Algebra Cheat Sheet

Basic Properties & Facts

Arithmetic Operations ab + ac = a ( b + c ) a a b = c bc a c ad + bc + = b d bd a-b b-a = c-d d -c ab + ac = b + c, a 0 a Exponent Properties a na m = a n+ m an 1 = a n -m = m -n am a a 0 = 1, a 0 a a = n b b 1 n =a a-n
n n n

Logarithms and Log Properties Definition y = log b x is equivalent to x = b y Example log 5 125 = 3 because 53 = 125 Special Logarithms ln x = log e x natural log log x = log 10 x common log where e = 2.718281828K Factoring Formulas x 2 - a 2 = ( x + a )( x - a ) x 2 + 2ax + a 2 = ( x + a ) x 2 - 2 ax + a 2 = ( x - a )
2 2

Logarithm Properties log b b = 1 log b 1 = 0 log b b x = x log b ( x

r

b ab a = c c a ac = b b c a c ad - bc - = b d bd a+b a b = + c c c a b ad = c bc d

Properties of Inequalities If a < b then a + c < b + c and a - c < b - c a b < c c a b If a < b and c < 0 then ac > bc and > c c If a < b and c > 0 then ac < bc and Properties of Absolute Value if a 0 a a = if a < 0 -a a 0 -a = a ab = a b a +b a + b a a = b b Triangle Inequality

b logb x = x
b

) = r log

log b ( xy ) = log b x + logb y x log b = log b x - logb y y The domain of log b x is x > 0

Factoring and Solving

Quadratic Formula Solve ax 2 + bx + c = 0 , a 0 -b b 2 - 4 ac 2a If b 2 - 4ac > 0 - Two real unequal solns. If b 2 - 4ac = 0 - Repeated real solution. If b 2 - 4ac < 0 - Two complex solutions. x= Square Root Property If x2 = p then x = p Absolute Value Equations/Inequalities If b is a positive number p =b p = - b or p = b p <b p >b -b < p < b p < - b or p>b

x 2 + ( a + b ) x + ab = ( x + a )( x + b ) x3 + 3ax 2 + 3a 2 x + a 3 = ( x + a ) x3 - 3ax2 + 3a 2 x - a 3 = ( x - a )
3 3

Distance Formula If P = ( x1, y1 ) and P2 = ( x2 , y2 ) are two 1 points the distance between them is d ( P , P2 ) = 1

(a )

n m

x3 + a 3 = ( x + a ) ( x2 - ax + a 2 ) x3 - a 3 = ( x - a ) ( x2 + ax + a 2 ) x 2 n - a 2 n = ( x n - a n )( x n + a n ) If n is odd then, x n - a n = ( x - a ) ( x n-1 + ax n -2 + L + a n -1 ) xn + an = ( x + a)( x

n -1

= a nm =a b
n n

( x2 - x1 )

+ ( y2 - y1 )

( ab )
a
-n

Complex Numbers i = -1
n
1 m

1 = n a
-n

i = -1
2

-a = i a, a 0

a b

bn b = = n a a

a = a

n m

( ) = (a )
1 m

Properties of Radicals
n

( a + bi ) + ( c + di ) = a + c + ( b + d ) i ( a + bi ) - ( c + di ) = a - c + ( b - d ) i ( a + bi )( c + di ) = ac - bd + ( ad + bc ) i ( a + bi )( a - bi ) = a 2 + b2
a + bi = a + b
2 2

- ax

n -2

+a x

2 n -3

-L + a

n -1

)
3 29 x- = 2 4 (5) Use Square Root Property 3 29 29 x- = = 2 4 2 (6) Solve for x 3 29 x= 2 2
2

Solve 2 x 2 - 6 x - 10 = 0

Completing the Square (4) Factor the left side

2

a =a

1 n

ab = a b
n n

Complex Modulus

m n

a = nm a

a na = b nb

n n

a n = a , if n is odd a n = a , if n is even

( a + bi ) = a - bi Complex Conjugate 2 ( a + bi )( a + bi ) = a + bi

(1) Divide by the coefficient of the x x 2 - 3x - 5 = 0 (2) Move the constant to the other side. x 2 - 3x = 5 (3) Take half the coefficient of x, square it and add it to both sides 9 29 3 3 x 2 - 3x + - = 5 + - = 5 + = 4 4 2 2
2 2

For a complete set of online Algebra notes visit http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu.

