CHAPTER 6

Algebra: Equations and

Inequalities

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Algebraic Expressions and Formulas

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Algebraic Expressions
Algebra uses letters, called variables, such as x and
y, to represent numbers.
An algebraic expression is a combination of
variables and numbers using the operations of
addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division as
well as powers or roots.
Examples of algebraic expressions:
x 6, x 2 6,
x 7
6x,
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Vocabulary of Algebraic Expressions

Term: Those parts of an algebraic expression separated by
addition and/or subtraction.
Example: in the expression 7x 9y 3
Coefficient: The numerical part of a term.
7, 9, 3
Constant: A term that consists of just a number, also
called a constant term. 3
Like terms: Terms that have the exact same variable
factors. 7x and 3x
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Example : Evaluating an Algebraic Expression

Evaluate

7 + 5 (x 4)3 for x = 6
-x2 - 4xy + 3y3 for x = -1 & y = -2
2x + 3y
x + 2

for x = -2 & y = 4

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Example: Simplifying Algebraic Expressions

Simplify:

5(3x 7) 6x
4(5y - 3) - (6y + 3)
2(-5x + 3y) - 4 (2y - 3x)

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Formulas and Mathematical Models

An equation is formed when an equal sign is placed
between two algebraic expressions.
A formula is an equation that uses letters to express a
relationship between two or more variables.

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Linear Equations in One Variable and

Proportions

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Linear Equation
A linear equation in one variable x is an equation that can be
written in the form
ax + b = 0,
where a and b are real numbers, and a 0.
Solving an equation in x involves determining all values of x
that result in a true statement when substituted into the
equation. Such values are solutions or roots.
Equivalent equations have the same solution set.
4x + 12 = 0 and x = 3 are equivalent equations.
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Example: Solving a Linear Equation

Solve and check: 2(x 4) 5x = 5.
8x + 6 = 4(x + 1) 2x

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Linear Inequalities in One Variable

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Linear Inequalities
A linear inequality :
ax + b c
where the inequality symbol can be <, >, , or .
Solving an inequality is the process of finding the
set of numbers that make an inequality a true
statement.
A solution set is the set of all numbers that satisfy
the inequality.
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Example: Graphing Subsets of Real Numbers

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Example: Solving a Linear Inequality

Solve and graph the solution set:
6x 12 > 8x + 2

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Example: Solving a Three-Part Inequality

Solve the three part inequality:

- 3 < 2x + 1 3

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Quadratic Equations

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Multiplying Two Binomials Using the FOIL

Method

Binomial: An algebraic expression

containing two terms in which each exponent
that appears on the variable is a whole
number.
Examples: x + 3, x + 4, 3x + 4, 5x 3

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Factoring Trinomials Whose Leading

Coefficient is 1
Trinomial: A simplified algebraic expression that
contains three terms in which all variables have
whole number exponents.
We can use the FOIL method to multiply two
binomials to obtain a trinomial:
Factored Form

Trinomial Form

(x + 3)( x + 4) = x + 4x + 3x + 12 = x + 7x + 12

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Factoring

Factoring an algebraic expressing containing

the sum or difference of terms means
finding an equivalent expression that is a
product.
x + 6x + 8

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Solving Quadratic Equations by Factoring

A quadratic equation in x is an equation that can
be written in the form:
ax + bx + c = 0
where a, b, and c are real numbers, with a 0.

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Example: Solving a Quadratic Equation by Factoring

Solve:

x 2x = 35

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Solving Quadratic Equations Using the

Quadratic Formula
The solutions of the quadratic equation in the form
ax + bx + c = 0 , with a 0, are given by the
quadratic formula:

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Example: Solving a Quadratic Equation Using

the Quadratic Formula

Solve:

2x + 9x 5 = 0
2x = 4x + 1

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Systems of Linear Equations in Two Variables

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Systems of Linear Equations & Their

Solutions
Two linear equations are called a system of linear
equations or a linear system.
A solution to a system of linear equations in two
variables is an ordered pair that satisfies both
equations in the system.

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Example
We see the two graphs
intersect at (4,1). Hence,
this is the solution to the
system.
We can check this
by substituting in (4,1) into
each equation and verifying
That the solution is true for both
equations.
We leave this to the student.

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Solving Linear Systems by the Substitution

Method

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Example: Solving a System by

Substitution
Solve by the substitution method:
x+ y=1
4x 3y = 24.

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Solving Linear Systems by the

Addition/Subtraction Method

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Example: Solving a System by the Addition

Method
Solve by the addition method:
3x + 2y = 48
9x 8y = 24.

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Linear Systems Having No Solution or

Infinitely Many Solutions
The number of solutions to a system of two linear
equations in two variables is given by one of the
following:
Number of Solutions

What This Means Graphically

Exactly one ordered-pair solution

The two lines intersect at one point.

No Solution

The two lines are parallel.

Infinitely many solutions

The two lines are identical.

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Modeling with Systems of Equations:

Making Money (and Losing It)
Revenue and Cost Functions
A company produces and sells x units of a product.
Revenue Function R(x) = (price per unit sold)x
Cost Function C(x) = fixed cost + (cost per unit produced)x

The point of intersection of the graphs of the revenue and cost

functions is called the break-even point.

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Example: Finding a Break-Even Point

A company is planning to manufacture radically
different wheelchairs. Fixed cost will be $500,000 and
it will cost $400 to produce each wheelchair. Each
wheelchair will be sold for $600.
a. Write the cost function, C, of producing x wheelchairs.
b. Write the revenue function, R, from the sale of x
wheelchairs.
c. Determine the break-even point. Describe what this
means.
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Example
The break-even point is (2500, 1,500,000). This
means that the company will break even if it produces
and sells 2,500 wheelchairs for $1,500,000.

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The Profit Function

The profit, P(x), generated after producing and selling
x units of a product is given by the profit function
P(x) = R(x) C(x),
where R and C are the revenue and cost, respectively.

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