Precalculus

Midterm 1
Andy Gordon (7718)
2:45 - 4:30 PM ET
December 12th, 2020 - Saturday

Name:

Directions: Do not open this exam packet until your teacher tells you to start. Show clear and appropriate
work to receive partial credit. All answers should be simplified unless otherwise specified.

Problem Score Problem Score

1 11

2 12

3 13

4 14

5 15

6 16

7 17

8 18

9 19

10 20

Subtotal: Total:

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23π
1. [5 points] Compute cos .
4

1.

2. [10 points] In right triangle ABC, we have ∠A = 90◦ , tan B = 2, and BC = 5. What is the length of AB?

2.

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3. [5 points] Given that A = tan 105◦ , B = sin 105◦ , and C = cos 105◦ , write an inequality chain that
expresses the order of A, B, and C. For example, you might give A > B > C as your answer if you
think A is greatest and C is smallest.

3.

4. [5 points] Nitya has two functions written on her paper:

x2 x4 x6
f (x) = 1 − + − + ··· ,
2! 4! 6!
x3 x5 x7
g(x) = x − + − + ··· .
3! 5! 7!
She remembers from class that one of these equals sin x and the other equals cos x (when x is in
radians), but she doesn’t remember which is which. Help her out! Explain how she can quickly tell
which one is sin x and which one is cos x.

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5. [10 points] Compute cos 15◦ + cos 45◦ + cos 75◦ + cos 105◦ + cos 135◦ + cos 165◦ .

5.

6. [5 points] What is the range of f (x) = 3 sin(2x) − 5? Give your answer in interval notation.

6.

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7. [10 points] Find positive constants a, b, and c such that the graph below depicts y = a cos(bx + c).
(Note: There is more than one correct answer. You need only find one group of a, b, and c that
works.)
y

− 5π −2π − 3π −π − π2 π
π 3π
2π 5π x
2 2 2 2 2

7.

8. [5 points] Find the sum of all values of θ such that 0 ≤ θ < 2π and sin θ = −0.7.

8.

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9. [10 points] Which of the following three statements are true? (More than one of them may be true;
list the letters of all the true statements.)
(a) In a triangle ABC, if (cos A)(cos B)(cos C) is positive, then the triangle is acute.
(b) In a triangle ABC, if (cos A)(cos B)(cos C) is 0, then the triangle is right.
(c) In a triangle ABC, if (cos A)(cos B)(cos C) is negative, then the triangle is obtuse.

9.

10. [10 points] Show how to use the identity cos(x + y) = cos x cos y − sin x sin y to derive an identity for
cos(A − B).

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11. [5 points] Compute cos 7.5◦ cos 52.5◦ .

11.

12. [5 points] Find the intersection of the graph of y = 2x and the graph of the parametric equations

x = 3 − 2t,
y = −2 + t.

12.

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13. [10 points] What are the y-intercepts of the graph of the parametric equations

x = 1 − 2 sin t,
y = 2 + 6 cos2 2t?

A y-intercept of a graph is a point where the graph intersects the y-axis.

13.

14. [5 points] What is the largest angle measure in a triangle with sides of lengths 3, 5, and 7?

14.

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15. [10 points] In quadrilateral ABCD, we have ∠A = ∠C = 90◦ , ∠BDA = 2∠BDC, AB = 6, and AD = 8.
Find the length of BC.
D

A B

15.

16. [5 points] Draw the graph of r = cos2 θ + sin2 θ.

y

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17. [10 points] Draw the graph of r = 2 cos θ + 2 sin θ.

y

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Beast Problems
Work on these problems only if you have extra time.
18. [Bonus 3 points] Draw the graph of r = cos 2θ + sin 2θ.
y

19. [Bonus 3 points] Find the range of f (x) = 3 sin x + 5 cos x.

19.

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√
2 2
20. [Bonus 3 points] Find the smallest value of cos x such that sin 2x = .
3

20.

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