Algebra Course, Interactive and Comprehensive - Google Docs
Algebra Course, Interactive and Comprehensive - Google Docs
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From Foundations to College Level
mbarking on the study of algebra represents a significant step towards a deeper
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understanding of mathematics and its vast applications. Algebra, at its core, serves as the
language through which mathematical relationships are expressed and explored. It involves the
use of symbols, primarily letters, to represent numbers and quantities that may be unknown or
variable. The central aim of algebra is often to solve for these unknowns and to understand the
connections between different quantities. This discipline forms a crucial foundation not only for
higher mathematics, such as calculus and linear algebra, but also for various fields in science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), as well as numerous real-world scenarios2.
This course is meticulously structured to provide a thorough and engaging learning experience,
starting from the very basic concepts and progressively building towards the level of algebra
encountered in college. The emphasis will be on understanding the fundamental principles and
the reasoning behind each concept, ensuring a complete and enjoyable journey into the world of
algebra3.
lgebraic manipulations rely heavily on the basic arithmetic operations: addition, subtraction,
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multiplication, and division. Each of these operations has fundamentalpropertiesthat govern
ow numbers interact. Foraddition, these properties include thecommutative property
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(a+b=b+a), theassociative property((a+b)+c=a+(b+c)),theidentity property(a+0=a, where
0 is the additive identity), and theinverse property(a+(−a)=0, where −a is the additive inverse
of a).Subtractioncan be understood as the additionof the inverse: a−b=a+(−b). For
multiplication, the properties are thecommutativeproperty(a×b=b×a), theassociative
property((a×b)×c=a×(b×c)), theidentity property(a×1=a, where 1 is the multiplicative
identity), and thedistributive propertyover addition(a×(b+c)=(a×b)+(a×c)).Divisioncan be
understood as multiplication by the inverse (reciprocal): a÷b=a×b1(where b =0). These
properties are not arbitrary rules; they reflect fundamental ways in which numbers behave and
are crucial for justifying the steps taken when simplifying algebraic expressions and solving
equations.
ecimalsprovide another way to represent numbers,particularly those that are not whole
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numbers. They are based on powers of 10, with each digit to the right of the decimal point
representing a fraction with a denominator of 10, 100, 1000, and so on. Theplace valueof
each digit in a decimal is crucial for understanding its magnitude. For example, in the number
3.145, the 1 is in the tenths place (101), the 4 is in the hundredths place (1004), and the 5 is in
the thousandths place (10005).Operations with decimalsfollow similar rules to those with
whole numbers, but careful attention must be paid to the placement of the decimal point. For
addition and subtraction, the decimal points must be aligned. For multiplication, the number of
decimal places in the product is the sum of the decimal places in the factors. For division, it may
be necessary to adjust the decimal point in both the divisor and the dividend to make the divisor
a whole number.Conversion between decimals and fractionsis a useful skill. A terminating
decimal can be easily converted to a fraction by writing the digits after the decimal point as the
numerator and the appropriate power of 10 as the denominator, then simplifying. For example,
0.75 is 10075, which simplifies to 43. A fraction can be converted to a decimal by dividing the
numerator by the denominator.
ercentagesare a way of expressing a number as afraction of 100. The term "percent" means
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"out of one hundred." A percentage is denoted by the symbol %. To convert a percentage to a
decimal, one divides by 100 (or moves the decimal point two places to the left). For example,
75% is equal to 75÷100=0.75. To convert a decimal to a percentage, one multiplies by 100 (or
moves the decimal point two places to the right). For example, 0.25 is equal to 0.25×100=25%.
To convert a percentage to a fraction, one writes the percentage as the numerator and 100 as
the denominator, then simplifies. For example, 40% is 10040, which simplifies to 52.
Applications of percentagesare prevalent in everydaylife, including calculating discounts,
taxes, and interest rates. Solvingpercentage problemsoften involves translating the problem
into an algebraic equation. Common types of percentage problems include finding the
percentage of a number (e.g., what is 20% of 50?), finding what percentage one number is of
another (e.g., 10 is what percentage of 40?), and finding the whole when a percentage is known
(e.g., if 15% of a number is 30, what is the number?).
oevaluate an algebraic expression, one substitutesgiven numerical values for the variables
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and then performs the arithmetic operations according to the order of operations. For instance,
to evaluate the expression 2a+3b when a=5 and b=−2, one substitutes these values to get
2(5)+3(−2)=10−6=4. This process allows us to find the numerical value of an expression for
specific values of its variables.
