ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSION

Unknown
Important Concept
An unknown is a quantity whose value has not been determined
4.1.1
Example Exercise
1. Azmi bought some durians 1. There were a lot of people in the fun fair.
Solution:
Solution:

The unknown is the number of 2. Mr.Tan lost a large amount of money

durian. when he dropped his wallet
Solution:

3. A number of students are studying in the

library.
Solution:

4. My father bought a few kilograms of

rambutans yesterday.
Solution:

5. Ketty gained a few kilograms of weight

during the holidays
Solution:

Algebraic term
identifying algebraic terms with one unknown.

Important concept:
An algebraic term with one unknown is the product of a number and an unknown
4.1.2
EXAMPLE EXERCISE
6 x is the multiplication of the number 6 with Determine the algebraic term
the unknown x with one unknown for each
of the following.
1. 3e
Solution:

2. -5t
Solution:

Algebraic Expressions 1
 EXERCISE EXERCISE
3. 0.8t 4. 80w
Solution: Solution

Identify Coefficients in given algebraic term

Important concept:
the number is known as the coefficient of the unknown

4.1.3

EXAMPLE EXERCISE
1. 6 x : 6 is the coefficient of x 1. 8k
Solution:
3a : -3 is the coefficient of a
2. 0.65q
r 1 Solution:
2. : is the coefficient of r
8 8
r 3.
because 13t
8 Solution:
3.
p : 1 is the coefficient of p 5
4. p
8
Solution:

5. j
Solution:

Identify Like Algebraic Term and Unlike algebraic Term.

Important concept:
Like term : are term have that same unknowns
Unlike term : are term that have different unknowns
4.1.4
EXAMPLE EXERCISE
Like Term: Determine the term in each of the
following pairs of term given below like
9 p and p same terms or unlike terms.
1
0.8 x and x unknowns 1. 4.56k ,20kmn
4
Solution:
y
9 y and
6 j
2. 100 j ,
10
Solution:

3. 4 z ,9 z 3
Solution:
Algebraic Expressions 2
Unlike Term : 4. 11q,5q
Solution:
9 p and 9q different
1
0.8 x and y unknowns 5. 7t ,0.8t
2
Solution:
70 w and 17w 2

Algebraic Expressions
Important concept:
group all the like terms together
add/subtract the coefficient of the terms
leave the terms as your answer
4.1.5
EXAMPLE EXERCISE
1. 6m 2n m Simplify the following algebraic
expressions.
= 6m m 2n
1. 9 y 12 y
= 7 m 2n
Solution :

2. 10k + 3k u + 9k
2. 11n 8n 10n
= 10k + 3k + 9k u
Solution :
= 22k u

3. u + 7v 4u
= u 4u + 7v 3. 4w 8 x x
= 5u + 7v Solution :

4. 11q 5b + 3b 17 q
= 11q 17q 5b + 3b
= 6q 2b
4. 12 4k + 9
Solution :

EXERCISE EXERCISE
5. 21v 11v + 7 d 8d 6. 5u 6 9 + 5 y
Solution : Solution :

Algebraic Expressions 3
 An algebraic term in two or more unknowns is a product of two or more
unknowns and a number.
4.1.6
EXAMPLE EXERCISE
Write the unknowns in the
1. 5 xy following algebraic terms.
1. 2ab
= 5 xy The coefficient of xy is 5 Solution:
= 5 x y The coefficient of y is 5 x
= 5 y x The coefficient of x is 5 y 2. p2q
Solution :

3. 7 xyz
Solution:

4. 5t
Solution:

Finding the product of two algebraic terms.

