G.C.E.

Advanced Level – 2017 Theory Wasantha Disanayake

Basic Mathematics
1. Algebra
1. Binomial Expansion
We learnt the following expansions in G.C.E. (O/L)
( + ) , ( − ) , ( + ) and ( − )

(01) Obtain the following binomial expansions.

( + ) , ( − ) , ( + ) and ( − )

(02) Expand the following binomials.

i. (2 + 3 ) ii. (2 −5 )
iii. (3 + 2 ) iv. 2
−

v. ( + − )

(03) Given that + = 4 and = 5 find the value of (i) + and (ii) +

(04) Write the expansion of the following:

1
1. (2 + 3 ) 2. (3 − 4 ) 3. +

1 1 1
4. (2 +5 ) 5. + 6. −

2 1 2
7. − 8. − 9. (4 −3 )
2
10. ( +2 ) 11. (2 − ) 12. (3 + 2 )
1 1
13. + 14. − 15. ( −2 )

16. ( + + ) 17. ( + − ) 18. ( − + )

1 1 1 2
19. + 20. − 21. (2 −3 )

22. ( − − ) 23. ( −2 + ) 24. ( − −2 )

25. Evaluate
(i) 101 (ii) 198 (iii) 401 (iv) 999

26. Evaluate

1 Wasantha Disanayake | 2017 Theory | Basic Mathematics

 (i) 101 + 2 × 101 × 99 × 99 (ii) 88 − 2 × 88 × 87 + 87

27. Evaluate
(a) 51 + 3 × 51 × 49 + 3 × 51 × 49 + 49
(b) 101 − 3 × 1012 × 99 + 3 × 101 × 99 − 99

28. Show that

(a) ( + ) + ( − ) = 2( + )
(b) ( + ) − ( − ) = 4
(c) ( + ) + ( − ) = 2 ( +3 )
(d) ( + ) − ( − ) = 2 (3 + )

1 1
29. If + = , find the values of (a) + 2 and (b) + 3 in terms of a.

30. If − = 4 and = 21, find the value of −

1
31. If + = − 3 , findthevalueof + −
1 1
32. If − = −5, findthevalueof − 2 − 200

33. If = 4, show that is 76.

34. If = 2, find the value of

35. If + − 3 = 0, find the value of + +9 − 26

36. If + − 7 = 0 and = 12, find the value of + +4 ( + )

37. If = 2 + 4, show that −8 − 24 = 64

38. If + + = 0, show that + + =3

39. If + =1+ , show that + =1+

3
40. If ( + ) = , show that + +3 = 3 3

2. Factorization
Factorization of algebraic expression

2.1 Trinomials
Examples for trinomials.
Ex:- − 5 − 6, 2 −5 −3 , 3 −5 −2

2 Wasantha Disanayake | 2017 Theory | Basic Mathematics

(01) Factorise: − 5 − 6,
(02) Factorise: 2 −5 −3
(03) Factorise: 3 −5 −2
(04) Factorise: 2( + 3) − 7( + 3) − 4
(05) Factorise: 2(2 + ) − 5(2 + )( − 2 ) − 3( − 2 )

Difference of squares. −
− = − + −
= ( − )+ ( − )
= ( − )( + )
− = ( − )( + )

(01) Factorise: −
(02) Factorise: −1
(03) Factorise: +4
(04) Factorise: 1 − +2 −

Factorizing + and −
Consider the product ( + )( − + )
( + )( − + )
= ( − + )+ ( − + )
= − + + − +
= +
Therefore + = ( + )( − + )

Consider the product ( − )( + + )

( − )( + + )= ( + + )− ( + + )
= + + − − −
= −
Therefore − = ( − )( + + )

+ = ( + )( − + )
− = ( − )( + + )