Aone-step linear equationis an equation that canbe solved in a single step using one of the
inverse operations. For example, to solve x+5=12, we use the subtraction property of equality
and subtract 5 from both sides: x+5−5=12−5, which gives x=7. To solve 3y=15, we use the
division property of equality and divide both sides by 3: 33y=315, which gives y=5. Similarly, for
z−8=2, we add 8 to both sides to get z=10, and for 4w=6, we multiply both sides by 4 to get
w=24. Practicing these one-step equations builds a fundamental understanding of how to isolate
variables.
olving aone-step linear inequalityis similar tosolving a one-step linear equation, with one
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important difference. When multiplying or dividing both sides of an inequality by a negative
number, the direction of the inequality sign must be reversed. For example, to solve −2x>6, we
divide both sides by -2 and reverse the inequality sign: −2−2x<−26, which gives x<−3. For
inequalities involving addition or subtraction, the process is the same as with equations. For
example, to solve y+4≤9, we subtract 4 from both sides: y≤5. Understanding how to solve basic
equations and inequalities is a crucial first step in mastering algebra4.
inear equations can also havevariables on both sidesof the equation. The strategy to solve
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these is to use the addition or subtraction property of equality to gather all the variable terms on
one side and all the constant terms on the other side. For example, to solve 5y−7=2y+8, we can
subtract 2y from both sides: 3y−7=8. Then, add 7 to both sides: 3y=15. Finally, divide by 3: y=5.
linear equationin two variables (x and y) representsa straight line when graphed on the
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Cartesian plane. There are several common forms of linear equations, each useful in different
situations. Theslope-intercept formis given by y=mx+b,where m is theslopeof the line and
b is they-intercept(the point where the line crossesthe y-axis). The slope m represents the
rate of change of y with respect to x, or the "rise over run" between any two points on the line.
The y-intercept is the point (0, b).
nother useful form is thepoint-slope form, givenby y−y1=m(x−x1), where m is the slope and
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(x1,y1) is a specific point on the line. This form is particularly helpful when we know the slope of
a line and one point that it passes through. Thestandardformof a linear equation is Ax+By=C,
where A, B, and C are constants, and A and B are not both zero. The intercepts of the line can
e easily found from this form. To find the x-intercept (where the line crosses the x-axis), we set
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y=0 and solve for x. To find the y-intercept, we set x=0 and solve for y.
heslopeof a line describes its steepness and direction.It can be calculated using the formula
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m=x2−x1y2−y1for any two distinct points (x1,y1) and (x2,y2) on the line. A positive slope
indicates that the line goes upward from left to right, a negative slope indicates that it goes
downward, a slope of zero indicates a horizontal line (of the form y=b), and an undefined slope
indicates a vertical line (of the form x=a).
raphing linear inequalities in two variablesinvolvesfirst graphing the boundary line, which
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is the graph of the corresponding linear equation (replace the inequality sign with an equality
sign). If the inequality is strict (< or >), the boundary line is drawn as a dashed line to indicate
that the points on the line are not included in the solution. If the inequality includes equality (≤ or
≥), the boundary line is drawn as a solid line. Then, we need to determine which side of the
boundary line represents the solution set. This can be done by choosing a test point (any point
not on the line, such as the origin (0, 0) if the line does not pass through it), substituting its
coordinates into the inequality, and checking if the inequality is true or false. If it is true, then the
half-plane containing the test point is the solution region; if it is false, then the other half-plane is
the solution region. The solution region is typically shaded4.
here are several algebraic methods for solving systems of linear equations. Thegraphing
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methodinvolves graphing each equation on the samecoordinate plane and finding the point of
intersection. This method is useful for visualizing the solution but may not always give exact
answers if the intersection point has non-integer coordinates.
hesubstitution methodinvolves solving one of theequations for one variable in terms of the
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other variable, and then substituting this expression into the other equation. This results in an
equation with only one variable, which can be solved. Once the value of that variable is found, it
can be substituted back into either of the original equations to find the value of the other
variable. For example, to solve the system y=2x+1 and 3x+y=6, we can substitute the first
expression for y into the second equation: 3x+(2x+1)=6. This simplifies to 5x+1=6, so 5x=5, and
x=1. Substituting x=1 back into the first equation gives y=2(1)+1=3. Thus, the solution is (1,3).
system of linear inequalities in two variablesisa set of two or more linear inequalities that
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contain the same variables. Thesolutionto such asystem is the set of all ordered pairs (x,y)
that satisfy all the inequalities in the system simultaneously. Graphically, the solution is the
region where the shaded regions of all the inequalities overlap. To find the solution, we graph
each inequality on the same coordinate plane and identify the common shaded area. The
boundary lines are included in the solution if the inequality includes equality (≤ or ≥) and are not
included if the inequality is strict (< or >).
cientific notationis a way to express very largeor very small numbers in the form a×10n,
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where 1≤∣a∣<10 and n is an integer. This notation is widely used in science and engineering to
handle numbers with many zeros. For example, the number 3,000,000 can be written in
scientific notation as 3×106, and the number 0.000025 can be written as 2.5×10−5.
polynomialis an algebraic expression consistingof one or more terms, where each term is a
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product of a constant and one or more variables raised to non-negative integer powers. A
polynomial with one term is called amonomial(e.g.,5x2), a polynomial with two terms is called
abinomial(e.g., 3x+2), and a polynomial with threeterms is called atrinomial(e.g., x2−4x+7).