4.1.7
EXAMPLE EXERCISE
1. 8 p 5qr 1. ab 2 abc 2
= 8 p 5 q r Solution:
= 8 5 q p r
= 40 pqr

1
2. rs (8s )
2
Solution:
2. n 2 p 2 np 3
nn p p
=
n p p p
n
=
p
3. 3r 3 s rs
Solution:

Algebraic Expressions 4
 4. 6a 4 b 3 2 a 3 b
Solution:

3(5 p 2 + p )
3. 4(2 x 1) 5.
Solution:
= 4 2 x + 4 (1)
= 8 x + (4)
= 8x 4

6. 8(2m 5n)
(4 x 8) 2
4. Solution:
4x 8
=
2
4x 8
=
2 2
= 2x 4

EXERCISE EXERCISE
7. 5(6m + 4) 8. (20 pq + 24 p ) 4
2 Solution:
Solution:

9. (4ab 9ab 2 + 6a ) 6 10.

30s 2 t 2 + 18st
Solution: 3
Solution:

Algebraic Expressions 5
 Expanding single brackets and two brackets.
4.1.8
EXAMPLE EXERCISE
Expanding single brackets 1. 10( x + 2)
a( x + y ) = ax + ay Solution :
1. 5( x + y )
= 5 x + 5 y
= 5x + 5 y
2. 3( y 8)
2. 3b(2m 2n) Solution :
= 3b 2m 3b 2n
= 6bm 6bn

5 p (4 p + 3q) 7 p (2a + 5b)

3. 3.
= 5 p 4 p + (5 p) 3q Solution :

= 20 p 2 15 pq

4. a(a 2b + 6)
= a a a 2b + a 6
4. 11m(4 9n)
= a 2 2ab + 6a
Solution :

EXERCISE EXERCISE
5. 3x(2 xy + 4 y ) 6 5ab(7a 2b + 1)
Solution : Solution :

7. 22c(5cd + 2c d ) 8. 6 s (7 s 3t )
Solution : Solution :

Algebraic Expressions 6
 EXAMPLE EXERCISE
Expanding two brackets; 9. ( x + a )( y + 2b)
Solution :
(a + b)( x + y )
= ax + ay + bx + by

1. (2a + 5)(4b + 3) 10. (3 p q )(5r + 7t )

= 2a (4b + 3) + 5(4b + 3) Solution :
= 2a 4b + 2a 3 + 5 4b + 5 3
= 8ab + 6a + 20b + 15

11. (2c + d )(e 12)

2. (m + 2 p )(n q ) Solution
= m( n q ) + 2 p ( n q )
= mn mq + 2np 2 pq

12. (6 x 11)(2 y 3)
Solution

EXERCISE EXERCISE
13. (a + 2)(a 9) 14. (3 x 5)(4 x + 3)
Solution : Solution :

16. (4m + 5n)(7 3m)

15. ( p + 3q )(5 p 10) Solution :
Solution :

Algebraic Expressions 7
 EXAMPLE EXERCISE
17. (2a + 5b) 2
3. ( x + 2) 2 Solution :
= x 2 + 2( x)(2) + 2 2
= x 2 + 4x + 4

4. (3m 5n) 2
2 2
18. ( 7 m + 2) 2
= (3m) 2(3m)(5n) + (5n)
Solution :
= 9m 2 30mn + 25n 2

19. (6 p q ) 2
Solution :

20. (8 3r ) 2
Solution :

Algebraic Expressions 8
 Factorising Algebraic Expressions.
4.1.9
EXAMPLE EXERCISE

1. ab ac = a (b c) 1. 8 m + 40
4a + 6 Solution :
= 2 2a + 2 3
= 2(2a + 3)

9 x 2 3x 2. 4 ax + 6 bx
2.
= 3x 3 x 3 x 1 Solution :
= 3x(3 x 1)

3. 30mn 2 + 18m 2 n
3. 50 r 2 s 35 rs 2
+ 15 rs
= 6mn 5n + 6mn 3m
= 6mn(5n + 3m) Solution :

4. 2 p 3 6 p 2 + 12 p
4. m 2
36
= 2 p p2 2 p 3p + 2 p 6
= 2 p ( p 2 3 p + 6) Solution :

5. 16a 2 25
2 2
5. 49 x 4y
= (4a ) 2 (5) 2
Solution :
= (4a + 5)(4a 5)

