Properties & Formulae Sheet for FSPM 1031
Created by: J.D. Williams
Section 3.6: Properties of Functions
Section 5.1: Properties of Exponents
Section 8.1: Linear Equations
Section 8.2: Nonlinear Functions
Section 10.2: Rational Exponents
Section 3.6: Properties of Functions
Name
Formula / Algebraic Property
Description
f ( x )=f (x )
Example: Let
Even Symmetry
A function with even symmetry, for all values in
its domain, has the characteristic that any pair of
inputs that have the same value but opposite
signs have corresponding outputs that are
identical.
f ( x )=x 4
f ( 2 )= (2 )4=( 16 )=16
f (2 )=(2 )4 =( 16 )=16
f ( 2 )=f (2 )
f ( x ) =f (x )
Example: Let
Odd Symmetry
f ( x )=x
f ( 5 ) =( 5 )3 =( 125 )=125
3
f (5 )=(5 ) =(125 )=125
f (5 )=f (5 )
A function with odd symmetry, for all values in its
domain, has the characteristic that any pair of
inputs that have the same value but opposite
signs have corresponding outputs that have the
same value but opposite signs (additive
inverses).
Interval Notation
A mathematical representation for a set of values that satisfy a specific condition or multiple conditions. For each of
the following, let x represent an unknown variable and a and b represent known endpoints of an interval
where a<b .
Inequality / Set Notation
Interval Notation
a< x <b
or
{ xa< x <b }
( a , b)
x is any value between a and
b , excluding both a and b .
x is any value between a and
b , including b but excluding
a .
x is any value between a and
b , including a but excluding
b .
[ a , b]
x is any value between a and
b , including both a and b .
a< x b
or
{ xa< x b }
a x <b
or
{ xa x< b }
ax b
or
{ xa x b }
Literal Meaning
< x <
or
{ xx }
x< ax >a
or
{ xx a }
( , )
(, a ) ( a , )
NOTE: The union symbol, , is the
mathematical equivalent of the word or
x can be any real number
x cannot be equal to a ; x
is any real number except for a
Section 5.1: Properties of Exponents
Name
Formula / Algebraic Property
Quotient
Use this formula when multiplying two terms
with identical base values and different
exponents. The result is given by the base value
raised to the sum of the exponents.
bm b n=b m+n
Product
b m m n
b b = n =b
b
m
Description
Use this formula when dividing two terms with
identical base values and different exponents.
The result is given by the base term raised to
the difference of the exponents.
NOTE: Always subtract the exponent in the denominator
from the exponent in the numerator.
( b m ) =b m n=bmn
Power of Power
or
n m
( b ) =b n m=bmn
m
( a b ) =a b
Power of Product
a m am
= m
b
b
()
Power of Quotient
where
m>0 and b 0
Use this formula when raising a base value with
an exponent to another power. The result is
given by the base value raised to the product of
the exponents.
Use this formula when raising the product of two
or more terms the same power. The product of
each base value raised to the exponent yields
the result.
Use this formula when raising the quotient of
two terms to the same power. The quotient of
each base value raised to the exponent yields
the result.
Section 8.1: Linear Equations
Name
Formula / Algebraic Property
m=
Slope Formula
y 2 y 1
x 2x 1
or
m=
y 1 y 2
x 1x 2
y=mx +b
Slope-Intercept
Formula
where m is the slope, and b is
the y-value of the y-intercept, ( 0, b )
y y 1=m ( xx 1 )
Point-Slope
Formula
where m is the slope, and ( x 1 , y 1 )
is the coordinate of any point on the line
Description
Use this formula to find the slope--average rate
of change--between two coordinate
points,namely ( x 1 , y 1 ) and ( x 2 , y 2 ) , on the
xy-plane.
Use the formula to derive the equation of a line
when both the slope and the y-intercept are
given.
Use this formula to derive the equation of a line
when both the slope and any point on the line
are given.
Ax + By=C
Standard
Formula
where A , B , and C are all
integers, such that and A and B
are not equal to zero at the same time
y=k
Horizontal Line
where
is any real number
Use this formula to quickly determine both the xcoordinate and y-coordinate of a linear equation,
if they exist.
This formula represents a constant function.
the sign of k determines the
position of the horizontal line with
respect to the x-axis
k >0 above
x-axis
k =0
overlaps/equal to x-axis
k <0 below
x-axis
the slope is always zero,
m=0
it has a y-intercept, but no xintercept (except when k =0 ), whose
coordinate is given by ( 0, k )
x=h
Vertical Line
where
h is any real number
This formula does not represent a function.
the sign of h determines the
position of the vertical line with respect
to the y-axis
h>0 right of
y-axis
h=0
overlaps/equal to y-axis
h<0 left of
y-axis
the slope is always undefined/not
a real number, m
it has a x-intercept, but no yintercept (except when h=0 ), whose
coordinate is given by ( h , 0 )
Section 8.2: Nonlinear Functions
Name
Standard Equation
Description & Properties
The quadratic function is a 2nd-degree polynomial (the
highest, positive integer exponent of a variable is 2).
The graph of this function is called a parabola.
Standard
Quadratic Function
Properties of Standard Function
x-intercept: ( 0,0 )
y-intercept: ( 0,0 )
Domain: All real numbers
Set Notation:
{ xx }
f ( x )=x 2
Interval Notation:
(, )
Range: All nonnegative numbers
Set Notation:
{ y0 y < }
Interval Notation:
Symmetry: Even
Transformation Eqn:
g ( x ) =a ( xh ) +k
The cubic function is a 3rd-degree polynomial (the
highest, positive integer exponent of a variable is 3).