(01) Factorise: 81 −3
1
(02) Factorise: + 3

3 Wasantha Disanayake | 2017 Theory | Basic Mathematics

 1
(03) Factorise: − 3

(04) Factorise: 8 +( + )
(05) Factorise: − 27( − )
(06) Factorise: ( + ) +
Write the expansion of ( + ) and show that + =( + ) −3 ( + )
Using the above results factorise + + −3
(07) Factorise:
1. − −6 2. + 4 − 96
3. +5 −6 4. − 4 − 12
5. + − 42 6. − 9 + 18
7. 2 +5 +3 8. 2 −5 +3
9. 2 +5 −3 10. 2 −5 −3
11. 10 − 7 − 12 12. 15 + −2
13. 18 − 33 − 216 14. 6 − 55 + 126
15. 2 −5 +3 16. 6 −5 −6
17. 4 +8 +3 18. 2 − 27 + 13
19. 40 + 49 − 24 20. 32 − 36 − 35
21. 24 − 17 − 20 22. 18 −3 − 10
23. ( − 3 ) − 38( − 3 ) − 80 24. ( + + ) − 3( + + ) − 28
25. 2( + ) − 3( + ) − 27 26. 6( + ) − 5( − ) − 6( − )
27. + − ( − 1)( − 2) 28. − − ( − 1)( − 2)

29. − + +1 30. +2 + ( + )( − )

31. +( − 1) − 32. + − (6 −5 + )
33. 4( − ) − 8( − )−5
34. 10( + 2 ) + 21( + 2 )(2 − ) − 10(2 − )
35. 2(2 + ) − 5(2 + )( − 2 ) + 3( − 2 )

(08) Factorise:
1
1. −4 2. − 3. − 2

4. − 5. 4−9 6. ( −4 ) −9
7. 16 − ( + ) 8. 9−( − ) 9. 12 −3

10. 1−( − ) 11. 1−( + ) 12. − − −

13. − − + 14. − + + 15. − + −

4 Wasantha Disanayake | 2017 Theory | Basic Mathematics

16. − −4 +4 17. − −4 +4 18. + −( + )

19. ( + 1) − ( + 1) 20. −3 + 21. + +

22. +5 +9 23. —4 +4 − 24. 4 + − +4

25. + +1 26. 4 + 11 +9

(09) Evaluate:
1. 100 − 99 2. 94 − 36 3. 12.38 − 7.62
4. 6.2 − 3.8 5. 100 × 99 + 1 6. 11.7 × 9.3 + 8.3 × 9.3
7. √148 × 140 + 16 8. 319 − 318 × 320 9. 12.5 − 13 × 12
10. 103 × 97

(10) Factorise:
1. +8 2. 27 − 3. 125 − 64
1 1
4. 8 − 5. + 3 6. − 3

7. + 8. − 9. +( + )

10. +( − ) 11. −( − ) 12. 8 + (2 − )

13. ( + ) +( − ) 14. ( + ) −( − ) 15. 8( + ) + ( + )
16. − 17. + 18. − 27
19. (a) Factorise ( + ) +
(b) Show that + =( + ) −3 ( + )
(c) Using the results in (a) and (b), factorise + + −3
Hence, factorise the following polynomials.
(i) + − +3
(ii) 8 + + −6
(iii) +8 − 27 + 18
(iv) − 28 −9
(v) 8 + −1+6

20. Show that

(i) if = + , then + + =3
(ii) if + + = 0, then + + =3
(iii) if = 2 − 3 , then 8 − 27 − = 18

21. Given that + + = 0, show that + + =3

5 Wasantha Disanayake | 2017 Theory | Basic Mathematics

 Hence, factorise the following algebraic polynomials.
(i) ( − ) + ( − ) + ( − )
(ii) (2 − 3 ) + (3 − 4 ) + 8(2 − )
(iii) ( − ) + ( − ) + ( − )
(iv) ( − 3 ) + (3 − 4 ) + (4 − )

3. Algebraic Fractions
Lowest Common Multiple (L.C.M.)
Lowest common Multiple of simple polynomials can be easily found resolved into their
elementary factors.
i. Find the L.C.M. of 8 , 12 , and 18
ii. Find the L.C.M. of 2 − 8, 3 + 3 − 6 and 6 − 6 − 12

Simplifying Algebraic Fractions

i. −( )

ii. − +

iii. + −

iv. + −

v. + −1

vi.

vii. Simplify × ×

viii.
( )
÷
1+ 1+2
ix. Given that = 2 −1 and = 1− . Find in terms of only.

x. Simplify.

