Algebra Worksheet to Prepare for Statistics

Rule Problem Answer

-a + b or b - a:
1. Subtract the smaller number from the larger 9 - 15 =
number, give sign of larger
-a – b: -4 - 22 =
2.
Add the numbers, the answer is negative
|a|: absolute values |-25| =
3.
Number becomes or remains positive
4. a0 = 1: (5.93)0 =

5. (xm)(xn) = xm+n: (x3)(x4) =

𝑎𝑥 𝑎11
6. = 𝑎 𝑥−𝑦 =
𝑎𝑦 𝑎5
7. (xm)n = xmn: (x3)5 =

8. (xy)m = xmym: (xy)5 =

𝑥 𝑎 𝑥𝑎 𝑥 8
9. ( ) = 𝑎 ( ) =
𝑦 𝑦 𝑦
1
10. 𝑥 −𝑚 = 𝑥 −7 =
𝑥𝑚
1 1
11. = 𝑥𝑚 =
𝑥 −𝑚 𝑥 −8
𝑥 −𝑚 𝑦 𝑛 𝑥 −3
12. = =
𝑦 −𝑛 𝑥 𝑚 𝑦 −8
Scientific notation:
13. .000002698 =
_._________ x 10n
Simplify (show work)
Simplifying an expression 5(2 – 3) + 5(7 – 3)2 =
Order of operations:
1. solve within symbols of grouping
14. 2. Raise to powers
3. multiply/divide left to right
4. add/subtract left to right

Multiplying binomials (F O I L)
(2x + 5)(3x – 4) =
(ax + c)(bx + d)
15.
(ax)(bx) + d(ax) + c(bx) + cd

Then combine like terms (if possible)

Binomial squared: (3x + 2y)2 =

16. (ax + by)2

(ax)2 + 2[(ax)(by)] + (by)2
Binomial squared: (3x – 2y)2 =

17. (ax – by)2

(ax)2 – 2[(ax)(by)] + (by)2
Binomial: sum times difference: (3x + 2y)(3x – 2y) =

18. (ax + by)(ax – by)

(ax)2 – (by)2
 Simplifying expressions: 5a2 – 4ab + 9a2 – 6 + 6ab + c + 8 – 7c
Combine like terms: (same variables
19. to the same powers)
Add coefficients of like terms

Multiply through by -1: -(-3x2 + 3xy – 4y2 – 7) =

-(ax – by + cz) =
20.
-ax + by -cz
Multiply expressions with powers: (3x2y3)(-5x2y3) =
(axmyn)(bxpyq) =
21.
abxm+pyn+q
Monomial factoring: 12x2y + 3xy3 =
22.
ax + ay = a(x + y)
axy – bx2y = xy(a – bx)

Factoring: Perfect square trinomial x2 + 4x + 4 =

23. x2 + 2xy + y2 =
(x + y)2
Factoring: Perfect square trinomial x2 - 4x + 4 =
x2 - 2xy + y2 =
24.
(x - y)2

Factoring: difference of squares 16x2 – 25y2 =

25. x2 - y2 =
(x + y)(x – y)
FOIL factoring
Reverse the multiplying process; often x2 – 9x + 20 =
26. requires some grunt and struggle

FOIL factoring 2x2 + 14x + 12 =

Reverse the multiplying process; often
27. requires some grunt and struggle

Combination factoring y4 -9y3 + 14y2 = (show both steps)

1. monomial factor
2. binomial factor
28.

One-step linear equation -3x = 21

4. multiply or divide for final answer
29.

Two-step linear equation 4x – 12 = -6x + 8

3. isolate (ax = #)
4. multiply or divide for final answer
30.
 Three-step linear equation 3x + 2 – x = 7 – 5x + 1
2. combine like terms = combine like terms
3. isolate (ax = #)
31. 4. multiply or divide for final answer

Four-step linear equation 3(2x + 5) = -(5x + 4) -3

1. multiply distributively
2. combine like terms = combine like terms
32. 3. isolate (ax = #)
4. multiply or divide for final answer

One-step quadratic equation (x + 3)(2x -4) = 0

5. set each factor = to 0, then solve each
33.

Two-step quadratic equation x2 – 7x + 12 = 0

4. factor trinomial
5. set each factor = to 0, then solve each
34.

