HANDOUT - Outcome 1 No 2 - Algebra 1

Mathematics for Technicians
Algebra 1
An equation is a statement that two quantities are equal, for instance,

1000 mm = 1 m. More often an equation contains an unknown quantity
which is represented by a symbol. It is the value of this unknown quantity
which we desire to find. Consider the following:
• In the equation 3x – 4 = 23, x is the unknown quantity.
• There is only one value of x such that the left hand side of the
equation is equal to the right hand side (this value is x = 9).
• When we have calculated this value of x we have solved the equation

and the value of x so obtained is called the solution (ie the solution is
x = 9).
In the process of solving an equation the appearance of the equation may

be considerably altered but the values on both sides must remain the
same. We must maintain this equality and hence whatever we do to one
side of the equation we must do exactly the same to the other side.
There are many types of equations which occur in mathematics and these
are classified according to the highest power of the unknown quantity.
• 3x – 4 = 23 contains only the first power of x.
• 5x2 – 3x + 5 = 0 contains x2 as the highest power of x, that is the

second power of x.
Mathematics for Technicians - Algebra 1
Simple Equations
Simple equations contain only the first power of the unknown quantity.
7t − 5 = 4t + 7
or
5x 2x + 5
=
3 2
After an equation is solved, the solution should be checked by substituting

the result in each side of the equation separately. If each side of the
equation then has the same value the solution is correct.
In the detail which follows, LHS means left hand side and RHS means right
hand side.
2
Solving Simple Equations
Equations Requiring Multiplication and Division
Example 1
x
a) Solve the equation =3
6
Multiplying each side by 6, we get:
x
×6 = 3×6
6
x = 18
18
Check: when x = 18, LHS = =3 RHS = 3
6
b) Solve the equation 5x = 10
Dividing each side by 5, we get:

5 x 10
=
5 5
x =2
Check: when x = 2, LHS = 5 × 2 = 10 RHS = 10
3
Exercise 1
Solve the following equations:
x x x
a) =2 b) =2 c) =4
4 9 1.5
r y m
d) =5 e) =3 f) =4
3 2 3
g) 3x = 9 h) 2x = 10 i) 7x = 28
j) 4t = 12 k) 7V = 42 l) 1.5J = 6
m) 0.3d = 1.8
4
Equations Requiring Addition and Subtraction
Example 2
a) Solve x – 4 = 8
If we add 4 to each side, we get:
x − 4+ 4=8+ 4
x = 12
The operation of adding 4 to each side is the same as transferring -4

to the RHS but in so doing the sign is changed from a minus to a plus.
Thus,
x −4=8
x =8+ 4
x = 12
Check: when x = 12, LHS = 12 – 4 = 8, RHS = 8
b) Solve x + 5 = 20
If we subtract 5 from each side, we get:
x + 5 − 5 = 20 − 5
x = 15
Alternatively moving + 5 to the RHS
x = 20 − 5
x = 15
Check: when x = 15, LHS = 15 + 5 = 20, RHS = 20
5
Exercise 2
Solve the following:
a) x+2=7 b) t–4=3 c) x – 8 = 12
d) q+5=2 e) 7 + x = 21 f) 4 + x = -2
g) t + 42 = 80 h) z – 4 = -8 i) y + 4 = -10
j) p – 7 = -4 k) -4 + x = 10 l) -x + 7 = 3
m) 7 – t = 24 n) x – 7 = -3 o) -x – 8 = -4
6
Equations Containing the Unknown Quantity on Both Sides
In equations of this kind, group all the terms containing the unknown
quantity on one side of the equation and the remaining terms on the other
side.
Example 3
a) Solve 7x + 3 = 5x + 17
Transferring 5x to the LHS and +3 to the RHS
7 x − 5 x = 17 − 3
2 x = 14
14
x=
2
x =7
Check: when x = 7, LHS = 7 × 7 + 3 = 52 RHS = 5 × 7 + 17 = 52
b) Solve 3x – 2 = 5x + 6
3x − 5x = 6 + 2
− 2x = 8
8
x=
−2
x =− 4
Check: when x = -4, LHS = 3 × (-4) -2 = -14

