Algebra: PROPERTIES

ASSOCIATIVE Grouping

Hint: You associate with different groups

Works with addition and multiplication,

not with subtraction or division
 ASSOCIATIVE Grouping

(a + b) + c = a + (b + c)
(a * b) * c = a * (b * c)

1. real numbers 2. algebraic expressions

(2 + 3) + 6 = 2 + (3 + 6) ( 3 x + 2 x) + x = 3 x + (2 x + x)

(7 * 3) * 10 = 7 * (3 * 10) (2 x * 5 x) * x = 2 x * (5 x * x)

COMMUTATIVE Ordering

Hint: Since Commutative has an O in it,

think of Order.

Works with addition and multiplication,

not with subtraction or division
COMMUTATIVE Ordering
a+b=b+a
a*b=b*a

1. real numbers 2. algebraic expressions

2+3=3+2 2x+x=x+2x

5*7=7*5 (3 x - 2) * x = x * (3 x - 2)

DISTRIBUTIVE

Hint: Distributing or Pushing

through Parentheses

When negatives are on the outside of the

parenthesis, make sure you distribute the
negatives to the second number too.

Remember that multiplying two negatives

results in a positive.
 DISTRIBUTIVE
a * (b + c) = a * b + a * c
(a + b) * c = a * c + b * c

1. real numbers 2. algebraic expressions

2 * (2 + 8) = 2 * 2 + 2 * 8 x * (4 x + x) = x * 4 x + x * x

(2 + 8) * 10 = 2 * 10 + 8 * 10 (4 x + x) 2 x = 4 x * x 2 + x * 2 x

ADDITIVE IDENTITY

The additive identitiy is 0.

This means that you can add 0 to any number... and

it keeps its identity! The number stays the same.

a+0=a
3x+0=3x
MULTIPLICATIVE IDENTITY

The multiplicative identity is 1.

This means that you can multiply 1 to any number...

and it keeps its identity! The number stays the same.

a*1=1*a=a
11 x * 1 = 11 x

MULTIPLICATIVE INVERSE

A multiplicative inverse is a reciprocal.

What is a reciprocal?
A reciprocal is one of a pair of numbers that
when multiplied with another number equals the
number 1.
 ADDITIVE INVERSE

The additive inverse of a number a is the number

that, when added to a, yields zero.

This number is also known as the opposite, sign

change, and negation.

a + (-a) = 0
20 x + (-20 x) = 0

MULTIPLICATIVE INVERSE
a * 1/a = 1
3 xy * 1/ 3xy = 1

1. real numbers 2. algebraic expressions

15 * 1/15 = 1 x * 1/x = 1

78 * 1/78 = 1 25 xyz * 1/25xyz = 1

 EXPONENTS AND
SQUARE ROOTS

2
Exponent
Power
Exponential
5
Expression Base

Base: The number that is repeatedly multiplied.

Exponent: A symbol written to the upper right of a
base number that indicates how many times to use
the base as a factor.
Evaluate: Find the value.

25 2 2 2 2 2 32
 Base Exponent Evaluate

32 3 2 9
Opposite of
32 3 2 9
Parentheses are
important!! 32 3 2 9

23 2 3 8
23 2 3 8
No difference
23 2 3 8
Watch for negative numbers raised to an EVEN power!!!

3
3 3 3 3 27

5 5 5 5 125
 Add Subtract
Multiply Divide
Powers Roots

The Invisible Exponent

When an expression does not have a visible exponent its
exponent is understood to be 1.

x x 1
 Exponent Rule #1

nm
b b
n m
b
2 4
x x x
2 4
x6
2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 2 23 8

Exponent Rule #1
bn bm b n m

3 7
h3 h7 h h 10

3 2 3 3 2 1 3 3
3 3 3 27
 Exponent Rule #2

bn nm
bm

b
x4 4 2
2
x x 2

Exponent Rule #2
bn nm
bm
b
Try it on your own:
h6
2
h 62
h 4
h
33
3 3
31 2
9
3
Exponent Rule #3

n m nm
(b ) b
(x2 )4 x24 x8
(22 )2 222 2 4 16

Exponent Rule #3
(b n ) m b nm

(h 3 ) 2 h 32 h 6

(32)2 322 34 81
 When using this rule the exponent can not be brought in the
parenthesis if there is addition or subtraction

( x 2 22 ) 2 x4 24

Exponent Rule #4

( ab ) m a m b m

(xy) 2 x2 y2
(25)2 2 2 5 2 4 25 100
 Exponent Rule #4
(ab) m ambm

(hk)3 h 3 k 3
(23)2 22 32 4 9 36

Note
This rule is for products only. When using this rule the
exponent can not be brought in the parenthesis if there is
addition or subtraction.

( x 2) 2
x 2 2 2
Exponent Rule #5

m
a
m
a

b bm
3
x x3

y y3

Exponent Rule #5
a
m
am

b bm
2 2
h

h

k k2
2
4 4 2 16
2
2 2 4 4
Zero Exponent

a0 1
x 1
0

25 0 1

Zero Exponent

a 1
0

h0 1
1000 0 1
00 undefined
Negative Exponents
n 1
b
bn
2
1
x x2
2
1 1
3 32
9

Negative Exponents
n 1
b bn
3 1
h h3
2 3 1

1
23 8
 Negative Exponents

1 b
2

2 b
2
b 1
2 2x2
2 2x2
x 1

Radical Expressions
Finding a root of a number is the inverse operation of raising
a number to a power.
radical sign
index
n radicand
a

This symbol is the radical or the radical sign

The expression under the radical sign is the radicand.

The index defines the root to be taken.
 Order of Operations

Also roots
Left to right!!!

Parentheses = Grouping Symbols Grouping Symbols???

2 3 No
( ) [ ]
23 4 Yes

Square Roots
A square root of any positive number has two roots one is
positive and the other is negative.

If a is a positive number, then

a is the positive square root of a and

a is the negative square root of a.

Examples:
100 10 36 6 1 1
25 5
0.81 0.9 9 non-real #
49 7
 Cube Roots
3
a
A cube root of any positive number is positive.
A cube root of any negative number is negative.

Examples:
3
27 3 3
8 2 125 5
3
64 4
3
27 3 3
8 2

nth Roots
An nth root of any number a is a number whose nth power is a.

Examples:

34 81 4
81 3

24 16 4
16 2

2
5
32 5
32 2
 Simplifying Radicals
Simplifying Radicals using the Product Rule
Product Rule for Square Roots
If a and b are real numbers, then a b a b
Examples:

40 4 10 4 10 2 10

18 9 2 9 2 3 2

700 100 7 10 7

7 75 7 25 3 7 5 3 35 3

Simplifying Radicals
Simplifying Radicals using the Quotient Rule
Quotient Rule for Square Roots
a a
If a and b are real numbers and b 0, then
b b
Examples:
16 16 4 2 2 2

81 81 9 25 25 5

45 45 95 3 5

49 49 7 7
 Simplifying Radicals
Simplifying Radicals Containing Variables
Examples:
x11 x10 x x5 x

18x 4 9 2x 4 3 x 2 2

27 27 93 3 3

x8 x8 x8 x4

7 y7 7 y7 7 y6 y y3 7 y

25 25 25 5

Simplifying Radicals
Simplifying Cube Roots
Examples:
3
88 3
8 11 2 3 11

3
50 3
50

3 3
10 10 10
3
27 3
27 3

81 3
81 3
27 3 33 3
3
8 3
8 2 2
 POLYNOMIALS

Vocabulary
Monomials - a number, a variable, or a product of a
number and one or more variables. 4x, 20x2yw3, -3,
a2b3, and 3yz are all monomials.
Binomials - A polynomial with 2 unlike terms.
Trinomials - A polynomial with 3 unlike terms
Polynomials one or more monomials added or
subtracted
4x + 6x2, 20xy - 4, and 3a2 - 5a + 4 are all polynomials

Important Note!!
An expression is not a polynomial if there is a variable
in the denominator.
 Classifying Polynomials

Polynomial Polynomial Classify

Degree Polynomial
Terms
6 0 Mononomial
-2x 1 Mononomial
3x+1 1 Binomial
-x2+2x-5 2 Trinomial
4x3-8x 3 Binomial
2x4-7x3-5x+1 4 Polynomial
5 /2y + 5y 3 Not polynomial

Degree: the degree of a polynomial

is the largest degree of its terms.

Standard form: terms are

written in descending order from
the largest to the smallest degree.

Coefficient: the integer in front of the

variable. How many you have of each
variable. If no number, you have one.
Put this in standard form.
-4x2 + 3x3 + 2
3x3 4x2 + 2
Name the coefficients and degree.

2x3 + (-1)x2 + 5 Coefficients: 2, -1

Degree: 3

-5x2 + 10x - 3Coefficients: -5,

10
Degree: 2

Like Terms
Like Terms refers to monomials that have the same
variable(s) but may have different coefficients. The
variables in the terms must have the same powers.

Which terms are like? 3a2b, 4ab2, 3ab, -5ab2

4ab2 and -5ab2 are like.

Even though the others have the same variables, the

exponents are not the same.
3a2b = 3aab, which is different from 4ab2 = 4abb.
 Like Terms

Constants are like terms.

Which terms are like? 2x, -3, 5b, 0

-3 and 0 are like.

Which terms are like? 3x, 2x2, 4, x

3x and x are like.

Which terms are like? 2wx, w, 3x, 4xw

2wx and 4xw are like.

A polynomial is normally put in ascending or

descending order.

What is ascending order?

Going from small to big exponents.
What is descending order?
Going from big to small exponents.
Put in descending order:

1) 8x - 3x2 + x4 - 4
x4 - 3x2 + 8x - 4
2) Put in descending order in terms of x:
12x2y3 - 6x3y2 + 3y - 2x
-6x3y2 + 12x2y3 - 2x + 3y

3) Put in ascending order in terms of y:

12x2y3 - 6x3y2 + 3y - 2x
-2x + 3y - 6x3y2 + 12x2y3
4) Put in ascending order:
5a3 - 3 + 2a - a2
-3 + 2a - a2 + 5a3
 Adding Polynomials
Add: (x2 + 3x + 1) + (4x2 +5)

Step 1: Underline like terms:

(x2 + 3x + 1) + (4x2 +5)

Notice: 3x doesnt have a like term.

