Algebra Knowledge Map

Equations and Expressions 1. An expression consists of one or more numbers and variables and has no equal sign. 2. An equation consists of one or more numbers and variables and has an equal sign. 3. Expressions are simplified by using order of operations. 4. The order of operations is Parenthesis, Exponents, Multiplication (left to

right), Division (left to right), Addition(left to right) and Subtraction (left to right)
5. Raising a number to a power is a way of showing repeated multiplication. 6. An exponent tells the number of times the base is multiplied. 7. The power is the same as the exponent. 8. A base is the number being raised to a power. 9. The absolute value of a number is that numbers distance from zero. 10. The Distributive Property says that to multiply a sum, you can multiply each addend and add the products. 11. The Commutative Property says that changing the order of numbers when you add or multiply them does not change the result. 12. The Associative Property says that regrouping numbers when you multiply or add them does not change the result. 13. A term is a number, variable or a product or quotient of numbers and variables separated by addition and subtraction. 14. Like terms are terms that have identical variable parts. 15. A coefficient of a term is the number part of a term with a variable. 16. A constant is a numerical term that does not change. 17. An expression is in simplest form when it has no like terms or parentheses. 18. Inverse operations are operations that undo each other. 19. An equation can be changed and remains equal only when the same operation is done to both sides. 20. After solving, the solution is the value or values that make an equation or inequality true. 21. If solving an equation or inequality results in a statement that is always true, the solution is all real numbers. 22. If solving an equation or inequality results in a statement that is never true, the solution is the empty set (no solution). 23. A conjecture is an educated guess based upon data or patterns in data 24. A counterexample is a specific case that proves a general statement false. 25. Defining a variable means to choose a variable to represent one of the unspecific numbers in a problem. 26. Consecutive integers are integers in counting order. Inequalities 27. When multiplying or dividing an inequality by a negative number, the inequality symbol is flipped. 28. When graphing the solution to an inequality on a number line, an open circle

means that the number is not included in the solution to the inequality. 29. When graphing the solution to an inequality on a number line, a closed circle means that the number is included in the solution to the inequality. 30. A compound inequality is two or more inequalities considered together. 31. The graph of a compound inequality containing and is called an intersection and the solution must be a solution of both inequalities. 32. The graph of a compound inequality containing or is called a union and the solution is a solution of either inequality. Relations and Functions 33. A relation is a set of ordered pairs. 34. The domain of a relation is the x-values. 35. The range of a relation is the y-values. 36. Find the inverse of any relation by switching the numbers in each ordered pair. 37. A solution of an equation in two variables is an ordered pair that results in a true statement when substituted into the equation. 38. A function is a special type of relation in which no x-values repeat. 39. The vertical line test says that if a vertical line can be drawn that crosses the graph of a relation more than once, the graph is not a function. Linear Equations 40. A linear function is an equation that forms a line. 41. Equations that are first degree are linear. 42. There are four types of slope: positive, negative, zero and undefined. 43. Rate of change, and application of slope, means how a quantity is changing over time. 44. A positive slope means that a quantity is increasing over time. 45. A negative slope means that a quantity is decreasing over time. 46. A zero slope means that a quantity is remaining steady over time. 47. A horizontal line has a slope of zero, and its equation is written as y = (number). 48. A vertical line has an undefined slope, and its equation is written as x = (number). 49. Slope is the steepness of a line and is defined as rise/run. 50. The slope of a line can be determined from any two points on the line. y2 y 1 x 1 , ) 51. The formula for calculating slope is m= where m means slope, ( 1 y x2 x 1 x,y) is the first point, and ( 2 2 is the second point. 52. Standard Form of a linear equation is Ax + By = C and is most useful for finding intercepts of a line. 53. The x-intercept is where the graph crosses the x-axis (when the y-value is zero). 54. The y-intercept is where the graph crosses the y-axis (when the x-value is zero). 55. Slope-Intercept Form of a line is y = mx + b where m means slope and b means y-intercept. = ( x where m means slope and x 1 56. Point-Slope Form of a line is y y m ) 1 ( 1 y is a point on the line. x 1 , ) 57. Parallel lines have the same slope. 58. The slopes of perpendicular lines are opposite reciprocals.

