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Unit 1. Algebraic Reasoning.
Part 1.
Order of operations
Absolute value
Evaluate expressions
Distribute and simplify
Part 2.
Solve equations with
multiple steps but the variable on one side
multiple steps but the variable on both sides
Transpose formulae
See pages 8 -12 of your textbook for vocabulary.
Order of Operations.
( )
2
12 4 3 5 6 4 2 3 +
Order of operations steps:
1. Brackets and other grouping symbols
2. Exponents
3. Multiplication and division from left to right
4. Addition and subtraction from left to right
( )
2
12 4 3 5 24 2 3 +
( )
2
12 4 3 5 12 3 +
( ) 3 3 5 12 9 +
9 60 9 +
60
NOW USE YOUR CALCULATOR TO CHECK
( )
( ) ( )
( )
( )
( )
2 2
2 2
3
12 (4 4 2) 4 6 2 2
(11 6 2 3) (4 3 2 1)
3 2 3 2
3 2 3 2 2
18 2 5 2
5 3 1
18 2 10 5 7 3
16 4 3 10 2 2 8
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
+
+
+

+ +
+
+ + (

+ +
Do the following questions and check your answers with a calculator
Absolute Value:
The formal definition is The distance between the number and zero on a number line.
The common understanding is the positive value or size of the number See page 58 in
your textbook.
the symbol is x
Examples:
3 = 3 17 + =17 23 = 23 1234 + =1234
3(2) 1 +
6 1 = +
5 =
5 =
2 3( 4) 5 +
2 12 5 = +
2 7 =
2 7 =
14 =
4 5 2( 3) 1 +
4 5 6 1

= +
4 5 6 1 = + +
4 11 1 = +
4 11 1 = +
44 1 = +
45 =
2( 1 1. 5)
1 2 ) . 7 2 ( 5

+
5 2 ) . 1 3 ( 3

+
( 3) ) 7 4. ( 2

1 . 1) 5 4(
+
+
1 . 2 5 6

+ +
4 2 2 7. ( 5)

+
7 1 . 2 4 8

+
2 3 2 9. 5
+

7 2(5) 1 10.
11 =
2 or 2

=
12 =
1 =
3 =
2 or 2

=
24 =
4 =
12 =
4 =
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See pages 13 of your textbook for vocabulary.
Evaluating expressions means find the value of the expression.
2

You need to r
If you are given
eplace the lette
m 2
rs w
n 3 t 5
2mn
ith the nu b
t
m ers
= = =
+
( )( ) ( )
2
2 2 3 5 = +
12 25 = +
37 =
2
If you are given
m 2 n 3 t 5
t 5

m n
t n

= = =
(

( ) ( )
2
5 5 2 3
5 3
(

| | 5 10 9
2

=
5
2
=
Evaluating the following expressions
( )( )
( )
2
2
2
2 2
2 2
2 2
1.
2.
3.
4.

5x y(z 6)
xy y 1 z 6
x y yz
xy y 1
x
If you ar
y xyz x y
xy x z
z x y
z y
e given
x z
x x
5.
x 2 y 3 z 2
6.
7.
y
+ +
+ + +
+
+ +
+

+
+

+
= =
+
=
Evaluating expressions with absolute values
if x 3 and y 2 evaluate these expressions
+
= =
xy 1 +
= ( 3)( 2) 1
+
+
= 6 1

+
= 5

= 5
2 3y x +
2 3( 2) 3
+
= +
2 6 3 =
2 3 =
2 3 =
6 =
2y 3x 2 + +
2( 2) 3( 3) 2
+
= + +
4 9 2
+
= + +
4 9 2 = +
5 2 = +
5 2 = +
7 =
Evaluate the following expressions. if x 2 ; y 4 and z 2

= = =
1. xy z +
2. x y z
2 z 6. 3 x y +
2 y . 3 7 z 4 x
2 z . x 8 y 4 3
2 x 3. y z +
5 3 . 2 4 x y + +
z 2 . 3 5 y z + +
10 =
4 =
0 =
7 =
16 =
2

=
0 =
0 =
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Distributive Property. See page 88 in your textbook
Problems With Brackets.
(2x 3) s 5 mean +
We distribute the terms to get
5 5 2x 3 +
5 (2x 3) +
10x 15 = +
3(3x 5) 3(2x 1) + + +
When there is a negative outside the bracket it will effect signs in your answer
3x 2 2 5 = + 6x 10 =
Distribute and simplify
9x 15 6x 3 = + + +
15x 18 = +
3(3x 5) 3(2x 1) + +
9x 15 6x 3 = +
3x 12 = +
3(3x 5) 3(2x 1) +
9x 15 6x 3) = + +
3x 18 = +
2(3x 5) +
4(2x 3) 3(3 1. ) x 5 + 4(2x 3) 3(3 2. ) x 5 4(2x 3) 3(3 3. ) x 5 +
8x 12 9x 15 = +
17x 27 =
8x 12 9x 15 = +
x 3 = +
8x 12 9x 15 =
x 27 =
2(3x 2) 3(4 2 . ) 4 x + +
6x 4 12x 6 = + +
18x 2 =
2(3x 2) 3(4 2 . ) 5 x +
6x 4 12x 6 = + +
6x 10 = +
All equation solving is based on the concept of inverse operations.
To understand what is meant by algebraic symbols do some substitution exercises.
If x=6 find the value of the following terms
5x+2
x
1
2
3(x 2)
x 8
7
=
=
=
+
=
5 6+2 30 2 32 = + =
6
1 3 1 2
2
= =
3(6 2) 3 4 12 = =
6 8 14
2
7 7
+
= =
If x=2 find the value of the following terms
5 2x
x
3
2
3(5 2x)
8 2x
3
=
+ =
=
+
=
5 2 2 5 4 1 = =
2
3 3 1 4
2
+ = + =
( ) 3(5 2 2) 3 5 4 3 1 3 = = =
8 2 2 8 4 12
4
3 3 3
+ +
= = =
Solving Equations: See page 117 in your textbook.
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Solving Equations.
2
x 1
x 1
x 2
x 2
x
+

What are the inverse operations for the following?

