MATH 103, COLLEGE ALGEBRA — USEFUL FORMULAS

Review and Chapter 1 — Basic Concepts of Algebra, Functions, Graphs

Properties of Exponents Linear Functions Tests for Symmetry

1. am · an = am+n 1. Slope-Intercept Eq. y = mx + b 1. x-axis : change (x, y) to (x, −y)
m
a y2 − y 1
2. = am−n 2. Slope m = 2. y-axis : change (x, y) to (−x, y)
an x2 − x1
n 3. Origin : change (x, y) to (−x, −y)
3. (am ) = amn 3. Point-Slope Eq. y − y1 = m(x − x1 )
4. Parallel Lines — Equal Slopes 4. Even function : f (−x) = f (x)
4. (ab)n = an bn
 a n an 5. Perpendicular Lines m1 m2 = −1 5. Odd function : f (−x) = −f (x)
5. = n
b b Domain Transformations
1 √
6. a n = n a 1 1. f (x) + b : shift up b units
1. : R \ {a}
x−a
Special Products √ 2. f (x) − b : shift down b units
2. x − a : [a, +∞)
2 2 2
1. (a + b) = a + 2ab + b 3. f (x + b) : shift left b units
3. f ± g, f · g : all values of x that are
2 2 2
2. (a − b) = a − 2ab + b in both domains of f and g 4. f (x − b) : shift right b units
2 2 f
3. (a + b)(a − b) = a − b 5. bf (x) : stretch vertically
4. : all values of x that are in both
g
4. (a + b)3 = (a + b)(a2 − ab + b2 ) domains of f and g and g(x) 6= 0 f (x)
6. : shrink vertically
5. (a − b)3 = (a − b)(a2 + ab + b2 ) Different Formulas b
p 7. f (bx) : shrink horizontally
Variation 1. Distance: d = (x2 −x1 )2 +(y2 −y1 )2
x
1. Direct: y = kx

x1 + x2 y1 + y2
 8. f : stretch horizontally
2. Midpoint: , b
2 2
k 9. −f (x) : reflection across x-axis
2. Inverse: y = 3. Circle: (x − h)2 + (y − k)2 = r2
x
f (x + h)−f (x) 10. f (−x) : reflection across y-axis
3. Joint: y = kxz 4. Difference Quotient:
h

Chapter 2 — Functions and Equations, Linear and Quadratic Functions

Zeros of Functions Equations Completing the Square

1. x0 is a zero of f iff f (x0 ) = 0 1. Rational: multiply by LCD. 1. a0 x2 + b0 x + c0 = 0
2. Real zero — x-intercept 2. Radical: isolate radical and rise both 2. x2 + bx + c = 0
sides to the corresponding power. b
 2
b
 2
b
3. The only zero of a linear function
b 3. x2 + 2 · x · + = −c +
f (x) = mx + b is x = − , iff m 6= 0 3. |X| = a for a > 0 is equivalent to 2 2 2
m X = a OR X = −a  2   2
b b
4. Quadratic Formula Zeros of 4. x + = −c
f (x) = ax2 +√bx + c, a 6= 0: 4. |X| = a for a < 0 has no solutions 2 2
−b ± b2 − 4ac Complex Numbers
s 
2
x1,2 = b b
2a √ √ √ 5. x + = ± −c
Discriminant D = b2 − 4ac 1. i = −1 −a = i a, if a > 0 2 2
D > 0 — two different real zeros 2. i2 = −1, i3 = −i, i4 = 1 Inequalities
D = 0 — one double zero
D < 0 — two complex zeros 3. Complex Number: a + bi, a, b ∈ R, 1. a < b is equivalent to a + c < b + c
a — real part, b — imaginary part. 2. a < b is equivalent to ac < bc, if c > 0
Parabola
for f (x) = a(x − h)2 + k 4. Complex Conjugate a + bi = a − bi 3. a < b is equivalent to ac > bc, if c < 0
1. Vertex: (h, k) a+bi (a+bi)(c−di) (a+bi)(c−di)
5. = = 4. Conjunction — AND — Intersection ∩
2. Axis of symmetry: x = h c+di (c+di)(c−di) c2 +d2
p √ √ 5. Disjunction — OR — Union ∪
3. a > 0: k — minimum,[k, +∞)— range 6. 6 = (−9)·(−4) 6= −9· −4 = −6
6. |X| < a is equivalent to
4. a < 0: k— maximum,(−∞, k]— range Different Formulas X < a AND X > −a
b 1. Uniform motion: d = vt, v — speed, 7. |X| > a is equivalent to
5. f (x) = ax2+bx+c : h = − , k = f (h). t — time , d — distance.
2a X < −a OR X > a
 Chapter 3 — Polynomial and Rational Functions, Inequalities

