Algebra Cheat Sheet

Basic Properties and 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 a b
If a < b and c > 0 then ac < bc and <
b a a ac c c
=  =
c bc b b a b
c If a < b and c < 0 then ac > bc and >
c c
a c ad + bc a c ad − bc
+ = − = Properties
b d bd b d bd ( of Absolute Value
a if a ≥ 0
a−b b−a a+b a b |a| =
= = + −a if a < 0
c−d d−c c c c
a |a| ≥ 0 |−a| = |a|
ab + ac ad
= b + c, a 6= 0  cb  =  a  |a|
a bc |ab| = |a| |b|  =
 
d b |b|

|a + b| 6 |a| + |b| Triangle Inequality

Exponent Properties
an am = an+m (ab)n = an bn
Distance Formula
(an )m = anm a0 = 1 , a 6= 0 If P1 = (x1 , y1 ) and P2 = (x2 , y2 ) are two
an 1  a n an points the distance between them is
m
= an−m = m−n =
bn
q
a a b
d (P1 , P2 ) = (x2 − x1 )2 + (y2 − y1 )2
n
 1
 n 1 1
am = am = (an ) m = an
a−n
Complex Numbers
 n √ √ √
 a −n b bn 1 i = −1 i2 = −1 −a = i a , a ≥ 0
= = n a−n = n
b a a a
(a + bi) + (c + di) = a + c + (b + d) i

Properties of Radicals (a + bi) − (c + di) = a − c + (b − d) i

√ 1 √n √ √
n
a = an ab = n a n b (a + bi) (c + di) = ac − bd + (ad + bc) i
√
(a + bi) (a − bi) = a2 + b2
r
p√
m n
√ a n
a
a= nm
a n
= √
b n
b √
√ |a + bi| = a2 + b2 Complex Modulus
n n
a = a if n is odd
(a + bi) = a − bi Complex Conjugate
√
n n
a = |a| if n is even
(a + bi) (a + bi) = |a + bi|2

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 Algebra Cheat Sheet

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

log5 (125) = 3 because 53 = 125
logb (xr ) = r logb (x)
Special Logarithms logb (xy) = logb (x) + logb (y)
ln(x) = loge (x) natural log  
x
log(x) = log10 (x) common log logb = logb (x) − logb (y)
y
where e = 2.718281828 . . .
The domain of logb (x) is x > 0
Factoring and Solving
Factoring Formulas Quadratic Formula
x2 − a2 = (x + a) (x − a) Solve ax2 + bx + c = 0, a 6= 0
√
x2 + 2ax + a2 = (x + a)2 −b ± b2 − 4ac
x=
2a
x2 − 2ax + a2 = (x − a)2 2
If b − 4ac > 0 – Two real unequal solns.
x2 + (a + b) x + ab = (x + a) (x + b)
If b2 − 4ac = 0 – Repeated real solution.
3
x3 + 3ax2 + 3a2 x + a3 = (x + a)
If b2 − 4ac < 0 – Two complex solutions.
3
x3 − 3ax2 + 3a2 x −
= (x − a) a3
Square Root Property
x3 + a3 = (x + a) x2 − ax + a2


√
If x2 = p then x = ± p
x3 − a3 = (x − a) x2 + ax + a2


Absolute Value Equations/Inequalities
x2n − a2n = (xn − an ) (xn + an )
If b is a positive number
If n is odd then, |p| = b ⇒ p = −b or p=b
xn an xn−1 axn−2 an−1


− = (x − a) + + ··· + |p| < b ⇒ −b < p < b
xn+ =an

|p| > b ⇒ p < −b or p>b
(x + a) xn−1 − axn−2 + a2 xn−3 − · · · + an−1
Completing the Square
Solve 2x2 − 6x − 10 = 0 (4) Factor the left side
(1) Divide by the coefficient of the x2 
3 2 29

x2 − 3x − 5 = 0 x− =
2 4
(2) Move the constant to the other side. (5) Use Square Root Property
x2 − 3x = 5 r √
3 29 29
x− =± =±
(3) Take half the coefficient of x, square it and 2 4 2
add it to both sides (6) Solve for x √
 2  2 3 29
2 3 3 9 29 x= ±
x − 3x + − =5+ − =5+ = 2 2
2 2 4 4

