Distributivity and Algebra | FIO

Question 16

Choose three consecutive numbers, square the middle one, and subtract the product of the other two. Repeat the same with other sets of numbers. What pattern do you notice? How do we write this as an algebraic equation? Expand both sides of the equation to check that it is a true identity.

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Solution
Understand the Question
  • For any three consecutive integers, let the middle number be xx, the preceding number be x1x - 1, and the succeeding number be x+1x + 1.
  • We investigate the expression: (middle number)2(first number×third number)(\text{middle number})^2 - (\text{first number} \times \text{third number}).
  • By testing specific numerical examples, we observe the pattern, formulate it as an algebraic equation, and prove it algebraically using the difference of squares identity (ab)(a+b)=a2b2(a - b)(a + b) = a^2 - b^2.

Step 1 · Explore the Pattern with Numerical Examples

Diagram 1

Case 1: Numbers 1,2,31, 2, 3

Square of middle number=22=4Product of other two=1×3=3Difference=43=1\begin{aligned} \text{Square of middle number} &= 2^2 = 4 \\ \text{Product of other two} &= 1 \times 3 = 3 \\ \text{Difference} &= 4 - 3 = 1 \end{aligned}

Case 2: Numbers 4,5,64, 5, 6

Square of middle number=52=25Product of other two=4×6=24Difference=2524=1\begin{aligned} \text{Square of middle number} &= 5^2 = 25 \\ \text{Product of other two} &= 4 \times 6 = 24 \\ \text{Difference} &= 25 - 24 = 1 \end{aligned}

Case 3: Numbers 10,11,1210, 11, 12

Square of middle number=112=121Product of other two=10×12=120Difference=121120=1\begin{aligned} \text{Square of middle number} &= 11^2 = 121 \\ \text{Product of other two} &= 10 \times 12 = 120 \\ \text{Difference} &= 121 - 120 = 1 \end{aligned}

Pattern observed: The result is always 11.

Step 2 · Write the Algebraic Equation

Let the middle number be xx. Then the three consecutive numbers are (x1)(x - 1), xx, and (x+1)(x + 1).

  • Square of the middle number =x2= x^2
  • Product of the other two numbers =(x1)(x+1)= (x - 1)(x + 1)

Equating the difference to the observed pattern gives the algebraic equation: x2(x1)(x+1)=1x^2 - (x - 1)(x + 1) = 1

Step 3 · Expand and Verify the Identity

Using the identity (ab)(a+b)=a2b2(a - b)(a + b) = a^2 - b^2, where a=xa = x and b=1b = 1: (x1)(x+1)=x212=x21(x - 1)(x + 1) = x^2 - 1^2 = x^2 - 1

Expanding the Left Hand Side (LHS):

LHS=x2(x1)(x+1)=x2(x21)=x2x2+1=1\begin{aligned} \text{LHS} &= x^2 - (x - 1)(x + 1) \\[0.6em] &= x^2 - (x^2 - 1) \\[0.6em] &= x^2 - x^2 + 1 \\[0.6em] &= 1 \end{aligned}

RHS=1\text{RHS} = 1

Since LHS=RHS=1\text{LHS} = \text{RHS} = 1, the equation is a true identity.

Answer
  • Pattern: The result is always 11.
  • Algebraic Equation: x2(x1)(x+1)=1x^2 - (x - 1)(x + 1) = 1
  • Verification: Expanding LHS=x2(x21)=1=RHS\text{LHS} = x^2 - (x^2 - 1) = 1 = \text{RHS}, confirming it is a true identity.
Common Mistakes
  • Distributing the Negative Sign: Forgetting to enclose (x21)(x^2 - 1) in parentheses when subtracting, resulting in x2x21=1x^2 - x^2 - 1 = -1 instead of x2(x21)=+1x^2 - (x^2 - 1) = +1.
  • Non-consecutive Numbers: Applying the rule to non-consecutive numbers (such as 1,3,51, 3, 5), where the difference of squares gives 32(1×5)=43^2 - (1 \times 5) = 4, which is d2d^2 (where dd is the common difference) rather than 11.

More questions in FIO

Q1

Observe the multiplication grid below. Each number inside the grid is formed by multiplying two numbers. If the middle number of a 3×33 \times 3 frame is given by the expression pqpq, as shown in the figure, write the expressions for the other numbers in the grid.

Q2

Expand the following products.

(i) (3+u)(v3)(3 + u) (v - 3)

(ii) 23(15+6a)\dfrac{2}{3} (15 + 6a)

(iii) (10a+b)(10c+d)(10a + b) (10c + d)

(iv) (3x)(x6)(3 - x) (x - 6)

(v) (5a+b)(c+d)(-5a + b) (c + d)

(vi) (5+z)(y+9)(5 + z) (y + 9)

Q3

Find 3 examples where the product of two numbers remains unchanged when one of them is increased by 2 and the other is decreased by 4.

Q4

Expand:

(i) (a+ab3b2)(4+b)(a + ab - 3b^2)(4 + b)

(ii) (4y+7)(y+11z3)(4y + 7)(y + 11z - 3)

Q5

Expand:

(i) (ab)(a+b)(a - b)(a + b)

(ii) (ab)(a2+ab+b2)(a - b)(a^2 + ab + b^2)

(iii) (ab)(a3+a2b+ab2+b3)(a - b)(a^3 + a^2b + ab^2 + b^3)

Do you see a pattern? What would be the next identity in the pattern that you see? Can you check it by expanding?

Q6

Which is greater: (ab)2(a - b)^2 or (ba)2(b - a)^2? Justify your answer.

Q7

Express 100 as the difference of two squares.

Q8

Find 4062406^2, 72272^2, 1452145^2, 109721097^2, and 1242124^2 using the identities you have learnt so far.

Q9

Do Patterns 1 and 2 hold only for counting numbers? Do they hold for negative integers as well? What about fractions? Justify your answer.

Q10

Compute these products using the suggested identity.

(i) 46246^2 using Identity 1A for (a+b)2(a + b)^2

(ii) 397×403397 \times 403 using Identity 1C for (a+b)(ab)(a + b)(a - b)

(iii) 91291^2 using Identity 1B for (ab)2(a - b)^2

(iv) 43×4543 \times 45 using Identity 1C for (a+b)(ab)(a + b)(a - b)

Q11

Use either a suitable identity or the distributive property to find each of the following products.

(i) (p1)(p+11)(p - 1)(p + 11)

(ii) (3a9b)(3a+9b)(3a - 9b)(3a + 9b)

(iii) (2y+5)(3y+4)-(2y + 5)(3y + 4)

(iv) (6x+5y)2(6x + 5y)^2

(v) (2x12)2\left(2x - \dfrac{1}{2}\right)^2

(vi) (7p)×(3r)×(p+2)(7p) \times (3r) \times (p + 2)

Q12

For each statement identify the appropriate algebraic expression(s).

(i) Two more than a square number.

2+s(s+2)2s2+2s2+42s222s2 + s \qquad (s + 2)^2 \qquad s^2 + 2 \qquad s^2 + 4 \qquad 2s^2 \qquad 2^2s

(ii) The sum of the squares of two consecutive numbers

m2+n2(m+n)2m2+1m2+(m+1)2m^2 + n^2 \qquad (m + n)^2 \qquad m^2 + 1 \qquad m^2 + (m + 1)^2 m2+(m1)2(m+(m+1))2(2m)2+(2m+1)2m^2 + (m - 1)^2 \qquad (m + (m + 1))^2 \qquad (2m)^2 + (2m + 1)^2

Q13

Consider any 2 by 2 square of numbers in a calendar, as shown in the figure.

Find products of numbers lying along each diagonal — 4×12=484 \times 12 = 48, 5×11=555 \times 11 = 55. Do this for the other 2 by 2 squares. What do you observe about the diagonal products? Explain why this happens.

Hint: Label the numbers in each 2 by 2 square as shown in the diagram.

Q14

Verify which of the following statements are true.

(i) (k+1)(k+2)(k+3)(k + 1)(k + 2) - (k + 3) is always 2.

(ii) (2q+1)(2q3)(2q + 1)(2q - 3) is a multiple of 4.

(iii) Squares of even numbers are multiples of 4, and squares of odd numbers are 1 more than multiples of 8.

(iv) (6n+2)2(4n+3)2(6n + 2)^2 - (4n + 3)^2 is 5 less than a square number.

Q15

A number leaves a remainder of 3 when divided by 7, and another number leaves a remainder of 5 when divided by 7. What is the remainder when their sum, difference, and product are divided by 7?

Q16

Choose three consecutive numbers, square the middle one, and subtract the product of the other two. Repeat the same with other sets of numbers. What pattern do you notice? How do we write this as an algebraic equation? Expand both sides of the equation to check that it is a true identity.

Q17

What is the algebraic expression describing the following steps—add any two numbers. Multiply this by half of the sum of the two numbers? Prove that this result will be half of the square of the sum of the two numbers.

Q18

Which is larger? Find out without fully computing the product.

(i) 14×2614 \times 26 or 16×2416 \times 24

(ii) 25×7525 \times 75 or 26×7426 \times 74

Q19

A tiny park is coming up in Dhauli. The plan is shown in the figure. The two square plots, each of area g2 sq. ft.g^2 \text{ sq. ft.}, will have a green cover. All the remaining area is a walking path w ft.w \text{ ft.} wide that needs to be tiled. Write an expression for the area that needs to be tiled.

Q20

For each pattern shown below,

(i) Draw the next figure in the sequence. (ii) How many basic units are there in Step 10? (iii) Write an expression to describe the number of basic units in Step yy.

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