Algebra 1

7. (x + y)2 8. (2x + y)2 9. (a − b)2

10. (2a − 3b)2 11. 3(x + 2)2 12. (3 − x)2
13. (3x + 2)2 14. (a − 2b)2 15. (x + 1)2 + (x + 2)2
16. (x − 2)2 + (x + 3)2 17. (x + 2)2 + (2x + 1)2 18. (y − 3)2 + (y − 4)2
19. (x + 2)2 − (x − 3)2 20. (x − 3)2 − (x + 1)2 21. (y − 3)2 − (y + 2)2
22. (2x + 1)2 − (x + 3)2 23. 3(x + 2)2 − (x + 4)2 24. 2(x − 3)2 − 3(x + 1)2

Three pairs of brackets

To expand three pairs of brackets, expand the first two pairs
of brackets, and then multiply this result by the third pair.

Example
( x + 1)( x + 2)( x + 3 ) = [ x ( x + 2) + 1( x + 2)]( x + 3 )
= [ x 2 + 2x + x + 2]( x + 3 )
= ( x 2 + 3 x + 2)( x + 3 )
= x ( x 2 + 3 x + 2) + 3( x 2 + 3 x + 2)
= x 3 + 3 x 2 + 2x + 3 x 2 + 9 x + 6
= x 3 + 6 x 2 + 11x + 6

Exercise 2.2D
Expand the brackets and simplify.
1. (x + 2)(x − 3)(x − 4) 2. (x − 1)(x + 2)(x − 5) 3. (x + 6)(x − 3)(x + 5)
4. (2x − 1)(x + 1)(x − 1) 5. (3x + 1)(2x + 1)(x − 2) 6. (x + 2)(4x − 3)(2x + 3)
7. (6x − 5)(2x + 7)(3x − 8) 8. (x + 1)2(x − 4) 9. (x − 3)(x − 2)2
10. (x − 1)(2x + 3)2 11. (x − 1)3 12. (3x + 2)3
13. (x − 2)3 − (x + 1)3 14. (x + 3)3 − (x − 4)3 15. (2x + 1)3 + 3(x + 1)3

2.3 Solving linear equations

If an equation contains only one variable, and the highest power
of that variable is 1, then the equation is a linear equation. In this
section you are going to solve linear equations.

62
 2.3 Solving linear equations
Algebra 1

Here are some examples, illustrating a few of the techniques you

may use.
• If the x term is negative, add an x term with a positive
coefficient to both sides of the equation.

Example 1
Solve 4 − 3 x = 2

4 = 2 + 3x (Add 3x to both sides.)

2 = 3x (Subtract 2 from both sides.)
2
= x (Divide both sides by 3.)
3

• If there are x terms on both sides, collect them on one side and
then simplify.

Example 2
Solve 2x − 7 = 5 − 3 x

2x + 3 x = 5 + 7 (Add 3x to both sides.)

5x = 12
12 2
x= =2 (Divide both sides by 5 and simplify.)
5 5

• If there is a fraction in the x term, multiply out to simplify

the equation.

Example 3
2x
Solve = 10
3
2x = 30 (Multiply both sides by 3.)
30
=x = 15 (Divide both sides by 2 and simplify.)
2

Exercise 2.3A
Solve:
1. 2x − 5 = 11 2. 3x − 7 = 20 3. 2x + 6 = 20 4. 5x + 10 = 60
5. 8 = 7 + 3x 6. 12 = 2x − 8 7. −7 = 2x − 10 8. 3x − 7 = −10

63
Algebra
Algebra 11

x x
9. 12 = 15 + 2x 10. 5 + 6x = 7 11. =7 12. = 13
5 10
x x 1 3x 4x
13. 7 = 14. = 15. =5 16. = −2
2 2 3 2 5
7x 3 2x 5x 1 3 3x
17. 7 = 18. = 19. = 20. − =
3 4 3 6 4 4 5
x x x x
21. + 7 = 12 22. −7 = 2 23. − 6 = −2 24. 4 = −5
2 3 5 2
x a
25. 10 = 3 + 26. − 1 = −4 27. 100x − 1 = 98 28. 7 = 7 + 7x
4 5
x
29. + 10 = 20 30. 1000x − 5 = −6 31. −4 = −7 + 3x 32. 2x + 4 = x − 3
100
33. x − 3 = 3x + 7 34. 5x − 4 = 3 − x 35. 4 − 3x = 1 36. 5 − 4x = −3
37. 7 = 2 − x 38. 3 − 2x = x + 12 39. 6 + 2a = 3 40. a − 3 = 3a − 7
41. 2y − 1 = 4 − 3y 42. 7 − 2x = 2x − 7 43. 7 − 3x = 5 − 2x 44. 8 − 2y = 5 − 5y
45. x − 16 = 16 − 2x 46. x + 2 = 3.1 47. −x − 4 = −3 48. −3 − x = −5
x 1 3 x 1 x
49. − + 1 = − 50. − + = − −
2 4 5 10 5 5

