Section 1.

1 – Graphs
Learning Outcomes: Plot points and solutions sets of equations

Cartesian coordinate system

Every point in the coordinate system corresponds to an

ordered pair of real numbers:
(𝑥, 𝑦)

Example 1: Plot the points:

𝐴(2, 7), 𝐵(−3, −5), 𝐶(5, 0), 𝐷(0, −8)

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What about 𝐸 ( , −6) ?
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Graphs of Equations

Example 2: Graph 𝑦 = 4 − 𝑥 2 by the point-plotting method.

𝒙 𝒚 = 𝟒 − 𝒙𝟐 (𝒙, 𝒚)

Example 3: Graph 𝑦 = |𝑥 + 1| by plotting points.

𝒙 𝒚 = |𝒙 + 𝟏| (𝒙, 𝒚)

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Intercepts
An x-intercept of a graph is the x-coordinate of a point where the graph intersects the x-axis.
The y-coordinate corresponding to an x-intercept is always _______________.

A y-intercept of a graph is the y-coordinate of a point where the graph intersects the y-axis.
The x-coordinate corresponding to a y-intercept is always ________________.

Example 4: Identify any 𝑥- and 𝑦-intercepts in the following graphs.

Question to think about...Can a graph have multiple 𝑥-intercepts? multiple 𝑦-intercepts? How about none of each?

Interpret Information Given by Graphs Divorce rates are considerably higher for couples who marry in their teens. The line graphs
show the percentages of marriages ending in divorce based on the wife’s age at marriage.

A. Use the appropriate formula to determine the percentage of marriages ending

in divorce after 10 years when the wife is over 25 at the time of marriage.

B. Use the appropriate line graph to determine the percentage of marriages ending in divorce after 10 years when the wife is over 25
at the time of marriage.

C. Does the value given by the mathematical model underestimate or overestimate the actual percentage of marriages ending in
divorce after 10 years as shown by the graph? By how much?

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Section 1.2 – Linear and Rational Equations
Learning Outcomes: Solve linear and rational equations

Linear Equations: can be written in the form _______________________________ where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are real numbers and 𝑎 ≠ 0.

Example 1 Solve the following equations.

a) 4𝑥 + 5 = 29 b) 2(𝑥 − 3) − 17 = 13 − 3(𝑥 + 2)

Rational Equations: A rational equation is an equation where at least one term is a fraction.
Steps: 1) Note any restrictions – what value(s) of 𝑥 will make the denominator zero?
- Factor denominators completely first!
2) Find the LCD (least common denominator) and multiply every single term by it.
3) Simplify to eliminate all denominators first, then distribute if necessary, and solve.
4) Check to make sure your answer is not a restriction!

Example 2 Solve:
𝑥−3 5 𝑥+5
= −
4 14 7

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 Example 3 Solve:
5 17 1
= −
2𝑥 18 3𝑥

Factoring Review:
a) 3𝑥 − 3 b) 𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 + 12 c) 𝑥 2 − 25

Example 4 Solve:
1 5 8
− =
𝑥 − 2 𝑥 + 6 𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 12

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Classifying Equations
Identity – true for all real numbers

Inconsistent – not true for even one number

Conditional – true for at least one number

Section 1.3 – Models and Applications

Learning Outcome: Solve application problems

Problem Solving with Linear Equations Helpful steps for word problems:
1. Read the question until you understand it. Assign the variable 𝑥 to an unknown quantity.
2. Put any other unknown quantities in terms of 𝑥.
3. Write a linear equation.
4. Solve it. Go back and make sure you answered the question being asked.
5. Does your answer make sense in the real world?

Example 1 A length of a rectangular swimming pool is 6 meters less than twice the width. If the perimeter of the pool is
126 meters, what are its dimensions?

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Example 2 Your local computer store is having a terrific sale on digital cameras. After a 40% discount, you purchase a
digital camera for $276. What was the camera’s price before the discount?

Example 3 Your grandmother needs your help. She has $50,000 to invest. Part of this money is to be invested in
noninsured bonds paying 15% annual interest. The rest of this money is to be invested in a government-insured certificate
of deposit paying 7% annual interest. She told you that she requires $6,000 per year in extra income from the combination
of these investments. How much money should be placed in each investment?

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Solving a Formula for a Variable

Example 4
a. Solve for 𝑤. b. Solve for M. c. Solve for 𝑃.

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𝑃 = 2𝑤 + 2𝑙 𝑘 = 𝑒𝑀 𝐴 = 𝑃 + 𝑃𝑟𝑡
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Section 1.4 - Complex Numbers

Learning Outcomes: Perform algebraic operations on complex numbers

Complex numbers are the set of all numbers in the standard form:

The imaginary unit 𝒊 is defined as ________________________,

where _________________________.

Roots of Negative Numbers:

Example 1 Perform the indicated operation and write the result in standard form:
−14 + √−180
a) 3√−16 − 5√−9 b)
2

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Adding and Subtracting Complex Numbers: Combine the real parts and the imaginary parts and simplify.

Example 2 Perform the indicated operation and write the result in standard form:
a) (5 − 2𝑖) + (3 + 3𝑖) b) (2 + 6𝑖) − (12 − 𝑖)

Multiplying Complex Numbers: Multiply like normal and simplify, just remember:

Example 3 Perform the indicated operation and write the result in standard form:
a) 7𝑖(2 − 9𝑖) b) (5 + 4𝑖)(6 − 7𝑖)

Complex Conjugates: For a complex number ______________________, its complex conjugate is _______________________.

