INTRO TO ALGEBRA

SECTION
By Alice Chichisan
MCC
Fall 2007

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 TOPICS:
Absolute Value
•
Rule of Signs
•
Exponents Rule
•
Square Roots
•
Scientific Notation
•
Evaluating and Simplifying Variable Expressions
•
One and Two Step Equations
•
Graphing in the Cartesian System
•
Writing Equations from words
•
Distance-Rate-Time Problems
•

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 ABSOLUTE VALUE
• DEFINITION:
THE ABSOLUTE VALUE OF A NUMBER, N , DENOTED
BY N REPRESENTS THE DISTANCE AWAY FROM ZERO
ON THE NUMBER LINE.
FOR EXAMPLE, 3 = 3 AND -3 = 3 SINCE BOTH
3 AND -3 ARE 3 UNITS AWAY FROM ZERO ON THE
REAL NUMBER LINE.

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 EXAMPLES

EVALUATE:
A) −2 + 1 =
B) 6+2 − −4 − 5 =
C) - -2 =
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 RULE OF SIGNS FOR
MULTIPLICATION AND
DIVISION OF REAL
NUMBERS
FOR MULTIPLICATION:
(+ )(+) = (+)
(+ )(−) = (−)
(−)(+) = (−)
(−)(−) = (+)
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 EXAMPLES

2*3 = 6
−2*3 = −6
2*(−3) = −6
(−2)(−3) = 6
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 RULE OF SIGNS FOR
MULTIPLICATION AND
DIVISION OF REAL
NUMBERS For Division:
+ =+
+
+ =−
−
− =−
+
− =+
−
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 EXAMPLES
10 = 2
5
−10 = −2
5
10 = −2
−5
−10 = 2
−5
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 THE EXPONENT RULES

Start with the definition:

a n = a * a * a *...a, n times, where a is called the BASE
and n is called the EXPONENT.
For example: 25 = 2* 2* 2* 2* 2 = 32
CAUTION : 25 ≠ 10

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 EXPONENT RULES
• The following rules are VERY
IMPORTANT!
• MEMORIZE mTHEM m + nso that you can
a a =a
n

share them with

m
your children and
a
grand children  m−n
n
= a
a
(a m ) n = a m*n
1 −m
m
= a ,a ≠ 0
a
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a 0 = 1, a ≠ 0 10
 EXAMPLES:

23 * 24 = 27 = 128
4
3 4 −5 −1 1
5
=3 =3 =
3 3
( ) = ( 125 − 16 ) = 1092 = 11881
2 2
5 −4
3 2

 24 − 33   16 − 27  −11
 0 = = = −11
 5   1  1
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 EXAMPLES (CONT)

(2 )
4
3
= 23*4 = 212 = 4096

4 *2 = ( 2 )
2
2 3 2
* 23 = 24 * 23 = 27

( 1)
2 2
 1  1 1
  = = 2 2 =
 2X  ( 2X )
2 2
2 X 4X

( 3 XY ) (Y )
4 4
2
=3 X 4 4 2
= 81X Y
4 8

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 SQUARE ROOTS
• Definition:
a reads: the square root of a,
where a is a real number greater or equalto zero.
a2 = a
For example: 81 = 92 = +9 and -9
since 92 = 81 and (-9)2 = 81 as well.

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 WRITING SQUARE
ROOTS IN EXPONENT
NOTATION
• Let’s start with an example:
1
x=x 2

1
3
x=x 3

2
4
x =x2 4

a
So, in general, b
x =x
a b

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 SCIENTIFIC
NOTATION
• It is a way of representing very large
or very small numbers using powers
of 10. Recall positive powers of 10:
100 = 1
101 = 10
102 = 100
10 = 1, 000
3

104 = 10, 000

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 SCIENTIFIC
NOTATION(2)
Recall the negative powers of 10:
10-1 = 0.1
10−2 = 0.01
10−3 = 0.001
−4
10 = 0.0001
−5
10 = 0.00001

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 SCIENTIFIC
NOTATION(3)
• DEFINITION:
a number written in scientific notation is expressed in the form:
a *10n , where n is an integer between 1 and 10.
For example, the number 32,456 written in scientific notation
looks like: 3.2456*10 4 .

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 SCIENTIFIC
NOTATION(4)
• Examples:
• Put the following numbers in
scientific notation:
56, 200 = 5.6*10 4

45, 000, 000 = 4.5*10 7

21 = 2.1*10
0.00462 = 4.62*10−3
0.212 = 2.12*10−1
−5
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0.0000789 = 7.89*10 19
19
 SCIENTIFIC
NOTATION(5)
• Examples:
−5
1.778*10 = 0.00001778
1.3495*10 4 = 13, 495
( )( ) ( )
8*10−4 4*103 = ( 8* 4 ) 10 −4 *10 3 = 32*10 −1 = 3.2*10 0 = 3.2

( 2*10 ) ( 3*10 ) = 6*10

8 3 11

( 6*10 ) ( 8*10 ) = 48*10

4 −8 −4
= 4.8*10 −3

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 SCIENTIFIC
NOTATION(6)
• Examples:
9*10−5
= 3*10( −5−( −1)) = 3*10 ( −5+1) = 3*10 −4 = 0.0003
3*10−1
9.5*10 −1 ( −1−3) −4
3
= 1.9*10 = 1.9*10 = 0.00019
5*10
2.6*10−3 −5
2
= 1.3*10 = 0.000013
2*10
3*109
5
= 0.5*10 4
= 5000
6*10

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 EVALUATING AND
SIMPLIFYING VARIABLE
EXPRESSIONS
• WE WILL BREAK THIS TOPIC IN
TWO:
– FIRST: EVALUATE VARIABLE
EXPRESSIONS
– SECOND: SIMPLIFY VARIABLE
EXPRESSIONS
• AND THIRD (I KNOW ) WE SHALL
COMBINE THE TWO

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 EVALUATING VARIABLE
EXPRESSIONS
• SOME TERMINOLOGY:

• AN ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSION IS SIMPLY A

MATHEMATICAL STATEMENT CONTAINING
NUMBERS AND LETTERS.
– FOR EXAMPLE:
3 X 2 , 2 A + 4 B,5 X − 6Y 3 + 7 ARE ALL ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS

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 EVALUATING VARIABLE
EXPRESSIONS(2)
• A TERM IS SIMPLY PART OF AN ALGEBRAIC
EXPRESSION, SUCH AS 4X,5 ETC.
• A VARIABLE IS A LETTER WE USE TO REPRESENT
UNKNOWN QUANTITIES; MOST COMMONLY USED
ARE X,Y, Z OR A,B,C
• A COEFFICIENT IS THE NUMBER LOCATED IN FRONT
OF THE VARIABLE SUCH AS 4XY –COEFFICIENT IS 4

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 EVALUATING VARIABLE
EXPRESSIONS(3)
• When you are asked to evaluate an
expression what you need to do is simply
to plug in the value of the given variable(s)
and perform the indicated operations to
obtain a numerical result.
• Consider the following example (in the
next slide):

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 EVALUATING VARIABLE
EXPRESSIONS(4)
E
valu
ate:
1
. 3a+
bif=
−
a1 =
−an
db3
a+=
b3−
+−
(=
−
1)−=
−
3(3
) 19 1
0

2
. m
8n −fo =
rm−=
5 an
dn2
mn −
=−
8−(=−
)−
5 =
)−
(2 8 108 1
8

3
. 9 −fo
mm =−
2
rm3
−
9m m=−
(−
9 −
2
3)=
−
( −
)=
3 −27
2
9 3
6

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 EVALUATING VARIABLE
EXPRESSIONS(5)

4x + 3 y −1
4. if x = 2 and y = 1
x
4 x + 3 y − 1 4* 2 + 3*1 − 1 8 + 3 − 1 11 − 1 10
= = = = =5
x 2 2 2 2

x2 + 3 y3 − 4 z
5. if x = −2, y = 4 and z = −1
2x + y − z 2

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 SIMPLIFYING VARIABLE
EXPRESSIONS

FIRST W E NEED SOM E TERM INOLOGY:

LIKE TERM S ARE TERM S THAT CONTAIN THE
M E SA
VARIABLES
AND EACH CORRESPONDING VARIABLE IS D RAISE
AT THE SAM E POW ER.
FOR EXAM PLE:X42 Y AND X32 Y ARE LIKE TERM S SINCE
H TERM
BOT SCONT AIN
THE SAM E VARIABLES AND EACH CORRESPONDIN G VARIABLE IS RAISED
TO THE SAM E POW ER; THAT IS, X IS RAISED
TO THE SECOND POW ER AND
Y IS RAISED TO THE FIRST POW ER.

