Algebra Cheat Sheet

Basic Properties & Facts

Arithmetic Operations Properties of Inequalities
⎛ b ⎞ ab If a < b then a + c < b + c and a − c < b − c
ab + ac = a ( b + c ) a ⎜ ⎟ =
⎝ c ⎠ c a b
If a < b and c > 0 then ac < bc and <
⎛ a ⎞ c c
⎜ ⎟ a a ac a b
⎝ b ⎠ = = If a < b and c < 0 then ac > bc and >
c bc ⎛ b ⎞ b c c
⎜ ⎟
⎝ c ⎠
Properties of Absolute Value
a c ad + bc a c ad − bc ⎧ a if a ≥ 0
+ = − = a = ⎨
b d bd b d bd ⎩ −a if a < 0
a −b b−a a+b a b a ≥0 −a = a
= = +
c−d d −c c c c a a
ab = a b =
⎛ a ⎞ b b
ab + ac ⎜ ⎟ ad
= b + c, a ≠ 0 ⎝ b ⎠ = a+b ≤ a + b Triangle Inequality
a ⎛ c ⎞ bc
⎜ ⎟
⎝ d ⎠ Distance Formula
Exponent Properties If P1 = ( x1 , y1 ) and P2 = ( x2 , y2 ) are two
an 1
a n a m = a n+m m
= a n−m = m−n points the distance between them is
a a
n m
(a ) = a nm a 0 = 1, a ≠ 0 d ( P1 , P2 ) =
2
( x2 − x1 ) + ( y2 − y1 )
2

n n
n ⎛ a ⎞ a
( ab ) = a nb n ⎜ ⎟ = n Complex Numbers
⎝ b ⎠ b
1 1
a −n = = an i = −1 i 2 = −1 −a = i a , a ≥ 0
an a −n

⎛ a ⎞
−n
⎛ b ⎞
n
bn n 1 ( a + bi ) + ( c + di ) = a + c + ( b + d ) i
⎜ ⎟
⎝ b ⎠
= ⎜ ⎟ = n
⎝ a ⎠ a
n
a = a
m
( ) = (a )
1
m n m

( a + bi ) − ( c + di ) = a − c + ( b − d ) i
( a + bi )( c + di ) = ac − bd + ( ad + bc ) i
Properties of Radicals
( a + bi )( a − bi ) = a 2 + b 2
1
n
a = an n
ab = n a n b a + bi = a 2 + b 2 Complex Modulus
m n a na ( a + bi ) = a − bi Complex Conjugate
a = nm a n =
b nb 2

n
( a + bi )( a + bi ) = a + bi
a n = a, if n is odd
n
a n = a , if n is even

For a complete set of online Algebra notes visit http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu. © 2005 Paul Dawkins
Logarithms and Log Properties
Definition Logarithm Properties
y = log b x is equivalent to x = b y log b b = 1 log b 1 = 0
log b b x = x b logb x = x
Example
log b ( x r ) = r log b x
log 5 125 = 3 because 53 = 125
log b ( xy ) = log b x + logb y
Special Logarithms ⎛ x ⎞
ln x = log e x natural log log b ⎜ ⎟ = log b x − log b y
⎝ y ⎠
log x = log10 x common log
where e = 2.718281828K The domain of log b x is x > 0
Factoring and Solving
Factoring Formulas Quadratic Formula
x 2 − a 2 = ( x + a )( x − a ) Solve ax 2 + bx + c = 0 , a ≠ 0
x 2 + 2ax + a 2 = ( x + a )
2 −b ± b 2 − 4ac
x=
2 2a
x 2 − 2ax + a 2 = ( x − a ) 2
If b − 4ac > 0 - Two real unequal solns.
x 2 + ( a + b ) x + ab = ( x + a )( x + b ) If b 2 − 4ac = 0 - Repeated real solution.
x3 + 3ax 2 + 3a 2 x + a 3 = ( x + a )
3 If b 2 − 4ac < 0 - Two complex solutions.
3
x3 − 3ax 2 + 3a 2 x − a 3 = ( x − a ) Square Root Property
x3 + a3 = ( x + a ) ( x 2 − ax + a 2 ) If x 2 = p then x = ± p

x3 − a 3 = ( x − a ) ( x 2 + ax + a 2 ) Absolute Value Equations/Inequalities

= (x −a If b is a positive number
2n
x −a 2n n n
)( x n
+a n
) p =b ⇒ p = −b or p = b
If n is odd then,
x n − a n = ( x − a ) ( x n −1 + ax n − 2 + L + a n −1 ) p <b ⇒ −b < p < b
p >b ⇒ p < −b or p>b
xn + a n
= ( x + a ) ( x n −1 − ax n − 2 + a 2 x n −3 − L + a n −1 )
Completing the Square
2
Solve 2 x − 6 x − 10 = 0 (4) Factor the left side
2
⎛ 3 ⎞ 29
(1) Divide by the coefficient of the x 2 ⎜ x − ⎟ =
⎝ 2 ⎠ 4
x 2 − 3x − 5 = 0 (5) Use Square Root Property
(2) Move the constant to the other side.
3 29 29
x 2 − 3x = 5 x− = ± =±
2 4 2
(3) Take half the coefficient of x, square
it and add it to both sides (6) Solve for x
2 2 3 29
⎛ 3 ⎞ ⎛ 3 ⎞ 9 29 x= ±
x 2 − 3 x + ⎜ − ⎟ = 5 + ⎜ − ⎟ = 5 + = 2 2
⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠ 4 4

