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Algebra is a central part of most Maths topics in High School. You’ve got to get it right early on. But don’t worry in this article, you’re going to learn all about Year 7 algebraic techniques!
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This article deals with the following NESA Syllabus Outcomes:
NESA Syllabus Outcomes | |
Syllabus Outcome | Explanation |
Recognise like terms and add and subtract them to simplify algebraic expressions | This means that you will be able to answer questions like \( 5a + 7a + 3b \) and \( 8a + 3b – 2b \) |
Simplify algebraic expressions that involve multiplication and division | This means that you can simplify \( 18b \div 2b \) |
Expand algebraic expressions by removing grouping symbols | This means that you know how to expand \( 3(x+4) \) |
We will be covering the following topics:
And you can check your knowledge and skills on some:
This guide lays the foundation for Algebraic Techniques.
To succeed in this topic, students should be comfortable computing with integers and fractions and have familiarity with basic index notation.
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Pronumerals essentially represent numbers, and, hence, they can be added, subtracted, multiplied and divided – the four number operations.
Let’s look at this in more detail.
Lengthy expressions such as \( 3a + 2a + a + b + 2b + 3b \) can be written in a much shorter form. This is known as simplifying the expression.
The key aspect of this process is that only like terms can be combined. Hence, the process is called “collecting like terms”.
The below examples illustrate this process of simplification.
Examples
Simplify the following:
1. \( 3a + 2a + a + b + 2b + 3b \)
2. \( 4ab – 2ba \)
3. \( -5x^{2} + 3x – 2x^{2} + x \)
Common Mistakes
Expressions with unlike terms cannot be simplified further.
A common mistake is writing \( 2x + 3y \) as \( 5xy \).
i.e. writing \( 2x + 3y = 5xy \).
\( 2x \) and \( 3y \) are unlike terms. So, they must be kept as separate terms when added.
A good way to remember avoiding mistake is to note that \( x + y \) will not produce \( xy \).
Similar variants of the above mistake include:
Unlike addition and subtraction, like terms are not necessary for multiplication and division.
The rule for this process is to operate the numbers with the numbers, and the letters with the letters.
Let’s have a look at this in action.
Examples
Simplify the following:
1. \( 7a \times 9b \)
\begin{align*}
\color{red}{7a \times 9b = 63ab}
\end{align*}
2. \( 8u \times u \)
\begin{align*}
\color{red}{8u \times u = 8u^{2}}
\end{align*}
3. \( (5t)^{3} \)
\begin{align*}
\color{red}{(5t)^3 = 5t \times 5t \times 5t = 125t^{3}}
\end{align*}
Division can be written as a fraction. Fractions can be simplified by cancelling.
Remember that cancelling means to divide two terms by a common factor and that you can only cancel vertically or diagonally.
Let’s have a look at cancelling in action.
Examples
Simplify the following
1. \( 18b \div 3 \)
2. \( 15xy^{2}t \div 5xy \)
3. \( 25x^{7}y^{4} \div 5x^{3}y^{5} \)
4. \( \frac{2x^{3}y^{5}}{5z^{10}} \div \frac{6x^5y^2}{z} \)
Simplifying expressions should always be performed as it allows for questions to be handled more easily.
However, it is sometimes necessary to expand an expression, such as \( 2(3x + 5y) + 5(x – 2y) \) before like terms can be collected.
Expanding expressions involves using the distributive law:
Let’s see this at work.
