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# Solved Examples: Expressions and Equations (All)

For ACT Students
The ACT is a timed exam...60 questions for $60$ minutes
This implies that you have to solve each question in one minute.
Some questions will typically take less than a minute a solve.
Some questions will typically take more than a minute to solve.
The goal is to maximize your time. You use the time saved on those questions you solved in less than a minute, to solve the questions that will take more than a minute.
So, you should try to solve each question correctly and timely.
So, it is not just solving a question correctly, but solving it correctly on time.
Please ensure you attempt all ACT questions.
There is no negative penalty for any wrong answer.

For JAMB Students
Calculators are not allowed. So, the questions are solved in a way that does not require a calculator.

For WASSCE Students
Any question labeled WASCCE is a question for the WASCCE General Mathematics
Any question labeled WASSCE:FM is a question for the WASSCE Further Mathematics/Elective Mathematics

For GCSE and Malta Students
All work is shown to satisfy (and actually exceed) the minimum for awarding method marks.
Calculators are allowed for some questions. Calculators are not allowed for some questions.

For NSC Students
For the Questions:
Any space included in a number indicates a comma used to separate digits...separating multiples of three digits from behind.
Any comma included in a number indicates a decimal point.
For the Solutions:
Decimals are used appropriately rather than commas
Commas are used to separate digits appropriately.

Solve all questions.
Show all work.
Check all solutions to the equations as applicable.
For all problems involving Factoring, indicate the Factoring Technique(s) used.

(1.) CSEC (a) (i) Factorize completely the following quadratic expression. $$5x^2 - 9x + 4$$ (ii) Hence, solve the following equation. $$5x^2 - 9x + 4 = 0$$ (b) Make v the subject of the formula. $$w = \dfrac{5 + v}{v - 3}$$ (c) The height, h, of an object is directly proportional to the square root of its perimeter, p.
(i) Write an equation showing the relationship between h and p.
(ii) Given that h = 5.4 when p = 1.44, determine the value of h when p = 2.89.

$(a) \\[3ex] (i) \\[3ex] 5x^2 - 9x + 4 \\[3ex] Factor\;\;Quadratic\;\;Trinomial \\[3ex] 5x^2(4) = 20x^2 \\[3ex] Factors\;\;are\;\;-5x\;\;and\;\;-4x \\[3ex] \implies \\[3ex] 5x^2 - 5x - 4x + 4 \\[3ex] 5x(x - 1) - 4(x - 1) \\[3ex] (x - 1)(5x - 4) \\[3ex] (ii) \\[3ex] 5x^2 - 9x + 4 = 0 \\[3ex] (x - 1)(5x - 4) = 0 \\[3ex] x - 1 = 0 \;\;\;OR\;\;\; 5x - 4 = 0 \\[3ex] x = 1 \;\;\;OR\;\;\; 5x = 4 \\[3ex] x = 1 \;\;\;OR\;\;\; x = \dfrac{4}{5} \\[5ex]$ Check
$x = 1 \;\;\;OR\;\;\; x = \dfrac{4}{5}$
LHS RHS
$5x^2 - 9x + 4$

$x = 1 \\[3ex] 5(1)^2 - 9(1) + 4 \\[3ex] 5 - 9 + 4 \\[3ex] 0$

$x = \dfrac{4}{5} \\[5ex] 5\left(\dfrac{4}{5}\right)^2 - 9\left(\dfrac{4}{5}\right) + 4 \\[5ex] 5\left(\dfrac{16}{25}\right) - \dfrac{36}{5} + 4 \\[5ex] \dfrac{16}{5} - \dfrac{36}{5} + \dfrac{20}{5} \\[5ex] \dfrac{0}{5} \\[5ex] 0$
$0$

