Algebraic Reasoning (Edexcel GCSE Maths: Foundation)

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Naomi C

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Naomi C

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Algebraic Reasoning

What are algebraic expressions, equations and identities?

  • An algebraic expression is a set of terms involving constants (numbers) and variables (letters) that are combined using different operators open parentheses cross times divided by plus negative close parentheses
    • The following are all examples of algebraic expressions
      4x2
      2x  + y
      3( - 8)
  • An equation is a mathematical statement where two expressions are equal to one another
    • An equation always contains an equals sign (=) 
    • It is true for certain values only
    • For example, 3x − 1 = 5 is an equation and is only true when x = 2
    • Or another example, x2 = is an equation and is true only when = 3 or when x = −3
  • An identity is a mathematical statement that is true for all values
    • For example, 2(3x) ≡ 6x is an identity because it is true for all values of x
      • Note that the symbol for an identity, , is 3 horizontal lines (like an equals sign but with an extra line)

What notation do I need to be able to recognise?

  • You may come across 'show that' questions that involve some of the following notation
    • n is “any integer” (or m or k or…)
    • n + 1 is the consecutive integer after n
      • the integer immediately after n
    • 2n is an even integer
      • 2n + 2 is the next even integer
    • 2m is a different even integer
      • not necessarily consecutive, but any other even integer
    • 2n + 1 is an odd integer
      • it is the next consecutive integer after an even number
    • a2b2 are square numbers
    • not equal to means 'not equal to'

What type of questions do I need to be able to solve?

  • You may be given two different pieces of information about the same thing and asked to show that a particular mathematical statement is true
    • For example, you may be told that the volumes of two objects are same and asked to show that one of the lengths is equal to a particular expression
  • To solve a question of this type
    • Find an expression for each item
    • Put an equals sign between the two expressions
    • Rearrange and simplify to find the statement that you are asked to find

Examiner Tip

  • You will often see a statement in words saying that two things are the same as each other.
    • Focus on translating this statement into mathematical notation.

Worked example

The area of the rectangle below is 17 cm2.

A rectangle with length (5 + x) cm and width (3 + x) cm

Show that x squared plus 8 x equals 2.

Find an expression for the area of the rectangle by multiplying together the length and the width

table row cell open parentheses x plus 5 close parentheses open parentheses x plus 3 close parentheses end cell equals cell x squared plus 5 x plus 3 x plus 15 end cell row blank equals cell x squared plus 8 x plus 15 end cell end table

You are also told that the area of the rectangle is equal to 17 cm2

Put both of these pieces of information about the area together with an equals sign between them

x squared plus 8 x plus 15 equals 17

Rearrange by subtracting 15 from both sides to show the equation in the question

bold italic x to the power of bold 2 bold plus bold 8 bold italic x bold equals bold 2

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Naomi C

Author: Naomi C

Expertise: Maths

Naomi graduated from Durham University in 2007 with a Masters degree in Civil Engineering. She has taught Mathematics in the UK, Malaysia and Switzerland covering GCSE, IGCSE, A-Level and IB. She particularly enjoys applying Mathematics to real life and endeavours to bring creativity to the content she creates.