Equations with brackets

Example
Solve x − 2 (x − 1) = 1 − 4(x + 1) (Expand the brackets.)

x − 2x + 2 = 1 − 4 x − 4 (Be careful to get the sign of each term correct.)

x − 2x + 4 x = 1 − 4 − 2 (Add 4x to both sides.)
3 x = −5 (Simplify.)
5
x = − (Divide both sides by 3.)
3

Exercise 2.3B
Solve:
1. x + 3(x + 1) = 2x 2. 1 + 3(x − 1) = 4
3. 2x − 2(x + 1) = 5x 4. 2(3x − 1) = 3(x − 1)
5. 4(x − 1) = 2(3 − x) 6. 4(x − 1) − 2 = 3x
7. 4(1 − 2x) = 3(2 − x) 8. 3 − 2(2x + 1) = x + 17
9. 4x = x − (x − 2) 10. 7x = 3x − (x + 20)
11. 5x − 3(x − 1) = 39 12. 3x + 2(x − 5) = 15

64
 2.3 Solving linear equations
Algebra 1

13. 7 − (x + 1) = 9 − (2x − 1) 14. 10x − (2x + 3) = 21

15. 3(2x + 1) + 2(x − 1) = 23 16. 5(1 − 2x) − 3(4 + 4x) = 0
17. 7x − (2 − x) = 0 18. 3(x + 1) = 4 − (x − 3)
19. 3y + 7 + 3(y − 1) = 2(2y + 6) 20. 4(y − 1) + 3(y + 2) = 5(y − 4)
21. 4x − 2(x + 1) = 5(x + 3) + 5 22. 7 − 2(x − 1) = 3(2x − 1) + 2
23. 10(2x + 3) − 8(3x − 5) + 5(2x − 8) = 0 24. 2(x + 4) + 3(x − 10) = 8
25. 7(2x − 4) + 3(5 − 3x) = 2 26. 10(x + 4) − 9(x − 3) − 1 = 8(x + 3)
27. 5(2x − 1) − 2(x − 2) = 7 + 4x 28. 6(3x − 4) − 10(x − 3) = 10(2x − 3)
29. 3(x − 3) − 7(2x − 8) − (x − 1) = 0 30. 5 + 2(x + 5) = 10 − (4 − 5x)
 1  2
31. 6 x + 30( x − 12) = 2  x − 1  32. 3  2x −  − 7( x − 1) = 0
 2  3 
 1
33. 5(x − 1) + 17(x − 2) = 2x + 1 34. 6(2x − 1) + 9( x + 1) = 8  x − 1 
 4
35. 7(x + 4) − 5(x + 3) + (4 − x) = 0 36. 0 = 9(3x + 7) − 5(x + 2) − (2x − 5)
 1 3 1 1
37. 10(2.3 − x) − 0.1(5x − 30) = 0 38. 8  2 x −  − (1 − x ) =
 2 4 4 2
x
39. (6 − x ) − ( x − 5) − (4 − x ) = −
2
 x  1
40. 10  1 −  − (10 − x ) − 100 (10 − x ) = 0.05
 10 

Example
Solve ( x + 3 )2 = ( x + 2)2 + 32

( x + 3 )( x + 3 ) = ( x + 2)( x + 2) + 9
x 2 + 6x + 9 = x 2 + 4x + 4 + 9
6x + 9 = 4 x + 13
2x = 4
x = 2

Exercise 2.3C
Solve:
1. x2 + 4 = (x + 1)(x + 3) 2. x2 + 3x = (x + 3)(x + 1)
3. (x + 3)(x − 1) = x2 + 5 4. (x + 1)(x + 4) = (x − 7)(x + 6)

65
Algebra 1

5. (x − 2)(x + 3) = (x − 7)(x + 7) 6. (x − 5)(x + 4) = (x + 7)(x − 6)