Thedegree of a termin a polynomial is the sum ofthe exponents of the variables in that term.
Thedegree of the polynomialis the highest degreeof any of its terms. Polynomials can be
classified by their degree: a degree of 0 is a constant, degree 1 is linear, degree 2 is quadratic,
degree 3 is cubic, and so on.
Tomultiply polynomials, we use the distributive property.Each term in the first polynomial is
ultiplied by each term in the second polynomial, and then the resulting like terms are
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combined. For multiplying two binomials, a common method is called FOIL (First, Outer, Inner,
Last), which refers to the order in which the terms are multiplied. For example,
(x+2)(3x−4)=(x×3x)+(x×−4)+(2×3x)+(2×−4)=3x2−4x+6x−8=3x2+2x−8. Understanding exponents
and polynomials is crucial for further study in algebra7.
hen the leading coefficient a =1 in a quadratic trinomial ax2+bx+c, factoring can be more
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challenging. One common method is to usegrouping.We look for two numbers that multiply to
ac and add up to b. Let these numbers be p and q. Then we rewrite the middle term bx as
px+qx, giving us ax2+px+qx+c. We then factor by grouping the first two terms and the last two
terms. For example, to factor 2x2+5x+2, we need two numbers that multiply to 2×2=4 and add
to 5. These numbers are 1 and 4. So, we rewrite the middle term as x+4x: 2x2+x+4x+2. Now we
factor by grouping: x(2x+1)+2(2x+1)=(x+2)(2x+1).
actoring by groupingcan also be used for polynomialswith four or more terms. We group the
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terms in pairs or other suitable combinations and factor out the GCF from each group. If the
resulting expressions in the parentheses are the same, we can then factor out this common
binomial factor. For example, to factor x3+2x2−3x−6, we can group the first two terms and the
last two terms: (x3+2x2)+(−3x−6). Factoring out the GCF from each group gives
x2(x+2)−3(x+2). Now we have a common binomial factor of (x+2), which we can factor out:
(x+2)(x2−3). Mastering these factoring techniques is crucial for solving polynomial equations4.
hesquare root propertycan be used to solve equationsof the form (x−h)2=k, where k≥0.
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Taking the square root of both sides gives x−h=±k, so x=h±k. For example, to solve (x−1)2=9,
we take the square root of both sides to get x−1=±3, which gives x=1+3=4 or x=1−3=−2.
ompleting the squareis a method that can be usedto solve any quadratic equation. It
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involves transforming the equation into the form (x−h)2=k by manipulating the quadratic
expression. For an equation ax2+bx+c=0, we first divide by a (if a =1) to get x2+abx+ac=0.
Then we move the constant term to the right side: x2+abx=−ac. Next, we take half of the
coefficient of the x term (2ab), square it (4a2b2), and add it to both sides of the equation:
x2+abx+4a2b2=−ac+4a2b2. The left side is now a perfect square: (x+2ab)2=4a2b2−4ac. We
can then use the square root property to solve for x.
hequadratic formulais a general formula for findingthe solutions (roots) of any quadratic
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equation in the standard form ax2+bx+c=0. The formula is given by x=2a−b±b2−4ac. This
formula is derived by completing the square on the general quadratic equation. The part of the
formula under the square root, b2−4ac, is called thediscriminant, and it tells us about the
nature of the solutions. If b2−4ac>0, there are two distinct real solutions. If b2−4ac=0, there is
exactly one real solution (a repeated root). If b2−4ac<0, there are two complex solutions.
