Math Cheat Sheet

By Kiki

● Algebraic equation and expression, Polynomial, Monomial equation, degree of an

equation. Algebraic expressions and their operation, Factorisation of algebraic
expression, Expanding brackets, algebraic Identities. (Problems on a^2-b^2 only)
● Flowcharts and simple algorithms.
● Forming equations: Transposing and solving simple equations, Substitution into
expressions,
● Formulating contextual problems, linear only, in mathematical terms and solving them
and evaluating them.
● Solving linear simultaneous equations graphically and analytically.

Remember: 2 positives is a positive, 2 negatives is a positive, and one positive and one
negative is negative.

Polynomial → Terms separated by addition or subtraction.

Ex: 2x^2 + 8y, 4a - 2b + 3c, n^3 + o^2 - 4
Monomial → 1 term
Ex: 3x^2, 6a^7, 876k^9
Degree of an equation → The highest number of exponents in equations.
1st degree → 3x + 7 = 10 (the variable is at the power of one)
2nd degree (quadratic) → 4x^2 + 3x = 9 (the variable with the highest power is at the power of
two)
3rd degree (cubic) → 4x^3 + 7x^2 + 5x = -9 (the variable with the highest power is at the power
of three)

To factorize an algebraic expression, you need to find the thing in common between all of the
terms and divide all the terms by it.

Ex:
3x + 6 = 12
3 is the number in common,
So we divide all the terms with three and put them in brackets:
3(x + 2) = 12
If the term on the other side of the equation is divisible by the number you found common, then
take the number to the other side and divide:
x+2=4
Now just solve:
x=4-2
x=2
Algebraic Identities:

a²-b²=(a+b)(a-b).
a2 + b2= (a + b)2 -2ab.
(a + b)^2 = a^2 + b^2 + 2ab
(a - b)^2 = a^2 + b^2 - 2ab

Expanding brackets:

5(x^2 + 7)
Multiply each term with the number outside the bracket:
5x^2 + 35

Or…

(x + 6)^2
Expand it into:
(x + 6)(x + 6)
Break it up into:
x(x + 6) + 6(x + 6)
Do each part individually:
x^2 + 6x + 6x + 36
Now put it all together:
x^2 + 12x + 36

Transposing and solving simple equations:

Basically:
Substitution into expressions:

Formulating contextual problems, linear only, in mathematical terms and solving them and
evaluating them:

Like turning word problems into linear equations / expressions and solving them.

Solving linear simultaneous equations graphically and analytically:

Substitution method:
3x – 4y = 0

9x – 8y = 12

Step 1: Rearrange equation (1) to express x in terms of y:

⇒3x = 4y

⇒x = 4y/3 …(3)

So basically make x or y the subject and make sure that there are no coefficients coupled with
that chosen variable.

Now substitute x = 4y/3 in (2), we get

⇒9(4y/3) – 8y = 12

⇒(36y/3) – 8y = 12

⇒12y – 8y = 12

⇒4y = 12

⇒y = 12/4 = 3

Hence, the value of y is 3

Now, substitute y= 3 in (3) to get the value of x

⇒ x = [4(3)]/3 = 12/3 = 4

Therefore, x = 4

Graphical representation:
For example:
4x + 2y = 6
3x + 4y = 8

Equation 1:
 x y

0 3

6/4 0

Equation 2:

x y

0 2

8/3 0

Graph them on a graph and find the coordinates of the point of intersection, that will be your x
and y.

Patterns:

The official equation is:

aX + b = Y
So, the concept is that x has something multiplied with it and added to it to get Y.
Write this down for the official thing.

X Y
5 7
7 10
9 13

Take any two pairs, like 5, 7 and 7, 10

Now subtract the 2 Y’s from eachother (the one that comes earlier gets subtracted by the other).
10 – 7 = 3

Now subtract the 2 X values corresponding to those values:

7–5=2

Divide the value you got from the Y’s with the X values:
3/2  call this “a”

Go multiply that with any one of the x values that you already used.
5 X 3/2 = 15/2 = 7.5

Now subtract the corresponding Y value with the number you just got:
7 – 7.5 = -0.5  call this “b”

Now put them all together:

3/2X – 0.5 = Y
Or aX + b = Y

Or:
Most countries used degrees Celsius as the unit for measuring temperature. The
US, however, uses degrees Fahrenheit as the unit of temperature. Please see Table
3 below for equivalent temperatures in the two scales.

Degrees Celsius Degrees Fahrenheit

(C) (F)
0 32
35 95
Table 3

Temperature can be converted from degrees Celsius to degrees Fahreheit, and

vice-versa, using the linear model

F = aC + b

where, F = temperature in degrees Fahrenheit

C = temperature in degrees Celsius
a and b are constants.

a/ Determine the values of a and b.

Put C = 0, F = 32
F = aC + b
32 = aX0 + b
32 = b

Therefore, F = aC + b becomes

F = aC +32
 Put C = 35, F = 95
F = aC + 32
95 = aX35 + 32
95-32 = a X 35
a X 35 = 63
a = 63/ 35
a = 1.8

Therefore, F = aC + 32 becomes
F = 1.8C + 32

Terms:
Describe: Give a detailed account or picture of a situation, event, pattern or process.
State: Give a specific name, value or other brief answer without explanation or calculation.
Suggest: Propose a solution, hypothesis or other possible answer.
Verify: Provide evidence that validates the result.
Justify: Give valid reasons or evidence to support an answer or conclusion.
Identify: Provide an answer from a number of possibilities. Recognize and state briefly a
distinguishing fact or feature.
Explain: Give a detailed account including reasons or causes.
Valid: A plausible solution in the context of the situation.
Find: Obtain an answer showing the relevant stages in working.