CHAPTER 4

4.1 ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSION I, II, III

• Unknown
• Important Concept
• ‘An unknown is a quantity whose value has not been determined’
4.1.1
Example Exercise
1. Azmi bought some durians 1. There were a lot of people in the fun fair.
Solution:
Solution:

The unknown is the number of 2. Mr.Tan lost a large amount of money

durian. when he dropped his wallet
Solution:

3. A number of students are studying in the

library.
Solution:

4. My father bought a few kilograms of

rambutans yesterday.
Solution:

5. Ketty gained a few kilograms of weight

during the holidays
Solution:

• Algebraic term
• identifying algebraic terms with one unknown.

• Important concept:
• ‘An algebraic term with one unknown is the product of a number and an unknown’
4.1.2
EXAMPLE EXERCISE
6 x is the multiplication of the number 6 with Determine the algebraic term
the unknown x with one unknown for each
of the following.
1. 3e
Solution:

2. -5t
Solution:

Algebraic Expressions 1
 EXERCISE EXERCISE
3. 0.8t 4. 80w
Solution: Solution

• Identify Coefficients in given algebraic term

• Important concept:
• ‘ the number is known as the coefficient of the unknown’

4.1.3

EXAMPLE EXERCISE
1. 6 x : 6 is the coefficient of x 1. 8k
Solution:
− 3a : -3 is the coefficient of a
2. 0.65 q
r 1 Solution:
2. 8
: is the coefficient of r
8
r
because 3. −13 t
8
Solution:
− p : −1 is the coefficient of p
3. 5
4. − p
8
Solution:

−j
5. Solution:

• Identify Like Algebraic Term and Unlike algebraic Term.

• Important concept:
• Like term : are term have that same unknowns
• Unlike term : are term that have different unknowns
4.1.4
EXAMPLE EXERCISE
Like Term: Determine the term in each of the
following pairs of term given below like
9 p and p same terms or unlike terms.
1
0.8 x and − x unknowns 1. 4.56 k ,20 kmn
4
y Solution:
9 y and
6
j
2. 100 j ,
10
Solution:

4 z ,9 z 3
3.
Solution:

Algebraic Expressions 2
Unlike Term : −11 q,5q
4. Solution:
9 p and 9q different
1
0.8 x and y unknowns −7t ,0.8t
2
70 w and 17 w 2 5. Solution:

• Algebraic Expressions
Important concept:
• group all the like terms together
• add/subtract the coefficient of the terms
• leave the terms as your answer
4.1.5
EXAMPLE EXERCISE
1. −6 m − 2 n − m Simplify the following algebraic
= −6m − m −2n expressions.
= −7 m − 2n 1. 9 y −12 y
Solution :

10 k + 3k −u +9k
2. =10 k +3k + 9k −u 11 n −8n −10 n
2. Solution :
= 22 k −u

−u +7v −4u
= −u −4u +7v
3. − 4 w −8 x − x
= −5u +7v 3. Solution :
11 q −5b +3b −17 q
=11 q −17 q −5b +3b
4. = −6q −2b

−12 − 4k + 9
Solution :
4.

EXERCISE EXERCISE
5. 21v −11v + 7 d −8d 6. − 5u − 6 − 9 + 5 y
Solution : Solution :

• An algebraic term in two or more unknowns is a product of two or more

unknowns and a number.
Algebraic Expressions 3
4.1.6
EXAMPLE EXERCISE
Write the unknowns in the
1. 5 xy following algebraic terms.
1. 2ab
= 5 ×xy The coefficient of xy is 5 Solution:
= 5 x × y The coefficient of y is 5 x
= 5 y × x The coefficient of x is 5 y
2. − p2q
Solution :

7 xyz
3. Solution:

5t
4. Solution:

• Finding the product of two algebraic terms.

