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Algebra Cheat Sheet: Basic Properties & Facts

The document provides an overview of basic algebra concepts including arithmetic operations, properties of exponents, factoring techniques, and functions and graphs. It defines key terms and formulas for working with subjects such as quadratic equations, logarithms and more.

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nico12234
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208 views

Algebra Cheat Sheet: Basic Properties & Facts

The document provides an overview of basic algebra concepts including arithmetic operations, properties of exponents, factoring techniques, and functions and graphs. It defines key terms and formulas for working with subjects such as quadratic equations, logarithms and more.

Uploaded by

nico12234
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Algebra Cheat Sheet

Basic Properties & Facts

Arithmetic Operations
ab ac

a b c

b
c

ab
c

a
b

ac

bc

b
c

a
b

c
d

ad bc
bd

a b
c d

a
b

b a
d c

ab ac
a

c
d

If a b and c 0 then

a
c

b
c

ab a b
a b a

a a

an
ab
a

an

1
m n

ab

am

nm
n

n
a
nn n
a a

x2

x1

y2

y1

i a, a

Complex Numbers
i

n
n

a
a
b b
Triangle Inequality

d P1 ,
P2

b
n
a

a
b
a

bn

Properties of Radicals
n

m n

a
b

1, a

b
1

n m

n n

ab
1

a0

a nm

n m

Distance Formula
If P1
x1 , y1
P2
x2 , y2 are two
and
points the distance between them is

Exponent Properties
n

b
c
b

bc

d
a

ac bc and

a
c
a

Properties of Absolute Value


a
if a 0
a
a
if a 0
a 0
a a

b
ad
c

ac bc and

If a b and c 0 then

ad bc
bd

a b
c
a

b c, a

Properties of Inequalities
If a b then a c b c and a c b c

anb

a bi
a bi

c di
c di

a c
a c

a bi c di

ac bd

a bi a bi

b d i
b d i
ad bc i

b
Complex Modulus

a bi

a bi

a bi
Complex Conjugate
b nb

a, if n is odd
a , if n is even

For a complete set of online Algebra notes visit http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu.

2005 Paul Dawkins

a bi a bi
Logarithms and Log Properties
Definition

Logarithm Properties

log b bx 1

log b x is equivalent to x b y

log b b

Example
3

log5 125 3 because 5

125

Special Logarithms
ln x log e x
natural log
log x log10 x common log
where e 2.718281828K

x a

2ax a

x a

a b x ab x a x b
3
2
3
2
3a
x
a
x
a
3ax

3ax

x a

x a x

ax a

x a x

ax a

x a x

Solve 2x

n 1

ax

x
y

logb x log b y

If b

n 2

6x 10 0

a x

4ac

n 3

If b 4ac
2
If b 4ac

b 4ac
2a
0 - Two real unequal solns.
0 - Repeated real solution.
0 - Two complex solutions.

Square Root Property


If x

p then x

Absolute Value Equations/Inequalities


If b is a positive number
p b
p
b or

2n

log b x logb y

2n
n
n
n
n
x
a
x a x a
If n is odd then,
n
n
n 2
n
x a
x a x n 1 ax
L a

log b xy

Quadratic Formula
2
Solve ax bx c 0 , a

2ax a

log b xr

The domain of log b x is x

log x

b b
r logb x

log b

3a x a

log b 1 0

Factoring and Solving

Factoring Formulas
2
2
x a x a
x a

a bi

L a

b
p

p b
b or

n 1

Completing the Square


(4) Factor the left side
2

(1) Divide by the coefficient of the x


2
x 3x 5 0
(2) Move the constant to the other side.
2
x 3x 5

29

2
4
(5) Use Square Root Property
3
29
29
x

For a complete set of online Algebra notes visit http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu.

2005 Paul Dawkins

(3) Take half the coefficient of x, square


it and add it to both sides
x

3x

3
2

3
2

9
4

29
4

3
2

29
2

ay

by c

g y

ay

by c

The graph is a parabola that opens right


if a 0 or left if a 0 and has a vertex
at g
b
b
,
.

Line/Linear Function
f x

Parabola/Quadratic Function

Graph is a horizontal line passing


through the point 0, a .

mx b or

Functions and Graphs

Constant Function
y a or
f x a

2
(6) Solve for x

2a

mx b

2a

Graph is a line with point 0, b and


slope m.

Circle
2
x h

Slope
Slope of the line containing the two
points x1 , y1 and x2 , y2 is
y2 y1 rise
m
x2 x1 run

Graph is a circle with radius r and center


h, k .

Slope intercept form


The equation of the line with slope m
and y-intercept 0, b is
y mx b
Point Slope form
The equation of the line with slope m
and passing through the point x1 , y1 is
y

y1 m x x1

Parabola/Quadratic Function
2
y a x h
k
f x a x h

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

y k

Ellipse
2
2
x h
y k
1
2
2
a
b
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
2
2
x h
y k
1
2
2
a
b
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
2
2
y k
x h
1
2
2
b
a
Graph is a hyperbola that opens up and
down, has a center at h, k , vertices b
units up/down from the center and

For a complete set of online Algebra notes visit http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu.

2005 Paul Dawkins

0 or down if a 0 and has a vertex


b
b
at
,f
.
2a
2a
a

Error
2
0

2
0 and
0
2

Reason/Correct/Justification/Example

Division by zero is undefined!

9, 3
x2 x2 x2

3
2 3
x

x5

a
a
a bc b
c
1
x
2
3
x x
a

Common Algebraic Errors

2 3

asymptotes that pass through center with


b
slope
.
a

1
1
1 1
2
2 1 1 1 1
A more complex version of the
previous error.
a bx a bx
bx

bx 1 bx

1
a
a a
a
Beware of incorrect canceling!
a x 1
ax a

a
ax a

a x 1

9 Watch parenthesis!
6

Make sure you distribute the -!


x a2
x

x
a

x a

x a

x a

x a

x a x a
2

a and

x a

2x 2
1
x

a
ab b
c
c

2x 2

2 x

2ax a

5
25
3 4
3
4 3 4 7
See previous error.
More general versions of previous
three errors.
2 x 1

2 x 1

2 x

2x 1

2x

4x 2

4 x 8x 4
2x 2
Square first then distribute!
See the previous example. You can not
factor out a constant if there is a power on
the parethesis!
a

1
2 2

Now see the previous error.


a
a
a c
ac
1
b
c

b
c

For a complete set of online Algebra notes visit http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu.

2005 Paul Dawkins

b
c

b
ac
c

b
c
1

For a complete set of online Algebra notes visit http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu.

bc

2005 Paul Dawkins

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