Pre-test 1

This is not a test as basis for your grade, failing the test is alright. No time limits.
This will also serve as a review. Try your best to answer the items below.

Instructions:
• Write your answers and solution on your personal notebook.
• To get full points, your solutions must be concise and properly presented.
• Final answers should be boxed.
• Work independently

1. Find the LCM or LCD of the following (2 points each)

a. 4 and 6
2(2) and 2(3) 𝐿𝐶𝑀 = 2(2)(3) = 12
b. 8 and 24
8 and 3(8) 𝐿𝐶𝑀 = 3(8) = 24

2. Combine numbers into a single number (2 point each)

a. + 7 + 4 = 11
b. – 9 – 5 = −14
c. + 2 + 8 = 10
d. + 10/– 5 = −2
e. – 9/+ 3 = −3
f. – 6/- 2 = 3
g. + 12/– 4 = −3

3. Express each of the following without zero and negative exponent, then simplify (2
points each)
a. x2(x3); 𝑥 2+3 = 𝑥 5
b. 2 3
(x ) ; 𝑥 (2)(3) = 𝑥 6
𝑥− 4 1 1
c. 2 ; 2+4 = 6
𝑥 𝑥 𝑥
3 𝑥 3
𝑥
d. � � ;
𝑦 𝑦3

4. Remove the symbol of grouping and combine like terms (2 points each)
a. 4x + 2(5y – 3z)
4𝑥 + 10𝑦 − 6𝑧
b. 10a – [3a + 2(b – 3c) – 6]
10𝑎 − (3𝑎 + 2𝑏 − 6𝑐 − 6) = 10𝑎 − 3𝑎 − 2𝑏 + 6𝑐 + 6 = 7𝑎 − 2𝑏 + 6𝑐 + 6
 c. 15 – 2[5 – 3(13 – 9) + 11]
15 − 2(5 − 12 + 11) = 15 − 2(4) = 15 − 8 = 7
d. 7a – [6b – (c – d) + e]
7𝑎 − (6𝑏 − 𝑐 + 𝑑 + 𝑒) = 7𝑎 − 6𝑏 + 𝑐 − 𝑑 − 𝑒

5. Add the following polynomials (2 points each)

a. 16a + 9b, 8a + 7b
16𝑎 + 8𝑎 + 9𝑏 + 7𝑏 = 24𝑎 + 16𝑏
b. – 3a + 7b – 31c, 6a – 14b – 44c
−3𝑎 + 6𝑎 + 7𝑏 − 14𝑏 − 31𝑐 − 44𝑐 = 3𝑎 − 7𝑏 − 75𝑐
c. 3x4 + 5x3 – 7x + 2, x3 + 2x2 + 7x – 11
3𝑥 4 + 5𝑥 3 + 𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 + 7𝑥 + 2 − 11 = 3𝑥 4 + 6𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 2 − 9

6. Subtract the following polynomials (2 points each)

a. ab + bc + cd, ac + bc + bd
𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏𝑐 + 𝑐𝑑 − (𝑎𝑐 + 𝑏𝑐 + 𝑏𝑑)
= 𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏𝑐 + 𝑐𝑑 − 𝑎𝑐 − 𝑏𝑐 − 𝑏𝑑 = 𝑎𝑏 + 𝑐𝑑 − 𝑎𝑐 − 𝑏𝑑
b. 7a2b + 3ab2, 12a2b – 18 ab2 – a3b2
7𝑎2 𝑏 + 3𝑎𝑏 2 − (12𝑎2 𝑏 − 18𝑎𝑏 2 − 𝑎3 𝑏)
= 7𝑎2 𝑏 + 3𝑎𝑏 2 − 12𝑎2 𝑏 + 18𝑎𝑏 2 + 𝑎3 𝑏 = 𝑎3 𝑏 − 5𝑎2 𝑏 + 21𝑎𝑏 2
c. x3 – 3x2 + 7x + 2, 5x3 + x2 – 10x + 24
𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 + 2 − (5𝑥 3 + 𝑥 2 − 10𝑥 + 24)
𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 + 2 − 5𝑥 3 − 𝑥 2 + 10𝑥 − 24 = −4𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 2 + 17𝑥 − 22

7. Factor completely the following polynomials (2 points each )

a. 51x5y2 – 119 x2y5
𝑥 2 𝑦 2 (51𝑥 3 − 119𝑦 3 )
b. 27x2 - 12y2
3(9𝑥 2 − 4𝑦 2 ) = 3(3𝑥 + 2𝑦)(3𝑥 − 2𝑦)
c. (m + n)2 – 25
[(𝑚 + 𝑛) + 5][(𝑚 + 𝑛) − 5] = (𝑚 + 𝑛 + 5)(𝑚 + 𝑛 − 5)
d. 98a3 – 72a
2𝑎(49𝑎2 − 36) = 2𝑎(7𝑎 + 6)(7𝑎 − 6)
e. x2 – 10x + 24
(𝑥 − 6)(𝑥 − 4)
f. x2 – 4xy – 5y2
(𝑥 − 5𝑦)(𝑥 + 𝑦)
g. 36x2 + 60xy + 25y2
(6𝑥 + 5𝑦)(6𝑥 + 5𝑦)
 h. 6x2 – 11x – 10
(2𝑥 − 5)(3𝑥 + 2)
i. x4 – 13x2 + 36
Let 𝑥 4 = 𝑎2 and 𝑥 2 = 𝑎 then, 𝑎2 − 13𝑎 + 36 = (𝑎 − 9)(𝑎 − 4)
(𝑥 2 − 9)(𝑥 2 − 4) = (𝑥 + 9)(𝑥 − 9)(𝑥 + 4)(𝑥 − 4)
j. x2 – 5x – 24
(𝑥 − 8)(𝑥 + 3)