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 SIMPLIFYING VARIABLE
EXPRESSIONS(2)

AN OT H ER EXAM PLE:
-12XY3 Z 5 AN D− 12X 3Y 3 Z 5 AR E N OT LIK E T ER M S.
W HY N OT?
NOT IC E T HAT IN T HE FIR ST T ER M X IS DR AISE
TO T HE FIR ST PO W ER
W HILE IN T HE SEC OND TER M X IS R AISED TH ET O
T H IR D POW ER .

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 SIMPLIFYING VARIABLE
EXPRESSIONS(3)
• IMPORTANT
• WE CAN ONLY COMBINE LIKE
TERMS!
• THAT IS WE CAN ADD OR
SUBTRACT ONLY LIKE TERMS!

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 SIMPLIFYING VARIABLE
EXPRESSIONS(4)
• For example:
We can combine the following terms:
4x+3x=7x (just add the coefficients, 4 and 3 respectively)
Which terms can we combine in the following example?
2 x 2 y + 3x − 5 y − 3x 2 y − 6 x + 1 = − x 2 y − 3x − 5 y + 1

Try the following example:

12 xyz − 14 x + 2 y − 5 y + x + 3 xyz + 14 x − 5
3 3

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 SIMPLIFYING VARIABLE
EXPRESSIONS(5)

EX . − 5( x + 1) = −5 x − 1

EX: 5(2a-6)-3(4a-9) = 10 a − 30 − 12 a + 27 = −2 a − 3

EX: − 5(8 j + 2) − (5 j − 3) − 3 j + 17 = −40 j − 10 − 5 j + 3 − 3 j + 17 =

= −45 j − 7 − 3 j + 17 =
= −48 j + 10

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 SIMPLIFYING VARIABLE
EXPRESSIONS(6)
• Let’s try one more example:

EX : Simplify
−3 x + 7 xy + 8 y − 12 x − 11 y = −15 x − 3 y + 7 xy

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 SOLVING ONE AND TWO
STEP LINEAR
EQUATIONS
• OBSERVATIONS:
• My explanations will be somewhat different than
the explanations you will find in your textbook if
you have one or than those you will find in
MySkillsTutor. But I believe mine are better…
• As always use the explanation that best suits
you…

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 SOLVING ONE AND TWO
STEP LINEAR
EQUATIONS(2)
• What is an equation?
• Simply put is just a mathematical or
algebraic expression, in which the equal sign
is involved.
• The equal sign states that the left side of
the equation is equal to the right side of the
equation.
• A=B, or LEFT=RIGHT

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 SOLVING ONE AND TWO
STEP LINEAR
EQUATIONS(3)
• The idea behind solving any kind of equation is to solve
for the variable involved in the equation. We do that by
• 1. combining like terms together-numbers with numbers
and variables with variables.
• 2. put the variable on one side of the equation and the
numbers on the other side.
• 3. divide both sides of the equation by the coefficient
of the variable (if applicable).

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 SOLVING ONE AND TWO
STEP LINEAR
EQUATIONS(4)
Solve the equation for the given variabl
e:
x − 4 =8
The question is what value should x take so that both sides of the equation are
equal.
There is an easy way to figure it out.imply
S move the negative 4 no the RIGHT side
of the equation. Why? Because then we we 'll have x by itself (notice that the co
efficient
for x is one).
ATTENTION!
Everytime we move a number or a variable from one side of the equatio n to the other,
the sign of that quantity changes fromto+ - or from - to +. It becomes the oppo site of what it used to be.
So, for us ,x − 4 = 8, becomesx = 4 +8or x =12

