Basic Rules for Algebra & Logarithmic Functions

Quadratic Formula: If p( x) = ax 2 + bx + c , a 0 and 0 b 2 4ac ,

b b 2 4ac . 2a

Example:

If p( x) = x 2 + 3x 1 =0, with a=1, b=3, and c=-1, then p(x) =0 if x =

3 13 2 Examples: x 2 9 = ( x 3)( x + 3) x 3 8 = ( x 2)( x 2 + 2 x + 4) x 3 + 27 = ( x + 3)( x 2 3x + 9) Examples: ( x + 3) 2 = x 2 + 2( x)(3) + 32 = x 2 + 6 x + 9 ( x 5) 2 = x 2 2( x)(5) + 52 = x 2 10 x + 25 ( x + 2)3 = x 3 + 3( x) 2 (2) + 3( x)(2) 2 + 23 = x 3 + 6 x 2 + 12 x + 8 ( x 1)3 = x 3 3( x) 2 (1) + 3( x)(1) 2 13 = x 3 3 x 2 + 3 x 1 Example: 3x 3 2 x 2 6 x + 4 = x 2 (3 x 2) 2(3x 2) = ( x 2 2)(3x 2)

then the real zeroes of p are x =

Special Factors:

x 2 a 2 = ( x a)( x + a) x 3 a 3 = ( x a)( x 2 + ax + a 2 ) x 3 + a 3 = ( x + a)( x 2 ax + a 2 ) Binomial Theorem ( x + a) 2 = x 2 + 2ax + a 2 ( x a) 2 = x 2 2ax + a 2 ( x + a)3 = x 3 + 3ax 2 + 3a 2 x + a 3 ( x a)3 = x 3 3ax 2 + 3a 2 x a 3 Factoring by Grouping acx 3 + adx 2 + bcx + bd = ax 2 (cx + d ) + b(cx + d ) = (ax 2 + b)(cx + d )

Arithmetic Operations:
a b = a c = a d = ad c b d b c bc d

ab + ac = a(b + c)

a c ad + bc + = b d bd

a+b a b = + c c c

b a b ab a = = c c 1 c
a a b a c ac = = = b 1 c 1 b b c

a b 1 a b b a = = c d 1 c d d c

ab + ac a(b + c) = =b+c, a a a0

a b = a c = a1 = a c b 1 b c bc

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Exponents and Radicals

a0 = 1 , a 0

ax = a x y y a

ax a = bx b

am = a
n

( a)
n

a x =
x y

1 ax
x+ y

(a )
(ab )

x y

= a xy

a =a
x
n

ab = n a n b
n

a a =a

=ab
x

a =a

a = b

n n

a b

Algebraic Errors to Avoid:

a a a + x+b x b
x2 + a2 x + a a b( x 1) a bx b

To see this error, let a, b, and, x all equal to 1. Then, To see this error, let x = 3 and a = 4. Then, 5 7 .

1 2. 2

x a bx b a
x2 + a2 x2 a2 a + bx 1 + bx a

Remember to distribute the negative signs. The equation should be a b( x 1) = a bx + b To divide fractions, invert and multiply. The equation should be x x x 1 x a = a = = b b a b ab 1 We cant factor a negative sign outside of the square root.
This is one of many examples of incorrect cancellation. By applying a + bx a bx bx the properties above, the equation should be = + = 1+ . a a a a In this case we multiply the exponents, then the correct equation is ( x 2 )3 = x 2 x 2 x 2 = x 2 + 2 + 2 = x 6
LOGARITHMIC RULES

(x )

2 3

x5

Logarithmic function Common logarithm Natural logarithm Log Properties

y = log a x , defined by x = a y log x = log10 x ln x = log e x

log a (MN ) = log a M + log a N

log a (M ) = N (log a M )
N

log a a x = x ; a log a x = x

log a (M / N ) = log a M log a N

Change of base formulas

log x log b ln x logb x = ln b log b x =

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