Name: ___________________________________________ Date: _______________ Hour: __________

Course 2: Midterm Study Guide

Factoring
1. What are the steps to factoring a quadratic trinomial when a=1?

2. Give an example of a quadratic expression with the following patterns (and factor):
a. + + +:

b. + - +:

c. + + -:

d. + - -:

3. Find an example of a quadratic expression where you would need to use the Box
Method (and factor):

4. Find an example of a quadratic expression that is considered a “special case” (and

factor):

5. Find an example where you would need to factor by grouping (show your work):

Solving Quadratic Equations

6. Find an example of a quadratic equation with the following formats (and solve):
a. a x 2+ c=d :

b. a x 2+ bx=0:

c. a x 2+ bx+ c=0:
 7. Write out the Quadratic Formula:

a. How many solutions should you have if your discriminant is positive?

b. How many solutions should you have if your discriminant is negative?
c. How many solutions should you have if your discriminant is zero?

8. What does it mean to solve for x?

9. Why does a quadratic equation always have to equal zero when you are asked to find
the x-intercepts?

Graphing Quadratic Functions

10. Graph the following functions (include an input-output table) and identify the vertex,
axis of symmetry, and direction:

Designing
Parabolas
 11. Find the equation that matches the following graph:

Maximizing/Minimizing Area
12. Victoria is building a rectangular pen using an existing side of her house (so her pen only
needs three sides of fencing.) If she has 160 feet of fencing, what would be the
dimensions that would yield the maximum area? Use x to represent how far out from
the house her pen extends.

Identifying Parts of a Graph

13. Identify the following parts of the graph:
a. X-intercepts
b. Y-intercept
c. Vertex
d. Axis of Symmetry

Matrices
14. What are the necessary conditions for the following operations to be performed on
matrices:
a. Addition (why)?

b. Subtraction (why)?

c. Multiplication (why)?

15. What is the purpose of matrices? How are they used in real life?

16. Perform the indicated operations on the following matrices: (show your work on a
separate sheet of paper)