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Here’s a concise set of notes on key concepts in algebra:
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### **Algebra Notes**
#### **1. Basics of Algebra**
- **Definition**: Algebra is a branch of mathematics dealing with symbols and the
rules for manipulating those symbols. It involves solving equations and
understanding functions and relationships.
- **Variables**: Symbols (like \( x \) or \( y \)) that represent unknown values.
- **Constants**: Fixed values (like 5 or -3).
- **Expressions**: Combinations of variables, constants, and operators (e.g., \( 3x
+ 2 \)).
- **Equations**: Mathematical statements that assert the equality of two
expressions (e.g., \( 2x + 3 = 7 \)).
#### **2. Fundamental Operations**
- **Addition/Subtraction**: Combine or remove quantities.
- Example: \( 3x + 5 - 2x = x + 5 \)
- **Multiplication/Division**: Scale or partition quantities.
- Example: \( 4(x + 2) = 4x + 8 \)
- Example: \( \frac{6x}{3} = 2x \)
#### **3. Solving Linear Equations**
- **One-Step Equations**: Solve for the variable by performing inverse operations.
- Example: \( x + 5 = 12 \) ⇒ \( x = 12 - 5 \) ⇒ \( x = 7 \)
- **Two-Step Equations**: Isolate the variable by undoing operations in reverse
order.
- Example: \( 2x + 3 = 11 \) ⇒ \( 2x = 11 - 3 \) ⇒ \( 2x = 8 \) ⇒ \( x = 4 \)
#### **4. Working with Inequalities**
- **Definition**: Statements that compare expressions (e.g., \( x > 3 \), \( x \leq
5 \)).
- **Solving**: Use similar steps to solving equations but reverse the inequality
sign when multiplying or dividing by a negative number.
- Example: \( -2x > 6 \) ⇒ \( x < -3 \)
#### **5. Systems of Equations**
- **Definition**: A set of equations with the same variables.
- **Solving Methods**:
- **Substitution**: Solve one equation for one variable and substitute into the
other.
- Example: \( x = 2y \) and \( x + y = 10 \)
- **Elimination**: Add or subtract equations to eliminate one variable.
- Example: \( x + y = 10 \) and \( x - y = 2 \)
- **Graphical Method**: Graph both equations and find their intersection point.
#### **6. Polynomials**
- **Definition**: Expressions with multiple terms separated by plus or minus signs
(e.g., \( 3x^2 - 2x + 4 \)).
- **Degree**: The highest power of the variable.
- **Addition/Subtraction**: Combine like terms.
- Example: \( (3x^2 + 2x) + (x^2 - 3x) = 4x^2 - x \)
- **Multiplication**: Use distributive property (FOIL for binomials).
- Example: \( (x + 2)(x - 3) = x^2 - 3x + 2x - 6 = x^2 - x - 6 \)
#### **7. Factoring Polynomials**
- **Common Factor**: Factor out the greatest common divisor.
- Example: \( 6x^2 + 9x = 3x(2x + 3) \)
- **Quadratic Factoring**: Factor quadratics into binomials.
- Example: \( x^2 - 5x + 6 = (x - 2)(x - 3) \)
- **Difference of Squares**: \( a^2 - b^2 = (a - b)(a + b) \)
- Example: \( x^2 - 9 = (x - 3)(x + 3) \)
#### **8. Rational Expressions**
- **Definition**: Ratios of polynomials (e.g., \( \frac{x^2 - 1}{x + 1} \)).
- **Simplification**: Factor numerator and denominator and cancel common factors.
- Example: \( \frac{x^2 - 4}{x - 2} = \frac{(x - 2)(x + 2)}{x - 2} = x + 2 \)
(for \( x \neq 2 \))
#### **9. Functions**
- **Definition**: A relation where each input has exactly one output.
- **Notation**: \( f(x) \) denotes the function value at \( x \).
- Example: \( f(x) = 2x + 3 \)
- **Domain and Range**:
- **Domain**: All possible input values.
- **Range**: All possible output values.
#### **10. Quadratic Equations**
- **Standard Form**: \( ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \)
- **Solutions**: Use factoring, completing the square, or the quadratic formula:
- **Quadratic Formula**: \( x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} \)
- Example: For \( x^2 - 4x - 5 = 0 \), the solutions are \( x = 5 \) and \( x = -
1 \).
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These notes provide a foundational overview of algebraic concepts and methods. For
more detailed study, you may want to explore each topic with examples and practice
problems.