4.1.7
EXAMPLE EXERCISE
1. −8 p ×5qr 1. ab 2 × abc 2
= −8 × p ×5 ×q ×r Solution:
= −8 ×5 ×q × p ×r
= −40 pqr

1
2. rs × ( −8s )
2
n 2 p 2 ÷ np 3 Solution:
n ×n × p × p
2. =
n×p×p×p
n
=
p

3. 3r 3 s ÷ rs
Solution:

4. 6a 4 b 3 ÷ 2a 3 b
Solution:

Algebraic Expressions 4
 4(2 x −1)
= 4 ×2 x + 4 ×( −1) 3(5 p 2 + p )
3. = 8 x +(−4) 5. Solution:
= 8 x −4

( 4 x − 8) ÷ 2
4 x −8
= −8( 2m −5n)
2 6. Solution:
4. 4x 8
= −
2 2
= 2x − 4

EXERCISE EXERCISE
7. 5(6m + 4) 8. ( 20 pq + 24 p ) ÷ 4
2 Solution:
Solution:

(4ab − 9ab 2 + 6a ) ÷ 6 − 30 s 2 t 2 +18 st

9. 10.
Solution: 3
Solution:

• Expanding single brackets and two brackets.

4.1.8
EXAMPLE EXERCISE

Algebraic Expressions 5
 Expanding single brackets 1. 10 ( x +2)
a ( x + y ) = ax + ay Solution :

1. 5( x + y )
= 5 × x +5 × y
= 5 x +5 y −3( y −8)
Solution :
2.
3b( 2m −2n)
= 3b ×2m −3b ×2n
2.
= 6bm −6bn
7 p ( 2a +5b)
−5 p ( 4 p +3q ) Solution :
= −5 p ×4 p +( −5 p ) ×3q
= −20 p 2 −15 pq
3. 3.
a ( a − 2b +6)
= a ×a − a ×2b + a ×6 −11 m( 4 −9n)
= a 2 −2ab +6a Solution :

4.

4.

EXERCISE EXERCISE
5. 3 x ( 2 xy + 4 y ) 6 −5ab (7 a − 2b +1)
Solution : Solution :

22 c(5cd + 2c − d ) 6 s (7 s −3t )
7. Solution : 8. Solution :

EXAMPLE EXERCISE

Algebraic Expressions 6
 Expanding two brackets; 9. ( x +a )( y +2b)
Solution :
(a + b)( x + y )
= ax + ay + bx + by
(3 p −q )( 5r +7t )
( 2a +5)( 4b + 3) Solution :
1. = 2a ( 4b +3) +5( 4b +3) 10
= 2a ×4b + 2a ×3 +5 ×4b +5 ×3 .
= 8ab + 6a + 20 b +15
( 2c +d )( e −12 )
Solution
( m + 2 p )( n − q )
= m( n − q ) + 2 p ( n − q )
2. = mn − mq + 2np − 2 pq 11
. (6 x −11 )( 2 y −3)
Solution

12
.
EXERCISE EXERCISE
13 ( a + 2)( a −9) 14 (3 x −5)( 4 x + 3)
. Solution : . Solution :

( 4m + 5n)( 7 −3m)
( −p + 3q )( 5 p −10 ) Solution :
Solution : 16
15 .
.

EXAMPLE EXERCISE

Algebraic Expressions 7
 17 ( 2a + 5b) 2
3 ( x + 2) 2
. Solution :
. = x 2 + 2( x )( 2) + 2 2
= x 2 +4x +4

(3m − 5n) 2
= (3m) 2 − 2(3m)( 5n) + (5n) 2 ( 7 m + 2) 2
4
. = 9m 2 − 30 mn + 25 n 2 18 Solution :
.

(6 p − q ) 2
Solution :
19
.

(8 − 3r ) 2
Solution :

20
.

Algebraic Expressions 8
 • Factorising Algebraic Expressions.
4.1.9
EXAMPLE EXERCISE

1 ab − ac = a (b − c ) 1. 8m +40
. 4a + 6 Solution :
= 2 × 2a + 2 × 3
= 2(2a + 3)

9 x 2 − 3x 4ax +6bx
= 3 x × 3 x − 3 x ×1 Solution :
2.
= 3 x (3 x −1)
2
. 30 mn 2 +18 m 2 n
50 r 2 s −35 rs 2 +15 rs
= 6mn × 5n + 6mn × 3m
Solution :
= 6mn (5n + 3m)
3.
3 2 p 3 − 6 p 2 +12 p
m 2 −36
. = 2 p × p 2 − 2 p ×3 p + 2 p ×6
Solution :
= 2 p ( p 2 − 3 p + 6)

16 a 2 − 25 4. 49 x 2 −4 y 2
= ( 4a ) − (5)
2 2
Solution :
4 = ( 4a + 5)( 4a − 5)
.
144 x 2 − 81 y 2 225 a 2 −9b 2
= (12 x ) − (9 y )
2 2
Solution :
5.
= (12 x + 9 y )(12 x − 9 y )

5
.

