AL2 PRACTICE Midterm

Calculator Section (Graphing Calculator Allowed)

1. Factor 8x3 + y 9 .

(a) (2x − y)(4x2 + 2xy + y 2 )

(b) (2x − y 3 )(4x2 + 2xy 3 + y 6 )
(c) (2x + y)(4x2 + 2xy + y 2 )
(d) (2x + y 3 )(4x2 − 2xy 3 + y 6 )
(e) None of the above

Solution: (d): This follows from the sum of cubes formula.

q 
2
2. Which of the following is equal to log2 3 x3y5z ?
1
(a) 3
(2 log2 (x) · log2 (z) · log2 (3) · 5 log2 (y))
2 log2 (x)+log2 (z)
(b) 3(log2 (3)+5 log2 (y))

(c) 2 log8 (x) + log8 (z) − log8 (3) − 5 log8 (y)

1
(d) 3
log(3y5 ) (x2 z)
(e) None of the above

Solution: (c): use properties of logarithms to show the following:

s !  2 
x 2z 1 xz
3
log2 5
= log2
3y 3 3y 5
 2 
log2 x3y5z
=
3
 2 
log2 x3y5z
=
log2 (8)
 2 
xz
= log8
3y 5
= 2 log8 (x) + log8 (z) − log8 (3) − 5 log8 (y)

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3. Find all real roots of f (x) = 4x4 − 4x2 + 1.

(a) x = ± 12
√
2
(b) x = ± 2
(c) x = ±1
(d) x = 1
(e) None of the above

Solution: (b) Substitute y = 2x2 . Then the quartic becomes a quadratic: y 2 −2y+1 =
(y − 1)2 . This quadratic has just one zero, y = 1. Thus, 2x2 = 1, so x2 = 21 . Thus,
√
1 2
x = ±√ = ±
2 2

4. The amount of carbon-14 in a fossilized tree is given by the formula C(t) =

C0 e−0.00012t , where C0 is the amount of carbon-14 in the tree at the time of its
death and t is the number of years that have elapsed. How long would it take for
a tree to reach 35% of its original carbon-14 content, to the nearest year?

(a) 2,916 years

(b) 3,100 years
(c) 8,229 years
(d) 8,749 years
(e) None of the above
C(t)
Solution: (d): Note that this formula is equivalent to C0
= e−0.00012t . At the desired
time, C(t)
C0
= 0.35. Now, solve for t:

C(t)
C0
= e−0.00012t
0.35 = e−0.00012t
−1.0498 ≈ −0.00012t
8, 749 ≈ t

5. Solve for x: |4 − 3x| − 5 > −2

(a) x < − 31 or x > 1

3
(b) − 13 < x < 7
3
1 7
(c) 3
<x< 3
7
(d) x > 3
or x < − 13
(e) None of the above

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Solution: (e): Adding 5 to both sides, we have |4 − 3x| > 3. Thus, we have

4 − 3x > 3 or 4 − 3x < −3

In the first case, we get 3x < 4−3 = 1, so x < 31 . In the second case, if 4−3x < −3,
we have 3x > 4 + 3 = 7, so x > 37 . Thus, the answer is x < 13 or x > 37 .

6. Which of the following functions is invertible?

4 −4
(a) f (x) = ex
(b) f (x) = x3 − 2x + 1
√
(c) f (x) = 1 − x2
(d) f (x) = ex − x
(e) None of the above

Solution: (e): None of the functions pass the horizontal line test, so none of the
functions are invertible.
√ x
7. Given f (x) = −8 + x + 40 and g(x) = e2 , what is the domain of (f ◦ (g −1 ))(x)?

(a) (0, ∞)
(b) (−∞, ∞)
(c) (−8, ∞)
(d) (−40, ∞)
(e) None of the above

Solution: (e): First, find g −1 (x):

ex
y=
2
ey
x=
2
2x = ey
ln(2x) = y

Additionally, note that the domain of f (x) is the interval [−40, ∞). Therefore, the
domain of f ◦g −1 is the set of real numbers that are mapped into the range [−40, ∞)
−40
by the function g −1 (x) = ln(2x). This set is [ e 2 , ∞).

3
 8. Let f (x) be a quadratic. From the graph of f (x) pictured below, what is the equa-
tion of f (x)?