For a complete set of online Algebra notes visit http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu. © 2005 Paul Dawkins
 Functions and Graphs
Constant Function Parabola/Quadratic Function
y = a or f ( x ) = a x = ay 2 + by + c g ( y ) = ay 2 + by + c
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
Line/Linear Function ⎛ ⎛ b ⎞ b ⎞
at ⎜ g ⎜ − ⎟ , − ⎟ .
y = mx + b or f ( x ) = mx + b ⎝ ⎝ 2a ⎠ 2a ⎠
Graph is a line with point ( 0, b ) and
Circle
slope m. 2 2
( x − h) + ( y − k ) = r2
Slope Graph is a circle with radius r and center
Slope of the line containing the two ( h, k ) .
points ( x1 , y1 ) and ( x2 , y2 ) is
y2 − y1 rise Ellipse
m= = 2 2
x2 − x1 run ( x − h) +
( y −k)
=1
Slope – intercept form a2 b2
The equation of the line with slope m Graph is an ellipse with center ( h, k )
and y-intercept ( 0,b ) is with vertices a units right/left from the
y = mx + b center and vertices b units up/down from
Point – Slope form the center.
The equation of the line with slope m
and passing through the point ( x1 , y1 ) is Hyperbola
2 2
y = y1 + m ( x − x1 ) ( x − h) −
( y −k)
=1
a2 b2
Graph is a hyperbola that opens left and
Parabola/Quadratic Function
2 2 right, has a center at ( h, k ) , vertices a
y = a ( x − h) + k f ( x) = a ( x − h) + k
units left/right of center and asymptotes
b
The graph is a parabola that opens up if that pass through center with slope ± .
a > 0 or down if a < 0 and has a vertex a
Hyperbola
at ( h, k ) . 2 2
(y −k) −
( x − h)
=1
Parabola/Quadratic Function b2 a2
y = ax 2 + bx + c f ( x ) = ax 2 + bx + c Graph is a hyperbola that opens up and
down, has a center at ( h, k ) , vertices b
The graph is a parabola that opens up if units up/down from the center and
a > 0 or down if a < 0 and has a vertex asymptotes that pass through center with
⎛ b b
⎛ b ⎞ ⎞ slope ± .
at ⎜ − , f ⎜ − ⎟ ⎟ . a
⎝ 2a ⎝ 2a ⎠ ⎠

For a complete set of online Algebra notes visit http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu. © 2005 Paul Dawkins
 Common Algebraic Errors
Error Reason/Correct/Justification/Example
2 2
≠ 0 and ≠ 2 Division by zero is undefined!
0 0
2
−32 ≠ 9 −32 = −9 , ( −3 ) = 9 Watch parenthesis!
2 3 2 3
(x ) ≠ x5 (x ) = x2 x2 x2 = x6
a a a 1 1 1 1
≠ + = ≠ + =2
b+c b c 2 1+1 1 1
1 A more complex version of the previous
≠ x −2 + x −3
2
x +x 3 error.
a + bx a bx bx
a + bx = + = 1+
≠ 1 + bx a a a a
a
Beware of incorrect canceling!
− a ( x − 1) = − ax + a
− a ( x − 1) ≠ − ax − a
Make sure you distribute the “-“!
2 2
( x + a) ≠ x2 + a2 ( x + a) = ( x + a )( x + a ) = x 2 + 2ax + a 2
x2 + a2 ≠ x + a 5 = 25 = 32 + 42 ≠ 32 + 42 = 3 + 4 = 7
x+a ≠ x + a See previous error.
n More general versions of previous three
( x + a) ≠ x n + a n and n
x+a ≠ n x + n a
errors.
2
2 ( x + 1) = 2 ( x 2 + 2 x + 1) = 2 x 2 + 4 x + 2
2 2
2 ( x + 1) ≠ ( 2 x + 2 ) ( 2 x + 2)
2
= 4 x2 + 8x + 4
Square first then distribute!
See the previous example. You can not
2 2
( 2 x + 2) ≠ 2 ( x + 1) factor out a constant if there is a power on
the parethesis!
1
− x2 + a2 = ( − x2 + a 2 ) 2
− x2 + a2 ≠ − x2 + a2
Now see the previous error.
⎛ a ⎞
a ab ⎜ ⎟
≠ a 1 ⎛ a ⎞⎛ c ⎞ ac
⎛ b ⎞ c = ⎝ ⎠ = ⎜ ⎟⎜ ⎟ =
⎜ ⎟ ⎛ b ⎞ ⎛ b ⎞ ⎝ 1 ⎠⎝ b ⎠ b
⎝ c ⎠ ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟
⎝ c ⎠ ⎝ c ⎠
⎛ a ⎞ ⎛ a ⎞
⎛ a ⎞ ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟
⎜ ⎟ ac ⎝ b ⎠ = ⎝ b ⎠ = ⎛ a ⎞⎛ 1 ⎞ = a
⎝ b ⎠ ≠ ⎜ ⎟⎜ ⎟
c ⎛ c ⎞ ⎝ b ⎠⎝ c ⎠ bc
c b ⎜ ⎟
⎝ 1 ⎠

For a complete set of online Algebra notes visit http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu. © 2005 Paul Dawkins