GRACE MISSION COLLEGE

Catiningan, Socorro, Oriental Mindoro

e-Mail: [email protected]

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

-Proverbs 1:7

Module 1 in COLLEGE AND ADVANCE ALGEBRA

PREREQUISITES

REAL NUMBERS: ALGEBRA ESSENTIALS

Sets of Numbers
 The set of natural numbers includes the numbers used for counting: {1, 2, 3, ...}.
 The set of whole numbers is the set of natural numbers plus zero: {0, 1, 2, 3, ...}.
 The set of integers adds the negative natural numbers to the set of whole numbers: {..., −3, −2, −1, 0,
1, 2, 3, ...}.
𝑚
 The set of rational numbers includes fractions written as { 𝑛 ∣ m and n are integers and n ≠ 0 }
 The set of irrational numbers is the set of numbers that are not rational, are nonrepeating, and are
nonterminating: {h | h is not a rational number}.

Order of Operations
Operations in mathematical expressions must be evaluated in a systematic order, which can be simplified
using the acronym PEMDAS:
 P – arentheses
 E – xponents
 M – ultiplication
 D – ivision
 A – ddition
 S – ubtraction

Properties of Real Number

Addition Multiplication
Commutative a+b=b+a a∙b=b∙a
Property
Associative Property a + (b + c) = (a + b) + c a (bc) = (ab) c
Distributive a ∙ (b + c) = a ∙ b + a ∙ c
Property
Identity Property There exists a unique real There exists a unique real number called
number called the additive the multiplicative identity, 1, such that,
identity, 0, such that, for any real for any real number a, a ∙ 1 = a
number a, a + 0 = a
 Inverse Property Every real number a has an Every nonzero real number a has a
additive inverse, or opposite, multiplicative inverse, or reciprocal,
denoted −a, such that a + (−a) = denoted 1, such that
𝑎
0 1
a∙ (𝑎) =1

Evaluating Algebraic Expressions

In the expression x + 5, 5 is called a constant because it does not vary and x is called a variable because
it does. An algebraic expression is a collection of constants and variables joined together by the algebraic
operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Examples:
Evaluate each expression for the given values.
𝑡 4
a. for t = 10 b. 3π𝑟 3 for r = 5
2𝑡−1
𝑡 10 4 4
= 2(10)−1 π𝑟 3 = 3π(5)3
2𝑡−1 3
10 10 4 500
= 19 π(125) = π
20−1 3 3

Simplifying Algebraic Expression

Simplify each algebraic expression.
a. 3x − 2y + x − 3y − 7 b. 2r − 5(3 − r) + 4
= 3x + x − 2y − 3y – 7 = 2r − 15 + 5r + 4
= 4x − 5y – 7 = 2r + 5y − 15 + 4
= 7r – 11
ACTIVITY 1

A. Direction: For the following exercises, simplify the given expression. NUMERIC

1. 10 + 2 · (5 − 3)
2. 6 ÷ 2 − (81 ÷ 32)
3. 18 + (6 − 8)3
4. −2 · [16 ÷ (8 − 4)2] 2
5. 4−6+2·7

B. Direction: For the following exercises, solve for the variable. ALGEBRAIC

1. 8(x + 3) = 64
2. 4y + 8 = 2y
3. (11a + 3) − 18a = −4
4. 4z − 2z (1 + 4) = 36
5. 4y (7 − 2)2 = −200

C. Direction: For the following exercises, simplify the given expression. ALGEBRAIC
9
1. 4x + x (13 − 7) 5. ( 6 t − 4 ) 2
2. 2y − (4)2 y – 11
3. 8b − 4b (3) + 1
4. 9x + 4x (2 + 3) − 4(2x + 3x)
EXPONENTS AND SCIENTIFIC NOTATION

