Algebraic Expressions & Identities

Question # 1:
i.​ What is a constant? Give examples.
ii.​ What is a variable? Give examples.
iii.​ What is an expression? Give examples.
iv.​ How do we define a polynomial?
v.​ Which of the expressions are polynomials?
vi.​ What is a monomial, binomial or a trinomial expression?
vii.​ Find the sum of 𝑎 + 𝑎 + 𝑎, 𝑎 + b – 2𝑎 + 2b.

Like terms

2x, –3x, 4x or 2a2, 4a2, –7a2 are like terms (terms in which the base and the
exponents are the same).

Unlike Terms

Although the base is the same, the exponents are different.

2a2, a3, 5a; 2a3, 3b3, –4c3; x, xy, 2x2y are examples of unlike terms.

Like terms can be added to and subtracted from one another. To add like terms, simply add the
coefficients of the terms.

Thus to add 4𝑥, 3𝑥, –2𝑥 simply add the coefficients 4, 3 and –2 i.e. 4 + 3 – 2 = 7 – 2 = 5

Hence 4𝑥 + 3𝑥 – 2𝑥 = 5𝑥.

Vertical Method: Algebraic expressions are arranged in a column format, aligning like terms for
systematic addition or subtraction.

Horizontal Method: Expressions are written in a linear form, and terms are grouped and
simplified in a single step without vertical alignment.

Subtract 3x2 + 2x + 5, 4x2 + 8x + 3 in a horizontal way

Handling Signs with algebraic expressions:
The sum of two positive terms is also a positive term:
(+3x) + (+5x) = +8x
The sum of two negative terms is also a negative term:
(–3x) + (–5x) = –8x
The sum of a positive and a negative term is equal to the difference of their coefficients and will
be given the sign of the greater coefficient.
(–3x) + (+5x) = +2x
(–8x) + (+6x) = –2x

Subtraction of algebraic expressions

To subtract a polynomial expression from another polynomial expression, change the sign of the
expression that has to be subtracted and follow the rules of signs for addition.
1. Subtract 3x from 5x
5b – (+3b) = 5x – 3x = 2x
2. Subtract –2x from 6x
6x – (–2x) = 6x + 2x = 8x or vertically as:

3. Subtract 4x from –7x

–7x – (+4x) = –7x – 4x = –11x
4. Subtract –7x from –4x
–7x – (–4x) = –7x + 4x + –3x

Multiplication of polynomials

Explain with the help of examples the multiplication of polynomials and give the rules of signs.

To multiply a polynomial by another polynomial, multiply the coefficients and add the
powers of variables with the same base.
(3x2) × (2x) = (3 × 2)(x)2 + 1 = 6x3
(–3x2) × (–2x) = (–3 × –2)(x)2 + 1 = 6x3
(–3x2) × (2x) = (–3 × 2)(x)2 + 1 = –6x3
(3x2) × (–2x) = (3 × –2)(x)2 + 1 = –6x3

Rules of signs
By the above examples we get the rules of signs.
• The product of two positive terms is also a positive term (+) (+) = +
• The product of two negative terms is a positive term (–) (–) = +
• The product of a positive and a negative term is always a negative term (+) (–) = –

Multiplication of a binomial by a monomial expression

Multiply each term of the binomial with the given monomial.
2
1. (4𝑥 + 3𝑦 ) × 3𝑥
= (4𝑥 × 3𝑥) + (3𝑦2 × 3𝑥 )
1+1 2+1
= (4 × 3) (𝑥) + (2 × 3) (𝑥)
2 3
= 12𝑥 + 6𝑥

2. (3𝑎2 + 7𝑏) × − 5𝑎
2
= (3𝑎 × − 5𝑎 ) + (7𝑏 × − 5𝑎)
2+1
= (3 × − 5) (𝑎) + (7 × − 5)(𝑏 × 𝑎)
3
= − 15𝑎 − 35𝑎𝑏

Multiplication of a trinomial expression by a monomial expression.

2
(4𝑥 – 2𝑥 + 5) × (2𝑥)
2
= (4𝑥 × 2𝑥) + (–2𝑥 × 2𝑥) + (5 × 2𝑥)
2+1 1+1
= (4 × 2)(𝑥) + (–2 × 2)(𝑥 ) + (5 × 2)(𝑥)
3 2
= 8𝑥 – 4𝑥 + 10𝑥
*** Hence to multiply a trinomial by a monomial, multiply each term of the trinomial with
the given monomial. To multiply a binomial with a binomial/trinomial, multiply each term
of one binomial expression by each term of the other binomial/trinomial expression and
add the like terms.
2
1.​ ( 𝑎 + 2) (𝑎 – 3 + 4)
2
= 𝑎( – 3𝑎 + 4) + 2(𝑎 – 3𝑎 + 4)
3 2 2
= 𝑎 – 3𝑎 + 4𝑎 + 2𝑎 – 6𝑎 + 8
3 2 2
= 𝑎 – 3𝑎 + 2𝑎 + 4a – 6𝑎 + 8 (arrange the like terms)
3 2
= 𝑎 – 𝑎 – 2𝑎 + 8 (simplify the like terms)

Like addition and subtraction, multiplication can be done horizontally (as above) or
vertically.

