ACT Math : Exponents

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Square Of A Sum

Expand:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To multiply a difference squared, square the first term and add two times the multiplication of the two terms. Then add the second term squared.

Example Question #3 : How To Find The Square Of A Sum

Which of the following is the square of  ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Use the square of a sum pattern, substituting  for  and  for  in the pattern:

 

Example Question #4 : How To Find The Square Of A Sum

Which of the following is the square of  ?

You may assume both  and  are positive.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Use the square of a sum pattern, substituting  for  and  for  in the pattern:

or 

Example Question #5 : How To Find The Square Of A Sum

Which of the following is the square of  ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Multiply vertically as follows:

                    

                    

          

 

Example Question #6 : How To Find The Square Of A Sum

Which of the following is the square of   ?

Possible Answers:

The correct answer is not given among the other responses.

Correct answer:

The correct answer is not given among the other responses.

Explanation:

Use the square of a sum pattern, substituting  for  and  for  in the pattern:

This is not equivalent to any of the given choices.

Example Question #7 : How To Find The Square Of A Sum

Which of the following is the square of  ? 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Use the square of a sum pattern, substituting  for  and  for  in the pattern:

Example Question #8 : How To Find The Square Of A Sum

Which of the following is the square of  ? 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Use the square of a sum pattern, substituting  for  and  for  in the pattern:

Example Question #1 : How To Factor A Common Factor Out Of Squares

Which real number satisfies ?

 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Simplify the base of 9 and 27 in order to have a common base.

(3x)(9)=272

= (3x)(32)=(33)2

=(3x+2)=36

Therefore:

x+2=6

x=4

 

 

Example Question #2 : How To Factor A Common Factor Out Of Squares

Which of the following is a factor of  ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The terms of  have  as their greatest common factor, so

 is a prime polynomial. 

Of the five choices, only  is a factor.

Example Question #1 : Factoring Squares

Simplify  

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The easiest way to approach this problem is to break everything into exponents.  is equal to  and 27 is equal to . Therefore, the expression can be broken down into . When you cancel out all the terms, you get , which equals .

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