2005 Paul Dawkins

For a complete set of online Algebra notes visit http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu.

2005 Paul Dawkins

Functions and Graphs

Constant Function y = a or f ( x) = a Graph is a horizontal line passing through the point ( 0, a ) . Line/Linear Function y = mx + b or f ( x ) = mx + b Graph is a line with point ( 0,b ) and slope m. Slope Slope of the line containing the two points ( x1 , y1 ) and ( x2 , y2 ) is y2 - y1 rise = x2 - x1 run Slope intercept form The equation of the line with slope m and y-intercept ( 0,b ) is y = mx + b Point Slope form The equation of the line with slope m and passing through the point ( x1 , y1 ) is m= y = y1 + m ( x - x1 ) Parabola/Quadratic Function y = a ( x - h) + k
2

Common Algebraic Errors

Error 2 2 0 and 2 0 0 -32 9 Reason/Correct/Justification/Example Division by zero is undefined! -32 = -9 ,

Parabola/Quadratic Function x = ay2 + by + c g ( y ) = ay2 + by + c The graph is a parabola that opens right if a > 0 or left if a < 0 and has a vertex b b at g - , - . 2a 2a Circle 2 2 ( x - h) + ( y - k ) = r2 Graph is a circle with radius r and center ( h, k ) . Ellipse =1 a2 b2 Graph is an ellipse with center ( h, k ) with vertices a units right/left from the center and vertices b units up/down from the center. Hyperbola

( -3)

= 9 Watch parenthesis!

(x

2 3

x5

(x

2 3

= x2 x2 x 2 = x6

a a a + b+c b c 1 x -2 + x-3 x2 + x3 a + bx 1 + bx a - a ( x - 1) - ax - a

( x - h)

( y - k) +

1 1 1 1 = + =2 2 1+ 1 1 1 A more complex version of the previous error. a + bx a bx bx = + =1+ a a a a Beware of incorrect canceling! - a ( x - 1) = - ax + a Make sure you distribute the -!

( x + a)

x2 + a 2 x+ a
n

( x + a)

= ( x + a )( x + a ) = x 2 + 2 ax + a 2

x2 + a2 x + a x+a

( x + a)

x n + a n and
2 2

x+a

x+n a

5 = 25 = 3 2 + 4 2 3 2 + 4 2 = 3 + 4 = 7 See previous error. More general versions of previous three errors. 2 ( x + 1) = 2 ( x2 + 2 x + 1) = 2 x 2 + 4 x + 2

2 2

( x - h)
2

f ( x) = a ( x - h) + k
2

The graph is a parabola that opens up if a > 0 or down if a < 0 and has a vertex at ( h, k ) . Parabola/Quadratic Function y = ax 2 + bx + c f ( x ) = ax 2 + bx + c The graph is a parabola that opens up if a > 0 or down if a < 0 and has a vertex b b at - , f - . 2a 2a

a b Graph is a hyperbola that opens left and right, has a center at ( h, k ) , vertices a units left/right of center and asymptotes b that pass through center with slope . a Hyperbola

( y - k)
2

=1

2 ( x + 1) ( 2 x + 2 )

( 2x + 2)

2 ( x + 1)

= 4 x2 + 8x + 4 Square first then distribute! See the previous example. You can not factor out a constant if there is a power on the parethesis! - x2 + a2 = ( - x2 + a2 )2 Now see the previous error. a 1 a a c ac = = = b b 1 b b c c a a b = b = a 1 = a c c b c bc 1
1

( 2x + 2)

- x2 + a2 - x2 + a2 a ab b c c a ac b c b

( x - h) = 1 b2 a2 Graph is a hyperbola that opens up and down, has a center at ( h, k ) , vertices b units up/down from the center and asymptotes that pass through center with b slope . a
2 2

(y -k)

For a complete set of online Algebra notes visit http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu.

2005 Paul Dawkins

For a complete set of online Algebra notes visit http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu.

2005 Paul Dawkins