8. Solve for x in the following equations (2 points each)

a. x2 – 12x + 35 = 0
(𝑥 − 7)(𝑥 − 5) = 0; 𝑥 = 7, 5
2
b. x – 13x + 36 = 0
(𝑥 − 9)(𝑥 − 4) = 0; 𝑥 = 9, 4
2
c. 15x – 2x – 8 = 0
(3𝑥 + 2)(5𝑥 − 4) = 0; 𝑥 = 4�5 , − 2�3
d. x2 – 121 = 0
𝑥 = ±√121; 𝑥 = 11, −11
16
e. x – = 6
𝑥
𝑥 2 − 16
=6
𝑥
𝑥 2 − 16 = 6𝑥; 𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 − 16 = 0
(𝑥 − 8)(𝑥 + 2) = 0; 𝑥 = 8, −2

9. Solve for x and y in the following equations (2 points each)

a. x2 + y2 = 13,
2x + y = 8
Let 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 13 eq. 1
2𝑥 + 𝑦 = 8 eq. 2
From eq. 2: 𝑦 = 8 − 2𝑥 substitute to eq. 1 𝑥 2 + (8 − 2𝑥)2 = 13
𝑥 2 + 64 − 32𝑥 + 4𝑥 2 = 13; 5𝑥 2 − 32𝑥 + 51 = 0
(5𝑥 − 17)(𝑥 − 3) = 0; 𝑥 = 17�5 , 3
Substitute to eq. 2 2𝑥 + 𝑦 = 8
At 𝑥 = �5 17 2�17�5� + 𝑦 = 8; 𝑦 = 8 − 34�5 = 6�5
At 𝑥 = 3 2(3) + 𝑦 = 8; 𝑦 =8−6=2
𝑦 = 6�5 , 2
 b. x2 - 8 y = 0,
x - 3y + 2 = 0
Let 𝑥 2 − 8𝑦 = 0 eq. 1
𝑥 − 3𝑦 + 2 = 0 eq. 2
From eq. 2: 𝑥 = 3𝑦 − 2 substitute to eq. 1 (3𝑦 − 2)2 − 8𝑦 = 0
9𝑦 2 − 12𝑦 + 4 − 8𝑦 = 0; 9𝑦 2 − 20𝑦 + 4 = 0
(9𝑦 − 2)(𝑦 − 2) = 0; 𝑦 = 2�9 , 2
Substitute to eq. 2 𝑥 − 3𝑦 + 2 = 0
At 𝑦 = 2�9 𝑥 − 3�2�9� + 2 = 0; 𝑥 = 6�9 − 2 = 4�3
At 𝑦 = 2 𝑥 − 3(2) + 2 = 0; 𝑥 =6−2=2
𝑥 = 4�3 , 2
c. xy - 12 = 0,
x-y+1 = 0
Let 𝑥𝑦 − 12 = 0 eq. 1
𝑥−𝑦+1=0 eq. 2
From eq. 2: 𝑦 = 𝑥 + 1 substitute to eq. 1 𝑥(𝑥 + 1) − 12 = 0
𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 12 = 0; (𝑥 + 4)(𝑥 − 3) = 0; 𝑥 = 3, −4
Substitute to eq. 2 𝑥−𝑦+1=0
At 𝑥 = 3 3 − 𝑦 + 1 = 0; 𝑦 =3+1=4
At 𝑥 = −4 −4 − 𝑦 + 1 = 0; 𝑦 = −4 + 1 = −3
𝑦 = 4, −3
10. Obtain the roots of the following equations (2 points each)
a. x4 – 2x3 + 2x2 – 2x + 1 = 0
By synthetic division
1 -2 2 -2 1
1 1 -1 1 -1
1 -1 1 -1 0
1 1 0 1
1 0 1 0
(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 2 + 1) = 0; 𝑥 = 1, 1
b. x3 + 3x2 + 3x + 1 = 0
By synthetic division
1 3 3 1
-1 -1 -2 -1
1 2 1 0
-1 -1 -1
1 1 0
-1 -1
1 0
(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 + 1) = 0; 𝑥 = −1, −1, −1
c. x5 + x4 – 7x3 - 11x2 – 8x - 12 = 0