RHS = 5 × (-4) + 6 = -14
7
Exercise 3
a) 4x + 13 = 3x + 15 b) 6x – 4 = 3x + 8
c) 5x – 10 = 3x + 2 d) 3x – 22 = 8x +18
e) .6m + 11 = 25 –m f) 2d – 1 – 3d = 4d – 21
g) 2a – 4 = 3a – 2 – 5a h) 3p – 18 = 8p + 22
i) 3u – 2 = 7u – 6 j) 0 = 2 + 4b
k) 3x + 1 – 4x = 0 l) 2r + 5 – 3r – 2 = 0
m) 1.2x – 0.8 = 0.8x + 1.2 n) 2.6x – 0.4 = 0.9x + 1.3
8
Equations Containing Brackets
When an equation contains brackets remove these first and then solve as
shown previously.
Example 4
a) Solve 2(3x + 7) = 16
Removing the bracket, 6 x + 14 = 16
6 x = 16 − 14
6x = 2
2
x=
6
1
x=
3
1
Check when x = ,
3
 1 
LHS = 2 ×  3 x + 7  = 2 × (1 + 7) = 2 × 8 = 16
 3 
RHS = 16
9
b) Solve 3(x + 4) – 5 (x – 1) = 19
Removing the brackets:
3 x + 12 − 5 x + 5 = 19
− 2 x + 17 = 19
− 2 x = 19 − 17
− 2x = 2
2
x=
−2
x = −1
Check: when x = -1,
LHS = 3 × (- 1 + 4) – 5 × (- 1 – 1) = 3 × 3 – 5 × (- 2) = 9 + 10 = 19
RHS = 19
10
Exercise 4
a) 2(x + 1) = 8 b) 5(m – 2) = 15
c) 4(x + 2) = 14 d) 5(x + 2) = 14
e) 3(x – 1) – 4 (2x + 3) = 14 f) 5(x + 2) – 3 (x – 5) = 29
g) 3x = 5 (9 – x) h) 4(x – 5) = 7 – 5 (3 – 2x)
i) 3(x – 1) = 6 j) 4(3x + 2) = 14
k) 3(e – 1) – 4(2e + 3) = 15 l) 5(g + 2) = 29 + 3(g – 5)
m) 5(h – 3) = 2h n) 4(3 – 2x) – 5 = -3 (x – 2)
o) 3(2y – 1) – 2 = 17 p) 4(3x – 4) – (x + 1) = 10
q) 0 = 2 (3a – 5) – 5 r) 0 = 2(b – 2) – 3 (3b + 1)
s) 5(2x + 3) = 6(x + 2) – 2 (x – 4)
t) 20 + 8(3c – 2) = (c – 1) + 3(2c – 4)
u) 16 – (p + 2) = 3(p – 7) + 10
v) 8 + 5(d – 1) – 6(d – 3) = 3(4 – d)
11
Equations Containing Fractions
When an equation contains fractions, multiply each term of the equation by

the Lowest Common Multiple (LCM) of the denominators.
Example 5
x 3 3x
a) Solve + = −2
4 5 2
The LCM of the denominators 2, 4 and 5 is 20. Multiplying each term by

20 gives:
x 3 3x
× 20 + × 20 = × 20 − 2 × 20
4 5 2
5 x + 12 = 30 x − 40
5 x − 30 x = − 40 − 12
− 25 x = − 52
− 52
x=
− 25
52
Therefore: x= = 2.08
25
12
x − 4 2x − 1
b) Solve the equation − =4
3 2
In solving equations of this type remember that the line separating the
numerator and denominator acts as a bracket. The LCM of the
denominators 3 and 2 is 6. Multiplying each term of the equation by 6,
x−4 2x −1
×6 − ×6 = 4×6
3 2
2 (x − 4 ) − 3 (2 x − 1) = 24
2 x − 8 − 6 x + 3 = 24
− 4 x − 5 = 24
− 4 x = 24 + 5
− 4 x = 29
29
x=
−4
29
x =− = − 7.25
4
13
5 4
c) Solve the equation =
2x + 5 x + 2
The LCM of the denominators is (2x + 5) (x + 2). Multiplying each

