Introduction

The word “Algebra” is actually takes from Arabic “al-jabr” which means “reunion of broken
parts”. Generally, algebra is the study of mathematical symbol and the rules of manipulating
these symbols. In elementary algebra, those symbols represent quantities without fixed
values, known as variables. In algebra, equations describe relationship between variables
and it is just like sentences describe relationship between specific words when we write
articles and essays.

Equations, Inequalities and Absolute Values

1. Equations
An equation is a mathematical expression which contains an equal sign “=”. This is to tell
us that two expressions represent the same number. For example, y = 5x is an equation.
It shows that y is equal or said to be same value as 5x.

Here are some examples of equations:

 4p + 6 = 34  v2 – 9 = 0

 2g + 3 = 3g – 5 2x
 3 = 10

2. Inequalities
An inequality is a mathematical expression that contains inequality signs. This shows
that the inequality has two not equal values. In algebra, inequalities are usually used to
tell us that the expression is either larger or smaller than another expression. There are 4
symbols which show that two expressions are not equal:

Expressions Meaning
x<y x is less than or smaller than y
x>y x is greater than or larger than y
x≤y x is less than or equal to y
x≥y x is greater than or equal to y

Here are some examples of inequalities:

 5w < 1000
 8a + 10 > 50
 2x2 – x – 1 ≤ 0

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3. Absolute Values
Absolute value is the distance between 0 and a number. For example:

3 3

The number “3” is 3 away from zero, and “-3” is also 3 away from zero. So, absolute
value of 3 is 3 and the absolute value of -3 is also 3. So, absolute values are always
positive. In mathematics, for any real number x, the absolute value or modulus of x is
written as |x| and is defined as:

or

Equations and Inequalities

The similarity of equations and inequalities are containing both variables and constants.
Variables are usually a letter and they are used to represent the unknown values. Variables
are the quantities which can be changed as it depend on other numbers in the problem.
Constants are quantities that remain unchanged. Equations and inequalities are used as a
shorthand notation for situations that involve numerical data. The most important skill in
algebra is the ability to translate a word problem into the correct equation or inequality so
you can find the solution easily. The first two steps to solve the equation or inequalities are
defining the variables and translating the word problem into a mathematical equation.
Defining the variables means that we choose letters to represent any unknown quantities in
the problem. Translating means that we change the word expression into a mathematical
expression containing variables and mathematical operations with an equal sign or an
inequality sign.

Application of equation and inequalities in daily life

Example 1

Pak Amin is a fruit farmer with a rectangular vacant land. The length and width of the land is
3x m and 9y m respectively. He would like to divide the land to two triangular spaces for him
to plant durian trees and mango trees. The perimeter of each triangular space is 72m and

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the measurement of the longest side of the triangle is (3x+3y) m. Calculate the area, in m2,
of the vacant land.

9y

3x+3y

3x

Solution:
Perimeter of triangle = 72
The area of vacant land,

3x+9y+(3x+3y) = 72 A = (3x)(9y)
6x+12y = 72 = 27xy
x+2y = 12 = 27(8)(2)
x = 12 – 2y ….. (1) = 432 m2

Longest side = 3x+3y

By using Pythagorean Theorem,
(3x)2 + (9y)2 = (3x+3y)2
9x2 + 81y2 = 9x2 + 18xy + 9y2
9x2 – 9x2 + 81y2 - 9y2 – 18xy = 0
72y2 –18xy = 0
4y2 – xy = 0

By substitute (1),
4y2 – y (12 – 2y) = 0
4y2 – 12y + 2y2 = 0
6y2 – 12y = 0
6y (y – 2) = 0
y = 0 (rejected) or y = 2
Therefore, y = 2
From (1), x = 12 – 2(2)
x=8

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Explanation:

From the question, we know that the perimeter of the triangle is 72m. So, we add up all the
sides of the triangle which is 3x+9y+(3x+3y) and it is equal to 72. After simplify, we will get
x+2y = 12, and we made the x as the topic, now our first equation is x = 12-2y. Besides, from
the information given, the longest side of the triangle is (3x+3y) m. By using the concept of
Pythagorean Theorem which is a2 + b2= c2, where c is the longest side, we can form the
second equation. So, by substitute the sides of the triangle in the equation a2 + b2= c2, we
will get (3x)2 + (9y)2 = (3x+3y)2. After expansion, we will get 9x2 + 81y2 = 9x2 + 18xy + 9y2,
then we move all of the variables and constants from right hand side to the left hand side
and let the right hand side equal to 0. After some addition and subtraction, second equation
is formed which is 4y2 – xy = 0. Next, by substitute the first equation to the second equation,
we will get 4y2 – y (12 – 2y) = 0. After simplify and factorise, we get 2 answer of y which is y
= 0 and y = 2. y = 0 is rejected because width of the rectangle cannot be 0. Therefore, the
value of y is 2, and we substitute the 2 back to the first equation, we get x = 8. Finally, the
question asked for the area of the rectangular vacant land can be solved by using formula
length × width. The length and width is 3x and 9y respectively, when we multiply, we get
27xy and we substitute the value of x and y, we will get the area of the vacant land which is
432 m2.