Three-step quadratic equation 3x2 + 9x + 6 = 0

3. factor monomially (if possible)
3a. divide out numeric monomial factor
35. 4. factor trinomial
5. set each factor = to 0, then solve each

Four-step quadratic equation 3x2 = -9x -6

2. set expression equal to zero
3. factor monomially (if possible)
3a. divide out numeric monomial factor
36. 4. factor trinomial
5. set each factor = to 0, then solve each

Five-step quadratic equation 3x2 = -3(3x + 2)

1. multiply distributively
2. set expression equal to zero
3. factor monomially (if possible)
37. 3a. divide out numeric monomial factor
4. factor trinomial
5. set each factor = to 0, then solve each

Unusual quadratic equation x2 – 10 = 0

x2 = a
38. √𝑥 2 = √𝑎
x = ±√𝑎

Fractions: multiply 2 5
×
𝑎 𝑐 𝑎𝑐 3 7
39. × =
𝑏 𝑑 𝑏𝑑

Fractions: divide 2 5
÷
𝑎 𝑐 𝑎 𝑑 𝑎𝑑 3 7
÷ = × =
40. 𝑏 𝑑 𝑏 𝑐 𝑏𝑐
 Fractions: add/subtract (with 2 4
common denominator) +
7 7
𝑎 𝑐 𝑎±𝑐
41. ± =
𝑏 𝑏 𝑏

Fractions: add/subtract (no common 2 1

denominator) +
3 5
𝑎 𝑐 𝑑 𝑎 𝑐 𝑏 𝑎𝑑 ± 𝑐𝑏
± = ( ) ± ( ) =
42. 𝑏 𝑑 𝑑 𝑏 𝑑 𝑏 𝑏𝑑

Note: many times a common denominator

can be found more easily

Fractions: reduce to lowest terms 3𝑥 2 𝑦 3 3 𝑥2 𝑦3

You may cancel like factors (NOT terms!!!) = × ×
9𝑥𝑦 9 𝑥 𝑦

43.
𝑎𝑏 𝑎𝑏 𝑏
= =
𝑎𝑐 𝑎𝑐 𝑐

Fractions: simplify polynomials (1 step) (𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 2)

3. Cancel like factors for final answer (𝑥 − 2)
44.

Fractions: simplify polynomials (2-step) 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 3

2. Factor (numerators & denominators) 𝑥2 − 9
3. Cancel like factors for final answer
45.

Fractions: simplify polynomials (3-step) 3𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 − 9

1. Monomial factor (numerators & 5𝑥 2 − 45
denominators)
2. Additional factor (numerators &
denominators)
46. 3. Cancel like factors for final answer

Fractions: x /  polynomials (2-step) 𝑥+2 𝑥−3 (𝑥+2)(𝑥−3)

3. Multiply or divide × 
(𝑥−3)(𝑥+5)
𝑥−3 𝑥+5
4. Cancel like factors for final answer
47.

Fractions: x /  polynomials (3-step) 𝑥 2 +2𝑥−3 𝑥+5 (𝑥+3)(𝑥−1) 𝑥−1

2. Factor (numerators & denominators) ÷  ×
𝑥 2 −9 𝑥−1 (𝑥+3)(𝑥−3) 𝑥+5
3. Multiply or divide
4. Cancel like factors for final answer
48.

Fractions: x /  polynomials (4-step) 3𝑥 2 +6𝑥−9 5𝑥+25 3(𝑥 2 +2𝑥−3) 5(𝑥+5)

1. Monomial factor (numerators & ÷  ÷
denominators) 5𝑥 2 −45 3𝑥−3 5(𝑥 2 −9) 3(𝑥−1)
2. Additional factor (numerators &
denominators)
49. 3. Multiply or divide
4. Cancel like factors for final answer
 Fractions: + / - polynomials (3-step) 𝑥+3 7
+
1. create common denominator (if (𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 2) 𝑥 − 2
necessary)
2. combine numerators over the CD
50. 3. simplify (if possible, based on rules above)

3
Squares & cubes √1 = 1 √36 = 6 √121 = 11 √27 = 3
3
√4 = 2 √49 = 7 √144 = 12 √64 = 4
3
51. √9 = 3 √64 = 8 √125 = 5
3 3
√16 = 4 √81 = 9 √1 = 1 √216 = 6
3 3
√25 = 5 √100 = 10 √8 = 2 √343 = 7
Simplify radical expressions simplify radical expression √3600
𝑎 𝑏
√𝑥 𝑎 𝑦 𝑏 = √𝑥 𝑎 × √𝑦 𝑏 = 𝑥 ⁄2 × 𝑦 ⁄2

52. To find the square root of large numbers

break it down into smaller perfect squares
then take the square roots and multiply
them

√𝑥 2 = 𝑥 𝑎. √(𝑥 + 3)2 = a.

53. 𝑛 5 b.
√𝑥 𝑛 = 𝑥 𝑏. √𝑥 5 =

Simplify radical expressions

𝑎 𝑏 √16𝑥 2 𝑦 6 =
√𝑥 𝑎 𝑦 𝑏 = √𝑥 𝑎 × √𝑦 𝑏 = 𝑥 ⁄2 × 𝑦 ⁄2
54.

Simplify radical expressions simplify radical expression

𝑛 𝑎/𝑛 𝑏/𝑛
√𝑥 𝑎 𝑦 𝑏 = 𝑥 𝑦 3
√8𝑥 6
55.

