ALGEBRA

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
  a a b
b = 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 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   ad
= b + c, a ≠ 0 b = a+b ≤ a + b Triangle Inequality
a  c  bc
 
d Distance Formula
Exponent Properties If P1 = ( x1 , y1 ) and P2 = ( x2 , y2 ) are two
an 1
a n a m = a n+m m
= a n−m = m−n points the distance between them is
a a
(a )n m
= a nm a 0 = 1, a ≠ 0 d ( P1 , P2 ) = ( x2 − x1 ) + ( y2 − y1 )
2 2

n
a
n
a
( ab ) = a nb n   = n
n

b b Complex Numbers

1 1
a −n = −n
= an i = −1 i 2 = −1 −a = i a , a ≥ 0
an a
−n ( a + bi ) + ( c + di ) = a + c + ( b + d ) i
( ) = (a )
n
a b bn n n 1

=  = n a = a
1
n m
  ( a + bi ) − ( c + di ) = a − c + ( b − d ) i
m m

b a a
( a + bi )( c + di ) = ac − bd + ( ad + bc ) i
Properties of Radicals
( a + bi )( a − bi ) = a 2 + b 2
1
n
a = an n
ab = n a n b a + bi = a 2 + b 2 Complex Modulus
m n
a = nm a n
a na
= ( a + bi ) = a − bi Complex Conjugate
b nb
( a + bi )( a + bi ) = a + bi
2

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

Algebra notes AMITBAHL9313628037

Logarithms and Log Properties
Definition Logarithm Properties
y = log b x is equivalent to x = b y log b b = 1 log b 1 = 0
log b b x = x b logb x = x
log b ( x r ) = r log b x
Example
log 5 125 = 3 because 53 = 125
log b ( xy ) = log b x + log b y
Special Logarithms x
ln x = log e x natural log log b   = log b x − log b y
 y
log x = log10 x common log
where e = 2.718281828K The domain of log b x 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 + 2ax + a 2 = ( x + a )
2 −b ± b 2 − 4ac
x=
2a
x 2 − 2ax + a 2 = ( 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 + a 3 = ( x + a )
3 If b 2 − 4ac < 0 - Two complex solutions.

x3 − 3ax 2 + 3a 2 x − a 3 = ( x − a )
3
Square Root Property
x3 + a3 = ( x + a ) ( x 2 − ax + a 2 ) If x 2 = p then x = ± p

x3 − a 3 = ( x − a ) ( x 2 + ax + a 2 ) Absolute Value Equations/Inequalities

x −a
2n 2n
= (x −a
n n
)( x n
+a n
) If b is a positive number
p =b ⇒ p = −b or p = b
If n is odd then,
x n − a n = ( x − a ) ( x n −1 + ax n − 2 + L + a n −1 ) p <b ⇒ −b < p < b
p >b ⇒ p < −b or p>b
xn + a n
= ( x + a ) ( x n −1 − ax n − 2 + a 2 x n −3 − L + a n −1 )
Completing the Square
Solve 2 x − 6 x − 10 = 0
2 (4) Factor the left side
2
 3 29
(1) Divide by the coefficient of the x 2 x−  =
 2 4
x 2 − 3x − 5 = 0 (5) Use Square Root Property
(2) Move the constant to the other side.
3 29 29
x 2 − 3x = 5 x− = ± =±
2 4 2
(3) Take half the coefficient of x, square
it and add it to both sides (6) Solve for x
2 2 3 29
 3  3 9 29 x= ±
x 2 − 3x +  −  = 5 +  −  = 5 + = 2 2
 2  2 4 4

Algebra notes AMITBAHL9313628037

 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  −  , −  .
y = mx + b or f ( x ) = mx + b   2a  2 a 
Graph is a line with point ( 0,b ) and
Circle
slope m.
( x − h) + ( y − k ) = r2
2 2

Slope Graph is a circle with radius r and center

Slope of the line containing the two ( h, k ) .
points ( x1 , y1 ) and ( x2 , y2 ) is
y2 − y1 rise Ellipse
m= =
( x − h) ( y −k)
2 2
x2 − x1 run
+ =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
y = 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 ( x1 , y1 ) is Hyperbola
( x − h) ( y −k)
2 2
y = y1 + m ( x − x1 ) − =1
a2 b2
Graph is a hyperbola that opens left and
Parabola/Quadratic Function
right, has a center at ( h, k ) , vertices a
y = a ( x − h) + k f ( x) = a ( x − h) + k
2 2

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 ) .
(y −k) ( x − h)
2 2

− =1
Parabola/Quadratic Function b2 a2
y = ax 2 + bx + c f ( x ) = ax 2 + 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
at  − , f  −   . slope ± .
a
 2a  2 a  

Algebra notes AMITBAHL9313628037

 Common Algebraic Errors
Error Reason/Correct/Justification/Example
2 2
≠ 0 and ≠ 2 Division by zero is undefined!
0 0
−32 = −9 , ( −3 ) = 9 Watch parenthesis!
2
−32 ≠ 9
(x )
2 3
≠ x5 (x )
2 3
= x2 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 +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 “-“!
( x + a) ≠ x2 + a2 ( x + a) = ( x + a )( x + a ) = x 2 + 2ax + a 2
2 2

x2 + a2 ≠ x + a 5 = 25 = 32 + 42 ≠ 32 + 42 = 3 + 4 = 7
x+a ≠ x + a See previous error.
More general versions of previous three
( x + a) ≠ x n + a n and x+a ≠ n x + n a
n n
errors.
2 ( x + 1) = 2 ( x 2 + 2 x + 1) = 2 x 2 + 4 x + 2
2

2 ( x + 1) ≠ ( 2 x + 2 )
2 2
( 2 x + 2) = 4 x2 + 8x + 4
2

Square first then distribute!

See the previous example. You can not
( 2 x + 2) ≠ 2 ( x + 1)
2 2
factor out a constant if there is a power on
the parethesis!
1
− x2 + a2 = ( − x2 + a 2 ) 2
− x2 + a2 ≠ − x2 + a2
Now see the previous error.
a
a
≠
ab  
 a  c  ac
=   =    =
a 1
b c
   b   b   1  b  b
c    
c c
a a
a    
  ac  b  =  b  =  a  1  = a
b ≠   
c  c   b  c  bc
c b  
1

Algebra notes AMITBAHL9313628037