1) Algrebaic Manipulation

KS4 Mathematics
A1 Algebraic manipulation
of 73 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Contents
A A1.1 Using index laws
A A1.2 Multiplying out brackets
A A1.3 Factorization
A A1.4 Factorizing quadratic expressions
A A1.5 Algebraic fractions

Multiplying terms
Simplify:
x + x + x + x + x = 5x
x to the power of 5
Simplify:
x × x × x × x × x = x5
x5 as been written using index notation.
The number n is called

the index or power.
xn
The number x is called the base.

Multiplying terms involving indices
We can use index notation to simplify expressions.
For example,
3p × 2p = 3 × p × 2 × p = 6p2
q2 × q3 = q × q × q × q × q = q5
3r × r2 = 3 × r × r × r = 3r3
3t × 3t = (3t)2 or 9t2

Multiplying terms with the same base
When we multiply two terms with the same base the indices
are added.
For example,
a4 × a2 = (a × a × a × a) × (a × a)
=a×a×a×a×a×a
= a6 = a (4 + 2)
In general,
xm × xn = x(m + n)

Dividing terms
Remember, in algebra we do not usually use the division

sign, ÷.
Instead, we write the number or term we are dividing by

underneath like a fraction.
For example,
(a + b) ÷ c is written as a+b
c

Dividing terms
Like a fraction, we can often simplify expressions by

cancelling.
For example,
n 3
6p 2
n3 ÷ n2 = 2 6p2 ÷ 3p =
n 3p
2
n×n×n 6×p×p
= =
n×n 3×p
=n = 2p

Dividing terms with the same base
When we divide two terms with the same base the indices
are subtracted.
For example,
a×a×a×a×a
a ÷a =
5 2
= a × a × a = a3 = a (5 – 2)
a×a
2
4×p×p×p×p×p×p
4p ÷ 2p =
6 4
= 2 × p × p = 2p2 = 2p(6 – 4)
2×p×p×p×p
In general,
xm ÷ xn = x(m – n)

Hexagon puzzle

Expressions of the form (xm)n
Sometimes terms can be raised to a power and the result

raised to another power.
For example,
(y3)2 = y3 × y3 (pq2)4 = pq2 × pq2 × pq2 × pq2
= (y × y × y) × (y × y × y) = p4 × q (2 + 2 + 2 + 2)
= y6 = p4 × q8
= p4q8
0 of 73 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

When a term is raised to a power and the result raised to

another power, the powers are multiplied.
For example,
(a5)3 = a5 × a5 × a5
= a(5 + 5 + 5)
= a15 = a(3 × 5)
In general,
(xm)n = xmn

Rewrite the following without brackets.
1) (2a2)3 = 8a6 2) (m3n)4 = m12n4
3) (t–4)2 = t–8 4) (3g5)3 = 27g15
5) (ab–2)–2 = a–2b4 6) (p2q–5)–1 = p–2q5
7) (h½)2 = h 8) (7a4b–3)0 = 1

The zero index
Any number or term divided

Look at the following division:
by itself is equal to 1.
y4 ÷ y 4 = 1
But using the rule that xm ÷ xn = x(m – n)
y4 ÷ y4 = y(4 – 4) = y0
That means that
y0 = 1
In general, for all x  0,
x0 = 1

Negative indices
Look at the following division:

b×b 1 1
b ÷b =
2 4
= = 2
b×b×b×b b×b b
But using the rule that xm ÷ xn = x(m – n)
b2 ÷ b4 = b(2 – 4) = b–2
That means that
1
b = 2
–2
b
In general,
1
x = n
–n
x

Negative indices
Write the following using fraction notation:

This is the
1 reciprocal of u.
u =
–1
u
2
2b = 4
–4
b
x 2
x2y–3 = 3
y
2a
2a(3 – b) =
–2
(3 – b)2

Negative indices
Write the following using negative indices:
2
= 2a–1
a
x3
= x y
3 –4
y4
p2
= p2(q + 2)–1
q+2
3m
= 3m(n2
+ 2) –3
(n2 + 2)3

Fractional indices
Indices can also be fractional.

1 1
x ×x = x = x1 = x
1 1 +
2 2 2 2
But, x × x = x
1 The square
So, x = x
2
root of x.
1 1 1 1 1 1
Similarly, x ×x ×x = x
3 3 3 3 + 3 + 3 = x1 = x
But, x
3
× x
3
× x
3
=x
1 The cube
So, x = x
3 3
root of x.

