Flashcards · Maths
Further Algebra
-
What fact makes solving by factorising work?
If two things multiply to give zero, one of them must be zero.
-
What is the first step when solving a quadratic by factorising?
Rearrange so that one side is zero.
-
Solve \((x - 2)(x - 3) = 0\).
\(x = 2\) or \(x = 3\).
-
Solve \(x^2 - 49 = 0\).
\(x = 7\) or \(x = -7\).
-
Solve \(x^2 - 6x = 0\).
\(x = 0\) or \(x = 6\).
-
Why should you not divide both sides of \(x^2 = 6x\) by \(x\)?
You lose the solution \(x = 0\).
-
Factorise \(x^2 - 5x + 6\).
\((x - 2)(x - 3)\).
-
How do you factorise \(2x^2 + 7x + 3\)?
Multiply \(a\) and \(c\) to get 6, split the middle term into \(6x + x\), and factorise in pairs to get \((2x + 1)(x + 3)\).
-
How are the solutions of a quadratic linked to its graph?
They are the \(x\)-values where the graph crosses the \(x\)-axis.
-
What is the quadratic formula (Higher tier)?
\(x = \dfrac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}\).
-
What is the discriminant (Higher tier)?
\(b^2 - 4ac\), the number under the square root.
-
What does a negative discriminant mean (Higher tier)?
There are no real solutions.
-
Complete the square for \(x^2 + 6x\) (Higher tier).
\((x + 3)^2 - 9\).
-
Why might you reject one solution of a quadratic?
It may not make sense in the problem, such as a negative length.
-
How do you check the solutions?
Substitute each one back into the original equation.
-
What does a repeated root look like on a graph?
The curve just touches the \(x\)-axis.
-
What are simultaneous equations?
Two or more equations that must be true at the same time.
-
What does the point where two graphs cross represent?
The solution of the simultaneous equations.
-
When do you subtract the equations in elimination?
When the terms in one letter are the same in both.
-
When do you add the equations in elimination?
When the terms in one letter are opposites.
-
What do you do if no letter has matching numbers?
Multiply one or both equations to make a pair match.
-
What is the first step in the substitution method?
Get one letter on its own in one equation.
-
Solve \(x + y = 9\) and \(x - y = 1\).
\(x = 5\), \(y = 4\).
-
How should you check your solution?
Substitute both values into the equation you did not use.
-
What does it mean if two lines are parallel?
The equations have no solution.
-
How do you write a word problem as simultaneous equations?
Define the letters and write one equation for each statement.
-
What do you do first with a line and a quadratic (Higher tier)?
Substitute the line into the quadratic to get a quadratic in \(x\).
-
How many solutions can a line and a circle have (Higher tier)?
Two, one or none.
-
Solve \(y = x^2\) and \(y = x + 6\) (Higher tier).
\((3, 9)\) and \((-2, 4)\).
-
Why use brackets when substituting an expression?
They stop sign errors.
-
How many pairs of values solve a pair of linear equations?
One, unless the lines are parallel or the same.
-
What is the equation of the line through \((0, 1)\) with gradient 1?
\(y = x + 1\).
-
What does a solid line mean on a graph of an inequality?
The line is included, so the inequality is \(\leq\) or \(\geq\).
-
What does a dashed line mean?
The line is not included, so the inequality is \(<\) or \(>\).
-
How do you decide which side of a line to shade?
Test a point, such as the origin, in the inequality.
-
What does \(x \geq 1\) look like on a graph?
The region to the right of the vertical line \(x = 1\), including the line.
-
What does \(y \leq 2x\) look like on a graph?
The region on or below the line \(y = 2x\).
-
How do you describe a region bounded by three lines?
Write one inequality for each boundary.
-
What are the integers satisfying \(-2 < x \leq 3\)?
\(-1, 0, 1, 2, 3\).
-
Do points on a dashed line count as inside the region?
No.
-
How many integer points satisfy \(x \geq 1\), \(y \geq 1\), \(x + y \leq 6\)?
