GRE Subject Test: Math : Algebra

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Subject Test: Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Absolute Value Inequalities

\(\displaystyle \frac{2}{3}\left | 9x+6\right | -2\geq 1\)

Possible Answers:

There is no solution.

\(\displaystyle x\geq -\frac{1}{6}\) or \(\displaystyle x\leq -\frac{7}{6}\)

\(\displaystyle x\geq \frac{1}{6}\) and\(\displaystyle x\leq \frac{1}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle x\leq-\frac{1}{6}\) and\(\displaystyle x\geq- \frac{1}{2}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle x\geq -\frac{1}{6}\) or \(\displaystyle x\leq -\frac{7}{6}\)

Explanation:

\(\displaystyle \frac{2}{3}\left | 9x+6\right | -2\geq 1\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{2}{3}\left | 9x+6 \right |\geq 3\)

\(\displaystyle \left | 9x+6 \right |\geq \frac{9}{2}\)

At this point, you've isolated the absolute value and can solve this problems for both cases, \(\displaystyle 9x+6\geq \frac{9}{2}\) and \(\displaystyle 9x+6\leq -\frac{9}{2}\).  Beginning with the first case:

 

\(\displaystyle 9x+6\geq \frac{9}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 9x+\frac{12}{2}\geq\frac{9}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 9x\geq -\frac{3}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle x\geq -\frac{1}{6}\)

 

Then for the second case:

\(\displaystyle 9x+6\leq -\frac{9}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 9x+\frac{12}{2}\leq -\frac{9}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 9x\leq -\frac{21}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle x\leq -\frac{7}{6}\)

Example Question #241 : Gre Subject Test: Math

\(\displaystyle \left | -4x-5 \right |< 11\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle x> -4\) and \(\displaystyle x< \frac{3}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle x< \frac{4}{5}\) or \(\displaystyle x>-2\)

\(\displaystyle x>-11\) or \(\displaystyle x< -6\)

\(\displaystyle x< -4\)

\(\displaystyle x> 4\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle x> -4\) and \(\displaystyle x< \frac{3}{2}\)

Explanation:

Since the absolute value with x in it is alone on one side of the inequality, you set the expression inside the absolute value equal to both the positive and negative value of the other side, 11 and -11 in this case. For the negative value -11, you must also flip the inequality from less than to a greater than. You should have two inequalities looking like this.

\(\displaystyle -4x-5< 11\) and \(\displaystyle -4x-5>-11\)

Add 5 to both sides in each inequality.

\(\displaystyle -4x< 16\) and \(\displaystyle -4x>-6\)

Divide by -4 to both sides of the inequality. Remember, dividing by a negative will flip both inequality symbols and you should have this.

\(\displaystyle x>-4\) and \(\displaystyle x< \frac{3}{2}\)

Example Question #61 : Complex Imaginary Numbers

Evaluate: 

\(\displaystyle \left (2 + 3i \right )^{3}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle -4 6+ 9i\)

\(\displaystyle -62 + 63 i\)

\(\displaystyle 8 + 9i\)

\(\displaystyle -46 + 63 i\)

\(\displaystyle 8 - 27i\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -4 6+ 9i\)

Explanation:

We can set \(\displaystyle A = 2, B = 3i\) in the cube of a binomial pattern:

\(\displaystyle \left ( A + B\right ) ^{3} = A ^{3} + 3 A^{2 }B + 3AB^{2} + B^{3}\)

\(\displaystyle = 2 ^{3} + 3 \cdot 2 ^{2 } \cdot 3i + 3 \cdot 2 \cdot (3i)^{2} + (3i)^{3}\)

\(\displaystyle = 2^{3} + 3 \cdot 2^{2} \cdot 3i + 3 \cdot 2 \cdot 3 ^{2}\cdot i^{2} + 3^{3} \cdot i^{3}\)

\(\displaystyle = 8 + 36i + 54 i^{2} + 27 i^{3}\)

\(\displaystyle = 8 + 36i + 54 (-1) + 27 (-i)\)

\(\displaystyle = 8 + 36i - 54 - 27 i\)

\(\displaystyle = -46 + 9i\)

Example Question #1 : Complex Imaginary Numbers

Simplify the following product:

\(\displaystyle {} (5+3i)(-2+i)\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle {} -13-i\)

\(\displaystyle {} -13+11i\)

\(\displaystyle {}-7-i\)

\(\displaystyle {} -10+3i\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle {} -13-i\)

Explanation:

Multiply these complex numbers out in the typical way:

\(\displaystyle {}(5+3i)(-2+i) = -10+5i-6i+3i^2\)

and recall that \(\displaystyle i^2=-1\) by definition. Then, grouping like terms we get

\(\displaystyle {} (-10-3)+(5i-6i) = -13-i\)

which is our final answer.