Fractional indices
In general,
1
x = x
n n
m 1
Also, we can write x as x
n n
×m .
Using the rule that (xm)n = xmn, we can write
1 1
x n ×m
= (x )m = (x)
n n m
m 1
We can also write x as x
n m × n .
1 1
x m× n = (x ) = x
m n m
n
In general,
m m
x = x
n n m
or x = (x)
nn m

Index laws
Here is a summary of the index laws.
xm × xn = x(m + n) x–1 = 1
x
xm ÷ xn = x(m – n) x–n = 1n
x
(xm)n = xmn 1
x = x
2
x1 = x 1
x = x
n
n
m
x = 1 (for x = 0)
0
x = x
n
n m
or (x)m n

Contents

Expanding expressions with brackets
Look at this algebraic expression:
3y(4 – 2y)
This means 3y × (4 – 2y), but we do not usually write × in

algebra.
To expand or multiply out this expression we multiply every

term inside the bracket by the term outside the bracket.
3y(4 – 2y) = 12y – 6y2

Expanding expressions with brackets
–a(2a2 – 2a + 3)
When there is a negative term outside the bracket, the signs of

the multiplied terms change.
–a(2a2 – 3a + 1) = –2a3 + 3a2 – a
In general, –x(y + z) = –xy – xz

–x(y – z) = –xy + xz
–(y + z) = –y – z
–(y – z) = –y + z
Expanding brackets and simplifying
Sometimes we need to multiply out brackets and then simplify.
For example, 3x + 2x(5 – x)
We need to multiply the bracket by 2x and collect together

like terms.
3x + 2x(5 – x) = 3x + 10x – 2x2
= 13x – 2x2

Expand and simplify: 4 – (5n – 3)
We need to multiply the bracket by –1 and collect together

like terms.
4 – (5n – 3) = 4 – 5n + 3
= 4 + 3 – 5n
= 7 – 5n

Expand and simplify: 2(3n – 4) + 3(3n + 5)
We need to multiply out both brackets and collect together

like terms.
2(3n – 4) + 3(3n + 5) = 6n – 8 + 9n + 15
= 6n + 9n – 8 + 15
= 15n + 7

Expanding brackets then simplifying
Expand and simplify: 5(3a + 2b) – a(2 + 5b)
We need to multiply out both brackets and collect together

like terms.
5(3a + 2b) – a(2 + 5b) = 15a + 10b – 2a – 5ab
= 15a – 2a + 10b – 5ab

= 13a + 10b – 5ab

Find the area of the rectangle

Find the area of the rectangle
What is the area of a rectangle of

length (a + b) and width (c + d)?
a b
c ac bc
d ad bd
In general,
(a + b)(c + d) = ac + ad + bc + bd

Expanding two brackets

(3 + t)(4 – 2t)
This means (3 + t) × (4 – 2t), but we do not usually write × in

algebra.
To expand or multiply out this expression we multiply every
term in the second bracket by every term in the first bracket.
(3 + t)(4 – 2t) = 3(4 – 2t) + t(4 – 2t)

= 12 – 6t + 4t – 2t2 This is a
quadratic
= 12 – 2t – 2t2 expression.

Using the grid method to expand brackets

Expanding two brackets
With practice we can expand the product of two linear

expressions in fewer steps. For example,
(x – 5)(x + 2) = x2 + 2x – 5x – 10
= x2 – 3x – 10
Notice that … and that

–3 is the –10 is the
sum of –5 product of
and 2 … –5 and 2.

Matching quadratic expressions 1


Squaring expressions
Expand and simplify: (2 – 3a)2
We can write this as,
(2 – 3a)2 = (2 – 3a)(2 – 3a)
Expanding,
(2 – 3a)(2 – 3a) = 2(2 – 3a) – 3a(2 – 3a)
= 4 – 6a – 6a + 9a2
= 4 – 12a + 9a2

In general,
(a + b)2 = a2 + 2ab + b2
The first … plus 2 × … plus the

term the product second
squared … of the two term
terms … squared.
For example,
(3m + 2n)2 = 9m2 + 12mn + 4n2


The difference between two squares
Expand and simplify (2a + 7)(2a – 7)
Expanding,
(2a + 7)(2a – 7) = 2a(2a – 7) + 7(2a – 7)
= 4a2 – 14a + 14a – 49
= 4a2 – 49
When we simplify, the two middle terms cancel out.

In general, This is the difference
between two squares.
(a + b)(a – b) = a2 – b2

The difference between two squares

Matching the difference between two squares

Contents

Factorizing expressions
Factorizing an expression is the opposite of expanding it.
Expanding or multiplying out
a(b + c) ab + ac
Factorizing
Often:
When we expand an expression we remove the brackets.
When we factorize an expression we write it with brackets.