15.
-
What does the origin test show for \(x + y \leq 6\)?
\(0 + 0 \leq 6\) is true, so shade the origin side.
-
How do you solve a quadratic inequality (Higher tier)?
Find the roots and use a sketch of the graph.
-
Solve \(x^2 - x - 6 < 0\) (Higher tier).
\(-2 < x < 3\).
-
Solve \(x^2 > 9\) (Higher tier).
\(x < -3\) or \(x > 3\).
-
What does R usually stand for in these questions?
The region that satisfies all the inequalities.
-
Where does the line \(x + y = 6\) cross the axes?
\((6, 0)\) and \((0, 6)\).
-
Why check with a point inside the region?
All the inequalities must be true there.
-
What is a surd?
A root that cannot be written as a whole number or fraction, such as \(\sqrt{2}\).
-
Why are surds left as roots?
Their decimals never end, so the root is the exact value.
-
What is \(\sqrt{a} \times \sqrt{a}\)?
\(a\).
-
What is the product rule for surds?
\(\sqrt{a} \times \sqrt{b} = \sqrt{ab}\).
-
Simplify \(\sqrt{12}\).
\(2\sqrt{3}\).
-
Simplify \(\sqrt{50}\).
\(5\sqrt{2}\).
-
Simplify \(\sqrt{72}\).
\(6\sqrt{2}\).
-
Which square numbers are useful for simplifying surds?
4, 9, 16, 25, 36 and 49.
-
What is \(3\sqrt{2} + 5\sqrt{2}\)?
\(8\sqrt{2}\).
-
Can \(\sqrt{2} + \sqrt{3}\) be simplified?
No, because they are not like surds.
-
What is \(\sqrt{2} \times \sqrt{8}\)?
4.
-
What does rationalising the denominator mean?
Rewriting a fraction so that there is no surd on the bottom.
-
Rationalise \(\dfrac{6}{\sqrt{3}}\).
\(2\sqrt{3}\).
-
What is the conjugate of \(2 + \sqrt{3}\)?
\(2 - \sqrt{3}\).
-
What is \((2 + \sqrt{3})(2 - \sqrt{3})\)?
1.
-
Expand \((2 + \sqrt{5})^2\).
\(9 + 4\sqrt{5}\).
-
What may you cancel in an algebraic fraction?
Factors, never terms that are added or subtracted.
-
What is the first step in simplifying an algebraic fraction?
Factorise the top and the bottom.
-
Simplify \(\dfrac{x^2 - 9}{x + 3}\) (Higher tier).
\(x - 3\).
-
Is \(\dfrac{x + 3}{3}\) equal to \(x\)?
No, the 3 on top is added, so it cannot be cancelled.
-
How do you add \(\dfrac{1}{x} + \dfrac{1}{x + 1}\) (Higher tier)?
Use the common denominator \(x(x + 1)\) to get \(\dfrac{2x + 1}{x(x + 1)}\).
-
How do you divide algebraic fractions (Higher tier)?
Turn the second fraction upside down and multiply.
-
How do you solve an equation with fractions?
Multiply every term by the common denominator.
-
Solve \(\dfrac{x - 1}{3} + \dfrac{x + 2}{6} = 2\).
\(x = 4\).
-
How do you write an even number with \(n\)?
\(2n\).
-
How do you write an odd number with \(n\)?
\(2n + 1\).
-
How do you write three consecutive numbers?
\(n\), \(n + 1\), \(n + 2\).
-
What does \(\equiv\) mean?
The expressions are equal for every value of the letters, an identity.
-
Is testing a few numbers a proof?
No, you must use algebra to show it is true for all numbers.
-
How do you disprove a statement?
Find one counter-example.
-
Give a counter-example to "\(n^2 + n + 1\) is always prime".
\(n = 4\) gives 21, which is \(3 \times 7\).
-
How should a proof end?
With a sentence stating what has been shown.