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 Algebra Cheat Sheet

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 The graph is a parabola that opens right if
point (0, a). a > 0 or left if a < 0 and has a vertex at
   
b b
Line/Linear Function g − ,− .
2a 2a
y = mx + b or f (x) = mx + b
Graph is a line with point (0, b) and slope m. Circle
(x − h)2 + (y − k)2 = r2
Slope
Graph is a circle with radius r and center (h, k).
Slope of the line containing the two points
(x1 , y1 ) and (x2 , y2 ) is
Ellipse
y2 − y1 rise
m= = (x − h)2 (y − k)2
x2 − x1 run + =1
a2 b2
Slope – intercept form
Graph is an ellipse with center (h, k) with
The equation of the line with slope m and
vertices a units right/left from the center and
y-intercept (0, b) is
vertices b units up/down from the center.
y = mx + b
Point – Slope form Hyperbola
The equation of the line with slope m and (x − h)2 (y − k)2
− =1
passing through the point (x1 , y1 ) is a2 b2
y = y1 + m (x − x1 ) Graph is a hyperbola that opens left and right,
has a center at (h, k), vertices a units left/right
Parabola/Quadratic Function of center and asymptotes that pass through
y = a (x − h)2 + k f (x) = a(x − h)2 + k b
center with slope ± .
a
The graph is a parabola that opens up if a > 0
or down if a < 0 and has a vertex at (h, k). Hyperbola
(y − k)2 (x − h)2
Parabola/Quadratic Function − =1
b2 a2
y = ax2 + bx + c f (x) = ax2 + bx + c Graph is a hyperbola that opens up and down,
The graph is a parabola that opens up if a > 0 has a center at (h, k), vertices b units up/down
or down if a < 0 and has a vertex at from the center and asymptotes that pass
b
through center with slope ± .
  
b b
− ,f − . a
2a 2a

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 Algebra Cheat Sheet

Common Algebraic Errors

Error Reason/Correct/Justification/Example
2 2
6= 0 and 6= 2 Division by zero is undefined!
0 0

−32 6= 9 −32 = −9, (−3)2 = 9 Watch parenthesis!

3
3
x2 6= x5 x2 = x2 x2 x2 = x6
a a a 1 1 1 1
6= + = 6= + = 2
b+c b c 2 1+1 1 1
1 A more complex version of the
6= x−2 + x−3
x + x3
2 previous error.
a + bx a bx bx
a
+ bx = + =1+
6= 1 + bx a a a a
a
Beware of incorrect canceling!
−a (x − 1) = −ax + a
−a (x − 1) 6= −ax − a
Make sure you distribute the “-”!

(x + a)2 6= x2 + a2 (x + a)2 = (x + a) (x + a) = x2 + 2ax + a2

√ √ √ √ √
x2 + a2 6= x + a 5 = 25 = 32 + 42 6= 32 + 42 = 3 + 4 = 7
√ √ √
x + a 6= x+ a See previous error.
√ √ √ More general versions of previous
(x + a)n 6= xn + an and n
x + a 6= n
x+ n
a
three errors.
2
2 (x + 1) = 2 x2 + 2x + 1 = 2x2 + 4x + 2

2 (x + 1)2 6= (2x + 2)2 (2x + 2)2 = 4x2 + 8x + 4

Square first then distribute!
See the previous example. You can not
(2x + 2)2 6= 2 (x + 1)2 factor out a constant if there is a power
on the parenthesis!
√
1
√ √ −x2 + a2 = −x2 + a2 2
−x2 + a2 6= − x2 + a2
Now see the previous error.
a
a ab a  a   c  ac
  6=   = 1 = =
b c b b 1 b b
c c c
a a a
ac   1
b 6= b = b = a =
a
c b c c b c bc
1

© Paul Dawkins - https://tutorial.math.lamar.edu