Basic Algebra Review
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SC_03213974739_rp08.qxd 1/15/08 9:15 AM Page 1 Algebra Review Exponents (continued) Polynomials (continued) Factoring (continued) Rational Expressions Rational Expressions Equations of Lines Quotient Rules FOIL Expansion for Multiplying Two To find the value(s) for which a rational (continued) TwoVariables (continued) Factoring Trinomials, Z Binomials expression is undefined, set the denominator If a 0, Leading Term Z x2 Intercepts 0 equal to 0 and solve the resulting equation. SIMPLIFYING COMPLEX FRACTIONS i. Zero exponent: a = 1 i. Multiply the first terms. 2 + + Z To find the x-intercept, let y = 0. To factor ax bx c, a 1: Lowest Terms Numbers Linear Equations ii. Multiply the outer terms. Method 1 To find the y-intercept, let x = 0. -n = 1 By Grouping To write a rational expression in lowest terms: ii. Negative exponents: a n iii. Multiply the inner terms. i. Simplify the numerator and denominator FRACTIONS Definition of Subtraction Properties a i. Find m and n such that i. Factor the numerator and denominator. Slope iv. Multiply the last terms. = + = separately. m mn ac and m n b. Suppose (x , y ) and (x , y ) are two differ- Addition and Subtraction x - y = x + -y i. Addition: The same quantity may be a - ii. Divide out common factors. ii. Divide by multiplying the simplified 1 1 2 2 1 2 iii. Quotient rule: = m n v. Collect like terms. Z added to (or subtracted from) each side of n a ii. Then numerator by the reciprocal of the ent points on a line. If x1 x2, then the i. To add or subtract fractions with the same Subtracting Real Numbers a 2 ϩ ϩ ϭ 2 ϩ ϩ ϩ an equality without changing the solution. ax bx c ax mx nx c. OPERATIONS ON RATIONAL simplified denominator. slope is denominator, add or subtract the numera- i. Change the subtraction symbol to the SPECIAL PRODUCTS - tors and keep the same denominator. ii. Multiplication: Each side of an equality iv. Negative to positive: iii. Group the first two terms and the last EXPRESSIONS rise y2 y1 addition symbol. Square of a Binomial two terms. Method 2 m = = . may be multiplied (or divided) by the -m n run x - x ii. To add or subtract fractions with differ- ii. Change the sign of the number being a b 2 2 2 Multiplying Rational Expressions i. Multiply the numerator and denomina- 2 1 same nonzero number without chang- = , a Z 0, b Z 0 x + y = x + 2xy + y iv. Follow the steps for factoring by grouping. ent denominators, find the LCD and -n m 1 2 tor of the complex fraction by the LCD subtracted. ing the solution. b a - 2 = 2 - + 2 i. Multiply numerators and multiply The slope of a vertical line is undefined. write each fraction with this LCD. Then - x y x 2xy y By Trial and Error of all the denominators in the complex iii. Add using the rules for adding real m m 1 2 denominators. follow the procedure in step i. Solving Linear Equalities a b fraction. The slope of a horizontal line is 0. numbers. = , a Z 0, b Z 0 i. Factor a as pq and c as mn. ii. Factor numerators and denominators. a b a b Parallel lines have the same slope. Multiplication i. Simplify each side separately. b a Product of the Sum and Difference of ii. For each such factorization, form the ii. Write in lowest terms. Multiplying Real Numbers Two Terms + + iii. Write expression in lowest terms. Multiply numerators and multiply ii. Isolate the variable term on one side. Scientific Notation product px m qx n and Perpendicular lines have slopes that are 2 2 1 21 2 i. Multiply the absolute value of the two x + y x - y = x - y expand using FOIL. Dividing Rational Expressions SOLVING EQUATIONS WITH negative reciprocals of each other. denominators. iii. Isolate the variable. A number written in scientific notation is in 1 21 2 numbers. * n i. Multiply the first rational expression by RATIONAL EXPRESSIONS Division the form a 10 , where a has one digit in iii. Stop when the expansion matches the EQUATIONS OF LINES ii. If the two numbers have the same sign, front of the decimal point and that digit is Dividing a Polynomial by a original trinomial. the reciprocal of the second rational i. Find the LCD of all denominators in the Multiply the first fraction by the reciprocal APPLICATIONS the product is positve. If the two num- nonzero. To write a number in scientific Monomial expression. equation. Slope–intercept form: y = mx + b, of the second fraction. bers have different signs, the product is i. Assign a