term of the equation by this gives:
5 4
× (2 x + 5) ( x + 2) = × (2 x + 5) ( x + 2)
2x + 5 x+2
Therefore: 5( x + 2) = 4(2 x + 5)
5 x + 10 = 8 x + 20
5 x - 8 x = 20 - 10
- 3x = 10
10
x=
−3
10
x= = − 3.33
3
14
Exercise 5
x x x x x 5
a) − =2 b) + + =
5 3 3 4 5 6
m m m 3 2x
c) + +3=2+ d) 3x + =2+
2 3 6 4 3
3 5
e) =3 f) =2
m x
4 2 7 5
g) = h) =
t 3 x 3
4 3 1 1 7
i) y − y =2 j) + =
7 5 3 x 4 x 20
x +3 x −3 2x x − 6 3x 3
k) − =2 l) − − =
4 5 15 12 20 2
2m − 3 4 − 5m 3−y y
m) = n) =
4 3 4 3
3x − 5 x −2
o) x −5= p) =3
6 x −3
3 4 4 p − 1 3 p − 1 5 − 2p
q) = r) − =
x −2 x +4 3 2 4
3 2 3m − 5 9 − 2m
s) = t) − =0
x −1 x − 5 4 3
3 5 x 2x − 5
u) = v) − =0
2 x + 7 3 ( x − 2) 3 2
x 3x − 7 x − 2 4 x − 5 2x − 1
w) − = x) − =x
3 5 6 2 6
15
Exercise 5a
1
a) a+2=5 [9]
3
3 1 1 3
b) x +2= x + [-3 ]
4 3 2 5
1 1 3
c) (2a − 1) + 4 = [-4 ]
3 2 4
1 3 7
d) 3 − (2y + 1) = [2 ]
3 4 8
1 1 1
e) (2f − 3) + (f − 4) = 0 [2 ]
2 3 8
2 3 4
f) 0= (2m − 1) − (m + 5) [7 ]
3 4 7
1 1 1 4
g) (3a − 2) − (5a + 1) + (2a − 7) = 0 [15 ]
3 4 5 9
1 1 1 1 11
h) − (3 x − 4) + ( 4 x − 1) = − ( x + 5) [-2 ]
9 5 15 3 36
t t
i) − =2 [15]
3 5
V V 47 V
j) + = − [2]
5 3 30 4
m m m
k) + 3 − = 1− [-4]
3 6 3
5 1
l) = 10 [ ]
x 2
16
1 4 3 2
m) 2t + = t− [- ]
2 5 10 3
3 9 2
n) = [1 ]
w 5 3
5 x 2x 1 3
o) − = [ ]
9 5 15 7
1 1 3 8
p) + = [3 ]
3a 4a 20 9
c +3 c −3
q) =2+ [13]
4 5
3 3 y − ( y − 6) 2 y
r) + = + [-10]
2 20 12 15
5−d d 7
s) = + [2]
4 5 20
2a + 6
t) 4−a= [2]
5
f −2 1
u) =4 [3 ]
f −3 3
3 4
v) = [20]
y −2 y +4
2 3
w) = [13]
a − 5 a −1
4 7
x) = [-74]
3b + 2 5 ( b − 3 )
3 1 1 1
y) − = [2 ]
4 2a − 1 2 2
17
1 1 1
z) + =0 [- ]
3x − 2 5x + 3 8
2b 3b − 1 1
aa) = [ ]
2b − 3 3b + 2 5
1 2
bb) − =0 [27]
3 ( y − 2) 5 ( y + 3 )
3 x + 23 4
cc) = [7]
3 x + 12 3
1
dd) (c – 3)(2c + 6) = 2c(c – 18) [ ]
2
1− a 4
ee) =9 [- ]
a +1 5
x −5 3
ff) = [14]
x −2 4
a a+3 a+6
gg) − = [-6]
4 2 5
x 3 ( x + 4)
hh) − = 2 ( x − 3) [0]
6 2
2f + 1 2f − 3 1− f 1
ii) −2= − [-21 ]
3 4 5 2
18
Equations Involving Squares and Square Roots
Example 6
a) Solve the following for x
5 x = 20
In order to take out the square root, we have to square both sides of
the equation.
2
52 x = 20 2
25 × x = 400
400
x= = 16
25
b) Solve the following for x
7 × x 2 = 63
This time, we have to take care of the x2 term. In order to do this, we

square root both sides.
√(7x2) = √63
√7 × √ x2 = √63
x = √63
√7
x=3
19
Exercise 6
Solve the following equations that involve squares and square roots.
a. 4 a =12
5
b. 2 x=
3
 x
c. 6 =   −1
 2
3 
d. 4=  x + 2
2 b
e. =4
1− b
a 
f. 8 = 4  −1
2 
6
g. 24 =
a2
4  x + 2
2
h. =
3  x − 2 
e2
i. 16 =
9
8 2x
j. =
x 25
9 2
k. =4+ 2
2 x
20
Making Expressions
It is important to be able to translate information into symbols thus making

up algebraic expressions. The following examples will illustrate how this is
done.
Example 7
a) Find an expression which will give the total mass of a box containing x
articles if the box has a mass of 7 kg and each article has a mass of
1.5 kg.
The total mass of x article is 1.5x.
Therefore total mass of the box of articles is 1.5x + 7.
b) If the price of an article is reduced from x pence to y pence make an

expression giving the number of extra articles that can be bought for
80 pence.
At x pence each, the number of articles that can be bought for 80