59. The solution set for an inequality in two variables forms a half plane on the coordinate plane with the boundary created by the line of the equation. 60. When graphing the solution to an inequality in two variables on a coordinate plane, a dashed line means that the equation is not included in the solution to the inequality. 61. When graphing the solution to an inequality in two variables on a coordinate plane, a solid line means that the equation is included in the solution to the inequality. 62. Scatter plots graph two sets of data as ordered pairs to investigate a relationship between the two quantities. 63. A correlation is a measure of how one variable depends on or is related to another. 64. A negative correlation is a relationship between two sets of variables where one set increases and the other decreases. 65. A positive correlation is a relationship between two sets of variables where both sets increase. 66. When a single line cannot be drawn to include all of the points in a scatter plot, choose two points to connect with a line of fit to represent the overall trend of the data. Systems of Equations 67. A system of equations is a set of two or more equations that are solved at the same time. 68. The solution to a system of equations is an ordered pair that results in a true statement when substituted into all the equations. 69. Systems of two linear equations can interact in three ways: intersecting lines, the same line, and parallel lines. 70. When two lines intersect, there is one solution to the systemthe coordinate where the lines intersect. 71. When two lines are the same line, there are infinitely many solutions to the systemall points on the line. 72. When two lines are parallel, there is no solution to the system. 73. There are three methods for solving a system of equations: graphing, substitution, and elimination. 74. The graphing method is best when estimating a solution since it sometimes does not give an exact solution. 75. The substitution method is best if one of the variables in either equation has a coefficient of 1 or if a variable is already by itself. 76. The elimination method is best if both equations are written in standard form. 77. When graphing a system of inequalities, shade only the section of the graph that is true for both lines. Monomials 78. A monomial is a number, variable, or a product of a number and variables. 79. A factor is a quantity that is being multiplied. 80. When multiplying numbers with the same base, add the exponents. 81. When dividing numbers with the same base, subtract the exponents. 82. To find the power of a power, multiply the exponents.

83. To find the power of a product, distribute the exponent to each factor. 84. To find the power of a quotient, distribute the exponent to the numerator and denominator. 85. Any number raised to the zero power equals one. 86. A negative exponent makes a variable jump to the opposite side of a fraction with the positive exponent. 87. A monomial is simplified when four things happen: each base appears exactly once, there are no powers of powers, all exponents are positive numbers, and all fractions are in simplest form. 88. A number is expressed in scientific notation when it is written as a product of a factor and a power of 10. 89. The factor used in scientific notation must have only one digit to the left of the decimal point. 90. Scientific notation is useful when writing really large or really small values. Polynomials 91. A polynomial is a monomial or sum of monomials. 92. A binomial is a polynomial with only two monomials. 93. A trinomial is a polynomial with only three monomials. 94. The degree of a monomial is the sum of the exponents of all its variables. 95. The degree of a polynomial is the greatest degree of any term in the polynomial. 96. Polynomials are typically written in descending order of degree. 97. When simplifying polynomials, only monomials of the same degree and same variables can be added. 98. When multiplying binomials, always use the FOIL method. 99. FOIL stands for First, Outside, Inside, Last. 100. The product of two binomials that are identical with the exception of one using an addition sign and the other using a subtraction sign is a difference of squares. 101. A difference of squares is a binomial in which each of the terms is a perfect square, and a subtraction sign separates them. Factoring 102. A number whose only factors are one and itself, is called a prime number. 103. A number that has more than two factors is called a composite number. 104. When a whole number is expressed as the product of factors that are all prime numbers, the expression is called the prime factorization. 105. A monomial is in factored form when it is expressed as the product of prime numbers and variables and no variable has an exponent greater than 1. 106. The Greatest Common Factor (GCF) is the greatest number that is a factor of all original numbers. 107. The GCF of two or more monomials is the product of their common factors when each monomial is in factored form. 108. If two or more numbers or monomials have a GCF of 1, then the numbers or monomials are said to be relatively prime. 109. When factoring a polynomial, always start by looking for a GCF.