6. 144 x 2 81 y 2 2 2
6. 225 a 9b
= (12 x) 2 (9 y ) 2
Solution :
= (12 x + 9 y )(12 x 9 y )

Algebraic Expressions 9
 EXAMPLE EXERCISE
7. 2
4m + 12mn + 9n 2 7. 9m + 6mn + n 2
2

= (2m) 2 + 2(2m)(3n) + (3n) 2 Solution :

= (2m + 3n) 2

8. 13m 2 + 5mn + 6m + 10n 8. 8q 4 p 6 pq + 3 p 2

= (3m 2 + 5mn) + (6m + 10n) Solution :
= m(3m + 5n) + 2(3m + 5n)
= (m + 2)(3m + 5n)

9 x 32 y + 12 xy 24
9.
Solution :

Algebraic Expressions 10
Questions based on examination format

1.(n + 8)(n + 7) = 5. 6 y 5( y 2) =
2
A..n + n + 1 A. 11y + 2
B.n 2 + 56n + 56 B. y + 10
C.n 2 + 15n + 56 C. 11y 2
D. 11y + 10
D.n 2 + 15n + 65

1
2.( 4m + 3)(3m 6) = 6.4 p 3q r =
2
A.12m 2 + 15m + 18 A.12 pq
B.12m 2 15m 18 B.12qr
2
C.12m + 15m 18 C.6 pqr
2
D.12m 15m + 18 D.12 pqr

3.36 + 12m + m 2 = 7. 6k + 5(k 2)

2
A.(m 6) A. k + 2
B.(m + 6)(m 6) B. k + 10
C.(m + 13)(m 2) C. k 2
D.(m + 6) 2 D. k 10

4. Factorize 9 y 2 25 8. 3(2 + a ) + 5a 1
A.(3 y 5)(3 y + 5) A.2a 7
B.(3 y + 5) 2 B.4a 5
C.(3 y 5) 2 C.6a 5
D.(5 y 3 y )(3 y + 5) D.8a 7

9.8a 3(2 + a)
A.5a + 6
B.7 a + 5
C.7 a 6
D.11a + 6

Algebraic Expressions 11
10. 2(kx x 2 ) (kx x 2 ) = 2
D. x + 5 y
A.3kx 2 x 2 3

B. 3kx + 2 x 2 15. The length of a football field (4h-3) m

2 and its width is (3h +2) m. The perimeter of
C. 3kx + 3 x
the field, in m, is
D. 3kx 3 x 2 A.7h 1
B.10h + 1
6 px (10 x) C.12h + 2
11. =
12 p D.14h 2
A.5 px
16.If x = 3 and r = 1 , find the value of
B. 5 px 2
x2
C. 5 p x2 2 (6 x).
r
D.(5 px ) 2 A. 81
B. 27
14t 56m C.18
12. =
7 D.54
A.t 4m
B.2t + m 17.Find the value of ( px x 2 ) when p = 2
and x = 3
C. 2(t 4m)
D.2(t + 4m) A.4
B.0
13. 3a(2b a ) = C. 12
A. 5ab 3a D. 15
B. 5ab 3a
18.Tickets to a circus for child is RM p and
C. 6ab + 3a
for an adult is RM q . The total price of
D. 6ab + 3a 2 tickets for 10 children and 2 adults, in RM,
is
A.10q + 2 p
1
14. (6 x 45 y ) = B.2q + 10 p
9
2 C.12( p + q )
A. x 5 y
3 D. p + q
2
B. x + 5 y
3
2
C. x 5 y
3

Algebraic Expressions 12
19.The value of 2e 2 3ef when e = 4 and 1 m3
20 =
1 4m 8m 2
f = is
2 A.m(m 3
m+3
A.22 B.
8m 2
B.26 C.4m(m + 3)
C.38 m3
D.
D.70 8m 2

PAST YEAR SPM QUESTIONS.

