Chapter 3
Algebra
1. Formulae and Identities
i. a 2 − b 2 = ( a + b )( a − b )
(a + b)
2
ii. = a 2 + b 2 + 2ab
(a − b)
2
iii. = a 2 + b 2 − 2ab
(a + b) + ( a − b ) = 2 ( a 2 + b2 )
2 2
iv.
(a + b) − (a − b) =
2 2
v. 4ab
( a + b + c ) = a 2 + b 2 + c 2 + 2ab + 2bc + 2ca
2
vi.
( a + b ) = a3 + b3 + 3ab ( a + b )
3
vii.
(a − b) = a 3 − b3 − 3ab ( a − b )
3
viii.
ix. a 3 + b3 = ( a + b ) ( a 2 − ab + b 2 )
a 3 + b3 = ( a + b ) − 3ab ( a + b )
3
x.
xi. a 3 − b3 = ( a − b ) ( a 2 + ab + b 2 )
a 3 − b3 = ( a − b ) + 3ab ( a − b )
3
xii.
(a + b)
3
xiii. + (a − b)3 = 2a 3 + 6ab 2
(a + b)
3
xiv. − (a − b)3 = 2b3 + 6ba 2
(a + b + c) = a 3 + b3 + c 3 + 3 ( a + b )( b + c )( c + a )
3
xv.
xvi. a 3 + b3 + c 3 − 3abc = ( a + b + c ) ( a 2 + b 2 + c 2 − ab − bc − ca )
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( a + b + c ) ( a − b ) + ( b − c ) + ( c − a )
2 2 2
xvii. a 3 + b3 + c 3 − 3abc=
2
xviii. If a + b + c = 0, then a 3 + b3 + c 3 =
3abc
(a + b + c) = a 3 + b3 + c 3 + 3 ab ( a + b ) + bc ( b + c ) +ca ( c + a ) + 2abc
3
xix.
xx. (a + b + c)3 = a3 + b3 + c3 + 3 a 2 ( b + c ) + 3b 2 ( c + a ) + 3c 2 ( b + a ) + 6abc
2. Factors of some Algebraic expression:
i. 1 + a + b + ab = (1 + a )(1 + b )
ii. x + xa + xb + ab = ( x + a )( x + b )
iii. 1 + a + b + c + ab + bc + ca + abc = (1 + a )(1 + b )(1 + c )
iv. a4 + a2 + 1 = (a2 + a + 1)(a2 + 1 – a)
v. a 4 + b 4 + a 2 b 2 = ( a 2 + b 2 + ab )( a 2 + b 2 − ab )
vi. a 4 + b4 = (a 2
)(
+ b 2 + 2 ab a 2 + b 2 − 2ab )
vii. a 4 + b 4 − 3a 2 b 2 = ( a 2 − b 2 + ab )( a 2 − b 2 − ab )
1
3. Formulae and Identities: x + form
2 x
1 2 1
i. x+ =x + 2 +2
x x
2
1 2 1
ii. x− =x + 2 −2
x x
2 1 1 1
iii. If x + 2 =k , then x + = k + 2 and x − = k −2
x x x
1 1
iv. If x + k , then x 2 + 2 = k 2 − 2
=
x x
1 1
v. If x − k , then x 2 + 2 = k 2 + 2
=
x x
1 1
vi. If x + k , then x − =
= k2 − 4
x x
1 1
vii. If x − k , then x + =
= k2 + 4
x x
3
1 3 1 1
viii. x + = x + 3 + 3 x +
x x x
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SSC Quantitative Aptitude Formula Book
3
1 3 1 1
ix. x − = x − 3 − 3 x −
x x x
4. Some Other Important formulae
i. If x2 + x + 1 = 0, then x3 = 1
ii. If x2 – x + 1 = 0, then x3 = –1
iii. If x 2 + 3 x + 1 = 0 or x 2 − 3 x + 1 = 0 , then x6 = – 1
5. Remainder Theorem: Let p(x) be a polynomial of degree greater than
equal to 1. If p(x) is divided by (x – a), then the remainder = p(a).
6. Factor Theorem: Let p(x) be a polynomial of degree greater than equal
to 1. Then, (x – a) is a factor of p(x) if and only if p(a) = 0.
7. Relation between zeros and coefficient of a polynomial:
i. If a and b are the zeros of the quadratic polynomial ax 2 + bx + c then,
α + β =− [Sum of the roots]
c
αβ = [Product of the roots]
a
ii. If a, b and g are the zeros of the cubic polynomial, then ax3 + bx2 +
cx + d then,
b
α + β + γ = − [Sum of the roots]
a
c
αβ + βγ + γα = [Sum of the roots taken two at a time]
a
d
αβγ = − [Product of roots]
a
8. Quadratic Formula: The roots of the quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 are:
−b ± b 2 − 4ac
x=
2a
9. Discriminant of a Quadratic equation: The discriminant of the quadratic
equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 is:
D = b2 – 4ac
10. Nature of Roots: The roots of the quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 are:
i. Real and Unequal: If D > 0
ii. Real and Equal: If D = 0
iii. Imaginary: If D < 0
9 Algebra