(a) + +

(b) +

(c) − −

6 Wasantha Disanayake | 2017 Theory | Basic Mathematics

(d) + +

1 2 −3 −2
(e) − 1− − 2 −1

(f) − +

(g) − −

(h) −

(i) + −

(j) − +

(k) + +
( )( ) ( )( ) ( )( )

( )
(l) + +
( )( )

(m) ×

(n) × ×
( ) ( )

(o) × ×

(p) − ÷ −

(q) 2− ÷ 2+

(r) − ÷ −

1 1
(s) If = + and = − , find in terms of .

1−
(t) If = 1+ , express in terms of .

1+ 1−
(u) If = 1− and = 1+ find in terms of .

7 Wasantha Disanayake | 2017 Theory | Basic Mathematics

 4. Equations
4.1. Equations involving one variable.
We will consider the various methods of solving an equation in this chapter.
(a) Linear Equations.
3 + 2 2( − 2)
+ =1
−1 +2

(b) Quadratic Equation

The most general form of a quadratic equation is + + = 0, where , , are real
numbers and ≠ 0.
Solution of the quadratic equation + + = 0, ≠ 0 by the method of completion of
squares.
+ + =0; ≠0

+ + = 0 (dividing both sides by a)

+ =−

Adding both sides , we get

+ + =− +
2 2
−4
+ =
2 4

−4
+ =±
2 4

− ±√ −4
=
2
− −√ −4 − +√ −4
= , =
2 2

Thus the roots of the equation are

− −√ −4 − +√ −4
, and
2 2
Solve the following equations.
(a) 4 −4 −3=0
(b) 3 −5 −1=0

(c) Equations reducible to quadratic equations.

(a) Solve: ( + 3 ) − 5( +3 )−6= 0

(b) Solve: + =

8 Wasantha Disanayake | 2017 Theory | Basic Mathematics

(d) Equations of the form + + + + =

(01) Solve: 6 2+ 1 + 35 +1 + 62 = 0
2

(02) Solve: 2 +1 −3 −1 =8

(03) Solve the following equations.

(a) 2 − 3.2 + 32 = 0
(b) 3 +3 =4
(04) Solve the equation : ( + 1)(2 + 1)(2 − 7)( − 3) = 45

(05) Solve: √4 − 2 + √2 + 3 = 6 ≥

(06) Solve the following equations:

(a) 3 − 2(2 + 1) = 7

(b) − =

(c) − =2

(d) − − =
4( −3) −2
(e) 6 − 3
= 5

(f) +2= −

(g) − =2

(h) ( + 1)(2 − 1) + ( − 3)(2 + 1) = (2 + 3)

(i) − =

(j) − = +1

(07) Solve the following equations.

(a) 3 −2 =0
(b) ( + 2) = 1
(c) ( − 3)( − 5) = 3
(d) 2 −5 −3 =0
(e) − 3 (3 − 4) + 8 = 0
(f) 5 ( + 1) − (2 + 1) = 4
(g) + ( + 3) = 15

9 Wasantha Disanayake | 2017 Theory | Basic Mathematics

 (h) − + =0

(i)
( )( )
+( )( )
−( )( )
=0

(j)
( )( )
−( )( )
=( )( )

(k)
( )
−( )
−

(l) − −

(08) Solve the following equations by the method of completion of squares.

(m) −6 −5 =0
(n) 2 +7 −5 =0
(o) 2 −3 −7 =0

(p) − =0

(09) Solve the following equations.

