Algebra Formulas

Algebra is a branch of mathematics that substitutes letters for numbers. An algebraic equation depicts a scale,
what is done on one side of the scale with a number is also done to either side of the scale. The numbers are
constants. Algebra also includes real numbers, complex numbers, matrices, vectors and much more. X, Y, A, B
are the most commonly used letters that represent algebraic problems and equations.
Algebra Algebra Algebra Algebra Algebra Algebra
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Important Formulas in Algebra

Here is a list of Algebraic formulas –

 a  – b  = (a – b)(a + b)
2 2

 (a + b)  = a  + 2ab + b
2 2 2

 a  + b  = (a + b)  – 2ab
2 2 2

 (a – b)  = a  – 2ab + b
2 2 2

 (a + b + c)  = a  + b  + c  + 2ab + 2bc + 2ca

2 2 2 2

 (a – b – c)  = a  + b  + c  – 2ab + 2bc – 2ca

2 2 2 2

 (a + b)  = a  + 3a b + 3ab  + b  ; (a + b)  = a  + b  + 3ab(a + b)
3 3 2 2 3 3 3 3

 (a – b)  = a  – 3a b + 3ab  – b = a  – b  – 3ab(a – b)
3 3 2 2 3  3 3

 a  – b  = (a – b)(a  + ab + b )
3 3 2 2

 a  + b  = (a + b)(a  – ab + b )
3 3 2 2

 (a + b)  = a  + 4a b + 6a b  + 4ab  + b
4 4 3 2 2 3 4

 (a – b)  = a  – 4a b + 6a b  – 4ab  + b
4 4 3 2 2 3 4

 a  – b  = (a – b)(a + b)(a  + b )
4 4 2 2

 a  – b  = (a – b)(a  + a b + a b  + ab  + b )
5 5 4 3 2 2 3 4

 If n is a natural number a  – b  = (a – b)(a  + a b+…+ b a + b ) n n n-1 n-2 n-2 n-1

 If n is even (n = 2k), a  + b  = (a + b)(a  – a b +…+ b a – b )

n n n-1 n-2 n-2 n-1

 If n is odd (n = 2k + 1), a  + b  = (a + b)(a  – a b +a b …- b a + b ) n n n-1 n-2 n-3 2 n-2 n-1

 (a + b + c + …)  = a  + b  + c  + … + 2(ab + ac + bc + ….)
2 2 2 2

 Laws of Exponents (a )(a ) = a  ; (ab)  = a b ; (a )  = am n m+n m m m  m n mn

 Fractional Exponents a  = 1 ; aman=am−n ; am = 1a−m ; a−m = 1am 0

 Roots of Quadratic Equation



o For a quadratic equation ax  + bx + c = 0 where a ≠ 0, the roots will be given by the equation 2

as x=−b±b2−4ac√2a
o Δ = b  − 4ac is called the discriminant
2

o For real and distinct roots, Δ > 0

 o For real and coincident roots, Δ = 0
o For non-real roots, Δ < 0
o If α and β are the two roots of the equation ax  + bx + c = 0 then, α + β = (-b / a) and α × β = (c /
2

a).
o If the roots of a quadratic equation are α and β, the equation will be (x − α)(x − β) = 0

 Factorials


o n! = (1).(2).(3)…..(n − 1).n
o n! = n(n − 1)! = n(n − 1)(n − 2)! = ….
o 0! = 1
o (a+b)n=an+nan−1b+n(n−1)2!an−2b2+n(n−1)(n−2)3!an−3b3+….+bn,where,n>1

Solved Examples
Example 1: Find out the value of 5  – 3 2 2

Solution:
Using the formula a  – b  = (a – b)(a + b)
2 2

where a = 5 and b = 3
(a – b)(a + b)
= (5 – 3)(5 + 3)
= 2 × 8
= 16

Example 2: 4  × 4  = ?3 2

Solution:
Using the exponential formula (a )(a ) = a
m n m+n

where a = 4
4  × 4
3 2

=4 3+2

=4 5

= 1024

Factoring Formulas
Factoring is nothing but breaking down a number or a polynomial into a product of its factor which when
multiplied together gives the original.
Factoring Formula for sum/difference of two nth powers are,

Product Formulas
a2−b2=(a−b)(a+b)
 a3−b3=(a−b)(a2+ab+b2)
a3+b3=(a+b)(a2−ab+b2)
a4−b4=(a−b)(a+b)(a2+b2)
a5−b5=(a−b)(a4+a3b+a2b2+ab3+b4)
Product Formulas

(a+b)2=a2+2ab+b2
(a−b)2=a2−2ab+b2
(a+b)3=a3+3a2b+3ab2+b3
(a−b)3=a3−3a2b+3ab2−b3
(a+b)4=a4+4a3b+6a2b2+4ab3+b4
(a−b)4=a4−4a3b+6a2b2−4ab3+b4
(a+b+c)2=a2+b2+c2+2ab+2ac+2bc
(a+b+c+…)2=a2+b2+c2+…+2(ab+ac+bc+…)
rime Number Formula
When a number is divisible by only one and itself, then it is a prime number. The prime numbers cannot be
factorised as they do not have factors other than 1 and the number itself. The numbers with more than two
factors are called composite numbers. 1 is neither prime nor composite.
Method 1:
Every prime number can be written in the form of 6n + 1 or 6n – 1 (except the multiples of prime numbers, i.e.
2, 3, 5, 7, 11), where n is a natural number.
Method 2:
To know the prime numbers greater than 40, the below formula can be used.
n  + n + 41, where n = 0, 1, 2, ….., 39
2

How do we get to know if a number is prime or not?

