Algebraic Formula Sheet

Arithmetic Operations Properties of Inequalities

!
ac + bc = c(a + b) b ab If a < b then a + c < b + c and a − c < b − c
a =
c c
a b
If a < b and c > 0 then ac < bc and <
!
a a ac c c
!=
b a b a b
= b If a < b and c < 0 then ac > bc and >
c bc c c c

a c ad + bc a c ad − bc Properties of Absolute Value

+ = − =
b d bd c d bd (
x if x ≥ 0
|x| =
a−b b−a a+b a b −x if x < 0
= = +
c−d d−c c c c
|x| ≥ 0 | − x| = |x|
!
a
ab + ac b ad
= b + c, a 6= 0 !=  x  |x|
a c bc |xy| = |x||y|  =
 
d y |y|

Properties of Exponents
|x + y| ≤ |x| + |y| Triangle Inequality
n m n+m 0
x x =x x = 1, x 6= 0  
|x − y| ≥ |x| − |y| Reverse Triangle Inequality
 

!n
(xn )m = xnm x xn
= Distance Formula
y yn
Given two points, PA = (x1 , y1 ) and PB = (x2 , y2 ),
(xy)n = xn y n 1 the distance between the two can be found by:
= xn
x−n p
d(PA , PB ) = (x2 − x1 )2 + (y2 − y1 )2
n
 1
n   m1
xm = xm = xn xn
m
= xn−m
x Number Classifications
!−n !n Natural Numbers : N={1, 2, 3, 4, 5, . . .}
x y yn 1
= = x−n =
y x xn xn Whole Numbers : {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, . . .}

Properties of Radicals Integers : Z={... ,-3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, .. .}

√ 1 r √
n
x = xn x n
x
= √
n

Rationals : Q= All numbers that can be writ-
y n y
ten as a fraction with an integer numerator and a
√ √ √ a
n
xy = n x n y √ nonzero integer denominator,
n
xn = x, if n is odd b
Irrationals : {All numbers that cannot be ex-
√ √ √
q
m n pressed
√ √ as the ratio of two integers, for example
x = mn x n
xn = |x|, if n is even 5, 27, and π}

Real Numbers : R={All numbers that are either a

rational or an irrational number}

1
 Logarithms and Log Properties

Definition Logarithm Properties

y = logb x is equivalent to x = by logb b = 1 logb 1 = 0

Example logb bx = x blogb x = x

log2 16 = 4 because 24 = 16 ln ex = x eln x = x

Special Logarithms
logb (xk ) = k logb x
ln x = loge x natural log
where e=2.718281828... logb (xy) = logb x + logb y
log x = log10 x common log
!
x
logb = logb x − logb y
y

Factoring

x3 + y 3 = (x + y) x2 − xy + y 2


xa + xb = x(a + b)

x2 − y 2 = (x + y)(x − y) x3 − y 3 = (x − y) x2 + xy + y 2

x2 + 2xy + y 2 = (x + y)2 x2n − y 2n = (xn − y n ) (xn + y n )

x2 − 2xy + y 2 = (x − y)2 If n is odd then,

x3 + 3x2 y + 3xy 2 + y 3 = (x + y)3 xn − y n = (x − y) xn−1 + xn−2 y + ... + y n−1

x3 − 3x2 y + 3xy 2 − y 3 = (x − y)3 xn + y n = (x + y) xn−1 − xn−2 y + xn−3 y 2 ... − y n−1

Linear Functions and Formulas

Examples of Linear Functions

y y

y=x
y=1
x x

linear f unction constant f unction

2
Constant Function Linear Function/Slope-intercept form

This graph is a horizontal line passing This graph is a line with slope m
through the points (x, c) with slope m = 0 : and y − intercept(0, b) :

y = c or f (x) = c y = mx + b or f (x) = mx + b

Slope (a.k.a Rate of Change) Point-Slope form

The slope m of the line passing through The equation of the line passing through
the points (x1 , y1 ) and (x2 , y2 ) is : the point (x1 , y1 ) with slope m is :
∆y y2 − y1 rise y = m(x − x1 ) + y1
m= = =
∆x x 2 − x1 run

Quadratic Functions and Formulas

Examples of Quadratic Functions
y y

y = x2

y = −x2
x x

parabola opening up parabola opening down

Forms of Quadratic Functions

Standard Form Vertex Form

y = ax2 + bx + c y = a(x − h)2 + k

or or
f (x) = ax2 + bx + c f (x) = a(x − h)2 + k

This graph is a parabola that This graph is a parabola that

opens up if a > 0 or down if opens up if a > 0 or down if
a < 0 and has a vertex at a < 0 and has a vertex at (h, k).
  
b b
− ,f − .
2a 2a

3
 Quadratics and Solving for x

Quadratic Formula Square Root Property

To solve ax2 + bx + c = 0, a 6= 0,
use : √ Let k be a nonnegative number. Then the
−b ± b2 − 4ac solutions to the equation
x= .
2a
The Discriminant x2 = k
The discriminant is the part of the quadratic √
equation under the radical, b2 − 4ac. We use are given by x = ± k.
the discriminant to determine the number of
real solutions of ax2 + bx + c = 0 as such :

1. If b2 − 4ac > 0, there are two real solutions.

2. If b2 − 4ac = 0, there is one real solution.
3. If b2 − 4ac < 0, there are no real solutions.

Other Useful Formulas

Compound Interest
Hyperbola
 r nt
A=P 1+
n (x − h)2 (y − k)2
− =1
where: a2 b2
P= principal of P dollars This graph is a hyperbola that opens
r= Interest rate (expressed in decimal form) left and right, has center (h, k), vertices
n= number of times compounded per year (h ± a, k); foci (h ± c, k), where
t= time c comes from c2 = a2 + b2 and
asymptotes that pass through the center
Continuously Compounded Interest b
y = ± (x − h) + k.
a
A = P ert
(y − k)2 (x − h)2
where: − =1
a2 b2
P= principal of P dollars
r= Interest rate (expressed in decimal form) This graph is a hyperbola that opens
t= time up and down, has center (h, k), vertices
(h, k ± a); foci (h, k ± c), where
Circle c comes from c2 = a2 + b2 and
asymptotes that pass through the center
a
(x − h)2 + (y − k)2 = r2 y = ± (x − h) + k.
b
This graph is a circle with radius r Pythagorean Theorem
and center (h, k).
A triangle with legs a and b and
Ellipse hypotenuse c is a right triangle
if and only if
(x − h)2 (y − k)2
+ =1
a2 b2 a2 + b 2 = c 2
This 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.