MTH 100 College Algebra

Essex County College Division of Mathematics

Sample Review Questions
1
Created June 6, 2011
Math 100, Introductory College Mathematics, covers the mathematical content listed below. In
order to place out of Math 100 or to prepare for the nal examination in this course, one should
be extremely comfortable with all of these items.
NOTE: Calculators are permitted in this course, but should only be used when appropriate.
The content listed below is covered in chapters 1 through 8 and 10 in Algebra for College
Students, Custom Version for Essex County College, Second Edition, by Bittinger & Ellenbogen
(published by Addison Wesley, Inc.), the current textbook used in Math 100.
Simplifying expressions involving negative integer and rational exponents.
Simplifying, adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing rational expressions, radical
expressions, and complex numbers.
Multiplying and dividing polynomials.
Factoring polynomials including greatest common factors (GCF), dierences of squares,
dierences and sums of cubes, and quadratic trinomials.
Evaluating expressions involving function notation.
Finding the domains of functions.
Solving equations, including ones containing rational or radical terms.
Solving literal equations or formulas for a specied variable in terms of other variables.
Solving inequalities and systems of equations.
Solving quadratic equations by using the zero-product rule, the quadratic formula, and
the square-root method in conjunction with completing the square.
Solving application problems (including, but not limited to, total value, mixture, motion,
work, area, and determine-the-number problems).
Finding equations of lines through given points, with given slopes, perpendicular or parallel
to given lines, and/or with given intercepts.
Finding slopes and x and y-intercepts of lines.
Finding vertices and lines of symmetry of parabolas and centers and radii of circles.
Finding equations of circles with given centers and radii.
Graphing lines, parabolas, and circles.
Finding the distance between two points.
1
This document was prepared by Ron Bannon using L
A
T
E
X2 and is a slight modication of Susan Gauldens
MTH 100 Content worksheet.
1
Review Problem Set
At Essex County College you should be prepared to show all work clearly and in order, ending
your work by boxing the answer. Furthermore, justify your answers algebraically whenever
possible. These questions are for review only, and placement tests are not limited to these
problems alone. Solutions and work are provided for each question. Please feel free to email
[email protected] with questions or comments pertaining to this document.
2
1. Simplify.
(a)
_
3x
2
y
3
z
0
_
2
Solution:
_
3x
2
y
3
z
0
_
2
=
_
3y
3
x
2
_
2
=
_
x
2
3y
3
_
2
=
x
4
9y
6
(b)
24a
3
b
5
c
1
16a
2
c
Solution:
24a
3
b
5
c
1
16a
2
c
=
3a
5
b
5
2c
2
(c)
_
3m
4
n
6mn
2
_
3
Solution:
_
3m
4
n
6mn
2
_
3
=
_
1
2m
5
n
_
3
=
_
2m
5
n
_
3
= 8m
15
n
3
2. Simplify.
(a)
_
25x
2
y
4
_1
2
Solution:
_
25x
2
y
4
_1
2
= 5 |x| y
2
(b)
_
8a
6
b
9
c
3
_2
3
Solution:
_
8a
6
b
9
c
3
_2
3
= 4a
4
b
6
c
2
2
These are sample problems and you should not limit your study to just these problems.
2
3. Simplify
(a)
x
2
5x + 6
x
2
+ 2x 8
Solution:
x
2
5x + 6
x
2
+ 2x 8
=
(x 2) (x 3)
(x + 4) (x 2)
=
x 3
x + 4
, x = 2
(b)
6x 7
4x 5
+
2x 3
4x 5
Solution:
6x 7
4x 5
+
2x 3
4x 5
=
6x 7 + 2x 3
4x 5
=
8x 10
4x 5
=
2 (4x 5)
(4x 5)
= 2, x =
5
4
(c)
3
x + 1
+
5x
x + 2

1
x
2
+ 3x + 2
Solution:
3
x + 1
+
5x
x + 2

1
x
2
+ 3x + 2
=
3
(x + 1)
+
5x
(x + 2)

1
(x + 1) (x + 2)
=
3 (x + 2)
(x + 1) (x + 2)
+
5x(x + 1)
(x + 1) (x + 2)

