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Algebra Cheat Sheet: Basic Properties & Facts
Algebra Cheat Sheet: Basic Properties & Facts
Properties of Inequalities
If a < b then a + c < b + c and a c < b c
a b
If a < b and c > 0 then ac < bc and <
c c
a b
If a < b and c < 0 then ac > bc and >
c c
b ab
a =
c c
ab + ac = a ( b + c )
a
a
b =
c
bc
a
ac
=
b b
c
a c ad + bc
+ =
b d
bd
a c ad bc
=
b d
bd
a b ba
=
cd d c
a+b a b
= +
c
c c
a
ad
b =
c bc
d
ab + ac
= b + c, a 0
a
a+b a + b
(a )
n m
an
1
= a nm = mn
m
a
a
( ab )
a 0 = 1, a 0
n
a n =
a
b
= a nm
1
an
n
bn
b
= = n
a
a
n
m
a = an
m n
a = nm a
( x2 x1 ) + ( y2 y1 )
2
Complex Numbers
i = 1
( ) = (a )
a = a
Properties of Radicals
n
d ( P1 , P2 ) =
a
a
= n
b
b
1
= an
n
a
= a nb n
Triangle Inequality
Distance Formula
If P1 = ( x1 , y1 ) and P2 = ( x2 , y2 ) are two
points the distance between them is
Exponent Properties
a n a m = a n+m
a
a
=
b
b
ab = a b
1
m
1
m
i 2 = 1
a = i a , a 0
( a + bi ) + ( c + di ) = a + c + ( b + d ) i
( a + bi ) ( c + di ) = a c + ( b d ) i
( a + bi )( c + di ) = ac bd + ( ad + bc ) i
( a + bi )( a bi ) = a 2 + b 2
ab = n a n b
a + bi = a 2 + b 2
a na
=
b nb
( a + bi ) = a bi Complex Conjugate
2
( a + bi )( a + bi ) = a + bi
a n = a, if n is odd
a n = a , if n is even
Complex Modulus
Logarithm Properties
log b b = 1
log b 1 = 0
log b b x = x
b logb x = x
log b ( x r ) = r log b x
Example
log 5 125 = 3 because 53 = 125
Special Logarithms
ln x = log e x
natural log
x
log b = log b x log b y
y
Quadratic Formula
Solve ax 2 + bx + c = 0 , a 0
x 2 + 2ax + a 2 = ( x + a )
x 2 2ax + a 2 = ( x a )
b b 2 4ac
2a
2
If b 4ac > 0 - Two real unequal solns.
If b 2 4ac = 0 - Repeated real solution.
If b 2 4ac < 0 - Two complex solutions.
x=
x 2 + ( a + b ) x + ab = ( x + a )( x + b )
x3 + 3ax 2 + 3a 2 x + a 3 = ( x + a )
x3 3ax 2 + 3a 2 x a 3 = ( x a )
x3 + a3 = ( x + a ) ( x 2 ax + a 2 )
x3 a 3 = ( x a ) ( x 2 + ax + a 2 )
x a
2n
2n
= (x a
n
)( x
+a
If n is odd then,
x n a n = ( x a ) ( x n 1 + ax n 2 + L + a n 1 )
xn + a n
p = b or p = b
p <b
b < p < b
p >b
p < b or
p>b
= ( x + a ) ( x n 1 ax n 2 + a 2 x n 3 L + a n 1 )
Completing the Square
(4) Factor the left side
Solve 2 x 6 x 10 = 0
2
9 29
3
3
x 2 3x + = 5 + = 5 + =
4 4
2
2
3
29
x =
2
4
y = y1 + m ( x x1 )
Parabola/Quadratic Function
2
2
y = a ( x h) + k
f ( x) = a ( x h) + k
The graph is a parabola that opens up if
a > 0 or down if a < 0 and has a vertex
at ( h, k ) .
Parabola/Quadratic Function
y = ax 2 + bx + c f ( x ) = ax 2 + bx + c
The graph is a parabola that opens up if
a > 0 or down if a < 0 and has a vertex
b
b
at , f .
2a 2 a
Parabola/Quadratic Function
x = ay 2 + by + c g ( y ) = ay 2 + by + c
The graph is a parabola that opens right
if a > 0 or left if a < 0 and has a vertex
b b
at g , .
2a 2 a
Circle
2
2
( x h) + ( y k ) = r 2
Graph is a circle with radius r and center
( h, k ) .
Ellipse
( x h)
( y k)
+
=1
a2
b2
Graph is an ellipse with center ( h, k )
with vertices a units right/left from the
center and vertices b units up/down from
the center.
Hyperbola
( x h)
( y k)
( x h)
=1
a2
b2
Graph is a hyperbola that opens left and
right, has a center at ( h, k ) , vertices a
units left/right of center and asymptotes
b
that pass through center with slope .
a
Hyperbola
(y k)
=1
b2
a2
Graph is a hyperbola that opens up and
down, has a center at ( h, k ) , vertices b
units up/down from the center and
asymptotes that pass through center with
b
slope .
a
Reason/Correct/Justification/Example
2
2
0 and 2
0
0
32 9
32 = 9 ,
(x )
(x )
2 3
2 3
x5
a
a a
+
b+c b c
1
x 2 + x 3
2
3
x +x
a ( x 1) ax a
x2 + a2 x + a
x+a x + a
( x + a)
x n + a n and
= 9 Watch parenthesis!
= x2 x2 x2 = x6
( x + a)
x2 + a2
1
1
1 1
=
+ =2
2 1+1 1 1
A more complex version of the previous
error.
a + bx a bx
bx
= +
= 1+
a
a a
a
Beware of incorrect canceling!
a ( x 1) = ax + a
Make sure you distribute the -!
a + bx
1 + bx
a
( x + a)
( 3 )
x+a n x + n a
= ( x + a )( x + a ) = x 2 + 2ax + a 2
5 = 25 = 32 + 42 32 + 42 = 3 + 4 = 7
See previous error.
More general versions of previous three
errors.
2 ( x + 1) = 2 ( x 2 + 2 x + 1) = 2 x 2 + 4 x + 2
2
2 ( x + 1) ( 2 x + 2 )
( 2 x + 2)
2 ( x + 1)
( 2 x + 2)
= 4 x2 + 8x + 4
Square first then distribute!
See the previous example. You can not
factor out a constant if there is a power on
the parethesis!
2
x2 + a2 x2 + a2
a
ab
b c
c
a
ac
b
c
b
x2 + a2 = ( x2 + a 2 ) 2
Now see the previous error.
a
a
1
a c ac
= = =
b b 1 b b
c c
a a
b = b = a 1 = a
c
c b c bc
1