Simplify radical expressions multiply then simplify

√𝑎 x √𝑏 x √𝑐 = √𝑎𝑏𝑐 √40 √20 =

56.

Simplify radical expressions multiply then simplify

√𝑎 x √𝑏 x √𝑐 = √𝑎𝑏𝑐 √5𝑥𝑦 4 √5𝑥 5 =

57.

Simplify radical expressions Simplify

√𝑎𝑤𝑥 𝑎𝑤𝑥 √28𝑥 6 𝑦 3

58. = √
√𝑏𝑦𝑧 𝑏𝑦𝑧 √7𝑥 2 𝑦

Combine like radicals combine like radicals

𝒂√𝒙 ± 𝒃√𝒙 = (𝒂 ± 𝒃)√𝒙 5√5 + 5√3 + 7√5 − 4√3

59.
Note: combine only like radicals—same value under
the square root sign
Combine like radicals simplify, then combine like radicals

𝒂√𝒙 ± 𝒃√𝒙 = (𝒂 ± 𝒃)√𝒙 2√48 + 5√27

60.
Note: simplify radical expressions (if possible) before
combining
 X is horizontal axis Plot (and label) the points on the
Y is the vertical axis graph:

Points are written in ordered pairs A. (2, 3)

(x, y)
B. (-5, 4)
Domain: set of x values C. (3, -6)
Range: set of y values
61. D. (-2, -4)
Think alphabetical: E. (0, 0)
“x” before “y” F. (0, -7)
domain, range: “d” before “r” G. (5, 0)

Linear equations  Identify slope and y-intercept

Slope-intercept format:  Graph (on chart to right)

y = mx + b y = 3x – 2
𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑦
m = slope
𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑥
m =
62.
b = y-intercept
b =

Linear equations  Change to slope-intercept format

Slope-intercept format:  Identify slope and y-intercept
 Graph (on chart to right)
y = mx + b 4x – 2y = 6
-2y = -4x +6
𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑦
m = slope 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑥
63. y = 2x -3
b = y-intercept
m = 2

b = -3
 Quadratic equations Graph the quadratic equation:
Standard form:
y = x2
y = ax2 + bx + c
positive a: graph opens upward
Negative a: graph opens down
64.
a = 1: standard parabola
0 < a < 1: graph is skinnier
a > 1: graph is wider
b: moves graph right or left
c: moves above/below the x axis

Graph the quadratic equation:

y = –x2

65.

Graph the quadratic equation:

y = 2x2

66.

Graph the quadratic equation:

2 2
𝑦= 𝑥
5

67.
 Graph the quadratic equation:

y = –2x2 + 7

68.

Graph the quadratic equation:

y = x2 – 3

69.

MEAN (x-bar) find the mean of

1
5, 7, 8, 9, 12, 23, 34
𝑥̅ = ∑ 𝑥𝑖 or x1 – x2 – x3 – x4 – x5 – x6 – xn
𝑛

70. 𝑥1 + 𝑥2 + 𝑥3 + 𝑥4 + ⋯ + 𝑥𝑛 n =
𝑥̅ =
𝑛
Note: n = number of values

VARIANCE (s2) find the variance of n–1=4

𝑠2 =
1
∑(𝑥𝑖 − 𝑥̅ )2 5, 7, 8, 9, 11 𝑥̅ = 8
𝑛−1 x1 – x2 – x3 – x4 – x n

71.

STANDARD DEVIATION (s) What is the standard deviation if

s2 = 36
𝑠 = √𝑠 2
72.
73.

Population: In research, the population is the entire group
that is being studied: All women, all voters, all medical
doctors, all dog owners. Usually a population has far too
many people to measure them all, so we draw a sample.
74.
Statistics about populations use Greek letters
Sample: In research, the sample is the set of
individuals selected from the population to study. When
we study the sample we then attempt to draw
inferences (or conclusions) about the population.
Statistics about populations use English letters

The mean of a population is designated: 

̅ or 𝒎
The mean of a population is: 𝒙
The standard deviation of a population is: s
The standard deviation of a population is: 
Key points on the normal curve: The most The average (mean, or ) IQ = 100 Mean + 3 =
important point is the mean—the center
value. The standard deviation (s or ) for IQ = 15 Mean + 2 =

We are also interested in: Mean + 1 =

Please identify the 7 key points on the normal curve
mean + 1 standard deviation (in the box to the right) Mean = 100
75. mean + 2 standard deviations
mean + 3 standard deviations Then write these numbers on the graph (in the s above) Mean – 1 =
mean – 1 standard deviation Mean – 2 =
mean – 2 standard deviations
Mean – 3 =
mean – 3 standard deviations

Now use the chart at the top to find what What percent of people have an IQ between 100 and 115?
percentage of people fall into each
76. category (#76 – 82) _________%

What percent of people have an IQ between 85 and 115?