(a) f (x) = 2x2 − x − 3

(b) f (x) = x2 − x − 3
(c) f (x) = x2 − 2x + 1
(d) f (x) = 2x2 − 2x + 3
(e) None of the above
Solution: (a): f (x) has zeros at x = −1 and x = 32 . So f (x) = a(x + 1)(x − 32 ) where
a is some constant. To find a, let’s plug in a point from the graph. We see that
when x = 0, y = −3, so we must have f (0) = −3. That is,
3 3a
−3 = f (0) = a(0 + 1)(0 − ) = −
2 2
9. What is the remainder of x5 + 2x4 − x3 + 6x2 − 4 divided by x − 1?
Solution: By the remainder theorem, the remainder of dividing f (x) by x − a is f (a).
In this case, it is f (1) = 4.
10. If f (x) = x3 + 3x − 1, what is the approximate value of f −1 (2) to two decimal
places?
Solution: Graph f (x) and y=2. Find the point of intersection: (0.82, 2). Since
f (0.82) is 2, f −1 (2) is 0.82.
To find the intersection using TI-83 Plus, go to ”Calc” (2nd/Trace), ”Intersect,”
press ”Enter” after selecting the first curve, second curve, and ”Enter” when asked
”Guess?”

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Here’s another way to approximate f −1 (2) using TI-83 Plus:
1) Press [Y=] and enter f (x).

2) Press [Window] and set convenient bounds for x and y. Here, we start with
−10 < x < 10 and −10 < y < 10. Any window that contains the point on the
graph where y = 2 will work here.

3) Press [Graph] to view the graph of f (x). Press [Zoom] and select “ZBox.” Find
approximately where the graph of f (x) intersects the horizontal line y = 2, and
draw a box around that point to zoom in closer.

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4) Continue to use ZBox to zoom in closer and closer. Then place the ZBox cursor
on the point on the graph at which y is closest to 2. We see that f −1 (2) ≈ 0.82.

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 Free Response Section (NO CALCULATORS)
11. An amateur chemist wants to combine a mixture that is 30% sludge with a mixture
that is 60% sludge to make 50 fluid ounces of a mixture that is 45% sludge. How
many fluid ounces of the 60% mixture should she use? 6
Solution: Let x and y be the number of fluid ounces of the 30% sluge and the 60%
sludge mixtures, respectively. Then x + y = 50 and 0.3x + 0.6y = 0.45 · 50 = 22.5.
From the first equation we get x = 50 − y. Plugging this into the second equation,
we have
22.5 = 0.3(50 − y) + 0.6y = 15 − 0.3y + 0.6y = 15 + 0.3y
so that
0.3y = 7.5
and thus y = 25. So the chemist needs 25 ounces of the 60% mixture.
12. Solve the rational inequality for x:
x2 + 8x − 2 x−2
>
x2 − 16 x−4
Solution: We may rewrite our inequality as
x2 + 8x − 2 x − 2
− >0
x2 − 16 x−4
Putting everything under a common denominator, we have
x2 + 8x − 2 (x + 4)(x − 2)
− >0
(x − 4)(x + 4) (x − 4)(x + 4)
x2 + 8x − 2 x2 + 2x − 8
− >0
(x − 4)(x + 4) (x − 4)(x + 4)
6x + 6
>0
(x − 4)(x + 4)
6(x + 1)
>0
(x − 4)(x + 4)
The expression equals 0 or is undefined when x = −4, −1, 4. These critical values
define the borders of four regions that need to be tested.
(−∞, −4): On this interval, the numerator is negative and the denominator is pos-
itive. The fraction is negative, so the inequality is not satisfied.
(−4, −1): On this interval, both the numerator and denominator are negative. The
fraction is positive, and the inequality is satisfied.
(−1, 4): On this interval, the numerator is positive and the denominator is negative.
The fraction is negative, so the inequality is not satisfied.
(4, ∞): On this interval, both the numerator and denominator are negative. The
fraction is positive, and the inequality is satisfied.
Thus, the solution set is
(−4, −1) ∪ (4, ∞)

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13. Let f (x) = 4x4 − 17x2 + 4.
(a) Use Descartes’ Rule of Signs to find the possible numbers of positive and
negative real roots.
(b) Find all possible rational roots of f (x).
(c) Factor f (x) completely.
Solution:
(a) The sign of f (x) switches twice so there are zero or two positive real roots.
The sign of f (−x) = 4x4 − 17x2 + 4 = f (x) also switches twice, so there are
zero or two negative real roots.
(b) The possible rational roots are ±1, ±2, ±4, ± 12 , and ± 14
(c) We can either test some of the above roots and do synthetic division repeatedly
to factor the polynomial, or we can notice that if we plug in y = x2 , we have
reduced from a quartic to a quadratic: 4y 2 − 17y + 4. We may factor this as
(4y − 1)(y − 4) so that y = 4 or y = 41 . Then x2 = 4 or x2 = 14 , which gives us
four roots: x = ±2 or x = ± 21 , and
1 1
f (x) = 4(x − 2)(x + 2)(x − )(x + )
2 2
x6 + 5x4 + 19x2 + 13
14. Let f (x) =
x6 + 5x5 − 3x4 + 15x3 − 16x2 + 10x − 12
(a) Find all zeros of f (x).
(b) Find all asymptotes (horizontal, vertical, and oblique).
(c) Sketch the graph of f (x). Label all asymptotes and all important points (e.g.
zeros, points where f (x) is undefined).
Solution:
(a) First, notice that there are no possible positive real roots of the numerator of
f (x). Also, if we plug −x into the numerator, we see that it remains the same,
so there are no possible negative real roots either. By plugging in, we can see
that zero is not a root of the numerator either. Thus, the numerator has no
real roots.
(b) To find the vertical asymptotes, let’s factor the denominator. The possible
rational roots are ±1, ±2, ±3, ±4, ±6, and ±12. Plugging in, we see that x = 1
is a root. We divide
1 5 −3 15 − 16 10 − 12
1 1 6 3 18 2 12
1 6 3 18 2 12 0
and see that the denominator factors as (x−1)(x5 +6x4 +3x3 +18x2 +2x+12).
Testing more rational roots, we see that the quintic has x = −6 as a root. We
divide again