Expressions can be factorized by dividing each term by a

common factor and writing this outside of a pair of brackets.
For example, in the expression
5x + 10
the terms 5x and 10 have a common factor, 5.
We can write the 5 outside of a set of brackets and mentally
divide 5x + 10 by 5.
(5x + 10) ÷ 5 = x + 2
This is written inside the bracket.
5(x + 2)

Writing 5x + 10 as 5(x + 2) is called factorizing the

expression.
Factorize 6a + 8 Factorize 12n – 9n2
The highest common The highest common

factor of 6a and 8 is 2. factor of 12n and 9n2 is 3n.
(6a + 8) ÷ 2 = 3a + 4 (12n – 9n2) ÷ 3n = 4 – 3n
6a + 8 = 2(3a + 4) 12n – 9n2 = 3n(4 – 3n)

Writing 5x + 10 as 5(x + 2) is called factorizing the

expression.
Factorize 3x + x2 Factorize 2p + 6p2 – 4p3
The highest common The highest common factor

factor of 3x and x2 is x. of 2p, 6p2 and 4p3 is 2p.
(3x + x ) ÷ x = 3 + x
2 (2p + 6p2 – 4p3) ÷ 2p
= 1 + 3p – 2p2
3x + x2 = x(3 + x)
2p + 6p2 – 4p3
= 2p(1 + 3p – 2p2)

Factorization

Factorization by pairing
Some expressions containing four terms can be factorized by

regrouping the terms into pairs that share a common factor.
For example,
Factorize 4a + ab + 4 + b
Two terms share a common factor of 4 and the remaining two
terms share a common factor of b.
4a + ab + 4 + b = 4a + 4 + ab + b
= 4(a + 1) + b(a + 1)
4(a + 1) and + b(a + 1) share a common factor of (a + 1) so
we can write this as
(a + 1)(4 + b)

Factorization by pairing
Factorize xy – 6 + 2y – 3x
We can regroup the terms in this expression into two pairs of

terms that share a common factor.
When we take
xy – 6 + 2y – 3x = xy + 2y – 3x – 6 out a factor of
–3, – 6
= y(x + 2) – 3(x + 2) becomes + 2
y(x + 2) and – 3(x + 2) share a common factor of (x + 2) so

we can write this as
(x + 2)(y – 3)

Contents

Quadratic expressions
A quadratic expression is an expression in which the

highest power of the variable is 2. For example,
t 2
x2 – 2, w2 + 3w + 1, 4 – 5g2 ,
2
The general form of a quadratic expression in x is:
ax2 + bx + c (where a = 0)
x is a variable.
a is a fixed number and is the coefficient of x2.
b is a fixed number and is the coefficient of x.
c is a fixed number and is a constant term.

Remember: factorizing an expression is the opposite of

expanding it.
Expanding or multiplying out
(a + 1)(a + 2) a2 + 3a + 2
Factorizing
Often:
When we expand an expression we remove the brackets.
When we factorize an expression we write it with brackets.

Factorizing quadratic expressions
Quadratic expressions of the form x2 + bx + c can be factorized

if they can be written using brackets as
(x + d)(x + e)
where d and e are integers.
If we expand (x + d)(x + e) we have,
(x + d)(x + e) = x2 + dx + ex + de
= x2 + (d + e)x + de
Comparing this to x2 + bx + c we can see that:
The sum of d and e must be equal to b, the coefficient of x.
The product of d and e must be equal to c, the constant term.

Factorizing quadratic expressions 1


Factorizing quadratic expressions
Quadratic expressions of the form ax2 + bx + c can be

factorized if they can be written using brackets as
(dx + e)(fx + g)
where d, e, f and g are integers.
If we expand (dx + e)(fx + g)we have,
(dx + e)(fx + g)= dfx2 + dgx + efx + eg
= dfx2 + (dg + ef)x + eg
Comparing this to ax2 + bx + c we can see that we must choose
d, e, f and g such that: a = df,
b = (dg + ef)
c = eg

Factorizing quadratic expressions 2


Factorizing the difference between two squares
A quadratic expression in the form

x2 – a2
is called the difference between two squares.
The difference between two squares can be factorized as
follows:
x2 – a2 = (x + a)(x – a)
For example,
9x2 – 16 = (3x + 4)(3x – 4)
25a2 – 1 = (5a + 1)(5a – 1)
m4 – 49n2 = (m2 + 7n)(m2 – 7n)

Factorizing the difference between two squares

Matching the difference between two squares

Contents

Algebraic fractions
3x 2a
and are examples of algebraic fractions.
4x2
3a + 2
The rules that apply to numerical fractions also apply to
algebraic fractions.
For example, if we multiply or divide the numerator and the
denominator of a fraction by the same number or term we
produce an equivalent fraction.
For example,
3x 3 6 3y 3(a + 2)
= = = =
4x 2
4x 8x 4xy 4x(a + 2)

Equivalent algebraic fractions

Simplifying algebraic fractions
We simplify or cancel algebraic fractions in the same way as

numerical fractions, by dividing the numerator and the
denominator by common factors. For example,
6ab
Simplify
3ab2
2
6ab 6×a×b
=
3ab 2
3×a×b×b
2
=
b

