CHAPTER 2
Algebra
2.1 ALGEBRA
It is a branch of Mathematics that uses alphabets in place of unknown values.
Note: The alphabet may be a constant (fixed value) or a variable (non-fixed value).
EXAMPLE
Find the area of a rectangle with width w and height h.
Area = width × height; A = w × h
Here w and h are referred to as variables.
Specifically, if w = 10 cm and h = 6 cm, then the area is defined as
2.2 ALGEBRAIC IDENTITIES
An algebraic identity is a relation that is true for all possible values of the literal symbols occurring in it.
EXAMPLES
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(a + b) × (a − b) = a2 − b2
The above identity is true for all real values of a and b.
If a = 5 and b = 3
(5 + 3) × (5 − 3) = 8 × 2 = 16; 52 − 32 = 25 − 9 = 16
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