Mr.

Ahmed Seif Math Page

Algebra and Arithmetic

Rules:

1. 𝒂(𝒃 + 𝒄) = 𝒂𝒃 + 𝒂𝒄

Example:

5 (2 + 3) = 5(2) + 5(3) = 10 + 15 = 25

2. (𝒂 + 𝒃)(𝒄 + 𝒅) = 𝒂𝒄 + 𝒂𝒅 + 𝒃𝒄 + 𝒃𝒅

Example:

(5 + 6)(4 − 3) = 20 − 15 + 24 − 18

3. (𝒂 + 𝒃)𝟐 = 𝒂𝟐 + 𝟐𝒂𝒃 + 𝒃𝟐

4. (𝒂 − 𝒃)𝟐 = 𝒂𝟐 − 𝟐𝒂𝒃 + 𝒃𝟐

5. (𝒂 + 𝒃)(𝒂 − 𝒃) = 𝒂𝟐 − 𝒃𝟐

6. −(𝒂 − 𝒃) = 𝒃 − 𝒂

7. 𝒂𝟐 = (𝒂)(𝒂)

Example:

22 = (2)(2) = 4

8. 𝒂𝒙 𝒂𝒚 = 𝒂𝒙+𝒚

Example:

24 26 = 210

𝒂𝒙
9. = 𝒂𝒙−𝒚
𝒂𝒚
Mr. Ahmed Seif Math Page

Example:

22 2−3 −1
1
= 2 = 2 =
23 2

10.(𝑎 𝑥 )𝑦 = 𝑎 𝑥𝑦

Example:

(23 )4 = 212

11.(𝒂𝒃)𝒙 = 𝒂𝒙 𝒃𝒙

Example:

(2 × 3)2 = 22 × 32 = 62 = 36

𝟏
12.𝒂−𝒚 =
𝒂𝒚

13. If 𝒚𝟐 = 𝒙 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒚 = ±√𝒙

Example:

If𝑦 2 = 4, then 𝑦 = ±√4 = ±2

14. Percentage problems

Notes:

40
a. 40% = = 0.4
100

b. “What” becomes “ any variable x”

1
c. “percent” becomes “ "
100

d. “of” becomes “multiplication X”

Mr. Ahmed Seif Math Page

e. “is” becomes “equal =”

Example 1:

What percent of 5 is 2?

𝑥
×5=2
100

𝑥 = 40%

Example 2:

6 is what percent of 24?

𝑥
6= × 24 , 𝑥 = 25%
100
Mr. Ahmed Seif Math Page

Equations

1. Example: 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏 = 𝟎

a. First we factorize the equation

(x − 1)(x − 1) = 0

b. Then we equate each factor with zero

x − 1 = 0, x = 1

2. 𝐱 + 𝐲 = 𝟏, 𝐱 − 𝐲 = 𝟐 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐱, 𝐲 ?

a. First, in order to solve for some variables, we need to have number

of equations equals to these variables. So here, we have to variables

in two equations. Then, we need to add or subtract them together in

order to have equation in one variable. Therefore, we add these two

3
equation, we get 2𝑥 = 3, 𝑥 =
2

b. Then, we substitute in any equation with value of x to get y, so we

−1
get 𝑦 =
2
Mr. Ahmed Seif Math Page

Equalities

1. 𝒂 + 𝒃 = 𝒄 → 𝟑 + 𝟒 = 𝟕

+ 𝒅=𝒅 + 𝟐=𝟐
=
𝒂+𝒃+𝒅= 𝒄+𝒅 𝟑+𝟒+𝟐= 𝟕+𝟐

Inequalities

1. > 𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛, < 𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛, ≥ 𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛 𝑜𝑟 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑙, ≤

𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛 𝑜𝑟 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑙.

𝒃>𝑐 4>3 4>3

𝒅>𝑒 7>6 − 6 > −7

𝒃+𝒅 >𝑐+𝑒 11 > 9 − 2 > −4

2. Reversing inequalities

𝟓>4, −5<−4 − 2 < 𝑥 < 2, 2 > −𝑥 > −2

Mr. Ahmed Seif Math Page

Geometry

1. Two inserting lines:

a. x° + m° = 180°

b. x° + m° + y° + n° = 360°

c. x° = y°

d. m° = n°

2. The straight line: a° + b° + c° = 180°

3. The parallel lines:

a. 𝑎° = 𝑦°, 𝑚° = 𝑛°, 𝑦° = 𝑧°, 𝑓° = 𝑥°

b. 𝑥° + 𝑚° = 𝑛° + 𝑦° = 𝑦° + 𝑚° = 𝑛° + 𝑥° = 180°

4. The triangles:

a. 𝑎 + 𝑏 > 𝑐

b. 𝑖𝑓 𝐵° > 𝐴°, 𝑆𝑂 𝑏 > 𝑎.

