Algebra

Formulas
KristaKingMath.com
Operations
Algebraic properties

Reflexive a=a

Commutative a + b = b + a ab = ba

Associative (a + b) + c = a + (b + c) (ab)c = a(bc)

Distributive a(b + c) = ab + ac (b + c)a = ba + ca

Transitive If a = b and b = c then a = c

Symmetric If a = b then b = a

Order of operations

P Parentheses

E Exponents

M Multiplication

D Division

A Addition

S Subtraction

Fractions
Complex fractions

A complex fraction is a fraction that contains more than one fraction line. In other words,
there is at least one fraction nested inside the numerator and/or denominator of the other
fraction. As an example,

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 a m
x+y
+ y
x
a+m

is a complex fraction.

Radicals
Complex numbers

A complex number has a real part and an imaginary part, like

4 + 5i

Standard form for a complex number means writing the real part first, followed by the
imaginary part.

Equations
Balancing

Whatever operation is performed on one side of an equation must also be performed on

the other side of the equation in order to keep it balanced.

Inverse operations

Addition and subtraction are inverse operations, because they undo each other.

Multiplication and division are inverse operations, because they undo each other.

Addition-subtraction rules

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The same number can be added to or subtracted from both sides of an equation without
changing the solution to the equation.

If a = b, then a + c = b + c

If a = b, then a c = b c

Multiplication-division rules

Both sides of an equation can be multiplied or divided by the same nonzero number
without changing the solution to the equation.

If a = b, then ac = bc

a b
If a = b, then = (c 0)
c c

Direction and inverse variation

If A varies directly as B or if A is directly proportional to B, then

A = kB

If A varies inversely as B or if A is inversely proportional to B, then

k
A=
B

Distance, rate and time

Distance = Rate Time

D = RT

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Uniform motion

Knowing that

d =rt

where d is distance, r is rate and t is time, if two objects travel the same distance, such
that

d1 = d2

then we can also say that

r1t1 = r2t2

Polynomials and factoring

Polynomial multiplication

To multiply one polynomial by a second polynomial, each term of the first polynomial is
multiplied by each term of the second polynomial and then the products are summed.

Definition of a factor

A factor is one of two or more expressions that are multiplied to form a product.

Greatest common factor (GCF)

The greatest common factor of two numbers if the largest number that divides evenly into
both numbers.

Dierence of two squares theorem

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 If p and q are real numbers and then p = q or p = q

p2 = q2

Special factoring

Dierence of squares x 2 y 2 = (x + y)(x y)

Dierence of cubes x 3 y 3 = (x y)(x 2 + x y + y 2)

Sum of cubes x 3 + y 3 = (x + y)(x 2 x y + y 2)

Zero theorem

If p and q are real numbers and then either p = 0 or q = 0, or both

pq =0

If a, b, c, d,... are real numbers and then one or more of the factors is 0

abcdef=0

Quadratic formula

The solutions to a quadratic equation of the form

a x 2 + bx + c = 0

can be found using the formula

b b 2 4ac
x=
2a

The value of b 2 4ac (called the discriminate) will determine the type(s) of solutions.

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 When b 2 4ac = 0, the solution is one real number

When b 2 4ac > 0, the solutions are two real numbers

When b 2 4ac < 0, the solutions are two real complex numbers

Graphing
Cartesian coordinate system

Second First
quadrant quadrant

Third Fourth
quadrant quadrant

Slope

The slope of any line can be defined by the formula

changeinthey-coordinate y y2 y1
m= = =
changeinthex-coordinate x x2 x1

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Equation of a line, slope-intercept form

The slope-intercept form of the equation of a line is

y = mx + b

where m is the slope of the line, defined as

y y y1
m= = 2
x x2 x1

and where b is the point at which the line crosses the y-axis.

Vertical shifts

The graph of a function of F where

F(x) = f (x) + k

is the graph of f shifted vertically k units.

Horizontal shifts

The graph of a function of F where

F(x) = f (x k)

is the graph of f shifted horizontally k units.

Reflections

The graph of the function of F where

F(x) = f (x)

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is the graph of f reflected about the x-axis.

Distance between two points

The distance d between two coordinate points (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) is given by

(x2 x1) + (y2 y1)

2 2
d=

Inequalities
Trichotomy axiom

For any real numbers a and b, exactly one of the following is true:

a < b or a = b or a>b

Transitive axiom

For any real numbers a, b and c,

If a > b and b > c, then a > c

If a < b and b < c, then a < c

If a = b and b = c, then a = c

Statistics
Average

sumofthevaluesintheset
averageofaset =
numberofvaluesintheset

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Probability of a particular event

numberofoutcomesthatsatisfytherequirement
P(particularevent) =
totalnumberofoutomesinthesamplespace

Fundamental counting principle

If one choice can be made in A ways and another choice can be made in B ways, then the
number of possible choices, in order, is A times B dierent ways.

Combinations

n!
nCr = C(n, r) =
r!(n r)!

Permutations

n!
n Pr = P(n, r) =
(n r)!

Functions
Three definitions of a function

1. A function is a mapping between two sets that associates with each element
of the first set a unique (one and only one) element of the second set. The first
set is called the domain of the function. For each element x of the domain, the
corresponding element y of the second set is called the image of x under the

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 function. The set of all images of the elements of the domain is called the range
of the function.

2. A function is a set of ordered pairs in which no two pairs have the same first
element and dierent second elements.

3. A function is something that has for every value of x exactly one answer.

Vertical line test

A graph on the coordinate plane represents the graph of a function provided that any
vertical line intersects the graph in at most one point.

Logarithms
Laws of logarithms

loga x = y a y = x loga(x y) = loga x + loga y

(y)
x
loga a x = x loga = loga x loga y

a loga x = x loga x r = r loga x

Laws of natural logarithms

loge x = ln x ln(e x ) = x

ln x = y e y = x e ln x = x

ln x
loga x = ln e = 1
ln a

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And there you go.

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