Polynomials 4. If a + bi is a root and all coefficients 6. deg p < deg q : horizontal asymp. y = 0
are real, then a − bi is also a root
1. f (x) = an xn +an−1 xn−1 +. . .+a1 x+a0 √ 7. deg p = deg q : horizontal asymp.
5. If
√ a + c b is a root, a, c are rational,
2. an xn — leading term b is irrational and all 8. deg p = deg q + 1 : oblique asymp.
√ coefficients are
3. an — leading coefficient rational, then a − c b is also a root Inequalities
p
4. n = deg f (x) — degree 6. If is a root in the lowest terms and 1. Get zero on the right hand side
q
all coefficients are integer, then p is 2. Write as a single fraction
5. Domain — all real numbers
a factor of a0 and q is a factor of an
6. Has at most n x-intercepts 3. Find zeros of both numerator and de-
Rational Functions nominator
7. Has at most n − 1 turning points p(x)
1. : p(x), q(x) are polynomials 4. Mark real zeros on the number line
8. If f (a) and f (b) have different signs, q(x)
then f (x) has a zero between a and b 2. Domain — all real numbers except 5. Select test points and determine the
for zeros of the denominator q(x) sign of the expression in each interval
Theorems about Zeros (Roots)
p(x) 6. Strict inequality : exclude endpoints
1. f (x) = an xn +an−1 xn−1 +. . .+a1 x+a0 3. Factor p(x) and q(x) and write
q(x) 7. Non-strict: include zeros
2. nth degree polynomial has n complex in the lowest terms
roots (counting multiplicity) 8. Never include points out of the do-
4. Real zeros of q(x) : vertical asymp. main (zeros of the denominator)
3. f (x) = an (x − c1 )(x − c2 ) . . . (x − cn )
5. Real zeros of p(x) : x-intercepts 9. Never include infinity

Chapter 4 — Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

Composition Finding Inverse Function 6. x-intercept: (1, 0)

1. ”Composition of f and g”, ”f com- 1. Replace f (x) by y 7. Natural logarithm ln x = loge x
posed with g” is (f ◦ g)(x) = f (g(x))
2. Interchange x and y 8. Common logarithm log x = log10 x
2. Domain: x is in the domain of g and
3. Solve for y (get y = . . .) Properties of Logarithms
g(x) is in the domain of f
4. If solution is single — function 1. loga 1 = 0 loga a = 1
3. In general, f ◦ g 6= g ◦ f
5. Replace y with f −1 (x) 2. loga M N = loga M + loga M
Inverse Relation/Function
Exponential Function 3. loga M p = p loga M
1. Inverse relation — obtained by inter-
changing x and y in the equation, or 1. f (x) = ax , x ∈ R, a > 0, a 6= 1 M
reflecting the graph, or interchanging 4. loga = loga M − loga N
2. Is one-to-one N
elements in pairs
logb M
3. Domain: R 5. loga M =
2. If inverse relation is a function, it is logb a
called ”inverse function” and is de- 4. Range: (0, +∞)
noted by f −1 (x) 6. loga ax = x aloga x = x
5. Horizontal asymptote: y = 0
1 Applications
3. f −1 (x) 6=
f (x) 6. y-intercept: (0, 1)
1. Exponential growth P (t) = P0 ekt
4. If f (a) 6= f (b) for a 6= b, f is one-to- 7. e = 2.718281828459045 . . . k > 0 — exponential growth rate
one function
Logarithmic Function 2. Doubling time: P (T ) = 2P0
−1 −1
5. (f ◦ f )(x) = x (f ◦ f )(x) = x
1. loga x is inverse of ax 3. Exponential decay P (t) = P0 e−kt
6. The graph of f −1 is a reflection of the k > 0 — decay rate
2. Is one-to-one
graph of f across the line y = x 1
3. Domain: (0, +∞) 4. Half-life: P (T ) = P0
7. Horizontal line test can be applied 2
to the graph of direct function 4. Range: R a
5. Logistic function: P (t) =
1 + be−kt
5. Vertical asymptote: y = 0