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 1 6 3 18 2 12
−6 −6 0 − 18 0 − 12
1 0 3 0 2 0
and find that the denominator factors as (x−1)(x+6)(x4 +3x2 +2). The quartic
can be reduced to a quadratic by substituting y = x2 . We have y 2 + 3y + 2 =
(y + 2)(y + 1) so that the denominator is equal to

(x − 1)(x + 6)(x2 + 2)(x2 + 1)

and since the two quadratics are irreducible, we have completely factored the
denominator. Its zeros are x = 1 and x = −6, so these are the vertical
asymptotes. The numerator and denominator have the same degree, so there
is a horizontal asymptote given by y = 1.
(c)

x2 +2x+1
15. Let f (x) = x3 +2x2 −x−2

(a) Find all zeros of f (x)

(b) Find all asymptotes (horizontal, vertical, and oblique).
(c) Sketch the graph of f (x). Label all asymptotes and all important points (e.g.
zeros, points where f (x) is undefined).

Solution: The numerator factors as (x + 1)2 . We test possible rational roots until we
see that x = 1 is a root of the denominator. We divide by x − 1 to find that

x3 + 2x2 − x − 2 = (x − 1)(x2 + 3x + 2) = (x − 1)(x + 1)(x + 2)

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 Thus,

x2 + 2x + 1 (x + 1)2 (x + 1)
f (x) = 3 2
= =
x + 2x − x − 2 (x − 1)(x + 1)(x + 2) (x − 1)(x + 2)

whenever x 6= −1.

(a) The numerator is zero when x = −1, but the rational function is undefined.
Thus, f (x) has no zeros, although it comes arbitrarily close to zero as x ap-
proaches −1.
(b) There are vertical asymptotes of x = 1 and x = −2. Since the degree of the
numerator is less than the degree of the denominator, there is a horizontal
asymptote of y = 0.
(c)

16. Given the function y = −2x2 − 12x − 8:

(a) Express the equation in vertex form.

(b) Find the domain and range of the function
(c) Find the equation of the parabola created by reflecting the original parabola
over the y-axis.
(d) Find the equation of the parabola created by moving the graph of the original
parabola 2 units down and 4 units to the right.

Solution:

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 (a) Complete the square to express the equation in vertex form:
y = −2x2 − 12x − 8
= −2(x2 + 6x) − 8
= −2(x2 + 6x + 9 − 9) − 8
= −2(x + 3)2 + 18 − 8
= −2(x + 3)2 + 10
(y − 10) = −2(x + 3)2
(b) The equation defines a downward-facing parabola with vertex at (−3, 10), so
the domain is the set of all real numbers, and the range is the set (−∞, 10].
(c) In order to reflect the original parabola over the y-axis, replace all x terms in
the equation with −x:
(y − 10) = −2((−x) + 3)2
= −2(−x + 3)2
= −2(−1)2 (x − 3)2
= −2(x − 3)2
Therefore, the equation is (y − 10) = −2(x − 3)2 , or y = −2x2 + 12x − 8.
(d) In order to move the parabola in this manner, replace all y terms with y + 2
and all x terms with x − 4:
((y + 2) − 10) = −2((x − 4) + 3)2
(y − 8) = −2(x − 1)2
Solution:
17. (a) Given f (x) = ex , the function f (x+h)−f
h
(x)
can be written as g(h)ex , for some
function g(h) not depending on x. Find g(h). Expand f (x+h)−f h
(x)
and use the
properties of exponentiation:
f (x + h) − f (x) ex+h − ex
=
h h
e e − ex
x h
=
h
(ex )(eh − 1)
=
h
h
e −1
= ex
h
h
Therefore g(h) = e h−1 .
(b) Given f (x) = x + 1 and g(x) = x2 , find (f g)(x). Notice that there are no
symbols between f and g. Multiply f and g:
(f g)(x) = f (x) · g(x)
= (x + 1)(x2 )
= x3 + x2

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 (c) Given f (x) = x + 1 and g(x) = x2 , find (f ◦ g)(x).

