Chapter 5: Algebra

Question 0

What is a coefficient?

Answer 0

A number multiplying a variable

E.g 4 is the coefficient of 4x

Question 1

What is a pronumeral / variable?

Answer 1

A symbol that represents a number

E.g a, b, c

Question 2

What are like terms?

Answer 2

Terms that contain exactly the same variables. They can be added or subtracted.
E.g 3c and 6c

Question 3

What is a term?

Answer 3

Part of an expression.

E.g 2x and 9h are terms in the expression 2x - 9h

Question 4

What does simplify mean?

Answer 4

To write an expression as simple as possible. This can be done by:

• Expanding brackets
• Collecting like terms

Question 5

What is an expression?

Answer 5

A number, pronumeral or a combination of these

Question 6

What is a constant term?

Answer 6

A term that does not change, a number

Question 7

What does expand mean?

Answer 7

To take away the brackets and multiply the expression that was inside the brackets by what was outside

Question 8

What is factorisation?

Answer 8

To insert the brackets. Take the HCF of the terms outside the brackets and divide each term by it, leaving the results in brackets.
E.g 10x + 5y
HCF = 5
Result = 5(2x + 3y)

Question 9

What is the reciprocal?

Answer 9

To swap the numerator and denominator of a fraction

Question 10

How do you multiply two fractions?

Answer 10

Make sure both denominators are the same. Multiply the numerators.

Question 11

How do you divide two fractions?

Answer 11

Take the reciprocal of the second fraction then multiply both fractions