1
(x + 1) (x + 2)
=
3x + 6 + 5x
2
+ 5x 1
(x + 1) (x + 2)
=
5x
2
+ 8x + 5
(x + 1) (x + 2)
(d)
x
2
4
3x + 1

6x + 2
x
2
7x + 10
Solution:
x
2
4
3x + 1

6x + 2
x
2
7x + 10
=
(x + 2) (x 2)
(3x + 1)

2 (3x + 1)
(x 2) (x 5)
=
(x + 2)
1

2
(x 5)
, x = 2, x =
1
3
=
2x + 4
x 5
, x = 2, x =
1
3
3
(e)
x
2
+ 4x + 3
x
2
3x 10

x
2
x 12
x
2
9x + 20
Solution:
x
2
+ 4x + 3
x
2
3x 10

x
2
x 12
x
2
9x + 20
=
x
2
+ 4x + 3
x
2
3x 10

x
2
9x + 20
x
2
x 12
=
(x + 3) (x + 1)
(x + 2) (x 5)

(x 5) (x 4)
(x + 3) (x 4)
=
x + 1
x + 2
, x = 3, x = 4, x = 5
4. Simplify.
(a)
2
9x
+
1
3
x
4
9x
Solution:
2
9x
+
1
3
x
4
9x
=
2
9x
+
1
3
x
4
9x

9x
9x
=
2 + 3x
9x
2
4
, x = 0
=
(2 + 3x)
(3x + 2) (3x 2)
, x = 0
=
1
3x 2
, x = 0, x =
2
3
(b)
2
x 3

3
2x + 1
1
2x + 1
+
5
x 3
Solution:
2
x 3

3
2x + 1
1
2x + 1
+
5
x 3
=
2
x 3

3
2x + 1
1
2x + 1
+
5
x 3

(x 3) (2x + 1)
(x 3) (2x + 1)
=
2 (2x + 1) 3 (x 3)
1 (x 3) + 5 (2x + 1)
, x = 3, x =
1
2
=
x + 11
11x + 2
, x = 3, x =
1
2
4
5. Simplify.
(a)
4
_
32m
7
n
8
p
12
Solution:
4
_
32m
7
n
8
p
12
= 2n
2

mp
3

2m
3
(b)

80x
3
y
5xy
5
Solution: Note, the restriction here is that x = 0 and y = 0.

80x
3
y
5xy
5
=

16x
2
y
4
=
4 |x|
y
2
(c) 3
4

7 5

2 +
4

7 + 2

2
Solution:
3
4

7 5

2 +
4

7 + 2

2 = 4
4

7 3

2
(d)

48 + 3

27 4

12
Solution:

48 + 3

27 4

12 = 4

3 + 9

3 8

3 = 5

3
(e)

40

30
Solution:

40

30 =

1200 =

3 4 100 = 20

3
(f)
5

4a
4
bc
4

8a
3
b
2
c
Solution:
5

4a
4
bc
4

8a
3
b
2
c =
5

32a
7
b
3
c
5
= 2ac
5

a
2
b
3
(g)
_
20xy
5
_
5x
3
y
Solution: The restriction here is that x > 0 and y > 0.
_
20xy
5
_
5x
3
y
=

20xy
5
5x
3
y
=
_
4y
4
x
2
=
2y
2
x
5
(h)
3

2
5 +

2
Solution:
3

2
5 +

2
=
3

2
5 +

2
5

2
=
17 8

2
25 2
=
17 8

2
23
=
17
23

8

2
23
6. Rationalize the denominator
_
9
20x
2
y
.
Solution: The restriction here is that x = 0 and y > 0.
_
9
20x
2
y
=

