Algebraic Formula Sheet

Arithmetic Operations Properties of Inequalities

. Σ
ac + bc = c(a + b) b ab If a < b then a + c < b + c and a − c < b − c
a =
c c a b
. Σ If a < b and c > 0 then ac < bc and <
a a ac c c
b . Σ=
a b b a b
= If a < b and c < 0 then ac > bc and >
c bc c c c

a c ad + bc Properties of Absolute Value

+ = a c ad − bc
b d bd − = .
c d bd
|x| = x if x ≥ 0
a−b b−a a+b a b −x if x < 0
=
c − d d −c c = c+c
. Σ |x| ≥ 0 | − x| = |x|
a
ab + ac b ad
= b + c, a ƒ= 0 . Σ= x |x|
a c bc |xy| = |x||y| . .=
d y |y|
Properties of Exponents
|x + y| ≤ |x| + |y| Triangle Inequality
n m
x x =x n+m
x = 1, x
0
0 . .
|x − y| ≥ | x| − |y| Reverse Triangle Inequality
. .
. Σn
(xn)m = xnm x xn
= n Distance Formula
y y
Given two points, PA = (x1, y1) and PB = (x2, y2),
(xy)n = xnyn 1 the distance between the two can be found by:
= xn √
x−n d(PA , PB ) = (x2 − x1 )2 + (y2 − y1 )2

x mn = . x 1m Σn = . xnΣm1 x
n

= xn−m Number Classifications

x m

. Σ−n . y Σn Natural Numbers : N={1, 2, 3, 4, 5, . . .}

yn 1
x = x−n =
y = x xn xn Whole Numbers : {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, . . .}

Properties of Radicals Integers : Z={... ,-3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, .. .}

. √
√ n
1 x n
x .
n
x=x n = √ Rationals : Q= All numbers that can be writ-
y n
y ten as a fraction with an integer numerator and a
√ √ √ √ aΣ
n
xy = n x n y n nonzero integer denominator,
xn = x, if n is odd b
Irrationals : {All numbers that cannot be ex-
.√ √ p
m √ n √ress√
ed as the ratio of two integers, for example
n
x= mn
x xn = |x|, if n is even 5, 27, and π}

Real Numbers : R={All numbers that are either a

rational or an irrational number}

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 Logarithms and Log Properties

Definition Logarithm Properties

y = logb x is equivalent to x = by logb b = 1 logb 1 = 0

Example logb bx = x blogb x = x

log2 16 = 4 because 24 = 16 ln ex = x eln x = x

Special Logarithms
logb (xk) = k logb x
ln x = loge x natural log
where e=2.718281828...
logb (xy) = logb x + logb y
log x = log10 x common log . Σ
x
logb
y = logb x − logb y

Factoring
. Σ
xa + xb = x(a + b) x3 + y3 = (x + y) x2 − xy + y2
. Σ
x2 − y2 = (x + y)(x − y) x3 − y3 = (x − y) x2 + xy + y2
x2 + 2xy + y2 = (x + x2n − y2n = (xn − yn ) (xn + yn )
y)2 x2 − 2xy + y2 = (x
If n is odd then,
− y) 2
. Σ
xn − yn = (x − y) xn−1 + xn−2y + ... + yn−1
x3 + 3x2y + 3xy2 + y3 = (x +
. Σ
xn + yn = (x + y) xn−1 − xn−2y + xn−3y2... − yn−1
y)3 x3 − 3x2y + 3xy2 − y3 = (x

− y)3

Linear Functions and Formulas

Examples of Linear Functions

y y

y=x
y=1
x x

linear function constant function

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Constant Function Linear Function/Slope-intercept form

This graph is a horizontal line passing This graph is a line with slope m
through the points (x, c) with slope m = 0 : and y − intercept(0, b) :

y = c or f (x) = c y = mx + b or f (x) = mx + b

Slope (a.k.a Rate of Change) Point-Slope form

The slope m of the line passing through The equation of the line passing through
the points (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) is : the point (x1, y1) with slope m is :
∆y y2 − y1 rise
m= = = y = m(x − x1) + y1
∆x x2 − x1 run

Quadratic Functions and Formulas

Examples of Quadratic Functions
y
y

y = x2

y = −x2
x x

parabola opening up parabola opening down

Forms of Quadratic Functions

Standard Form Vertex Form

y = ax2 + bx + c y = a(x − h)2 + k

or or
f (x) = ax2 + bx + c f (x) = a(x − h)2 + k

This graph is a parabola that This graph is a parabola that

opens up if a > 0 or down if opens up if a > 0 or down if
a < 0 and has a vertex at a < 0 and has a vertex at (h, k).
. . ΣΣ
b b
− ,f − .
2a 2a

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 Quadratics and Solving for x

Quadratic Formula Square Root Property

To solve ax2 + bx + c = 0, a ƒ= 0,
use : √ Let k be a nonnegative number. Then the
−b ± b2 −4ac solutions to the equation
x= .
2a
The Discriminant x2 = k
The discriminant is the part of the quadratic √
equation under the radical, b2 −
4ac. We use are given by x = ± k.
the discriminant to determine the number of
real solutions of ax2 + bx + c = 0 as such :

1. If b2 − 4ac > 0, there are two real solutions.

2. If b2 − 4ac = 0, there is one real solution.
3. If b2 − 4ac < 0, there are no real solutions.

Other Useful Formulas

Compound Interest
. r Σnt Hyperbola
A=P 1+
n − −
where:
(x h)2 − (y k)2 = 1
P= principal of P dollars Thisa2graph is a bhyperbola
2 that opens
r= Interest rate (expressed in decimal form) left and right, has center (h, k), vertices
n= number of times compounded per year (h ± a, k); foci (h ± c, k), where
t= time c comes from c2 = a2 + b2 and
asymptotes that pass through the center
Continuously Compounded Interest b
y = ± (x − h) + k.
a
A = Pert
(y − k)2 (x − h)2
where: − =1
a2 b2
P= principal of P dollars
r= Interest rate (expressed in decimal form) This graph is a hyperbola that opens
t= time up and down, has center (h, k), vertices
(h, k ± a); foci (h, k ± c), where
Circle c comes from c2 = a2 + b2 and
asymptotes that pass through the center
a
(x − h)2 + (y − k)2 = r2 y = ± (x − h) + k.
b
This graph is a circle with radius r Pythagorean Theorem
and center (h, k).
A triangle with legs a and b and
Ellipse hypotenuse c is a right triangle
if and only if
(x − h)2 (y − k)2
+ =1
a2 b2 a2 + b2 = c2
This 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.