Algebra Cheat Sheet

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
b a b
 = a 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
ad 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  
= b + c, a≠0  b  = ad a+b ≤ a +b Triangle Inequality
a  c  bc
d
  Distance Formula
Exponent Properties If P1 = ( x1 , y1 ) and P2 = ( x2 , y2 ) are two
n
a 1
a n am = an +m m
= an −m = m−n
points the distance between them is
a a
m
( an ) = a nm a0 = 1, a≠0 d ( P1 , P2 ) = ( x2 − x1 ) 2 + ( y2 − y1 ) 2
n
n  a  = an
( ab ) = a b n n
 b  bn Complex Numbers
 
−n 1 1
a = n −n = an i= −1 = −1
i2 −a = i a , a ≥ 0
a a
−n
 a  =  b  = bn
n
n 1 ( a + bi ) + ( c + di
di) = a + c + ( b + d ) i
= (a )
n 1

 b   a  an am m
= ( an ) m

( a + bi ) − ( c + di) = a − c + ( b − d ) i
   
( a + bi ) ( c + di ) = ac − bd
b d + ( ad + bc) i
Properties of Radicals
( a + bi ) ( a − bi ) = a2 + b2
1
n
a =a n n
ab = n an b a + bi = a 2 + b2 Complex Modulus
n
m n
a = nm a n
a
=
a ( a + bi
bi ) = a − bi
bi Complex Conjugate
n
b b 2
( a + bi
bi ) ( a + bi
b i ) = a + bi
bi
n
an = a, if n is odd
n
an = a , if n is even
even

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http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu.. © 2005 Paul Dawkins
Logarithms and Log Properties
Definition Logarithm Properties
y = log b x is equivalent to x = b y logb b = 1 logb 1 = 0
logb b x = x blog x = x b

Example
logb ( x r ) = r logb x
log 5 125 = 3 because 53 = 125
logb ( y ) = log b x + logb y
Special Logarithms x
ln x = log e x natural log logb   = logb − logb y
 y
log x = log10 x common log
where e = 2.718281828 K The domain of logb 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 + 2 ax + a2 = ( x + a) 2 −b ± b 2 − 4 ac
x=
2a
x 2 − 2ax + a2 = ( x − a)2 If b − 4ac > 0 - Two real unequal solns.
2

x 2 + ( a + b ) x + ab = ( x + a)( x + b) If b 2 − 4ac = 0 - Repeated real solution.

x3 + 3ax 2 + 3a 2 x + a3 = ( x + a)
3 If b 2 − 4ac < 0 - Two complex solutions.

x3 − 3ax 2 + 3a2 x − a3 = ( x − a )3 Square Root Property

x3 + a3 = ( x + a ) ( x2 − ax + a2 ) If x 2 = p then x = ± p

x3 − a3 = ( x − a ) ( x2 + ax + a2 ) Absolute Value Equations/Inequalities

x 2 n − a 2 n = ( xn − an )( xn + an ) If b is a positive number
p =b ⇒ p = − b or p= b
If n is odd then,
x n − an = ( x − a ) ( xn−1 + axn −2 + L + an−1 ) p <b ⇒ −b < p < b
x n + an
p >b ⇒ p < − b or p> b

= ( x + a ) ( xn−1 − axn−2 + a2 xn−3 − L + an−1 )

Completing the Square
Solve 2 x 2
− 6 x − 10 = 0 (4) Factor the left side
2
 x − 3  = 29
(1) Divide by the coefficient of the x 2  2 4
 
x2 − 3x − 5 = 0 (5) Use Square Root Property
(2) Move the constant to the other side.
3 29 29
x2 − 3x = 5 x− =± =±
2 4 2
(3) Take half the coefficient of x, square
(6) Solve for x
it and add it to both sides
2 2 3 29
x= ±
− 3 x +  −  = 5 +  −  = 5 + =
2 3 3 9 29
x 2 2
 2  2 4 4

For a complete set of online Algebra notes visit http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu. © 2005 Paul Dawkins
 Functions and Graphs
Constant Function Parabola/Quadratic Function
y = a or f ( x) = a x = ay 2 + by + c g ( y ) = ay 2 + by + c
Graph is a horizontal line passing
through the point ( 0, a ) . The graph is a parabola that opens right
if a > 0 or left if a < 0 and has a vertex
Line/Linear Function  b b
at  g  − 2a  , − 2a  .
y = mx + b or f ( x ) = mx + b  
Graph is a line with point ( 0,b ) and
Circle
slope m. 2 2
( − h) + ( y − k ) = r2
Slope Graph is a circle with radius r and center
Slope of the line containing the two ( h, k ) .
points ( 1 , y1 ) and ( x2 , y2 ) is
y2 − y1 rise Ellipse
m= = 2 2
x2 − x1 run ( x − h) ( y − k)
+ =1
Slope – intercept form a2 b2
The equation of the line with slope m Graph is an ellipse with center ( h, k )
and y-intercept ( 0,b ) is with vertices a units right/left from the
= mx + b center and vertices b units up/down from
Point – Slope form the center.
The equation of the line with slope m
and passing through the point ( 1 , y1 ) is Hyperbola
2 2

y = y1 + m ( x − x1 ) ( x − h) ( y − k)
− =1
a2 b2
Graph is a hyperbola that opens left and
Parabola/Quadratic Function
2 2 right, has a center at ( h, k ) , vertices a
y = a ( x − h) +k f ( x) = a ( x − h) +k
units left/right of center and asymptotes
b
The graph is a parabola that opens up if that pass through center with slope ± .
a > 0 or down if a < 0 and has a vertex a
Hyperbola
at ( h, k ) . 2 2
( y −k) ( x − h)
− =1
Parabola/Quadratic Function b2 a2
= ax 2 + bx + c f ( x ) = ax2 + 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 slope ± .
at  − 2a , f  − 2a   . a
 

For a complete set of online Algebra notes visit http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu. © 2005 Paul Dawkins
 Common Algebraic Errors
Error Reason/Correct/Justification/Example
2 2
≠0 and ≠2 Division by zero is undefined!
0 0
−32 ≠ 9 −32 = −9 , ( −3) 2 = 9 Watch parenthesis!
3 3
( ) ≠ x52
( x2 ) = x 2 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
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 “-“!
2 2
( + a ) ≠ x2 + a2 ( x + a ) = ( x + a)( x + a) = x2 + 2 ax + a2
x2 + a2
≠ x+ a 5 = 25 = 32 + 42 ≠ 32 + 42 = 3+ 4 = 7
x+a ≠ x + a See previous error.
n More general versions of previous three
( + a ) ≠ x n + an and n x + a ≠ n x + n a errors.
2
2 ( x + 1) = 2 ( x2 + 2 x + 1) = 2 x2 + 4 x + 2
2
2 ( x + 1) ≠ ( 2 x + 2) 2 2
( 2 x + 2) = 4 x2 + 8 x + 4
Square first then distribute!
See the previous example. You can not
2 2
( 2 x + 2 ) ≠ 2 ( x + 1) factor out a constant if there is a power on
the parethesis!
1

− x2 + a2 ≠ − x 2 + a2
− + a = (− x + a )2
2 2 2 2

Now see the previous error.

a ab
a
≠  1   a  c  ac
=   =    =
a
b c
c  b   b   1  b  b
  c c
   
a a
a  b   b   a  1  a
 b  ac  = =
 ≠  c  = bc
 c   b 
c 
c b  1 

For a complete set of online Algebra notes visit http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu. © 2005 Paul Dawkins