variable to the unknown Remainder Theorem notation, move the decimal point to follow Divide each term of the polynomial by the ii. Multiply numerators and multiply where m is the slope, and 0, b is the negative. quantity in the problem. If the polynomial P(x) is divided by x – a, then ii. Multiply each side of the equation by 1 2 the first nonzero digit. If the decimal point monomial: denominators. the LCD. y-intercept. ORDER OF OPERATIONS ii. Write an equation involving the unknown. has been moved n places to the left, the the remainder is equal to P(a). x = # 1 Z + iii. Factor numerators and denominators. Simplify within parentheses, brackets, or Definition of Division: x , y 0 exponent on 10 is n. If the decimal point p q p q iii. Solve the resulting equation. x y y y iii. Solve the equation. = + Factor Theorem Intercept form: + = 1, absolute value bars or above and below has been moved n places to the right, the r r r iv. Write expression in lowest terms. iv. Check that the resulting solutions satisfy a b Division by 0 is undefined. For a polynomial P(x) and number a, fraction bars first, in the following order. FORMULAS exponent on 10 is –n. Finding the Least Common the original equation. Dividing a Polynomial by a if P(a) = 0, then x – a is a factor of P(x). where a, 0 is the x-intercept, and 0, b is i. Apply all exponents. Dividing Real Numbers Denominator (LCD) 1 2 1 2 i. To find the value of one of the variables in Polynomial the y-intercept. i. Divide the absolute value of a formula, given values for the others, sub- SPECIAL FACTORIZATIONS ii. Perform any multiplications or divisions i. Factor each denominator into prime Equations of Lines - = - the numbers. stitute the known values into the formula. Polynomials Use long division or synthetic division. Point–slope form: y y1 m x x1 , from left to right. Difference of Squares factors. TwoVariables 1 2 iii. Perform any additions or subtractions ii. If the signs are the same, the answer is ii. To solve a formula for one of the vari- A polynomial is an algebraic expression 2 2 where m is the slope and x1, y1 is any Graphing Simple Polynomials x - y = x + y x - y ii. List each different factor the greatest 1 2 from left to right. positive. If the signs are different, the ables, isolate that variable by treating made up of a term or a finite sum of terms 1 21 2 number of times it appears in any one An ordered pair is a solution of an equation point on the line. answer is negative. with real or complex coefficients and whole the other variables as constants (num- i. Determine several points (ordered pairs) Perfect Square Trinomials denominator. if it satisfies the equation. Standard form: Ax + By = C bers) and using the steps for solving number exponents. satisfying the polynomial equation. 2 + + 2 = + 2 VARIABLES, EXPRESSIONS, x 2xy y x y If the value of either variable in an equation PROPERTIES OF REAL NUMBERS equations. 1 2 iii. Multiply the factors from step ii. Vertical line: x = a AND EQUATIONS The degree of a term is the sum of the ii. Plot the points. x2 - 2xy + y2 = x - y 2 is given, the value of the other variable can Commutative Properties exponents on the variables. The degree of a 1 2 Writing a Rational Expression with a be found by substitution. Horizontal line: y = b An expression containing a variable is evalu- iii. Connect the points with a smooth Difference of Cubes ated by substituting a given number for the + = + polynomial is the highest degree amongst all of curve. Specified Denominator a b b a Exponents 3 - 3 = - 2 + + 2 variable. its terms. x y x y x xy y i. Factor both denominators. GRAPHING LINEAR EQUATIONS ab = ba 1 21 2 Values for a variable that make an equation For any integers m and n, the following rules A monomial is a polynomial with only one Sum of Cubes ii. Determine what factors the given To graph a linear equation: Systems of Linear Equations hold: term. Factoring true are solutions of the equation. Associative Properties x3 + y3 = x + y x2 - xy + y2 denominator must be multiplied by to 1 21 2 i. Find at least two ordered pairs that satisfy TWO VARIABLES a + b + c = a + b + c Product Rule A binomial is a polynomial with exactly two Finding the Greatest Common Factor equal the one given. the equation. REAL NUMBERS AND 1 2 1 2 m # n m+n terms. An ordered pair is a solution of a system if it ab c = a bc a a = a (GCF) SOLVING QUADRATIC EQUATIONS iii. Multiply the rational expression by that ii.