Practice Question:

1. (–3𝑎) × (–5𝑎2)

2. (7𝑎) × (–6b)
3. (4𝑥2) × (7𝑥)
4. (2𝑎 + 3b) × (–6𝑎)
5. (–5p4) × (2p2)
6. (–8c + 3d) × (–5cd)

7. Define and differentiate algebraic equations and algebraic identities.

8. Recognise and apply algebraic identities in expanding binomial expressions.

9. Establish and apply algebraic identities in solving problems.

**To factorize an expression means to find the factors of which it is the product.
2 2 2 2 2 2 2
What are the factors of: 𝑎b, 𝑥 , 2𝑥, 𝑎 – 4, 𝑎 + 2ab + 𝑏 , 𝑎 – 2𝑎b + 𝑏 , 𝑥 – 25

Law of Identities
Identities are very useful in finding the factors of expressions which are perfect squares or
difference of two squares. Besides the identities, there is another way of factoring algebraic
expression which is by making groups.
• Write the expression 𝑥² + 4𝑥 (extract the common factor) = 𝑥(𝑥 + 4)
3 2
• 3𝑎 – 6ab (common factors) 3𝑎(𝑎 – 2b)
• ac + bc + ad + bd All the terms in the expression do not contain any common factor.
Divide the expression in two groups.
ac + bc + ad + bd
The lines under the terms show their grouping. Take away the common factor from each group.
c(a + b) + d(a + b)
c is common in the first group while d is common in the second group.
Now (a + b) is the common factor in both the groups. Taking it away, only c and d are left.
Hence
ac + bc + ad + bd
= c(a + b) + d(a + b)
= (a + b) (c + d)
Write the expression (𝑥 + 3) (𝑥 + 4) = 𝑥² + 7𝑥 + 12
Recall the process or techniques of expanding expressions having their first terms alike.
2
Now to factorize expression 𝑥 + 7𝑥 + 12. Find the sets of factors of the constant 12?
The middle term is 7𝑥. Which set of factors of 12 gives the sum 7?
2
𝑥 + 7x + 12 = x² + 3 + 4x + 12 since (7𝑥 = 3𝑥 + 4𝑥)
= 𝑥 (𝑥 + 4) + 3(𝑥 + 4)
= (𝑥 + 4) (𝑥 + 3)
Similarly, work out a few more examples.
2 2
●​ 𝑥 – 5x + 6, 𝑥 + 5𝑥 + 6 factor of + 6 = (2 , 3), (–2 , –3)
2
●​ 𝑥 – 𝑥 – 6, 𝑥² + 𝑥 – 6 factor of – 6 = (–2 , + 3) or (–3 , + 2)

Matching the product with the factors.

Product Factor
2
2ab (4𝑚 + 𝑑)
2
𝑥 + a𝑥 + 20 (p – 7) (p + 10)
2 2
4𝑥 – 9𝑦 2xaxb
3 3
4𝑥 y – 8𝑥 y (𝑥 + 4) (𝑥 + 5)
2 2
4𝑎 – 20ab + 25𝑏 (2𝑥 – 3y) (2𝑥 + 3y)
2 2 2
16𝑚 + 24𝑚 + 9 4𝑥 y(𝑥 – 2)
2
p2 – 17p + 70 (2𝑎 – 5𝑏)

2 2 2 2 2 2
●​ Apply Identities and factorize: 𝑥 + 2xy + 𝑦 , 𝑝 – 5pq – 14𝑞 , 𝑥 – 𝑦 ,
2 2 4 4
𝑚 – 2mn + 𝑛 , 𝑚 – 𝑛 .
Factorization of algebraic expressions can be done by:
• applying algebraic identities
2 2 2
➢​ (𝑎 + 𝑏) = 𝑎 + 2ab + 𝑏
2 2 2
➢​ (𝑎 + 𝑏) = 𝑎 + 2ab + 𝑏
2 2
➢​ 𝑎 – 𝑏 = (a – b) (a + b)
2
➢​ (𝑥 + a)(𝑥 + b) = 𝑥 + 𝑥(a + b) + ab
• by extracting common factors from all the terms
ab + ac + ad = a(b + c + d)
• by grouping terms
ax + bx + ay + by
= 𝑥(a + b) + y(a + b)
= (a + b)(𝑥 + y)
• by breaking up the middle term and grouping
𝑥² + 3𝑥 – 10
=𝑥² + 5𝑥 – 2𝑥 – 10
=𝑥(𝑥 + 5) – 2(𝑥 + 5)
=(𝑥 + 5)(𝑥 – 2)

Separate the polynomial expressions by circles and equations by underline.