quadratic functionis a function that can be writtenin the form f(x)=ax2+bx+c, where a, b,
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and c are constants and a =0. The graph of a quadratic function is aparabola, a U-shaped
curve. Thevertexof the parabola is the point wherethe parabola changes direction, and it is
either the minimum or maximum point of the function. Theaxis of symmetryis a vertical line
that passes through the vertex and divides the parabola into two symmetric halves. The vertex
form of a quadratic function is y=a(x−h)2+k, where (h,k) is the vertex of the parabola. The
standard form y=ax2+bx+c can be converted to vertex form by completing the square. The
x-coordinate of the vertex in standard form is given by h=−2ab, and the y-coordinate is
k=f(h)=a(−2ab)2+b(−2ab)+c. The parabola opens upward if a>0 and downward if a<0. The
interceptsof the parabola (where it crosses the x-axisand y-axis) can be found by setting y=0
to find the x-intercepts (which are the real roots of the equation ax2+bx+c=0) and setting x=0 to
find the y-intercept (which is at the point (0,c)). Quadratic equations and functions have many
applicationsin real-world problems, such as modelingprojectile motion, calculating areas, and
optimizing quantities4.
olving radical equationsinvolves isolating the radicalterm on one side of the equation and
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then raising both sides to the power equal to the index of the radical to eliminate it. It is crucial to
check for extraneous solutionswhen solving radicalequations, as this process can
sometimes introduce solutions that do not satisfy the original equation. For example, to solve
x+2=3, we square both sides to get x+2=9, so x=7. Checking this solution in the original
equation gives 7+2=9=3, which is true, so x=7 is the solution. However, if we solve x=−2,
squaring both sides gives x=4. But 4=2 =−2, so x=4 is an extraneous solution, and the original
equation has no real solution.
omplex numbersextend the real number system to includesolutions to equations like x2=−1,
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which have no real solutions. We define theimaginaryuniti such that i2=−1, so i=−1. A
complex number is expressed in the form a+bi, where a and b are real numbers. The number a
is called the real part, and b is called the imaginary part. Operations with complex numbers
follow the rules of algebra, with the understanding that i2 is replaced by -1 whenever it occurs8.
Module 12: Rational Expressions and Equations
rational expressionis a fraction where both thenumerator and the denominator are
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polynomials. For example, x+2x2−1is a rational expression.Simplifying rational expressions
involves factoring both the numerator and the denominator and then canceling out any common
factors. For example, x+2x2−1=x+2(x−1)(x+1). If x =−2, this expression is in simplest form as
there are no common factors to cancel.
oadd or subtract rational expressions, they musthave acommon denominator. If they do
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not, we need to find theleast common denominator(LCD), which is the least common
multiple of the denominators. Once we have a common denominator, we can add or subtract
the numerators and keep the same denominator: CA±CB=CA±B. After performing the operation,
we should simplify the resulting rational expression if possible.
rational equationis an equation that contains oneor more rational expressions. Tosolve a
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rational equation, a common strategy is to multiplyboth sides of the equation by the least
common denominator (LCD) of all the rational expressions in the equation. This will eliminate
the denominators and result in a polynomial equation, which we can then solve using the
techniques we have learned. However, it is crucial tocheck for extraneous solutions, which
are solutions to the resulting polynomial equation that make the denominator of any of the
original rational expressions equal to zero. These values are not valid solutions to the original
rational equation because division by zero is undefined. For example, to solve x−2x=x3, the
LCD is x(x−2). Multiplying both sides by the LCD gives x2=3(x−2), which simplifies to
x2−3x+6=0. Using the quadratic formula, we find the solutions. We must then check if these
solutions make the denominators x−2 or x equal to zero.
oevaluate a functionfor a given input value, wesubstitute that value for the variable in the
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function's expression. For example, if f(x)=x2−3x+2, then f(4)=42−3(4)+2=16−12+2=6.
ninverse functionof a function f, denoted by f−1,is a function such that f(f−1(x))=x and
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f−1(f(x))=x for all x in their respective domains. Not all functions have inverses; a function must
be one-to-one (pass the horizontal line test) to have an inverse. To find the inverse of a function
y=f(x), we can switch x and y and then solve the resulting equation for y. The graph of f−1 is the
reflection of the graph of f across the line y=x9.
seriesis the sum of the terms of a sequence. Anarithmetic seriesis the sum of the terms of
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an arithmetic sequence. The sum of the first n terms (Sn) of an arithmetic series is given by
Sn=2n(a1+an) or Sn=2n(2a1+(n−1)d). Ageometricseriesis the sum of the terms of a
geometric sequence. The sum of the first n terms (Sn) of a geometric series is given by
Sn=1−ra1(1−rn)(where r =1). Aninfinite geometricseriesis the sum of an infinite number of
terms of a geometric sequence. An infinite geometric series converges to a finite sum if the
absolute value of the common ratio is less than 1 (∣r∣<1), and the sum is given by S=1−ra1. If
∣r∣≥1, the series diverges and does not have a finite sum. Understanding sequences and series
provides a foundation for more advanced topics in mathematics, such as calculus and discrete
mathematics8.
Distributive a×(b+c)=(a×b)+(a×c)
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