7. 2x2 + 3x = (2x − 1)(x + 1) 8. (2x − 1)(x − 3) = (2x − 3)(x − 1)
9. x2 + (x + 1)2 = (2x − 1)(x + 4) 10. x(2x + 6) = 2(x2 − 5)
11. (x + 1)(x − 3) + (x + 1)2 = 2x(x − 4) 12. (2x + 1)(x − 4) + (x − 2)2 = 3x(x + 2)
13. (x + 2)2 − (x − 3)2 = 3x − 11 14. x(x − 1) = 2(x − 1)(x + 5) − (x − 4)2
15. (2x + 1)2 − 4(x − 3)2 = 5x + 10 16. 2(x + 1)2 − (x − 2)2 = x(x − 3)
17. The area of the rectangle here exceeds the area of the square by 2 cm2.
Find x.

x
x−1

x+2 x

18. The area of the square exceeds the area of the rectangle by 13 m2.
Find y.

y+1
y
y−3

19. The area of the square is half the area of the rectangle. Find x.
x
2(x + 4)
x
(x − 2)

Equations involving fractions

When solving equations involving fractions, multiply both
sides of the equation by a suitable number or letter to eliminate
the fractions.

Example 1
5
Solve =2
x

5 = 2x ( Multiply both sides by x.)

5
= x (Divide both sides by 2.)
2

66
 2.3 Solving linear equations
Algebra 1

Example 2
x + 3 2x − 1
Solve =
4 3

( x + 3) ( 2 x − 1)
12 × = 12 × (Multiply both sides by 12.)
4 3
3( x + 3 ) = 4(2x − 1) (Or you can cross multiply.)
3x + 9 = 8x − 4
13 = 5x (Subtract 3x, not 8x, so that
13 the x term is positive.)
= x
5
3
x =2
5

Example 3
5
Solve + 2 = 12
( x − 1)

5
= 10 (2 and 12 are like terms so
( x − 1)
combine them first.)
5 = 10( x − 1)
5 = 10 x − 10
15 = 10 x
15
=x
10
1
x =1
2

Exercise 2.3D
Solve:
7 6 5
1. = 21 2. 30 = 3. =3
x x x
9 5 4
4. = −3 5. 11 = 6. −2 =
x x x
x 3 x 5 x +1 x −1
7. = 8. = 9. =
4 2 3 4 3 4

67
Algebra 1

x+3 x−4 2x − 1 x 3 x + 1 2x
10. = 11. = 12. =
2 5 3 2 5 3
8−x 2x + 2 x + 2 3x + 6 1−x 3−x
13. = 14. = 15. =
2 5 7 5 2 3
2 x x x x
16. =1 17. + = 1 18. + = 4
x −1 3 4 3 2
x x x x 5 10
19. − = 3 20. = 2 + 21. =
2 5 3 4 x −1 x
12 18 5 15
22. =4 23. 2 = 24. =
2x − 3 x+4 x+5 x +7
9 5 4 10 −7 14
25. = 26. = 27. =
x x −3 x − 1 3x − 1 x − 1 5x + 2
4 7 x +1 x −1 1 1 1
28. = 29. + = 30. ( x + 2) = (3 x + 2)
x + 1 3x − 2 2 3 6 3 5
1 1 1 2x 4
31. ( x − 1) − ( x + 1) = 0 32. ( x + 5) − =0 33. + 2 = 3
2 6 4 3 x
6 9 3
34. − 3 = 7 35. − 7 = 1 36. −2 = 1 +
x x x
4 6 3
37. 4 − = 0 38. 5 − = −1 39. 7 − =1
x x 2x
5 9 x −1 x −1
40. 4 + = −1 41. −5 = 0 42. − =0
3x 2x 5 3
x − 1 2x − 3 1 4 3 x +1 x 1
43. − = 44. = 45. − =
4 5 20 1−x 1+x 4 3 12
2x + 1 x − 1 5
46. − =
8 3 24

2.4 Problems solved by linear equations

Step 1 Let the unknown quantity be x (or any other letter) and
state the units (where appropriate).
Step 2 Express the given statement in the form of an equation.
Do not include the units in the equation.
Step 3 Solve the equation for x and give the answer in words. (Do
not finish by just writing ‘x = 3’.)
Step 4 Check your solution using the initial problem (not your
equation).

68
 2.4 Problems solved by linear equations
Algebra 1

Example 1
The sum of three consecutive whole numbers is 78. Find the
numbers.
Let the smallest number be x; then the other numbers are
(x + 1) and (x + 2).
Form an equation:
x + (x + 1) + (x + 2) = 78
3x + 3 = 78
Solve: 3x = 75
x = 25
In words:
The three numbers are 25, 26 and 27.
Check: 25 + 26 + 27 = 78

Example 2
The length of a rectangle is three times its width. If the
perimeter is 36 cm, find the width.
Let the width of the rectangle
be x cm. x