c. 𝑖𝑓 𝑎 = 𝑏, 𝑆𝑂 𝐴° = 𝐵

d. 𝐴° + 𝐵° + 𝐶° = 180°, 𝐵° + 𝐷° = 180°, 𝐴° + 𝐵° = 𝐷°
Mr. Ahmed Seif Math Page

Areas & Perimeters

1
Area= a x b, Perimeter= 2(a+b)=2a+2b Area= ℎ × 𝑏 , Perimeter= a+b+c
2

Area= ℎ × 𝑏 , Perimeter = 2a+2b 𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 = 𝑐 2

Mr. Ahmed Seif Math Page

Fractions, Decimals, Percentages

1. There are four ways to write “a” divided by “b”

𝑎
= 𝑎 ÷ 𝑏 = 𝑎: 𝑏 =
𝑏

2. The numerator of a fraction is the upper number and the denominator is the

lower number.
8
 Example: In the fraction 13the numerator is 8 and the denominator is 13.

3. Moving a decimal point one place to the right multiplies the value of a number

by 10, whereas moving the decimal point one place to the left divides a

number by 10. Likewise, moving a decimal point two places to the right

multiplies the value of a number by 100, whereas moving the decimal point

two places to the left divides a number by 100.

 Example:

24.35 × 10 = 243.5 (decimal point moved to right)

24.35÷10 =2.435 (decimal point moved to left)

4. To change a fraction to a decimal, divide the numerator of the fraction by its

denominator.

5
 Example: Express as a decimal. We divide 5 by 6, obtaining 0.83
6

5
= 5 ÷ 6 = 0.833 …
6
Mr. Ahmed Seif Math Page

5. To convert a decimal to a fraction, delete the decimal point and divide by

whatever unitof 10 the number of decimal places represents.

 Example: Convert 0.83 to a fraction. First, delete the decimal point. Second, two
83
decimal places represent hundredths, so divide 83 by 100 : 100 = 0.83

6. To change a fraction to a percent, find its decimal form, multiply by 100, and

add apercent sign.

 Example: Express 38as a percent. To convert 38to a decimal, divide 3 by 8, which gives

us 0.375. Multiply 0.375 by 100 gives us 37.5%.

7. . To change a percent to a fraction, drop the percent sign and divide the

number by100.

 Example: Example: Express 17% as a fraction. Dropping the % sign gives us 17, and dividing
17
by 100 gives us .
100

8. To reduce a fraction, divide the numerator and denominator by the largest

number thatdivides them both evenly.

 Example: Reduce 10
15
2
. Dividing both the numerator and denominator by 5 gives us .
3

 Example: Reduce12
36
. The largest number that goes into both 12 and 36 is 12. Reducing

1
the fraction, we have .
3

9. To add fractions with like denominators, add the numerators of the fractions,

keeping thesame denominator.

Mr. Ahmed Seif Math Page

1 2 3 6
 Example: + + =
7 7 7 7

10.To add fractions with different denominators, you must first change all of the

fractionsto equivalent fractions with the same denominators.

STEP 1: Find the lowest (or least) common denominator, the smallest number

divisible by allof the denominators.

1 1 1
Example: If the fractions to be added are , , , then the lowest common denominator is 12, because
3 4 6

12 is the smallest number that is divisible by 3, 4, and 6.

STEP 2:Convert all of the fractions to equivalent fractions, each having the

lowest common denominator as its denominator. To do this, multiply the

numerator of each fraction by the number of times that its denominator goes

into the lowest common denominator. The product of this multiplication will

be the new numerator. The denominator of the equivalent fractions will be the

lowest common denominator. (See Step 1 above.)

 Example: The lowest common denominator of 13 , 14 , 56is 12. Thus, 13 4

𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑠 12,

1 3
because12 divided by 3 is 4, and 4 times 1=4. 4 = 12 Because 12 divided by 4 is 3, and 3

5 10
times 1=3. 6
= 12Because 12 divided by 6 is 2, and 2 times 5 =10.

STEP 3. Now add all of the equivalent fractions by adding the numerators.

 Example: 124 + 123 + 10

12
=
17
12
Mr. Ahmed Seif Math Page

STEP 4. Reduce the fraction if possible.

11. To multiply fractions, follow this procedure:

STEP 1.To find the numerator of the product, multiply all the numerators of the fractions

being multiplied.

STEP 2.To find the denominator of the answer, multiply all of the denominators of the

fractions being multiplied.

STEP 3.Reduce the product

12.To divide fractions, follow this procedure:

STEP 1. Invert the divisor. That is, switch the positions of the numerator and denominator in the fraction you

are dividing by.

STEP 2. Replace the division sign with a multiplication sign.

STEP 3. Carry out the multiplication indicated.

STEP 4. Reduce the product.

