Formula List for College Algebra – ACADEMIC SYSTEMS

Quadratic Function:
A quadratic function is one in the form: f ( x ) = ax + bx + c
2

where a, b, and c are constants and a is not equal zero.

A quadratic function in vertex form is: f ( x ) = a ( x - h ) + k or f ( x ) = a ( x - xv ) + yv

2 2

(See below for the meaning of the letters h and k or xv and yv .

Zero-Factor principle:
a b = 0 if and only if a = 0 or b = 0.

Quadratic Formula:
-b � b 2 - 4ac
The solutions of the equation ax 2 + bx + c = 0, where a �0, are x =
2a
The Discriminant: b 2 - 4ac
Students need to memorize “the nature of the solutions” as discussed in class.

Complex Numbers: - 1 = i or i 2 = - 1

Vertex of a parabola:
-b �-b � -b
xv = and yv = f � � . Re call the LINE of SYMMERTRY is x = .
2a �2a � 2a
�-b �-b �
� �-b 4ac - b 2 �
Also, the vertex is : ( h ,k ) = ( xv , yv ) = � , f � � �= �2a , 4a � .
�2a �2a �
� � �

Quadratic Equation in Vertex Form:

The vertex form of the equation ax 2 + bx + c = 0, where a �0, is :
y = a ( x - x v ) 2 + y v where ( x v , y v ) is called the vertex.

The Algebra of Functions:

Sum : ( f + g ) ( x ) = f ( x ) + g ( x ) Difference : (f - g ) ( x) = f ( x) - g ( x)
�f � f ( x)
Pr oduct : ( g ) ( x) = f ( x) �
f� g ( x) Quotient : � �( x) = where g ( x ) �0
�g � g ( x)

One-to-one Functions:

The inverse of a function f is also a function if and only if f is one-to-one.

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Composition of Functions:
Let f ( x ) and g ( x ) reprenet two functions. The composition of f and g ,
written ( f og ) ( x ) , is defined as ( f og ) ( x ) = f ��g ( x) �
. Here, g ( x ) must be
�
in the domain of f ( x ) . If it is not , then f � �g ( x) �
�will be undefined .

Inverse Functions:
-1
Suppose the inverse of f is a function, denoted by f . Then
f -1
( y) = x if and only if f ( x ) = y.

Composition of a Function and its Inverse:

If a function, f ( x ) has an inverse f -1 ( x ) , then :
( f o f ) ( x) = x
-1
for every x in the domain of f , and

( f o f ) ( x) = x
-1
for every x in the domain of f -1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Linear Equation Formulas:
Standard or General Form: Ax + By = C
Dy y2 - y1 f ( x 2 ) - f ( x 1 ) f ( b) - f ( a ) f ( x + h) - f ( x )
Slope formula: m = = also m = = =
Dx x2 - x1 x 2 -x1 b-a h
Slope y-intercept form: y = mx + b
Point Slope form: y = y1 + m( x - x1 ) or y = m ( x - x 1 ) + y 1

Some Quadratic Function Formulas for Chapter 10 are at the beginning of this handout.

Exponents:
am
a n = a m+ n
1. a m � 2. n
= a m -n , a �0
a
3. ( a m ) = a m �n 4. ( ab ) = a m b m
n m

m m
�a � a 1
5. � � = m , b �0 6. -m
= a m , a �0
�b � b a
-m m
a-m bn �a � �b �
7. - n = m , a �0, b �0 8. � � = � �
b a �b � �a �
9. a 0 = 1, a �0 10. a 1 n = n a , n is an int eger n �2.
� 1
�m
11. a m n
= �a n
�= (a )
m 1 n
= n
am
� �

Exponential Function:
f ( x ) = b x , where b and x are real numbers, b > 0 and b �1.

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Exponential Formulas:
Compound Interest: A = P ( 1 + r )
n

� r �nt
Compound Interest with n Compounding Periods: A = P � 1 + �,
� n�
P = principal , r = annual rate, n = number of compoundings per year ,
t = number of years, A = amount after t years.
Compound Interest Continuously: A = P e nt

Exponential Equality:
If b x = b y , then x = y where b > 0 and b �1.