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 SOLVING ONE AND TWO
STEP LINEAR
EQUATIONS(5)
• ATTENTION: ALWAYS CHECK
YOUR ANSWER!
The equation was x − 4 = 8 and we determined that the solution
• SO, LET’S DO THAT!
is x=12.
Is it true?
We check the answer by plugging in the value of x = 12
into the original equation.
So, x − 4 = 8 becomes 12 − 4 = 8 which is a true statement,
hence we have the correct solution.
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 SOLVING ONE AND TWO
STEP LINEAR
EQUATIONS(6)
• How about another example?
• Well, here it is:
• Solve for x: x-2=7
• What do you do?
• Move the negative 2 on the right side of the
equation
• What happens to (-2) once it crosses over to
the other side? (smile!)

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 • The sign changes from (-) to (+) and the equation
turns into:
• X=7+2 or x=9
• Now, do you remember the original equation?
• X-2=7
• We found the solution to be x=9
• Is it true?
• Let’s check:

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 • So, we plug in THE ORIGINAL EQUATION
the value of the solution, x=9, and we
determine if the two sides of the equation
are equal:
• So, x-2 becomes 9-2=7
• Both sides are equal, we are good and life is
good! 
• Let’s try another one:

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 Ex.
• X-22=-14
• X=-14+22
• X=8
• Check: 8-22=-14
• Good job! 

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 Ex:
• 75=83+x
• Oops…now x is on the Right side of the
equation!....Mamma mia!
• Not to worry…do the same thing as before:
just keep x where it is and just move the 83
over to the left…
• So, 75-83=x
• Or x=-8

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 Consider the following
2 x = 30 example:
Now, what we want is the value for 1 x not 2x.
How can we get to that?
Simply, by dividing both sides by the coefficient of x :
2x 30
=
2 2
x = 15 (the 2s cancel out and we are left with 1 x)!

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 Did you forget something?
I know you did not! 
• Check!

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 Ex.
• Solve: 3x-2x-4=9
• Combining like terms (that is the terms containing x)
we obtain:
• X-4=9
• Next, same old story…
• X=9+4
• Or, x=13
• What are you going to do next?

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 • You got it! Check it! In the
ORIGINAL EQUATION!
• 3X-2X-4=9 and our solution (or the
value we found for x) is x=13
• So, 3(13)-2(13)-4=39-26-4=13-4=9
• YES! 

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 HOW ABOUT ANOTHER
EXAMPLE?
CHECK IT OUT!
• 3K-12+K+2=5+3K+2
• OK, you can do this! Look, all you have to do is
to combine like terms(variables with variables
and numbers with numbers). Let’s do it!
• 3K-12+K+2=5+3K+2
• 4k-10=3k+7
• Next put the terms containing the variable on
one side of the equal sign and the numbers on
the other side.

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 • 4k-10=3k+7
• 4k-3k=7+10
• K=17

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 • Btw, 17 is a prime, you know…primes are really nice
numbers and there are many mathematicians
obsessed with them…One of them was Riemann who
lived towards the beginning of the 19th century (if I
remember correctly); he thought he discovered a
formula that would predict the next prime…well, later
it has been shown that there is no pattern for
primes…pretty cool stuff, don’t you think? 

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 Are you ready for another
one?
I know you are!
• Here we go again!
• 3(2+5x)-(1+14x)=6
• What should we do first? Distribute, you
are right! So,
• 6+15x-1-14x=6

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 • Anyway, we finished solving the equation and now it’s
time to check if our work is correct…
• Original equation:
• 3K-12+K+2=5+3K+2 and solution k=17
• 3(17)-12+17+2=51-12+19=58 (left side)
• 5+3(17)+2=5+51+2=58 (right side)
• Since left side=right side we are done, we have
performed a great work of art and we should feel
really good about ourselves!

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 • OBSERVATION:
• A NEGATIVE SIGN IN FRONT OF THE
PARENTHESIS CHANGES THE SIGN OF
EVERYTHING IN THAT PARENTHESIS.
• FOR EXAMPLE,
• a-(3a+4b-2c-d) becomes a-3a-4b+2c+d
• Ok, let’s get back to our equation:

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 • 3(2+5x)-(1+14x)=6
• 6+15x-1-14x=6
• X+5=6
• X=6-5
• X=1
• Uhhh…are we right? I don’t know, let’s check…
• But we are right, I know… let’s do it anyway…

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 Remember, every time you check, check it in the original equation:
•
3(2+5x)-(1+14x)=6 and our solution is x=1
•
3(2+5*1)-(1+14*1)=3(2+5)-(1+14)=3*7-15=
•
=21-15=6 (this is the left side, remember?)
•
Again, since the left side of the equation equals the right side, we are
•
gooood! 