Sometimes we need to factorize the numerator and the

denominator before we can simplify an algebraic fraction. For
example,
2a + a2
Simplify
8 + 4a
2a + a2 a (2 + a)
=
8 + 4a 4(2 + a)
a
=
4

b2 – 36 is the
b2 – 36
difference Simplify
between two 3b – 18
squares.
b2 – 36 (b + 6)(b – 6)
=
3b – 18 3(b – 6)
b+6
=
3
If required, we can write this as
b 6 b
+ = + 2
3 3 3

Manipulating algebraic fractions
Remember, a fraction written in the form
a+b a b
can be written as +
c c c
However, a fraction written in the form
c c c
cannot be written as +
a+b a b
For example,
1+2 1 2 3 3 3
= + but = +
3 3 3 1+2 1 2

Multiplying and dividing algebraic fractions
We can multiply and divide algebraic fractions using the same

rules that we use for numerical fractions.
In general, a c ac
× =
b d bd
and, a c a d ad
÷ = × =
b d b c bc
For example, 3
3p 2 6p 3p
× = =
4 (1 – p) 4(1 – p) 2(1 – p)
2

Multiplying and dividing algebraic fractions
2 4 This is the
What is ÷ ?
3y – 6 y–2 reciprocal
4
of
y–2
2 4 2 y–2
÷ = ×
3y – 6 y–2 3y – 6 4
2 y–2
= ×
3(y – 2) 4 2
1
=
6

Adding algebraic fractions
We can add algebraic fractions using the same method that

we use for numerical fractions. For example,
1 2
What is + ?
a b
We need to write the fractions over a common denominator

before we can add them.
1 2 b 2a b + 2a
+ = + =
a b ab ab ab
In general,
a c ad + bc
+ =
b d bd

Adding algebraic fractions
3 y
What is + ?
x 2

before we can add them.
3 y 3×2 y×x
+ = +
x 2 x×2 2×x
6 xy
= +
2x 2x
6 + xy
=
2x

Subtracting algebraic fractions
We can also subtract algebraic fractions using the same

method as we use for numerical fractions. For example,
p q
What is – ?
3 2

before we can subtract them.
p q 2p 3q 2p – 3q
– = – =
3 2 6 6 6
In general,
a c ad – bc
– =
b d bd

Subtracting algebraic fractions
2+p 3
What is – ?
4 2q
2+p 3 (2 + p) × 2q 3×4
– = –
4 2q 4 × 2q 2q × 4
2q(2 + p) 12
= –
8q 8q
2q(2 + p) – 12 6
=
4
8q
q(2 + p) – 6
=
4q

Addition pyramid – algebraic fractions

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KS4 Mathematics

of 73 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

A A1.1 Using index laws

A A1.2 Multiplying out brackets

A A1.4 Factorizing quadratic expressions

A A1.5 Algebraic fractions

of 73 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

x5 as been written using index notation.

The number n is called

of 73 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

We can use index notation to simplify expressions.

of 73 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

of 73 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Remember, in algebra we do not usually use the division

Instead, we write the number or term we are dividing by

of 73 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Like a fraction, we can often simplify expressions by

of 73 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

of 73 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

of 73 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Sometimes terms can be raised to a power and the result

(y3)2 = y3 × y3 (pq2)4 = pq2 × pq2 × pq2 × pq2

0 of 73 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

When a term is raised to a power and the result raised to

1 of 73 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Rewrite the following without brackets.

1) (2a2)3 = 8a6 2) (m3n)4 = m12n4

3) (t–4)2 = t–8 4) (3g5)3 = 27g15

5) (ab–2)–2 = a–2b4 6) (p2q–5)–1 = p–2q5

2 of 73 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Any number or term divided

But using the rule that xm ÷ xn = x(m – n)

That means that

In general, for all x  0,

3 of 73 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Look at the following division:

4 of 73 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Write the following using fraction notation:

5 of 73 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Write the following using negative indices:

6 of 73 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Indices can also be fractional.

7 of 73 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

8 of 73 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Here is a summary of the index laws.

9 of 73 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

A A1.1 Using index laws

A A1.2 Multiplying out brackets

A A1.4 Factorizing quadratic expressions

A A1.5 Algebraic fractions

0 of 73 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Look at this algebraic expression:

This means 3y × (4 – 2y), but we do not usually write × in

To expand or multiply out this expression we multiply every

3y(4 – 2y) = 12y – 6y2

1 of 73 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Look at this algebraic expression:

When there is a negative term outside the bracket, the signs of

–a(2a2 – 3a + 1) = –2a3 + 3a2 – a

In general, –x(y + z) = –xy – xz