Example Question #2 : Imaginary Roots Of Negative Numbers

Simplify:

\(\displaystyle (5+8i)(6-2i)\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 46+38i\)

\(\displaystyle 16+32i\)

\(\displaystyle 25+8i\)

\(\displaystyle 7+16i\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 46+38i\)

Explanation:

Start by using FOIL. Which means to multiply the first terms together then the outer terms followed by the inner terms and lastly, the last terms.

\(\displaystyle (5+8i)(6-2i)=30-10i+48i-16i^2\)

Remember that \(\displaystyle i=\sqrt-1\), so \(\displaystyle i^2=-1\).

Substitute in \(\displaystyle -1\) for \(\displaystyle i^2\)

\(\displaystyle 30-10i+48i-16i^2=30+38i-16(-1)=30+38i+16=46+38i\)

Example Question #3 : Imaginary Roots Of Negative Numbers

Simplify:

\(\displaystyle (2+5i)(-8-i)\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle -18-5i\)

\(\displaystyle 42+11i\)

\(\displaystyle 12+6i\)

\(\displaystyle -11-42i\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -11-42i\)

Explanation:

Start by using FOIL. Which means to multiply the first terms together then the outer terms followed by the inner terms and lastly, the last terms.

\(\displaystyle (2+5i)(-8-i)=-16-2i-40i-5i^2\)

Remember that \(\displaystyle i=\sqrt-1\), so \(\displaystyle i^2=-1\).

Substitute in \(\displaystyle -1\) for \(\displaystyle i^2\)

\(\displaystyle -16-2i-40i-5i^2=-16-42i-5(-1)=-16+5-42i=-11-42i\)

Example Question #4 : Imaginary Roots Of Negative Numbers

Simplify:

\(\displaystyle (2+6i)(5+3i)\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 36-8i\)

\(\displaystyle -36-8i\)

\(\displaystyle -8+36i\)

\(\displaystyle 12-8i\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -8+36i\)

Explanation:

Start by using FOIL. Which means to multiply the first terms together then the outer terms followed by the inner terms and lastly, the last terms.

\(\displaystyle (2+6i)(5+3i)=10+6i+30i+18i^2\)

Remember that \(\displaystyle i=\sqrt-1\), so \(\displaystyle i^2=-1\).

Substitute in \(\displaystyle -1\) for \(\displaystyle i^2\)

\(\displaystyle 10+6i+30i+18i^2=10+36i+18(-1)=10-18+36i=-8+36i\)

Example Question #24 : Number Theory

Solve for \(\displaystyle a\) and \(\displaystyle b\)

\(\displaystyle ai^{93}+bi^{35}+ai^{24}-bi^{86}=40+20i\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle a=15, b=15\)

\(\displaystyle a=20, b=40\)

\(\displaystyle a=40, b=20\)

\(\displaystyle a=30, b=10\)

\(\displaystyle a=10, b=30\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle a=30, b=10\)

Explanation:

Remember that 

\(\displaystyle i = \sqrt{-1}\\ i^2 = \sqrt{-1}^2 = -1\\ i^3 = i^2\cdot i = -1 \cdot i = -i\\ i^4 = i^2 \cdot i^2 = (-1)\cdot(-1) = 1\\ i^5 = i^4\cdot i = 1\cdot i = i = \sqrt{-1}\\ i^6 = i^4\cdot i^2 = 1\cdot i^2 = i^2 =-1\)

So the powers of \(\displaystyle i\) are cyclic. This means that when we try to figure out the value of an exponent of \(\displaystyle i\), we can ignore all the powers that are multiples of \(\displaystyle 4\) because they end up multiplying the end result by \(\displaystyle 1\), and therefore do nothing.

This means that 

\(\displaystyle ai^{93} + bi^{35} + ai^{24} - bi^{86}\\ = ai^{92+1} + bi^{32+3} + ai^{24+0} - bi^{84+2}\\ = ai^{92}\cdot i^1 + bi^{32}\cdot i^3 + ai^{24}\cdot i^0 - bi^{84}\cdot i^2\\ =a(i^4)^{23}\cdot i^1 + b(i^4)^8\cdot i^3 + a(i^4)^6\cdot i^0 - b(i^4)^{21}\cdot i^2\\ = a (1^{23})\cdot i + b(1^8)\cdot i^3 + a(1^6) - b(1^{21})\cdot i^2\)

Now, remembering the relationships of the exponents of \(\displaystyle i\), we can simplify this to:

\(\displaystyle ai - bi + a - (-b) = ai-bi+a+b\\ = (a+b) + (a-b)i = 40+20i\)

Because the elements on the left and right have to correspond (no mixing and matching!), we get the relationships: 

\(\displaystyle a+b=40\)

\(\displaystyle a-b=10\)

No matter how you solve it, you get the values \(\displaystyle a=30\)\(\displaystyle b=10\).

Example Question #5 : Imaginary Roots Of Negative Numbers

Simplify: \(\displaystyle \sqrt{-243}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 9i\)

\(\displaystyle -9i\sqrt{3}\)

\(\displaystyle 9i\sqrt{3}\)

None of the Above

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 9i\sqrt{3}\)

Explanation:

Step 1: Split the \(\displaystyle \sqrt{-243}\) into \(\displaystyle \sqrt{243}\cdot\sqrt{-1}\).

Step 2: Recall that \(\displaystyle \sqrt{-1}=i\), so let's replace it.

We now have: \(\displaystyle \sqrt{243}\cdot i\).

Step 3: Simplify \(\displaystyle \sqrt{243}\). To do this, we look at the number on the inside.

\(\displaystyle 243=3\cdot3\cdot3\cdot3\cdot3\).

Step 4: Take the factorization of \(\displaystyle 243\) and take out any pairs of numbers. For any pair of numbers that we find, we only take \(\displaystyle 1\) of the numbers out.

We have a pair of \(\displaystyle 3's\), so a \(\displaystyle 3\) is outside the radical.
We have another pair of \(\displaystyle 3's\), so one more three is put outside the radical.

We need to multiply everything that we bring outside: \(\displaystyle 3*3=9\)

Step 5: The \(\displaystyle i\) goes with the 9...\(\displaystyle 9i\)

Step 6: The last \(\displaystyle 3\) after taking out pairs gets put back into a square root and is written right after the \(\displaystyle i\)

It will look something like this: \(\displaystyle 9i\sqrt{3}\)

Example Question #61 : Classifying Algebraic Functions

\(\displaystyle Simplify: 5\sqrt{12i^{2}}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 5\sqrt{-12}\)

\(\displaystyle 2i\sqrt{3}\)

\(\displaystyle 5i\sqrt{12}\)

\(\displaystyle 10i\sqrt{}3\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 10i\sqrt{}3\)

Explanation:

There are two ways to simplify this problem: 

Method 1: 

\(\displaystyle We\ know\ that\ i^2=-1,\ when\ we\ replace\ that\ we\ get:\)

\(\displaystyle 5\sqrt{-12}\)

\(\displaystyle =5i\sqrt{12}(take\ the\ i\ out)\)

\(\displaystyle =5i\sqrt{4}\sqrt{3} (the\ perfect\ square\ 4\ will\ go\ into\ 12)\)

\(\displaystyle =10i{\sqrt{3}}\ reduce\)

Method 2: 

\(\displaystyle We\ know\ that\ the\ square\ root\ of\ anything\ squared\ is\ just\ itself\)

\(\displaystyle \sqrt{i^2}=i\)

\(\displaystyle 5\sqrt{12i^{2}}=5i\sqrt{12}\)

\(\displaystyle =5i\sqrt{4}\sqrt{3} (the\ perfect\ square\ 4\ will\ go\ into\ 12)\)

\(\displaystyle =10i{\sqrt{3}}\ reduce\)

 

 

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