GED Math : GED Math

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GED Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #33 : Simplifying, Distributing, And Factoring

Factor completely:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

For a quadratic trinomial with a quadratic coefficient other than 1, use the factoring by grouping method.

First, find two integers whose product is  (the product of the quadratic and constant coefficients) and whose sum is 1 (the implied coefficient of  ). By trial and error, we find that these are 

Split the linear term accordingly, then factor by grouping, as follows.

Example Question #591 : Ged Math

Factor:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The greatest common factor of the terms is , so factor it out:

The trinomial might be able to be factored as 

,

where  and .

By trial and error, we find that 

,

so the factorization becomes

.

Example Question #33 : Simplifying, Distributing, And Factoring

Decrease  by 40%. Which of the following will this be equal to?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

A number decreased by 40% is equivalent to 100% of the number minus 40% of the number. This is taking 60% of the number, or, equivalently, multiplying it by 0.6. 

Therefore,  decreased by 40% is 0.6 times this, or

.

Example Question #34 : Simplifying, Distributing, And Factoring

Increase  by 20%. Which of the following will this be equal to?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

A number increased by 20% is equivalent to 100% of the number plus 20% of the number. This is taking 120% of the number, or, equivalently, multiplying it by 1.2.

Therefore,  increased by 20% is 1.2 times this, or

.

Example Question #35 : Simplifying, Distributing, And Factoring

Which of the following is a prime factor of ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

This can be most easily solved by first substituting  for , and, subsequently,  for :

This becomes quadratic in the new variable, and can be factored as

,

filling out the blanks with two numbers whose sum is  and whose product is . Through some trial and error, the numbers can be seen to be .

Therefore, after factoring and substituting back,

The first factor, the sum of squares, is prime. The second factors as the difference of squares, so the final factorization is

.

Of the choices given,  is correct.

Example Question #41 : Simplifying, Distributing, And Factoring

A triangle has a base of  ft and height of  ft.  What is the area (in square feet) of the triangle?

Possible Answers:

 

 

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The area of a triangle is:  

Use the FOIL Method to simplify.

 

 

Example Question #41 : Simplifying, Distributing, And Factoring

Simplify 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The first step is to distribute the number outside of the parenthesis to the values inside the parenthesis.

Then in order to simplify you would combine like terms.  

.  

Example Question #43 : Algebra

Solve:  

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Distribute the terms on both sides.

Add  on both sides.

Subtract 15 on both sides.

Divide by 13 on both sides.

The answer is:  

Example Question #41 : Algebra

Solve:  

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Simplify the right side.

Subtract  on both sides.

Divide both sides by 35.

The answer is:  

Example Question #41 : Algebra

Simplify by distributing:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Using the Distributive Property of Multiplication over Addition, multiply  by each of the terms between the parentheses:

Multiply out each coefficient:

Simplify the addition and subtraction of the resulting negatives in the second and third terms:

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