1. ( + 5 + 7) − 4( + 5 + 7) + 3 = 0
2. ( − 9 + 15)( − 9 + 20) = 6
2 2
3. + +4 + −1 = 6

4. +5 +6=0

1 1
5. 3 ( + 7)2 + ( + 7) 2 = 10

6. + 4√ = 12
7. + 3√5 = 50
1 1 3
8. 2 − 2 =2
1 2
9. 3 + 3 =2
2 2
10. 9 3 +4 3 = 37

11. + = 12

12. + =2

13. = −

10 Wasantha Disanayake | 2017 Theory | Basic Mathematics

 1 1 3
14. − +7 − = 12 4

1 1
15. 2 + −7 + +6 =0
1 1
16. 9 + 2 − 27 + +8=0
1 1
17. + 2 −5 + +4=0
1 1
18. 3 + 2 − 16 + + 26 = 0
1 1
19. 2 + 2 −9 − + 14 = 0
1 1
20. 8 + 2 − 42 − + 29 = 0

1 2 1
21. − −3 − =8

22. 3 +3 = 10
23. 5 +5 =5 +5
24. 4 +4 = 10
25. √ + 2 + √ + 9 = 7
26. 2√ + 1 − 3√2 − 5 = √ − 2
27. √3 − 5 − √2 − 5 = 1
28. 2 = 65(2 − 1) + 57
29. ( − 6)( − 5)( + 1)( + 2) = 144
29
30. − +2 + = 4

31. ( + 1)( + 2)( + 3)( + 4) + 1 = 0

4.2. Equations in two variables

(a) Both equations are linear in two variables x and y.
These equations can be written in the form + = , + =
1. Solve: 4 + 3 = 17
5 − 2 = 4

(b) One equation linear the other non-linear.

2. Solve: 2 − 3 = 1
2 +3 −3 = 38

(c) Both equations, homogeneous expressions in x and y equal to a constant.

3. Solve: − =6
+ = 61
11 Wasantha Disanayake | 2017 Theory | Basic Mathematics
(d) One equation is homogeneous in the two variables x and y.
4. Solve: + −2 =0
+2 +3 + 4 + 5 = 15

4.3. Further examples (including equations in three variables)

5. Solve: (3 − 5) = 4
(2 + 7) = 27

6. Solve the equations: 3 + 5 = 29

7 + 4 = 37

7. Solve the equations: +4 +4 =7

3 +2 +2 =6
9 + 6 + 2 = 14

8. Solve the equations: + =1

+ =2
+ =5

9. Solve the equations; =3 =6 =2

10. Solve.
i. +2 =4 ii. 3 −2 =7
3 +5 =9 2 − 5 = 12
iii. 5 − 3 = 18 iv. 53 + 47 = 59
3 = 11 + 2 47 + 53 = 41
v. −2 1 vi. 2 1
= + = 18
3
1 1 2
= − = −1
+1 2

vii. 2 3 viii. 3 2
+ = −5 − =2

3 5 9 4
− = 21 − =1

ix. 2 x. 5
5 − =9 4 + =3

5 4
2 − = 12 3 − = 10

12 Wasantha Disanayake | 2017 Theory | Basic Mathematics

 xi. + xii. 3 2
=2 + =2
+1 −2
− 4 9
=6 + =5
+1 −4

xiii. − = − = − xiv. −1 +2 2 +2
= =
2 3 9
xv. ( + ) +( − ) =2
( − ) +( + ) =2

11. Solve.
i. −2 =1 ii. −2 =1
=2 + −2 +2 = 25

iii. 2 +3 =5 iv. + =4
+2 = 10 + − =8

v. 3 + 2 = 25 vi. 2 −3 =2
=4 4 −4 − 18 =5

vii. − =7 viii. 4 −3 = 13
− =5 5 + 2 = 18

ix. + − +6 −1 =0 x. + =2
3 +5 −2 =0 +2 +3 + 4 + 5 = 15

xi. −2 − = 14 xii. − +3 = 15
2 +3 + = −2 3 −2 = −5

xiii. ( − 2)( − 1) = 3 xiv. 3 4

+ = − =1
( + 2)(2 − 5) = 3 3 4

xv. ( + 3) = 4 xvi. − 2 + 3 = 17
3 ( − 4) = 5 2 + + 5 = 17
3 −4 −2 =1
xvii. 2 + 3 − 4 = 10 xviii. + 3 − 2 = 19
4 −5 +3 =2 3 − − =7
2 + =8 −2 + 5 + =2

