Practice questions

15.  Multiply $(3x-7y)^2$

Solution:

Use the formula, $(a-b)^2=a^2-2ab+b^2$

$=(3x)^2-2\cdot 3x\cdot 7y+(7y)^2$

$=9x^2-42xy+49y^2$

16. Divide $\dfrac{x^2+3x-10}{x+5}$

Solution:

$=\dfrac{(x+5)(x-2)}{x+5}$

$=x-2$

17. Factor the following expressions.

  (a) $64x^9y^9+24x^2y^6$

  (b) $m^3+4m^2-6m-24$

  (c) $8x^2-6x-9$

  (d) $16x^2-81$

  (e) $8c^3+125$

  (f) $x^2+6x+9-4y^2$

Solution:

(a).

$=8x^2y^6(8x^7y^3+3)$

(b).

$=m^2(m+4)-6(m+4)$

$=(m+4)(m^2-6)$

18.  Solve the following equations.

  (a) $2k^2=9k-9$

  (b) $\dfrac{3}{k+2}-\dfrac{2}{k^2-4}=\dfrac{1}{k-2}$

Solution:

(a).

Write the equation in standard form of a quadratic equation:

$2k^2-9k+9=0$

Factor:

$2k^2-6k-3k+9=0$

$2k(k-3)-3(k-3)=0$

$(k-3)(2k-3)=0$

By zero-product rule:

$k-3=0$ or $2k-3=0$

Solve for k:

$k=3$ or $k=3/2$

Solution:

$\{3, 3/2\}$

(b).

First you need to factor, whatever you can factor.

$\dfrac{3}{k+2}-\dfrac{2}{(k+2)(k-2)}=\dfrac{1}{k-2}$

Least common denominator is $(k+2)(k-2)$

Multiply this in each term:

$\dfrac{3}{k+2}\cdot (k+2)(k-2)-\dfrac{2}{(k+2)(k-2)}\cdot (k+2)(k-2)$

$=\dfrac{1}{k-2}\cdot (k+2)(k-2)$

Now, cancel out whatever you can cancel out:

$3(k-2)-2=k+3$

Now, solve for $k$:

$3k-6-2=k+3$

$2k=11$

$k=\dfrac{11}{2}$

19. Simplify the following expressions.

  (a) $\dfrac{m^2-49}{m+1}\div \dfrac{7-m}{m}$

  (b) $\dfrac{5x}{x^2+xy-2y^2}-\dfrac{3x}{x^2+5xy-6y^2}$

Solution:

(a).

You need to factor whatever you can factor:

$=\dfrac{(m+7)(m-7)}{m+1}\div \dfrac{7-m}{m}$

Replace the multiplication by taking the reciprocal of the rational expression that follows the division sign:

$=\dfrac{(m+7)(m-7)}{m+1}\cdot \dfrac{m}{7-m}$

$=\dfrac{(m+7)(m-7)}{m+1}\cdot \dfrac{m}{-(m-7)}$

$=-\dfrac{m(m+7)}{m+1}$

(b).

Factor the expressions in the denominators:

=$\dfrac{5x}{(x+2y)(x-y)}-\dfrac{3x}{(x+6y)(x-y)}$

LCD$=(x+2y)(x-y)(x+6y)$

Multiply and divide the LCD in each term:

=$\dfrac{5x}{(x+2y)(x-y)}\cdot \dfrac{(x+2y)(x-y)(x+6y)}{(x+2y)(x-y)(x+6y)}$

$-\dfrac{3x}{(x+6y)(x-y)}\cdot \dfrac{(x+2y)(x-y)(x+6y)}{(x+2y)(x-y)(x+6y)}$

Cancel out the common factors between the numerator and the denominator;

=$\dfrac{5x}{(x+2y)(x-y)}\cdot \dfrac{(x+2y)(x-y)(x+6y)}{(x+2y)(x-y)(x+6y)}$

$-\dfrac{3x}{(x+6y)(x-y)}\cdot \dfrac{(x+2y)(x-y)(x+6y)}{(x+2y)(x-y)(x+6y)}$

Radical expressions and rational numbers as exponents.

20.  Simplify the following expressions.

  (a) $\sqrt[5]{s^3}\:\sqrt[4]{s}$  (Write the answer in radical notation.)

  (b) $\sqrt{108}$

  (c) $-\sqrt[3]{-125a^6b^9c^{12}}$

  (d) $3x\sqrt[3]{xy^2}-2\sqrt[3]{8x^4y^2}$

  (e) $\sqrt{x^2-4x+4}$;$x\ge 0$

Solution:

(a).

First write the expression in exponential notation:

$=s^{\frac{3}{5}}\:s^{\frac{1}{4}}$

$=s^{\frac{3}{5}+\frac{1}{4}}$

$=s^{\frac{3}{5}+\frac{1}{4}}$

$=s^{\frac{17}{20}}$

Write in radical form:

$=\sqrt[20]{s^{17}}$

(b).

Factoring what is inside the radical sign:

=$\sqrt{4\cdot 9\cdot 3}$

=$2\cdot 3\sqrt{3}$

=$6\sqrt{3}$

(c).

=$-(-5)a^2b^3c^4$

=$5a^2b^3c^4$

(d).

=$3x\sqrt[3]{xy^2}-2\cdot 2 x\sqrt[3]{xy^2}$

=$3x\sqrt[3]{xy^2}-4x\sqrt[3]{xy^2}$

=$-x\sqrt[3]{xy^2}$

(e).

=$\sqrt{x^2-4x+4}$;

Factor the expression inside the radical sign:

=$\sqrt{(x-2)^2}$

=$(x-2)$

Note that, I did not put the absolute value symbol as it is given $x\ge 0$, that is $x$ is a positive number.

21.  Rational the denominator for the following expressions.

  (a) $\dfrac{\sqrt{2}-\sqrt{3}}{\sqrt{6}-\sqrt{5}}$

  (b) $\dfrac{\sqrt{a}}{\sqrt{a}-\sqrt{b}}$

(a).

Multiply and divide the conjugate of the denominator:

$=\dfrac{\sqrt{2}-\sqrt{3}}{\sqrt{6}-\sqrt{5}} \cdot \dfrac{\sqrt{6}+\sqrt{5}}{\sqrt{6}+\sqrt{5}}$

The denominator, you can write as a difference of squares:

$=\dfrac{\sqrt{2}-\sqrt{3}}{\sqrt{6}-\sqrt{5}} \cdot \dfrac{\sqrt{6}+\sqrt{5}}{\sqrt{6}+\sqrt{5}}$

22. Multiply.

  (a) $(3\sqrt{7}+2\sqrt{5})(2\sqrt{7}-4\sqrt{5})$

  (b) $(3-\sqrt{2})^2$

23.  Solve the following equations.

  (a) $\sqrt[3]{x-8}+3=0$

  (b) $5=\sqrt{7x-3}$

  (c) $(2w-1)^{2/3}-w^{1/3}=0$

5. Quadratic equations

24. Solve the following equations.

  (a) $(t+5)^2=48$

  (b) $y^2-14y+49=0$

25.  Find the value of $c$ such that $9x^2-30x + c = 0$ has exactly one solution.

. For the quadratic function $f(x)=-2x^2-2x+3$, find the following:

  (a) The vertex

  (b) The line of symmetry

  (c) The maximum or minimum value

  (d) The x-intercept

  (e) The y-intercept

  (f) The graph of the function.

27.  A club swimming pool is 30 feet long. The area of the pool is 1200 ft2. The club members want a paved walkway with uniform width around the pool. They have enough material to cover 296 ft2. How wide can the strip be?

The Algebra of Functions, Composite Functions and Inverse Functions

28.  Simplify as much as possible.

  (a) Find $\dfrac{f}{g}$ if $f(x)=\dfrac{x^2-16}{x^2-10x+25}$ and $g(x)=\dfrac{3x-12}{x^2-3x-10}$.

  (b) Find $(f-g)(x)$ if $f(x)=\dfrac{5ab}{a^2-b^2}$ and $g(x)=\dfrac{a-b}{a+b}$.

  (b) Find $(f\cdot g)(-3)$ if $f(x)=\dfrac{3x}{6x^2-13x-5}$ and $g(x)=4x-10$.

29.  Determine whether or not $g(x)=\sqrt{x-3}$ is one-to-one and, if possible, find $g^{-1}$.

30.  Find $(f\circ g)(x)$ and $(g\circ f)(x)$ given $f(x)=4x^2-1$ and $g(x)=\dfrac{2}{x}$.

7. Complex Numbers and Fractions

31. Simplify $\dfrac{4+3i}{5+3i}$. Write your answer in the form $a + bi$.

Solution:

Multiply and divide the complex conjugate:

$=\dfrac{(4+3i)(5-3i)}{(5+3i)(5-3i)}$

$=\dfrac{20-12i+15i-9i^2}{5^2+9^2}$

$=\dfrac{20-12i+15i-9(-1)}{25+81}$

$=\dfrac{29+3i}{106}$

$=\dfrac{29}{106}+\dfrac{3i}{106}$

32.  Multiply $2i(-4-i)^2$.

Solution:

$=2i(-(4+i))^2$

$=2i(4+i)^2$

Expanding using the forumla $(a+b)^2 = a^2+2ab+b^2$:

$=2i(4^2+8i+i^2)$

$=2i(16+8i-1)$

$=2i(15+8i)$

$=30i+16i^2$

$=30i+16(-1)$

$=-16+30i$

33.   Simplify.

  (a) $i^{42}$

  (b) $i^{17}$

(a).

Solution:

$i^{42}=i^2=-1$

Note that 2 is the remainder after dividing 42 by 4.

(b).

Solution:

$i^{17}=i^1=i$

Note that 1 is the remainder after dividing 17 by 4.

Logarithmic and Exponential Functions

34.  Solve the following equations.

  (a) $16^{2x+1}=64^{x+3}$

  (b) $\log_4(2x+4)=3$

  (c) $2^{x+3}=5^x$

  (d) $\log_2(x)+\log_2(x-7)=3$

Solution:

(a).

First, rewrite the equation so that both have same exponents:

$(4^2)^{2x+1}=(4^3)^{x+3}$

$(4)^{2(2x+1)}=(4)^{3(x+3)}$

Now, the bases are the same, so the exponents should be the same:

$2(2x+1)=3(x+3)$

Now, solve for $x$:

$4x+4=3x+9$

Solving for $x$:

$x=5$

(b).

Write the logarithmic equation in exponential form:

$4^3=2x+4$

$64=2x+4$

Solving for $x$:

$x=30$

(c).

You cannot write this equation with same base on both sides. So take log on both sides:

$\log(2^{x+3})=\log(5^x)$

$(x+3)\log(2)=x\log(5)$

$x\log(2)+3\log(2)=x\log(5)$

$x(\log(2)-\log(5))=2\log(2)$

Divide $(\log(2)-\log(5))$ to get $x$:

$x=\dfrac{2\log(2)}{\log(2)-\log(5)}$

After using the calculator:

$x=-1.513$

(d).

First combine the two logarithms on the left:

$\log_2(x(x-7))=3$

Now, write in exponential form:

$2^3=x(x-7)$

$8=x^2-7x$

This is a quadratic equation, write in standard form to solve:

$0=x^2-7x-8$

i.e., $x^2-7x-8=0$

Factoring:

$(x-7)(x+1)=0$

Applying zero-product rule:

$x-7=0$ or $x+1=0$

$x=7$ or $x=-1$

So, the solutions are

$x=-1, 7$

35.  Rewrite the following expression as a single logarithm.

  (e) $3\log_p(x)+\dfrac{1}{2}\log_p(y)-\dfrac{3}{2}\log_p(z)$

Solution:

Write the coefficients of log as exponents using the formula $\log_a{x^p}=p\log x$

$=\log_p(x^3)+\log_p(y^{1/2})-\log_p(z^{3/2})$

Combine them:

$=\log_p\left(\dfrac{x^3y^{1/2}}{z^{3/2}}\right)$

You can also write this as

$=\log_p\left(\dfrac{x^3\sqrt{y}}{\sqrt{z^3}}\right)$

36.  Use the change of base formula to estimate the following logarithms to four decimal places.

  (a) $\log_\pi(e)$

  (b) $3\log_6 2.75$

Solution:

(a).

Use the change of base formula. Change the base to $e$ as there is an $e$ in the log. (You can also change the base to 10).

$\log_\pi(e)=\dfrac{\ln(e)}{\ln (\pi)}$

 $=\dfrac{1}{\ln (\pi)}$

 $=\dfrac{1}{1.1447}$

 $=0.874$, after rounding to the thousandth.

37.   Graph.

  (e) $y=\left(\dfrac{2}{3}\right )^x$

  (e) $y=\log_2 x$

38. Solve the following problems using the interest formulas.

  (a) What will be the amount A in an account with an initial principal of $4000 if interest is compounded continuously at a rate of 3.5% for 6 years? Also, how long does it take for the account to double?

  (a)  A college loan of \$29,000 is made at 3% interest compounded annually. After t years, the amount due, A, is given by the function $A(t)=29,000(1.03)^t$. If no payments are made, how long will it take for the amount due to reach \$35,000?

Solution:

(a)

For the interest compounded continuously, you should use the following formula:

$A=P e^{rt}$

$t$ is the number of years, $A$ is the amount after $t$ years, $P$ is the Principal (initial deposit or loan if money is borrowed) and $r$ is the interest rate.

You are given:

$P=4000\:\$$; $r=3.5\%=3.5/100=0.035$; and $t=6$ years. You need to find the amount $A$ after $6$ years. Substituting, $P$,$r$ and $t$ in the equation:

$A=4000 e^{0.035\cdot 6}$

$A=4000 e^{0.035\cdot 6}$

$ =4000 e^{0.21}$

$ =4000 \cdot 1.2337$

$ =4934.71 \:\$$

This is one of the answer.

Next, you need to find how long, $(t)$ does it take to double the amount.

Amount is doubled, so, $A=2P$. Substituting this, $A$ and $r$ in the formula:

$2P=Pe^{0.035t}$

Divide out $P$, and solve for $t$:

$2=e^{0.035t}$

To solve, take $\ln$ on both sides:

$ln (2)= ln(e^{0.035t})$

$ln (2)= 0.035t$

$t=ln(2)/0.035=19.8$ years

(b).

In this problem, the interest is compounded annually, that is periodically. So the formula to be used is

$A=P\left(1+\dfrac{r}{n}\right)^{nt}$

where $n$ is the number of times per year, the interest is compounded.

Since the interest is compunded annually, $n=1$.

Interest rate is, $r=3\%=3/100=0.03$

You need to find the time $t$ to reach the amount, $35,000$.

Substitute, $A=35,000$ and solve for $t$:

$35000=29000(1.03)^t$

To solve this exponential equation, take log on both sides:

$\log(35000)=\log(29000(1.03)t)$

$\log(35000)=1.03t\log(29000)$

$t=\dfrac{\log(35000)}{1.03\log(29000)}=0.989$ years