3 7 3 8 24 6
 Example: find ÷ = × = =
4 8 4 7 28 7

13.To multiply decimals, follow this procedure:

STEP 1. Disregard the decimal point. Multiply the factors (the numbers being multiplied) as if they were whole

numbers.

STEP 2. In each factor, count the number of digits to the right of the decimal point. Find the

total number of these digits in all the factors. In the product start at the right and count to the

left this (total) number of places. Put the decimal point there.

 Example: Multiply 3.8 ×4.01. First, multiply 38 and 401, getting 15,238. There is a total

of 3 digits to the right of the decimal points in the factors. Thus, the decimal point in the

product is placed 3 units to the left of the digit farthest to the right (8).
Mr. Ahmed Seif Math Page

3.8 ×4.01= 15.238

Example: 0.025 ×3.6. First, multiply 25 ×36, getting 900. In the factors, there is a total

of 4 digits to the right of the decimal points; therefore, in the product, we place the decimal

point 4 units to the left of the digit farthest to the right in 900. However, there are only 3

digits in the product, so we add a 0 to the left of the 9, getting 0900. This makes it possible to

place the decimal point correctly, thus: .0900. From this example, we can make up the rule

that in the product we add as many zeros as are needed to provide the proper number of

digits to the left of the digit farthest to the right.

14.To find a percent of a given quantity:

STEP 1. Replace the word “of” with a multiplication sign.

STEP 2. Convert the percent to a decimal: drop the percent sign and divide the number by 100.

This is done by moving the decimal point two places to the left, adding zeros where necessary.

 Examples: 30% =0.30, 2.1% =0.02, 78% =0.78.

STEP 3. Multiply the given quantity by the decimal

 Example: Find 30% of 200.

30 % of 200= 30 % ×200= 0.30 ×200 = 60.00

Mr. Ahmed Seif Math Page

Deviations

Estimation problems arise when dealing with approximations, that is, numbers that are not

mathematically precise. The error, or deviation, in an approximation is a measure of the closeness of that

approximation.

1. Absolute error, or absolute deviation, is the difference between the estimated value and

the real value (or between the approximate value and the exact value).

Example: If the actual value of a measurement is 60.2 and we estimate it as 60, then the

absolute deviation (absolute error) is 60.2 – 60 = 0.2

2. Fractional error, or fractional deviation, is the ratio of the absolute error to the exact value

of the quantity being measured.

Example: If the exact value is 60.2 and the estimated value is 60, then the fractional error
60.2−60 0.2 1
is = =
60.2 60.2 301

3. Percent error, or percent deviation, is the fractional error expressed as a percent.

Business problems Estimation problems

Original value = exact value

New value = approximate value

Net profit
Net loss = absolute error
Net interest

Fractional profit
Fractional loss = fractional error
Fractional interest
Mr. Ahmed Seif Math Page

Percent profit
Percent loss = percent error
Percent interest

4. Many business problems, including the calculation of loss, profit, interest, and so forth,

are treated as deviation problems. Generally, these problems concern the difference between the

original value of a quantity and some new value after taxes, after interest, etc. The following

chart shows the relationship between business and estimation problems.

 Example: An item that originally cost $50 is resold for $56. Thus the net profit is

$56− $50 $6 3
$56 -$50 =$6. The fractional profit is = = . The percent profit is equal to
$50 $50 25

3
the percent equivalent of , 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑐ℎ 𝑖𝑠 12%.
25

5. When there are two or more consecutive changes in value, remember that the new value

of the first change becomes the original value of the second; consequently, successive fractional or percent

changes may not be added directly.

Example: Suppose that a $100 item is reduced by 10 % and then by 20 %. The first reduction puts the

price at $90 (10 % of $100 =$10; $100 -$10 =$90). Then, reducing the $90

(the new original value) by 20 % gives us $72 (20 % of $90 =$18; $90 - $18 =$72).

Therefore, it is not correct to simply add 10% and 20 % and then take 30% of $100.
Mr. Ahmed Seif Math Page

Ratios and proportions

1. A proportion is an equation stating that two ratios are equal. For example,

3: 2 = 9: x and 7: 4 = a: 15 are proportions. To solve a proportion:

STEP 1. First change the ratios to fractions. To do this, remember that a: b

𝑎 1 7 𝑎
is the same as , or 1: 2 is equivalent to ,or 7: 4 = a: 15 is the same as =
𝑏 2 4 15

STEP 2. Now cross-multiply. That is, multiply the numerator of the first

fraction by the denominator of the second fraction. Also multiply the

denominator of the first fraction by the numerator of the second fraction.

Set the first product equal to the second. This rule is sometimes stated as

“The product of the means equals the product of the extremes.”

3 9
 Example: When cross-multiplying in the equation = we get 3
2 𝑦

× y = 2 × 9, or3y = 18.

