Comprehensive Study Guide: Algebra, Surds, Indices, Inequalities, and Modulus

Mathematical Tool Sheet: Squares, Cubes, and Roots

  • The following tables provide essential numerical references for rapid calculation.

  • Squares of Integers from 1 to 30:

    • 12=11^2 = 1

    • 22=42^2 = 4

    • 32=93^2 = 9

    • 42=164^2 = 16

    • 52=255^2 = 25

    • 62=366^2 = 36

    • 72=497^2 = 49

    • 82=648^2 = 64

    • 92=819^2 = 81

    • 102=10010^2 = 100

    • 112=12111^2 = 121

    • 122=14412^2 = 144

    • 132=16913^2 = 169

    • 142=19614^2 = 196

    • 152=22515^2 = 225

    • 162=25616^2 = 256

    • 172=28917^2 = 289

    • 182=32418^2 = 324

    • 192=36119^2 = 361

    • 202=40020^2 = 400

    • 212=44121^2 = 441

    • 222=48422^2 = 484

    • 232=52923^2 = 529

    • 242=57624^2 = 576

    • 252=62525^2 = 625

    • 262=67626^2 = 676

    • 272=72927^2 = 729

    • 282=78428^2 = 784

    • 292=84129^2 = 841

    • 302=90030^2 = 900

  • Cubes of Integers from 2 to 9:

    • 23=82^3 = 8

    • 33=273^3 = 27

    • 43=644^3 = 64

    • 53=1255^3 = 125

    • 63=2166^3 = 216

    • 73=3437^3 = 343

    • 83=5128^3 = 512

    • 93=7299^3 = 729

  • Fundamental Square Roots:

    • 21.41\sqrt{2} \approx 1.41

    • 31.73\sqrt{3} \approx 1.73

    • 52.23\sqrt{5} \approx 2.23

Fractions to Decimal Conversions

  • Halves and Quarters:

    • 12=0.5\frac{1}{2} = 0.5

    • 14=0.25\frac{1}{4} = 0.25

    • 24=0.5\frac{2}{4} = 0.5

    • 34=0.75\frac{3}{4} = 0.75

  • Thirds and Sixths:

    • 13=0.333\frac{1}{3} = 0.333

    • 23=0.667\frac{2}{3} = 0.667

    • 16=0.1667\frac{1}{6} = 0.1667

    • 26=0.3333\frac{2}{6} = 0.3333

    • 46=0.6667\frac{4}{6} = 0.6667

    • 56=0.8333\frac{5}{6} = 0.8333

  • Fifths:

    • 15=0.2\frac{1}{5} = 0.2

    • 25=0.4\frac{2}{5} = 0.4

    • 35=0.6\frac{3}{5} = 0.6

    • 45=0.8\frac{4}{5} = 0.8

  • Sevenths (Approximate values):

    • 170.143\frac{1}{7} \approx 0.143

    • 270.286\frac{2}{7} \approx 0.286

    • 370.429\frac{3}{7} \approx 0.429

    • 470.571\frac{4}{7} \approx 0.571

    • 570.714\frac{5}{7} \approx 0.714

    • 670.857\frac{6}{7} \approx 0.857

  • Eights:

    • 18=0.125\frac{1}{8} = 0.125

    • 28=0.25\frac{2}{8} = 0.25

    • 38=0.375\frac{3}{8} = 0.375

    • 48=0.5\frac{4}{8} = 0.5

    • 58=0.625\frac{5}{8} = 0.625

    • 68=0.75\frac{6}{8} = 0.75

    • 78=0.875\frac{7}{8} = 0.875

  • Ninths:

    • 19=0.1111\frac{1}{9} = 0.1111

    • 29=0.2222\frac{2}{9} = 0.2222

    • 39=0.3333\frac{3}{9} = 0.3333

    • 49=0.4444\frac{4}{9} = 0.4444

    • 59=0.5556\frac{5}{9} = 0.5556

    • 69=0.6667\frac{6}{9} = 0.6667

    • 79=0.7778\frac{7}{9} = 0.7778

    • 89=0.8889\frac{8}{9} = 0.8889

Algebraic Simplification and Fundamental Operations

  • Grouping Terms and Signed Numbers:

    • Example: (19181716)(20191817)(19 - 18 - 17 - 16) - (20 - 19 - 18 - 17). Simplified: (32)(34)=32+34=2(-32) - (-34) = -32 + 34 = 2.

  • Place Value and Expanded Form:

    • Example: (3×100)+(4×1)+(5×1,000)+(6×10)(3 \times 100) + (4 \times 1) + (5 \times 1,000) + (6 \times 10). Standard form calculation: 300+4+5000+60=5364300 + 4 + 5000 + 60 = 5364.

  • Factoring and Distributive Properties:

    • Identifying equivalent expressions: 456(72)+28(456)456(72) + 28(456) is equal to (456)(72+28)=456(100)=45,600(456)(72 + 28) = 456(100) = 45,600.