Properties of Standard Function
x-intercept: ( 0,0 )
y-intercept: ( 0,0 )
Domain: All real numbers
Set Notation:
Standard
Cubic Function
{ xx }
f ( x )=x
Interval Notation:
( , )
Range: All real numbers
Set Notation:
{ y y }
Interval Notation:
( , )
Symmetry: Odd
Transformation Eqn:
3
g ( x ) =a ( xh ) +k
Standard
Square Root
Function
f ( x ) =
or
f ( x )=x
1
2
The rational function, a single-term variable whose
exponent is a fraction, is a subset of power functions.
Properties of Standard Function
x-intercept: ( 0,0 )
y-intercept: ( 0,0 )
Domain: All nonnegative numbers
Set Notation:
{ x0 x < }
Interval Notation:
Range: All nonnegative numbers
Set Notation:
{ y0 y < }
Interval Notation:
Symmetry: Asymmetrical
Transformation Eqn: g ( x ) =a
The reciprocal function, a single-term variable whose
exponent is a negative integer, is a subset of power
functions.
f ( x )=
Standard
Reciprocal Function
1
x
Properties of Standard Function
x-intercept: None
y-intercept: None
Domain: All nonzero numbers
Set Notation:
{ xx 0 }
or
f ( x )=x1
Interval Notation:
( , 0 ) ( 0, )
Range: All nonzero numbers
Set Notation:
{ y y 0 }
Interval Notation:
( , 0 ) ( 0, )
Symmetry: Odd
Transformation Eqn:
g (x )=
a
+k
xh
The absolute value function, which forces all output
values to be positive, is an example of a piecewise
function.
Standard
Absolute Value
Function
Properties of Standard Function
x-intercept: ( 0,0 )
y-intercept: ( 0,0 )
Domain: All real numbers
Set Notation:
{ xx }
f ( x )=|x|
Interval Notation:
( , )
Range: All nonnegative numbers
Set Notation:
{ y0 y < }
Interval Notation:
Symmetry: Asymmetrical
Transformation Eqn:
g ( x ) =a |xh|+ k
Transformation Equation
An equation used to represent a translation (horizontal or vertical shift), dilation (change in size), or reflection of some
standard, base function along the xy-plane. Let f ( x ) represent an arbitrary base function. The general
transformation equation,
g ( x ) , is given by:
g ( x ) =a f ( xh )+ k
Transformation Type / Notation
Translation: Horizontal
(also known as Horizontal Shift)
Symbolic Notation:
Individual Formulaic
Representation
g ( x ) =f ( xh )
Literal Meaning
Translate (shift) the graph of f ( x ) either to
the left or right of its standard position by
h units
h>0 shift f ( x )
h
units to the right
h=0 do not shift
f ( x ) left nor right
h<0 shift f ( x )
h
units to the left
NOTE: The true value of h always has an
opposite sign from its value within the
transformation equation; by default, h=0
Translation: Vertical
(also known as Vertical Shift)
Symbolic Notation:
g ( x ) =f ( x )+ k
Translate (shift) the graph of f ( x ) either up
or down from its standard position by k
units
k >0 shift f ( x )
h
units upward
k =0 do not shift
up
nor down
f (x)
k <0 shift f ( x )
h
units downward
NOTE: The true value of k always has an
identical sign from its value within the
transformation equation; by default, k =0
Dilation
(also known as Scale Factor)
Symbolic Notation:
g ( x ) =a f ( x )
where
a0
Dilate (compress or stretch) the graph of
f ( x ) from its standard size by multiplying
each output value by a scale factor of a
|a|>1 compress the
graph of f ( x ) by multiplying each
y-value by a
|a|=1 the size of
f ( x ) is unchanged
0<|a|<1 stretch the
graph of f ( x ) by multiplying each
y-value by a
NOTE: When determining the dilation, only
look at the magnitude / positive value (not the
sign) of a ; by default, a=1
Reflection: Horizontal
(also known as Horizontal Inversion)
Symbolic Notation:
g ( x ) =a f ( x )
where
a0
Vertically invert (reflect) the graph of f ( x )
from its standard orientation by multiplying
each output value by a negative scale factor
of a ; reflection across the x-axis
a>0 the orientation of
f ( x ) is unchanged
a<0 the graph of
f ( x ) is reflected across the x-axis
NOTE: When determining the horizontal
reflection, only look at the sign (not the
magnitude) of a ; by default, a=1
Reflection: Vertical
(also known as Vertical Inversion)
Symbolic Notation:
x x
g ( x ) =f (x )
Horizontally invert (reflect) the graph of
f ( x ) from its standard orientation by
changing the sign of each input value ( x
becomes x ) while the corresponding
output value, y , remains unchanged
NOTE: The vertical reflection will always be a
mirror image of f ( x ) before any other
transformation is applied.
Section 10.2: Rational Exponents
Name
Formula / Algebraic Property
Identity
b =b
Any base value raised to an exponent of one (1)
will always equal the base value.
Zero Power
b0 =1
Any nonzero base value raised to an exponent
of zero (0) will always equal 1.
b =
Negative Exponents
where
1
bm
m 0 and b 0
Description
Use this formula when raising a base value to a
negative exponent. The result is given by the
reciprocal of the base value raised to the
positive exponent.
