Common Core: High School - Algebra : Seeing Structure in Expressions

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Common Core: High School - Algebra

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All Common Core: High School - Algebra Resources

8 Diagnostic Tests 97 Practice Tests Question of the Day Flashcards Learn by Concept

Example Questions

Example Question #31 : High School: Algebra

Factor the quadratic expression.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To factor the quadratic expression 

set up the expression in factored form, leaving blanks for the numbers that are not yet known.

At this point, you need to find two numbers - one for each blank. By looking at the original expression, a few clues can be gathered that will help find the two numbers. The product of these two numbers will be equal to the last term of the original expression (10, or c in the standard quadratic formula), and their sum will be equal to the coefficient of the second term of the original expression (7, or b in the standard quadratic formula). Because their product is positive (10), that must mean that they have the same signs. 

Now, at this point, test a few different possibilities using the clues gathered from the original expression. In the end, it's found that the only numbers that work are 2 and 5, as the product of 2 and 5 is 10, and sum of 2 and 5 is 7. So, this results in the expression's factored form looking like...

Example Question #7 : Rewriting Expressions Using Its Structure: Ccss.Math.Content.Hsa Sse.A.2

Factor the quadratic expression.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To factor the quadratic expression 

set up the expression in factored form, leaving blanks for the numbers that are not yet known.

At this point, you need to find two numbers - one for each blank. By looking at the original expression, a few clues can be gathered that will help find the two numbers. The product of these two numbers will be equal to the last term of the original expression (-4, or c in the standard quadratic formula), and their sum will be equal to the coefficient of the second term of the original expression (-3, or b in the standard quadratic formula). Because their product is negative (-4), that must mean that they have different signs. 

Now, at this point, test a few different possibilities using the clues gathered from the original expression. In the end, it's found that the only numbers that work are -4 and 1, as the product of -4 and 1 is -4, and sum of -4 and 1 is -3. So, this results in the expression's factored form looking like...

Example Question #8 : Rewriting Expressions Using Its Structure: Ccss.Math.Content.Hsa Sse.A.2

Factor the quadratic expression.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To factor the quadratic expression 

set up the expression in factored form, leaving blanks for the numbers that are not yet known.

At this point, you need to find two numbers - one for each blank. By looking at the original expression, a few clues can be gathered that will help find the two numbers. The product of these two numbers will be equal to the last term of the original expression (4, or c in the standard quadratic formula), and their sum will be equal to the coefficient of the second term of the original expression (-4, or b in the standard quadratic formula). Because their product is positive (4) and the sum is negative, that must mean that they both have negative signs. 

Now, at this point, test a few different possibilities using the clues gathered from the original expression. In the end, it's found that the only numbers that work are -2 and -2, as the product of -2 and -2 is 4, and sum of -2 and -2 is -4. So, this results in the expression's factored form looking like...

Example Question #9 : Rewriting Expressions Using Its Structure: Ccss.Math.Content.Hsa Sse.A.2

Factor the quadratic expression.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To factor the quadratic expression 

set up the expression in factored form, leaving blanks for the numbers that are not yet known.

At this point, you need to find two numbers - one for each blank. By looking at the original expression, a few clues can be gathered that will help find the two numbers. The product of these two numbers will be equal to the last term of the original expression (-4, or c in the standard quadratic formula), and their sum will be equal to the coefficient of the second term of the original expression (0, or b in the standard quadratic formula). Because their product is negative (-4) and the sum is zero, that must mean that they have different signs but the same absolute value.

Now, at this point, test a few different possibilities using the clues gathered from the original expression. In the end, it's found that the only numbers that work are 2 and -2, as the product of 2 and -2 is -4, and sum of 2 and -2 is 0. So, this results in the expression's factored form looking like...

This is known as a difference of squares.

Example Question #31 : High School: Algebra

Factor the quadratic expression.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To factor the quadratic expression 

set up the expression in factored form, leaving blanks for the numbers that are not yet known.

At this point, you need to find two numbers - one for each blank. By looking at the original expression, a few clues can be gathered that will help find the two numbers. The product of these two numbers will be equal to the last term of the original expression (-9, or c in the standard quadratic formula), and their sum will be equal to the coefficient of the second term of the original expression (0, or b in the standard quadratic formula). Because their product is negative (-9) and the sum is zero, that must mean that they have different signs but the same absolute value.

Now, at this point, test a few different possibilities using the clues gathered from the original expression. In the end, it's found that the only numbers that work are 3 and -3, as the product of 3 and -3 is -9, and sum of 3 and -3 is 0. So, this results in the expression's factored form looking like...

This is known as a difference of squares.

Example Question #32 : High School: Algebra

Factor the quadratic expression.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To factor the quadratic expression 

set up the expression in factored form, leaving blanks for the numbers that are not yet known.