Example 4 Give the complex conjugate for each complex number:

a) 5 − 4𝑖 b) 3𝑖 + 7 c) −2𝑖 d) 10

**Why are complex conjugates useful? Multiply a pair of complex conjugates and see what happens.

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Dividing Complex Numbers: 1) Find the complex conjugate of the denominator.
2) Multiply both the numerator and denominator by that conjugate, then simplify.

Example 5 Divide and express the result in standard form:

5 + 4𝑖
4−𝑖

Section 1.5 – Quadratic Equations

Learning Outcome: Solve quadratic equations by several methods

Review – GCF, Grouping, and Factoring Trinomials

Review Examples Factor completely:

3𝑥2 + 12𝑥 𝑎𝑥 + 2𝑎𝑦 − 2𝑏𝑥 − 4𝑏𝑦 𝑥2 − 3𝑥 − 10 3𝑥 2 − 30𝑥 + 48

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General form of a quadratic equation: _______________________________________________, where 𝑎, 𝑏, and 𝑐 are real numbers and 𝑎 ≠ 0.
Solving Quadratic Equations by Factoring
1) Get all terms on one side of the equation. 2) Always factor out the GCF first. Then factor the polynomial completely.
3) Then use the Zero-Product Principle:

Example 1 Solve the following quadratic equations.

a) 6𝑥 2 = 3𝑥 b) 𝑥 2 − 13𝑥 = −36

Factoring Trinomials of the Form:

Example 2 Solve the following quadratic equations:

a) 6𝑥 2 + 11𝑥 + 3 = 0 b) 3𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 = 8

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Square Root Property
Steps: Get whatever is being squared by itself on one side and then take the square root of both sides.
**REMEMBER: When you take the square root of both sides of an equation, you MUST put:

Example 3 Solve the following quadratic equations:

a) 5𝑥 2 + 45 = 0 b) 3(𝑥 + 5)2 = 33

Completing the Square

Steps:
1. If 𝑎 ≠ 1, divide every term by 𝑎. .
2. Move the constant to the right.
3. Add to both sides
4. Factor the left side.
5. Use the Square Root Property to finish solving.

Example 4 Solve the following quadratic equations.

a) 𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 + 1 = 0 b) 3𝑥 2 − 12𝑥 + 18 = 0

c) 3𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 + 1 = 0

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Quadratic Formula
The solutions 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0 are:

Example 5 Solve the following quadratic equations.

a) 𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 = −3 b) 3𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 2 = 0

c) 8𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 1 = 0

The Discriminant: is used to determine the number and type of solutions.

If the discriminant is: Then the type and number of solutions will be:

A positive, perfect square

A positive, non-perfect square

Zero

Negative

Example 6 Use the discriminant to determine the type of solutions the following equation has.
5𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 = 5

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Section 1.6 – Solving Other Types of Equations
Learning Outcomes: Solve polynomial, radical, rational and quadratic like equations

Solving a Polynomial Equation by Factoring

1) Get all terms on one side. 2) Factor completely. 3) Use the Zero Product Principle to finish solving.

Example 1 Solve the following polynomials:

a) 4𝑥 4 = 12𝑥 2 b) 2𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 = 8𝑥 + 12

Solving a Radical Equation

1) Isolate the radical. 2) Square both sides. 3) Simplify/Factor/Solve. 4) Check for extraneous solutions!

Example 2 Solve: √𝑥 + 3 + 3 = 𝑥

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Solving Equations with Rational Exponents
1) Isolate whatever part is being raised to the power. 2) Raise both sides to the reciprocal power and simplify.

Example 3 Solve:
3 2
3 1
a) 2(𝑥 + 5)2 = 16 b) 𝑥 3 − 4 = 4

Solving Equations Quadratic in Form

1) Use “u-substitution.”

Example 4 Solve the following:

a) 𝑥 4 − 8𝑥 2 − 9 = 0 b) 5𝑥 −2 + 11𝑥 −1 + 2 = 0

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Solving Equations Involving Absolute Value
Rule: If 𝑐 is a positive real number and 𝑢 represents any algebraic expression, then

_________________________________________________ means _________________________________________ or _________________________________________.

*Before you apply this rule, the first step is to isolate the absolute value expression.

Example 1 Solve: 3|3𝑥 − 1| + 6 = 24

**What happens when 𝑐 is negative?

Section 1.7 – Linear Inequalities and Absolute Value Inequalities

Learning Outcomes: Solve linear and absolute value inequalities

Interval Notation and Set-Builder Notation

• Brackets [ ] are used when

the endpoint is included in the
interval.

• Parentheses ( ) are used

when the endpoint is not
included in the interval.

• Parentheses are always used

for ∞ and −∞.

Example 1 Express each interval in set-builder notation and graph:

a. (−1,4] b. (−∞, −2)

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Solving Linear Inequalities: Solve these the same way you solve equations, just remember:

1) If you _____________________________________________________________ both sides by a _______________________________ number, you must

________________________ the inequality sign.

2) “Switch sides…switch signs” is the same as:

Example 2 Solve and graph the solution set on a number line:

a) 2𝑥 + 5 ≥ 4𝑥 − 5 b) 5(𝑥 + 4) > 5𝑥 + 3

c) 5(𝑥 + 4) > 5𝑥 + 23

Compound Inequalities - “And” – includes all the numbers that make BOTH parts true at the SAME time.

Example 3 Solve and graph the solution set on a number line:

2
−3 < 𝑥 + 1 ≤ 3
5

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Solving Inequalities with Absolute Value

Rules: If 𝑐 is a positive real number and 𝑢 represents any algebraic expression, then

• |𝑢| < 𝑐 means: __________________________________________________ • |𝑢| > 𝑐 means: ____________________________________________________

Example 4 Solve and graph the solution set on a number line:

2
a) 2|2𝑥 − 1| ≤ 10 b) |11 − 𝑥| > 7
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