Foundations of Algebra and Functions
1. **Algebraic Expressions**
- An expression is a combination of variables, numbers, and operations.
- Example: 3x + 2, 4(a - b)
2. **Equations and Inequalities**
- Equation: a statement that two expressions are equal (e.g., 2x + 3 = 7)
- Inequality: compares two expressions using >, <, >=, or <=
3. **Linear Functions**
- General form: y = mx + b
- m is the slope (rate of change)
- b is the y-intercept (where the line crosses the y-axis)
4. **Quadratic Functions**
- General form: y = ax^2 + bx + c
- Parabola opens up if a > 0, down if a < 0
- Vertex: the maximum or minimum point of the parabola
5. **Factoring**
- Factoring helps solve quadratic equations:
- Example: x^2 + 5x + 6 = (x + 2)(x + 3)
6. **Function Notation**
- f(x) represents the output when x is input into function f.
- Example: if f(x) = 2x + 1, then f(3) = 2(3) + 1 = 7
7. **Systems of Equations**
- Two or more equations solved together.
- Methods: substitution, elimination, or graphing
8. **Exponents and Powers**
- Rules:
- a^m * a^n = a^(m+n)
- (a^m)^n = a^(mn)
- a^0 = 1 (a != 0)
These foundational concepts form the basis for solving more complex problems in algebra and
pre-calculus.