9
_
20x
2
y
=
3
2 |x|

5y
=
3
2 |x|

5y

5y

5y
=
3

5y
10 |x| y
7. Simplify.
(a) 3

4 + 5

16
Solution:
3

4 + 5

16 = 3 2i + 5 4i = 6i + 20i = 26i
(b) (3 + 2i) + (5 6i) (1 + 4i)
Solution:
(3 + 2i) + (5 6i) (1 + 4i) = 7 8i
(c) 5i (7 4i)
Solution:
5i (7 4i) = 35i 20i
2
= 35i + 20 = 20 + 35i
(d) (4 + i) (3 2i)
Solution:
(4 + i) (3 2i) = 12 8i + 3i 2i
2
= 12 5i + 2 = 14 5i
(e)
4 + i
3 2i
Solution:
4 + i
3 2i
=
4 + i
3 2i

3 + 2i
3 + 2i
=
10 + 11i
9 4i
2
=
10 + 11i
13
=
10
13
+
11
13
i
6
8. Simplify.
(a)
_
x
2
2x + 4
_ _
3x
2
+ 5x 2
_
Solution:
_
x
2
2x + 4
_ _
3x
2
+ 5x 2
_
= 3x
4
+ 5x
3
2x
2
6x
3
10x
2
+ 4x + 12x
2
+ 20x 8
= 3x
4
x
3
+ 24x 8
(b)
2x
2
5x 12
x 4
Solution:
2x
2
5x 12
x 4
=
(2x + 3) (x 4)
(x 4)
= 2x + 3, x = 4
(c)
_
3x
2
+ 7x 4
_
(x + 2)
Solution: Found by long division.
3x + 1
6
x + 2
9. Factor.
(a) 5x
3
y
2
15x
2
y
4
+ 20x
3
y
3
Solution:
5x
3
y
2
15x
2
y
4
+ 20x
3
y
3
= 5x
2
y
2
_
x 3y
2
+ 4xy
_
(b) m
4
16
Solution:
m
4
16 =
_
m
2
4
_ _
m
2
+ 4
_
= (m2) (m + 2)
_
m
2
+ 4
_
(c) 27x
3
1
Solution:
27x
3
1 = (3x 1)
_
9x
2
+ 3x + 1
_
(d) 15x
2
+ 11x + 2
Solution:
15x
2
+ 11x + 2 = (5x + 2) (3x + 1)
7
(e) x
3
+ 64
Solution:
x
3
+ 64 = (x + 4)
_
x
2
4x + 16
_
10. Evaluate.
(a) f (3) given that f (x) =
3x 2
x
2
+ 5
.
Solution:
f (3) =
3 (3) 2
(3)
2
+ 5
=
9 2
9 + 5
=
11
14
(b) g (2) given that g (x) =

x
3
x + 10.
Solution:
g (2) =
_
2
3
2 + 10 =

8 2 + 10 =

16 = 4
(c) h(0) given that h(x) = 4x +
3

x
2
+ 8.
Solution:
h(0) = 4 0 +
3
_
0
2
+ 8 =
3

8 = 2
11. Find the domain of each function.
(a) f (x) =
5
x
Solution: R, x = 0
(b) g (x) =
3x + 5
2x 1
Solution: R, x =
1
2
(c) h(x) = 3x
2
2x + 7
Solution: R
8
12. Solve.
(a) 2x 8 = 5 (x + 4) x
Solution:
2x 8 = 5 (x + 4) x
2x 8 = 5x + 20 x
2x 8 = 4x + 20
8 20 = 4x 2x
28 = 2x
14 = x
So, x = 14 .
(b)
6
x
+
4
x
= 5
Solution:
6
x
+
4
x
= 5
x
6
x
+ x
4
x
= x 5
6 + 4 = 5x
10 = 5x
2 = x
So, x = 2 .
(c)
3
x + 4
=
2
x 3
Solution:
3
x + 4
=
2
x 3
(x + 4) (x 3)
3
(x + 4)
= (x + 4) (x 3)
2
(x 3)
(x 3) 3 = (x + 4) 2
3x 9 = 2x + 8
3x 2x = 9 + 8
x = 17
So, x = 17 .
9
(d)
50
x 2

