ALGEBRA

Formula Sheet
15.1 INTRODUCTION • If
a b
+ = -1 then a3 - b3 = 0
Algebra is one of the important chapters for SSC b a
Exams in terms of weightage of the questions a b 1
• If + = then a3 - b3 = 0
asked from this area. 2-3 questions in the Tier 1 b a a+b
exam and 3-4 questions in Tier 2 exam are
7. SPECIAL CASE 5
generally asked. Students are advised to see this
1
chapter without any connection with other • If ab (a + b) = 1 then - a3 - b3 = 3
3 3
chapters/concepts of algebra. Once you complete ab
this chapter thoroughly, you will be able to solve
• a3 + b3 + c3 - 3abc =
every type of algebra questions asked in exam.
1 é 2 2 2ù
= ( a + b + c ) ê( a - b) + (b - c ) + (c - a) ú
15.2 IMPORTANT CONCEPTS 2 ë û

1. SQUARE FORMULA (
= ( a+b+c ) a2 +b2 +c2 -ab-bc-ca )
2
• (a + b ) = a + b + 2ab
2 2 é 2 ù
= ( a+b+c ) ê( a+b+c ) -3 (ab+bc+ca)ú
2 ë û
• (a - b ) = a2 + b2 - 2ab
2 (
Ø If a + b + c = 0 )
• (a + b ) = (a - b)2 + 4ab
Then a3 + b3 + c3 - 3abc = 0
2 2
• (a - b) = (a + b) - 4ab
a3 + b3 + c3 - 3abc = 0
• (a - ab + b ) (a + ab + b ) = a
2 2 2 2 4 2 2
+ a b +b2b4
Ø If a3 + b3 + c3 - 3abc = 0
2 2 a, b and c are distinct no
• (a + b ) – ( a - b ) = 4ab
then, a + b + c = 0
• a2 - b2 = ( a + b ) ( a - b )
Ø a³ + b³+ c³- 3abc = 0
2
• (a + b + c ) = a2 + b2 + c2 + 2 ( ab + bc + ca) a, b and c all are +ve integer no then, a = b =
c.
2. CUBE FORMULA
3 Ø a2 + b2 + c2 - ab – bc – ca = 0
• (a + b ) = a3 + b3 + 3ab ( a + b )
a2 + b2 + c2 = ab + bc + ca
3
• a + b = ( a + b ) - 3ab ( a + b )
3 3 then a = b= c

• (
a3 + b3 = ( a + b) a2 - ab + b2 ) Ø If a, b and c are in A.P. then
a3 + b3 + c3 - 3abc = 9bd2 (d=common
3
• (a - b ) = a - b - 3ab ( a - b )
3 3
difference)
3
• a3 - b3 = ( a – b ) + 3ab ( a - b ) 8. TYPE BASE QUESTIONS

• (
a3 - b3 = ( a – b ) a2 + ab + b2 ) • If x -
1
= a then x2 +
1
= a2 + 2
3. SPECIAL CASE 1
x x2

( )
1 2
• If a2 - ab + b2 = 0 then a3 + b3 = 0 and x4 + = a2 + 2 -2
2 3 x4
• If b = 1, then a - a + 1 = 0 , then a + 1 = 0
1 1
or a3 = - 1 • If x + = a then x3 + = a3 - 3a
x x3
4. SPECIAL CASE 2 1 1
If x - = a then x3 - = a3 + 3a
• If a2 + a + 1 = 0 then a3 - 1 = 0 or a3 = 1 x x 3

5. SPECIAL CASE 3 1
• If x + = a
a b x
• If + = 1 then a³ + b³ = 0
b a
1 1 1
Then x5 +
x
1
5 (
= a2 - 2 a3 - 3a - a)( )
• If - = then a3 + b3 = 0
a b a-b æ 1ö
• If ç x - ÷ = a, then
6. SPECIAL CASE 4 è xø
 ALGEBRA
Formula Sheet
x5 -
x
1
5 ( )(
= a2 + 2 a3 + 3a - a ) If
a x
= then C & D Þ
b y
a+b x + y
=
a-b x - y

( )
1 1 2
• x+ = a, then x6 + = a3 - 3a - 2 11. SPECIAL CASE
x 6
x 2nab x + na x + nb
• If If x = then + =2
a+b x - na x - nb
1 1
x+ = 2 then x2 + = 0 or x 4 + 1 = 0 o x 4 = -1 12. QUADRATIC EQUATION
x 2
x Quadratic equation ax² + bx + c = 0
1 1
• If x + = 3 then x3 + = 0 or x6 = -1 b
x 3 • sum of roots = α + β = -
x a
1 c
• If x + = 2 then x = 1 • product of roots = αβ =
x a
1 • roots of equation are
If x + = -2 then x = -1
x -b + b2 - 4ac -b - b2 - 4ac
1 1 α= ,β
• If xn + = a then xn - = ± a2 - 4 2a 2a
n n • An equation whose roots are α and β is given
x x
1 1 by x² - (α + β)x+ αβ = 0
If xn - = b then xn + = ± b2 + 4 • Discriminant (D) = b² - 4ac
n n
x x
1
• When a + = 1,
a
Or,
a2 - a + 1 = 0
Then a³ = -1
Or,
a³ + 1 = 0
1
⇒When a + = -1
a
Or,
a²+ a + 1 = 0
then,
a³ = 1
• Rationalizing factor of the surd x = a ± b
1
and = a b
x
Note:
1 1
If xy = 1 then + =1
1+ x 1+ y
9. MISCELLANEOUS
• 1+ A + B + AB = (1+A) (1+B)
1é 2 2 2ù
• a2 + b2 + c2 - ab - bc - ca = ê( a - b) + (b - c ) + (c - a) ú
2ë û
If a, b, and c are in A.P. then,
• a2 + b2 + c2 - ab - bc - ca = 3d2 ( d = common difference )

1 1 1
• If a+ =x, b+ =y, c+ =z , then
b c a
1
abc+ =xyz- ( x+y+z )
abc
10. COMPONEDO & DIVIDENDO