Algebra

o calculations

▪ absolute values

▪ |ax+b|=c

▪ |a-b| represents distance between a&b on a

number line

▪ c cannot be negative

▪ solutions: ax+b=c or ax+b=-c

▪ |ax+b|<c

▪ solutions: -c<ax+b<c

▪ |ax+b|>c

▪ solutions: ax+b>c or ax+b<-c

▪ linear equations

▪ single equation: ax+b=c

▪ ax=c-b and then x=(c-b)/a

▪ conditions for infinite/no/only one

solutions:ax+b=cx+d

▪ infinitely many solutions:a=c&b=d

▪ no real solution: a=c& b not equal to d

▪ one real solution: a not equal to c

▪ *REFLECTION: coefficients/constants
comparison

▪ system of equations: ax+by=c & dx+ey=f

▪ by substitution/cancelling

▪ conditions for infinite/no/only one solutions

▪ infinitely many solutions:a/d=b/e=e/f

 ▪ no real solution: a/d=b/e but not equal to
e/f

▪ one real solution: a/d not equal to b/e

▪ *REFLECTION 1: coefficients/constants
comparison

▪ *REFLECTION 2: solutions are

intersections of their corresponding
graphs

▪ Other approaches: transform equations

into their line form--y=mx+c, consider
when they have infinitely many
intersections(same line), no
intersections(parallel lines) or one
intersection(different slopes)

▪ linear inequalities

▪ ax+b<c

▪ solutions: ax<c-b, if a>0, then x<(c-b)/a; if a<0,

x>(c-b)/a

▪ *REFLECTION: when divide/multiple a negative

value for both sides, direction of the inequality
sign should reverse.

o graphs

▪ linear equation

▪ y=mx+c

▪ m is the slope

▪ (y1-y2)/(x1-x2),rise/run, change in y over

change in x.

▪ c is the y-intercept

▪ value of y, when x=0

▪ -c/m is the x-intercept

▪ value of x, when y=0

 ▪ perpendicular lines

▪ slopes of the two lines should negative

reciprocal:m1*m2=-1

▪ parellel lines

▪ slopes of the two lines should be the

same but with different y-
intercepts:m1=m2, c1 not equal to c2

▪ intersecting lines

▪ different slopes:m1 not equal to m2

▪ special lines

▪ y=c

▪ horizontal lines: slope is 0

▪ x=c

▪ vertical lines: slope is undefined

▪ linear inequality

▪ y>mx+c

▪ sketch y=mx+c

▪ shade the region above

▪ y<mx+c

▪ sketch y=mx+c

▪ shade the region below

▪ y>c

▪ sketch y=c

▪ shade the region above

▪ y<c

▪ sketch y=c

▪ shade the region below

▪ x<c
 ▪ sketch x=c

▪ shade the region on the left

▪ x>c

▪ sketch x=c

▪ shade the region on the right

▪ absolute values

▪ y=|mx+c|

▪ sketch y=mx+c

▪ flip the part of graph below the x-axis

over the x-axis

o word problems

▪ linear equation in context

▪ y=mx+c

▪ slope interpretation

▪ when x increases by 1, y increases by m

▪ plug in the meaning of x&y in

context and complete the
sentence

▪ intercept interpretation

▪ y-intercept

▪ c is the value of y, when x is 0

▪ plug in the meaning of

x&y in context and
complete the sentence

▪ x-intercept

▪ -c/m is the value of x, when y is 0

▪ plug in the meaning of

x&y in context and
complete the sentence
 ▪ linear inequality in context

▪ more than/over/greater than

▪ ">"

▪ less than/fewer than

▪ "<"

▪ no less than/greater than or equal to/at least

▪ ">="

▪ no more than/at most/less than or equal to

▪ "<="

Statistics
o data analysis

▪ center of data

▪ mean

▪ sum/number of data

▪ can easily be affected by extreme values

▪ values added greater than mean

will increase mean

▪ values added smallwer than mean

will decrease mean

▪ values removed greater than

mean will decrease mean

▪ values removed smaller than

mean will increase mean

▪ if the average of the value or

values removed equal to mean,
then mean will not change.

▪ median
 ▪ FIRST rearrange the data into
ascending/descending orders if necessary

▪ for odd number of data, (n+1)/2 th data is the

median

▪ for even number of data, the average n/2 th and

(n/2 +1) th data is the median

▪ *REFLECTION: remove value or values from a set

of data doesn't necessarily change the median,
DO DOUBLE CHECK!!!

