Solutions to Algebra Questions for Grade 9

Detailed solutions and full explanations to grade 9 algebra questions are presented.

  1. Simplify the following algebraic expressions.

    1. - 6x + 5 + 12x -6
    2. 2(x - 9) + 6(-x + 2) + 4x
    3. 3x2 + 12 + 9x - 20 + 6x2 - x
    4. (x + 2)(x + 4) + (x + 5)(-x - 1)
    5. 1.2(x - 9) - 2.3(x + 4)
    6. (x2y)(xy2)
    7. (-x2y2)(xy2)
    Solution
    1. Group like terms and simplify.
      - 6x + 5 + 12x -6 = (- 6x + 12x) + (5 - 6)
      = 6x - 1
    2. Expand brackets.
      2(x - 9) + 6(-x + 2) + 4x = 2x - 18 - 6x + 12 + 4x
      Group like terms and simplify.
      = (2x - 6x + 4x) + (- 18 + 12) = - 6
    3. Group like terms and simplify.
      3x2 + 12 + 9x - 20 + 6x2 - x
      = (3x2 + 6x2) + (9x - x) + (12 - 20)
      = 9x2 + 8x - 8
    4. Expand brackets.
      (x + 2)(x + 4) + (x + 5)(- x - 1)
      = x2 + 4x + 2x + 8 - x2 - x - 5x - 5
      Group like terms.
      = (x2 - x2) + (4x + 2x - x - 5x) + (8 - 5)
      = 3
    5. Expand and group.
      1.2(x - 9) - 2.3(x + 4)
      = 1.2x - 10.8 - 2.3x - 9.2
      = -1.1x - 20
    6. Rewrite as follows.
      (x2y)(xy2) = (x2 x)(y y2)
      Use rules of exponential.
      = x3 y3
    7. Rewrite expression as follows.
      (-x2y2)(xy2) = -(x2 x)( y2 y2)
      Use rules of exponential.
      = - x3 y4

  2. Simplify the expressions.

    1. (a b2)(a3 b) / (a2 b3)
    2. (21 x5) / (3 x4)
    3. (6 x4)(4 y2) / [ (3 x2)(16 y) ]
    4. (4x - 12) / 4
    5. (-5x - 10) / (x + 2)
    6. (x2 - 4x - 12) / (x2 - 2 x - 24)
    Solution
    1. Use rules of exponential to simplify the numerator first.
      (a b2)(a3 b) / (a2 b3) = (a4 b3) / (a2 b3)
      Rewrite as follows.
      (a4 / a2) (b3 / b3)
      Use rule of quotient of exponentials to simplify.
      = a2
    2. Rewrite as follows.
      (21 x5) / (3 x4) = (21 / 3)(x5 / x4)
      Simplify.
      = 7 x
    3. (6 x4)(4 y2) / [ (3 x2)(16 y) ]
      Multiply terms in numerator and denominator and simplify.
      (6 x4)(4 y2) / [ (3 x2)(16 y) ] = (24 x4 y2) / (48 x2 y)
      Rewrite as follows.
      = (24 / 48)(x4 / x2)(y2 / y)
      Simplify.
      = (1 / 2) x2 y
    4. Factor 4 out in the numerator.
      (4x - 12) / 4 = 4(x - 3) / 4
      Simplify.
      = x - 3
    5. Factor -5 out in the numerator.
      (-5x - 10) / (x + 2) = - 5 (x + 2) / (x + 2)
      Simplify.
      = - 5
    6. Factor numerator and denominator as follows.
      (x2 - 4x - 12) / (x2 - 2x - 24) = [(x - 6)(x + 2)] / [(x - 6)(x + 4)]
      Simplify.
      = (x + 2) / (x + 4) , for all x not equal to 6