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 Ready for another one?

3x 8x
+17 =
5 5
I know, fractions, but be courageous !
YOU WILL know how to do this!
Same as before, variables with vari ables,
numbers with numbers.

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 3x 8x
+17 =
5 5
3x 8 x
− = −17
5 5
Since we have the same denominato r
we can combine the two fractions into one :
3x −8x
= −17
5

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 3x − 8x
= −17
5
− 5x
= −17
5
Cancel out the 5s and we get :
- x = -17
Multily both sides by (-1) and we obtain
x =11/13/09
11/13/09 17 58
58
 Remember to check!
3x 8x
+ 17 = and our solution is x = 17
5 5
3 *17 8 *17
So, + 17 =
5 5
51 136
+ 17 =
5 5
leftside : 10.2 + 17 =: rightside 27.2
27.2 = 27.2
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 • Again, we did great! The left side
equals the right side, we are goood!
Life is good! 

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 Another example
2x x
+ 15 = −
3 3
2x x
+ 15 + = 0
3 3
2x x
+ = −15
3 3
3x
= −15
3
x = −15

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 And another…
4x 6x
+ 22 =
7 7
4x 6x
− = −22
7 7
−2 x
= −22
7

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 And another… (2)
a c
Note : = ⇔ ad = bc
b d
−2 x 22
=−
7 1
(−2 x) *1 = (7)(−22)
−2 x = −154
−2 x −154
=
−2 −2
x = 77

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 • Don’t forget to check!
• The original equation is
• 75=83+x and our solution is x=-8
• 75=83+(-8)=83-8
• 75=75
• Boy, are we good! 
• Move this slide back

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 Ready for a break?
Me too…
• When we come back we’ll look at more equations
that require one more step…
• The fun never stops…
• Did you know that the Egyptians were able to
solve these types of equations without the aid of
any calculator? Now, they had a very weird and
cumbersome way of solving, but they did it!

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 Ok, here we go again…
• I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but in all of the
previous equations the coefficient of the variable was
always 1 (that’s the number in front of the variable).
• So we’ve always had the case where x=whatever.
• But what happens if we have something like 3x=10?
What do we do then?

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The idea is to solve for one x.
That is, we want the coefficient of x
to be equal to 1.
In our case, the coefficient of 3x is 3.
So, what do we do?
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 So, we have:
3 x = 10
Divide both sides by 3.
This results in:
3x 10
=
3 3
10
This results in x =
3
Remember to check your answer. :)
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Linear equations practice
problems

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 GRAPHING IN THE
CARTESIAN SYSTEM
• The Cartesian System is just the x-y
coordinate system.
• It is also called the Rectangular system
(since it kind of looks like a rectangle).
• I prefer to call it the Cartesian system in
honor of Renee Descartes who discovered
it.

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 Renee Descartes
• Lived around the 1600.
• The legend of the discovery of the Cartesian
system
• Negative numbers were not accepted at that time
• Do you know what else Descartes is known for?
• Besides being a brilliant mathematician, he excelled
at poetry and philosophy.

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 Ordered Pairs and
Graphs
• The graph of a point in two variables x and y is the ordered pair
(x, y), where x and y are the coordinates of the point.

• X, the first number, tells how far to the left or right the point is
from the vertical axis.

• Y, the second number, tells how far up or down the point is from
the horizontal axis.

For instance, the point (–1, 3) is the point that is 1 to left of

vertical axis and is three up from horizontal axis.