1
1
2
2
x

To solve an equation we use inverse operations to eliminate values

and leave the variable by itself
2x 3 7 + =
Ask yourself the questions:
What do I want to eliminate?
What is the operation for that value?
What is the inverse operations?
Then do the inverse operation to both sides of the equation.
3 3
2x 4 =
2 2
x 2 =
2x 3 7 + =
Be aware of alternative methods for solving an equation.
2m
4 8
5
+ =
4 on both sides
2m
4
5
=
5 on both sides
2m 20 =
2 on both sides
m 10 =
2m
4 8
5
+ =
20 on both sides
2m 20 =
2 on both sides
m 10 =
2m
4 8
5
+ =
2 on both sides
m
2
5
=
5 on both sides
m 10 =
5 on both sides
2m 20 40 + =
on both sides 2
m
2 4
5
+ =
Be aware of alternative methods for solving an equation.
2(2m 8) 6 14 + + =
6 on both sides
2(2m 8) 8 + =
on both sides 2
2m 8 4 + =
8 on both sides
2m 4 =
distribute
4m 8 =
4 on both sides
m 2 =
simplify
2m 11 7 + =
11 on both sides
2m 4 =
6 on both sides on both sides 2
2m 8 3 7 + + =
2 on both sides
m 2 =
2(2m 8) 8 + =
16 on both sides
4m 16 8 + =
2(2m 8) 6 14 + + = 2(2m 8) 6 14 + + =
on both sides 2
m 2 =
2x 1
4 7
5
+
+ =
2x 1
3
5
+
=
Subtract 4 on both sides
Multiply by 5 on both sides
2x 1 15 + =
Subtract 1 on both sides
2x 14 =
Divide by 2 on both sides
x 7 =
Check your answer by substituting in your calculator
3(4y 1) 4 17 =
3(4y 1) 21 =
Add 4 on both sides
Divide by 3 on both sides
4y 1 7 =
Add 1 on both sides
4y 8 =
Divide by 4 on both sides
y 2 =
Check your answer by substituting
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3m
5 20
2
+ =
3m
15
2
=
Subtract 5 on both sides
Multiply by 2 on both sides
3m 30 =
Divide by 3 on both sides
m 10 =
Check your answer by substituting
4(2g 3) 11 =
8g 12 11 =
In this case dividing by 4 will give a fraction so we distribute instead.
Add 12 on both sides
8g 23 =
Divide by 8 on both
Doesn't give a whole number so leave as a fra
sid
ct
es.
ion.
23
g
8
=
Check your answer by substituting with your calculator
3g 4(2g 3) 11 + =
3g 8g 12 11 + =
When the variables are on the same side of the equation
you should simplify first.
Add 12 on both sides
11g 23 =
Divide by 11 on both
Doesn't give a whole number so leave as a fr
sid
act
es.
ion.
23
g
11
=
Check your answer by substituting with your calculator
Equations with more than one lot of the variable
11g 12 11 =
5 2y 1 3y = +
5 1 5y = +
When the variables are on opposite side of the equation.
Always try to get a positive amount of the variable.
Subtract 1 on both sides
4 5y =
Divide by 5 on both sides.
4
y
5
=
Check your answer by substituting with your calculator
Add 2y on both sides
1 5x 11 7x =
1 2x 11 + =
Try to get a positive amount of the variable.
Subtract 1 on both sides
2x 10 =
Divide by 2 on both sides.
x 5 =
Check your answer by substituting mentally
Add 7x on both sides
5n 4 3n 8 + =
2n 4 8 + =
Subtract 4 on both sides
2n 12 =
Divide by 2 on both sides.
n 6 =
Subtract 3n on both sides
(alternate method) 5n 4 3n 8 + =
4 2n 8 =
Add 8 on both sides
12 2n =
Divide by 2 on both sides.
6 n =
Subtract 5n on both sides
1 5x 11 7x =
1 2x 11 + =
Subtract 1 on both sides
2x 10 =
Divide by 2 on both sides.
x 5 =
Add 7x on both sides
(alternate method) 1 5x 11 7x =
1 11 2x =
Subtract 11 on both sides
10 2x =
Divide by 2 on both sides.
x 5 =
Add 5x on both sides
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Transposing: This means to rearrange the equation.
It follows the same logic as solving equations
2x 4y 8 transpose for x + =
Subtract 4y on both sides
2x 8 4y =
Divide 2 on both sides
x 4 2y =
2x 4y 8 transpose for y + =
Subtract 2x on both sides
4y 8 2x =
Divide 4 on both sides
1
y 2 x
2
=
4y 8 2x transpose for x =
Subtract 8 on both sides
4y 8 2x =
Divide 2 on both sides
2y 4 x + =
8 4y 2x transpose for y + =
Subtract 8 on both sides
4y 2x 8 =
Divide 4 on both sides
1
y x 2
2
=