$(b) \\[3ex] w = \dfrac{5 + v}{v - 3} \\[5ex] w(v - 3) = 5 + v \\[3ex] wv - 3w = 5 + v \\[3ex] wv - v = 5 + 3w \\[3ex] v(w - 1) = 5 + 3w \\[3ex] v = \dfrac{5 + 3w}{w - 1} \\[5ex] (c) \\[3ex] h \propto \sqrt{p} \\[3ex] (i) \\[3ex] h = k\sqrt{p} ...where\;\;k\;\;is\;\;the\;\;constant\;\;of\;\;proportionality \\[3ex] (ii) \\[3ex] h = 5.4 \\[3ex] p = 1.44 \\[3ex] k = ? \\[3ex] 5.4 = k * \sqrt{1.44} \\[3ex] 5.4 = 1.2k \\[3ex] 1.2k = 5.4 \\[3ex] k = \dfrac{5.4}{1.2} \\[5ex] k = 4.5 \\[3ex] For: \\[3ex] p = 2.89 \\[3ex] h = ? \\[3ex] h = k\sqrt{p} \\[3ex] h = 4.5 * \sqrt{2.89} \\[3ex] h = 4.5 * 1.7 \\[3ex] h = 7.65$
(2.) NSC (2.1) Solve for x:
(2.1.1) 2x(x + 3) = 0
(2.1.2) x(x + 9) = 12 (correct to TWO decimal places)
(2.1.3) x(6 - x) ≥ 0 and then represent the solution on a number line

(2.2) Solve for x and y if:
x = 1 - 2y and 3x² = 3 + x + y

(2.3) The diagram below shows a simple pendulum swinging from point A to point C.
Alongside the picture is the formula for calculating the time (T) taken for the pendulum to swing from point A to point C, where (L) represents the length of the string and (g) the gravitational acceleration.

(2.3.1) Make L the subject of the formula.
(2.3.2) Hence, calculate the numerical value of L if g = 9.8 m/s² and the time taken T = 2.74s

$(2.1.1) \\[3ex] 2x(x + 3) = 0 \\[3ex] 2x = 0 \;\;\;OR\;\;\; x + 3 = 0 \\[3ex] x = \dfrac{0}{2} \;\;\;OR\;\;\; x = 0 - 3 \\[5ex] x = 0 \;\;\;OR\;\;\; x = -3 \\[3ex]$ Check
$x = 0 \;\;\;OR\;\;\; x = -3$
LHS RHS
$2x(x + 3)$

$x = 0 \\[3ex] 2(0)(0 + 3) \\[3ex] 0(3) \\[3ex] 0$

$x = -3 \\[3ex] 2(-3)(-3 + 3) \\[3ex] -6(0) \\[3ex] 0$
$0$

$(2.1.2) \\[3ex] x(x + 9) = 12 \\[3ex] x^2 + 9x = 12 \\[3ex] x^2 + 9x - 12 = 0 \\[3ex] Compare\;\;to:\;\;ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \\[3ex] a = 1 \\[3ex] b = 9 \\[3ex] c = -12 \\[3ex] x = \dfrac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}...Quadratic\;\;Formula \\[5ex] x = \dfrac{-9 \pm \sqrt{9^2 - 4(1)(-12)}}{2(1)} \\[5ex] x = \dfrac{-9 \pm \sqrt{81 + 48}}{2} \\[5ex] x = \dfrac{-9 \pm \sqrt{129}}{2} \\[5ex] x = \dfrac{-9 \pm 11.35781669}{2} \\[5ex] x = \dfrac{-9 + 11.35781669}{2} \;\;\;OR\;\;\; x = \dfrac{-9 - 11.35781669}{2} \\[5ex] x = \dfrac{2.357816692}{2} \;\;\;OR\;\;\; x = \dfrac{-20.35781669}{2} \\[5ex] x = 1.178908346 \;\;\;OR\;\;\; x = -10.17890835 \\[5ex] x \approx 1.18 \;\;\;OR\;\;\; x \approx -10.18 \\[3ex]$ Check
$x = 1.178908346 \;\;\;OR\;\;\; x = -10.17890835$
LHS RHS
$x(x + 9)$

$x = 1.178908346 \\[3ex] 1.178908346(2.178908346 + 9) \\[3ex] 1.178908346(10.178908346) \\[3ex] 12$

$x = -10.17890835 \\[3ex] -10.17890835(-10.17890835 + 9) \\[3ex] -10.17890835(-1.17890835) \\[3ex] 12$
$12$

