Basic Rules for

Algebra
&
Logarithmic Functions
Quadratic Formula:

Example:

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

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

Special Factors:

3 13
2
Examples:

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

x 2 9 = ( x 3)( x + 3)

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

x 3 8 = ( x 2)( x 2 + 2 x + 4)

x 3 + a 3 = ( x + a)( x 2 ax + a 2 )
Binomial Theorem

x 3 + 27 = ( x + 3)( x 2 3x + 9)
Examples:

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

( x + 3) 2 = x 2 + 2( x)(3) + 32 = x 2 + 6 x + 9

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

( x 5) 2 = x 2 2( x)(5) + 52 = x 2 10 x + 25

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

( x + 2)3 = x 3 + 3( x) 2 (2) + 3( x)(2) 2 + 23 = x 3 + 6 x 2 + 12 x + 8

( x a)3 = x 3 3ax 2 + 3a 2 x a 3
Factoring by Grouping

( x 1)3 = x 3 3( x) 2 (1) + 3( x)(1) 2 13 = x 3 3 x 2 + 3 x 1

Example:

acx 3 + adx 2 + bcx + bd = ax 2 (cx + d ) + b(cx + d ) =

(ax 2 + b)(cx + d )

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 =

b b 2 4ac
.
2a

=0 if x =

Arithmetic Operations:

ab + ac = a(b + c)

a c ad + bc
+ =
b d
bd

a+b a b
= +
c
c c

a

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

d

b a b ab
a = =
c
c 1 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

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

c
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Exponents and Radicals

a x =

1
ax

a a =a
x

ax
a
=

bx
b

ax
= a x y
y
a

a0 = 1 , a 0

(a )

= a xy

(ab )

=ab

x y

x+ y

a =a

a =a

am = a
n

( a)
n

ab = n a n b
n

a
=
b

n
n

a
b

Algebraic Errors to Avoid:

a
a a
+
x+b x 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 .

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

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
a = a = x 1 = x
b b a b ab
1
We cant factor a negative sign outside of the square root.

x

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

(x )

2 3

1
2.
2

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

x5

LOGARITHMIC RULES
Logarithmic function

y = log a x , defined by x = a y

Common logarithm

log x = log10 x

Natural logarithm

ln x = log e x

Log Properties

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

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

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

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

log x
log b
ln x
logb x =
ln b

Change of base formulas

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log b x =

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