80
pence is
x
At y pence each, the number of articles that can be bought for 80

80
pence is
y
80 80
The extra articles that can be bought is −
y x
c) If x nails can be bought for 6 pence, write down the cost of y nails.
If x nails cost 6 pence
6
Then 1 nail costs pence
x
6 6y
Hence, y nails cost ×y = pence
x x
21
Exercise 7
a) A boy is x years old now. How old was he 5 years ago?
b) Find the total cost of 3 pencils at a pence each and 8 pens at b pence
each.
c) A man works x hours per weekday except Saturday when he works y

hours. If he works z hours on Sunday how many hours does he work
per week?
d) What is the perimeter of a rectangle l mm long and b mm wide?
e) A man A has £a and a man B has £b. If A gives B £x how munch will
each have?
f) A factory employs M men, N boys and P women. If a man earns £x

per week, a boy £y per week and a woman £z per week what is the
total wage bill per week?
g) A man earns £u per week when he is working and he is paid £v per

week when he is on holiday. If he is on holiday for 3 weeks per year
find his total annual salary.
h) The price of m articles was £M but the price of each article is

increased by n pence. How many articles can be bought for £N?
i) A man starts a job at a salary of £u per week. His salary is increased

by y pence per week at the end of each year’s service. What will be
his salary after x years?
j) A number m is divided into two parts. If a is one part what is the

product of the two parts?
22
Construction of Simple Equations
It often happens that we are confronted with mathematical problems that

are difficult or impossible to solve by arithmetical methods. We then
represent the quantity that has to be found by a symbol. Then by
constructing an equation which conforms to the data of the problem we
can solve it to give us the value of the unknown quantity. It is stressed that
both sides of the equation must be in the same units.
Example 8
a) The perimeter of a rectangle is 56 cm. If one of the two adjacent sides

is 4 cm longer than the other, find the dimensions of the rectangle.
Let x cm = length of the shorter side
Then (x + 4) cm = length of the longer side
Total perimeter = x + x + (x + 4) + (x + 4) = (4x + 8) cm
But the total perimeter = 56 cm
Hence 4x + 8 = 56
4x = 56 – 8
4x = 48
x = 12
Hence the shorter side is 12 cm long and the longer side is 12 + 4 =

16 cm long.
b) A certain type of lathe costs five times as much as a certain make of

drilling machine. If two such lathes and five such drilling machines
cost £7500, find the cost of each machine.
Let the cost of a drilling machine be £x
Then the cost of a lathe = £5x
Cost of 2 lathes and 5 drilling machines =
23
£(2 × 5x + 5 × x) = £(10x + 5x) = £15x
Since the cost of 2 lathes and 5 drilling machines is £7500
15x = 7500
x = 500
Hence the cost of a drilling machine is £500 and the cost of a lathe is
5 × £500 = £2500.
Exercise 8
a) A foreman and 5 men together earn £366 per week. If the foreman
earns £6 per week more than each of the men, how much does each
earn?
b) One side of a triangle is 4 cm shorter, and another 3 cm shorter than

the longest side. If the perimeter of the triangle is 25 cm, find the
lengths of the three sides.
c) The three angles of a triangle are xo, (x + 30)o and (x – 6)o. The sum
of the three angles is 180o; find each angle.
d) The perimeter of a rectangle is 56 cm. If one of the two adjacent sides

is 4 cm longer than the other, find the dimensions of the rectangle.
e) A certain type of lathe costs seven times as much as a certain make

of drilling machine. If two such lathes and three such drilling
machines cost £8500, find the cost of each machine.
f) The perimeter of a triangle ABC is 26 cm. BC is two-thirds of AB and

it is also 2 cm longer than AC. Find the lengths of the three sides.
g) A transformer compound of rectangular plan is to be constructed using