To understand the solution of (2.1.3), please review Inequalities

$(2.1.3) \\[3ex] x(6 - x) \ge 0 \\[3ex] Factors:\;\; x\;\;\;and\;\;\;6 - x \\[3ex] Assume:\;\; x(6 - x) = 0 \\[3ex] x = 0 \;\;\;OR\;\;\; 6 - x = 0 \\[3ex] x = 0 \;\;\;OR\;\;\; 6 = x \\[3ex] Critical\;\;Values:\;\; x = 0 \;\;\;OR\;\;\; x = 6 \\[3ex] Test\;\;Intervals:\;\; x \lt 0,\;\;\;0 \lt x \lt 6,\;\;\;and\;\;\; x \gt 6 \\[3ex]$
 Factors $\downarrow$ Test Intervals $\rightarrow$ $x \lt 0$ $0 \lt x \lt 6$ $x \gt 6$ $x$ $-$ $+$ $+$ $6 - x$ $+$ $+$ $-$ $x(6 - x)$ $-$ $+ \checkmark$ $-$

Because the initial inequality involved an equal sign, we have to include the equality sign in that test interval

$Solution:\;\; 0 \le x \le 6 \\[3ex]$ Check
$0 \le x \le 6$
LHS RHS
$x(6 - x) \\[3ex] Let\;\;x = 3 \\[3ex] 3(6 - 3) \\[3ex] 3(3) \\[3ex] 9$ $0$
$9 \ge 0$

The representation of the solution on a number line is:

$(2.2) \\[3ex] x = 1 - 2y ...eqn.(1) \\[3ex] 3x^2 = 3 + x + y ...eqn.(2) \\[3ex] Substitute\;\;eqn.(1)\;\;into\;\;eqn.(2) \\[3ex] 3(1 - 2y)^2 = 3 + (1 - 2y) + y \\[3ex] 3[(1 - 2y)(1 - 2y)] = 3 + 1 - 2y + y \\[3ex] 3(1 - 2y - 2y + 4y^2) = 4 - y \\[3ex] 3(1 - 4y + 4y^2) - 4 + y = 0 \\[3ex] 3 - 12y + 12y^2 - 4 + y = 0 \\[3ex] 12y^2 - 11y - 1 = 0 \\[3ex] 12y^2(-1) = -12y^2 \\[3ex] Factors\;\;are:\;\; y\;\;and\;\;-12y \\[3ex] \implies \\[3ex] 12y^2 + y - 12y - 1 = 0 \\[3ex] y(12y + 1) - 1(12y + 1) = 0 \\[3ex] (12y + 1)(y - 1) = 0 \\[3ex] 12y + 1 = 0 \;\;\;OR\;\;\; y - 1 = 0 \\[3ex] 12y = -1 \;\;\;OR\;\;\; y = 1 \\[3ex] y = -\dfrac{1}{12} \;\;\;OR\;\;\; y = 1 \\[5ex] Subsitute\;\;each\;\;value\;\;of\;\;y\;\;in\;\;eqn.(1) \\[3ex] When\;\;y = -\dfrac{1}{12} \\[5ex] x = 1 - 2\left(-\dfrac{1}{12}\right) \\[5ex] x = 1 + \dfrac{1}{6} \\[5ex] x = \dfrac{6}{6} + \dfrac{1}{6} \\[5ex] x = \dfrac{7}{6} \\[5ex] When\;\;y = 1 \\[3ex] x = 1 - 2(1) \\[3ex] x = 1 - 2 \\[3ex] x = -1 \\[3ex]$ Check
$x = \dfrac{7}{6} \;\;\;OR\;\;\; x = -1 \\[3ex] y = -\dfrac{1}{12} \;\;\;OR\;\;\; y = 1$
LHS RHS
$x$

$\dfrac{7}{6}$

$-1$
$1 - 2y$

$1 - 2\left(-\dfrac{1}{12}\right) \\[5ex] 1 + \dfrac{1}{6} \\[5ex] \dfrac{7}{6}$

$1 - 2(1) \\[3ex] 1 - 2 \\[3ex] -1$
$3x^2$

$3\left(\dfrac{7}{6}\right)^2 \\[5ex] 3\left(\dfrac{49}{36}\right) \\[5ex] \dfrac{49}{12}$