The Product Rule of Exponents

For any real number a and natural numbers m and n, the product rule of exponents states that
𝒂𝒎 · 𝒂𝒎 = 𝒂𝒎+𝒏
The Quotient Rule of Exponents
For any real number a and natural numbers m and n, such that m > n, the quotient rule of exponents
𝒂𝒎
states that = 𝒂𝒎−𝒏
𝒂𝒏
The Power Rule of Exponents
For any real number a and positive integers m and n, the power rule of exponents states that
(𝒂𝒎 )𝒏 = 𝒂𝒎 ·𝐧
The Zero Exponent Rule of Exponents
For any nonzero real number a, the zero exponent rule of exponents states that 𝒂𝟎 = 1
The Negative Rule of Exponents
For any nonzero real number a and natural number n, the negative rule of exponents states that
𝟏
𝒂−𝒏 = 𝒂𝒏
The Power of a Product Rule of Exponents
For any nonzero real number a and natural number n, the negative rule of exponents states that
(𝒂𝒃)𝒏 = 𝒂𝒏 𝒃𝒏
The Power of a Quotient Rule of Exponents
For any real numbers a and b and any integer n, the power of a quotient rule of exponents states that
𝒂 𝒏 𝒂𝒏
( ) = 𝒃𝒏
𝒃
Simplifying Exponential Expressions
Recall that to simplify an expression means to rewrite it by combing terms or exponents; in other
words, to write the expression more simply with fewer terms. The rules for exponents may be combined to
simplify expressions.
Examples:
(6𝑚2 𝑛−1 )3 = 63 (𝑚2 )3 (𝑛−1 )3 The power of a product rule
3 2·3 −1·3
= 6 𝑚 𝑛 The power rule
6 −3
= 216𝑚 𝑛 Simplify
216𝑚6
= The negative exponent rule
𝑛3

Using Scientific Notation

A shorthand method of writing very small and very large numbers is called scientific notation, in which
we express numbers in terms of exponents of 10.
A number is written in scientific notation if it is written in the form a × 10n, where 1 ≤ |a| < 10 and n
is an integer.
For example, consider the number 2,780,418. Move the decimal left until it is to the right of the first
nonzero digit, which is 2.

2.780418 × 106
Converting Standard Notation to Scientific Notation

To convert a number in scientific notation to standard notation, simply reverse the process. Move the
decimal n places to the right if n is positive or n places to the left if n is negative and add zeros as needed.
Remember, if n is positive, the value of the number is greater than 1, and if n is negative, the value of the
number is less than one.

Example:

a. 3.547 × 1014 b. 7.91 × 10−7

3.54700000000000 → 14 places 0000007.91 ← 7 places
= 354,700,000,000,000 = 0.000000791

ACTIVITY 2

A. Simplify each expression and write the answer with positive exponents only.

B. Convert each number in scientific notation to standard notation and vice versa.
1. 152,000
2. 7,158,000,000
3. 8,500,000,000,000
4. 7.03 × 105
5. −8.16 × 1011

RADICALS AND RATIONAL EXPRESSION

Principal Square Root

The principal square root of a is the nonnegative number that, when multiplied by itself, equals a. It
is written as a radical expression, with a symbol called a radical over the term called the radicand: √𝑎

Example : Evaluating Square Roots

Evaluate each expression.

a. √100 b. √√16 c. √25 + 144 d. √49 − √81

Solution

a. √100 = 10 because 102 = 100 c. √25 + 144 = √169 = 13 because 132 = 169

b. √√16 = √4 = 2 because 42 = 16 and 22 = 4

d. √49 − √81 = 7 − 9 = −2 because 72 = 49 and 92 = 81

The Product Rule for Simplifying Square Roots

If a and b are nonnegative, the square root of the product ab is equal to the product of the square
roots of a and b. √𝑎𝑏 = √𝑎 · √𝑏

Example: Using the Product Rule to Simplify Square Roots

Simplify the radical expression.

a. √300 b. √162𝑎5𝑏
√100 · 3 √81𝑎4𝑏4 ∙ 2𝑎
√10 · √3 √81𝑎4𝑏4 ∙ √ 2𝑎
10 √3 9𝑎2𝑏2 √ 2𝑎
The Quotient Rule for Simplifying Square Roots
𝑎
The square root of the quotient 𝑏
is equal to the quotient of the square roots of a and b, where b ≠ 0.

