GCSE Maths – Algebra

Notation and Vocabulary

Notes

WORKSHEET

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Algebraic Notation

In algebra, we use different notation to show the terms we are using and the operations we
are performing.

Letters
Letters, frequently 𝑎𝑎, 𝑏𝑏, 𝑥𝑥 and 𝑦𝑦, are used to represent either a constant, which is fixed, or a
variable, which can change.

Operations
When we perform an operation using two or more algebraic letters, we show them in a
specific way:

● Addition is written as 𝒂𝒂 + 𝒃𝒃
● Subtraction is written as 𝒂𝒂 − 𝒃𝒃
● Multiplication is shown by putting the numbers or letters together.

For example,
3 × 𝑎𝑎 is written as 3𝑎𝑎,
𝑎𝑎 × 𝑏𝑏 is written as 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎.

Multiplication can also be written with brackets, e.g. 𝑎𝑎(𝑏𝑏) = 𝑎𝑎 × 𝑏𝑏 = 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎.

When squaring an algebraic letter, like 𝑎𝑎, we simplify 𝑎𝑎 × 𝑎𝑎 to 𝑎𝑎2 .

𝑎𝑎
● Division is shown by writing a fraction. If we were to divide 𝑎𝑎 by 𝑏𝑏, we write this as .
𝑏𝑏

Example: Simplify 𝑎𝑎 + 𝑎𝑎 + 𝑎𝑎 + 𝑎𝑎.

𝑎𝑎 represents either an unknown number or a variable.
We don’t need to know what a is to simplify this.

We collect the like terms (terms that contain the same variable) and
count them. This gives:

𝑎𝑎 + 𝑎𝑎 + 𝑎𝑎 + 𝑎𝑎 = 𝟒𝟒𝟒𝟒

Coefficients
A coefficient is the number in front of an algebraic letter. They tell us the multiple of that
particular term. For example, 2𝑎𝑎 means 2 × 𝑎𝑎, or 2 lots of 𝑎𝑎, where 2 is the coefficient.

Coefficients are generally whole numbers (integers) or fractions. We usually avoid using
decimals as coefficients.

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 Example: Write 0.4𝑎𝑎 so that the coefficient is a fraction.
The coefficient is the 0.4 seen in front of the 𝑎𝑎.
We need to convert the decimal 0.4 to a fraction. There is a 4 in the tenths column only,
4
so we can write it as .
10

4 2
By dividing the numerator and denominator by 2, can be simplified to :
10 5

𝟐𝟐
0.4𝑎𝑎 = 𝒂𝒂.
𝟓𝟓

Brackets
Brackets are used to group terms together. For example, (𝑥𝑥 + 2) or (𝑎𝑎 − 𝑏𝑏).

Substitution

As we know, the algebraic letter represents an unknown value or variable. Substitution

means replacing the letter with a number and calculating the result.

Take the algebraic expression 5𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎. This means 5 × 𝑎𝑎 × 𝑏𝑏:

If we know the values that 𝑎𝑎 and 𝑏𝑏 represent, we can calculate the value of the whole
expression. For example, if 𝑎𝑎 = 3 and 𝑏𝑏 = 4, then

5 × 3 × 4 = 𝟔𝟔𝟔𝟔.

Example: If 𝑥𝑥 = 1 and 𝑦𝑦 = 3, calculate the value of 6𝑥𝑥𝑦𝑦 2 .

If we substitute the numbers in, we are calculating 6 × 1 × 32 :
6𝑥𝑥𝑦𝑦 2 = 6 × 1 × 32 = 6 × 1 × 9 = 6 × 9 = 𝟓𝟓𝟓𝟓

Substitution is especially useful when using scientific formulae, as the letters represent
variables.

Example: Using the equation 𝑉𝑉 = 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼, where 𝑉𝑉 is voltage, 𝐼𝐼 is current and 𝑅𝑅 is

resistance, what is the voltage if the current is 3 amps and the resistance is 6 ohms?
We simply substitute the numbers we are given into the equation:

Remember that 𝑉𝑉 = 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 means 𝑉𝑉 = 𝐼𝐼 × 𝑅𝑅.

𝑉𝑉 = 3 × 6 = 18

The voltage is 18 volts.

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Vocabulary
When using algebra, we must be careful to use the correct words to describe different
things.

Expressions
An algebraic expression involves a letter and an operation (+, −, ×, ÷), but no equals sign.
Examples of expressions include 7𝑎𝑎 + 4𝑏𝑏 or 𝑥𝑥 2 − 4.

Terms
A term is simply a number, a letter, or a number and letter together. Terms are the
individual parts of an expression. For example, 7𝑎𝑎 is a term, as is 3.

Equations
An equation contains an equal sign and shows that one side is equal in value to the other.
9𝑦𝑦 = 3 is an equation, as is 𝑥𝑥 2 − 5𝑥𝑥 + 6 = 0.

Formulae
A formula is an equation that contains several algebraic letters that represent variables. For
example, Newton’s second law, 𝐹𝐹𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 = 𝑀𝑀𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 × 𝐴𝐴𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 (𝐹𝐹 = 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚) is a formula. The
force, mass and acceleration can be any number, provided that the product of the mass and
acceleration is equal to force.

Identities
An identity is an equation that is always true, no matter the numbers that the letters
represent. For example, 6𝑎𝑎2 × 3𝑎𝑎 ≡ 18𝑎𝑎3 will always be true for any value of a. We use a
three-lined equals sign to indicate identities.

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 Notation and Vocabulary – Practice Questions

1. Simplify 𝑏𝑏 + 𝑏𝑏 + 2𝑐𝑐.

2. Simplify 4𝑎𝑎 − 𝑎𝑎 + 4𝑏𝑏 − 2𝑏𝑏.

3. Write 0.5𝑐𝑐 so that the coefficient is a fraction.

4. Write the following expression with fraction coefficients: 1. 8𝑎𝑎 + 0.25𝑏𝑏

5. Calculate the value of 𝑎𝑎2 + 𝑏𝑏 2 if 𝑎𝑎 = 6 and 𝑏𝑏 = 1.

6. Calculate the value of (2𝑝𝑝 + 𝑞𝑞) − 𝑟𝑟 2 if 𝑝𝑝 = 5, 𝑞𝑞 = 3 and 𝑟𝑟 = 4.

7. At a party, there are 10 pizzas. The pizzas must be divided evenly between 𝑥𝑥 number
of party guests. Write an expression for the pizza each guest receives.

8. Tom has 𝑥𝑥 number of sweets. He gives 𝑦𝑦 number of sweets to his sister and
𝑧𝑧 number of sweets to his brother. Write an expression for the sweets Tom has left.

Worked solutions for the practice questions can be found amongst the worked solutions for the
corresponding worksheet file.

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