16
x
=
30
x
Solution:
50
x 2

16
x
=
30
x
x(x 2)
50
x 2
x(x 2)
16
x
= x(x 2)
30
x
x 50 (x 2) 16 = (x 2) 30
50x 16x + 32 = 30x 60
34x + 32 = 30x 60
34x 30x = 32 60
4x = 92
x = 23
So, x = 23 .
(e)

x + 7 + 5 = x
Solution:

x + 7 + 5 = x

x + 7 = x 5
_
x + 7
_
2
= (x 5)
2
x + 7 = x
2
10x + 25
0 = x
2
11x + 18
0 = (x 2) (x 9)
It appears that x = 2 and x = 9 are solutions, however, x = 2 is extraneous
(i.e. doesnt work), so x = 9 .
(f)
3

x 2 = 3
Solution:
3

x 2 = 3
_
3

x 2
_
3
= (3)
3
x 2 = 27
x = 25
So, x = 25 .
10
13. Solve.
(a) A = P(1 + rt) for r.
Solution:
A = P(1 + rt)
A = P + Prt
AP = Prt
AP
Pt
= r
So, r =
AP
Pt
or r =
A
Pt

1
t
.
(b) v =
d
1
+ d
2
t
for d
2
Solution:
v =
d
1
+ d
2
t
vt = d
1
+ d
2
vt d
1
= d
2
So, d
2
= vt d
1
.
(c) K =
rt
r t
for t
Solution:
K =
rt
r t
K (r t) = rt
Kr Kt = rt
Kr = rt + Kt
Kr = t (r + K)
Kr
r + K
= t
So, y =
Kr
r + K
.
11
14. Solve.
(a) 4x 7 > x + 11
Solution:
4x 7 > x + 11
4x x > 7 + 11
3x > 18
x > 6
So, x > 6 , and in interval notation, (6, ) .
(b) 3x 2 (x 4) 2x + 5 (x + 1)
Solution:
3x 2 (x 4) 2x + 5 (x + 1)
3x 2x + 8 2x + 5x + 5
x + 8 7x + 5
8 5 7x x
3 6x
1
2
x
So, x
1
2
, and in interval notation,
_
1
2
,
_
.
15. Solve.
(a)
_
x + 2y = 1
y = 2x + 7
Solution: Using the method of substitution.
x + 2y = 1
x + 2 (2x + 7) = 1
x + 4x + 14 = 1
5x + 14 = 1
5x = 15
x = 3
So, x = 3 and since y = 2x + 7 = 2 (3) + 7 = 1, y = 1 .
(b)
_
3x 2y = 7
2x + 5y = 8
Solution: Using the method of elimination, by multiplying the rst row by 2 and
the second row by 3, and then adding the two equations together.
_
2 (3x 2y) = 2 (7)
3 (2x + 5y) = 3 (8)

_
6x + 4y = 14
6x + 15y = 24
19y = 38 y = 2.
12
Using y = 2 to back-substitute into any of these equations to nd x.
3x 2y = 7 3x + 4 = 7 3x = 3 x = 1
So, nally, the solution, in ordered-pair notation, is (1, 2)
16. Solve.
(a) x
2
9 = 0
Solution: Using the square-root rule.
x
2
9 = 0 x
2
= 9 x =

9 x = 3
(b) x
2
= 2x
Solution:
x
2
= 2x
x
2
+ 2x = 0
x(x + 2) = 0
So, by the zero product rule, x = 0 or x = 2 .
(c) 3x
2
x 10 = 0
Solution:
3x
2
x 10 = 0
(3x + 5) (x 2) = 0
So, by the zero product rule, x =
5
3
or x = 2 .
(d) x
2
8x + 9 = 0
Solution: Since x
2
8x + 9 is not factorable over the rational numbers, youll need
to either complete the square or use the quadratic formula. Here I am using the
technique of completing the square.
x
2
8x + 9 = 0
x
2
8x = 9
x
2
8x + 16 = 9 + 16
(x 4)
2
= 7
x 4 =

7
x = 4

7
So, x = 4 +

7 or x = 4

7 .
13
(e) 2x
2
6x = 5
Solution: Since 2x
2
6x5 is not factorable over the rational numbers, youll need
to either complete the square or use the quadratic formula. Here I am using the
quadratic formula.
2x
2
6x = 5 2x
2
6x5 = 0 x =
6
_
36 4 (2) (5)
4
=
6