6.

6
.

Algebraic Expressions 9
 EXAMPLE EXERCISE
7. 4m 2 +12 mn +9n 2 7. 9m 2 +6mn +n 2
= (2m) 2 + 2( 2m)( 3n) +(3n) 2 Solution :
= (2m +3n) 2

8q −4 p −6 pq +3 p 2
13 m 2 +5mn +6m +10 n
Solution :
= (3m 2 +5mn ) +(6m +10 n)
8. 8.
= m(3m +5n) + 2(3m +5n)
= (m + 2)( 3m +5n)

9 x −32 y +12 xy −24

Solution :

9.

Algebraic Expressions 10
Questions based on examination format

1.( n +8)( n +7) = 5. −6 y −5( y −2) =

A.. n +n +1
2 A. −11 y +2
B.n +56 n +56
2 B. − y +10
C . −11 y −2
C .n 2 +15 n +56
D. −11 y +10
D.n 2 +15 n +65

1
2.( 4m +3)( 3m −6) = 6.4 p ×3q × r =
2
A.12 m 2 +15 m +18 A.12 pq
B.12 m 2 −15 m −18 B.12 qr
C .12 m 2 +15 m −18 C .6 pqr
D.12 m −15 m +18
2 D.12 pqr

3.36 +12 m +m 2 = 7. −6k +5( k −2)

A. −k +2
A.( m −6) 2
B. −k +10
B.( m +6)( m −6)
C . −k −2
C .( m +13 )( m −2)
D. −k −10
D.( m +6) 2

8. −3( 2 +a ) +5a −1
4. Factorize 9 y 2 − 25 A.2a −7
A.( 3 y −5)( 3 y +5)
B.4a −5
B.( 3 y +5) 2 C .6a −5
C.( 3 y −5) 2 D.8a −7
D.( 5 y −3 y )( 3 y +5)
9.8a −3( −2 +a )
A.5a +6
B.7 a +5
C .7 a −6
D.11 a +6

Algebraic Expressions 11
10 . − 2( kx − x 2 ) − ( kx − x 2 ) = 16.If x = −3 and r = −1 , find the value
A.3kx − 2 x 2 x2
(6 − x ).
r
B. −3kx + 2 x 2
A. −81
C. −3kx + 3 x 2 of
B. −27
D. −3kx −3 x 2
C.18
D.54
6 px ( −10 x )
11 . =
12 p 17.Find the value of ( px − x 2 ) when
A.5 px p = 2 and x = −3
B. −5 px 2
C. −5 p 2 x 2 A.4
2 B.0
D.( 5 px )
C . −12
D. −15
14 t −56 m
12 . =
−7
18.Tickets to a circus for child is RM p and
A.t − 4m
for an adult is RM q . The total price of
B.2t + m
tickets for 10 children and 2 adults, in RM,
C. − 2(t − 4m) is
D.2(t + 4m) A.10 q +2 p
B.2q +10 p
13 . −3a ( 2b − a ) = C .12 ( p +q )
A. −5ab −3a D. p +q
B. −5ab −3a
C. − 6ab + 3a
D. − 6ab + 3a 2

14 . −
1
(6 x − 45 y ) = 19.The value of 2e 2 −3ef when e = 4
9 1
2 and f = − is
A. − x −5 y 2
3
2 A.22
B. − x + 5 y
3 B.26
2 C .38
C. x −5 y
3
D.70

2 1 m −3
D. x +5 y 20 − =
3 4m 8m 2
A.m( m − 3
15. The length of a football field (4h-3) m
and its width is (3h +2) m. The perimeter of m +3
B.
the field, in m, is 8m 2
A.7 h −1 C.4m( m + 3)
B.10 h +1 m −3
C .12 h +2 D.
8m 2
D.14 h −2

PAST YEAR SPM QUESTIONS.

