GRE Subject Test: Math : Functions and Graphs

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Finding Equations Of Lines

Find the equation of a line in slope-intercept form that passes though points  and .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To find the equation of a line that passes through  and , first find the slope using this formula:

Using one set of points or coordinates and the value of slope, plug these values into:

Either set of points will give you the same equation of the line.

Coordinates .

Distribute the  to what is inside the parenthesis.

Add  to both sides of the equation.

The equation of the line in slope-intercept form    is:

Example Question #1 : Finding Equations Of Lines

A line has a slope of  and goes through point   What is the equation of the line in slope-intercept form?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The slope-intercept form is , where  represents the slope,  and  represent the points, and  is the y-intercept or the value of  when 

The slope or  has been given as .

The points that this equation of the line passes through are  and

 because based on the points, when   That is the y-intercept.

The equation of the line in slope-intercept form  is:

Example Question #2 : Finding Equations Of Lines

Find the equation of a line in slope-intercept form that passes through points  and has a slope of 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To find the equation of a line given points  and  use the point- slope formula:

Distribute the  to what is inside the parenthesis.

Subtract  from both sides of the equation.

  When the sign is the same for both integers, add.

The equation of the line in slope-intercept form    is:

Example Question #1 : Finding Equations Of Lines

Find the equation of the line with points 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve for  you must use the equation 

To solve for be we must plug in one of the points

simplify

Add  to both sides

Example Question #2 : Finding Equations Of Lines

Find a line through the point  perpendicular to the line .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve this problem you must first find the slope of the original equation by point it into y-mx+b form

subtract x from both sides

Then you must find the reciprocal of the slope to get the slope of the perpendicular line

 reciprocal is 

Finally you must you point-slope form to solve 

Multiply  through the parentheses

add three to both sides

Example Question #1 : Circles

What is the equation of a circle with center at  and a radius of ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Step 1: Recall the general equation for a circle (if the vertex is not at :

, where center=

Step 2: Recall the shift of the graph..

If the value of  is positive, it will be shown as a negative shift in the equation.
If the value of  is negative, it will be shown as a positive shift in the equation.
If the value of  is positive, it will be shown as a negative shift in the equation.
If the value of  is negative, it will be shown as a positive shift in the equation.

Step 3: Look at the center given in the problem and find the rule(s) in step 2 that will apply:

Center=

Step 4: Plug in  into the equation of a circle:


Simplify:

Example Question #1 : Circles

What is the vertex of the equation of a circle: 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Step 1: There are no numbers next to  and , so their is no movement of the vertex..

Step 2: Recall the vertex of a circle that does not move...

The vertex of this circle is .

Example Question #2 : Conic Sections

Using the information below, determine the equation of the hyperbola.

Foci:  and 

Eccentricity: 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

General Information for Hyperbola:

Equation for horizontal transverse hyperbola:

Distance between foci = 

Distance between vertices = 

Eccentricity =

Center: (h, k)

First determine the value of c. Since we know the distance between the two foci is 12, we can set that equal to .

Next, use the eccentricity equation and the value of the eccentricity provided in the question to determine the value of a.

Eccentricity =

Determine the value of 

Determine the center point to identify the values of h and k. Since the y coordinate of the foci are 4, the center point will be on the same line. Hence, .

Since center point is equal distance from both foci, and we know that the distance between the foci is 12, we can conclude that 

Center point: 

Thus, the equation of the hyperbola is:

Example Question #11 : Conic Sections

Using the information below, determine the equation of the hyperbola.

Foci:  and 

Eccentricity: 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

General Information for Hyperbola:

Equation for horizontal transverse hyperbola:

Distance between foci = 

Distance between vertices = 

Eccentricity =

Center: (h, k)

First determine the value of c. Since we know the distance between the two foci is 8, we can set that equal to .

Next, use the eccentricity equation and the value of the eccentricity provided in the question to determine the value of a.

Eccentricity =

Determine the value of 

Determine the center point to identify the values of h and k. Since the y coordinate of the foci are 8, the center point will be on the same line. Hence, .

Since center point is equal distance from both foci, and we know that the distance between the foci is 8, we can conclude that 

Center point: 

Thus, the equation of the hyperbola is:

Example Question #2 : Solve A System Of Quadratic Equations

Find the coordinate of intersection, if possible:   and .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve for x and y, set both equations equal to each other and solve for x.

Substitute  into either parabola.

The coordinate of intersection is .

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