Example 2
Ryan and Davin play in the same football team. Last Sunday, Ryan scored 4 more goals
than Davin, but the total score of them is less than 12 goals. What are the possible number
of goals Davin scored?

Solution:
Let Ryan = R and Davin = D
R=D+4 …….. (1)
R+D<12
By substitute (1),
(D+4)+D<12
2D+4<12
2D<8
D<4
The possible number of goals Davin scored are 0,1,2,3.

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Explanation:

Firstly, we need to have two variables, so let Ryan = R and Davin = D. After that, from the
information given, Ryan scored 4 more goals than Davin. So, the number of goals scored by
Ryan is actually the number of goals scored by Davin plus 4, and we can write it as R = D+4
which is also our first equation. Besides, given that the total score of them is less than 12
goals, by the key word “less than” so we use the sign “<”. Therefore, we form the inequality
which is R+D < 12. Then, by substitute the first equation to the inequality, we get
(D+4)+D<12. After some operation, we get D < 4. Since D is less than 4, hence, we can
conclude that the possible number of goals scored by Davin is 0,1,2,3.

Sequences and Series

In mathematics, sequence is the list of numbers or letters which are in order. A series is a
sum of terms in a sequence. In other words, a series is a list of numbers with addition
operations between them and is represented by Sn.

Some example of sequences: Some example of series:

1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13… 1+2+3+4+5...
2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64… y2+2y2+4y2+8y2+16y2…
x2, 3x2, 6x2, 9x2, 12x2, 15x2… 1+3+5+7+9…

Finite and Infinite Sequence

Finite sequence is a list of numbers which are in order and it will stop progress at certain
unknown term, we call it as Tn. For example, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 is a finite sequence because
the progression stop at 18 which is 6th term of the sequence. Furthermore, infinite sequence
is a list of numbers which will continue progress in order until infinity, ∞. For example, 5, 25,
125, 625, 3125,… is a infinite sequence because it does not stop at certain term and will
continue progress until infinity. An infinite sequence usually has 3 dot (…) behind to show
that the sequence is continue to progress.

Arithmetic Progression and Geometric Progression

1. Arithmetic Progression
In an arithmetic sequence, the difference between one term and the next is a constant.
The constant is known as common difference, d.
Example:
5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25…

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 The sequence above has a difference of 4 between each number. To prove it, we usually
use the second term to minus the first term and to show it is an arithmetic progression,
we will take the third term minus the second term. It is just like,
T2 – T1 = 9 – 5 = 4 and T3 – T2 = 13 – 9 = 4
Since T2 – T1 = T3 – T2. Therefore, we can say that the sequence is an arithmetic
progression and has a common difference, d = 4.
The general form of arithmetic progression is:

a, a+d, a+2d, a+3d,…

where a is the first term and d is the common difference between the terms.
From the general form, we can form a formula the find the nth term which is:

Tn = a + (n – 1) d

Besides, the formulae of sum of terms in the arithmetic progression are:

l
Where a is the first term,
l is the nth term,
n is the number of terms,
d is common difference.
2. Geometric Progression
In a geometric sequence, each term is found by multiplying the previous term by a
constant. The constant is called common ratio, r.
Example:
5, 25, 125, 625, 3125…
The sequence has a factor of 5 between each number. To prove it, we can take the
second term to divide by the first term and we usually will take the third term to divide by
the second term to show that it is a geometric progression. It is like,
T2
T1 = = and = =

Since T2 divided by T1 is equal to T3 divided by T2. Therefore, the sequence is a

geometric progression with a common ratio, r = 5.

