A2 Reference Sheet

Number Sets

Quadratic Functions
3 Forms
Form
Equation
2
Standard Form

y = ax + bx + c

Vertex Form

The x-coordinate of the vertex is

The axis of symmetry is

y = a ( x h) + k

The vertex is

y = a ( x p) ( x q )

The x-intercepts are

The x-coordinate of the vertex is the average of the x-intercepts.

Intercept Form

x = b

x = b

2a

2a

(h, k )
x = p and x = q .

Graphing Quadratics plot the vertex and two other points, one to the left and one to the right of the vertex.
Parent Function:

y = x2

y = ax 2 + bx + c , a > 0

y = ax 2 + bx + c , a < 0

MINIMUM value at the vertex

MAXIMUM value at the vertex

Complex Numbers: a + bi ( standard form)

Rationalizing with Complex Numbers
Imaginary
3+ i
Numbers:
Ex:

1 = i
Powers of i

i1 = i
i 2 = 1
i 3 = i
i4 = 1

7i

*MULTIPLY the numerator and denominator by

i
3+ i i

7i i
3i + i 2
7i 2
3i 1
7
1 3
i
7 7

Ex:

3+ i
7i

*MULTIPLY the numerator and denominator by

the conjugate of the denominator, 7 + i
3+ i 7 + i

7i 7+i
21+10i + i 2
49 i 2
21+10i 1
49 +1
20 +10i
50
2 1
+ i
5 5

Completing the Square

Use completing the square to
Rewrite a quadratic function from
standard form to vertex form.

To complete the
square:

! b $
# &
" 2a %

Solve quadratic equations in standard

form.

y = 2x 2 +12x +10

x 2 4x + 5 = 0

y = 2 ( x 2 + 6x ____ ) ____+10

(x
(x

y = 2 ( x + 6x + 9 ) 18 +10
2

4x ____ ) ____+ 5 = 0

4x + 4) 4 + 5 = 0

y = 2 ( x + 3) 8

( x 2) +1 = 0
2
( x 2) = 1
( x 2)

= 1

x2 =i
x 2 = i
x = 2i
4 Methods to Solve Quadratic Equations
Factoring Use when

Square Roots - Use when

Completing the Square

Use when

ax 2 + bx + c = 0 and ac

ax 2 + c = 0 or
2
a ( x h) + k = 0

(*Convenient when

has a set of factors that

sum to b

ax 2 + bx + c = 0

even)

b
is
a

Quadratic Formula
2

Use when ax + bx + c = 0
(*Convenient when a, b, c
are small.)

x=

b b 2 4ac
2a

The discriminant: b 4ac

*Use the discriminant to determine the number and type of roots(solutions) of a quadratic equation.
If

b 2 4ac > 0 ,
Number of Solutions: 2 distinct
Type of Solutions: real
2

The graph of y = ax
has two x-intercepts.

Factoring

+ bx + c

If

b 2 4ac = 0 ,
Number of Solutions: 1 repeated
Type of Solutions: real
The graph of y = ax
has one x-intercept.

+ bx + c

If

b 2 4ac < 0 ,
Number of Solutions: 2 distinct
Type of Solutions: imaginary
2

The graph of y = ax
has NO x-intercepts.

+ bx + c

Polynomial Functions
Exponent Properties

End Behavior

Finding Zeros Using The Rational Zero Theorem

Rational Exponents and Radical Functions

Rational Exponents
n

ex: Evaluate.

5/2

( 4)

Simplifying Roots

a m = a m/n

= ( 2 ) = 32

(easiest to take the root first!)