  • Division and Ratios:

    • Calculation of 3204÷160=20.0253204 \div 160 = 20.025.

    • Division of fractions: 512÷59=512×95=912=34\frac{5}{12} \div \frac{5}{9} = \frac{5}{12} \times \frac{9}{5} = \frac{9}{12} = \frac{3}{4}.

  • Evaluating Decimal Expressions:

    • Division of decimals: 0.7070.7=1.01\frac{0.707}{0.7} = 1.01.

    • Multiplication of decimals: 54.36×0.12=6.523254.36 \times 0.12 = 6.5232.

    • Addition of large numbers: 5661+7110+5011=177825661 + 7110 + 5011 = 17782.

    • Subtraction: 900,000640,001=259,999900,000 - 640,001 = 259,999.

Literal Equations and Solving for Specific Variables

  • Formula Rearrangement:

    • Solving z=5x25xyz = 5x - 25xy for xx:

      • z=x(525y)z = x(5 - 25y)

      • x=z525yx = \frac{z}{5 - 25y}

    • Solving distance formula d=(x2x1)2+(y2y1)2d = \sqrt{(x_2 - x_1)^2 + (y_2 - y_1)^2} for y2y_2:

      • d2=(x2x1)2+(y2y1)2d^2 = (x_2 - x_1)^2 + (y_2 - y_1)^2

      • d2(x2x1)2=(y2y1)2d^2 - (x_2 - x_1)^2 = (y_2 - y_1)^2

      • d2(x2x1)2=y2y1\sqrt{d^2 - (x_2 - x_1)^2} = y_2 - y_1

      • y2=d2(x2x1)2+y1y_2 = \sqrt{d^2 - (x_2 - x_1)^2} + y_1

    • Solving p=5bc2p = \frac{5b}{c^2} for cc:

      • Given p=9p = 9 and b=20b = 20

      • 9=5×20c29 = \frac{5 \times 20}{c^2}

      • 9=100c29c2=1009 = \frac{100}{c^2} \rightarrow 9c^2 = 100

      • c2=1009c=103c^2 = \frac{100}{9} \rightarrow c = \frac{10}{3}.

  • Bakery Business Scenario:

    • A bakery orders vanilla beans at $12.45\$12.45 per package of 10, with a flat shipping cost of $6.00\$6.00.

    • Let cc be the total cost and pp be the number of packages.

    • Equation: c=12.45p+6.00c = 12.45p + 6.00

    • Solved for pp: p=c612.45p = \frac{c - 6}{12.45}.

Algebraic Identities and Factoring

  • Standard Expansions:

    • Binomial Square (Sum): (a+b)2=a2+2ab+b2(a + b)^2 = a^2 + 2ab + b^2.

    • Binomial Square (Difference): (ab)2=a22ab+b2(a - b)^2 = a^2 - 2ab + b^2.

    • Difference of Squares: (a+b)(ab)=a2b2(a + b)(a - b) = a^2 - b^2.

  • Factoring Quadratics:

    • Factor x216x+64x^2 - 16x + 64: (x8)2(x - 8)^2.

    • Factor x22x15x^2 - 2x - 15: Solutions are x=5x = 5 and x=3x = -3.

    • Factor 4x2+4xy+y24x^2 + 4xy + y^2: (2x+y)2(2x + y)^2.

  • Evaluating Identities with Given Values:

    • If (pq)2=25(p - q)^2 = 25 and pq=14pq = 14, find (p+q)2(p + q)^2:

      • (p+q)2=(pq)2+4pq=25+4(14)=25+56=81(p + q)^2 = (p - q)^2 + 4pq = 25 + 4(14) = 25 + 56 = 81.

    • If (a+b)2=9(a + b)^2 = 9 and (ab)2=49(a - b)^2 = 49, find a2+b2a^2 + b^2:

      • (a+b)2+(ab)2=2(a2+b2)(a + b)^2 + (a - b)^2 = 2(a^2 + b^2)

      • 9+49=589 + 49 = 58

      • a2+b2=582=29a^2 + b^2 = \frac{58}{2} = 29.

  • Higher Power Factoring:

    • x425=(x25)(x2+5)x^4 - 25 = (x^2 - 5)(x^2 + 5).

    • (x+2)(x4+16)(x2)(x2+4)(x + 2)(x^4 + 16)(x - 2)(x^2 + 4). This represents a chain of difference of squares:

      1. (x+2)(x2)=x24(x + 2)(x - 2) = x^2 - 4

      2. (x24)(x2+4)=x416(x^2 - 4)(x^2 + 4) = x^4 - 16

      3. (x416)(x4+16)=x8256(x^4 - 16)(x^4 + 16) = x^8 - 256.

Surds and Indices

  • Laws of Exponents:

    • Multiplicative Law: p×q×p×q8=p2q9p \times q \times p \times q^8 = p^2 q^9.

    • Power of a Power: (x2y3)4=x8y12(x^2 y^3)^4 = x^8 y^{12}.

