Polynomials

Help Questions

SAT Math › Polynomials

Questions 1 - 10
1

Divide by .

Explanation

It is not necessary to work a long division if you recognize as the sum of two perfect cube expressions:

A sum of cubes can be factored according to the pattern

,

so, setting ,

Therefore,

2

Divide by .

Explanation

It is not necessary to work a long division if you recognize as the sum of two perfect cube expressions:

A sum of cubes can be factored according to the pattern

,

so, setting ,

Therefore,

3

Divide by .

Explanation

It is not necessary to work a long division if you recognize as the sum of two perfect cube expressions:

A sum of cubes can be factored according to the pattern

,

so, setting ,

Therefore,

4

Find the degree of the polynomial:

Explanation

To find the degree of a polynomial we must find the largest exponent in the function.

The degree of the polynomial is 5, as the largest exponent of is 5 in the second term.

5

Find the degree of the polynomial:

Explanation

To find the degree of a polynomial we must find the largest exponent in the function.

The degree of the polynomial is 5, as the largest exponent of is 5 in the second term.

6

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

What are the zeros of the following trinomial?

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.

7

If a positive integer a is divided by 7, the remainder is 4. What is the remainder if 3_a_ + 5 is divided by 3?

2

3

4

5

6

Explanation

The best way to solve this problem is to plug in an appropriate value for a. For example, plug-in 11 for a because 11 divided by 7 will give us a remainder of 4.

Then 3_a + 5_, where a = 11, gives us 38. Then 38 divided by 3 gives a remainder of 2.

The algebra method is as follows:

a divided by 7 gives us some positive integer b, with a remainder of 4.

Thus,

a / 7 = b 4/7

a / 7 = (7_b +_ 4) / 7

a = (7_b_ + 4)

then 3_a + 5 =_ 3 (7_b_ + 4) + 5

(3_a_+5)/3 = \[3(7_b_ + 4) + 5\] / 3

= (7_b_ + 4) + 5/3

The first half of this expression (7_b_ + 4) is a positive integer, but the second half of this expression (5/3) gives us a remainder of 2.

8

If a positive integer a is divided by 7, the remainder is 4. What is the remainder if 3_a_ + 5 is divided by 3?

2

3

4

5

6

Explanation

The best way to solve this problem is to plug in an appropriate value for a. For example, plug-in 11 for a because 11 divided by 7 will give us a remainder of 4.

Then 3_a + 5_, where a = 11, gives us 38. Then 38 divided by 3 gives a remainder of 2.

The algebra method is as follows:

a divided by 7 gives us some positive integer b, with a remainder of 4.

Thus,

a / 7 = b 4/7

a / 7 = (7_b +_ 4) / 7

a = (7_b_ + 4)

then 3_a + 5 =_ 3 (7_b_ + 4) + 5

(3_a_+5)/3 = \[3(7_b_ + 4) + 5\] / 3

= (7_b_ + 4) + 5/3

The first half of this expression (7_b_ + 4) is a positive integer, but the second half of this expression (5/3) gives us a remainder of 2.

9

Find the degree of the polynomial:

Explanation

To find the degree of a polynomial we must find the largest exponent in the function.

The degree of the polynomial is 5, as the largest exponent of is 5 in the second term.

10

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

What are the zeros of the following trinomial?

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.

Page 1 of 11
Return to subject