  3. Solve for x the following linear equations.

    1. 2x = 6
    2. 6x - 8 = 4x + 4
    3. 4(x - 2) = 2(x + 3) + 7
    4. 0.1 x - 1.6 = 0.2 x + 2.3
    5. - x / 5 = 2
    6. (x - 4) / (- 6) = 3
    7. (-3x + 1) / (x - 2) = -3
    8. x / 5 + (x - 1) / 3 = 1/5
    Solution
    1. Divide both sides of the equation by 2 and simplify.
      2x / 2 = 6 / 2
      x = 3
    2. Add 8 to both sides and group like terms.
      6x - 8 + 8 = 4x + 4 + 8
      6x = 4x + 12
      Add - 4x to both sides and group like terms.
      6x - 4x = 4x + 12 - 4x
      2x = 12
      Divide both sides by 2 and simplify.
      x = 6
    3. Expand brackets.
      4x - 8 = 2x + 6 + 7
      Add 8 to both sides and group like terms.
      4x - 8 + 8 = 2x + 6 + 7 + 8
      4x = 2x + 21
      Add - 2x to both sides and group like terms.
      4x - 2x = 2x + 21 - 2x
      2x = 21
      Divide both sides by 2.
      x = 21 / 2
    4. Add 1.6 to both sides and simplify.
      0.1 x - 1.6 = 0.2 x + 2.3
      0.1 x - 1.6 + 1.6 = 0.2 x + 2.3 + 1.6
      0.1 x = 0.2 x + 3.9
      Add - 0.2 x to both sides and simplify.
      0.1 x - 0.2 x = 0.2 x + 3.9 - 0.2 x
      - 0.1 x = 3.9
      Divide both sides by - 0.1 and simplify.
      x = - 39
    5. Multiply both sides by - 5 and simplify.
      - 5(- x / 5) = - 5(2)
      x = - 10
    6. Multiply both sides by - 6 and simplify.
      (-6)(x - 4) / (- 6) = (-6)3
      x - 4 = - 18
      Add 4 to both sides and simplify.
      x = - 14
    7. Multiply both sides by (x - 2) and simplify.
      (x - 2)(-3x + 1) / (x - 2) = -3(x - 2)
      Expand right term.
      -3x + 1 = -3x + 6
      Add 3x to both sides and simplify.
      - 3x + 1 + 3x = - 3x + 6 + 3x
      1 = 6
      The last statement is false and the equation has no solutions.
    8. Multiply all terms by the LCM of 5 and 3 which is 15.
      15(x / 5) + 15(x - 1) / 3 = 15(1 / 5)
      Simplify and expand.
      3x + 15x - 15 = 3
      Group like terms and solve.
      18 x = 3 + 15
      18 x = 18
      x = 1

  4. Find any real solutions for the following quadratic equations.

    1. 2 x2 - 8 = 0
    2. x2 = -5
    3. 2x2 + 5x - 7 = 0
    4. (x - 2)(x + 3) = 0
    5. (x + 7)(x - 1) = 9
    6. x(x - 6) = -9
    Solution
    1. Divide all terms by 2.
      2 x2 / 2 - 8 / 2 = 0 / 2
      and simplify
      x2 - 4 = 0
      Factor the right side.
      (x - 2)(x + 2) = 0
      Solve for x.
      x - 2 = 0 or x = 2
      x + 2 = 0 or x = -2
      Solution set {-2 , 2}
    2. The given equation x2 = -5 has no real solution since the square of real numbers is never negative.
    3. Factor the left side as follows.
      2x2 + 5x - 7 = 0
      Factor
      (2x + 7)(x - 1) = 0
      Solve for x.
      2x + 7 = 0 or x - 1 = 0
      x = - 7/2 , x = 1, solution set:{-7/2 , 1}
    4. Solve for x.
      (x - 2)(x + 3) = 0
      x - 2 = 0 or x + 3 = 0
      solution set: {-3 , 2}
    5. Expand left side.
      x2 + 6x - 7 = 9
      Rewrite the above equation with right side equal to 0.
      x2 + 6x - 16 = 0
      Factor left side.
      (x + 8)(x - 2) = 0
      Solve for x.
      x + 8 = 0 or x - 2 = 0
      solution set: {-8 , 2}
    6. Expand left side and rewrite with right side equal to zero.
      x2 - 6x + 9 = 0
      Factor left side.
      (x - 3)2 = 0
      Solve for x.
      x - 3 = 0
      solution set: {3}

  5. Find any real solutions for the following equations.

    1. x3 - 1728 = 0
    2. x3 = - 64
    3. √x = -1
    4. √x = 5
    5. √(x/100) = 4
    6. √(200/x) = 2
    Solution
    1. Rewrite equation as.
      x3 = 1728
      Take the cube root of each side.
      (x3)1/3 = (1728)1/3
      Simplify.
      x = (1728)1/3 = 12
    2. Take the cube root of each side.
      (x3)1/3 = (- 64)1/3
      Simplify.
      x = - 4
    3. The equation √x= - 1 has no real solution because the square of a real number is greater than or equal to zero.
    4. Square both sides.
      (√x)2 = 52
      Simplify.
      x = 25
    5. Square both sides.
      (√(x/100))2 = 42
      Simplify.
      x / 100 = 16
      Multiply both sides by 100 and simplify.
      x = 1,600
    6. Square both sides.
      (√(200/x))2 = 22
      Simplify.
      200 / x = 4
      Multiply both sides by x and simplify.
      x(200 / x) = 4 x
      200 = 4 x
      Solve for x.
      x = 50

  6. Evaluate for the given values of a and b.

    1. a2 + b2 , for a = 2 and b = 2
      |2a - 3b| , for a = -3 and b = 5
    2. 3a3 - 4b4 , for a = -1 and b = -2
    Solution
    1. Substitute a and b by their values and evaluate.
      for a = 2 and b = 2
      a2 + b2 = 22 + 22 = 8
    2. Set a = - 3 and b = 5 in the given expression and evaluate.
      | 2a - 3b | = | 2( -3) - 3(5) | = | -6 - 15 | = | -21 | = 21
    3. Set a = - 1 and b = -2 in the given expression and evaluate.
      3a3 - 4b4 = 3(-1)3 - 4(-2)4 = 3(-1) - 4(16) = - 3 - 64 = - 67

