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#1 2010-12-03 06:26:33

ZainH
Member
Registered: 2010-12-03
Posts: 72

The Nth term and Algebraic Equations (Factorizing/Expanding)

Hey everyone, this is my first post and I decided I need some help with a coming up math exam. Not something as big as a final, but I still need to get good grades. Unfortunately I forgot my math textbook in my locker and its the weekend, so I was wondering if anyone could maybe give me some questions to work on either from some website they use or a textbook. Questions about the Nth term and expanding and factorizing algebraic equations. Not too complex but not too simple either ;) . Thanks tons.


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#2 2010-12-03 06:30:56

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: The Nth term and Algebraic Equations (Factorizing/Expanding)

Hi ZainH;

What textbook are you using and what type of problems can you do.

Factoring of quadratics? Expanding binomials?

Welcome to the forum!


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#3 2010-12-03 06:38:38

ZainH
Member
Registered: 2010-12-03
Posts: 72

Re: The Nth term and Algebraic Equations (Factorizing/Expanding)

Not sure of the exact name but its for IGCSE grade 9.
And expanding questions like.. a(x+y) = ax+ay. But thats wayy to simple, throw in some numbers, squares, cubes, more variables, etc.
No idea what factoring of quadratics are... I wish I had my textbook right now. How about the nth term? Just give a few numbers and Ill try to find the next one.


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#4 2010-12-03 06:42:03

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: The Nth term and Algebraic Equations (Factorizing/Expanding)

Here you go:

5,11,21,35,53,75...

6,14,22,30,38,46...

0,7,26,63,124,215...


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#5 2010-12-03 06:44:28

ZainH
Member
Registered: 2010-12-03
Posts: 72

Re: The Nth term and Algebraic Equations (Factorizing/Expanding)

1. 6n-1
2. 8n-2
Give me a little more time on the 3rd one.


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#6 2010-12-03 06:45:28

ZainH
Member
Registered: 2010-12-03
Posts: 72

Re: The Nth term and Algebraic Equations (Factorizing/Expanding)

Ahh..
3. N^3 - 1


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#7 2010-12-03 06:47:19

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: The Nth term and Algebraic Equations (Factorizing/Expanding)

Hi ZainH

3) Is correct! As far as correct means in this context.

Sorry but 1 is wrong.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#8 2010-12-03 06:49:36

ZainH
Member
Registered: 2010-12-03
Posts: 72

Re: The Nth term and Algebraic Equations (Factorizing/Expanding)

bobbym wrote:

Hi ZainH

3) Is correct! As far as correct means in this context.

Sorry but 1 is wrong.

Is 3) the only correct one? Or were you just mentioning that because the other two were sort of obvious.
And not sure what you meant by "As far as correct means in this context"


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#9 2010-12-03 06:53:48

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: The Nth term and Algebraic Equations (Factorizing/Expanding)

Hi ZainH;

You and I were posting at the same time, or while I was correcting post #7.

3 is correct but 1 is not.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#10 2010-12-03 07:00:26

ZainH
Member
Registered: 2010-12-03
Posts: 72

Re: The Nth term and Algebraic Equations (Factorizing/Expanding)

I can't seem to find the answer to 1...
Any tricks on solving these?


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#11 2010-12-03 07:01:58

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: The Nth term and Algebraic Equations (Factorizing/Expanding)

There are two main ways for your level. Curve fitting and differences. After that there are many,many more.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#12 2010-12-03 07:04:13

ZainH
Member
Registered: 2010-12-03
Posts: 72

Re: The Nth term and Algebraic Equations (Factorizing/Expanding)

Haven't learnt curve fitting. Differences , I'm assuming is find the difference between the first two terms and that becomes your N then you find what you have to subtract or add to make the equation work?
(I can't solve number 1, whats the answer?)


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#13 2010-12-03 07:08:08

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: The Nth term and Algebraic Equations (Factorizing/Expanding)

Hi ZainH;

You have probably been taught to guess at these. Not quite the best idea.

The answer for 1):

If I would have known that you were being taught like that I would not have given you number 1.

Have you studied simultaneous equations? Differences are pretty easy too.

Want to learn about them? Or want more problems?


