Calculation

Formula
1a)

3a + a + 4a = 8a

1b)
1c)

2a + 3a + 5b + 4b = 5a + 9b
a+b=b+a

1d)

(a + b) + c = a + (b + c)

Subtraction

2a)

5a 2a = 3a

Addition and subtraction

2b)
3a)

8a 2a 3b = 6a 3b
(+3a) + (2a) = 3a + 2a = 5a

3b)

(+3a) (+3a) = 5a 3a = 2a

3c)

a + (b + c d) = a + b + c d

3d)

a (b + c d) = a b c + d

Addition

3e)

Multiplication

=
=
=

a {b + [c (d + e)]}
a {b + [c d e]}
a {b + c d e}
abc+d+e

4a)

4 a = 4a
5 2 a b = 5 2ab = 10ab

4b)

b a c = a b c = abc
b a c 3 4 = 12abc

4c)
4d)

4e)
4f)

4g)

4h)

30=0
a0=0
10 a 0 b = 0
(a b) c = a (b c) = abc
4a 5b = 4 5 ab = 20ab
(+a) (+b) = +ab
(+a) (b) = ab
(a) (+b) = +ab
(a) (b) = +ab
c (a b) = ca cb
(a + b) (c d + x) =
ac ad + ax + bc bd + bx
an + bn n = (a + b 1)n

Comment
Terms of the same type can be combined by adding the coecients...
... but not terms of dierent type.
The ordering of terms in a sum
can be interchanged (commutative
law).
Sums can be evaluated in any order
(associative law).
Terms of the same type can be subtracted by subtracting the coecients...
... but not terms of dierent type.
When the operator (+/-) and
the sign (+/-) are equal, the
absolute value is added.
When the operator and the sign
are dierent, subtract the absolute
value.
A bracket after a + can be left
out.
A - before a bracket aects any
term within the bracket.
Brackets are resolved from inside to
outside.
Between factors, but not between
numbers, the multiplication sign
can be omitted.
The order of the factors can be interchanged (commutative law).
When a single factor is zero, the
whole product is zero.
Products can be evaluated in any
order.
Identical signs yield +, dierent
signs yield -.
Every term of the sum must be multiplied with the factor (distributive
law).
Every term of the first sum must be
multiplied with every term of the
second sum.
A common factor can be factored
out.

Calculation
Division

Formula
5a)
5b)

5c)
5d)

5e)
5f)

5g)

5h)
5i)

Powers

Comment

a/b = a : b =
a
6= ab
b
2
3
3 6= 2

a
b

dierent ways to write a fraction

Numerator and denominator cannot be interchanged, otherwise one
obtains the inverse fraction.

+a
= + ab = ab
+b
+a
a
b = b
+a
= ab
b
+a
a
a
+b = + b = b
3ab
3ab
a
= 23bc
= 2c
6bc

ab+ac
a
ab+ad
ax+ay
2x+3y
xy
a
= ac
b
bc

a
b
a
b

c
d
c
d

Identical signs yield +, dierent

signs yield -.
When cancelling a common factor,
both numerator and denominator
must be divided by this factor.

= a(b+c)
=b+c
a
b+d
= x+y
6= 2+3y
6= 2+3
=5
y
1

= ac
bd
x=

a
b

c
d

x
1

a
b
a
b

dc = ab dc = ad
bc
x = ab x1 = ab
x dc = x1 dc = x1
a
c
ad+bc
b + d =
bd

6a)

a a a a = a4

6b)

(a)2n1 = a2n1

6c)

(a)2n = a2n

6d)
6d)

am an = am+n
(a b)n = an bn

When simplifying fractions, only

common factors can be removed.
When extending a fraction both numerator and denominator have to
be multiplied.
In order to multiply two fractions
multiply the corresponding numerators and denominators.

acx
bd

1
x
d
c

=
=

a
bx
xd
c

6d)

am an = amn
1
am an = amn
n
1
a = an

6e)

( ab )n =

6f)
6h)

(am )n = amn
(am )n = (an )m = anm
a2 b2 = (a + b) (a b)
3
a b3 = a2 ab + b2 (a + b)
2
a3 b3 = a2 + ab
+ b (a + b)
4
4
2
2
a b = a + b (a + b) (a b)

6e)

6i)

an
bn

In order to divide by a fraction multiply with its inverse.

Before adding (or subtracting) two
fractions extend them to obtain a
common denominator.
A product of identical factors can
be written as a power.
Negative base and odd index yields
a negative value of the power.
Negative base and even index yield
a positive value of the power.
Take the sum of the indices.
Take the power of every factor of
the product.
Subtract the indices.
A power with negative index equals
the reciprocal value of the same
power with positive index.
Take the power of numerator and
denominator.
The indices are multiplied.
The indices can be interchanged.
Factorization

Calculation
Radicals

7a)
7b)
7c)
7d)
7e)
7f)
7g)
7h)
7g)

Logarithms

Formula

n
n
a = n an = a

Comment
(a 0)

n n
a = |a| :

n
ab= na nb

a n b = n an b

p
n
a
n a

(b 0)
b = nb

x
n x
a = an

bx
x
abx = a bn = a n = x ax

bn

n x
a=
p

a
p

x
a = nx a = x n a
nx

8a)

loga (ax ) = aloga (x) = x

8b)
8c)

loga (x
(x, y > 0)
+
y) = loga x + loga y
loga xy = loga x loga y
(x, y > 0)
loga bn = n loga b

u
v u
loga b = loga b v = uv loga b

quadratic equations

8d)

quadratic equations

9a)
9a)

ax2 + bx +
c=0

b2 4ac
2a
x1 + x2 = ab
x1 x2 = ac

x1,2 =

(x > 0)

Powers and radicals are inverse to

each other.
is valid if n odd or if n even and
a 0.
The root is taken of every factor.
Take the n-th power of the factor a.
Take the root of numerator and denominator.
Every root can be rewritten as a
power.
The indices of the root and the
power can be reduced or extended.
Multiply the indices.
The order of the indices can be interchanged.
Logarithms and exponents are inverse to each other.
Add the logarithms of the factors.
Subtract the logarithms.
Multiply the exponent with the logarithms of base.
The discriminant b2 4ac must be
nonnegative.
Formulae of Vieta.