Operations on Algebraic Expressions:

Distributive Property

Perfect Square of a Binomial

Factoring:
Difference of Two Squares

Finding Common Factors

3x + 9 = 3(x + 3)

Factorizing by grouping
xy + xb + ay + ab
x(y + b) + a(y + b)
(x + a)(y + b)

Factoring Quadratics
x2-5x +6
x2 - 3x- 2x + 6
x(x 3) -2(x 3)
(x 2)(x 3)

Factorizing cubic binomials

x3 y3 = (x y)(x2 + xy + y2)
x3 + y3 = (x + y)(x2 xy + y2)

Exponents:

Evaluating Expressions with Exponents and Roots

Tip: Try to get every term in the same base.
e.g. 33 * 9 = 3 m
33 * 32 = 3m
35 = 3m
m=5

Tip: When working with different bases it is easier to convert a bigger base to a smaller
base with an exponent
e.g. 22 * 8 3
2 2 * (2 3 )3
22 * 29
2 11

Inequalities:
Note: When doing an inequality question dividing by a negative number will switch the
inequality signs.
e.g. -5x 25
x -5

Tip: Test your values to check if answer is correct

e.g. let x = -6
-5 * -6 = 30

30 25 (correct)

Functions:
Note: Modulus functions only return a positive value
Tip: When trying to find the unknown within a modulus equate the function contained
within the modulus setting to the positive and negative sign of its result
e.g. (x 7)= 4
x 7 = 4 & -4
x = 11 & 3

Note: Upward vertical translation of graph

e.g. f(x) + 3
Note: Downward vertical translation of graph
e.g. f(x) 3
Note: Vertical translations do not change the x value, they change the y value based on the
magnitude of the translation
e.g. The point (1, 3) lies on f(x). What is the new point under the translation f(x) + 3
= (1, 3 + 3)
= (1, 6)
The x value hasnt changed but the y value has changed by +3

Note: Right horizontal translation of graph

e.g. f(x 3)
Note: Left horizontal translation of graph
e.g. f(x + 3)
Note: Horizontal translations are counterintuitive. Horizontal translations do not change the y
value, they change the x value based on the magnitude of the translation as well as the direction.
e.g. The point (1, 3) lies on f(x). What is the new point under the translation f(x -3)
f(x 3) is a right horizontal translation of magnitude 3

= (1 + 3, 3)
= (4, 3)

Note: A rational function with an expression in the denominator will not have a domain value
that equates the denominator to 0.
e.g. x2 + 2x + 3
x+3
Denominator: x + 3 = 0
x = -3
when x = -3 the denominator when computed will result to 0
Anything divided by 0 is undefined/ cannot be determined
Therefore when x = -3 the function is undefined

LOGIC OF INTEGERS
1. An integer does not have a decimal or fractional result.
e.g. 8/3 is not an integer
1.445 is not an integer
5 is an integer
8/2 is an integer because the result is 4 which has neither a decimal nor a fraction
2. Integers can include positive or negative numbers.
e.g. 5, -5, 4, -4
3. Zero 0 is an integer
4. When 2 integers are multiplied together the result will always be an integer
e.g. 4 * 8 = 32
3 * -2 = -6
-4 * -4 = 16
5. Two positive integers when multiplied together will always result in a positive integer
e.g. 4 * 4 = 16
3*3=9
6. Multiplying a negative integer by a positive integer will always result in a negative
integer.
e.g. -7 * 2 = -14
5 * -1 = -5

7. Multiplying two negative integers or an even number of integers together will always
result in a positive integer.
e.g. -3 * -4 = 12
-2 * -3 * -1 = -6
-2 * -3 * -1 * -1 = 6
8. A perfect square is a number with an integer as its square root. A perfect square is
obtained by raising an integer to a positive even integer.
e.g. 22 = 4
42 = 16
34 = (32)2 = 92 = 81 [Note: we divided the power (4) by 2 to get the value of the root
of the squared integer]
56 = (53)2 = 1252 = 15625
9. A perfect cube is a number with an integer as its cubed root. A perfect cube is obtained by
raising an integer to a positive multiple of 3.
e.g 33 = 27
23 = 8
26 = (22)3 = 43 = 64 [Note: we got the value of the cube root by dividing the power by
3]
39 = (33)3 = 273 = 19683
10. When multiplying two perfect squares together the result will always be a perfect square.
e.g. 9 * 16 = 144 = (122)
25 * 4 = 100 = (102)
11. When multiplying two perfect cubes together the result will always be a perfect cube.
e.g. 27 * 64 = 1728 = (123)
8 * 27 = 216 = (63)
12. When an integer is obtained by multiplying the square of an integer and the cube of
another integer the integer can be broken down into a product of its prime factors.
e.g. a3b2 = 432
432 = 2*2*2*2*3*3*3
= 24 * 33
= 42 * 33 => (a=3 and b = 4)
= 16*27
3 2
b a = 32
= 2*2*2*2*2
= 25
= 23 * 22 => (b & a = 2)
=8*4