Logarithms and Log Properties

Definition
y = log b x is equivalent to x = b y

Algebra Cheat Sheet

Basic Properties & Facts
Properties of Inequalities
If a < b then a + c < b + c and a - c < b - c

Arithmetic Operations
b ab
a =
c c

ab + ac = a ( b + c )
a
a
b =
c
bc

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

a
ac
=
b b
c

a c ad + bc
+ =
b d
bd

a c ad - bc
- =
b d
bd

a-b b-a
=
c-d d -c

a+b a b
= +
c
c c
a
b ad
=
c bc
d

ab + ac
= b + c, a 0
a

Properties of Absolute Value

if a 0
a
a =
if a < 0
-a
a 0
-a = a

a +b a + b

Exponent Properties
an
1
= a n -m = m -n
am
a

a na m = a n+ m

(a )

n m

( ab )
a

-n

= a nm

a 0 = 1, a 0
n

=a b

1
= n
a

a

b

-n

bn
b
= = n
a
a

n
m

a =a

m n

1
n

a = nm a

( ) = (a )

a = a

Properties of Radicals

Complex Numbers
i = -1

1
m

1
m

i = -1

-a = i a, a 0

( 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

ab = a b

a + bi = a + b

a na
=
b nb

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

a n = a , if n is odd

a n = a , if n is even

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

) = r log

x
log b = log b x - logb y
y
The domain of log b x is x > 0
Quadratic Formula
Solve ax 2 + bx + c = 0 , a 0

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

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

-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=

x 2 + ( a + b ) x + ab = ( x + a )( x + b )

x3 - a 3 = ( x - a ) ( x2 + ax + a 2 )

b logb x = x

Factoring Formulas
x 2 - a 2 = ( x + a )( x - a )

d ( P1 , P2 ) =

+ ( y2 - y1 )

log b ( xy ) = log b x + logb y

log x = log 10 x common log

where e = 2.718281828K

x3 + 3ax 2 + 3a 2 x + a 3 = ( x + a )

log b ( x

Special Logarithms
ln x = log e x
natural log

Distance Formula
If P1 = ( x1, y1 ) and P2 = ( x2 , y2 ) are two
points the distance between them is

a
a
= n
b
b
1
n
=a
a-n

n n

Triangle Inequality

( x2 - x1 )

log b b x = x

Example
log 5 125 = 3 because 53 = 125

Factoring and Solving

a
a
=
b
b

ab = a b

Logarithm Properties
log b b = 1
log b 1 = 0

Complex Modulus

x3 - 3ax2 + 3a 2 x - a 3 = ( x - a )

Square Root Property

If x2 = p then x = p

x3 + a 3 = ( x + a ) ( x2 - ax + a 2 )

Absolute Value Equations/Inequalities

If b is a positive number
p =b

p = - b or p = b

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

- ax

n -2

2 n -3

+a x

-L + a

n -1

-b < p < b

p >b

p < - b or

p>b

Completing the Square

(4) Factor the left side

Solve 2 x 2 - 6 x - 10 = 0

(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
2

9 29
3
3
x 2 - 3x + - = 5 + - = 5 + =
4 4
2
2

2005 Paul Dawkins

p <b

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

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 ) .

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

Line/Linear Function
y = mx + b or f ( x ) = mx + b
Graph is a line with point ( 0,b ) and
slope m.

Circle
2
2
( x - h) + ( y - k ) = r2
Graph is a circle with radius r and center
( h, k ) .

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 )

( x - h)

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

( y - k)
+

=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.

( x - h)

(y -k)

( y - k)

=1

( 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

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

Division by zero is undefined!

-32 9

-32 = -9 ,

(x

(x

2 3

x5

a
a a
+
b+c b c
1
x -2 + x-3
x2 + x3

( x + a)

x2 + a2 x + a

( x + a)

( -3)

= 9 Watch parenthesis!

= x2 x2 x 2 = x6

( x + a)

x2 + a 2

x+a

2 3

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 -!

a + bx
1 + bx
a

x+ a

x n + a n and

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

( 2x + 2)

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
2

Reason/Correct/Justification/Example

2
2
0 and 2
0
0

x+a

x+n a

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

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

Hyperbola
2

Error

- a ( x - 1) - ax - a

Ellipse

Parabola/Quadratic Function
y = a ( x - h) + k

Common Algebraic Errors

Parabola/Quadratic Function
x = ay2 + by + c g ( y ) = ay2 + by + c

2005 Paul Dawkins

2 ( x + 1)

( 2x + 2)

= 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!
1

- x2 + a2 - x2 + a2
a
ab

b c
c

a
ac
b
c
b

- 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

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

2005 Paul Dawkins