xix. 4 + 3 − 2 = 11
3 − 7 + 3 = 10
9 −8 +5 =8

xx. Solve the equations = 1, = 9, = 16 and deduce the solutions of equations.

13 Wasantha Disanayake | 2017 Theory | Basic Mathematics

 ( + )( + ) = 1, ( + )( + ) = 9, ( + )( + ) = 16

xxi. Solve the following equations.

( − 2)( − 1) = 4, ( − 1)( + 1) = 20, ( + 1)( − 2) = 5

xxii. Solve the equations: ( + ) = 33, ( + ) = 35, ( + ) = 14

xxiii. Solve the equations: ( − ) = 3, ( + ) = 32, + + = 12

5. Indices and Logarithms

Laws of indices:

, are real numbers. and are rational numbers.

× =
÷ =
( ) =
( ) =

When ≠ 0 and is a rational number.

= =

In , is called the base and the index or exponent.

index, exponent

base
An equation in which the variable is an exponent is called exponential equation.
For example 2 = 32 is an exponential equation.

Find the values of the following when = 9 and = 16.

(a) (b) 6 (c) (4 ) (d) ( + )
.

Solve: (a) 2 = 10 × 5
(b) 16 = 1/8

5.1. Logarithm
Consider = 3 . It will be observed that y must be positive for all real values of x.
When = 2, =9 = 0, =1
1
= 3, = 27 = −4, = 81

14 Wasantha Disanayake | 2017 Theory | Basic Mathematics

In 3 = , 3 is called base and is index. The logarithm of the number (> 0) to the base 3 is .

i.e; 3 = ⇔ log =

In general, if = , ( > 0, > 0) then is called the logarithm of to the base and is
written as log =

= ⇔ = , , > , ≠

For example:

 2 = 32 ⇔ log 32 = 5

 10 = 1000 ⇔ log 1000 = 3

 3 = ⇔ log = −4

 = ⇔ log =5

 = ⇔ log =1

Some fundamental properties of logarithms:

, and are positive numbers and ≠1

= +

= −

= where p is rational.

Let, log = and log =

log = ⇔ =

log = ⇔ =

(a) = × = ⇔ log = +
= + = +

−
(b) = = ⇔ log = −

= − = −

(c) =( ) =
= =

15 Wasantha Disanayake | 2017 Theory | Basic Mathematics

1. Given that log 2 = 0.3010 and log 2 = 04771, find the values of
(a) log 18 (b) log 15 (c) log 0.012

2. Find the values of the following

log 5 − log 16 + 2 log 2 + log 8
5
log 54 − log 15 + 2 log
3

3. Solve:
3 log + log 96 = 2 log 9 + log 4
4 log + 6 log 3 = log 625 + log 9

4. Find the value of (a) log√ (b) log √ 16

(01) If = 27 and = 4 find the values of

(a) (b) (c) 12 (d)

(2 ) +

(02) Find the values of the following:

64 + 27 81
(a) 25 × 16 (b) (c)
110 24

(03) If = 25 , = 81 and = 16, find the values of

+
(a) (b) (c)
( ) +

(04) Simplify.

