Basic Algebraic Operations

Comments
Arithmetic Algebra = means
Operation “equivalent to”
Example Example ≠ means “not
equivalent to”
(5 × 5) + 5 + 5 (b × b) + b + b
+3 +a
2 × b ≠ 2b
Addition equivalent to: b + b + b = 3b
equivalent to:
b × b = b²
2
5 + ( 2 ×5 ) +3 b² + 2b + a
(7 × 7) − 7 – 5 (b × b) − b – a
b² − b ≠ b
Subtraction equivalent to: equivalent to: 3b − b = 2b
b² − b = b(b − 1)
7² − 7 − 5 b² − b − a
3 × 5 or 3 . 5 or a × b or a . b a a × a × a is the
Multiplication
3· 5 or (3)(5) · b or ab same as a³
12 ÷ 4 or 12/4 b ÷ a or b/a or
12 b a+b 1
Division
or
= × ( a+b )
4 a 3 3
1
2 is the same as
1 1 a
Exponentiatio 3 2
a 2
n 3 3
√a
2 b 3

b×b×b
b is the same as

The Commutative Property a(b + c) = ab + ac

a+b=b+a ab = ba Combining Like Terms

Like terms or similar terms - two

or more terms that contain the
The Associative Property same variables with the same
powers
a + (b + c) = (a + b) + c
e.g., 4x & 6x; 5y², 8y & 2y²;
a · (b· c) = (a· b) · c
4xyz², -8xyz² & 7xyz²)

The Distributive Property

Perform the indicated Removing/Inserting
operation by combining the Parenthesis
similar terms:
When simplifying algebraic
1. (3m² - m - 1) - (2m² + 5m - expressions, removing symbols
3) of grouping should be done first.
3m² − m – 1 − 2m² − 5m + The following are the symbols of
3 grouping: the (parenthesis),
(3m² − 2m²) + (−m − 5m) + (−1 + [brackets] and {braces}.
3)
m² − 6m + 2 1. (a + 2) – (b - 3) + (c - 8) – (d
+ 1)
2. 2x² - 3x + 7 - 3x² + 4x – 7
a+2–b+3+c–8–d–1
(2x² − 3x²) + (−3x + 4x) +
a – b + c – d + (2 + 3 – 8 −
(7 – 7)
1)
−x² + x + 0
a–b+c–d−4
−x² + x

3. (7x - 11) + (4x - 3) 2. 3 – [2(4x + 1) – 6] + 5(2y -

3 − [2 ⋅ 4x + 2 ⋅ 1 − 6] + 5(2y
(7x + 4x) + (−11 − 3) 1)
11x−14
− 1)
4. 3(2x - 5) + 5(3x + 6) 3 − [8x + 2 − 6] + 5(2y −
(3 × 2x – 3 × 5) + (5 × 3x + 5 1)
× 6) 3 − [8x − 4] + 5(2y − 1)
(6x − 15) + (15x + 30) 3 − 8x + 4 + 10y − 5
(6x + 15x) + (−15 + 30) (−8x + 10y) + (3 + 4 − 5)
21x + 15 −8x + 10y + 2

5. 11a²b - 12ab²
3. 10 - {2 + [3 - (x - 5)]}
10 − {2 + [3 – x + 5]}
10 − {2 + [8 − x]}
10 − {2 + 8 − x}
10 − (10 − x)
10 – 10 + x
x
 SPECIAL PRODUCTS

Product of a Monomial and

Polynomial
Square of a Binomial
a (x ± y )=ax ± ay
( x + y )2=x 2+ 2 xy + y 2
a (x ± y ± z )=ax ± ay ± az

¿
4 b ( b −8 )
2 3
2
( x 2 ) +2 ( x2 ) ( 5 ) + ( 5 )2
5 2
4 b −32 b 4 2
x +10 x + 25

k 4 ( k 2−2 k + k−1 )
( 3 x 2 y 2 +5 z 3 )( 3 x 2 y 2+ 5 z 3 )
6 5 5 4
k −2 k +k −k 2 2
( 3 x 2 y 2 ) +2(3 x ¿ ¿ 2 y 2)(5 z 3)+ ( 5 z 3 ) ¿
6 5 4
k −k −k 4 4 2 2 3 6
9 x y +30 x y z + 25 z

Product of the Sum and

Difference of Two ( x− y )2=x 2−2 xy− y 2
Expressions

( x + y ) ( x − y )=x 2− y 2
¿
2
( x 2 ) −(2) ( x ) (2)+ ( 2 )2
( 5 x−7 ) ( 5 x+7 )
2
x −10 x+ 4
( 5 x ) 2− ( 7 ) 2
2
25 x −49
Product of a Binomial having
Common First Term
( 2 x 2+3 y ) ( 2 x 2−3 y ) (x +a)(x +b)=x +(a+b) x+ ab
2

( 2 x ) 2− ( 3 y ) 2
4 2
( x +5 ) ( x+3 )
4 x −9 y
( x )2+ ( 5+3 ) x+ (5 )( 3 ) ( 3 x 2+ y+ 2 z )
2

2
x + 8 x+15 ¿
4 2 2 2 2
9 x + y +34 z +6 x y +12 x z +4 yz
( u−5 ) (u+ 7 )
2
( u2 ) + (−5+7 ) u 2+ (−5 ) (7 ) Product of a Binomial and
Trinomial
4 2
u + 2u −35 2 2 3 3
(x + y )(x −xy+ y )=x + y

Product of two Binomials

( x− y ) ( x 2+ xy+ y 2 )=x 3− y 3
that have No Common Terms

( x +u ) ( y+ v )=xy + vx +uy +uv

F = irst terms
( a−3 ) ( a 2+3 a+ 9 )
O = utermost terms
I = nnermost terms 3 2 2
L = ast terms a +3 a + 9 a−3 a −9 a−27
3
a −27
( x +6 ) ( y + x 2 ) xy + x 3+ 6 y +6 x 2
3 2
x +6 x + xy +6 y
( 3 x+ 2 y ) ( 9 x 2−6 xy + 4 y 2 )
3 2 2 2 2
27 x −18 x y +12 x y +18 x y−12 x y +
( 2 u−3 v ) ( 5 u −w ) 3 3
3 3
4 3 3
10 u −2uw −15 u v +3 v w
3 27 x +8 y
Square of Trinomial
2 2 2 2
(x + y + z) =x + y + z + 2 xy +2 xz +2 yz

( 2 x+5 y +6 )2
¿
2 2
4 x +25 y +36+20 xy +24 x +60 y