Algebraic Expressions 12
November 2003
1. (3 p − m)( p + 2m) =
A. 3 p 2 +5 pm − 2m 2 C. 3 p 2 + 7 pm − 2m 2
B. 3 p 2 −5 pm + 2m 2 D. 3 p 2 −7 pm + 2m 2

November 2004
2. 3 x( x − 2 y ) − (3 x − y ) 2 =
A. −6 xy + y 2 C. −6 x 2 −6 xy + y 2
B. −6 x 2 − y 2 D. −3 x 2 −9 xy − y 2

November 2005

3. (3h + 4)( 2h −5) =

A. 6h 2 − 7 h + 20 C. 6h 2 − 23 h + 20
B. 6h 2 − 7 h − 20 D. 6h 2 − 23 h − 20

Jun 2006

4. (y + x)(2y - x) =
A. 2y2 - xy + x2 C. 2y2 + xy - x2
B. 2y2 - xy - x2 D. 2y2 + xy - x2

November 2006
5. 3x2 - x(1 - x) =
A. 2x2 - 1 C. 4x2 - 1
B. 2x2 - x D. 4x2 - x

Jun 2007

6. (x – y) (5x + 3y) – x(x – y) =

A. 4x2 –xy -3y2 C. 4x2 –xy + 3y2
B. 4x2 -3xy – 3y2 D. 4x2 -3xy + 3y2

November 2007

7. (2x –y)2 – x ( x – y) =
A.3x2 - 3xy + y2 C. 3x2 + xy –y2
B. 3x2 - 5xy + y2 D. 3x2 - 5xy –y2

November 2008

8. 5pq – 2( 1 – pq) =
A. 3pq - 2 C. 6pq - 2
B. 4pq - 2 D. 7pq - 2

Algebraic Expressions 13
 ANSWERS

Chapter 4 Algebraic Expressions

4.1.1
1. ‘a lot of people’
2. ‘a large amount of money’
3. ‘a number of students’
4. ‘a few kilograms of rambutans
5. ‘a few kilograms’
4.1.2
1.e
2.t
3.t
4.w

4.1.3
1. 8
2. 0.65
3.-13
5
4. −
8
5. -1
Algebraic Expressions 14
4.1.4
1.unlike terms
2.like terms
3.unlike terms
4.like terms
5. like terms

4.1.5
1.-3y
2. -7n
3. -4w-9x
4. -4k-3
5. 10v-d
6. -3u-15

4.1.6
1.a and b
2. p and q
3. x, y and z
4. t
4.1.7
1. a 2 b 3 c 2
2. − 4rs 2
3. 3r 2
4. 3ab 2
5. 15 p 2 + 3 p
6. −16 m + 40 n
7. 15 m +10
8. 5 pq + 6 p
2 3 2
9. ab − ab + a
3 2
10. −10 s 2 t 2 + 6 st

4.1.8

Algebraic Expressions 15
 1.10 x +1
2.24 − y
3.14 ap +35 bp
4. −44 m +99 mn
5.42 s 2 −18 st
6.6 x 2 y +12 xy
7. −35 a 2b +10 ab 2 −5ab
8.110 c 2 d +44 c 2 −22 cd
9.xy +2bx +ay +2ab
10 .15 pr +21 pt −5qr −7 pt
11 .2ce −24 c +de −12 d
12 .12 xy −18 x −22 y +33
13 .a 2 −7 a −18
14 .12 x 2 −11 x −15
15 −5 p 2 +10 p +15 pq −30 q
16 .28 m −12 m 2 +35 n −15 mn
17 .4a 2 +20 ab +25 b 2
18 .49 m 2 +28 m +4
19 .36 p 2 −12 pq +q 2
20 .9r 2 −48 r +64

4.19

1.8(m + 500
2.2 x(2a + 3b)
3.5rs(10r − 7 s + 30
4.( m + 6)( m − 6)
5.(7 x − 2 y )(7 x + 2 y )
6.(15a − 3b)(15a + 3b)
7.(3m + n) 2
8.(2q − p)(4 − 3 p)
9.(3x − 8)(4 y + 3)

Examination Format Questions

1. C 11. C
2. B 12. C
3. D 13 D
4. A 14. B
Algebraic Expressions 16
 5. D 15 D
6. C 16 A
7. D 17 D
8. A 18 B
9. A 19 C
10. C 20 B

SPM Past year questions.

1. A 2. B 3. B 4. C 5. D
6. A 7. A 8. D

Algebraic Expressions 17