The Essentials of Algebra

1. absolute value

1.1. always a + ans

1.1.1. unless written -|6|

1.1.1.1. the - gets carried over

1.1.2. |-6| is 6

2. exponents

2.1. a # multiplied by itself

2.1.1. as many times as the little number

2.2. if a negative use

3. 1 step equations

3.1. only one function required to solve

4. 2 step equations

4.1. two functions required to solve

4.2. get variable one one side first

5. inequalities

5.1. instead of equal

5.2. open circle doesn't include #

5.3. closed circle includes #

5.4. when multiplying or dividing by a -

5.4.1. switch inequality always

5.5. < or >

5.5.1. eats the greater #

5.5.2. with a _ under > means or equal to

6. fractions

6.1. to divide: same, change, change

6.2. cross cancel when multiplying

6.2.1. cross cancel=divide

6.3. numerator

6.3.1. number on top

6.4. denomonator

6.4.1. number on bottom

6.5. add or minus denom has to be same

7. prime factorization

7.1. find the prime numbers

7.2. factor tree

7.3. can be written with exponents

8. negative numbers

8.1. use a number line

8.2. adding or subtracting

8.2.1. when two - are next to each other switch to +

8.3. when multiplying or dividing

8.3.1. signs same stay +

8.3.2. signs differ stay -

8.4. count the sticks

8.4.1. odd is -

8.4.2. even is +

9. distribution

9.1. multiply everthing within ( ) by # before

9.1.1. 2(6+y) is 12+2y

9.1.2. -(9 + r) is -9 + -r

9.1.2.1. treat as though -1(9+r)