Logarithms and Exponents: Conversion Equations

If b > 0 and x > 0, then
y = log b x if and only if x = b y. y = ln x if and only if e y = x.

Useful Logarithm Properties:

log b b = 1, because b1 = b ln e = 1, because e1 = e.
log b 1 = 0, because b 0 = 1 ln1 = 0, because e 0 = 1.
log b b x = x, because b x = b x ln e x = x, because e x = e x .
b log b x = x, for x > 0 e ln x = x, for x > 0.

Other Properties of Logarithms:

If x, y and b > 0, then If x and y > 0, then
a. log b ( x y ) = log b x + log b y a. ln ( x y ) = ln x + ln y
�x � �x �
b. log b � �= log b x - log b y b. ln � �= ln x - ln y
�y � �y �
c. log b ( x ) k = k log b x c. ln ( x ) k = k ln x

Properties of Natural Logarithms:

If x and y > 0, then
�x �
a. ln ( x y ) = ln x + ln y b. ln � �= ln x - ln y c. ln ( x ) k
= k ln x
�y �

The Natural log and e x :

ln e x = x, for all x and e ln x = x, for x > 0.

Change the base of a logarithm:

log10 a ln a
log b a = =
log10 b ln b

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Other Helpful Formulas for College Algebra:
�x, if x �0 �
Definition of Absolute Value: x = � �
� - x, if x < 0
Absolute Value Equations and Inequalities:
a. ax + b = c ( c > 0 ) is equivalent to : ax + b = c or ax + b = - c
b. ax + b < c ( c > 0 ) is equivalent to : - c < ax + b < c
c. ax + b > c ( c > 0 ) is equivalent to : ax + b > c or ax + b < - c

Cube of a Binomial:
( x + y ) 3= x 3+ 3x 2 y + 3x y 2 + y 3 ( x - y ) 3 = x 3 - 3x 2 y + 3x y 2 - y 3

Rational Function:
P ( x)
A rational function is one of the form f ( x ) =
Q ( x)
where P ( x ) and Q ( x ) are polynomials and Q ( x ) �0.

Factorization Formulas:
The Difference of Two Squares A2 - B 2 = ( A + B)( A - B)
The Sum of Two Squares A2 + B 2 = prime
The Difference of Two Cubes A3 - B 3 = ( A - B )( A2 + AB + B 2 )
The Sum of Two Cubes A3 + B 3 = ( A + B )( A2 - AB + B 2 )

Trinomial Squares – The Square of a Binomial

A2 + 2 AB + B 2 = ( A + B )( A + B ) = ( A + B) 2
A2 - 2 AB + B 2 = ( A - B)( A - B ) = ( A - B) 2

Vertical Asymptotes:
If Q ( a ) = 0 , but P ( a ) �0, then the graph of the rational function
P ( x)
f ( x) = has a vertical asymptote at x = a.
Q ( x)

Horizontal Asymptotes:
P ( x)
Suppose f ( x ) = is a rational function where the deg ree of P ( x ) is m
Q ( x)
and the deg ree of Q ( x ) is n.
a ) If m < n, the graph of f has a horizontal asymptote at y = 0.
a
b ) If m = n, the graph of f has a horizontal asymptoteat y = ,
b
where a is the lead coefficient of P ( x ) and b is the lead coefficient of Q ( x ) .
c ) If m > n, the graph of f does not have a horizontal asymptote.
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 Linear Systems of Equations:
Inconsistent – the system has NO SOLUTIONS (Contradiction)
Dependent – the system has INFINITELY OR MANY SOLUTIONS (Identity)
Consistent and Independent – the system has ONE SOLUTION (Conditional)

Linear Regression Analysis:

Scatterplot:
STAT, select 1. EDIT (enter in list 1 and list 2)
Go to Y= and press enter on STATPLOT #1 to turn ON.
WINDOW (set viewing window) or press Zoom #9
GRAPH

Find the Best Line Fit and Linear Regression Line:

STAT CALC #4 (finds regression eq.) and press enter once on the screen

To paste your answer onto Y= and graph line on scatterplot:

Go to Y1 = make sure is blank
VARS select #5, arrow to EQ, select #1 (pastes eq. in Y1)
GRAPH (graphs plot and line)
CALC #1 (evaluates for an input)

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