1 ENGGMATH 1

ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS

What is an Algebraic Expression?

Algebraic expressions are the idea of expressing numbers using letters or

alphabets without specifying their actual values. The basics of algebra taught us how
to express an unknown value using letters such as x, y, z, etc. These letters are called
here as variables. An algebraic expression can be a combination of both variables
and constants. Any value that is placed before and multiplied by a variable is a
coefficient.

Examples

3x + 4y – 7
4x – 10
3x4
4x2 + 3x – 5
2x2(x + 2) – 3x (x2 – 3) – 5x(x + 5)

These expressions are represented with the help of unknown variables,

constants and coefficients. The combination of these three (as terms) is said to be an
expression. It is to be noted that, unlike the algebraic equation, an algebraic
expression has no sides or equal to sign.

Variables, Coefficient & Constant in Algebraic Expressions

In the above expression (5x-3)

 x is a variable; whose value is unknown to us which can take any value.
 5 is known as the coefficient of x, as it is a constant value used with the variable
term and is well defined.
 3 is the constant value term that has a definite value.
Terms versus factors
When numbers are added or subtracted, they are called terms.
When numbers are multiplied, they are called factors.

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Here is a sum of four terms: a − b + c − d.

In algebra we speak of a "sum" of terms even though there are subtractions. In

other words, anything that looks like what you see above, we call a sum.
Here is a product of four factors: abcd.
The word factor always signifies multiplication.
And again, we speak of the "product" abcd, even though we do not name an
answer.

Example:

In the following expression, how many terms are there? And each term has how many
factors?

2a + 4ab + 5a(b + c)

Types of Algebraic Expression

1. Monomial Expression
A monomial is an algebraic expression with just one term. It can be a
constant, a variable, or a product of constants and variables raised to powers.
Examples: 7, x, 3x4, 3xy, 3x, 8y, -5abc
2. Binomial Expression
A binomial is an algebraic expression with exactly two terms separated
by a plus or minus sign.
Examples: x + 3, 4a –b, 5xy + 8, xyz + x3
3. Trinomial Expression
A trinomial is an algebraic expression with exactly three terms
separated by plus or minus signs.
Examples: x2 + 4x + 4, 2a2 – 3a + 7
4. Polynomial Expression
A polynomial is an algebraic expression that can have one or more
terms. Polynomials are classified based on the number of terms they have
(monomial, binomial, trinomial) and are defined for any number of terms.
Examples: ax + by + cz, 3x3 – 2x2 + x – 5, 7y4 – 4y2 + 6

Addition and Subtraction of Algebraic Expressions

Addition and subtraction of algebraic expressions involve combining like
terms to simplify the expressions. Here's how to handle each operation:

Addition of Algebraic Expressions

1. Identify Like Terms:
Like terms are terms that have the same variable(s) with the same
exponent(s). For instance, 3x and 5x are like terms, but 3x and 2x2 are not.

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2. Combine Like Terms:

Add or subtract the coefficients (numbers in front of the variables) of like
terms while keeping the variable part the same.
Example: Add 3x + 4 and 5x -2
Subtraction of Algebraic Expressions
1. Distribute the Subtraction:
Distribute the subtraction across each term in the second expression.
This is done by changing the signs of all terms in the second expression.
2. Combine Like Terms:
After distributing, combine the resulting like terms.
Example: Subtract 4x – 3 from 7x + 2
Steps for Both Operations
1. Write Down the Expressions: Clearly write down the expressions you are
working with.
2. Align Like Terms: If it helps, write like terms next to each other to simplify the
process.
3. Perform Operations on Coefficients: Add or subtract the coefficients of like
terms.
4. Write the Simplified Expression: Combine all the simplified terms into one final
expression.
Sample Problems
1. Add 4a + 5b and 3a – 2b
2. Add 7x2 + 2x + 1 and -3x2 + 4x – 6
3. Add 2m2 – 5m + 4 and 3m2 + 6m -2
4. Add 5p – 4q + 7 and 3p + 2q – 3
5. Add 5x² + 7y - 8, 4y + 7 - 2x² and 6 – 5y + 4x²
6. Add 8x² - 5xy + 3y², 2xy - 6y² + 3x² and y² + xy - 6x²
7. Subtract 6x – 4y + 9 and 2x + 3y – 5
8. Subtract 8a2 – 3a + 7 and 5a2 + 2a – 4
9. Subtract 9b2 – 2b + 6 and 4b2 + 7b – 3
10. Subtract x2y – 2x2 – zy + 5 and –3x2 + 3x3 from y3 + 3x2y – 6x2 – 6zy + 7x3
11. Simplify 3x2 + 4x – 5 + (-2x2 + 3x + 7)
12. Simplify 4m2 – 6m + 8 – (-3m2 + 5m -4)
13. Simplify (6a + 2b - 3c) - (4a - 4b + 9c + 12)
14. Simplify (10x2 + 14) + (9x2 + 3) – (8x2 – 6)
15. Simplify (29x3 – 11x + 30) – (17x3 – 8x – 22) + (37x2 + 4)

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Multiplication and Division of Algebraic Expressions

Multiplication of Algebraic Expressions

1. Multiplying Monomials
When multiplying monomials (single-term expressions), multiply the
coefficients and the variables separately. Use the following rules:
Coefficients: Multiply the numerical coefficients.
Variables: Apply the exponent rules for variables:
xa . xb = xa+b
(xy)a = xa.xy
Example:
(3x2)(4x3)
2. Multiplying Polynomials
To multiply two polynomials, use the distributive property (also known
as the FOIL method for binomials). Each term in the first polynomial is
multiplied by each term in the second polynomial.
Example:
(2x + 3) (x + 4)
Division of Algebraic Expressions
1. Dividing Monomials
When dividing monomials, divide the coefficients and subtract the
exponents of the variables.
Coefficients: Divide the numerical coefficients.
Variables: Apply the exponent rules for variables
Example: xa / xb , (xy)a / xb, 6x4/3x2
2. Dividing Polynomials
To divide polynomials by a monomial, divide each term of the
polynomial by the monomial.
6𝑥 3+3𝑥2 −9𝑥
Example:
3𝑥
3. Polynomial Long Division
To divide a polynomial by a polynomial, use polynomial long division
similar to numerical long division.
Steps:
 Divide the first term of the dividend by the first term of the divisor.
 Multiply the entire divisor by this quotient term and subtract from
the dividend.
 Repeat the process with the remainder until the degree of the
remainder is less than the degree of the divisor.
Example: Divide x3 – 2x2 + 4x – 8 by x – 2

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4. Synthetic Division
Synthetic division is a method used to perform the division operation on
polynomials when the divisor is a linear factor. One of the advantages of using
this method over the traditional long method is that the synthetic division allows
one to calculate without writing variables while performing the polynomial
division, which also makes it an easier method in comparison to the long
division.
Steps:
 Write the coefficients of the polynomial.
 Use the value c from x−c and perform synthetic division
operations.
Example: Divide 2x3 – 6x2 + 2x – 4 by x – 2

Sample Problems
1. (3x + 2)(2x + 1)
2. (x − 3)(x − 7)
3. 4(x − 1)(x + 3)
4. −(x + 1)(x − 2)
5. (x + 1)(x + 2)(x + 3)
6. (x − 2)(x + 4)(x − 5)
3𝑎+6𝑏+9𝑐
7.
12𝑑
12𝑥−18𝑦+21𝑧
8.
6𝑦
9. (n2 + 5n − 50) ÷ (n − 5)
10. (7x2 + 19x − 36) ÷ (x + 4)
11. (a3 + 13a2 + 39a − 18) ÷ (a + 6)
12. Divide 2t4 + 3t3 – 2t2 – 9t – 12 by t2 – 3

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