▪ SAT will frequently ask us to compare the

mean and median for a set of data

▪ if the data is clustered on the

smaller side, mean is usually
greater than median

▪ if the data is clustered on the

greater side, mean is usually
smaller than median

▪ if the data is symmetrically

distributed, mean and median will
be approximately equal

▪ mode

▪ data with the highest frequency

▪ mode is not unique

▪ that means there can be multiple modes

for a set of data

▪ spread of data

▪ standard deviation

▪ measures how far a set of data is spread out from

its mean

▪ if most data are distributed closely to

mean, then standard deviation will be
smaller
 ▪ more clustered, standard deviation for a
set of data will be smaller

▪ if the data is distributed loosely, standard

deviation will be greater

▪ range

▪ range=max-min

▪ if ranges of two sets of data are close to each

other

▪ compare the distribution for their

standard deviation

▪ if ranges of two sets of data are not close to each

other

▪ the greater the range, the great standard

deviation it will be

o general data

▪ percent

▪ percentage change

▪ A is 20% more than B

▪ A=(1+20%)B

▪ B is 20% less than A

▪ B=(1-20%)A

▪ The above two relationships are different

▪ percent increase

▪ (greater value-smaller value)/smaller

value

▪ e.g. percent increase from 100 to

120 is (120-100)/100*100%=20%

▪ percent decrease

▪ (greater value-smaller value)/greater

 value

▪ e.g. percent decrease from 120 to

100 is (120-
100)/120*100%=16.666%

▪ percentage change=|change in value|/value

before change

▪ tax/tips

▪ tax is applied on the value before it's applied

▪ e.g. if untaxed value=100 and tax rate is

10%, then after tax, the total value will
become 100*(1+10%)

▪ e.g. if taxed value=110 and tax rate is 10%,

then before tax, the untaxed value(value
before tax is applied) is 110/(1+10%)

▪ discount

▪ x% off the original value means original value

subtracted by x% of the original value

▪ e.g. if the price is y and the discount is

20% off, then the discounted price will be
y*(1-20%)

▪ fraction/proportion

▪ what fraction/proportion/percentage of A is B?

▪ calculate for B/A

▪ Of A, what fraction/proportion/percentage is B?

▪ calculate for B/A

▪ B is what fraction/proportion/percentage is A?

▪ calculate for B/A

▪ unit change

▪ units can also be calculated

▪ change the unit one after one

 ▪ e.g.

o graphical analysis

▪ histogram

▪ heights of the bar represent the frequency of data

▪ median

▪ add the frequencies up until where

median locates is found

▪ mean

▪ multiply the frequency with the value and

add all up, then divide it by the total
frequency

▪ bar graph

▪ heights of the bar represent the value of data itself rather

than the frequency

▪ median

▪ count the height from the least to the

greatest and the one in the middle is the
median

▪ median

▪ simply add up all the heights and divide it

by the number of bars

▪ scatterplot

▪ intended estimate/predict/approximate

▪ NEVER be so certain when inferring according to

scatterplots
 ▪ intended to find association

▪ if the best fit line has a positive slope

▪ then it's a positive association

▪ if the best fit line has a negative slope

▪ then it's a negative association

▪ NEVER conclude causation from a scatterplot

▪ boxplot

▪ two vertical lines on the two ends represent minimum

value and maximum value respectively.

▪ the one vertical line in the middle of the box represents

the median

▪ each interval between two adjacent vertical segments

contains 25% of number of all data

▪ frequency table

o conditional probability

▪ GREATEST probability

▪ 1

▪ LEAST probability

▪ 0

▪ Key points

▪ identify the denominator and numerator based on the

description and the table

▪ If...is selected at random, what is the probability

that...

▪ Denominator: whatever comes before the

comma

▪ Numerator: whatever comes after the

probability that

▪ EXCEPTION
 ▪ ...given that...

▪ Denominator: whatever comes

after given that....

▪ Numerator: whatever comes after

the probability that

o data collection

▪ sampling

▪ random

▪ not Volunteers

▪ not your friends/parents/classmates

▪ representative

▪ location

▪ people

▪ time

▪ A sample randomly selected from a CLASS from a high

school in a certain district in a certain city in a certain
country in a certain continent on a certain planet in a
certain galaxy in a certain universe CAN ONLY be
generalized to the population from that CLASS.

▪ only association can be inferred from sampling

▪ NOT CAUSATION

▪ experiment

▪ participants are randomly selected from a certain

demographic group

▪ causational relationships

▪ If certain input can cause certain output

▪ Controlled Experiment

▪ control group

▪ without input, but everything else is the

 same as that of experiment group

▪ experiment group

▪ with input, but everything else is the same

as that of control group

▪ Random assignment

▪ participants are randomly assigned into either

group

▪ statistical inferences

▪ Margin of Error

▪ is used to estimate where the true result of

population can be

▪ [sample result-a margin of error, sample

result+a margin of error]

▪ any value in this interval can be

the true result of the population

▪ the greater the sample size, the smaller the

margin of error

Advanced Math
o polynomials

▪ factor theorem

▪ only valid for polynomials

▪ e.g. y=ax^3+bx^2+cx+d

▪ for a polynomial f(x), if x=a and f(a)=0, then x-a must be

a factor of polynomial f(x)

▪ quadratic equations & functions

▪ quadratic equations

▪ ax^2+bx+c=0
 ▪ quadratic formula: [-b+-(b^2-
4ac)^(1/2)]/2a

▪ number of solutions

▪ two solutions

▪ b^2-4ac>0

▪ one soultion

▪ b^2-4ac=0

▪ no solution

▪ b^2-4ac<0

▪ sum of the two solutions

▪ x1+x2=-b/a

▪ product of the two solutions

▪ x1*x2=c/a

▪ quadratic functions

▪ y=ax^2+bx+c

▪ a>0, open upwards

▪ a<0, open downwards

▪ |a| determines to what extend the

parabola is compressed horizontally

▪ y=0, value of x is the x-

intercept/zeros/solutions/roots

▪ x=0, value of y is c, which is the y-

intercept

▪ this form displays y-intercept of

the parabola as a constant

▪ Reflection: for any function,

understand that y-intercept is the
value of y when x=0, and then we
can find y-intercept and match it
 with options.

