Pre Calculus

Diagnostic

July 1, 2015

Please show all your work! We are trying to see what you do or dont know. Make
our jobs a little easier and write answers in spaces provided. If you need more space,
use a separate sheet and label clearly. You should use about 45 minutes to complete
this diagnostic. Please write approximately how long it took you to finish at the end
of your exam. And remember: HAVE FUN!

Name:
1. Simplify (through factorization or otherwise) the following polynomial expressions. Make sure you
show your work and justify all your answers!
(a) x2 + 2x + 1

Answer:
(b) 5x3

10x2

15x

Answer:
(c)

x2 + 7x + 12
x2 + 5x + 6

Answer:
2. Evaluate 3 (22 )2

7 2 + (2

1)

Answer:

Pre Calculus

Diagnostic

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3. Johnny could not make it into the STEM program. Determined to make the most out of his summer,
he decided to do various day jobs. One Sunday, however, he was having trouble picking between
two different jobs. Mr. and Mrs. Red were conducting a large painting job on their house. Mrs. Red
would pay Johnny 10 dollars outright, and 50 cents for every hour, to paint the garage to her house
red. Mr. Red offered instead to pay him 4 dollars and 50 cents every hour to help him paint the
kitchen red. Johnny knows that it will take him about 3 hours to paint the garage or the kitchen.
Who should Johnny help and why?

Answer:
4. Consider Johnny again. Draw the graphs showing how much money Johnny earns over time in both jobs
(if you want a hint on how to label the axis, ask us).

Cont.

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Diagnostic

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5. Tahmid asks Eden about her favorite number. Eden tells him that her favorite number squared is -4.
Tahmid then wonders how this is possible, since the square of any real number is positive. Explain to
Tahmid what Edens number is.

6. Circle one: Taylor Swift Rocks!

yes

no

7. Draw a right triangle. One of the legs is 3 in. long. The other leg is 4 in. long.
(a) How long is the hypotenuse? Dont forget to show your work!

Answer:

Cont.

Pre Calculus

Diagnostic

Page 4 of 4

(b) Name a function and how youd use that function to evaluate the angle between the hypotenuse
and leg of length 3.

8
>
<x + y + z = 6
8. Solve the following system of equations: 3x 2y + 4z = 9
>
:
x y z=0

Answer:

9. Whats your favorite snack? Were just wondering... ;))) - we might or might not get you said snacks

The End.