At this point, you need to find two numbers - one for each blank. By looking at the original expression, a few clues can be gathered that will help find the two numbers. The product of these two numbers will be equal to the last term of the original expression (-16, or c in the standard quadratic formula), and their sum will be equal to the coefficient of the second term of the original expression (0, or b in the standard quadratic formula). Because their product is negative (-16) and the sum is zero, that must mean that they have different signs but the same absolute value.

Now, at this point, test a few different possibilities using the clues gathered from the original expression. In the end, it's found that the only numbers that work are 4 and -4, as the product of 4 and -4 is -16, and sum of 4 and -4 is 0. So, this results in the expression's factored form looking like...

This is known as a difference of squares.

Example Question #31 : High School: Algebra

Find the zeros of the following function.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To find the zeros of the function use factoring. 

Set up the expression in factored form, leaving blanks for the numbers that are not yet known.

At this point, you need to find two numbers - one for each blank. By looking at the original expression, a few clues can be gathered that will help find the two numbers. The product of these two numbers will be equal to the last term of the original expression (6, or c in the standard quadratic formula), and their sum will be equal to the coefficient of the second term of the original expression (5, or b in the standard quadratic formula). Because their product is positive (6) and the sum is positive, that must mean that they both have positive signs. 

Now, at this point, test a few different possibilities using the clues gathered from the original expression. In the end, it's found that the only numbers that work are 2 and 3, as the product of 2 and 3 is 6, and sum of 2 and 3 is 5. So, this results in the expression's factored form looking like...

From here, set each binomial equal to zero and solve for .

and 

To verify the zeros, graph the original function and identify where the graph touches or crosses the x-axis.

Q1

Therefore the zeros of the function are,

Example Question #2 : Graphical Representation Of Functions

Find all possible zeros for the following function.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To find the zeros of the function, use factoring.

Set up the expression in factored form, leaving blanks for the numbers that are not yet known.

At this point, you need to find two numbers - one for each blank. By looking at the original expression, a few clues can be gathered that will help find the two numbers. The product of these two numbers will be equal to the last term of the original expression (-9, or c in the standard quadratic formula), and their sum will be equal to the coefficient of the second term of the original expression (0, or b in the standard quadratic formula). Because their product is negative (-9) and the sum is zero, that must mean that they have different signs but the same absolute value.

Now, at this point, test a few different possibilities using the clues gathered from the original expression. In the end, it's found that the only numbers that work are 3 and -3, as the product of 3 and -3 is -9, and sum of 3 and -3 is 0. So, this results in the expression's factored form looking like...

This is known as a difference of squares.

From here, set each binomial equal to zero and solve for .

and 

To verify the zeros, graph the original function and identify where the graph touches or crosses the x-axis.

Q10

Therefore the zeros of the function are,

Example Question #32 : High School: Algebra

Find the zeros of the following function.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To find the zeros of the function use factoring. 

Set up the expression in factored form, leaving blanks for the numbers that are not yet known.

At this point, you need to find two numbers - one for each blank. By looking at the original expression, a few clues can be gathered that will help find the two numbers. The product of these two numbers will be equal to the last term of the original expression (2, or c in the standard quadratic formula), and their sum will be equal to the coefficient of the second term of the original expression (-3, or b in the standard quadratic formula). Because their product is positive (2) and the sum is negative, that must mean that they both have negative signs. 

Now, at this point, test a few different possibilities using the clues gathered from the original expression. In the end, it's found that the only numbers that work are 1 and 2, as the product of 1 and 2 is 2, and sum of 1 and 2 is 3. So, this results in the expression's factored form looking like...

From here, set each binomial equal to zero and solve for .

and 

To verify the zeros, graph the original function and identify where the graph touches or crosses the x-axis.

Q2

Therefore the zeros of the function are,

Example Question #41 : Quadratic Equations

Find all possible zeros of the following function.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To find the zeros of the function use factoring. 

Set up the expression in factored form, leaving blanks for the numbers that are not yet known.

At this point, you need to find two numbers - one for each blank. By looking at the original expression, a few clues can be gathered that will help find the two numbers. The product of these two numbers will be equal to the last term of the original expression (1, or c in the standard quadratic formula), and their sum will be equal to the coefficient of the second term of the original expression (2, or b in the standard quadratic formula). Because their product is positive (1) and the sum is positive, that must mean that they both have positive signs. 

Now, at this point, test a few different possibilities using the clues gathered from the original expression. In the end, it's found that the only numbers that work are 1 and 1, as the product of 1 and 1 is 1, and sum of 1 and 1 is 2. So, this results in the expression's factored form looking like...

From here, set the binomial equal to zero and solve for .

To verify the zeros, graph the original function and identify where the graph touches or crosses the x-axis.

Q3

Therefore the zero of the function is,

All Common Core: High School - Algebra Resources

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