76
4
=
6 2

19
4
So, x =
3 +

19
2
or x =
3

19
2
.
17. Find the equation of the line through the point (0, 5) with slope 2/3. Graph the line.
Solution: Using the point slope form.
y 5 =
2
3
(x 0)
Or, the slope intercept form.
y =
2
3
x + 5
Or, standard form.
2x + 3y = 15
Heres the graph.
-15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15
-10
-5
5
10
Figure 1: Graph of 2x + 3y = 15.
14
18. Find the equation of the the line through the point (2, 5) line with slope 1. Graph the line.
Solution: Using the point slope form.
y 5 = 1 (x + 2)
Or, the slope intercept form.
y = x + 3
Or, standard form.
x + y = 3
Heres the graph.
-15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15
-10
-5
5
10
Figure 2: Graph of x + y = 3.
19. Find the equation of the line through the points (4, 1) and (2, 1). Graph the line.
Solution: First youll need to nd the slope.
m =
y
2
y
1
x
2
x
1
=
1 1
2 4
=
2
2
= 1
Using the point slope form with the point (4, 1).
y 1 = 1 (x 4)
Using the point slope form with the point (2, 1).
y + 1 = 1 (x 2)
Or, the slope intercept form.
y = x 3
Or, standard form.
x y = 3
15
Heres the graph.
-15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15
-10
-5
5
10
Figure 3: Graph of x y = 3.
20. Find the equation of the line through the point (0, 3) that is perpendicular to the line
2x y = 3. Graph the line.
Solution: The slope of the line whose equation is 2x y = 3 can be found easily by
solving for y.
2x y = 3 y = 2x 3
So the slope of the line perpendicular to this line is 1/2. Using the point slope form.
y 3 =
1
2
(x 0)
Or, the slope intercept form.
y =
1
2
x + 3
Or, standard form.
x + 2y = 6
Heres the graph.
-15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15
-10
-5
5
10
Figure 4: Graph of x + 2y = 6.
16
21. Find the equation of the line through the point (1, 4) that is parallel to the line x2y = 5.
Graph the line.
Solution: The slope of the line whose equation is x 2y = 5 can be found easily by
solving for y.
x 2y = 5 y =
1
2
x
5
2
So the slope of the line parallel to this line is 1/2. Using the point slope form.
y 4 =
1
2
(x 1)
Or, the slope intercept form.
y =
1
2
x +
7
2
Or, standard form.
x + 2y = 7
Heres the graph.
-15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15
-10
-5
5
10
Figure 5: Graph of x + 2y = 7.
22. Find the equation of the line through the point (0, 4) and (3, 0). Graph the line.
Solution: First youll need to nd the slope.
m =
y
2
y
1
x
2
x
1
=
0 4
3 0
=
4
3
=
4
3
Using the point slope form with the point (0, 4).
y 4 =
4
3
(x 0)
Using the point slope form with the point (3, 0).