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The general form of geometric progression is:

a, ar, ar2, ar3…

where a is the first term and r is the common ratio between the terms.
From the general form, we can form a formula the find the nth term which is:

Tn = ar n-1

Besides, the formulae of sum of terms in the geometric progression are:

a(1−r n) a(r n−1)

Sn =
1−r
whenr < 1 or Sn =
r−1
whenr > 1 , r ≠ 1

Where a is the first term,

n is the number of terms,
r is common ratio.

Application of sequences and series in daily life

Example 1

Mr Alex and Mr Lim start to save money at the same time.

(a) Mr Alex saves RM x in the first year and his savings increases constantly by RM y
every subsequent year. He saves RM 11400 in the 8th year and the total savings for
16 years is RM 192000. Find the values of x and y.

Solution:
First term, a = x, and common difference, d=y
8th year,
T8 = a+7d
11400 = x+7y
x = 11400 – 7y………. (1)

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Sum of 16 years,

2¿
16¿ ¿
S16 = ¿ [2a+15d]
192000 = 8 [2x+15y]
192000÷8 = 2x+15y
24000 = 2x+15y
By substitute (1):
24000= 2(11400 – 7y) + 15y
24000= 22800 – 14y+15y
y=1200

From (1): x= 11400 – 7(1200)

x= 3000

(b) Mr Lim saves RM 4000 in the first year and his savings increases constantly by RM
1000 every subsequent year. Find the value of n when both of them save the same
amount of money in nth year.

a= RM4000, d= RM 1000
Let Tn(a) = Tn(b)
3000+(n –1 )(1200) = 4000+(n –1)(1000)
3000+1200n –1200 = 4000+1000n –1000
1800+1200n = 3000+1000n
1200n –1000n = 3000 –1800
200n = 1200
n=6
Hence, they save the same amount of money in 6th year.

Explanation:

From the question (a), we know that Mr Alex save RM x in the first year, so the first term, a is
equal to x, a = x and his savings increases constantly by RM y, so the common difference, d
is equal to y, d=y. Besides, the question also stated he saves RM11400 in the 8th year, so T8
is equal to 11400. By using the formula of nth term, Tn = a + (n – 1) d, we get the T8 = a+7d.
By substitute the x and y, we get our first equation, 11400 = x + 7y, and we let x as the topic,
x = 11400 – 7y. Moreover, from the information given, we know that total amount for 16
years is RM 192000, so the sum of 16 years is equal to 192000. By using the formula of

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arithmetic series and after some mathematical operation, we get the second equation,
24000= 2x+15y. By substitute the first equation into second equation, we will get the value of
y is 1200. And from equation (1) we calculate the x is equal to 3000.
From question (b), after we translating the word expression to mathematical expression, we
get the first term, a is RM 4000 and the common difference, d is RM 1000. To find the year
which Mr Lim and Mr Alex save same amount of money, we can let the nth term of Mr Alex is
equal to nth term of Mr Lim. After substituting and expanding, we will get 1800+1200n =
3000+ 1000n, and we rearrange the variables and constants, we get 200n = 1200, and we
get the answer n=6. Therefore, Mr Lim and Mr Alex save the same amount of money in 6th
year.

Example 2

Mrs Tan invests RM 60000 in a finance company with a simple interest of 8% per annum.
Find the amount of her savings after six years. ( Give your answer correct to the nearest
RM)

Solution:

First term, a = 60000 and common ratio, r = 1.08

T7 = ar6
= 60000(1.08)6
= 95212.46

≈ 95212.50

Therefore, the amount of her savings after six years is RM 95212.50.

Explanation:

From the information given, we know that the first term is 60000 and the common ratio is
1.08. The common ratio is 1.08 is because the interest is increasing 8% every year. The
question ask us the find the amount of her savings after six years, which included the first
year, so we want to find the amount of savings in the 7th year. So, by using the formula of the
geometric sequence, Tn = arn-1, we get T7 = ar6. Substitute the values of a and r, we get
60000(1.08)6 and the answer is 95212.46. Since the question asks us to correct the answer
to the nearest RM, therefore, the amount of Mrs Tan savings after six years is RM 95212.50.

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Conclusion

All in all, do you realize that algebra is much important in our daily life? Actually, we use
algebra quite frequently in our everyday lives, but we are not realizing it! We not only use
algebra, we actually need algebra to solve most of our problems that involves calculations.
Algebra is also a way of logical thinking, understanding and interpreting the information
given. Somebody said that the algebra is the key to solve the mathematical problems,
without algebra, it is difficult to solve all those problems. Same concept we link it to the daily
lives, algebra is really an important mathematics skill which everyone should master it.

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