Algebra

Introduction

Our study so far has been with numbers and shapes. We have learnt numbers, operations on numbers and properties of numbers. We applied our knowledge of numbers to various problems in our life. The branch of mathematics in which we studied numbers is arithmetic. We have also learnt about figures in two and three dimensions and their properties. The branch of mathematics in which we studied shapes is geometry. Now we begin the study of another branch of mathematics. It is called algebra.

The main feature of the new branch which we are going to study is the use of letters. Use of letters will allow us to write rules and formulas in a general way. By using letters, we can talk about any number and not just a particular number. Secondly, letters may stand for unknown quantities. By learning methods of determining unknowns, we develop powerful tools for solving puzzles and many problems from daily life. Thirdly, since letters stand for numbers, operations can be performed on them as on numbers. This leads to the study of algebraic expressions and their properties. You will find algebra interesting and useful. It is very useful in solving problems. Let us begin our study with simple examples.

Algebra

Matchstick Patterns

Ameena and Sarita are making patterns with matchsticks. They decide to make simple patterns of the letters of the English alphabet. Ameena takes two matchsticks and forms the letter L as shown in Fig 11.1 (a).

Then Sarita also picks two sticks, forms another letter L and puts it next to the one made by Ameena [Fig 11.1 (b)]. Then Ameena adds one more L and this goes on as shown by the dots in Fig 11.1 (c). Their friend Appu comes in. He looks at the pattern. Appu always asks questions. He asks the girls, “How many matchsticks will be required to make seven Ls”? Ameena and Sarita are systematic. They go on forming the patterns with 1L, 2Ls, 3Ls, and so on and prepare a table.

Appu gets the answer to his question from the Table 1; 7Ls require 14 matchsticks. While writing the table, Ameena realises that the number of matchsticks required is twice the number of Ls formed. Number of matchsticks required = 2 × number of Ls. For convenience, let us write the letter n for the number of Ls. If one L is made, n = 1; if two Ls are made, n = 2 and so on; thus, n can be any natural number 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ....

We then write, Number of matchsticks required = 2 × n. Instead of writing 2 × n, we write 2n. Note that 2n is same as 2 × n.

 Ameena tells her friends that her rule gives the number of matchsticks required for forming any number of Ls.

Thus, For n = 1, the number of matchsticks required = 2 × 1 = 2

For n = 2, the number of matchsticks required = 2 × 2 = 4

For n = 3, the number of matchsticks required = 2 × 3 = 6 etc. These numbers agree with those from Table 1.

Sarita says, “The rule is very powerful! Using the rule, I can say how many matchsticks are required to form even 100 Ls. I do not need to draw the pattern or make a table, once the rule is known”.

Do you agree with Sarita?

Algebra

The Idea of a Variable

In the above example, we found a rule to give the number of matchsticks required to make a pattern of Ls. The rule was :

 Number of matchsticks required = 2n

 Here, n is the number of Ls in the pattern, and n takes values 1, 2, 3, 4,.... Let us look at Table 1 once again. In the table, the value of n goes on changing (increasing). As a result, the number of matchsticks required also goes on changing (increasing).

n is an example of a variable. Its value is not fixed; it can take any value 1, 2, 3, 4, ... . We wrote the rule for the number of matchsticks required using the variable n.

 The word ‘variable’ means something that can vary, i.e. change. The value of a variable is not fixed. It can take different values. We shall look at another example of matchstick patterns to learn more about variables.

Algebra

More Matchstick Patterns

Ameena and Sarita have become quite interested in matchstick patterns. They now want to try a pattern of the letter C. To make one C, they use three matchsticks as shown in Fig. 11.2(a)

Table 2 gives the number of matchsticks required to make a pattern of Cs.

Can you complete the entries left blank in the table? Sarita comes up with the rule :

Number of matchsticks required = 3n

She has used the letter n for the number of Cs; n is a variable taking on values 1, 2, 3, 4, ...

 Do you agree with Sarita ?

 Remember 3n is the same as 3 × n.

Next, Ameena and Sarita wish to make a pattern of Fs. They make one F using 4 matchsticks as shown in Fig 11.3(a).

Can you now write the rule for making patterns of F? Think of other letters of the alphabet and other shapes that can be made from matchsticks. For example, etc. Choose any five and write the rules for making matchstick patterns with them

Algebra

More Examples of Variables

We have used the letter n to show a variable. Raju asks, “Why not m”? There is nothing special about n, any letter can be used.

Let us now consider variables in a more familiar situation. Students went to buy notebooks from the school bookstore. Price of one notebook is ₹5. Munnu wants to buy 5 notebooks, Appu wants to buy 7 notebooks, Sara wants to buy 4 notebooks and so on. How much money should a student carry when she or he goes to the bookstore to buy notebooks?

This will depend on how many notebooks the student wants to buy. The students work together to prepare a table.

The letter m stands for the number of notebooks a student wants to buy; m is a variable, which can take any value 1, 2, 3, 4, ... . The total cost of m notebooks is given by the rule :

The total cost in rupees = 5 × number of note books required

 = 5m

If Munnu wants to buy 5 notebooks, then taking m = 5, we say that Munnu should carry ₹5 × 5 or ₹25 with him to the school bookstore.

Let us take one more example. For the Republic Day celebration in the school, children are going to perform mass drill in the presence of the chief guest. They stand 10 in a row (Fig 11.4). How many children can there be in the drill?

The number of children will depend on the number of rows. If there is 1 row, there will be 10 children. If there are 2 rows, there will be 2 × 10 or 20 children and so on. If there are r rows, there will be 10r children in the drill; here, r is a variable which stands for the number of rows and so takes on values 1, 2, 3, 4, ... .

In all the examples seen so far, the variable was multiplied by a number. There can be different situations as well in which numbers are added to or subtracted from the variable as seen below.

Sarita says that she has 10 more marbles in her collection than Ameena. If Ameena has 20 marbles, then Sarita has 30. If Ameena has 30 marbles, then Sarita has 40 and so on. We do not know exactly how many marbles Ameena has. She may have any number of marbles.

But we know that, Sarita's marbles = Ameena's marbles + 10. We shall denote Ameena’s marbles by the letter x. Here, x is a variable, which can take any value 1, 2, 3, 4,... ,10,... ,20,... ,30,... . Using x, we write Sarita's marbles = x + 10. The expression (x + 10) is read as ‘x plus ten’. It means 10 added to x. If x is 20, (x + 10) is 30. If x is 30, (x + 10) is 40 and so on.

Raju and Balu are brothers. Balu is younger than Raju by 3 years. When Raju is 12 years old, Balu is 9 years old. When Raju is 15 years old, Balu is 12 years old. We do not know Raju’s age exactly. It may have any value. Let x denote Raju’s age in years, x is a variable. If Raju’s age in years is x, then Balu’s age in years is (x – 3). The expression (x – 3) is read as x minus three. As you would expect, when x is 12, (x – 3) is 9 and when x is 15, (x – 3) is 12.