SAT Math : Exponents

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #3 : How To Multiply Complex Numbers

Multiply  by its complex conjugate.

Possible Answers:

None of the other responses gives the correct answer.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The complex conjugate of a complex number  is . The product of the two is the number 

.

Therefore, the product of  and its complex conjugate  can be found by setting  and  in this pattern:

,

the correct response.

Example Question #2 : How To Multiply Complex Numbers

Multiply  by its complex conjugate.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The complex conjugate of a complex number  is . The product of the two is the number 

.

Therefore, the product of  and its complex conjugate  can be found by setting  and  in this pattern:

,

the correct response.

Example Question #2 : How To Multiply Complex Numbers

What is the product of  and its complex conjugate?

Possible Answers:

The correct response is not among the other choices.

Correct answer:

The correct response is not among the other choices.

Explanation:

The complex conjugate of a complex number  is , so  has  as its complex conjugate. 

The product of  and  is equal to , so set  in this expression, and evaluate:

.

This is not among the given responses.

Example Question #1 : How To Multiply Complex Numbers

Multiply and simplify:

Possible Answers:

None of the other choices gives the correct response.

Correct answer:

None of the other choices gives the correct response.

Explanation:

The two factors are both square roots of negative numbers, and are therefore imaginary. Write both in terms of  before multiplying:

Therefore, using the Product of Radicals rule:

 

Example Question #7 : How To Multiply Complex Numbers

Evaluate 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

 is recognizable as the cube of the binomial . That is,

Therefore, setting  and  and evaluating:

.

Example Question #613 : Algebra

Evaluate 

Possible Answers:

None of the other choices gives the correct response.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

 is recognizable as the cube of the binomial . That is,

Therefore, setting  and  and evaluating:

Applying the Power of a Product Rule and the fact that :

,

the correct value.

Example Question #8 : How To Multiply Complex Numbers

Raise  to the power of 3.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To raise any expression  to the third power, use the pattern

Setting :

Taking advantage of the Power of a Product Rule:

Since ,

and

:

Collecting real and imaginary terms:

Example Question #24 : Complex Numbers

Raise  to the power of 3.

Possible Answers:

None of the other choices gives the correct response.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To raise any expression  to the third power, use the pattern

Setting :

Taking advantage of the Power of a Product Rule:

Since ,

and

:

Collecting real and imaginary terms:

Example Question #31 : Complex Numbers

Evaluate .

Possible Answers:

None of the other choices gives the correct response.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Apply the Power of a Product Rule:

,

and

so, substituting and evaluating:

Example Question #32 : Complex Numbers

Raise  to the power of 4.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The easiest way to find  is to note that  

.

Therefore, we can find the fourth power of  by squaring , then squaring the result.

Using the binomial square pattern to square :

Applying the Power of a Product Property:

Since  by definition: 

Square this using the same steps:

,

the correct response.

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