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#14 2010-12-03 07:12:13

ZainH
Member
Registered: 2010-12-03
Posts: 72

Re: The Nth term and Algebraic Equations (Factorizing/Expanding)

Haven't done simultaneous equations.. and we weren't taught to guess. Our teacher taught us differences. I've got to log off, but if you could post more questions I'd attempt them later and see if I can answer them. If not , I might have to learn about your other methonds.
Thanks for the help smile


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#15 2010-12-03 07:20:05

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: The Nth term and Algebraic Equations (Factorizing/Expanding)

H ZainH;

Here is something for you to study in the meanwhile:

http://www.mathsisfun.com/algebra/seque … -rule.html

4,7,12,19,28,39...

These two will be a little hard for you, if you have not done your homework!

2,2,4,6,10,16...

2,6,12,20,30,42...



In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#16 2010-12-04 05:42:33

ZainH
Member
Registered: 2010-12-03
Posts: 72

Re: The Nth term and Algebraic Equations (Factorizing/Expanding)

Hey bobby,
1) N^2 + 3

The link you sent me makes no sense. It brings in two variables to find the answer.
Haven't been taught that so not quite grasping the concept.
I know that for 2) You have to add the two previous numbers to get the next , but can't figure out how to write it as "The nth term"


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#17 2010-12-04 09:52:09

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: The Nth term and Algebraic Equations (Factorizing/Expanding)

Hi ZainH;

1) Is correct.

2) that is good enough that you can get the next one.

What did you get for 3? What was on that page that you did not understand?
Can you be more specific?


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#18 2010-12-04 21:34:42

ZainH
Member
Registered: 2010-12-03
Posts: 72

Re: The Nth term and Algebraic Equations (Factorizing/Expanding)

Hey bobby,
I didn't give any thought to 3 but just hold on Ill try to solve it.
(Did you come up with these yourself?)

What I don't understand is , in the method they describe on your link its Xn. Two variables meaning two unknowns.
The method I was described we didn't have x, only n. N would represent the term. For example your question..
1)4,7,12,19,28,39..

For the first term N = 1 , and since the answer is n^2+3 the equation would be .
1^2+3 = 4
Next term N=2... 2^2+3= 7, and so on.

What I don't get is what are they representing by x?

EDIT:
3) N^2 + N

Last edited by ZainH (2010-12-04 21:57:40)


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#19 2010-12-04 21:44:08

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: The Nth term and Algebraic Equations (Factorizing/Expanding)

Is just another way to name variables. The n is called a subscript. You can have lots of variables using subscripts. For instance:

Using just x we can have any number of variables in this way.

Now you can represent a sequence with a rule.

would give:

When you get to linear algebra and difference equations you will be dealing with many variables, hundreds even thousands.
If we just used a to z we could not name them all.

Even with small lists subscripts are useful. Supposing you had 26 numbers and named them a to z.
If I asked you what the fifteenth number in the list is, you would not know offhand that it was o ( the fifteenth letter ).
If you had named them with subscripts you could find the 15th one immediately.
It is


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#20 2010-12-04 21:59:53

ZainH
Member
Registered: 2010-12-03
Posts: 72

Re: The Nth term and Algebraic Equations (Factorizing/Expanding)

Hm.. All right, I think I understand.
I edited my last post with the answer to 3). If it didn't show I wrote..
3) N^2+ N


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#21 2010-12-04 22:02:31

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: The Nth term and Algebraic Equations (Factorizing/Expanding)

Hi;

That is correct. Want more?


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#22 2010-12-04 22:05:45

ZainH
Member
Registered: 2010-12-03
Posts: 72

Re: The Nth term and Algebraic Equations (Factorizing/Expanding)

Sure.
A question unrelated to the topic, I'm guessing your in university?


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#23 2010-12-04 22:11:32

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: The Nth term and Algebraic Equations (Factorizing/Expanding)

Nope! They forced me out of every school my parents tried to send me to. Some of my teachers, instructors and professors hated me. They said I reasoned like a dog... Woof! Woof! GRrrrr!

Try this one on for size!

0,4,18,48,100


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#24 2010-12-04 22:33:55

123ronnie321
Member
Registered: 2010-09-28
Posts: 128

Re: The Nth term and Algebraic Equations (Factorizing/Expanding)

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#25 2010-12-04 22:38:10

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: The Nth term and Algebraic Equations (Factorizing/Expanding)

Hi 123ronnie321;

I do not have to say that is right. You already know.

ZainH

If that is a little bit too tough yet then here is a slightly easier one.

0,14,78,252,620,1290


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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