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 (x, y) coordinate system terms

y Quadrant I
Quadrant II

(-3,2) 2 (3,2)

X-axis
x
–3 1 2 3

(1,-2)
(-3,-3)
origin

Quadrant III
y-axis Quadrant IV

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 MORE ON:
The Rectangular Coordinate
System

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Rectangular Coordinate System
or Cartesian Plane

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 Plotting points on a
Rectangular Coordinate
System

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 Plotting points on a
Rectangular Coordinate
System

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 Plotting points on a
Rectangular Coordinate
System

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Example: Create a table of values for each
equation, and graph it on grid paper

2x + y = 7 x Original equation (x, y)

x − y = −5

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 Plotting points on a
Rectangular Coordinate
System

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 Guidelines for verifying
solutions
• Substitute the values of x and y into the
equation.
• Simplify each side of the equation.
• If each side simplifies to the same number,
the ordered pair is a solution. If the two
sides yield different numbers, the ordered
pair is not a solution.

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 Verifying solutions of an
Equation
• Determine whether each ordered pair is a
solution of the given equation.
y = 5x - 7; (2, 3), (1, 5), (-1, -12)

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 The Distance Formula
• Given the two points (x1, y1) and
(x2, y2), the distance between these
points is given by the formula:

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 The Distance Formula
•Find the distance between the points (–2, –3) and (–4, 4).
Just plug them in to the Distance Formula:

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 The Distance Formula
• Find the distance between two
points
• Verify a right triangle
• Determine collinear points
• Finding the length of a pass

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 Example:
• Show that the points(1,2),(3,1) and (4,3)
are vertices of a right angle triangle.

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Determine whether the set of
points is collinear.
{A(2,6),B(5,2),C(8,-2)}

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 Midpoint Formula
• Find the midpoint between (6.4, 3) and (–10.7, 4).
• Apply the Midpoint Formula:

• So the answer is P = (–2.15, 3.5)

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 Midpoint Formula
• Technically, the Midpoint Formula is the
following:

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 Section 3.2

Graphs of Functions

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 The Plotting Point Method of
Sketching a Graph
1. If necessary rewrite the equation by isolating one
of the variables
2. Make a table of at least 5 values showing several
solution points.
3. Plot these points on a rectangular coordinate
system
4. Connect the points with a smooth curve or line.

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 STANDARD FORM

Standard form of a linear equation is Ax + By = C. A and B are

not both zero. A quick way to graph this form is to plot its
intercepts (when they exist).
Draw a line through the two points.
y
The x-intercept is the (x,
(x, 0)
x-coordinate of the point
where the line intersects
the x-axis. x
Ax + By = C

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 Drawing Quick Graphs

Graph 2x + 3y = 12
(0, 4)
SOLUTION
METHOD 1: USE STANDARD FORM
(6, 0)
2x + 3y = 12 Standard form.
2x + 3(0) = 12 Let y = 0.
x=6 Solve for x.
The x-intercept is 6, so plot the point (6, 0).

2(0) + 3y = 12 Let x = 0.
y=4 Solve for y.
The y-intercept is 4, so plot the point (0, 4).

Draw a line through the two points.

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 Graphs of non linear equations
(Parabola Graph)
Sketch the graph of x2+y=0
x Y = -x2 (x, y)
Steps:
• Isolate y
• Create a table of values
• Plot the points & connect them
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
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STANDARD FORM

GRAPHING LINEAR EQUATIONS IN STANDARD FORM

The standard form of an equation gives you a quick

way to graph the equation.
1 Write equation in standard form.

2 Find x-intercept by letting y = 0. Solve for x. Use

x-intercept to plot point where line crosses x-axis.
3 Find y-intercept by letting x = 0. Solve for y. Use
y-intercept to plot point where line crosses y-axis.
4 Draw line through points.

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 Graphs of an Absolute Value
equations
(V Graph)
Sketch the graph of y = |x - 1|
x y = |x - 1| (x, y)
Steps:
• Isolate y
• Create a table of values
• Plot the points & connect them
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
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 Section 3.3
Slope and Graphs of
Linear Equations

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 Definition of Slope
y2 −
y 1 changeiny rise
= =
−
x2 x 1 changeinx run

Rise = 3
(4, 1)
Run = 4
3
(0, –
Slope = ¾ 2)
4

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 Slope of a Line
• A line with positive slope (m > 0) rises from
left to right.
• A line with negative slope (m < 0) falls from
left to right.
• A line with zero slope (m = 0) is horizontal.
• A line with undefined slope is vertical.

