SS-Algebra-1
SS-Algebra-1
*This study guide includes non-rigorous proofs and practice problems to help build the
foundation for future math topics past memorization. Sources of images and information
Table of Contents
Each Line has a Unique Equation, But Can Written in Several Ways 5
Absolute Value Equations: Measure the Distance Traveled, Not Your Current Location 5
How to Graph Hyperbolas and Inverse Variations Error! Bookmark not defined.
Proportions 12
System of Equations 12
Further Study 27
Sources: 28
How to Use Your Graphing Calculator
● Scatter plot:
5. Press [TRACE] and the arrow keys to jump between data points to see their (x,y)
● Lines
2. Press [2nd][GRAPH] to look at the table of x and y-values for each line.
● Tables
[WINDOW] and change AUTO /ASK for the independent or dependent variable.
respectively)
Explaining Slopes and Lines: The Complexity of Lines
y=mx+b equation
(0,b)
■ The y-intercept is b
determine how a line will look before graphing (in the above diagram, the
slope is positive)
● Positive slope
● Negative slope
● Zero slope
○ Horizontal Line
● Undefined slope
○ The y-values do not move right or left. The slope is undefined because all of the
Each Line has a Unique Equation, But May Be Written Many Ways
● Point slope form: Used commonly when you have one set of points and slope.
𝛥𝑦 𝑦2−𝑦1
○ Derived from the definition of slope: 𝛥𝑥 = =𝑚
𝑥2−𝑥1
○ Notice that “B” here is different from the “b” in the slope-intercept form.
Absolute Value Equations: Measure the Distance Traveled, Not Your Current Location
● When there are absolute value bars around an expression, you want to find the distance
■
○ EX 2: If we are solving for x in |x| = 1, we are looking for x-values that are 1 unit
○ EX 3: 2=|4x+1|
with
■ After you remove the absolute value, you can make either side negative.
Properties of Equality).
● Our final x-values are x=-3, 7. When we plug them into the
original equation |2x+1| = |x+8|, we get 5=5 and 15=15. Both are
correct!
the x-axis when x=-3. When x=7, both are 15 units away
● Direct variation
● Inverse variation
■ y=0: As x-values get closer to -/+ infinity, y-values get closer and closer to
- The functions we looked at in the last section (y=a/x and y=a/(x-h)+k) are examples of
polynomial?
- In Algebra 1, we sometimes refer to equations like Ax^2+Bx+C as
polynomials, but there are a variety of other expressions that also count as
- From the table above, we see that polynomials can have many different
terms or variables. They can also have no visible variables and only
denominator)
3(𝑥+9) 2𝑥
- + (𝑥−9)(𝑥+9)
(𝑥−9)(𝑥+9)
3(𝑥+9)+2𝑥 5𝑥+27
- = (𝑥−9)(𝑥+9)
(𝑥−9)(𝑥+9)
- Try to find numbers to cancel out. It may be helpful to combine the two
denominator.
- = [(x+2)(x+9)]/(x+5)
- Use the same method for division except flip the num/denominator of the
Proportions
■ Cross products
𝑎 𝑐
● =𝑑
𝑏
examples.
System of Equations
operation signs. Equations have equal signs (as the name implies) and are made of
two expressions.
● Generic System of Equations Problem: Sally has a coin purse full of nickels and dimes.
She has 20 coins in total and $1.50 in total. How many nickels and dimes are in her
purse?
○ Number your equations. In the Equation (1), “20” is in cents. $1.50 also needs to
■ (1) n + d = 20
● (1) The total number of nickels (n) and dimes (d) is 20 coins.
put, nickels are worth “5n” cents. Same goes for dimes. So, in
Sally’s coin purse, there is “5n” cents worth of nickels and “10d”
After you define your equations and variables, you can choose from THREE
● Solve for a single variable (we’ll solve for n). If equations are 1st
○ N= -d + 20
○ N = -2d + 30
easier to solve.
■ (1) n + d = 20
■ (2) 5n + 10d = 150
make the variable in Equation (2) “n”, so there’s only one variable to solve. We
5(10)+10(10)=150 Check work by plugging back in the other equation. It checks out!
150=150
5d=50 Simplify
● Notice how we got the same answer (10 dimes and 10 nickels) for all three! We just
● Subtracting Exponents
x^3 x^4
exponents. If we expand x^4 = x*x*x*x in the numerator and x^3
= x*x*x in the denominator, many x’s cancel out, and we are left
● Adding Exponents
■ In the diagram above, we expanded both exponential terms, x^3 and x^4.
x’s is very tedious when we’re looking at exponents like x^50 or y^1000.
