Algebra – Things to Remember!

Scientific Notation: Exponents: Properties of Real Numbers:

3.2 x 1013 (−3) 2 ≠ −32 x •x = x
m n m+ n Commutative Property: a + b = b + a ab = ba
The first number must be 1 < n < 10 Associative Property: a+(b+c) = (a+b)+c a(bc) = (ab)c
Factorial: Absolute Value: 20 = 1 ( x n ) m = x n• m
Distributive Property: a(b+c) = ab + ac
5! = 5•4•3•2•1 | -5 | = 5 1 xm Identity: a+0=a a•1=a
4−3 = = x m−n
1! = 1 |5|=5 43 x n
Inverse: a + (-a) = 0 a • (1/a) = 1
FYI: 0!=1 Represents distance ( xy ) n = x n • y n Zero Property: a•0=0
Undefined: Polygons and sides: Degree:
6 triangle – 3 octagon – 8 Degree of monomial = sum of exponents
is undefined when x = 7 since 4x3 is of degree 3
7−x quadrilateral – 4 nonagon – 9
the denominator = 0. pentagon – 5 decagon – 10 x2y3 is of degree 5
Multiply: (distribute or FOIL) hexagon – 6 dodecagon - 12 Solving Equations:
( x + 3)( x + 2) = x • x + x • 2 + 3• x + 3• 2 septagon – 7 1. Deal with any parentheses in the problem.
= x2 + 5x + 6 Direct Variation: 2. Combine similar terms on same side of = sign.
(a + b) 2 = a 2 + 2ab + b 2 y = kx where k = constant of variation 3. Get the needed variables on the same side of = sign.
k = y/x 4. Isolate the needed variable by add or subtract.
(a − b) 2 = a 2 − 2ab + b 2 5. Find the needed variable by divide or multiply.
Add Fractions: Factor: Quadratic Equation: Interval Notation:
Get the common denominator: Look for a GCF (greatest common factor) x − 5x + 6 = 0
2
Set = 0. (1,5) ↔ 1 < x < 5
5 x 3x 5 x 9 x 14 x 7 x Factor binomial or trinomial. [1,5] ↔ 1 ≤ x ≤ 5
+ = + = = ( x − 3)( x − 2) = 0 Factor.
6 2 6 6 6 3 a 2 − b 2 = (a + b)(a − b)
x = 3; x = 2 Find roots
Inequalities: Systems: Function: Passes the vertical line test. Parabola:
5 − 3x ≤ 13 + x Remember to y – 2x = 1 Linear: substitute; A set of ordered pairs in which each x y = ax 2 + bx + c
−3 x ≤ 8 + x change direction y + 2x = 9 add to eliminate one element has only one y element Axis of symmetry:
variable or graph. associated with it. −b
−4 x ≤ 8 of inequality when x=
y = x2 –x-6 Linear Quadratic: f (x) = 3x + 4
x ≥ −2 mult/div by a negative. 2a
y = 2x – 2 substitute or graph f (3) = 3•3 + 4 = 13
Roots: where the
x = abscissa, y = ordinate For inequality systems, graph. Parallel and Perpendicular: graph crosses the
Slope: Equations of Lines: m = slope Parallel: slopes are equal.
x-axis.
vertical change rise y2 − y1 y = mx + b slope-intercept Perpendicular: slopes are negative
m= = = .
horizontal change run x2 − x1 y − y = m( x − x ) point-slope
1 1
reciprocals (flip over and negate)

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Perimeter: add the distances around Pythagorean Theorem: Trig: Right triangles only
the outside. Right Triangles only. c = a + b
2 2 2
o a
sin A = ; cos A = ; tan A =
o
Triples: 3, 4, 5 h h a
Circumference: C = 2π r = π d 5, 12, 13 Angle of elevation: from horizontal line of sight up.
8, 15, 17 Angle of depression: from horizontal line of sight down.
7, 24, 25
Area: Volume and Surface Area: Data:
1 Vrectangular solid = l i wih 5 Statistical Summary: minimum, maximum, median, 1st quartile,
Atriangle = bh 3rd quartile
2 SArectangular solid = 2lh + 2hw + 2lw
Quartiles divide data into 4 equal parts.
s2 3 Vcylinder = π r 2 h
Aequilateral triangle = Percentiles divide data into 100 equal parts.
4
SAclosed cylinder = 2π rh + 2π r 2
Percentile rank of score x =
number of scores below x
i100 , where n is
Arectangle = bh
n
Asquare = bh = s 2 Error in Measurement: the number of scores.
Aparallelogram = bh Relative error = |measure-actual| Mean = average.
actual Mode = most often (may be more than one answer).
d1 id 2
Arhombus = bh = % of Error = Relative • 100% Median = middle.
2 Permutations: Outliers = values that are far away from the rest of the data.
1 Arrangement in specific order. Median best describes data if outliers exist.
Atrapezoid = h(b1 + b2 )
2 n! Range = difference between the maximum and minimum values.
n Pr =
Acircle = π r 2
(n − r )!
n Probability: P(A’) = 1 – P(A) complement Box and Whisker Plot: 1st and 3rd quartiles are at the
Asector of circle = πr 2

360 P(A and B) = P(A)•P(B) independent ends of the box, median is a vertical line in the box, and
1 P(A and B) = P(A)•P(B/A) dependent the max/min are at the ends of the whiskers.
Asemicircle = π r 2 P(A or B) = P(A) + P(B) mutually exclusive Helpful in interpreting the distribution of data.
2
P(A or B) = P(A) + P(B) – P(A and B) not exclusive
1
Aquarter circle = π r 2 P(B/A) = P(A and B)/P(A) conditional probability
4 P(B/A) means probability of B given A has occurred.
Literal equations: Sets: Exponential Growth and Decay:
a = b + cd, solve for c. A ∪ B Union - all elements in both sets. Decay: y = ab x where a > 0 and 0 < b < 1
a – b = cd A ∩ B Intersection - elements where sets overlap.
a–b=c
Growth: y = ab x where a > 0 and b > 1
d Use same strategies A ' Complement - elements not in the set.
as for solving equations. { } or ∅ means null set.

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