$3(-1)^2 \\[3ex] 3(1) \\[3ex] 3$
$3 + x + y$

$3 + \dfrac{7}{6} + -\dfrac{1}{12} \\[5ex] \dfrac{36}{12} + \dfrac{14}{12} - \dfrac{1}{12} \\[5ex] \dfrac{49}{12}$

$3 + -1 + 1 \\[3ex] 3 - 1 + 1 \\[3ex] 3$

$(2.3.1) \\[3ex] T = 2\pi\sqrt{\dfrac{L}{g}} \\[5ex] 2\pi\sqrt{\dfrac{L}{g}} = T \\[5ex] \sqrt{\dfrac{L}{g}} = \dfrac{T}{2\pi} \\[5ex] \dfrac{L}{g} = \left(\dfrac{T}{2\pi} \right)^2 \\[5ex] \dfrac{L}{g} = \dfrac{T^2}{4\pi^2} \\[5ex] L = \dfrac{gT^2}{4\pi^2} \\[5ex] (2.3.2) \\[3ex] g = 9.8\;m/s^2 \\[3ex] T = 1.74\;s \\[3ex] \pi = \dfrac{22}{7} \\[5ex] L = gT^2 \div 4\pi^2 \\[5ex] = (9.8 * 1.74^2) \div \left[4 * \left(\dfrac{22}{7}\right)^2\right] \\[5ex] = (9.8 * 3.0276) \div \left(4 * \dfrac{484}{49}\right) \\[5ex] = 29.67048 \div 39.51020408 \\[3ex] = 0.7509573967\;m$
(3.) CSEC (a) Factorize completely $$3n^2 + 15np$$ (b) The diagram below shows a quadrilateral with the length of its sides written in terms of x

(i) Write an expression, in terms of x, for the perimeter of the quadrilateral.

(ii) The perimeter of the quadrilateral is 32 cm.
Find the length of the longest side of the quadrilateral.

(c) Determine ALL the integer values of x which satisfy the inequality $$-1 \lt \dfrac{2 - 4x}{3} \lt 5$$

$(a) \\[3ex] 3n^2 + 15np \\[3ex] Factor\;\;by\;\;GCF \\[3ex] = 3n(n + 5p) \\[3ex] (b) \\[3ex] (i) \\[3ex] Perimeter = (15 - 2x) + (2x + 5) + (2x - 1) + (3x - 7) \\[3ex] = 15 - 2x + 2x + 5 + 2x - 1 + 3x - 7 \\[3ex] = 12 + 5x \\[3ex] (ii) \\[3ex] Perimeter = 32\;cm \\[3ex] \implies \\[3ex] 12 + 5x = 32 \\[3ex] 5x = 32 - 12 \\[3ex] 5x = 20 \\[3ex] x = \dfrac{20}{5} \\[5ex] x = 4 \\[3ex] \underline{Sides} \\[3ex] 2x + 5 = 2(4) + 5 = 8 + 5 = 13\;cm \\[3ex] 3x - 7 = 3(4) - 7 = 12 - 7 = 5\;cm \\[3ex] 15 - 2x = 15 - 2(4) = 15 - 8 = 7\;cm \\[3ex] 2x - 1 = 2(4) - 1 = 8 - 1 = 7\;cm \\[3ex] Length\;\;of\;\;the\;\;longest\;\;side = 13\;cm \\[3ex] (c) \\[3ex] -1 \lt \dfrac{2 - 4x}{3} \lt 5 \\[5ex] \underline{1st\;\;Part} \\[3ex] -1 \lt \dfrac{2 - 4x}{3} \\[5ex] 3(-1) \lt 2 - 4x \\[3ex] -3 \lt 2 - 4x \\[3ex] 4x \lt 2 + 3 \\[3ex] 4x \lt 5 \\[3ex] x \lt \dfrac{5}{4} \\[5ex] \underline{2nd\;\;Part} \\[3ex] \dfrac{2 - 4x}{3} \lt 5 \\[5ex] 2 - 4x \lt 3(5) \\[3ex] 2 - 4x \lt 15 \\[3ex] 2 - 15 \lt 4x \\[3ex] -13 \lt 4x \\[3ex] 4x \gt -13 \\[3ex] x \gt -\dfrac{13}{4} \\[5ex] -\dfrac{13}{4} \lt x \\[5ex] Solution:\;\; -\dfrac{13}{4} \lt x \lt \dfrac{5}{4} \\[5ex]$ The integer values of x that satisfies the inequality $-1 \lt \dfrac{2 - 4x}{3} \lt 5$ are: -3, -2, -1, 0, 1

