SAT Math : Trinomials

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #21 : Polynomials

Solve each problem and decide which is the best of the choices given.

 

What are the zeros of the following trinomial?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

First factor out a . Then the factors of the remaining polynomial, 

, are  and .

Set everything equal to zero and you get , , and  because you cant forget to set  equal to zero.

Example Question #1 : Trinomials

Subtract  from .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Step 1: We need to read the question carefully. It says subtract from. When you see the word "from", you read the question right to left. 

I am subtracting the left equation from the right equation.

Step 2: We need to write the equation on the right minus the equation of the left.



Step 3: Distribute the minus sign in front of the parentheses:



Step 4: Combine like terms:





Step 5: Put all the terms together, starting with highest degree. The degree of the terms is the exponent. Here, the highest degree is 2 and lowest is zero.

The final equation is  

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