𝒂 √𝒂
√𝒃 = √𝒃

Example: Using the Quotient Rule to Simplify Square Roots

Simplify the radical expression.

𝟓 √𝟓 √𝟓
a. √ = =
𝟑𝟔 √𝟑𝟔 𝟔

Adding and Subtracting Square Roots

We can add or subtract radical expressions only when they have the same radicand and when they have
the same radical type such as square roots. For example, the sum of √2 and 3√2 is 4√2. However, it is
often possible to simplify radical expressions, and that may change the radicand. The radical expression √18
can be written with a 2 in the radicand, as 3 √2 , so √2 + √18 = √2 + 3 √2 = 4 √2.

Example: Adding Square Roots

Add 5 √12 + 2 √3 . Solution We can rewrite 5 √12 as 5 √4 · 3 . According the product rule, this becomes
5 √4 √3. The square root of √4 is 2, so the expression becomes 5(2) √3 , which is 10 √3. Now the terms
have the same radicand so we can add 10 √3 + 2 √3 = 12 √3.

Example: Subtracting Square Roots Subtract 20√72𝑎3 𝑏 4 c – 14√8𝑎3 𝑏 4 c

Solution: Rewrite each term so they have equal radicands.

20√72𝑎3 𝑏 4 c = 20 √9 √4 √2 √a √𝑎2 √𝑏 2 2 √c

= 20(3)(2) (a) (𝑏 2 ) √2ac = 120 a𝑏 2 √2ac

 2
14 √8𝑎3 𝑏 4 c = 14 √2 √4 √a √𝑎2 √𝑏 2 √c = 14(2)(a) 𝑏 2 √2ac = 28 a𝑏 2 √2ac

120a𝑏 2 √2ac − 28a𝑏 2 √2ac = 92a𝑏 2 √2ac

Rationalizing Denominators

When an expression involving square root radicals is written in simplest form, it will not contain a
radical in the denominator. We can remove radicals from the denominators of fractions using a process
called rationalizing the denominator.

Given an expression with a single square root radical term in the denominator, rationalize the
denominator.

1. Multiply the numerator and denominator by the radical in the denominator.

2. Simplify.

Example 1: Rationalizing a Denominator Containing a Single Term

2√3
1. Write 3√10

Solution

√10
The radical in the denominator is √10 . So multiply the fraction by . Then simplify.
√10

2√3 √10 2√30 √30

· = =
3√10 √10 30 15

Example 2: Rationalizing a Denominator Containing Two Terms

4
1. Write in simplest form.
1+ √5

Solution

Begin by finding the conjugate of the denominator by writing the denominator and changing the
1 − √5
sign. So the conjugate of 1 + √5 is 1 − √5. Then multiply the fraction by .
1− √5

4 1 − √5 4−4√5
. 1− = = √5 - 1
1+ √5 √5 −4

Principal nth Root

𝑛
If a is a real number with at least one nth root, then the principal nth root of a, written as √𝑎, is the number
with the same sign as a that, when raised to the nth power, equals a. The index of the radical is n.

Examples: Simplifying nth Roots

Simplify each of the following:

5 4 4
a. √−32 b. √4 · √1024
5 4
√−32 = -2 because (−2)5 = -32 √4096 = 8 because 84 = 4,096
Rational Exponents

Rational exponents are another way to express principal nth roots. The general form for converting
between a radical expression with a radical symbol and one with a rational exponent is
𝒎 𝒎
𝒏 𝒏
𝒂 𝒏 = ( √𝒂 = √𝒂𝒎

Example: Writing Rational Exponents as Radicals

2
Write 3433 as a radical. Simplify.
2 2
3 3
3433 = √343 = √3432 = 72 = 49

ACTIVITY 3

For the following exercises, simplify each expression.

1. √400𝑥 4
2. √49𝑝
3
3. √8𝑥 6
81𝑚
4. √361𝑚2

5. √98

“Life is a math equation, in order to gain the most, you have to convert the
negatives into POSITIVES.”

Prepared by:

09127648540
Jeorge Ornedo Hugno
[email protected]
SIR JEORGE O. HUGNO
Subject Teacher