y 0 =
4
3
(x + 3)
17
Or, the slope intercept form.
y =
4
3
x + 4
Or, standard form.
4x + 3y = 12
Heres the graph.
-15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15
-10
-5
5
10
Figure 6: Graph of 4x + 3y = 12.
23. Find the slope of the line given by 3x 4y = 6.
Solution: The slope of the line whose equation is 3x 4y = 6 can be found easily by
solving for y.
3x 4y = 6 y =
3
4
x
3
2
So the slope of this line is
3
4
.
24. Find the slope of the line through the points (4, 1) and (2, 5).
Solution: Using the formula.
m =
y
2
y
1
x
2
x
1
=
5 1
2 4
=
4
6
=
2
3
25. Find the x-intercept and the y-intercept of the line given by 3x 4y = 12.
Solution: To nd the x-intercept, set y = 0 and solve for x.
3x = 12 x = 4
So the x-intercept is (4, 0) . To nd the y-intercept, set x = 0 and solve for y.
4y = 12 y = 3
So the y-intercept is (0, 3) .
18
26. Determine the vertex and the line of symmetry of the parabola given by y = 2 (x 1)
2
4.
Graph the parabola.
Solution: By inspection the vertex is (1, 4) and the axis-of-symmetry is x = 1 .
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
-4
-3
-2
-1
1
Figure 7: Graph of y = 2 (x 1)
2
4.
27. Determine the vertex and the line of symmetry of the parabola given by y = x
2
4x + 3.
Graph the parabola.
Solution: Rewrite into standard form.
y = x
2
4x + 3
y =
_
x
2
4x + 4
_
4 + 3
y =
_
x
2
2
_
2
1
By inspection the vertex is (2, 1) and the axis-of-symmetry is x = 2 .
-1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
-1
1
2
3
4
Figure 8: Graph of y = x
2
4x + 3.
19
28. Determine the equation of the circle with center (1, 2) and radius 3. Graph the circle.
Solution:
(x 1)
2
+ (y + 2)
2
= 9
-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
-5
-4
-3
-2
-1
1
Figure 9: Graph of (x 1)
2
+ (y + 2)
2
= 9.
29. Determine the center and radius of the circle given by (x + 1)
2
+(y 3)
2
= 4. Graph the
circle.
Solution: The center is (1, 3) and radius 2
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
1
2
3
4
5
Figure 10: Graph of (x + 1)
2
+ (y 3)
2
= 4.
20
30. Determine the center and radius of the circle given by x
2
+y
2
+6x +4y +12 = 0. Graph
the circle.
Solution: Rewrite into standard form.
x
2
+ y
2
+ 6x + 4y + 12 = 0
x
2
+ 6x + y
2
+ 4y = 12
x
2
+ 6x + 9 + y
2
+ 4y + 4 = 12 + 9 + 4
(x + 3)
2
+ (x + 2)
2
= 1
The center is (3, 2) and radius 1
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2
-4
-3
-2
-1
1
Figure 11: Graph of x
2
+ y
2
+ 6x + 4y + 12 = 0.
31. Determine the distance between the points (1, 5) and (5, 2).
Solution: Using the distance formula.
_
(5 1)
2
+ (2 + 5)
2
=

