GENERAL MATHEMATICS – ALGEBRA
1. Solving Linear Equations Definition: Equations of the form ax + b = c where the goal is to isolate x.
Example 1: Solve 2x + 6 = 14 Solution: Subtract 6 on both sides: 2x = 8 Divide both sides by 2: x = 4
Example 2: Solve 5x − 7 = 18 Add 7 on both sides: 5x = 25 Divide by 5: x = 5
1. Quadratic Equations (Factoring) Definition: Equations of the form ax² + bx + c = 0 solved by factoring.
Example 1: Solve x² + 5x + 6 = 0 Factor: (x + 2)(x + 3) = 0 x + 2 = 0 → x = -2, x + 3 = 0 → x = -3
Example 2: Solve x² − 7x + 12 = 0 Factor: (x − 3)(x − 4) = 0 Solution: x = 3 or 4
1. Inequalities Example 1: Solve 3x − 5 > 10 3x > 15 → x > 5
Example 2: Solve −2x + 7 ≤ 1 −2x ≤ -6 → x ≥ 3 (flip inequality when dividing by negative)
1. Word Problems (a) Age Problems Ana is 5 years older than Bea. Their sum is 25. Let x = Bea's age →
Ana = x + 5 x + (x + 5) = 25 → 2x + 5 = 25 → 2x = 20 → x = 10 Ana = 10 + 5 = 15
(b) Work Problems 4 workers paint a wall in 6 hours. How long for 6 workers? Time = (Original Workers ×
Original Time) / New Workers = (4×6)/6 = 4 hours
(c) Ratio Problems Divide 180 in ratio 2:3 Total parts = 5 → One part = 36 First share = 72, second share = 108
(d) Discount Problems Item costs 500, discount 20% Discount = 500 × 0.2 = 100 → Price after discount = 400
FACTORS & POLYNOMIALS 1. Common Factors Example 1: Factor 12x + 18 → 6(x + 3)
Example 2: Factor 15x²y + 20xy² → 5xy(3x + 4y)
1. Factoring Trinomials Example 1: Factor x² + 7x + 12 → (x + 3)(x + 4)
Example 2: Factor 2x² + 5x + 3 → (2x + 3)(x + 1)
1. Prime Polynomials Example 1: x² + x + 1 → prime Example 2: x² − 5x + 6 → (x − 2)(x − 3), not prime
FUNCTIONS 1. f(x) Notation f(x) = 2x + 3, f(4) = 11 f(x) = x² − 5x + 6, f(2) = 0
1. Domain and Range Example: f(x) = √(x − 2) Domain: x ≥ 2, Range: y ≥ 0
2. Composite Functions Example: f(x) = x + 2, g(x) = 3x, (f ∘ g)(2) = 8
3. Graph Interpretation Slope = rate of change, y-intercept at x=0, x-intercept at y=0 Example: y = 2x + 1
→ slope = 2, y-intercept = 1
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BUSINESS MATH 1. Simple Interest: I = P⋅r⋅t Example: 10,000 at 5% for 3 years → I = 1,500 → Total = 11,500
1. Compound Interest: A = P(1+r)^t Example: 5,000 at 6% for 2 years → A = 5,618
2. Discounts: P(1−discount rate) Example: 2,500 at 20% → 2,000
3. Annuities 500 monthly for 12 months → 6,000
4. Break-even Analysis C(x)=100x+500, R(x)=150x → x=10 units
STATISTICS 1. Mean, Median, Mode Example: 4,7,5,9,7 → Mean=6.4, Median=7, Mode=7
1. Standard Deviation Data: 2,4,6,8 → σ ≈ 2.236
2. Normal Distribution μ = median = mode, Empirical Rule
3. Confidence Interval Sample mean = 50, σ = 5, n = 25, 95% CI = 48.04 to 51.96
PROBABILITY 1. Simple Probability P(E) = favorable / total Example: die roll for 4 → 1/6
1. Combination: nCr = n! / (r!(n-r)!) Example: 5C2 = 10
2. Dice & Card Problems Roll 2 dice, sum=7 → P = 1/6 Pick 2 aces → P ≈ 0.0045
3. Binomial Probability P(X=k) = nCk * p^k * q^(n-k) Example: 3 coin toss, 2 heads → 0.375
GEOMETRY 1. Angles & Parallel Lines Corresponding = equal, Alternate interior = equal, Triangle sum = 180°
1. Triangles & Quadrilaterals Triangle sum = 180°, Quadrilateral = 360°
2. Circles Tangent ⟂ radius, C = 2πr, A = πr²
3. Area & Perimeter Rectangle: A = lw, P=2(l+w) Triangle: A=1/2base*height Circle: A=πr², C=2πr
TRIGONOMETRY 1. sinθ=opposite/hypotenuse, cosθ=adjacent/hypotenuse, tanθ=opposite/adjacent
1. Angle of Elevation & Depression Use right triangle, tanθ = opposite/adjacent
2. Radians → Degrees Degrees = Radians * 180/π
BASIC CALCULUS 1. Limits lim x→2 (3x+5) = 11 lim x→0 (sin x / x) = 1
1. Derivatives Power rule, sum/difference, constant multiple Example: f(x)=x³+5x → f'(x)=3x²+5
2. Motion Problems v = dx/dt, a = dv/dt = d²x/dt² Example: x(t) = t³ − 4t → v=3t²−4, a=6t