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STANDARD FORM

The equation of a vertical line cannot be written in slope-intercept

form because the slope of a vertical line is not defined. Every
linear equation, however, can be written in standard form—
even the equation of a vertical line.

HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL LINES

HORIZONTAL LINES The graph of y = c is a horizontal line

through (0, c ).

VERTICAL LINES The graph of x = c is a vertical line

through (c , 0).

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 Graphing Horizontal and Vertical Lines

Graph y = 3 and x = –2
y=3
SOLUTION (0, 3)
x = –2
The graph of y = 3 is a horizontal line
that passes through the point (0, 3). (–2, 0)
Notice that every point on the line has
a y-coordinate of 3.

The graph of x = –2 is a vertical line that

passes through the point (– 2, 0). Notice
that every point on the line has an
x-coordinate of –2.

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SLOPE-INTERCEPT FORM

If the graph of an equation intersects the y -axis at the point

(0, b), then the number b is the y -intercept of the graph.
To
find the y -intercept of a line, let x = 0 in an equation for the
line and solve for y.
The slope intercept form y
of a linear equation is (0 , b)
y = mx + b.
x
m is the slope
y = mx + b
b is the y-intercept

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 SLOPE-INTERCEPT FORM

GRAPHING EQUATIONS IN SLOPE-INTERCEPT FORM

The slope-intercept form of an equation gives you a quick

way to graph the equation.

STEP 1 Write equation in slope-intercept form by solving for y.

STEP 2 Find y-intercept, use it to plot point where line crosses
y-axis.
STEP 3 Find slope, use it to plot a second point on line.
STEP 4 Draw line through points.

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 Sketching a graph
• If necessary rewrite the equation in slope-
intercept form and identify the slope
• Find the x and/or y intercepts of the
equation
• Graph the points representing the intercepts
and use the slope to include at least three
other points on the graph.

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Parallel and Perpendicular Lines
• Two distinct non-vertical lines are parallel if
and only if they have the same slope.
• Two distinct non-vertical lines are
perpendicular if and only if they have their
slopes are negative
1
reciprocals of each other
i.e.m1 = -or m1 m
· m22 = -1

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 Slope as a Rate of Change
• Slope is often used to describe a constant
rate of change or an average rate of change

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 Section 3.4
Equations of Lines

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 Point Slope Form of the
Equation of a Line
• Write the equation of a line given the slope
(m) and one point can be done using the
slope formula in proportion with the slope
• The point-slope formula of the equation of
a line is most useful:
y – y 1 = m ( x – x1 )

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 Application
• Linear Extrapolation: when the estimated
point lies to the right of the given points
• Linear Interpolation: when the estimated
point lies between two given points

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 Equation of a Line Passing
Through Two (2) Points
1. Find the slope of the points using the slope
formula
2. Insert the slope and either of the points into the
point-slope form of the equation of a line and
simplify
3. Either leave the equation in standard (general)
form ( ax+by+c=0) or slope intercept form (y =
mx+b )

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 Lines for graphing
• < or > : graph uses a dotted or broken
line

• ≤ or ≥ : graph uses a solid line

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 Section 3.5
Graphs of Linear
Inequalities

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 Verifying solutions
• Solutions for linear inequalities are
verified the same as in linear
equations: by substituting the values
into the inequality and checking to see
if the resulting statement is true.

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 Graphing Method
• Solve the inequality in two variables
for the dependent variable (usually the
y variable) if necessary.
• It is done the same as changing an
equation in standard form into slope-
intercept form.

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 Graphing Method
• Make a table of x and y values for the
graph using the inequality as an
equation.
• Graph at least 5 ordered pairs
remembering to use the type of line
dictated by the inequality symbol.

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 Graphing Method
• If the inequality is greater than or greater
than or equal to (> or ≥ ) shade above the
line.

• If the inequality is less than or less than or

equal to (< or ≤) shade below the line.

