Algebra Cheat Sheet

Basic Properties & Facts

Arithmetic Operations Properties of Inequalities
 b ab If a b then a c b c and a− c b− c
ab ac ab c a
 c c a b
If a b and c 0 then ac bc and 
 a cc
b a ac a b
 a  If a b and c 0 then ac bc and 
c bc  b b cc
c

Properties of Absolute Value
a c ad bc a c ad− bc a if a≥ 0
  − a
b d bd b d bd −a if a 0
a− b b− a a b a b a≥ 0−a a
 
c− d d− c c cc a a
ab a b 
 a b b
ab ac b
 b c, a≠ 0  ad a b≤ a b Triangle Inequality
a  c bc
d
 Distance Formula
Exponent Properties
1  x1, y21 and P x2 , y2 are two
If P
an 1
a na m a nm m  a n−m m−n
points the distance between them is
a a
 a nm
 a nm a 0 1, a≠ 0
d P , P x2− x1 y2− y1
2 2

n
a a
n

 ab
n
 a bn
n
 n Complex Numbers
 b b
1 1
a−n −n  an i−1 i 2−1−a i a , a≥ 0
an a
−n n  a bi c di a c b d i
 a  b bn

n 1

a a  a

n 1
n m
 n
m m

 b a a  a bi− c di a− c b− d i
 a bi c di ac− bd ad bc i
Properties of Radicals
 a bi a− bi a  b 2 2

1
n
a a n
n
ab n a b
n
a bi a 2 b2 Complex Modulus

 a bi a− bi

n
a a Complex Conjugate
mn
a nm a n n

b b
 a bi a bi a bi
2

a n a, if n is odd
n

n
a n a , if n is even

For a complete set of online Algebra notes visit http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu. © 2005 Paul Dawkins
Logarithms and Log Properties
Definition Logarithm Properties
y logb x is equivalent to x b y logb b 1 logb 1 0
logb b x x blogb x x
Example
logb x r r logb x
log5 125 3 because 53 125
logb xy logb x logb y
Special Logarithms  x
ln x log e x natural log logby logb x−
by log

log x log10 x common log
where e 2.718281828 The domain of logb x is x 0
Factoring and Solving
Factoring Formulas Quadratic Formula
x 2− a 2 x a x− a Solve ax 2 bx c 0 , a≠ 0
−b b2− 4ac
x 2 2ax a 2 x a
2
x
2a
x 2− 2ax a 2 x− a
2
2
If b− 4ac 0 - Two real unequal solns.
x 2 a b x ab x a x b If b2− 4ac 0 - Repeated real solution.
If b2− 4ac 0 - Two complex solutions.
x3 3ax 2 3a 2 x a3 x a
3

x3− 3ax 2 3a 2 x− a3 x− a

3
Square Root Property
x3 a3 x a x 2− ax a 2 If x 2 p then x p

x3− a3 x− a x 2 ax a 2 Absolute Value Equations/Inequalities
If b is a positive number
x− a x− a x a
2n 2n n n n n

p b⇒ p−b or p b

If n is odd then,
p b⇒−b p b
x n− a n x− a x n−1 ax n−2 a n−1
p b⇒ p−b or p b
x n a n
 x a x n−1− ax n−2 a 2 x n−3− a n−1
Completing the Square
2
Solve 2x− 6x−10 0 (4) Factor the left side
2
 3 29
(1) Divide by the coefficient of the x 2 x−

 2 4
x 2− 3x− 5 0 (5) Use Square Root Property
(2) Move the constant to the other side. 3 29 29
x 2− 3x 5 x−  
2 4 2
(3) Take half the coefficient of x, square
it and add it to both sides (6) Solve for x
2 2 3 29
 3  3 9 29 x
x 2− 3x− 5 − 5 2 2
 2 2 4 4

For a complete set of online Algebra notes visit http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu. © 2005 Paul Dawkins
 Functions and Graphs
Constant Function Parabola/Quadratic Function
y a or f x a x ay 2 by c g y ay 2 by c
Graph is a horizontal line passing
through the point 0, a . The graph is a parabola that opens right
if a 0 or left if a 0 and has a vertex
Line/Linear Function  b b
at g−  ,− .
y mx b or f x mx b  2a 2a
Graph is a line with point 0, b and
Circle
slope m.
 x− h y− k r
2 2
2

Slope Graph is a circle with radius r and center

Slope of the line containing the two  h, k .
points x1, y1 and x2 , y2 is
y2− y1 rise Ellipse
m 
 x− h y− k
2 2
x2− x1 run
 1
Slope – intercept form a 2 b2
The equation of the line with slope m Graph is an ellipse with center h, k
and y-intercept 0, b is with vertices a units right/left from the
y mx b center and vertices b units up/down from
Point – Slope form the center.
The equation of the line with slope m
and passing through the point x1, y1 is Hyperbola
 x− h y− k
2 2

y y1 m x− x1 − 1

a 2 b2
Graph is a hyperbola that opens left and
Parabola/Quadratic Function
right, has a center at h, k , vertices a
y a x− h k f x a x− h k
2 2

units left/right of center and asymptotes

b
The graph is a parabola that opens up if that pass through center with slope .
a 0 or down if a 0 and has a vertex
a
Hyperbola
at h, k .
 y− k x− h
2 2

− 1
Parabola/Quadratic Function b2 a 2
Graph is a hyperbola that opens up and
y ax 2 bx c f x ax 2 bx c
down, has a center at h, k , vertices b
The graph is a parabola that opens up if units up/down from the center and
a 0 or down if a 0 and has a vertex asymptotes that pass through center with
b
 b b slope .
at− , f
− . a
 2a 2a


For a complete set of online Algebra notes visit http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu. © 2005 Paul Dawkins
 Common Algebraic Errors
Error Reason/Correct/Justification/Example
2 2
≠ 0 and ≠2 Division by zero is undefined!
0 0
−32−9 , −3
2
−32≠ 9  9 Watch parenthesis!
23
≠ x5 23
 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 6
a a a 1 1 11

b c b c 2 1 1 1 1
1 A more complex version of the previous
2 3
error.
a bx a bx bx
a bx
a a a a
a
Beware of incorrect canceling!
−a x−1−ax a
−a x−1≠−ax− a
Make sure you distribute the “-“!
 x a  x a  x a x a x 2 2ax a 2
2 2
≠ x 2 a 2
x 2 a 2≠ x a 5 25 32 42≠ 32 42 3 4 7
x a≠ x a See previous error.
n n More general versions of previous three
x a≠ n x n a
errors.
2

2 2
2

Square first then distribute!

See the previous example. You can not
 2 x 2 ≠ 2 x 1
2 2
factor out a constant if there is a power on
the parethesis!
1

− x 2 a 2≠− x 2 a 2

Now see the previous error.
  b b
a ab
 b
≠
c
a a c
  b 




b




1


 1 ac
 a a
 a 

c bc
c b
 1

 x  x
For a complete set of online Algebra notes visit http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu. © 2005 Paul Dawkins

≠ ≠ 2

≠ x−2 x−3
x x
   1
≠ 1 bx

 x a≠ x  a and

n n

2 x 1 2 x 2 2x 1 2 x 2 4x 2

2 x 1≠ 2x 2  2 x 2 4 x  8x 4
2

− x 2 a 2− x 2 a 2 2


 a c

 c 
 c 

 a 1a
 b b
 b≠ ac 
 c  b c
