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Math Notes

This document provides a cheat sheet covering topics in algebra including logarithms and their properties, factoring formulas, functions and their graphs including lines, parabolas, circles, ellipses and hyperbolas. It also covers common algebraic errors and their reasons.

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clarissastokes23
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31 views5 pages

Math Notes

This document provides a cheat sheet covering topics in algebra including logarithms and their properties, factoring formulas, functions and their graphs including lines, parabolas, circles, ellipses and hyperbolas. It also covers common algebraic errors and their reasons.

Uploaded by

clarissastokes23
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Algebra Cheat Sheet

Logarithms and Log Properties


Definition
y = logb
(x) is equivalent to x = b
y
Example
log5
(125) = 3 because 5
3 = 125
Special Logarithms
ln(x) = loge
(x) natural log
log(x) = log10(x) common log
where e = 2.718281828 . . .
Logarithm Properties
logb
(b) = 1 logb
(1) = 0
logb
(b
x
) = x blogb
(x) = x
logb
(x
r
) = r logb
(x)
logb
(xy) = logb
(x) + logb
(y)
logb

x
y

= logb
(x) − logb
(y)
The domain of logb
(x) is x > 0
Factoring and Solving
Factoring Formulas
x
2−a
2 = (x + a) (x − a)
x
2 + 2ax + a
2 = (x + a)
2
x
2 − 2ax + a
2 = (x − a)
2
x
2 + (a + b) x + ab = (x + a) (x + b)
x
3 + 3ax2 + 3a
2x + a
3 = (x + a)
3
x
3 − 3ax2 + 3a
2x − a
3 = (x − a)
3
x
3+a
3 = (x + a)
Algebra Cheat Sheet
Functions and Graphs
Constant Function
y = a or f (x) = a
Graph is a horizontal line passing through the
point (0, a).
Line/Linear Function
y = mx + b or f (x) = mx + b
Graph is a line with point (0, b) and slope m.
Slope
Slope of the line containing the two points
(x1, y1) and (x2, y2) is
m=
y2 − y1
x2 − x1
=
rise
run
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
y = a (x − h)
2 + k f (x) = a(x − h)
2+k
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 = ax2 + bx + c f (x) = ax2 + bx + c
The graph is a parabola that opens up if a > 0
or down if a < 0 and has a vertex at

−
b
2a
,f
−
b
2a
.
Parabola/Quadratic Function
x = ay2 + by + c g (y) = ay2 + by + c
The graph is a parabola that opens right if
a > 0 or left if a < 0 and has a vertex at

−
b
2a

,−
b
2a

.
Circle
(x − h)
2 + (y − k)
2=r
2
Graph is a circle with radius r and center (h, k).
Ellipse
(x − h)
2
a
2
+
(y − k)
2
b
2
=1
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
(x − h)
2
a
2
−
(y − k)
2
b
2
=1
Graph is a hyperbola that opens left and right,
has a center at (h, k), vertices a units left/right
of center and asymptotes that pass through
center with slope ±
b
a
.
Hyperbola
(y − k)
2
b
2
−
(x − h)
2
a
2
=1
Graph is a hyperbola that opens up and down,
has a center at (h, k), vertices b units up/down
from the center and asymptotes that pass
through center with slope ±
b
aAlgebra Cheat Sheet
Common Algebraic Errors
Error Reason/Correct/Justification/Example
2
0
6= 0 and 2
0
6= 2 Division by zero is undefined!
−3
2 6= 9 −3
2 = −9, (−3)2 = 9 Watch parenthesis!

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