1. Steves council rates increased by 5% this year to $840. What were his council rates
last year?
2. Joanne received a 10% discount on a pair of shoes. If she paid $144, what was the
original price?
3. A table marked $1400 has been discounted by 30%. How much does it now cost?

D.

Use a calculator to do advanced calculations (10min)

Question: What is a square root, cube root, quartic root, quintic root, sextic
root?
Pythagoras theorem: definition of

2 (and other examples of irrational numbers)

3

Fractional powers: x n
5

Examples I: 8 3 , 81 4 , (x6 ) 3
Examples II:
p
4
372
64
q
p
73.98 44.63 + 3 58
II.

ALGEBRA
A.

Algebraic Operations (15min)

Simplifying and Expanding:

1. 2a2 b4 3a3 b2 = 6a5 b6
2. 3x(x + 2y)2y(3xy) = 3x2 + 6xy6xy + 2y 2 = 3x2 + 2y 2
3. (3 + x)(9 + 3x + x2 ) = 3(9 + 3x + x2 ) + x(9 + 3x + x2 ) = 27 + 18x + 6x2 + x3
Factoring:

Some fomulae
1. (a + b)2 = a2 + 2ab + b2
2. (a + b)(a
3. (a

b) = a2

b2

b)(a2 + ab + b2 ) = a3

b3

Practice
1. 4x3 + 3x2
2. a2

36

3. x2 13x + 36
4. a2 + 12a

28

Algebraic Fractions
4

1.

x2 1
x 1

2.

x2 13x+36
x2 16

3.

1
x 4

B.

1
x

Solving linear equations (10min)

Guidlines:
1. Any number can be added to or subtracted from both sides.
2. Both sides can be multiplied or divided by any non-zero number.
Simple Examples:
1. 6x + 5 = 4x9
2.

4 7x
4x 7

=1

Advanced Examples:
1. (1 + 2x)(4 + 3x) = (2
2. (x + 3)2 = (x

x)(5

6x)

1)2

3. Given that v 2 = u2 + 2as, find the value of s, when u = 6, v = 10, and a = 2.

4. If S =

C.

15, n = 10 and a =

24, find l, given that S = n(a + l).

Solving quadratic equations (10min)

Three methods:
1. factoring
2. using the quadratic formula
3. completing the square
Factoring Examples:
5

1. x2 + 4x + 3 = 0
2. 5x2 + 34x

7=0

3. 50 + 27h + h2 = 0
Quadratic Formula:
Definition: The solutions of ax2 + bx + c = 0 are:

x=
Let

= b2

4ac, check whether

b2
2a

4ac

> 0 before you start solving the equation.

Examples:
1. 3x2 + 4x

1=0

2. 5x2 + 13x

6=0

Completing the square:

Method: when having the equation with the form x2 + bx + ..., halve the coefficient b of
x and square the result.
Examples:
1. t2 + 8t = 20
2. 2x2 + 8x + 3 = 0
3. 2x2

D.

10x + 7 = 0

Simultaneous Equations (10min)

Methods:
1. Solve one of the equations for one of the variables.
2. Then substitute it into the other equation.
6

Examples:
1. 3x

2y = 29, 4x + y = 24

2. y = x2 , y = x + 2
3. x2 + y 2 = 117, 2x2

III.

3y 2 = 54

REVIEW(5MIN)

1. What are natural numbers, integers, prime numbers, rational numbers, irrational numbers?
2. If Mr Chubby is 80kg in 2014, and his weight increase by 20% every year, how much
does he weight in 2016?
3. What are the three dierent methods that we use to solve quadratic equations?
4. What do we check before we start solving a quardratic equation with the formula?