Algebra and Geometry Review – Exercise 04


QUESTION 1: Factoring a perfect square trinomial with leading coefficient 1

                Factor: y^2 - 12x + 36
               
EXPLANATION: When factoring a polynomial, the following formulas are sometimes useful
1.       a^2 + 2ab + b^2 = (a + b)^2
2.        a^2 - 2ab + b^2 = (a - b)^2
We can use formula 2. to factor the given perfect square polynomial.
y^2 - 12x + 36 = y^2 – 2(y)(6) + 6^2
                = (y – 6)^2

ANSWER: (y – 6)^2

QUESTION 2: Simplifying a ratio of multivariate monomials

                Simplify: 25xy / 35yz

EXPLANATION: We simplify 25xy / 35yz as follows
                25xy / 35yz = 5xy / 7yz                   Canceling the common factor 5
                = 5x / 7z               Canceling the common factor y

ANSWER: 5x / 7z

QUESTION 3: Factoring a linear binomial

                Factor: 5u + 25

EXPLANATION: We first find the greatest common factor (GCF) of 5u and 25
                Note that 5u and 25 have no common variables
                So we just need to find the GCF of 5 and 25
                The GCF is 5
We then factor out the GCF using the distributive property
5u + 25 = 5(u) + 5(5)
= 5(u + 5)

ANSWER: 5(u + 5)

QUESTION 4: Cube root of an integer

                Find the value of: cube root of 343 or 343^(1/3)
               
EXPLANATION: The expression cube root 343 means the same 343^(1/3)
                The cube root of 343 is a number whose cube (3rd power) is 343
                Because 343 is positive, its cube root must also be positive
                Checking some positive integers, we see that 7 is the cube root of 343
                1^3 = 1*1*1 = 1
                2^3 = 2*2*2 = 8
                3^3 = 3*3*3 = 27
                4^3 = 4*4*4 = 64
                5^3 = 5*5*5 = 125
6^3 = 6*6*6 = 216
7^3 = 7*7*7 = 343

ANSWER: 7

QUESTION 5: Signed fraction subtraction involving double negation

                Evaluate and write your answer in simplest form: -1/6 – (-5/4)
               
EXPLANATION: The least common denominator of -1/6 and -5/4 is 12
                So we first rewrite both fractions with a denominator of 12
                -1/6 = -1(2) / 6(2) = -2/12
                -5/4 = -5(3) / 4(3) = -15/12
Now we can subtract:
                -1/6 – (-5/4) = -2/12 – (-15/12)
                = -2/12 + 15/12
                = 13/12

ANSWER: 13/12

QUESTION 6: Evaluating expressions with exponents of zero

                Evaluate the expressions:
                (1/9)^0 = ?
                -(4)^0 = ?

EXPLANATION:
                For any nonzero number a, it is always the case that a^0 =1
                (1/9)^0 = 1
                Because 4^0 = 1, we have –(4)^0 = -1
ANSWER:
                (1/9)^0 = 1
                -(4)^0 = -1

QUESTION 7: Squaring a binomial

                Rewrite without parentheses and simplify: (y – 4)^2

EXPLANATION: We can write (y – 4)^2 as (y – 4)(y – 4)
                We can multiply (y – 4) by itself using FOIL (First, Outer, Inner, Last)
                F : Multiply the two First terms: y*y = y^2
                O : Multiply the two Outside terms: y*(-4) = -4y
                I : Multiply the two Inside terms: -4*y = -4y
                L : Multiply the two Last terms: -4*(-4) = 16
The product (y – 4)(y – 4) is then equal to the sum of these terms.
(y – 4)(y – 4) = y^2 – 4y – 4y + 16
= y^2 – 8y + 16

ANSWER: y^2 – 8y + 16

Algebra and Geometry Review – Exercise 04




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