Examples
Expand the following:
1. \( 5(a + 3) \)
\begin{align*}
\color{red}{5(a + 3) = 5a + 15}
\end{align*}
2. \( b(3b -a) \)
\begin{align*}
\color{red}{b(3b -a) = 3b^{2} – ab}
\end{align*}
3. \( -3(x-2) \)
A faster way is to do:
This method is used for the rest of this subject Guide.Note: \( -3 \times -2 = 6\)
4. \( -(x-5) \)
\begin{align*}
\color{red}{-(x-5) = -x + 5}
\end{align*}
Expand and simplify the following:
1. \( 3(x+4) + 2(x-3) \)
\begin{align*}
\color{red}{3(x+4) + 2(3-3)} &\color{red}{= 3x + 12 + 2x – 6} \\
&\color{red}{= 5x+6}
\end{align*}
2. \( 4(2a-3) – 3(2-a)\)
\begin{align*}
\color{red}{4(2a-3) – 3(2-a)} & \color{red}{= 8a -12 -6 + 3a} \\
&\color{red}{= 11a – 18}
\end{align*}
3. \( 3y(2x – 3) + \frac{2}{3}(3x-y) \)
\begin{align*}
\color{red}{3y(2x – 3) + \frac{2}{3}(3x-y)} & \color{red}{= 2xy + 3y + \frac{2}{3}x – \frac{2}{3}y }\\
&\color{red}{= 2xy + \frac{2}{3}x + \frac{7}{3}y}
\end{align*}
Now we’ve covered the skills, it’s time for you to put them into action!
1. Simplify \( 6a + 4a – 3a \)
2. Simplify \( m^{2} + m + 3m^{2} + 4{m} \)
3. Simplify \( -3a \times 2b \)
4. Simplify \( 4 \times -b \times -c \)
5. Simplify \( 12x^{2}y \div 4xy \)
6. Simplify \( 2x^{4}y \div 3x^{3}y^{2} \)
7. Expand \( -21(2-3a) \)
8. Expand and simplify \( 5p(2p-1) – 3(p-2)\)
9. Simplify \( \frac{(2x^{3})^{2}y^{5}}{5z^{5}} \div \frac {5x^{5}y^{2}}{3z} \div 2x\)
10. Simplify \( \frac{\frac{3}{2}x – \big{(}\frac{1}{3}x-2\big{)} + \frac{2}{5}x}{3 \big{(}\frac{2}{5}x-2\big{)} + 4\big{(}\frac{11}{120}x+2\big{)}} \)
Take advantage of the school holidays and improve your child’s foundational Maths skills for senior success! Learn more about our Year 7 Maths Course now!
1.
\begin{align*}
6a + 4a – 3a = 7a
\end{align*}
2.
\begin{align*}
m^{2} + m + 3m^{2} + 4m = 4m^{2} + 5m
\end{align*}
3.
\begin{align*}
-3a \times 2b = -6ab
\end{align*}
4.
\begin{align*}
4 \times -b \times -c
\end{align*}
5.
\begin{align*}
12x^{2y} \div 4xy = \frac{12x^{2}y}{4xy} = 3x
\end{align*}
6.
\begin{align*}
2x^{4}y \div 3x^{3}y^{2} = \frac{2x^{4}y}{3x^{3}y^{2}} = \frac{2x}{3xy}
\end{align*}
7.
\begin{align*}
-2a(2-3a) = -4a+6a^{2}
\end{align*}
8.
\begin{align*}
5p(2p-1) – 3(p-2) &= 10p^{2} – 5p -3p + 6 \\
&= 10p^{2} – 8p + 6
\end{align*}
9. Note that \( (2x^{3})^{2} = 2x^{3} \times 2x^{3} = 4x^{6} \)
\begin{align*}
∴ \frac{(2x^{3})^{2}y^{5}}{5z^{5}} \div \frac{5x^{5}y^{2}}{3z} \div 2x &= \frac{4x^{6}y^{5}}{5z^{5}} \times \frac{3z}{5x^{5}y^{2}} \times \frac{1}{2x} \\
&= \frac{6y^3}{25z^{4}}
\end{align*}
10.
\begin{align*}
\frac{\frac{3}{2}x \big{(}\frac{1}{3}x – 2 \big{)} + \frac{2}{5}x}{3\big{(}\frac{2}{5}x-2\big{)} + 4 \big{(} \frac{11}{120} + 2 \big{)}} & =\frac{\frac{3}{2}x – \frac{1}{3}x + 2 + \frac{2}{5}x}{\frac{6}{5}x – 6 + \frac{11}{30}x + 8} \\
&= \frac{\frac{45}{30}x – \frac{10}{30}x + 2 + \frac{12}{30}x}{\frac{36}{30}x – 6 + \frac{11}{30}x + 8} \\
&= \frac{\frac{47}{30}x + 2}{\frac{47}{30}x + 2} \\
&= 1
\end{align*}
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