2 2
2𝑥 + 3 , 4𝑥 , a + 5 = 11 , 𝑥 – 4𝑥𝑦 + 5𝑦 , 2𝑥 – 15 = 5 ,

2 2 2 2 2
9𝑎 – 25𝑏 , 𝑎 + 2ab + 𝑏 , (𝑎 – 𝑏) = 98 , a𝑥 – b𝑦 – 1
Find the product:
3 × a = _________.
2𝑥 × –4 = ___________.
2(𝑥 + 3) = ___________.
(𝑥 – 1)(2𝑥 + 3) = ___________.
(a – b)(a + b) = ____________.
Find the product of (expand) without actual multiplication.
1. (𝑥 – 1) (𝑥 + 1)
2. (𝑥 – 5) (𝑥 + 5)
2
3. (𝑎 + 𝑏)
We can find the product of binomial expression or trinomial expression applying algebraic
identities. Now see what an algebraic identity means.

If 3(𝑥 + 4) = 10, then what is the value of 𝑥?

Here 𝑥 = 2. If we put 𝑥 = 3 or any other number, the statement or the equation will not be
true. Explain by putting different values of 𝑥.
 2
Now take (𝑥 – 1)(𝑥 + 1) = 𝑥 – 1

By actual multiplication (𝑥 – 1)(𝑥 + 1)

2 2
= (𝑥) + (𝑥)(1) – (1)(𝑥) – (1)
2
=𝑥 –1

Or
2 2
(a – 2) (a + 2) = 𝑎 – (2)
2
=𝑎 –4

By actual multiplication, (a – 2) (a + 2)

= (a)(a) + 2(a) – 2(a) + (–2)(2)

2
= 𝑎 + 2a – 2a – 2a – 4
2
=𝑎 –4
that is, if we multiply two binomial expressions.

The product of the sum and difference of two binomial expressions is always equal to the
difference of their squares. Such an equation becomes an identity and provides us a rule for
expanding expression without actually going through the process of multiplication.
Identity 1
2
(𝑥 + 𝑎)(𝑥 + 𝑏) = 𝑥 + 𝑥 (𝑎 + 𝑏) + 𝑎𝑏
2
= 𝑥 + 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑎𝑏

Rule: product of two binomial expressions having the first terms alike = square of the 1st
term + (1st term) (sum of the constants) + (product of the constants)

Work out some more examples with student participation. ​

Identity 2
2 2
(𝑥 + 𝑎) (𝑥 – 𝑎) = 𝑥 – 𝑎

Rule: product of the sum and difference of two terms = square of the 1st term – square of
the 2nd term

Identity 3

2 2 2
(𝑎 + 𝑏) = 𝑎 + 2𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏
2 2
(𝑎 + 𝑏)(𝑎 + 𝑏) = 𝑎 + 2𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏

Rule: product of the square of the sum of two terms = (square of the 1st team) + (twice the
product of 1st + 2nd term) + (square of the 2nd term)

Identity 4

2 2 2
(𝑎 + 𝑏) = 𝑎 − 2𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏
2 2
(𝑎 − 𝑏)(𝑎 − 𝑏) = 𝑎 − 2𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏

Rule: product of the square of the difference of two terms = (square of the 1st term) –
(twice the product of 1st + 2nd term) + (square of the 2nd term)
Practices Questions

1. Match the following identities:

a) (a – b)2 𝑥2 + 2𝑥y + y2
b) (4a + 3b)(4a – 3b) 𝑥2 + 4𝑥y + 4y2
c) (𝑥 + 2y)2 a2 – 2ab + b2
d) (p – q)(p + q) m2 – 3m – 10
e) (m + 2)(m – 5) p2 – q2
f ) (𝑥 + y)2 162 – 9b2

2. Complete the following:

a) (𝑥 – 4)(𝑥 – 7) = 𝑥2 + 𝑥 (______ ) + _______
b) (p – q)2 = ____________ – pq + q2
c) (𝑥 + b)2 = a2 +________ + b2
d) (________) (________) = 𝑥2 – 16
e) 71 × 69 = (70 + 1)(________)
f ) (405)2 = (400 +______ )2