𝑎 4
When we cross-multiply in the equation = , we get 8a = 8.
2 8

STEP 3. Solve the resulting equation. This is done algebraically

 Example: Solve for a in the proportion 7: a = 6: 18.

7 6
Change the ratios to the fractional relation = , Cross-multiply:
𝑎 18

7 ×18 = 6 ×a, or 126 = 6a. Solving for a gives us a = 2.

Mr. Ahmed Seif Math Page

2. In solving proportions that have units of measurement (feet, seconds,

miles, etc.), each ratio must have the same units. For example, if we have

the ratio 5 inches: 3 feet, we must convert the 3 feet to 36 inches and then

set up the ratio 5 inches: 36 inches, or 5: 36. We might wishto convert

1
inches to feet. Noting that 1 inch = 𝑓𝑜𝑜𝑡, 𝑤𝑒 𝑔𝑒𝑡 5 𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠 ∶ 3 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡 ,
12

1 5
which equals to 5( ) feet : 3 feet = 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡 ∶ 3 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡.
12 12

 Example: On a blueprint, a rectangle measures 6 inches in width and

9 inches in length. If the actual width of the rectangle is 16 inches,

how many feet are there in the length?

Solution: We set up the proportions, 6 inches: 9 inches = 16 inches: x

feet. Since x feet is equal to 12x inches, we substitute this value in

the proportion. Thus, 6 inches: 9 inches = 16inches: 12x inches. Since

all of the units are now the same, we may work with the numbers

6 16
alone. In fractional terms we have = .Cross-multiplication gives
9 12𝑥

us 72x = 144,and solving for x gives us x = 2. The rectangle is 2 feet

long.

Variation
Mr. Ahmed Seif Math Page

1. n a variation problem, you are given a relationship between certain

variables. The

problem is to determine the change in one variable when one or more of the

other variables changes.

Example: In the formula A = bh, if b doubles and h triples, what happens to

the value of A?

STEP 1. Express the new values of the variables in terms of their original

values, i.e., 𝑏’=2b, andh’=3h.

STEP 2. Substitute these values in the formula and solve for the desired

variable: A’=b’h’ = (2b) (3h) =6bh.

STEP 3. Express this answer in terms of the original value of the variable,

i.e. , since the new value of A is 6bh, and the old value of A was bh, we can

express this as Anew =6Aold. The new value of the variable is expressed

with a prime mark and the old value of the variable is left as it was. In this

problem the new value of A would be expressed as A’and the old value as A.

So, A’=6A.
Mr. Ahmed Seif Math Page

Comparison of Fractions

In fraction comparison problems, you are given two or more fractions and

are asked to arrange them in increasing or decreasing order, or to select

the larger or the smaller. The following rules and suggestions will be very

helpful in determining which of two fractions is greater.

1. If fractions A and B have the same denominators, and A has a larger

numerator, then fraction A is larger. (We are assuming here, and for the

rest of this Refresher Session, that numerators and denominators are

positive.)

56 53
 Example: 𝑖𝑠 𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛 , because the numerator of the
217 217

first fraction is greater than the numerator of the second.

2. If fractions A and B have the same numerator, and A has a larger

denominator, then fraction A is smaller.

37 37
 Example: 𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛 .
256 254

3. If fraction A has a larger numerator and a smaller denominator than

fraction B, then fraction A is larger than B.

6 4
 Example: is larger than .(If this does not seem obvious, compare
11 13

6
both fractions with .
13
Mr. Ahmed Seif Math Page

4. Another method is to convert all of the fractions to equivalent fractions. To

do this, follow these steps:

STEP 1. First find the lowest common denominator of the fractions. This is

the smallest number that is divisible by all of the denominators of the

original fractions. {The method of finding lowest common denominators.}

STEP 2. The fraction with the greatest numerator is the largest fraction.

5. Still another method is the conversion to approximating decimals.

5 7
 Example: to compare and , we might express both as decimals to
9 11

5 7
a few places of accuracy: is approximately equal to 0.555, while
9 11

7
is approximately equal to 0.636, so is obviously greater. To express
11

a fraction as a decimal, divide the numerator by thedenominator.

6. If all of the fractions being compared are very close in value to some easy-

1
to-work-with number, such as or 5, you may subtract this number from
2

each of the fractions withoutchanging this order.

151 328
 Example: to compare with . We notice that both of these
75 163

151
fractions are approximately equal to 2. If we subtract 2 (that is ,
75

328 1 2 1
, respectively) from each, we get , , respectively. Since ,
163 75 163 75

2 2 151 328
(𝑜𝑟 ) exceeds , we see that must exceed .
150 163 75 163
Mr. Ahmed Seif Math Page

1
Solution: We notice that both these numbers are close to .
4

7. A quick way to compare with two fractions by cross multiplication.