Check
 $-1 \lt \dfrac{2 - 4x}{3} \lt 5 \\[5ex] Let\;\;x = 0 \\[3ex] -1 \lt \dfrac{2 - 4(0)}{3} \lt 5 \\[5ex] -1 \lt \dfrac{2}{3} \lt 5$
(4.) NSC (2.1) Given the roots: $x = 5 \pm \sqrt{k - 9}$

Describe the nature of the roots if:
(2.1.1) k < 9
(2.1.2) k = 9

(2.2) Determine the value(s) of q for which the equation $-x^2 + 2qx - 4 = 0$ will have non-real roots.

$x = 5 \pm \sqrt{k - 9} \\[3ex]$ (2.1.1)
When k < 9:
k − 9 is a negative number
$\sqrt{k - 9}$ is the square root of a negative number, which is not a real number
Therefore $x = 5 \pm \sqrt{k - 9}$ gives two imaginary roots.

(2.1.2)
When k = 9:
k − 9 = 9 − 9 = 0
$\sqrt{k - 9}$ is the square root of zero, which is zero
Therefore $x = 5 \pm \sqrt{k - 9}$ gives one repeated rational root.

$(2.2) \\[3ex] -x^2 + 2qx - 4 = 0 \\[3ex] Multiply\;\;each\;\;term\;\;by\;\;-1 \\[3ex] So,\;\;we\;\;can\;\;find\;\;the\;\;discriminant \\[3ex] x^2 - 2qx + 4 = 0 \\[3ex] Compare\;\;to:\;\; ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \\[3ex] a = 1 \\[3ex] b = -2q \\[3ex] c = 4 \\[3ex] Discriminant = b^2 - 4ac \\[3ex] = (-2q)^2 - 4(1)(4) \\[3ex] = 4q^2 - 16 \\[3ex] = 4(q^2 - 4) \\[3ex]$ For the equation to have non-real roots (imaginary roots), the discriminant should be negative
In other words, the discriminant should be less than zero

$\implies \\[3ex] 4(q^2 - 4) \lt 0 \\[3ex] q^2 - 4 \lt 0 \\[3ex] q^2 - 2^2 \lt 0 \\[3ex] (q + 2)(q - 2) \lt 0 \\[3ex] Factors:\;\; q + 2\;\;\;and\;\;\;q - 2 \\[3ex] Assume:\;\; (q + 2)(q - 2) = 0 \\[3ex] q + 2 = 0 \;\;\;OR\;\;\; q - 2 = 0 \\[3ex] q = -2 \;\;\;OR\;\;\; q = 2 \\[3ex] Critical\;\;Values:\;\; q = -2 \;\;\;OR\;\;\; q = 2 \\[3ex] Test\;\;Intervals:\;\; q \lt -2,\;\;\;-2 \lt q \lt 2,\;\;\;and\;\;\; q \gt 2 \\[3ex]$
 Factors $\downarrow$ Test Intervals $\rightarrow$ $q \lt -2$ $-2 \lt q \lt 2$ $q \gt 2$ $q + 2$ $-$ $+$ $+$ $q - 2$ $-$ $-$ $+$ $(q + 2)(q - 2)$ $+$ $- \checkmark$ $+$

Therefore, the value(s) of q for which the equation $-x^2 + 2qx - 4 = 0$ will have non-real roots is: $-2 \lt q \lt 2$
(5.)

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