    • Division of Powers: x6y6x4y2=x2y4\frac{x^6 y^6}{x^4 y^2} = x^2 y^4.

    • Negative and Fractional Exponents: (0.04)1.5=(4100)32=(125)32=2532=(25)3=53=125(0.04)^{-1.5} = (\frac{4}{100})^{-\frac{3}{2}} = (\frac{1}{25})^{-\frac{3}{2}} = 25^{\frac{3}{2}} = (\sqrt{25})^3 = 5^3 = 125.

  • Properties of Surds Root Operations:

    • Multiplication: 18x×2x=36x2=6x\sqrt{18x} \times \sqrt{2x} = \sqrt{36x^2} = 6x.

    • Addition/Subtraction: 51623184985\sqrt{162} - 3\sqrt{18} - 4\sqrt{98}.

      • Simplify terms: 5(81×2)3(9×2)4(49×2)5(\sqrt{81 \times 2}) - 3(\sqrt{9 \times 2}) - 4(\sqrt{49 \times 2})

      • 5(92)3(32)4(72)5(9\sqrt{2}) - 3(3\sqrt{2}) - 4(7\sqrt{2})

      • 45292282=8245\sqrt{2} - 9\sqrt{2} - 28\sqrt{2} = 8\sqrt{2}.

    • Sum of radicals: 12+27=23+33=53\sqrt{12} + \sqrt{27} = 2\sqrt{3} + 3\sqrt{3} = 5\sqrt{3}.

    • Square of binomial surds: (38)2=(3)2238+(8)2=3224+8=112(26)=1146(\sqrt{3} - \sqrt{8})^2 = (\sqrt{3})^2 - 2\sqrt{3}\sqrt{8} + (\sqrt{8})^2 = 3 - 2\sqrt{24} + 8 = 11 - 2(2\sqrt{6}) = 11 - 4\sqrt{6}.

  • Complex Radical Equations:

    • Solving 8x+7=3x+178\sqrt{x + 7} = 3\sqrt{x + 17}:

      • 64(x+7)=9(x+17)64(x + 7) = 9(x + 17)

      • 64x+448=9x+15364x + 448 = 9x + 153

      • 55x=29555x = -295

      • x=29555=5911x = -\frac{295}{55} = -\frac{59}{11}.

Inequalities

  • Linear Inequalities:

    • Example 1: 2x - 5 < 5 \rightarrow 2x < 10 \rightarrow x < 5.

    • Example 2: -4x - 12 < 15 \rightarrow -4x < 27 \rightarrow x > -\frac{27}{4}.

    • Example 3: 10 - 3x < 2x - 5 \rightarrow 15 < 5x \rightarrow 3 < x \text{ or } x > 3.

  • Compound Inequalities:

    • Solve -3 < 2x + 5 < 9:

      • -8 < 2x < 4

      • -4 < x < 2.

  • Quadratic Inequalities:

    • Solve x^2 - 36 > 0

      • (x - 6)(x + 6) > 0

      • Possible values: x < -6 or x > 6.

    • Solve 5x + x^2 + 6 < 0

      • (x + 3)(x + 2) < 0

      • Solution: -3 < x < -2.

  • Integer Solutions:

    • Find the largest integer pp for 4 + 3p < p + 1:

      • 2p < -3 \rightarrow p < -1.5

      • Largest integer is 2-2.

Absolute Value (Modulus)

  • Fundamental Modulus Equations:

    • Solve 3x11=8|3x - 11| = 8:

      • 3x11=83x=19x=1933x - 11 = 8 \rightarrow 3x = 19 \rightarrow x = \frac{19}{3}

      • 3x11=83x=3x=13x - 11 = -8 \rightarrow 3x = 3 \rightarrow x = 1.

    • Solve x2=2x+1|x - 2| = |2x + 1|:

      • Case 1: x2=2x+13=xx - 2 = 2x + 1 \rightarrow -3 = x

      • Case 2: x2=(2x+1)x2=2x13x=1x=13x - 2 = -(2x + 1) \rightarrow x - 2 = -2x - 1 \rightarrow 3x = 1 \rightarrow x = \frac{1}{3}.

  • Modulus Inequalities:

    • Solve |1 - 2x| < 7:

      • -7 < 1 - 2x < 7

      • -8 < -2x < 6

      • Divide by 2-2 (flip inequality): 4 > x > -3. Range: -3 < x < 4.

    • Solve for constant range: High-temperature control in a greenhouse.

      • Temperature FF does not vary from 7979^{\circ} by more than 77^{\circ}.

      • Inequality: F797|F - 79| \leq 7.

  • Geometric Application of Modulus:

    • The area bounded by the relation x+y=4|x| + |y| = 4:

      • This forms a square with vertices at (4,0),(0,4),(4,0), and (0,4)(4,0), (0,4), (-4,0), \text{ and } (0,-4).

      • Side length s=42+42=32s = \sqrt{4^2 + 4^2} = \sqrt{32}.

      • Area = s2=32s^2 = 32.