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Algebra Formulae: Basic Properties & Facts
Algebra Formulae: Basic Properties & Facts
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Algebra Formulae
Basic Properties & 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 If a < b and c > 0 then ac < bc and <
a b
a c c
a a b
b = a
=
ac If a < b and c < 0 then ac > bc and >
c bc b b c c
c
Properties of Absolute Value
a c ad + bc a c ad − bc a if a ≥ 0
+ = − = a =
b d bd b d bd −a if a < 0
a −b b−a a+b a b a ≥0 −a = a
= = +
c−d d −c c c c a a
ab = a b =
a b b
ab + ac ad
= b + c, a ≠ 0 b = a+b ≤ a + b Triangle Inequality
a c bc
d Distance Formula
Exponent Properties If P1 = ( x1 , y1 ) and P2 = ( x2 , y2 ) are two
an 1
a n a m = a n+m m
= a n−m = m−n points the distance between them is
a a
(a )n m
= a nm a 0 = 1, a ≠ 0 d ( P1 , P2 ) = ( x2 − x1 ) + ( y2 − y1 )
2 2
n
a
n
a
( ab ) = a nb n = n
n
= = n a = a
1
n m
( a + bi ) − ( c + di ) = a − c + ( b − d ) i
m m
b a a
( a + bi )( c + di ) = ac − bd + ( ad + bc ) i
Properties of Radicals
( a + bi )( a − bi ) = a 2 + b 2
1
n
a = an n
ab = n a n b a + bi = a 2 + b 2 Complex Modulus
m n
a = nm a n
a na
= ( a + bi ) = a − bi Complex Conjugate
b nb
( a + bi )( a + bi ) = a + bi
2
n
a n = a, if n is odd
n
a n = a , if n is even
Logarithms and Log Properties
Definition Logarithm Properties
y = log b x is equivalent to x = b y 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
log b ( xy ) = log b x + log b y
Special Logarithms x
ln x = log e x natural log log b = log b x − log b y
y
log x = log10 x common log
where e = 2.718281828K The domain of log b x is x > 0
Factoring and Solving
Factoring Formulas Quadratic Formula
x 2 − a 2 = ( x + a )( x − a ) Solve ax 2 + bx + c = 0 , a ≠ 0
x 2 + 2ax + a 2 = ( x + a )
2 −b ± b 2 − 4ac
x=
2a
x 2 − 2ax + a 2 = ( x − a )
2
If b − 4ac > 0 - Two real unequal solns.
2
x3 − 3ax 2 + 3a 2 x − a 3 = ( x − a )
3
Square Root Property
x3 + a3 = ( x + a ) ( x 2 − ax + a 2 ) If x 2 = p then x = ± p
− =1
Parabola/Quadratic Function b2 a2
y = ax 2 + bx + c f ( x ) = ax 2 + bx + c Graph is a hyperbola that opens up and
down, has a center at ( h, k ) , vertices b
The graph is a parabola that opens up if units up/down from the center and
a > 0 or down if a < 0 and has a vertex asymptotes that pass through center with
b b b
at − , f − . slope ± .
a
2a 2 a
Common Algebraic Errors
Error Reason/Correct/Justification/Example
2 2
≠ 0 and ≠ 2 Division by zero is undefined!
0 0
−32 = −9 , ( −3 ) = 9 Watch parenthesis!
2
−32 ≠ 9
(x )
2 3
≠ x5 (x )
2 3
= x2 x2 x2 = x6
a a a 1 1 1 1
≠ + = ≠ + =2
b+c b c 2 1+1 1 1
1 A more complex version of the previous
≠ x −2 + x −3
x +x
2 3 error.
a + bx a bx bx
a + bx = + = 1+
≠ 1 + bx a a a a
a
Beware of incorrect canceling!
− a ( x − 1) = − ax + a
− a ( x − 1) ≠ − ax − a
Make sure you distribute the “-“!
( x + a) ≠ x2 + a2 ( x + a) = ( x + a )( x + a ) = x 2 + 2ax + a 2
2 2
x2 + a2 ≠ x + a 5 = 25 = 32 + 42 ≠ 32 + 42 = 3 + 4 = 7
x+a ≠ x + a See previous error.
More general versions of previous three
( x + a) ≠ x n + a n and x+a ≠ n x + n a
n n
errors.
2 ( x + 1) = 2 ( x 2 + 2 x + 1) = 2 x 2 + 4 x + 2
2
2 ( x + 1) ≠ ( 2 x + 2 )
2 2
( 2 x + 2) = 4 x2 + 8x + 4
2