▪ y=a(x-x1)(x-x2)

▪ y=0, the value x is x1 or x2, which are the

x-intercepts

▪ this form displays x-intercepts of

the parabola as constants or
coefficients

▪ not every parabola has x-intercepts

▪ if b^2-4ac<0, then there will be

no x-intercepts

▪ y=a(x-h)^2+k

▪ when x=h

▪ if a>0

▪ then k is min

▪ if a<0

▪ then k is max

▪ (h,k)

▪ vertex of a parabola

▪ x=h is the symmetry axis of the

parabola

▪ h can be acquired by

▪ h=(x1+x2)/2

▪ from x-intercept
form

• then plug h into x to acquire k as the value of y

▪ x1+x2=-b/a

• from y-intercept form

o h=-b/2a
 ▪ then plug h into x to acquire k as the value of y

o or by completing square to acquire (h,k)

▪ try find vertex form for y=2x^2+3x+1

▪ x-intercept form

▪ y=2(x+1/2)(x+1)

▪ y-intercept form

▪ y=2x^2+3x+1

▪ completing square

▪ y=2(x+3/4)^2-1/8

o powers and radicals

▪ be careful with the calculation of square root

▪ value inside and value the square root is equivalent to

can only be greater than or equal to zero

o exponential functions

▪ y=a(b)^x

▪ a is the value of y-intercept

▪ when x increases by 1, y will increase by a factor

of b

▪ when x increases by 1, y will increase by [100(b-

1)]%

▪ b must be positive

▪ if a>0 and 0<b<1, the graph goes all the way

down and approaches 0 (can never be 0)

▪ if a>0 and b>1, the graph goes all the way up

and approaches infinite (can never be 0)

▪ y=a(b)^x+c

▪ a+c is the value of y-intercept

 ▪ y=a(b)^(rt)

▪ interpret b or r in a context

▪ 1. set the whole exponent as 1: rt=1

▪ 2. solve for the value of t(include the unit): t=1/r

unit

▪ 3. convert t's unit if necessary

▪ *that means when t increases by 1/r, y will

increase by a factor of b or [100(b-1)]%

o When you see questions like "which of following equivalent forms

display ... as constants or coefficients or base", calculate for it by yourself
and see from which expression you can identify it.

o NEVER forget to use DESMOS to help you verify your answer

Geometry
o angles

▪ 180°=pi radians

o triangles

▪ sum of interior angles is 180°

▪ sum of exterior angles is 360°

▪ sum of either two sides should be greater than the third one

▪ positive difference between any two sides should be smaller than

the third one

▪ pythagorean theorem

▪ a^2+b^2=c^2

▪ similar triangles

▪ same corresponding angles

▪ same ratio for corresponding sides

▪ congruent triangles
 ▪ NO "ASS"

o Polygons

▪ sum of interior angles of an n-sided polygon is (n-2)180°

▪ sum of exterior angles of an n-sided polygon is 360°

o trigonometry

▪ sine

▪ opposite over hypotenuse

▪ cos

▪ adjacent over hypotenuse

▪ tan

▪ opposite over adjacent

▪ sin/cos/tan of special angles

▪ 0°/30°/45°/60°/90°

▪ unit circles

o circles

▪ center

▪ determines where the circle is

▪ radius

▪ determines the size of the circle

▪ equivalent everywhere inside the circle

▪ *REFLECTION: consider isosceles/equilateral triangles

inside a circle

▪ diameter

▪ 2r

▪ midpoint of the diameter is the center

▪ circumference

▪ 2*pi*r
 ▪ area

▪ pi*r^2

▪ central angles

▪ vertex at center

▪ twice its corresponding inscribed angle

▪ inscribed angles

▪ vertex at circumference

▪ half of its corresponding central angle

▪ arc

▪ directly proportional to circumference

▪ (central angle/360°)*circumference

▪ sector

▪ directly proportional to area of the circle

▪ (central angle/360°)*area of the circle

▪ chord

▪ segments inside the circle with two ends on the

circumference

▪ tangent line

▪ perpendicular to the radius where the point of tangency

is at

▪ has only one intersection with the circle

o circle equation

▪ (x-b)^2+(y-b)^2=r^2

▪ center:(a,b)

▪ radius: r

▪ if the given circle equation is expanded, then complete

the square for center and radius

o solid geometry
 ▪ cylinder

▪ prism

▪ pyramid

▪ cone

▪ height

▪ slant height

• Complex numbers

o i^2=-1

▪ simplify (a+bi)/(c+di) by multiply both numerator and

denominator with (c-di)