100 m of chain link fencing for one long and two short sides and an
existing wall for the other side. If the length of the compound has to
be 10 m longer than twice the breadth, find the dimensions of the
compound.
h) Three plugs and five electric light fittings together cost £3.30. If a plug
costs twice as much as a light fitting find the cost of a plug and a light
fitting.
24
i) Two taps are used to fill a cooling tank, which has a capacity of 1200
litres. If it takes 16 minutes to fill the tank and one tap delivers water
at twice the rate of the other, find how many litres per minute each tap
delivers.
j) A house is fitted with 3 electric radiators and 5 convector heaters at a

total cost of £370. If a convector heater costs £10 more than a
radiator, find the cost of each.
25
Summary
a) To solve an equation the same operation must be performed on both

sides. Thus the same amount can be added or subtracted from each
side or both sides can be multiplied or divided by the same amount.
b) After an equation has been solved the solution may be checked by

substituting the result into the original equation. If each side of the
equation has the same value the solution is correct.
c) To construct a simple equation, the quantity to be found is

represented by a symbol. Then using the given data the equation is
formed. Note that both sides of the equation must be in the same
units.
26

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Mathematics for Technicians

An equation is a statement that two quantities are equal, for instance,

• In the equation 3x – 4 = 23, x is the unknown quantity.

• When we have calculated this value of x we have solved the equation

In the process of solving an equation the appearance of the equation may

• 3x – 4 = 23 contains only the first power of x.

• 5x2 – 3x + 5 = 0 contains x2 as the highest power of x, that is the

After an equation is solved, the solution should be checked by substituting

Solving Simple Equations

Equations Requiring Multiplication and Division

b) Solve the equation 5x = 10

Dividing each side by 5, we get:

Check: when x = 2, LHS = 5 × 2 = 10 RHS = 10

Solve the following equations:

Equations Requiring Addition and Subtraction

If we add 4 to each side, we get:

The operation of adding 4 to each side is the same as transferring -4

Check: when x = 12, LHS = 12 – 4 = 8, RHS = 8

If we subtract 5 from each side, we get:

Alternatively moving + 5 to the RHS

Check: when x = 15, LHS = 15 + 5 = 20, RHS = 20

Solve the following:

Equations Containing the Unknown Quantity on Both Sides

Transferring 5x to the LHS and +3 to the RHS

Check: when x = 7, LHS = 7 × 7 + 3 = 52 RHS = 5 × 7 + 17 = 52

Check: when x = -4, LHS = 3 × (-4) -2 = -14

Solve the following:

m) 1.2x – 0.8 = 0.8x + 1.2 n) 2.6x – 0.4 = 0.9x + 1.3

Equations Containing Brackets

Removing the bracket, 6 x + 14 = 16

Removing the brackets:

Check: when x = -1,

Solve the following:

e) 3(x – 1) – 4 (2x + 3) = 14 f) 5(x + 2) – 3 (x – 5) = 29

k) 3(e – 1) – 4(2e + 3) = 15 l) 5(g + 2) = 29 + 3(g – 5)

m) 5(h – 3) = 2h n) 4(3 – 2x) – 5 = -3 (x – 2)

q) 0 = 2 (3a – 5) – 5 r) 0 = 2(b – 2) – 3 (3b + 1)

v) 8 + 5(d – 1) – 6(d – 3) = 3(4 – d)

Equations Containing Fractions

When an equation contains fractions, multiply each term of the equation by

The LCM of the denominators 2, 4 and 5 is 20. Multiplying each term by

The LCM of the denominators is (2x + 5) (x + 2). Multiplying each

Solve the following:

Solve the following:

Equations Involving Squares and Square Roots

a) Solve the following for x

b) Solve the following for x

This time, we have to take care of the x2 term. In order to do this, we

It is important to be able to translate information into symbols thus making

The total mass of x article is 1.5x.

Therefore total mass of the box of articles is 1.5x + 7.

b) If the price of an article is reduced from x pence to y pence make an

At x pence each, the number of articles that can be bought for 80

At y pence each, the number of articles that can be bought for 80

If x nails cost 6 pence

a) A boy is x years old now. How old was he 5 years ago?

c) A man works x hours per weekday except Saturday when he works y

d) What is the perimeter of a rectangle l mm long and b mm wide?

f) A factory employs M men, N boys and P women. If a man earns £x

g) A man earns £u per week when he is working and he is paid £v per

h) The price of m articles was £M but the price of each article is

i) A man starts a job at a salary of £u per week. His salary is increased