➕ Algebra 1 · Equations
Literal Equations and Formulas cheat sheet
Everything you need on one page. Print it, or switch on test-yourself mode to blur the answers and check your memory.
The recipe (Circle, Clear, Check)
- 1. Circle the letter you want
- 2. Letter in two terms? Gather and factor it out
- 3. Undo what is attached, last first, on both sides
- 4. Check with numbers
Rearranged formulas
- d = rt gives t = d ÷ r
- P = 2l + 2w gives w = (P − 2l) ÷ 2
- F = (9/5)C + 32 gives C = (5/9)(F − 32)
- A = P + Prt gives P = A ÷ (1 + rt)
Worked example
- 5x − 2y = 10
- −2y = 10 − 5x (subtract 5x)
- y = (5/2)x − 5 (divide every term by −2)
Watch out
- Divide the whole side: use parentheses
- Never divide by 0: assume the letter is not 0
- Signs stay with their terms
- Other letters stay in the answer
Formulas
- Distance: d = rt gives r = d ÷ t and t = d ÷ r (when the divisor is not 0)
- Perimeter of a rectangle: P = 2l + 2w gives w = (P − 2l) ÷ 2
- Temperature: F = (9/5)C + 32 gives C = (5/9)(F − 32)
- Simple interest: I = Prt gives P = I ÷ (rt) (when r ≠ 0 and t ≠ 0)
- Total with simple interest: A = P + Prt gives P = A ÷ (1 + rt) (when 1 + rt ≠ 0)
- Standard form of a line: Ax + By = C gives y = (C − Ax) ÷ B (when B ≠ 0)
Literal Equations and Formulas cheat sheet from HighSchoolQ.com, for personal study use.