  7. Solve the following inequalities.

    1. x + 3 < 0
    2. x + 1 > -x + 5
    3. 2(x - 2) < -(x + 7)
    Solution
    1. Add -3 to both sides of the inequality and simplify.
      x + 3 - 3 < 0 - 3
      x < -3
    2. Add x to both sides of the inequality and simplify.
      x + 1 + x > - x + 5 + x
      2x + 1 > 5
      Add -1 to both sides of the inequality and simplify.
      2x + 1 - 1 > 5 - 1
      2x > 4
      Divide both sides by 2.
      x > 2
    3. Expand brackets and group like terms.
      2x - 4 < - x - 7
      Add 4 to both sides and simplify.
      2x - 4 + 4 < - x - 7 + 4
      2x < - x - 3
      Add x to both sides and simplify.
      2x + x < - x - 3 + x
      3x < - 3
      Divide both sides by 3 and simplify.
      x < - 1

  8. For what value of the constant k does the quadratic equation x2 +2x = - 2k have two distinct real solutions?


    Solution
    We first find write the given equation with right side equal to zero.
    x2 +2x + 2k = 0
    We now calculate the discriminant D of the quadratic equation.
    D = b2 - 4 a c = 22 - 4 (1)(2k) = 4 - 8 k
    For the solution to have two distinct real solution, D has to be positive. Hence
    4 - 8 k > 0
    Solve the inequality to get
    k < 1/2

  9. For what value of the constant b does the linear equation 2 x + b y = 2 have a slope equal to 2?


    Solution
    Solve for y and identify the slope
    b y = - 2 x + 2
    y = (- 2 / b) x + 2 / b
    slope = (- 2 / b) = 2
    Solve the equation (- 2 / b) = 2 for b
    (- 2 / b) = 2
    -2 = 2 b
    b = - 1

  10. What is the y intercept of the line - 4 x + 6 y = - 12?


    Solution
    Set x = 0 in the equation and solve for y.
    - 4 (0) + 6 y = - 12
    6 y = - 12
    y = - 2
    y intercept: (0 , - 2)

  11. What is the x intercept of the line - 3 x + y = 3?


    Solution
    Set y = 0 in the equation and solve for x.
    - 3 x + 0 = 3
    x = -1
    x intercept: (-1 , 0)

  12. What is point of intersection of the lines x - y = 3 and - 5 x - 2 y = - 22?


    Solution
    A point of intersection of two lines is solution to the equations of both lines. To find the point of intersection of the two lines, we need to solve the system of equations x - y = 3 and -5 x - 2 y = -22 simultaneously. Equation x - y = 3 can be solved for x to give
    x = 3 + y
    Substitute x by 3 + y in the equation - 5 x - 2 y = -22 and solve for y
    -5 (3 + y) - 2 y = - 22
    -15 - 5 y - 2 y = - 22
    -7 y = - 22 + 15
    -7 y = - 7
    y = 1
    Substitute x by 3 + y in the equation -5 x - 2 y = - 22 and solve for y
    x = 3 + y = 3 + 1 = 4
    Point of intersection: (4 , 1)

  13. For what value of the constant k does the line - 4 x + k y = 2 pass through the point (2,-3)?


    Solution
    For the line to pass through the point (2,-3), the ordered pair (2,-3) must be a solution to the equation of the line. We substitute x by 2 abd y by - 3 in the equation.
    - 4(2) + k(-3) = 2
    Solve the for k to obtain
    k = - 10 / 3

  14. What is the slope of the line with equation y - 4 = 10?


    Solution
    Write the given equation in slope intercept form y = m x + b and identify the slope m.
    y = 14
    It is a horizontal line and therefore the slope is equal to 0.

  15. What is the slope of the line with equation 2 x = -8?


    Solution
    The above equation may be written as
    x = - 4
    It is a vertical line and therefore the slope is undefined.

  16. Find the x and y intercepts of the line with equation x = - 3?


    Solution
    The above is a vertical line with x intercept only given by
    (-3 , 0)

  17. Find the x and y intercepts of the line with equation 3 y - 6 = 3?


    Solution
    The given equation may be written as
    y = 3
    The above is a horizontal line with y intercept only given by
    (0 , 3)

  18. What is the slope of a line parallel to the x axis?


    Solution
    A line parallel to the x axis is a horizontal line and its slope is equal to 0.

  19. What is the slope of a line perpendicular to the x axis?


    Solution
    A line perpendicular to the x axis is a vertical line and its slope is undefined.


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Middle School Math (Grades 6, 7, 8, 9) - Free Questions and Problems With Answers
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