Then the length of the rectangle

3x
is 3x cm.
Form an equation.
x + 3x + x + 3x = 36 or 2(x + 3x) = 36
Solve: 8 x = 36
x = 36
8
x = 4 .5

In words:
The width of the rectangle is 4.5 cm
Check: If width = 4.5 cm
length = 13.5 cm
perimeter = 36 cm

69
Algebra 1

Exercise 2.4A
Solve each problem by forming an equation. The first questions
are easy but should still be solved using an equation, in order
to practise the method.
1. The sum of three consecutive numbers is 276.
Find the numbers.
2. The sum of four consecutive numbers is 90. Find the numbers.
3. The sum of three consecutive odd numbers is 177.
Find the numbers.
4. Find three consecutive even numbers which add up to 1524.
5. When a number is doubled and then added to 13, the result
is 38. Find the number.
6. When a number is doubled and then added to 24, the result
is 49. Find the number.
7. When 7 is subtracted from three times a certain number,
the result is 28. What is the number?
8. The sum of two numbers is 50. The second number is five
times the first. Find the numbers.
9. Two numbers are in the ratio 1:11 and their sum is 15.
Find the numbers.
10. The length of a rectangle is twice the width. If the perimeter
is 20 cm, find the width.
11. The width of a rectangle is one third of the length. If the
perimeter is 96 cm, find the width.
12. If AB is a straight line, find x.

4x
x (3x + 20)
A B

13. If the perimeter of the triangle is 22 cm, find the length of

the shortest side.

3x + 1 2x − 1

x+4

70
 2.4 Problems solved by linear equations
Algebra 1

14. If the perimeter of the rectangle is 34 cm, find x.

x−1
15. The difference between two numbers is 9.
Find the numbers if their sum is 46.
x+4
16. The three angles in a triangle are in the ratio 1 : 3 : 5.
Find them.
17. The three angles in a triangle are in the ratio 3 : 4 : 5.
Find them.
18. The product of two consecutive odd numbers is 10 more
than the square of the smaller number.
Find the smaller number.
19. The product of two consecutive even numbers is 12 more
than the square of the smaller number. Find the numbers.
20. The sum of three numbers is 66. The second number is
twice the first and six less than the third.
Find the numbers.
21. The sum of three numbers is 28. The second number is
three times the first and the third is 7 less than the second.
What are the numbers?
22. David’s mass is 5 kg less than Sucha’s, who in turn is 8 kg
lighter than Paul. If their total mass is 197 kg, how heavy
is each person?
23. Nilopal is 2 years older than Devjan who is 7 years older
than John. If their combined age is 61 years, find the age of
each person.
24. Kim has four times as many marbles as Ava. If Kim gave 18
to Ava they would have the same number.
How many marbles has each person?
25. Mukat has five times as many books as Usha. If Mukat
gives 16 books to Usha, they will each have the same
number. How many books does each girl have?
26. The result of multiplying a number by 3 is the same as
adding 12 to it. What is the number?
27. Find the area of the rectangle if the perimeter is 52 cm.
2x + 3
28. The result of multiplying a number by 3 and subtracting
5 is the same as doubling the number and adding 9.
Find the number. 3x − 1

71
Algebra 1

29. Two girls have $76 between them. If the first girl gave the
second girl $7, they would each have the same amount of
money. How much does each girl have?
30. A tennis racket costs $12 more than a hockey stick.
If the price of the two is $31, find the cost of the
tennis racket.

Example
A man leaves home at 16:42 and walks to a library, 6 km away,
arriving at 17:30. He walked part of the way at 5 km/h and then,
realising the time, he ran the rest of the way at 10 km/h.
How far did he run?
Let the distance he ran be x km.
Then the distance he walked = (6 − x) km.
Time taken to walk (6 − x) km Tip
(6 − x ) Use the formula
at 5 km/h = hours.
5 distance .
Time taken to run x km at time =
speed
x
10 km/h = hours.
10
Total time taken = 48 minutes
48 4
= hour = hour
60 5
(6 − x ) x 4
∴ + =
5 10 5
Multiply by 10:
2(6 − x ) + x = 8
12 − 2x + x = 8
4 = x
He ran a distance of 4 km.
Check:
4 2
=
Time to run 4 km = hour
10 5
2
Time to walk 2 km = hour
5
2 2 4
Total time taken =  +  = hour
5 5 5

