Baliuag University

Algebra - 1
Laws of Exponents (Index Laws) rTH term of (a + b)n
1. an = a ´ a ´ a … (n factors) n!
rth term = an-r+1 br-1 = n C (r – 1)an-r+1 br-1
2. am ´ an = am + n (n - r + 1)! (r - 1)!
3. am = am – n
an Sum of Coefficients
4. (am)n = amn To get the sum of the coefficients in the expansion of (ax + by + …)n,
5. (abc)n = an bn cn simply replace the variables x, y, … with a unity (1).
n
6. æ a ö = an
çç b ÷÷
bn
è ø Problems
1 and 1 = am
8. a-m = 1. Find the value of x in (3^5)(9^6) = 3^(2x). Note: The
am a-m
9. a0 = 1
expression ^ means power.
10. If am = an, then m = n (provided a ¹0) A. 8.5 B. 9 C. 9.5 D. 8
2. If 3x = 54, then 3x – 2 is equal to:
Properties of Radicals
1 A. 6 B. 5 C. 8 D. 9
1. n
an = a 3. Solve for x: x - 1/x = 0
m
2. = n am = ( n a )m
A. 1, -1 B. 1, ½ C. -1 D. -½, -1
an

3. ( a) = a
n
n

x ..
.
4. n
a ´nb = n x
4. Solve for x from (a) x x
ab
= 2 and (b)
n
a a provided b ¹ 0
5. = n
n
b b x + x + x + x + ... = 5
Properties of Logarithm 4(52n +1 ) - 10(52n -1 )
1. log a MN = log a M + log a N 5. Simplify .
2. log a M/N = log a M – log a N 2(52n )
3. log a MN = N log a M
4. log a a = 1
6. Solve for a from the following equations:
5. log a a x = x log a a = x (am)(an) = 100,000 à Equation (1)
6. log a 1 = 0 amn = 100,000 à Equation (2)
7. If log a M = N, then aN = M
8. If log a M = log a N, then M = N
an / am = 10 à Equation (3)
9. log e M = ln M where e = 2.718… (Naperian logarithm) A. 15.85 B. 10 C. 12 D. 12.56
10. log 10 M = log M (Common logarithm)
11. log N M = log M / log N = ln M / ln N
7. Log 6 845 =?
A. 5.912 B. 4.348 C. 3.761 D. 6.348
Special Products and Factoring 8. If log x 6 = 1.2925, what is the value of log x 11?
1. (x + y)(x – y) = x2 – y2
2. (x + y)2 = x2 + 2xy + y2 A. 1.65 B. 1.73 C. 1.42 D. 1.51
3. (x – y)2 = x2 - 2xy + y2
4. (x + y + z)2 = x2 + y2 + z2 + 2xy + 2xz + 2yz 9. The logarithms of the quotient and the product of
5. x3 + y3 = (x + y)(x2 – xy + y2) two numbers are 0.352182518 and 1.556302501,
6. x3 – y3 = (x – y)(x2 + xy + y2) respectively. Find the first number?
Binomial Theorem Expansion of (a + b)n A. 11 B. 10 C. 9 D. 12
PROPERTIES: 10. Factor the expression x - 1 as completely as
3
1. The number of terms in the expansion of (a + b)n is n + 1. possible:
2. The first term is an & the last term is bn.
3. The exponent of a descends linearly from n to 0. A. (x - 1) (x2 - x - 1) C. (x + 1) (x2 - x + 1)
4. The exponent of b ascends linearly from 0 to n. B. (x - 1) (x - x + 1)
2 D. (x - 1) (x2 + x + 1)
5. The sum of the exponents of a and b in any of the terms is equal to n.
6. The coefficient of the second term and the second from the last term 11. Find the 6th term in the expansion of (1/2a – 3)16.
is n. A. –22113 / 256a11 C. –66339 / 256a11
Pascal’s Triangle
B. –22113 / 128a11 D. –66339 / 128a11
(used to determine the coefficients of the terms in a binomial expansion) 12. The term involving x in the expansion of (x2 +
9
(a + b)0 0 2/x)12 is:
(a + b)1 1 1
(a + b)2 1 2 1 A. 25434 x9 B. 52344 x9 C. 25344 x9 D. 23544 x9
(a + b)3 1 3 3 1 13. What is the sum of the numerical coefficient of the
(a + b)4 1 4 6 4 1
(a + b)5 1 5 10 10 5 1 expansion of (a + b)^8?
A. 412 B. 324 C. 256 D. 144

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