Important Formulas: Algebra | Quantitative for GMAT PDF Download

Formulas in Algebra

• a² – b² = (a – b)(a + b)
• (a + b)² = a² + 2ab + b²
• a² + b² = (a + b)² – 2ab
• (a – b)² = a² – 2ab + b²
• (a + b + c)² = a² + b² + c² + 2ab + 2bc + 2ca
• (a – b – c)² = a² + b² + c² – 2ab + 2bc – 2ca
• (a + b)³ = a³ + 3a²b + 3ab² + b³ ; (a + b)³ = a³ + b³ + 3ab(a + b)
• (a – b)³ = a³ – 3a²b + 3ab² – b³ = a³ – b³ – 3ab(a – b)
• a³ – b³ = (a – b)(a² + ab + b²)
• a³ + b³ = (a + b)(a² – ab + b²)
• (a + b)⁴ = a⁴ + 4a³b + 6a²b² + 4ab³ + b⁴
• (a – b)⁴ = a⁴ – 4a³b + 6a²b² – 4ab³ + b⁴
• a⁴ – b⁴ = (a – b)(a + b)(a² + b²)
• a⁵ – b⁵ = (a – b)(a⁴ + a³b + a²b² + ab³ + b⁴)
• If n is a natural number aⁿ – bⁿ = (a – b)(a^n-1 + a^n-2b+…+ b^n-2a + b^n-1)
• If n is even (n = 2k), aⁿ + bⁿ = (a + b)(a^n-1 – a^n-2b +…+ b^n-2a – b^n-1)
• If n is odd (n = 2k + 1), aⁿ + bⁿ = (a + b)(a^n-1 – a^n-2b +a^n-3b²…- b^n-2a + b^n-1)
• (a + b + c + …)² = a² + b² + c² + … + 2(ab + ac + bc + ….)
• Laws of Exponents (a^m)(aⁿ) = a^m+n ; (ab)^m = a^mb^m ; (a^m)ⁿ = a^mn
• Fractional Exponents a⁰ = 1 ;
  
• Roots of Quadratic Equation
  For a quadratic equation ax² + bx + c = 0 where a ≠ 0, the roots will be given by the equation as
  
• Δ = b² − 4ac is called the discriminant
• For real and distinct roots, Δ > 0
• For real and coincident roots, Δ = 0
• For non-real roots, Δ < 0
• If α and β are the two roots of the equation ax² + bx + c = 0 then, α + β = (-b / a) and α × β = (c / a).
• If the roots of a quadratic equation are α and β, the equation will be (x − α)(x − β) = 0

Factorials

• n! = (1).(2).(3)…..(n − 1).n
• n! = n(n − 1)! = n(n − 1)(n − 2)! = ….
• 0! = 1
• 

Example 1: Find out the value of 5² – 3²
Sol:
Using the formula a² – b² = (a – b)(a + b)
where a = 5 and b = 3
(a – b)(a + b)
= (5 – 3)(5 + 3)
= 2 × 8 = 16

Example 2:  4³ × 4² = ?
Sol:
Using the exponential formula (a^m)(aⁿ) = a^m+n
where a = 4

= 4³×4²
= 4³⁺²= 4⁵
= 1024