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O-Level Algebraic expressions and formulae

What the O-Level syllabus expects for Algebraic expressions and formulae, and how to practise it.

What the syllabus expects

letting letters stand for numbers
reading algebraic notation correctly, for example ab as a × b, a² as a × a, 3y as y + y + y, and the fraction and bracket conventions
evaluating algebraic expressions and formulae
turning simple real-life situations into algebraic expressions
spotting patterns and relationships and writing an algebraic expression for the nth term
adding and subtracting linear expressions
simplifying linear expressions
Scope: for example −2(3x − 5) + 4x and (2x − 5)/3 − 3x/2
using brackets and taking out common factors
factorising linear expressions in the form ax + bx + kay + kby
expanding products of algebraic expressions
rearranging a formula to make a different variable the subject
determining an unknown quantity within a given formula
applying the identities (a + b)² = a² + 2ab + b², (a − b)² = a² − 2ab + b², and a² − b² = (a + b)(a − b)
factorising quadratic expressions of the form ax² + bx + c
multiplying and dividing straightforward algebraic fractions
adding and subtracting algebraic fractions whose denominators are linear or quadratic