Algebra Flashcards
When to use –> and for an example see 2008 4ii
Spot when we have an identity rather than an equality so compare coefficients
d = a^x * b^y * c^z therefore d has how many factors:
(x+1)(y+1)(z+1)
(A+1)(B+1) =
AB + A + B + 1
(A+B)(A+B) =
A^2 + 2AB + B^2
(A-B)(B-C)(C-A) =
A^2 + B^2 + C^2 - AB - AC - CA
Arithmetic mean > geometric mean
0.5(x+y) > root(xy)
k/k-k/k-k/k-k/k… therefore
x = k/k-x
Finding solutions
factorise, reason about the graph, consider the discriminant
99^2 =
100-1)^2 = 100^ - 200 +1
Divide by x^2 +3x + 2 means
F(-2) = F(-1)
Identity allows us to
compare coefficients rather than equality
With limits, constants…
become inconsequential
a^2 + b^2 = 1
a is greatest when b = 0
For a quadratic to have maximum value,
the x^2 coeffecient must be negative
a^x > cb^y –>
find counterexamples, use logs
Complete the square
maximum when leading coefficient is -ve
Use algebra to show things…:
(x-y)^2
Dividing by algebra
think of factor theorem or subbing in values
When finding powers, check if coefficients cancel
Compare coefficients
x^3 - x^2 - x + 1 = 0 –>
x^2(x-1)-1(x-1) = (x^2 - 1)(x-1)
Max/min –>
complete the square
a^4 - a^2 =
(a+1)(a-1)(a^2 + 1)
x^3 + 6yx^2 + 12xy^2 + 8y^3 =
(x+2y)^3
Don’t have fractions in equations of lines i.e. 1/a as
prevents a from equaling 0