110. When factoring a binomial, check to see if it is a difference of squares. 111. When factoring a trinomial, check to see if it is a quadratic. 112. A quadratic is a trinomial of the form a2+ c x b . x+ 113. If a = 1 in a quadratic, a shortcut can be applied to find the two binomial factors. 114. Equations that are second degree are quadratic. 115. When factoring a polynomial with four terms, factor by grouping. 116. A polynomial that cannot be written as the product of two polynomials is called a prime polynomial. 117. Prime polynomials may still have a solution even though they are not factorable. Quadratic Functions 118. The solutions to a quadratic equation are called roots or zeros. 119. Quadratic functions can be solved using three methods: factoring, graphing, and the quadratic formula. 120. The Zero Product Property states that if the product of two factors is 0, then at least one of the factors must be 0. 121. The graphing method is best to use when estimating because it does not always give exact solutions. 122. The graph of a quadratic function is called a parabola. 123. The vertex is the highest or lowest point of the parabola. 124. The vertical line of symmetry of a parabola is called the axis of symmetry. b 125. The axis of symmetry has the equation x = . 2a b 126. The x-coordinate of the vertex can be found by using . 2a 127. The y-coordinate of the vertex can be found by substituting the xcoordinate into the original equation. 128. If a > 0, then the parabola opens up. 129. If a < 0, then the parabola opens down. 130. Roots of a quadratic are the points where the graph of the quadratic crosses the x-axis. 131. The Quadratic Formula is the most accurate way of solving a quadratic equation. 132. The discriminant is the number underneath the radical sign in the quadratic formula and tells how many solutions a quadratic equation will have. 133. Quadratic functions with two roots cross the x-axis twice and correspond to a positive discriminant. 134. Quadratic functions with a double root cross the x-axis once and correspond to a discriminant of 0. 135. Quadratic functions with no real roots never cross the x-axis and correspond to a negative discriminant. Radical Expressions 136. A square root is one of two equal factors of a number.

137. Square roots and squaring (an exponent of 2) are inverse operations. 138. A number whose square root is a whole number is called a perfect square. 139. The symbol is called a radical sign and is used to indicate the nonnegative or principal square root of the expression under the radical sign. 140. A radicand is the expression under the radical sign. 141. A radical expression is an expression that contains a square root. 142. To simplify, the radicand should be written as the product of a perfect square and another factor that are equivalent to the original radicand. 143. The square root of a fraction can be rewritten as the square root of the numerator over the square root of the denominator. 144. When simplifying radicals, all variables outside of the radical with an odd exponent must have an absolute value symbol. 145. A radical is fully simplified when no radicands have perfect square factors, fractions are reduced, and no radicals appear in the denominator. 146. Rationalizing the denominator of a radical expression is a method used to eliminate radicals from the denominator of a fraction. 147. Binomials of the form ab cd ab cd called and + are conjugates. 148. Adding and subtracting radicals can only be done if the number in the radical is the same. Then, add or subtract the numbers outside the radical. 149. When multiplying square roots: multiply the numbers inside the radical, then multiply the numbers outside the radicals. 150. When solving radical equations, check solutions in case of extraneous solutions. 151. An extraneous solution is a solution derived from an equation that is not a solution of the original equation. Rational Expressions and Equations 152. A rational expression is an algebraic fraction whose numerator and denominator are polynomials. 153. Excluded values are any values of a variable that result in a denominator of 0. 154. A ratio is a comparison of two numbers by division. 155. An equation stating that two ratios are equal is called a proportion. 156. In a proportion, cross products are equal.