77. _________%

What percent of people have an IQ higher than 100?

78. _________%

What percent of people have an IQ between 70 and 100?

79. _________%

What percent of people have an IQ lower than 55?

80. _________%

What percent of people have an IQ higher than 130?

81. _________%

What percent of people have an IQ between 85 and 145?

82. _________%
 Ratios: written in the form of a fraction equals a fraction: Example
John is 6’ tall and casts a shadow that is 4’. A tree next to John casts a shadow that is 45’. How tall is the tree?
𝐽𝑜ℎ𝑛′ 𝑠 ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑇𝑟𝑒𝑒 ′ 𝑠 ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 6 𝑥
′
= ′
= =
𝐽𝑜ℎ𝑛 𝑠 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑑𝑜𝑤 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑇𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑠 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑑𝑜𝑤 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 4 45
To solve for x, cross multiply and solve the equation
4x = (6)(45)  4x = 270  divide both sides by 4  x = 67.5 (the tree is 67.5’ tall)
Mary is 5.5’ tall and casts a 4’ shadow. A statue next to her casts a 40’ shadow. How
tall is the statue?

83.

Paul takes 46.8 seconds to run 400 meters. How much time does each 100 meters of
his race take?

84.

A 2.2 kg brick of cheese costs $23.95. At the same rate, how much would a 5 kg brick
of cheese cost?

85.

Function: Function-of-x is designated f(x) [or g(x), h(x), or any other letter when the writer gets bored]
A function defines a relationship between x and y [y is the f(x)] in which for every value of x there is either exactly 1
value or y or 0 (zero) values for y. Never more than 1 value for y.
Domain: the set of x values—usually written in the form _____ < x < _____ or ____  x  _____
Range: the set of y values—usually written in the form ____ < y < _____ or ____  y  _____

Function? Yes No

Domain: _____ < x < _____

86.
Range: _____ < y < _____

Function? Yes No

Domain: _____ < x < _____

87.
Range: _____ < y < _____
 The set of points: (3, 2) (4, 3) (5, 4) (6, 5) (8, 4) (9, 8) (4, 2)
88. Function? Yes No

Given that f(x) = x2 + 5x a.

What is the value of:

a. f(0) b.

b. f(3)
89.
c.

c. f(-2)

d.
d. f(x+2)

Linear equations:

Slope-intercept format: y = mx + b

One point (x1, y1) + slope: y – y1 = m(x – x1)

𝒚𝟐 −𝒚𝟏
Slope of the line given two points (x1, y1) (x2, y2): 𝒎 =
𝒙𝟐 −𝒙𝟏
Given that:

m = -3
90.
b=5

Write the formula for the equation (slope-intercept format)

Given that:

m = 2/7 (slope) and passes through the point (7, 1)

91.

Write the formula for the equation (slope-intercept format)

If a line passes through points (1, 1) and (2, 4):

a. what is the slope of the line?

What is the equation for the line (slope-intercept format)?

92.
 Solving and graphing inequalities:
Solve an inequality exactly as you solve a normal equation (see #14)
The only difference:
If as a final step you multiply through by a negative number, the inequality reverses: Example
-4  16  -¼[-4  16]  x  -4
When graphing use a dot () on the number line if  or  are used (to indicate that the graph includes that point)
When graphing use a circle () on the number line if < or > are used (the graph does not includes that point)

For compound inequalities: What you do to one side you must do to the other two sides. Example
2x–3< 6  2+3x–3+3< 6+3  5x < 9

Solve and graph:

4x  12
93.

Solve and graph:

-3x < 12
94.

Solve and graph:

8x + 1  5x – 5
95.

Solve and graph:

96. -4 < x  2 (this one requires no solving; just graph)

Solve and graph:

-5  1 – 2x < 7

97.
The standard form of a quadratic equation is: y = ax2 + bx + c or f(x) = ax2 + bx + c

This is the quadratic formula used to solve quadratic equations that will not factor. The “” typically yields two answers unless
the discriminant (b2 – 4ac) equals 0 (zero). Then there is only one answer.

−𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑥=
2𝑎

Now, the same equation is in a function-of-x format. When f(x) = 0, these are called the “zeros of the formula” and are simply
the points at which the parabola crosses the x axis. Solve in the same way.

−𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑓(𝑥) =
2𝑎

Use the quadratic formula to find the two values of x

1x2 – 2x – 15

98. x = ______, ______

Use the quadratic formula to find the two values of x. Leave answer in radical form

2x2 – 5x – 1

x = ______

99.
x = ______

Find the zeros of the following function. Leave answer in radical form if necessary.

Recall that finding the zeros occurs when f(x) = 0. Just solve the equation.

f(x) = 2x2 + 3x + 1

100.