72
 2.4 Problems solved by linear equations
Algebra 1

Exercise 2.4B
1. Every year a man is paid $500 more than the previous year.
If he receives $17 800 over four years, what was he paid in
the first year?
2. Samir buys x cans of soda at 80 cents each and (x + 4) cans
of soda at 85 cents each. The total cost was $8.35. Find x. Tip
3. The length of a straight line segment ABC is 5 m. Opposite angles
If AB : BC = 2 : 5, find the length of AB. of a cyclic
quadrilateral add
4. The opposite angles of a cyclic quadrilateral are (3x + 10)°
to 180°.
and (2x + 20)°. Find the angles.
5. The interior angles of a hexagon are in the ratio Tip
1 : 2 : 3 : 4 : 5 : 9. Find the angles.
Interior angles
6. A woman is 32 years older than her son. Ten years ago, she of a hexagon add
was three times as old as her son was at that time. to 720°.
Find the current age of the woman and her son.
7. A bus is travelling with 48 passengers. When it arrives at
a stop, x passengers get off and 3 get on. At the next stop
half the passengers get off and 7 get on. There are now
22 passengers. Find x.
8. A bus is travelling with 52 passengers. When it arrives at a
stop, y passengers get off and 4 get on. At the next stop one-
third of the passengers get off and 3 get on. There are now
25 passengers. Find y.
9. In a regular polygon with n sides, each interior angle
is  180 − 360  degrees. How many sides does a polygon
 n 
have if each interior angle is 156°?
k
10. Consider the equation = 12 where k is any number
x
between 20 and 65 and x is a positive integer. What are the
possible values of x?
Tip
11. Mahmoud runs to a marker and back in 15 minutes. His
speed on the way to the marker is 5 m/s and his speed on Formulae for
speed, distance
the way back is 4 m/s. Find the distance to the marker.
and time are
12. A car completes a journey in 10 minutes. For the first half studied in detail
of the journey the speed was 60 km/h and for the second in section 3.6 on
half the speed was 40 km/h. How far is the journey? page 111.

73
Algebra 1

Revision exercise 2
1. Solve these equations. 8. Solve these simultaneous equations.
a) x + 4 = 3x + 9 a) 7c + 3d = 29
b) 9 − 3a = 1 5c − 4d = 33
2. Given a = 3, b = 4 and c = −2, evaluate: b) 2x − 3 y = 7
a) 2a2 − b 2 y − 3 x = −8
b) a(b − c) c) 5x = 3(1 − y )
c) 2b2 − c2 3x + 2 y + 1 = 0

3. Solve these simultaneous equations. d) 5s + 3t = 16

a) 3 x + 2 y = 5 11s + 7t = 34
2x − y = 8 9. Solve these equations.
b) 2m − n = 6 a) 4(2x − 1) − 3(1 − x) = 0
2m + 3n = −6 x+3
b) =2
x
c) 3 x − 4 y = 19
10. Given that m = −2, n = 4, evaluate:
x + 6 y = 10
a) 5m + 3n
d) 3 x − 7 y = 11
b) 5 + 2m − m2
2x − 3 y = 4
c) m2 + 2n2
4. Given that x = 4, y = 3, z = −2, evaluate: d) (2m + n)(2m − n)
a) 2x(y + z) b) (xy)2 − z2 e) (n − m)2
c) x + y + z
2 2 2
d) (x + y)(x − z) f ) n − mn − 2m2
xy
e) x (1 − 4 z ) f) 11.Given that a + b = 2 and that a2 + b2 = 6,
z
show that 2ab = −2.
5. a) Expand and simplify Find also the value of (a − b)2.
(x − 2)(x − 3)(x − 4).
12. A jar contains 50 US coins, containing a
b) Expand and simplify (2x − 3)3.
mixture of dimes (10 cents) and quarters
6. Solve these equations. (25 cents). The total value of the coins is
a) 5 − 7x = 4 − 6x $9.35. How many dimes are there?
7 2 13. Pat bought 45 stamps, some for 40c
b) =
x 3 and some for 58c. If he spent $22.50
2x − 3 y
7. Find the value of when x = 2a altogether, how many 40c stamps did
5x + 2 y
and y = −a. he buy?

82
 Algebra 1

Examination-style exercise 2

NON-CALCULATOR
5 11 x
1. a)+ = Work out the value of x. [1]
7 14 2
7 4 35
b) ÷ = Work out the value of y. [1]
4 y 16
2. Solve these simultaneous equations.
4 x + y = 17
[3]
3 x − 2 y = 10
3. Solve these equations.
2x
a) − 12 = 0 [2]
3
x+8 8x − 1
b) = [2]
3 11
4. Solve these simultaneous equations.
0.3x + 2y = 17
[3]
0.6x + 3y = 27

5. a) Expand and simplify ( x − 3 )2 (3 x + 1). [3]

b) Fully simplify ( x − 3 )2 (3 x + 1) − ( x + 2)2 . [3]

83