MATH  RESOURCES

The math exams tend to be either the most favored or despised of all tests. This page will not answer all of your questions, however hopefully it will clearify some of the algebra that tends to get in the way between you and the correct answer. Let's analyze some fundamental concepts...

General Distributive Property: A.K.A. The FOIL Method

(3x + 4) (7x-2) = (21x^2 -6x + 28x - 8) = (Forward Outside Inside Last) (21x^2 + 22x - 8) = Very basic, nothing challenging

Please note that the ^ sign denotes an exponent. (Raises a number to a power).

General Factoring Properties:

(x^4-16) = (x^2+4) (x^2-4) = (Nothing new here) (x^2+4) (x+2) (x-2) = Remeber X^2+2 CANNOT be factored

The idea is to make a big bad polynomial smaller and more friendly to use.

Quadratic Formula:

x = -b+/-<b^2-4ac>      <Square Root>                2a "Negative B plus or minus the square root of B squared minus four A C all over 2 a!"

This is used to find the values of 'x' that make the standard form of a line = 0. The standard form you all are familiar with is ax^2+bx+c. This is used when a polynomial cannot be factored.

It's brutal enough just typing this stuff, let alone trying to explain it. You can use this on the math tests for those problems that can't be factored, but if you get a clean cut answer like 2, then that should ring a bell that it could've been factored and you just wasted your time!

Graphs: Equations In Different Forms

Slope Intercept Form: y = mx + b Slope = m Y Intercept = (0, b) How hard is that?

A line can be represented in many different ways, but mean the same thing. This will show three common methods of doing so in a very simplistic manner. Take a look  ---->

Standard Form: ax + by = c Slope = - a / b Y Intercept = (0, c / b) Enough said

Point Slope Form: y - y1 = m (x -x1) Slope = m (x1,y1) = point on graph Not too difficult?

More Math ------>>