4 1 27
× ×
9 3 8
(05) Solve:
1
(a) 3 = 243 (b) 16 =
8
1
(c) 4 = (d) 27 = 3×9
2
(e) 3 =9 (f) 9 −4×3 +3 =0

(06) Find the values of

12 25 2 3 10
(a) log + log − log (b) log + log + log 12 − 2
5 21 7 4 9

log 8
(c) (d) 3 log 2 + 2 log 5 − log 2
log 4

16 Wasantha Disanayake | 2017 Theory | Basic Mathematics

(07) Evaluate each of the following :
(a) log 81 (b) log √ 324 (c) log √ 144 (d) log 7

(08) Find the values of in the following equations.

i. 5 log − log 729 = 6 log 2 + 11 log
ii. 4 log + 2 log 9 = 3 log 24 − log 54
iii. 2 log = log 3 + log(2 − 3)

(09) Solve the equations.

i. 2 + 3.2 − 1 = 0
ii. log ( + 1) − 2 log =1

(10) Show that

16 25 81
log 2 + 16 log + 12 log + 7 log =1
15 24 80

(11) Prove that

log( ) − log( ) + log( ) − 3 log( ) = 0 the base being the same throughout.
5
log(log ) − log(log ) = log
2

log + log + log =0

+ 1 1
(12) If + =7 , show that log = 2 log + 2 log
3

+ 1 1
(13) If log = 2 log + 2 log , prove that =
2

(14) Prove that log(1 + 2 + 3) = log 1 + log 2 + log 3

(15) If , , are any consecutive three positive integers, prove that log(1 + ) = 2 log

(16) Prove that log + log + ⋯ + log = (2 + 1) log where >0

(17) If log( + ) = log − log show that (1 − ) =

(18) If 2 . 3 = 3 . 4 = 6, show that −2 =2 −3

(19) If = = prove that

(i) = and (ii) =

(20) If = = , prove that . . =1

17 Wasantha Disanayake | 2017 Theory | Basic Mathematics

 6. Ratio and Proportion

Proportion: Equality of two ratios is called a proportion. = is a proportion. This is written

as : = : .
Here , , , are called proportional.
Properties of proportions.

If : = : , then
+ +
=

− −
=

+ +
=
− −

Let = =

⇒ = and =

( )
(a) = = = +1

+ + ( + 1)
= = = +1

Hence, =

( )
(b) = = = −1

− − ( − 1)
= = = −1

Hence, =

( ) ( )
(c) = = ( )
=( )

+ + ( + 1) ( + 1)
= = =
− − ( − 1) ( − 1)

Hence, =

18 Wasantha Disanayake | 2017 Theory | Basic Mathematics

If = , then each ratio is equal to

i.e., If = , then = =

Let = =

⇒ = and =

+ + ( + )
= = =
+ + ( + )

Hence, = =

This is a very useful result in solving problems.

1. If = 7, find the values of (a) (b)

2. Solve the equations. 2 −3 =0 3 + 4 = 51

3. If = , show that =

4. If (4 + )(4 − 7 ) = (4 − 7 )(4 + ) Show that : = :

5. If (4 + 7 )(4 − 7 ) = (4 − 7 )(4 + 7 ) Show that : = :

6
6. If = + find the value of +

7. If : = 5: 3 and : = 4: 5 find : :
If : = 3: 4 and : = 4: 5 find : :
8. If : = 7: 5 find 5 − 2 : 3 + 2
9. If 3 + 5 : 5 + 12 = 11: 12 find :
10. If 5 − :2 − = 6: 1 find :
11. If : = : , prove that
(a) (2 + 3 ): (2 + 3 ) = (2 − 3 ): (2 − 3 )
(b) (3 + 5 ): (3 − 5 ) = (3 + 5 ): (3 − 5 )

12. If (2 + 3 )(2 − 3 ) = (2 − 3 )(2 + 3 ), show that : = :

2
13. If = + find the value of +

19 Wasantha Disanayake | 2017 Theory | Basic Mathematics

 10
14. If = + find the value of +
15. If (3 + 6 − − 2 )(3 − 6 + − 2 ) = (3 + 6 + + 2 )(3 − 6 − + 2 ), show
that : = :
16. Solve the following equations using the properties of proportion.

(a) = (b) =

20 Wasantha Disanayake | 2017 Theory | Basic Mathematics