Step 2: Add the coefficients of like terms, do not change the powers of the
variables:

(x2 + 4x2) + 3x + (1 + 5)

5x2 + 3x + 6

Adding Polynomials
Some people prefer to add polynomials by stacking them. If you choose to do
this, be sure to line up the like terms!

(x2 + 3x + 1)
(x2 + 3x + 1) + (4x2 +5) + (4x2 +5)

5x2 + 3x + 6

Stack and add these polynomials: (2a2+3ab+4b2) + (7a2+ab+-2b2)

(2a2 + 3ab + 4b2)

(2a2+3ab+4b2) + (7a2+ab+-2b2) + (7a2 + ab + -2b2)

9a2 + 4ab + 2b2

 Adding Polynomials
Add the following polynomials; you may stack them if you
prefer:

1) 3x 7x 3x 4x 6x 3 3x
3 3

2) 2w2 w 5 4w 2 7w 1 6w 2 8w 4

3) 2a 3 3a 2 5a a3 4a 3 3a3 3a 2 9a 3

Subtracting Polynomials
Subtract: (3x2 + 2x + 7) - (x2 + x + 4)

Step 1: Change subtraction to addition (Keep-Change-Change.).

(3x2 + 2x + 7) + (- x2 + - x + - 4)

Step 2: Underline OR line up the like terms and add.

(3x2 + 2x + 7)
+ (- x2 + - x + - 4)

2x2 + x + 3
 Subtracting Polynomials
Subtract the following polynomials by changing to addition
(Keep-Change-Change.), then add:

1) x x 4 3x 4x 1 2x 3x 5
2 2 2

2) 9y 2 3y 1 2y 2 y 9 7y 2 4y 10

3) 2g 2 g 9 g 3 3g 2 3 g3 g 2 g 12

Multiplying a Polynomial by a monomial

Multiply: 3xy (2x + y)

Step 1: Distribute the monomial to each term in the polynomial.

(3xy 2x) + (3xy y)

Step 2: Add the coefficients of like terms, do not change the powers of the
variables:

(3xy 2x) + (3xy y)

6x2y + 3xy2
 Multiplying a Polynomial by a polynomial

It is also advantageous to multiply polynomials without rewriting them in a vertical format.

Though the format does not change, we must still distribute each term of one polynomial to each term of the other
polynomial.

Each term in (x+2) is distributed to each term in (x 5).

Multiply: (x + 2)(x 5)

Multiplying a Polynomial by a polynomial

Multiply the First terms.

O
Multiply the Outside terms.
F

(x + 2)(x 5) Multiply the Inside terms.

Multiply the Last terms.

I

L After you multiply, collect like terms.

This pattern for multiplying polynomials is called FOIL.

 Multiplying a Polynomial by a polynomial

Example: (x + 6)(x - 5)

x2 - 5x + 6x -30

x2 + x - 30

Dividing Polynomials

Long division of polynomials is similar to long division of

whole numbers.

When you divide two polynomials you can check the answer
using the following:

dividend = (quotient divisor) + remainder

The result is written in the form:

remainder
dividend divisor quotient +
divisor
Example: Divide x2 + 3x 2 by x 1 and check the answer.
x2
x + 2 1. x x 2 x
x
x 1 x 3x
2
2 2. x( x 1) x 2 x
x2 + x
3. ( x 2 3 x) ( x 2 x) 2 x
2x 2
2x +2 2x
4. x 2 x 2
x
4
5. 2( x 1) 2 x 2
remainder
6. (2 x 2) (2 x 2) 4
4
Answer: x + 2 +
x 1
Check: (x + 2) (x + 1) + ( 4) = x2 + 3x 2 correct
quotient divisor remainder dividend

Example: Divide 4x + 2x3 1 by 2x 2 and check the answer.

x2 + x + 3
Write the terms of the dividend in
2 x 2 2 x3 0 x 2 4 x 1
descending order.
2x3 2x2 Since there is no x2 term in the
2x2 + 4x dividend, add 0x2 as a placeholder.
2x2 2x 1.
2 x3
x2 2. x 2 (2 x 2) 2 x 3 2 x 2
2x
6x 1 2x2
6x 6 3. 2 x 3 (2 x 3 2 x 2 ) 2 x 2 4. x
2x
5 5. x(2 x 2) 2 x 2 2 x
5 6. (2 x 2 4 x) (2 x 2 2 x) 6 x
Answer: x2 + x + 3
2x 2 7.
6x
3 8. 3(2 x 2) 6 x 6
2x
Check: (x2 + x + 3)(2x 2) + 5 9. (6 x 1) (6 x 6) 5 remainder
= 4x + 2x3 1
Example: Divide x2 5x + 6 by x 2.

x 3
x 2 x 5x
2
6
x2 2x
3x +6
3x +6
0

Answer: x 3 with no remainder.

Check: (x 2)(x 3) = x2 5x + 6