Intermediate Algebra Formulas

FORMULA NAME Explanation

Used to solve for x when you
b b 4ac
2
x Quadratic Formula have a quadratic equation in the
2a form of ax bx c 0
2

b 2 4ac Used to determine the number of

Discriminant solutions to the quadratic
equation ax 2 bx c 0
y2 y1 Used to find the slope of a line when you
m have two points on the line:
x2 x1 Slope Formula x1, y1 ; x2 , y2
y y1 m( x x1 ) Point-Slope Form of the Used to find the Equation of a
equation of a line line when given one point
x1 , y1 and the slope (m).
y mx b Slope intercept form of the m slope
equation of a line b y-intercept
x1 x2 y1 y2 Midpoint Formula Used to find the midpoint of a
, line segment with endpoints
2 2 x1 , y1 and x2 , y2
x2 x1 2 y2 y1 2 Distance Formula Used to find the distance between two
d points: x1 , y1 and x2 , y2
b b Vertex of a Parabola ax 2 bx c 0
, f
2 a 2a
y kx Direct variation Y varies directly with x
K: constant of variation
k Inverse variation Y varies inversely with x
y K: constant of variation
x
y kxz Joint variation Y varies jointly with x and z
K: constant of variation.
p 2l 2w Perimeter of Rectangle P=Perimeter ; W=Width
L=Length
A lw Area of Rectangle L=Length ; W=Width
A=Area
a 2 b2 c 2 Pythagorean Theorem Used to find the missing side of a
right triangle:
a=length of side; b= length of side;
c= hypotenuse
Area of Triangle a=Area ; b=Base ; h=Height
1
A bh
2
p abc Perimeter of Triangle P=Perimeter ; a=First Leg
b=Base ; c=Second Leg

c 2r Circumference of Circle r=Radius

3.14 ; c=Circumference
A r 2 Area of a Circle A=area r=radius 3.14
d rt Distance Traveled Formula r rate t time

I=Prt Simple Interest Formula I=interest P=Principal t= time in

years
r = annual interest rate
FORMULA NAME Explanation
Volume of Cone v=Volume ; r=Radius
1
v r 2 h 3.14 ; h= Height
3
v r 2 h Volume of Cylinder v=Volume
3.14
; r=Radius
; h= Height
Volume of Sphere v=Volume ; r=Radius
4
v r 3 3.14
3
A bh Area of Parallelogram b=base h=height
P=a+b+c+d Perimeter of Trapezoid & a,b,c,d are the lengths of the
parallelogram sides
1 Area Of Trapezoid h=height; b and d are the
A h(b d ) lengths of the bases.
2
Volume of Pyramid B=area of the Base ; h=Height ;
1
v bh V=Volume
3