(f ◦ g)(x) = f (x2 )
= x2 + 1

(d) Given f (x) = x + 1 and g(x) = x2 , find (g ◦ f )(x).

(g ◦ f )(x) = g(x + 1)
= (x + 1)2
= x2 + 2x + 1

18. A human child throws a football into the air. If the football’s height in feet after t
seconds is given by the equation h(t) = −16t2 + 40t + 4:
(a) What is the maximum height?
(b) How long does it take for the football to reach that height?
(c) How long does it take for the football to hit the ground?
Solution:
(a) Express the equation in vertex form:

y = −16t2 + 40t + 4
= −16 t2 − 52 t + 4

= −16 t2 − 52 t + 25 25


16
− 16
+4
2
= −16 t − 54 + 25 + 4



2
= −16 t − 54 + 29

2
(y − 29) = −16 t − 45

Therefore, the maximum height is 29 feet.

5
(b) It will take 4
seconds for the football to reach that height.
(c) Find the roots of h(t) using the quadratic formula:
√
−b ± b2 − 4ac
x=
2a
p
−40 ± 1600 − 4(4)(−16)
=
2(−16)
√
−40 ± 1856
=
−32
√
−40 ± 8 29
=
−32
√
5 29
= ±
4 4

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 √
5
4
− 429 can √
be discarded, as it is a negative root. Therefore, it will take the
football 4 + 429 seconds to hit the ground.
5

19. Solve the following equations for x:

(a) log3 (x + 3) = log9 (2x + 6)

129
(b) 43x+2 + 82x−1 = 16
2 −5)
(c) eln(x = 5x − 11

Solution:

(a) x = −1:
Express both terms in a common base:

log9 (x + 3)
log3 (x + 3) =
log9 (3)
= 2 log9 (x + 3)
log9 ((x + 3)2 )

Next, exponentiate each side of the equation, and simplify:

log9 ((x + 3)2 ) = log9 (2x + 6)

2
9log9 ((x+3) ) = 9log9 (2x+6)
x2 + 6x + 9 = 2x + 6
x2 + 4x + 3 = 0
(x + 1)(x + 3) = 0

Therefore, the possible solutions are x = −1 and x = −3. However, x = −3

can be ruled out, as plugging it into the original equation returns a term
containing (log(0)). Therefore, the only solution is x = −1.
(b) x = − 61 :
Let’s first simplify the left side:

43x+2 + 82x−1
(22 )3x+2 + (23 )2x−1
26x+4 + 26x−3
26x (24 + 2−3 )
26x (16 + 18 )
26x ( 129
8
) = 129
16
2 = 2−1
6x

6x = −1
x = − 61

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 (c) x = 3:
Simplify the left side, solve for x, and check solutions:
2
eln(x −5) = 5x − 11
x2 − 5 = 5x − 11
x2 − 5x + 6 = 0
(x − 3)(x − 2) = 0

Therefore, the possible solutions are x = 3 and x = 2. However, x = 2 can

be ruled out, as plugging it into the original equation gives a logarithm of a
negative number. Therefore, the only solution is x = 3.

20. Find the domain and range of the following functions:

2
(a) f (x) = e−x
√
(b) f (x) = 4 − x2
(c) f (x) = ln(x − 2)
(d) f (x) = g −1 (2x + 3), where g(x) = ln(x2 − 6x − 7), x < −1

Solution:

(a) The range of y = −x2 is the interval (−∞, 0], and the domain is the set of
real numbers. y = ex maps the set (−∞, 0] to the interval (0, 1], and, again,
the domain is the set of all real numbers. Therefore, the domain of their
2
composition e−x , is the set of all real numbers, and the range is the set (0, 1].
(b) The domain of the square root function is [0, ∞). The set of all x mapped to
this interval by the function y = 4 − x2 is the interval [−2, 2], and the range
of this function on the interval is [0, 4]. The square root function takes the
interval [0, 4] to [0, 2], so, therefore, the domain of f (x) is [−2, 2] and the range
is [0, 2].
(c) The domain of the natural logarithm is (0, ∞). Therefore, the domain of f (x)
is the set of numbers mapped to the set (0, ∞) by the function y = x − 2.
This set is (2, ∞), so the domain of f (x) is the set (2, ∞). Since the graph
of f (x) is a translation of the graph of the natural logarithm, the range is a
translation of the range of the natural logarithm, so it is (−∞, ∞).
(d) The domain of g(x) is the interval (−∞, −1) and the range is the set of all real
numbers. Therefore, the domain of g −1 (x) is the set of all real numbers, and
the range is the interval (−∞, −1). Since the transformation x 7→ 2x + 3 is
1-1 and onto, the domain of f (x) is the set of all real numbers, and the range
is the interval (−∞, −1).

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