Rule
When n is
odd
When n is
even

Example

xn = x

64x 3 y 5 = 4xy 3 y 2

xn = x

32xy 4 x 8 = 2x 2 y 4 2x

ex: Simplify.
a)

3
5

b)

135 = 3 27 5 = 3 3 5
5

(look for perfect powers)

2
2
3
54
=

=
5
3
9 5 32 5 33

Function Operations
Operation
Definition
Addition
f +g x

Example: f ( x ) = x 2 3 , g ( x ) = x + 2

( f + g) ( x ) = x 2 3+ x + 2 = x 2 + x 1
( f g) ( x ) = x 2 3 ( x + 2) = x 2 x 5

(
) ( ) = f ( x) + g ( x)
( f g) ( x ) = f ( x ) g ( x )
( fg) ( x ) = f ( x ) g ( x )

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

Division

!f$
f ( x)
# &( x) =
g ( x)
"g%

!f$
x2 3
# &( x) =
x+2
"g%

Compositions

( f ! g ) ( x ) = f ( g ( x ))
( g ! f ) ( x ) = g ( f ( x ))

( f ! g) ( x ) = f ( x + 2) = ( x + 2) 3 = x 2 + 4x +1
( g ! f ) ( x ) = g ( x 2 3) = x 2 3+ 2 = x 2 1

Subtraction
Multiplication

Inverse Functions
Properties of Inverse Functions
If

f ( x ) and g ( x ) are inverse functions then

( f ! g) ( x ) = x AND ( g ! f ) ( x ) = x
The graphs of f ( x ) and g ( x ) are reflections

y=x
The domain of f ( x ) is the range of g ( x ) .

The range of

If

about the line

f ( x)

f ( x ) is the domain of g ( x ) .

contains the point (a, b) then g

( x)

To find an Inverse:
Ex:

contains

f ( x) = x3 + 4

the point (b, a)

1. switch x and y

x = y3 + 4

2. solve for y

y= 3 x4

f 1 ( x ) = 3 x 4

3. label appropriately

Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

Exponential Functions: y = ab
b is the growth/decay factor
If 0 < b < 1 , then
decay.

!1$
Ex: y = 2 # &
"4%

( a 0 ,b > 0,

b 1)

y = ab x represents exponential

If b > 1 , then
growth.

" 5%
Ex: y = $ '
#2&

x2

= 27

2 x2

(3 )

2 x5

= (33 )

Cant make the bases equal

25
2 x5

*notice the right side of the graph MOVES AWAY from the
asymptote

*notice the right side of the graph APPROACHES the

asymptote

Solving Exponential Equations

Cases Make the bases equal

y = ab x represents exponential

x+4

9 = 3

5 x+4 = 3

32 x4 = 36 x15
2x 4 = 6x 16
12 = 4x

log 5 ( 5 x+4 ) = log 5 (3)

x=3

x = 3.318

Quadratic Form

32 x + 3x 12 = 0
x 2

(3 )

+ 3x 12 = 0

Let u=3x

x + 4 = log 5 3

u 2 + u 12 = 0

x = 4 + log 5 3

(u 3) (u 4) = 0
u = 3, u = 4
3x = 3, 3x 4
x =1

Logarithm Properties

Solving Logarithmic Equations

*Goal ONE term on each side

*CHECK FOR EXTRANEOUS SOLUTIONS

3ln ( x 4) + 2 = 4

log 2x + log ( x 5) = log (100 )

ln ( x 4) = 2

log ( 2x 2 10x ) = log (100 )

ln( x4)

= e2

x4=e

10

log 2 x 2 10 x

) = 10 log(100)

2x 2 10x = 100

x = 4+e
x = 4.135

2x 2 10x 100 = 0
x 2 5x 50 = 0

( x 10) ( x + 5) = 0
x = 10, x = 5
x = 5 is extraneous, the answer is x = 10
Compound Interest
Interest Compounded n times per year
A is the final amount
P is the initial amount
nt
r is the interest rate, in decimal
! r$
form
A = P #1+ &
" n%
t is the time in years
n is the number of times the
interest is compounded per year

Interest Compounded Continuously

A = Pert

A is the final amount

P is the initial amount
r is the interest rate, in decimal
form
t is the time in years

Domain Restrictions
Fractions:

y=

f ( x)
g ( x)

x2 + 9
, { x x 2}
x2
x2
Ex: y = 2
, { x x R}
x +9
Ex:

Domain:

{ x g ( x ) 0}

y=

Even Roots:

y = n f ( x ),
n is even

Domain:

{ x f ( x ) 0}

Ex:

y = 2 x + 7 3 , { x x 7}

Logarithms:

y = log b ( f ( x ))

Domain:

{ x f ( x ) > 0}

Ex:

y = 2 ln x + 4 , { x x > 0}