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 Key words for inequalities
• More than: >
• Less than: <
• At least: ≥
• At most: ≤

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 Section 3.6
Relations and Functions

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 Relations and Functions
• A Relation is a set of ordered pairs i.e.,
{ (3,2), (-5,7), (7, 9), (1, -8)}
A Relation is a function if and only if every x
values is paired with a unique y value.
The domain of a relation includes all of the x values
i.e., { 3, -5, 7, 1 }
The range of a relation includes all of the y values
i.e., {2, 7, 9, -8}

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Characteristics of a Function
• Each element in the domain must be matched
with an element in the range
• Some elements in the range may not be matched
with any element in the doamin
• Two or more elements of the domain may be
matched with the same element in the range
• No element in the domain is matched with two
different elements in the range

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 Equations of two variables
• The independent variable is usually the x
variable
• The dependent variable is usually the y
variable

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 Function
• A dependent relationship in which one variable
depends on another.
• A mathematical relationship in which the y value
depends on the value of the x variable.
• A relationship in which the value of one part is
determined by the value of another variable.

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 Function Notation
• Input = x
• Output = y = f(x)
• Function equation: f(x)=1-x2

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 Evaluating Functions
• Let g(x)= -X2+4X+1 and find
• A) g(2) (B) g(t) (C) g(x+2)

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 A Piecewise-Defined
Function
• Has different rules for different parts of its
domain
• Some are Step Functions
• Their graphs look like the steps of a
staircase
• One type is the Greatest Integer Function

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 Piecewise function
Evaluate the function when x = -1, 0, and 1
f(x)= x2+1, x<0
x-1, x≥0

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 Domain and Range of a
function
The set of all values (input) of the
independent variable (output) for which
the function is defined.
The range is the set of all values (outputs)
assumed by the dependent variables for
which the function is defined.

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 Finding the Domain of a
function
• f: { (-3,0), (1,4), (0,2), (4,-1)}
– Domain of f consists of all of the x values in
the ordered pairs
– Domain = { -3,1,0,4}

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 Finding the Domain of a
function
• g(x) = -3x2+4x+5
– The domain of g is the set of all real numbers
– { R}

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 Finding the Domain
• h(x)= 1
x+5
• X+5=0
-5 -5
x =-5 , therefore the domain cannot = -5
because it makes the function undefined.
Domain of h(x) = {x x≠ -5}

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 Finding the Domain
• V = 4/3 πr3
Because this is the formula for the volume of a sphere the value of r (radius) must always be positive. The

value of V (Volume) depends on the value of the (r) radius.

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 Finding the domain
• k(x) = √ 4-3x

4 – 3x = 0
-4 -4
-3x = -4
-3 -3
x = 4/3, therefore the domain of K is all real numbers
that are less than or equal to 4/3.

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 Section 3.7
Graphs of Functions

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 Graph of a Function
• X = x-coordinate of the ordered
pair
• f(x)= y-coordinate of the ordered
pair

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 Graphing Methods
• Make a table of values and plot
the ordered pairs

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 Graphs of Basic Functions
• f(x) = c: y = c: a horizontal line
• f(x) = x: y = x: a diagonal line with
positive slope (positive linear function)
• f(x) = -x: y = -x: a diagonal line with
negative slope( negative linear function)

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 Graphs of Basic Functions
• f(x) = x The graph of the positive
absolute value function is the V shape
opening upward
• f(x) = - x The graph of the negative
absolute value function is the V shape
opening downward

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 Graphs of Basic Functions
• f(x) = x2: The graph of the positive
quadratic function is the U shape opening
upward
• f(x) = -x2: The graph of the negative
quadratic function is the U shape opening
downward

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 Graphs of Basic Functions

• The square root function,

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 Graphs of Basic Functions

• The Cubing Function: f(x)= x3

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 Vertical Line Test
• If a vertical line intersects a at graph
no more than one point then it passes
the vertical line test and is the graph
of a function

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 Transformations
• Vertical and horizontal shifts:
– h(x) = f(x) + c shifts the graph vertically
upward
– h(x) = f(x) – c shifts the graph vertically
downward
– h(x) = f(x+ c) shifts the graph horizontally to
the left
– h(x) = f(x- c) shifts the graph horizontally to
the right

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 Reflections
• Reflection in the x-axis: h(x) = - f(x)
• Reflection in the y-axis: h(x) = f (-x)

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