To identify the prime number, we need to find the factors of the number. For example, take a number; 11, 11 is
divisible only by 1 and itself. Since it has only two factors, it is a prime number.

Solved Examples
Question 1: Find if 53 is a prime number or not.
Solution:
The factors of 53 are 1 and 53.
So 53 is only divisible by 1 and 53.
Therefore, 53 is a prime number.
Question 2: Check if 64 is a prime number or not.
Solution:
The factors of 64 are 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64.
64 has more than 2 factors.
Hence, it is a composite number but not a prime number.

Factorial Formula
Factorial formula is used to find the factorial of a number. A factorial is defined as the product of the number
with all its lowest value numbers. It is also defined as multiplying the descending series of numbers. The
symbol used to denote factorial is !. It should be noted that the factorial of 0 is 1. The factorial formula is mostly
used in permutations and combinations for probability calculation.

Formula for Factorial n

The Factorial Formula is given as,

n Factorial Formula n! = 1 × 2 × 3 × ….. × (n − 1) × n

Check: Factorial Calculator

Solved Examples Using Factorial Formula

Question 1: What is 8!?
Solution:
The formula formula for factorial is,
n! = 1 × 2 × 3 × ………. × (n-1) × n
8! = 1 × 2 × 3 × 4 × 5 × 6 × 7 × 8
8! = 40320
Question 2: What is 9!5!?
Solution:
The formula formula for factorial is,
n! = 1 × 2 × 3 × ………. × (n-1) × n
9! = 1 × 2 × 3 × 4 × 5 × 6 × 7 × 8 × 9
5! = 1 × 2 × 3 × 4 × 5
9!5!=1×2×3×4×5×6×7×8×91×2×3×4×5

On simplification we get,
9!5! = 6 × 7 × 8 × 9

9!5! =3024
LCM Formula
The Least Common Multiple (LCM) of two integers a and b, usually denoted by LCM (a, b), is the smallest
positive integer that is divisible by both a and b. In simple words, the smallest positive number that is a multiple
of two or more numbers is the LCM of those two numbers. Check out the LCM formula for any two numbers
and for fractions using GCD (HCF) in the table given below.

Formula of L.C.M
Formulas To Calculate LCM

L.C.M formula for any two numbers L.C.M. = a×bgcd(a,b)

LCM formula for Fractions L.C.M. = L.C.MofNumeratorH.C.FofDenominator

It should be noted that the GCD or HCF is the greatest divisor which is divisible by both the numbers. Also,
check the LCM of two numbers to understand the steps to find the LCM of any two number easily.

Solved Examples Using the L.C.M Formula

Question 1: Find the LCM of (50, 65).
Solution:
The given number are (50, 65).
The numbers can be written in the form of their prime factors- 50 = 1×2×5×5 65 = 1×5×13
The greatest common factors (gcf) 0f (50,65) is 5.
Thus Least Common Multiple = (50 × 65)/5 = 10×65 = 650
Or,
The primes common to both are 2, 5, 5, 13 . Hence, the LCM of (50, 65) = 2 × 5 × 5 × 13 = 650
LCM (50, 65) = 650

Completing the Square Formula

In elementary algebra, completing the square is a technique for converting a quadratic polynomial to a perfect
square added to some constant. This method is used for solving the quadratic equation.
In mathematics, completing the square is often applied in any computation involving quadratic polynomials.
Completing the square is also used to derive the quadratic formula.
Completing the Square Formula is given as

ax2+bx+c⇒(x+p)2+constant
Solved Examples
Question 1: Solve x2 + 6x -2 = 0
Solution:

x2 + 6x – 2 = 0 can be written as (x+3)2 – 11 = 0

So, to solve the equation, take the square root of both sides. So (x+3)2 = 11
x+3=+11−−√ or x+3=-11−−√
x= -3+11−−√ or x= -3 -11−−√
11−−√ =3.317
x = -3 +3.317 or x = -3 -3.317,
x=0.317 or x= -6.317

Perfect Square Formula

When a polynomial is multiplied by itself, then it is a perfect square. Example – polynomial ax + bx + c is a
2 

perfect square if b = 4ac. 2 

Perfect Square Formula is given as,

(a+b)2=a2+2ab+b2

Solved Example
Question: Is x  + 10x + 25 a perfect square or not ?
2

Solution:
x + 10x + 25
2 

= x + 10x + (5 × 5)
2 

= x + 10x + 5
2  2

= x + 2(5 × x) + 5
2  2

= (x + 5) 2

So, x  + 10x + 25 is a perfect square.

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