16 + 9 =

25 = 5
32. Determine the distance between the points (0, 6) and (4, 1).
Solution:Using the distance formula.
_
(4 0)
2
+ (1 6)
2
=

16 + 49 =

65
21
33. The sum of two numbers is 18. The dierence between four times the smaller number and
seven is equal to the sum of two times the larger number and ve. Find the numbers.
Solution: Let s be the smaller number and l be the larger number. Resulting in this
system of equations:
s + l = 18
4s 7 = 2l + 5.
Solving this system, s = 8 and l = 10. So the two numbers are 8 and 10 .
34. The square of a negative number is fteen more than twice the negative number. Find the
number.
Solution: Let x be the negative number. Resulting equation is:
x
2
= 2x + 15.
Solving this equation gives two solutions, x = 5 or x = 3. So the number is 3 .
35. The degree measures of the angles in a triangle are three consecutive integers. Find the
measure of the angles.
Solution: Let x, x+1 and x+2 be three consecutive integers. Resulting in this equation:
x + x + 1 + x + 2 = 180

.
Solving this equation, x = 59

. So the measures of the angles are 59

, 60

, and 61

.
36. The perimeter of a rectangle is 50 meters. The width of the rectangle is ve meters less
than the length. Find the length and width of the rectangle.
Solution: Let l be the measure of the length of the rectangle, the width of the rectangle,
in terms of l, is l 5. Resulting in this equation:
2l + 2 (l 5) = 50.
Solving this equation, l = 50. So the length is 15 meters, and the width is 10 meters .
37. The width of a rectangle is ve meters less than the length. The area of a rectangle is 176
square meters. Find the length and width of the rectangle.
Solution: Let l be the measure of the length of the rectangle, the width of the rectangle,
in terms of l, is l 5. Resulting in this equation:
l (l 5) = 176.
Solving this equation, l = 16 or l = 11, the later being extraneous because we cannot
have a negative length. So the length is 16 meters, and the width is 11 meters .
22
38. A steel rod 90 centimeters long is to be cut into two pieces, each to be bent to make an
equilateral triangle. The length of a side of one triangle is to be twice the length of a side
of the other. How should the rod be cut?
Solution: Let x be the measure of the length, in centimeters, where the rod is cut,
resulting in two pieces x and 90 x centimeters. Resulting in this equation:
2
x
3
=
90 x
3
Solving this equation, x = 30. So the 90 centimeter rod should be cut at 30 centimeters .
39. A 16-foot ladder is leaning against a building. How high on the building will the ladder
reach when the bottom of the ladder is 5 feet from the base of the building?
Solution: Let x be the measure, in feet, how high on the building the ladder will reach
when the bottom of the ladder is 5 feet from the base of the building. Resulting in this
equation:
16
2
= 5
2
+ x
2
Solving this equation, x =

231, but again, due to the physical nature of the problem,

we can only accept the positive value. So the

231 15.199 feet

3
is how high the ladder
will reach.
40. Cheap Cars rents cars for $8.00 a day and $0.10 for every mile driven. Save-On Cars rents
cars for $10.00 a day and $0.08 per mile driven. You want to rent a car for one week. For
how many miles will it cost you less to rent from Cheap Cars than from Save-On Cars?
Solution: Let x be the number of miles driven. The resulting inequality is:
7 8 + 0.10x < 7 10 + 0.08x.
Solving this inequality, x < 700. So, you have to drive less than 700 miles for Cheap Cars
to be less than Save-On Cars.
41. An investment of $3,500 is divided between two simple interest accounts. On one account,
the annual simple interest rate is 5%, and on the second account the annual simple interest
rate is 7.5%. How much should be invested in each account so that the total interest earned
from the two accounts is $215?
Solution: Let x be the amount of money invested at 5%, and 3500 x be what remains
to invest at 7.5%. The resulting equation is:
0.05x + 0.075 (3500 x) = 215.
Solving this equation, x = 1900. So, of the $3,500 you would need to invest $1,900 at 5%
and $1,600 at 7.5%
3
This is approximately 15 feet, 2
3
8
inches.
23
42. A motorboat leaves a harbor and travels at an average speed of 9 miles per hour (mph)
toward a small island. Two hours later, a cabin cruiser leaves the same harbor and travels
at an average speed of 18 mph toward the same island. In how many hours after the cabin
cruiser leaves will the cabin cruiser be alongside the motorboat?
Solution: Let x be the number of hours after the cabin cruiser leaves. The resulting
equation is:
9 (x + 2) = 18x.
Solving this equation, x = 2. So, it will take 2 hours .
43. A goldsmith combined an alloy that cost $4.30 per ounce with an alloy that cost $1.80 per
ounce. How many ounces of each alloy were used to make a mixture of 200 ounces costing
$2.50 per ounce?
Solution: Let x be the number of ounces of the more expensive alloy, and 200 x be the
number of ounces of the cheaper alloy. The resulting equation is:
4.30x + 1.8 (200 x) = 2.50 200.
Solving this equation, x = 56. So you will need to use 56 ounces of the expensive alloy
and 144 ounces of the cheaper alloy .
44. A chemist needs to make 2 liters of an 8% acid solution by mixing a 10% acid solution
and a 5% acid solution. How many liters of each solution should the chemist use?
Solution: Let x be the number of liters of the 10% acid solution, and 2x be the number
of liters of the 5% acid solution. The resulting equation is:
0.10x + 0.05 (2 x) = 0.08 2
Solving this equation, x = 1.2. So you will need to use 1.2 liters of the 10% acid solution
and 0.8 liters of the 5% acid solution .
45. One grocery clerk can stock a shelf in 20 minutes, whereas a second clerk requires 30
minutes to stock the same shelf. How long would it take to stock the shelf if the two clerks
worked together?
Solution: Let t be the number of minutes that the two clerks work together on the given
task. The resulting equation is:
1
20
t +
1
30
t = 1.
Solving this equation, t = 12. So, it will take 12 minutes for the two clerks, working
together, to stock the shelf.
24