Elementary Algebra

302 questions

Question 301Question

If x=3x = -3 and y=2y = 2, what is the value of the algebraic expression x2y(xy)22x+y2\frac{x^2 y - (x - y)^2}{2x + y^2}?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: 72\frac{7}{2}

Answer

72\frac{7}{2}
Substituting x=3x = -3 and y=2y = 2 gives a numerator of (3)2(2)(32)2=1825=7(-3)^2(2) - (-3 - 2)^2 = 18 - 25 = -7 and a denominator of 2(3)+22=6+4=22(-3) + 2^2 = -6 + 4 = -2. Dividing 7-7 by 2-2 gives 72\frac{7}{2}.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Evaluate the terms in the numerator
x2y=(3)2(2)=92=18x^2 y = (-3)^2(2) = 9 \cdot 2 = 18 and (xy)2=(32)2=(5)2=25(x - y)^2 = (-3 - 2)^2 = (-5)^2 = 25
Apply order of operations by performing parenthetical subtraction before squaring negative numbers.
2
Subtract the terms to find the total numerator value
1825=718 - 25 = -7
Subtract the squared binomial result from the first product.
3
Evaluate the denominator
2x+y2=2(3)+22=6+4=22x + y^2 = 2(-3) + 2^2 = -6 + 4 = -2
Multiply and square the variable values before adding.
4
Divide the numerator by the denominator and simplify
72=72\frac{-7}{-2} = \frac{7}{2}
Dividing a negative number by a negative number yields a positive result.

Key Concept

Evaluating Algebraic Expressions with Negative Bases and Parentheses
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 302Question

If x=2x = -2, y=13y = \frac{1}{3}, and z=4z = -4, what is the value of the algebraic expression x3y1(xz)2x+yz\frac{x^3 y^{-1} - (x - z)^2}{x + y z}?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: 425\frac{42}{5}

Answer

425\frac{42}{5}
Substituting x=2x = -2, y=13y = \frac{1}{3}, and z=4z = -4 into the expression yields (2)3=8(-2)^3 = -8, (13)1=3(\frac{1}{3})^{-1} = 3, and (2(4))2=22=4(-2 - (-4))^2 = 2^2 = 4. Thus, the numerator equals 8×34=28-8 \times 3 - 4 = -28. The denominator equals 2+(13)(4)=243=103-2 + (\frac{1}{3})(-4) = -2 - \frac{4}{3} = -\frac{10}{3}. Dividing the numerator by the denominator gives 28103=8410=425\frac{-28}{-\frac{10}{3}} = \frac{84}{10} = \frac{42}{5}.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Substitute the given values into the numerator of the expression: x3y1(xz)2x^3 y^{-1} - (x - z)^2.
Numerator = (2)3(13)1(2(4))2=(8)(3)(2)2=244=28(-2)^3 \left(\frac{1}{3}\right)^{-1} - (-2 - (-4))^2 = (-8)(3) - (2)^2 = -24 - 4 = -28.
First apply exponent rules and basic arithmetic inside the parentheses following standard order of operations.
2
Substitute the given values into the denominator of the expression: x+yzx + y z.
Denominator = 2+(13)(4)=243=6343=103-2 + \left(\frac{1}{3}\right)(-4) = -2 - \frac{4}{3} = -\frac{6}{3} - \frac{4}{3} = -\frac{10}{3}.
Multiply yy and zz first, then find a common denominator to add the fraction to the integer.
3
Divide the simplified numerator by the simplified denominator.
\frac{-28}{-\frac{10}{3}} = -28 \times \left(-\frac{3}{10}\right) = \frac{84}{10} = \frac{42}{5}.
Dividing by a fraction is equivalent to multiplying by its reciprocal.

Key Concept

Evaluating Algebraic Expressions with Negative Numbers and Negative Exponents
Estimated Time:1m 15s
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