To make it easier, we just add the two exponents. However, the above
diagram is still a great proof to explain why the general rule works.
● Scientific notation
○ Did you know that the entire earth has about 7,500,000,000,000,000,000 grains of
sand? That’s pretty cool, but there has to be an easier way to write such numbers,
right? Yes, there is! It’s called scientific notation. Scientists use it all the time
when talking about large numbers like the Milky Way galaxy’s diameter or tiny
○ I won’t get into the complicated rules of scientific notation since you’ll learn them
● For example instead of that long number for the number of sand
○ “A” in y=Ax^2+Bx+C
function.
function.
○ “B” in y=Ax^2+Bx+C
■ The constant B can change where the graph is centered and how the graph
stretches/shrinks.
■ “C” in Ax^2+Bx+C
■ The value of C determines where the quadratic function intersects with the
■ EX 1: Factor x^2 + 6x + 5.
(1 and 5).
● In order to return
to general form,
FOIL method to
multiply. FOIL
last. FOIL
0. If you solve for x on one side, the other side of the equation would be the
■ In the quadratic formula, the b^2-4ac expression is inside the square root.
■ Check the discriminant before solving to get a general idea of how many
roots to expect.
● Special properties
○ (ax)^2+2abx+b^2 = (ax+b)^2
we’ll get a^2 + 2ab -2ab -b^2. When the bolded terms subtract out, a^2 -
b^2 remains.
● Power vs exponential
● Linear
because all you need to do is use a point on the line and the line’s
● Quadratic
● Basics: y>=x means for this function, all y values are equal to or greater than x
○ (-) divide/multiply
■ When you divide or multiply negative constants for inequalities, you need
■ We flip the inequality sign because numbers are ordered that way
○ Use closed circles for “<” and “>” because the domain excludes x=a.
○ y > mx+b
○ Y < mx+b
○ If unsure where to shade, graph the line without the inequality sign, and test
Identify a point above and below Line A. Plug in those points into your original
inequality. Do points below or above Line A make the inequality true? Shade in
that region.
● Do the same for Line B on the same graph, preferably in a different color.
○ Make sure the final answer does not have imaginary numbers, if they’re not
accepted.
Different Number Types: Yes, There’s a Difference Between Whole and Rational.
● ALL Numbers
a denominator.
from 0
○ Natural Numbers: Whole numbers but 0 is excluded.
square roots.
4. Solve step-by-step
● B= 55
● 2(S+5) = B+5
● 2S = 50 Subtraction POE
● S = 25 Division POE
○ 2(S+5)=B+5
○ 2(25+5) = 55+5
○ 60 = 60
○ Right now, Bob is 55 and his son is 25. In five years, Bob will be
Further Study
scatter-plot
○ Tables: https://studenthelp.cpm.org/m/TI-84/l/95556-ti-84-using-tables
○ https://www.texasgateway.org/resource/23-position-vs-time-graphs
○ https://www.katesmathlessons.com/slope.html
○ https://www.onlinemathlearning.com/direct-variation-algebra-2.html
○ https://slideplayer.com/slide/9111856/
● Polynomials
○ https://www.onlinemathlearning.com/introduction-polynomial.html
● Proportions
○ http://virtualnerd.com/algebra-1/linear-equations-solve/means-extremes-
proportion-property-definition
● Systems of Equations
○ https://courses.lumenlearning.com/prealgebra/chapter/identifying-expressions-
and-equations/#:~:text=y%20minus%20three.-
,Expressions%20and%20Equations,connected%20by%20an%20equal%20sign.
● Quadratics
○ http://www.emathematics.net/parabola1.php?a=2&tipo=completa
○ https://www.onlinemathlearning.com/multiply-binomials.html
● Exponents
○ https://www.npr.org/sections/krulwich/2012/09/17/161096233/which-is-greater-
the-number-of-sand-grains-on-earth-or-stars-in-the-
sky#:~:text=They%20said%2C%20if%20you%20assume,quintillion%2C%20five
%20hundred%20quadrillion%20grains.
● Inequalities
○ http://mathcentral.uregina.ca/QQ/database/QQ.09.01/sean1.html
○ https://www.varsitytutors.com/hotmath/hotmath_help/topics/graphing-systems-of-
linear-inequalities
● Types of Numbers
○ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUGmwPwtbpg