SAT II Math I : Simplifying Expressions

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT II Math I

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Simplifying Expressions

Decrease  by 30%. Which of the following will this be equal to?

Possible Answers:

The correct answer is not among the other responses.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

A number decreased by 30% is equivalent to 100% of the number minus 30% of the number. This is taking 70% of the number, or, equivalently, multiplying it by 0.7. 

Therefore,  decreased by 30% is 0.7 times this, or

Example Question #271 : Sat Subject Test In Math I

The polynomial  is divisible by the linear binomial . Evaluate .

Possible Answers:

None of the other choices gives the correct answer.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

By the factor theorem, a polynomial  is divisible by the linear binomial  if and only if . Therefore, we want the value of  that makes the polynomial equal to 0 when evaluated at .

Example Question #271 : Sat Subject Test In Math I

Factor:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

 can be rewritten as  and is therefore the sum of two cubes. As such, it can be factored using the pattern

where .

Example Question #121 : Single Variable Algebra

Factor completely:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The grouping technique works here:

The first factor is the difference of squares and can be factored further accordingly:

Example Question #271 : Sat Subject Test In Math I

Factor completely:

Possible Answers:

The polynomial is prime.

Correct answer:

The polynomial is prime.

Explanation:

Since the first term is a perfect cube, the factoring pattern we are looking to take advantage of is the difference of cubes pattern. However, 243 is not a perfect cube of an integer , so the factoring pattern cannot be applied.  No other pattern fits, so the polynomial is a prime.

Example Question #122 : Single Variable Algebra

Exponentiate:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Vertical multiplication is perhaps the easiest way to multiply trinomials.

                         

                         

                     

              

   

Example Question #121 : Single Variable Algebra

Exponentiate:

 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The difference of two terms can be cubed using the pattern

Where :

Example Question #122 : Single Variable Algebra

How many of the following are prime factors of  ?

I) 

II) 

III) 

IV) 

Possible Answers:

Three

Four

One

Two

None

Correct answer:

Three

Explanation:

Factor  all the way to its prime factorization.

 can be factored as the difference of two perfect square terms as follows:

 is a factor, and, as the sum of squares, it is a prime.  is also a factor, but it is not a prime factor - it can be factored as the difference of two perfect square terms. We continue:

Therefore, of the given four choices, only  is not a factor, so the correct response is three.

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Solution Of A Rational Equation With A Binomial Denominator

For all values , which of the following is equivalent to the expression above?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

First, factor the numerator. We need factors that multiply to and add to .

We can plug the factored terms into the original expression.

Note that appears in both the numerator and the denominator. This allows us to cancel the terms.

This is our final answer.

Example Question #126 : Single Variable Algebra

Simplify the following expression: 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

When simplifying an equation,you must find a common factor for all values in the equation, including both sides.  

and,  can all be divided by  so divide them all at once 

.  

This leaves you with 

.

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