By synthetic division
1 1 -7 -11 -8 -12
3 3 12 15 12 12
1 4 5 4 4 0
-2 -2 -4 -2 -4
1 2 1 2 0
-2 -2 0 -2
1 0 1 0
(𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 2 + 1) = 0; 𝑥 = 3, −2, −2
d. 4x3 – 21x – 10 = 0
By synthetic division
4 0 -21 -10
-2 -8 16 10
4 -8 -5 0
5/2 10 5
4 2 0
-1/2 -2
4 0
(𝑥 + 2)(2𝑥 − 5)(2𝑥 + 1) = 0; 𝑥 = −2, − 1�2 , 5�2
11. Solve for x (2 points each)
a. 3x = 5
ln 3𝑥 = ln 5; 𝑥 ln 3 = ln 5; 𝑥 = ln 5�ln 3; 𝑥 ≅ 1.464973521
b. log x 64 = 6
1
1 1 3 1
𝑥 6 = 64; 𝑥 = (64) = �(64) � = (8)3 ;
6 2 𝑥=2

c. x = log 3 81
3𝑥 = 81; ln 3𝑥 = ln 81; 𝑥 ln 3 = ln 81;
𝑥 = ln 81�ln 3 𝑥=2
1
d. Log 4 = x
2

4𝑥 = 1�2; ln 4𝑥 = ln 1�2; 𝑥 ln 4 = ln 1 − ln 2;
𝑥 ln 4 = 0 − ln 2 𝑥 = − ln 2�ln 4 𝑥 = − 1�2
e. (3x)(23x – 1) = 62x + 1

3𝑥
(3𝑥 ) �2 �2� = (62𝑥 )(6)

3𝑥
ln �(3𝑥 ) �2 �2�� = ln[(62𝑥 )(6)]

ln 3𝑥 + ln 23𝑥 − ln 2 = ln 62𝑥 + ln 6
𝑥 ln 3 + 3𝑥 ln 2 − ln 2 = 2𝑥 ln 6 + ln 6
Let: ln 2 = 𝑎; ln 3 = 𝑏; ln 6 = 𝑐
𝑏𝑥 + 3𝑎𝑥 − 𝑎 = 2𝑐𝑥 + 𝑐
𝑏𝑥 + 3𝑎𝑥 − 2𝑐𝑥 = 𝑐 + 𝑎
(𝑏 + 3𝑎 − 2𝑐)𝑥 = 𝑐 + 𝑎
𝑐+𝑎
𝑥=
𝑏+3𝑎−2𝑐
ln 6+ln 2
𝑥=
ln 3+3�ln 2�−2�ln 6�
𝑥 ≅ −6.128533874
12. Solve the following word problems (2 points each)
a. Kim is two years older than Kevin and the sum of their ages is 18. How old are
Kim and Kevin?
Let: 𝑥 = 𝐾𝑖𝑚′𝑠 𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑦 = 𝐾𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑛′𝑠 𝑎𝑔𝑒
𝑥 =𝑦+2 eq. 1
𝑥 + 𝑦 = 18 eq. 2
Solve eq. 1 and eq. 2 simultaneously
𝑥−𝑦 =2
𝑥 + 𝑦 = 18
2𝑥 + 0 = 20 𝑥 = 20�2; 𝑥 = 10 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑠
Substitute to eq. 1
10 = 𝑦 + 2 𝑦 = 10 − 2; 𝑦 = 8 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑠
b. Juan can finish the job in five days, Pedro can finish the same job in 10 days.
How many days can the job be finished if Juan and Pedro work together?
Solution:
𝑥 = 5 = 𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐽𝑢𝑎𝑛 𝑡𝑜 𝑑𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑗𝑜𝑏 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑒
𝑦 = 10 = 𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑃𝑒𝑑𝑟𝑜 𝑡𝑜 𝑑𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑗𝑜𝑏 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑒
Let 𝑁 = 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑠ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑗𝑜𝑏 𝑖𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑏𝑜𝑡ℎ 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘𝑒𝑑
1� + 1� = 1� ; 2� + 1� = 1�
5 10 𝑁 10 10 𝑁
3� = 1� ; 3𝑁 = 10; 𝑁 = 10�3
10 𝑁
𝑁 = 3 1�3 𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠
c. How many liters of distilled water must be added to 80 liters of a 60 % acid
solution to obtain a 50 % acid solution?
Solution: Let 𝑥 = 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑎𝑑𝑑𝑒𝑑
60% acid means 40% water and 50% acid means 50% water

𝑥 𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 100% 𝑝𝑢𝑟𝑒 �100�100�𝑥 = 𝑥 𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟

80 𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 40% 𝑝𝑢𝑟𝑒 �40�100�80 = 32 𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟

(80 + 𝑥) 𝑙𝑖. 50% 𝑝𝑢𝑟𝑒 �50�100�(80 + 𝑥) = 0.50(80 + 𝑥) 𝑙𝑖. 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟

 The original 32 𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 of water plus 𝑥 𝑙𝑏𝑠 of water constitute the amount
of water in the mixture.
32 + 𝑥 = 40 + 0.50𝑥
0.50𝑥 = 40 − 32

𝑥 = 8�0.50

𝑥 = 16 𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