Algebra Cheat Sheet

Basic Properties & Facts

Arithmetic Operations

Properties of Inequalities
If a < b then a + c < b + c and a c < b c
a b
If a < b and c > 0 then ac < bc and <
c c
a b
If a < b and c < 0 then ac > bc and >
c c

b ab
a =
c c

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

a
ac
=
b b

c

a c ad + bc
+ =
b d
bd

a c ad bc
=
b d
bd

a b ba
=
cd d c

a+b a b
= +
c
c c
a
ad
b =
c bc

d

ab + ac
= b + c, a 0
a

Properties of Absolute Value

if a 0
a
a =
if a < 0
a
a 0
a = a

a+b a + b

(a )

n m

an
1
= a nm = mn
m
a
a

( ab )

a 0 = 1, a 0
n

a n =
a

b

= a nm

1
an
n

bn
b
= = n
a
a

n
m

a = an

m n

a = nm a

( x2 x1 ) + ( y2 y1 )
2

Complex Numbers
i = 1

( ) = (a )

a = a

Properties of Radicals
n

d ( P1 , P2 ) =

a
a
= n
b
b
1
= an
n
a

= a nb n

Triangle Inequality

Distance Formula
If P1 = ( x1 , y1 ) and P2 = ( x2 , y2 ) are two
points the distance between them is

Exponent Properties
a n a m = a n+m

a
a
=
b
b

ab = a b

1
m

1
m

i 2 = 1

a = i a , a 0

( a + bi ) + ( c + di ) = a + c + ( b + d ) i
( a + bi ) ( c + di ) = a c + ( b d ) i
( a + bi )( c + di ) = ac bd + ( ad + bc ) i
( a + bi )( a bi ) = a 2 + b 2

ab = n a n b

a + bi = a 2 + b 2

a na
=
b nb

( a + bi ) = a bi Complex Conjugate
2
( a + bi )( a + bi ) = a + bi

a n = a, if n is odd

a n = a , if n is even

For a complete set of online Algebra notes visit http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu.

Complex Modulus

2005 Paul Dawkins

Logarithms and Log Properties

Definition
y = log b x is equivalent to x = b y

Logarithm Properties
log b b = 1
log b 1 = 0
log b b x = x

b logb x = x

log b ( x r ) = r log b x

Example
log 5 125 = 3 because 53 = 125

log b ( xy ) = log b x + log b y

Special Logarithms
ln x = log e x
natural log

x
log b = log b x log b y
y

log x = log10 x common log

where e = 2.718281828K

The domain of log b x is x > 0

Factoring and Solving

Factoring Formulas
x 2 a 2 = ( x + a )( x a )

Quadratic Formula
Solve ax 2 + bx + c = 0 , a 0

x 2 + 2ax + a 2 = ( x + a )

x 2 2ax + a 2 = ( x a )

b b 2 4ac
2a
2
If b 4ac > 0 - Two real unequal solns.
If b 2 4ac = 0 - Repeated real solution.
If b 2 4ac < 0 - Two complex solutions.
x=

x 2 + ( a + b ) x + ab = ( x + a )( x + b )
x3 + 3ax 2 + 3a 2 x + a 3 = ( x + a )
x3 3ax 2 + 3a 2 x a 3 = ( x a )

Square Root Property

If x 2 = p then x = p

x3 + a3 = ( x + a ) ( x 2 ax + a 2 )
x3 a 3 = ( x a ) ( x 2 + ax + a 2 )
x a
2n

2n

= (x a
n

)( x

+a

If n is odd then,
x n a n = ( x a ) ( x n 1 + ax n 2 + L + a n 1 )
xn + a n

Absolute Value Equations/Inequalities

If b is a positive number
p =b

p = b or p = b
p <b

b < p < b

p >b

p < b or

p>b

= ( x + a ) ( x n 1 ax n 2 + a 2 x n 3 L + a n 1 )
Completing the Square
(4) Factor the left side

Solve 2 x 6 x 10 = 0
2

(1) Divide by the coefficient of the x 2

x 2 3x 5 = 0
(2) Move the constant to the other side.
x 2 3x = 5
(3) Take half the coefficient of x, square
it and add it to both sides
2

9 29
3
3
x 2 3x + = 5 + = 5 + =
4 4
2
2

3
29

x =
2
4

(5) Use Square Root Property

3
29
29
x =
=
2
4
2
(6) Solve for x
3
29
x=
2
2

For a complete set of online Algebra notes visit http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu.

2005 Paul Dawkins

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
y2 y1 rise
=
x2 x1 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
m=

y = y1 + m ( x x1 )

Parabola/Quadratic Function
2
2
y = a ( x h) + k
f ( x) = a ( x h) + 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 = ax 2 + bx + c f ( x ) = ax 2 + bx + c
The graph is a parabola that opens up if
a > 0 or down if a < 0 and has a vertex
b
b
at , f .
2a 2 a

Parabola/Quadratic Function
x = ay 2 + by + c g ( y ) = ay 2 + by + c
The graph is a parabola that opens right
if a > 0 or left if a < 0 and has a vertex
b b
at g , .
2a 2 a
Circle
2
2
( x h) + ( y k ) = r 2
Graph is a circle with radius r and center
( h, k ) .
Ellipse

( x h)

( y k)
+

=1
a2
b2
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)

( y k)

( x h)

=1
a2
b2
Graph is a hyperbola that opens left and
right, has a center at ( h, k ) , vertices a
units left/right of center and asymptotes
b
that pass through center with slope .
a
Hyperbola

(y k)

=1
b2
a2
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
b
slope .
a

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
0
0

Division by zero is undefined!

32 9

32 = 9 ,

(x )

(x )

2 3

2 3

x5

a
a a
+
b+c b c
1
x 2 + x 3
2
3
x +x

a ( x 1) ax a

x2 + a2 x + a
x+a x + a

( x + a)

x n + a n and

= 9 Watch parenthesis!

= x2 x2 x2 = x6

( x + a)

x2 + a2

1
1
1 1
=
+ =2
2 1+1 1 1
A more complex version of the previous
error.
a + bx a bx
bx
= +
= 1+
a
a a
a
Beware of incorrect canceling!
a ( x 1) = ax + a
Make sure you distribute the -!

a + bx
1 + bx
a

( x + a)

( 3 )

x+a n x + n a

= ( x + a )( x + a ) = x 2 + 2ax + a 2

5 = 25 = 32 + 42 32 + 42 = 3 + 4 = 7
See previous error.
More general versions of previous three
errors.
2 ( x + 1) = 2 ( x 2 + 2 x + 1) = 2 x 2 + 4 x + 2
2

2 ( x + 1) ( 2 x + 2 )

( 2 x + 2)

2 ( x + 1)

( 2 x + 2)

= 4 x2 + 8x + 4
Square first then distribute!
See the previous example. You can not
factor out a constant if there is a power on
the parethesis!
2

x2 + a2 x2 + a2
a
ab

b c

c
a
ac
b
c
b

x2 + a2 = ( x2 + a 2 ) 2
Now see the previous error.
a

a
1
a c ac
= = =
b b 1 b b

c c
a a

b = b = a 1 = a

c
c b c bc

1

For a complete set of online Algebra notes visit http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu.

2005 Paul Dawkins