Pre-Algebra & Algebra Basics

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How to Check an Answer to an Algebra Problem

Checking your answers when doing algebra problems is always a good idea — after all, if there's a way to ensure that you have the correct answer, it's worth the time, isn't it? You check your answers in

How to Solve a Quadratic Equation by Completing the Square

You can solve quadratic equations by completing the square. Completing the square involves creating a perfect square trinomial from the quadratic equation, and then solving that trinomial by taking its

How to Solve (and Factor) a Quadratic Equation with the Quadratic Formula

A quadratic equation is any second-degree polynomial equation — that’s when the highest power of x,or whatever other variable is used, is 2. The solution or solutions of a quadratic equation,

How to Express Exponential Relationships with Logarithms

You may come across logarithms in your calculus work. A logarithm is just a different way of expressing an exponential relationship between numbers. For instance,

How to Simplify Roots

When you work with roots in an equation, you often need to simplify them. There are two methods: the quick, sort of intuitive method, and a slightly longer method. The quick method of simplification works

How to Factor Mathematical Expressions

You often need to factor expressions (break those expressions into their simpler components, or factors) for calculus. Factoring means “unmultiplying,” like rewriting 12 as

Understanding the Properties of Numbers

Remembering the properties of numbers is important because you use them consistently in pre-calculus. The properties aren’t often used by name in pre-calculus, but you’re supposed to know when you need

How to Graph Linear Inequalities

You can use the slope-intercept form to graph inequalities. The slope-intercept form is expressed as y = mx + b, where the variable m stands for the slope of the line, and

Radicals and exponents (also known as roots and powers) are two common — and oftentimes frustrating — elements of basic algebra. And of course they follow you wherever you go in math, just like a cloud

How to Rewrite Radicals as Exponents

When you’re given a problem in radical form, you may have an easier time if you rewrite it by using rational exponents— exponents that are fractions. You can rewrite every radical as an exponent by using

How to Rationalize a Radical Out of a Denominator

A convention of mathematics is that you don’t leave radicals in the denominator of an expression when you write it in its final form. Thus we do something called

How to Express Solutions for Inequalities with Interval Notation

You can use interval notation to express where a set of solutions begins and where it ends. Interval notation is a common way to express the solution set to an inequality, and it’s important because it’s

Understanding the Binomial Theorem

A binomial is a polynomial with exactly two terms. Multiplying out a binomial raised to a power is called binomial expansion. Your pre-calculus teacher may ask you to use the binomial theorem to find the

How to Perform Operations with Complex Numbers

Sometimes you come across situations where you need to operate on real and imaginary numbers together, so you want to write both numbers as complex numbers in order to be able to add, subtract, multiply

How to Solve Inequalities Containing Absolute Values

An absolute-value equation usually has two possible solutions. Absolute value is a bit trickier to handle when you’re solving inequalities. The two possible solutions are: