Pre-Calculus Mathematics

Midterm exam answer (October 31, 2019)

1. Formula (20pts)
(1) (a + b)2 = a2 + 2ab + b2
(2) (a − b)2 = a2 − 2ab + b2
(3) (a + b)3 = a3 + 3a2 b + 3ab2 + b3
(4) (a − b)3 = a3 − 3a2 b + 3ab2 − b3
(5) a2 − b2 = (a + b)(a − b)

2. Factor the following equations (12pts)

(1)5x2 + 17xy + 6y 2
(2)25x2 − 64y 2
soulution:
(1)(5x+2y)(x+3y)
(2)(5x+8y)(5x-8y)

3. Solve the following equations (32pts)

(1)3x + 8 = 5x − 6
(2)3x2 − 5x + 7 = 0

x2 − 3 x2 − 5x x + 6
(3) = +
6 4 3
3 18 4
(4) + 2 = 2
x2 − 3x − 10 x − 5x − 14 x − 12x + 35

solution:
(1)3x + 8 = 5x − 6 ⇒ 8 + 6 = 5x − 3x ⇒ 14 = 2x ⇒ x = 7
√ √
−(−5) ± (−5)2 − 4 ∗ 3 ∗ 7 5 ± −59
(2)⇒ x = =
2∗3 6
√
5 ± 59i
Since b − 4ac < 0,so there is no solution or
2
6
1
 (3) ⇒ multiply the least common multiple 12
⇒ 2(x2 − 3) = 3(x2 − 5x) + 4(x + 6) ⇒ 2x2 − 6 = 3x2 − 15x + 4x + 24
⇒ x2 − 11x + 30 = 0 ⇒ (x − 5)(x − 6) = 0 ⇒ x = 5, 6
(4)First , factor out each denominator,then we have
3 18 4
(x−5)(x+2)
+ (x−7)(x+2)
= (x−5)(x−7)
Second , we multiply the least common multiple (x + 2)(x − 5)(x − 7)
Then we get 3(x − 7) + 18(x − 5) = 4(x + 2)
Simplification the equation ⇒ 3x − 21 + 18x − 90 = 4x + 8
⇒ 17x = 119 ⇒ x = 7
but if x = 7 , the denominator equals to zero
Hence the answer of this question is no solution.

4. Use the properties of exponent to simplify each expression (6pts)

x−3 y 2 z 5
(1) 4 −6
xz
sol:

x−3 y 2 z 5
= x−3−4 y 2 z 5−(−6) = x−7 y 2 z 11
x4 z −6
5. Calculations with Exponents (6pts)
(1)−64
sol:
−64 = −(64 ) = −1296

6. Factor out the smallest power of the variable, assuming all variables represent
positive real numbers (8pts)
(1)(2x2 + x − 6)(2x − 3)−2 (x − 5) + (2x − 3)−1 (x − 5)2
sol:
Factor out the smallest power of the variable , we get
⇒ (2x − 3)−2 (x − 5)[(2x2 + x − 6) + (2x − 3)(x − 5)]
Simplification the equation
⇒ (2x − 3)−2 (x − 5)[(2x2 + x − 6) + (2x2 − 13x + 15)]
⇒ (2x − 3)−2 (x − 5)[4x2 − 12x + 9]
⇒ (2x − 3)−2 (x − 5)(2x − 3)2
⇒ (x − 5)

2
7. (1)Factor out the smallest power of the variable, assuming all variables repre-
sent positive real numbers (6pts) and (2) solve the equation (10pts)
(1)(6x2 + 5x + 1)(3x + 1)−3 (x − 2) + (3x + 1)−3 (2x − 3)(2x + 1)2 = 0

sol:
(1)Factor the equation , we get
⇒ (2x + 1)(3x + 1)(3x + 1)−3 (x − 2) + (3x + 1)−3 (2x − 3)(2x + 1)2 = 0
Simplification the equation , we get
⇒ (2x + 1)(3x + 1)−2 (x − 2) + (3x + 1)−3 (2x − 3)(2x + 1)2 = 0
And then factor out the smallest power of the variable , we get
⇒ (3x + 1)−3 (2x + 1)[(3x + 1)(x − 2) + (2x − 3)(2x + 1)] = 0
Simplification the equation , we get
⇒ (3x + 1)−3 (2x + 1)[(3x2 − 5x − 2) + 4x2 − 4x − 3] = 0
⇒ (3x + 1)−3 (2x + 1)[7x2 − 9x − 5] = 0

(2)solve the equation (3x + 1)−3 (2x + 1)[7x2 − 9x − 5] = 0

multiply (3x + 1)3 in order to let the denominator equal to 1 (if x ̸= − 31 )
Then we get ⇒ (2x + 1)[7x2 − 9x − 5] = 0
By the equation , we know that (2x + 1) = 0 or (7x2 − 9x − 5) = 0
For the equation (2x + 1) = 0 , trivially x = − 12
For the equation (7x2 − 9x − 5) = 0
√
By Quadratic Formula we have x = 9±14221
But in the question we assume that all variables represent positive real num-
√
9+ 221
bers , hence we have only one answer x = 14