3.

6 Math Review Reference Sheets

Algebraic Expressions and Linear Equations

TRANSLATING WORDS INTO MATHEMATICAL OPERATIONS:

x
x+y x-y xy y xy

x added to y x decreased by y x multiplied by y x divided by y x to the power of y

x increased by y difference of x and y the product of x and x over y x to the yth power
x more than y y fewer than x y x times y the quotient of x
x plus y y less than x and y the ratio of
the sum of x and y x minus y If y = 2: x to y If y = 2:
the total of x and y x reduced by y double x x squared
y subtracted from x twice x If y = 2:
half of x
If y = 3: x halved If y = 3:
triple x x cubed

MANIPULATING ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS:

Technique Example

Factor to combine like terms 3xy − 9y = 3y(x − 3)

Divide out common factors (3xy − 9 y ) 3 y ( x − 3)

= = 3 y (1) = 3 y
( x − 3) ( x − 3)

Multiply two expressions by (3x − 4)(9y + x) = 3x  (9y + x) − 4(9y + x)

multiplying each term of one = 3x  (9y) + 3x  (x) + − 4(9y) + − 4(x)
expression by each term of the other
= 27xy + 3x 2− 36y − 4x

Substitute constants for variables If x = 3 and y = −2, then 3xy − x 2 + y can be evaluated as 3(3)(−2) −
(3)2+ (−2) = −18 − 9 − 2 = −29.

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 GMAT™ Official Guide Quantitative Review 2022
SOLVING LINEAR EQUATIONS:
Technique
Isolate a variable on one side of an equation by
performing the same operations on both sides
of the equation
To solve two equations with two variables x
and y:
(1) Express x in terms of y using one of the
equations.
(2) Substitute the expression for x to make the
second equation have only the variable y.
(3) Solve the second equation for y.
(4) Substitute the solution for y into the first
equation to find the value of x.
Alternative technique:
(1) Multiply both sides of one equation or both
equations so that the coefficients on y have
the same absolute value in both equations.
(2) Add or subtract the two equations to
eliminate y and solve for x.
(3) Substitute the solution for x into the first
equation to find the value of y.
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Example
(5x − 6)
Solve the equation = 4 using the following steps:
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(1) Multiply both sides by 3 to obtain 5x - 6 = 12.
(2) Add 6 to both sides to obtain 5x = 18.
(3) Divide both sides by 5 to obtain x = 18 .
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Solve the equations A: x − y = 2 and B: 3x + 2y = 11:
(1) From A, x = 2 + y.
(2) In B, substitute 2 + y for x to obtain 3(2 + y) + 2y = 11.
(3) Solve B for y: 6 + 3y + 2y = 11
6 + 5y = 11
5y = 5
y = 1.
(4) Since y = 1, it follows from A that x = 2 + 1 = 3.
Solve the equations A: x − y = 2 and B: 3x + 2y = 11:
(1) Multiply both sides of A by 2 to obtain 2x - 2y = 4.
(2) Add this result to equation B: 2x − 2y + 3x + 2y = 4 + 11
5x = 15
x = 3.
(3) Since x = 3, it follows from A that 3 − y = 2, so y = 1.
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