November 2003
1. (3 p m)( p + 2m) =
A. 3 p 2 + 5 pm 2m 2 C. 3 p 2 + 7 pm 2m 2
B. 3 p 2 5 pm + 2m 2 D. 3 p 2 7 pm + 2m 2

November 2004
2. 3x ( x 2 y ) (3 x y ) 2 =
A. 6 xy + y 2 C. 6 x 2 6 xy + y 2
B. 6 x 2 y 2 D. 3x 2 9 xy y 2

November 2005

3. (3h + 4)(2h 5) =
A. 6h 2 7 h + 20 C. 6h 2 23h + 20
B. 6h 2 7 h 20 D. 6h 2 23h 20

Jun 2006

4. (y + x)(2y - x) =
A. 2y2 - xy + x2 C. 2y2 + xy - x2
B. 2y2 - xy - x2 D. 2y2 + xy - x2

November 2006
5. 3x2 - x(1 - x) =
A. 2x2 - 1 C. 4x2 - 1
B. 2x2 - x D. 4x2 - x

Jun 2007

6. (x y) (5x + 3y) x(x y) =

A. 4x2 xy -3y2 C. 4x2 xy + 3y2
B. 4x2 -3xy 3y2 D. 4x2 -3xy + 3y2

Algebraic Expressions 13
November 2007

7. (2x y)2 x ( x y) =
A.3x2 - 3xy + y2 C. 3x2 + xy y2
B. 3x2 - 5xy + y2 D. 3x2 - 5xy y2

November 2008

8. 5pq 2( 1 pq) =
A. 3pq - 2 C. 6pq - 2
B. 4pq - 2 D. 7pq - 2

Algebraic Expressions 14
 ANSWERS

Chapter 4 Algebraic Expressions

4.1.1
1. a lot of people
2. a large amount of money
3. a number of students
4. a few kilograms of rambutans
5. a few kilograms
4.1.2
1.e
2.t
3.t
4.w

4.1.3
1. 8
2. 0.65
3.-13
5
4.
8
5. -1

4.1.4
1.unlike terms
2.like terms
3.unlike terms
4.like terms
5. like terms

4.1.5
1.-3y
2. -7n
3. -4w-9x
4. -4k-3
5. 10v-d
6. -3u-15

4.1.6
1.a and b
2. p and q
3. x, y and z
4. t
4.1.7
1. a 2 b 3 c 2
2. 4rs 2
3. 3r 2

Algebraic Expressions 15
 4. 3ab 2
5. 15 p 2 + 3 p
6. 16m + 40n
7. 15m + 10
8. 5 pq + 6 p
2 3
9. ab ab 2 + a
3 2
2 2
10. 10 s t + 6 st

4.1.8
1.10 x + 1
2.24 y
3.14ap + 35bp
4. 44m + 99mn
5.42s 2 18st
6.6 x 2 y + 12 xy
7. 35a 2b + 10ab 2 5ab
8.110c 2 d + 44c 2 22cd
9.xy + 2bx + ay + 2ab
10.15 pr + 21 pt 5qr 7 pt
11.2ce 24c + de 12d
12.12 xy 18 x 22 y + 33
13.a 2 7 a 18
14.12 x 2 11x 15
15 5 p 2 + 10 p + 15 pq 30q
16.28m 12m 2 + 35n 15mn
17.4a 2 + 20ab + 25b 2
18.49m 2 + 28m + 4
19.36 p 2 12 pq + q 2
20.9r 2 48r + 64

Algebraic Expressions 16
4.19

1.8( m + 500
2.2 x(2a + 3b)
3.5rs(10r 7 s + 30
4.(m + 6)(m 6)
5.(7 x 2 y )(7 x + 2 y )
6.(15a 3b)(15a + 3b)
7.(3m + n) 2
8.(2q p)(4 3 p )
9.(3x 8)(4 y + 3)

Examination Format Questions

1. C 11. C
2. B 12. C
3. D 13 D
4. A 14. B
5. D 15 D
6. C 16 A
7. D 17 D
8. A 18 B
9. A 19 C
10. C 20 B

SPM Past year questions.

1. A 2. B 3. B 4. C 5. D
6. A 7. A 8. D

Algebraic Expressions 17