Math1 2024 Printed
Math1 2024 Printed
Mathematics Department
Phillips Exeter Academy
Exeter, NH
August 2024
To the Student
Contents: Members of the PEA Mathematics Department have written these materials. As
you work through the problems, you will discover that algebra, geometry, and trigonometry
have been integrated into a mathematical whole. Unlike textbooks you may have used in the
past, there are no chapters or sections on specific topics. The whole curriculum is problem-
centered, rather than topic-centered. Techniques and theorems become apparent as you work
through the problems, and we encourage you to keep a notebook of the work you have done
along with your notes from class discussions. These materials are designed to give you the
tools for self-discovery. The first use of a key word is italicized and defined in the Reference.
Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 1
Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 101
Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 111
“I learned a lot more by teaching myself than by being taught by someone else.”
“One learns many ways to do different problems. Since each problem is different, you
are forced to use all aspects of math.”
“It makes me think more. The way the math books are setup (i.e. simple problems
progressing to harder ones on a concept) really helps me understand the mathematical
concepts.”
“When you discover or formulate a concept yourself, you remember it better and un-
derstand the concept better than if we memorized it or the teacher just told us that the
formula was ‘xyz’.”
Homework
Math homework = no explanations and roughly eight problems a night. For the most part,
it has become standard among most math teachers to give about eight problems a night;
but I have even had a teacher who gave ten — though two problems may not seem like a big
deal, it can be. Since all the problems are scenarios, and often have topics that vary, they
also range in complexity, from a simple, one-sentence question, to a full-fledged paragraph
with an eight-part answer! Don’t fret though, transition to homework will come with time,
similar to how you gain wisdom, as you get older. Homework can vary greatly from night
to night, so try to be flexible with your time. With the large workload Exonians carry, no
teacher should ever expect you to spend more time than what is allotted by the school’s
homework guidelines. Try your hardest to concentrate and utilize that time efficiently,
avoiding distractions.
Without any explanations showing you exactly how to do your homework, how are you
supposed to do a problem that you have absolutely no clue about? (This WILL happen!)
The problems build on one another, so reviewing your notes from your previous class meeting
is a good place to start. You could also reach out to a classmate or someone in your dorm.
Another person in your dorm might be in the same class, or the same level, or possibly in
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a higher level of math. Remember, there is a difference between homework and studying.
After you’re through with the problems assigned, it is good practice to go back over your
work from the last few days.
Going to the Board
It is very important to go to the board to put up homework problems. Usually, every
homework problem is put up on the board at the beginning of class, and then they are
discussed in class. If you regularly put problems up on the board, your teacher will have a
good feel of where you stand in the class; a confident student will most likely be more active
in participating in the class.
Plagiarism
One thing to keep in mind is plagiarism. You can get help from almost anywhere, but make
sure that you cite your help, and that all work shown or turned in is your own, even if
someone else showed you how to do it. Teachers do occasionally give problems/quizzes/tests
to be completed at home. You may not receive help on these assessments, unless instructed
to by your teacher; it is imperative that all the work is yours. When in doubt, ask your
teacher.
Math Help
Getting help is an integral part of staying on top of the math program here at Exeter. It
can be rather frustrating to be lost and feel you have nowhere to turn. There are a few
tricks of the trade however, which ensure your “safety,” with this possibly overwhelming
word problem extravaganza.
Collaboration on homework is often useful. If you find that you are struggling, it may help
to work on homework alongside a classmate so that when questions arise you can help one
another. You could also reach out to some other friend who might be in the same class, or
the same level, or possibly in a higher level of math. The Learning Center offers nightly
math help. The Learning Center hours may overlap with your dorm check-in time. If so,
be sure to ask the faculty member on duty in advance for permission to check out to the
Learning Center for math help. You can always ask your math teacher for help. If there is
no time during the day, it may be possible to check out of the dorm after your check-in time,
to meet with your teacher. It is easiest to do this on the nights that your teacher is on duty
in his/her dorm.
Math Help at the Learning Center
From 7:00 - 9:30 PM Sunday-Thursday, math help is available in the Learning Center.
Starting in Fall 2021, a math department faculty member is on duty in the Learning Center
along with Peer Tutors. Different people are available each night and some nights and hours
are busier than others, so it is worth trying to visit at different times to determine what
works for you.
Different Teachers Teach Differently
The teachers at Exeter usually develop their own style of teaching, fitted to their philosophy
of the subject they teach; it is no different in the math department. Teachers vary at all
levels: they grade differently, assess your knowledge differently, teach differently, and go over
homework differently. They offer help differently, too. This simply means that it is essential
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that you be prepared each term to adapt to a particular teaching style. For instance, my
teacher tests me about every two weeks, gives hand-in problems every couple of days, and
also gives a few quizzes. However, my friends, who are in the same level math as I am, have
teachers that in one case just gives weekly quizzes while the other teacher bases their grade
on just two tests. Don’t be afraid to ask your teacher how they grade. You must learn to
be flexible to teaching styles and even your teacher’s personality. This is a necessity for all
departments at Exeter, including math.
“The tests are the hardest part between terms to adapt to, but if you prepare well, there
shouldn’t be a problem.”
“My other teacher taught and pointed out which problems are related when they are six
pages apart.”
“It took a few days adjusting to, but if you pay attention to what the teacher says and
ask him/her questions about their expectations, transitions should be smooth.”
“Every teacher gave different amounts of homework and tests. Class work varied too.
My fall term teacher made us put every problem on the board, whereas my winter term
teacher only concentrated on a few.”
New Student Testimonials
After eight years of math textbooks and lecture-style math classes, math at Exeter was
a lot to get used to. My entire elementary math education was based on reading how to
do problems from the textbook, then practicing monotonous problems that had no real-life
relevance, one after the other. This method is fine for some people, but it wasn’t for me. By
the time I came to Exeter, I was ready for a change of pace, and I certainly got one.
Having somewhat of a background in algebra, I thought the Transition 1 course was just
right for me. It went over basic algebra and problem-solving techniques. The math books
at Exeter are very different from traditional books. They are compiled by the teachers, and
consist of pages upon pages of word problems that lead you to find your own methods of
solving problems. The problems are not very instructional, they lay the information down
for you, most times introducing new vocabulary, (there is an index in the back of the book),
and allow you to think about the problem, and solve it any way that you can. When I first
used this booklet, I was a little thrown back; it was so different from everything I had done
before — but by the time the term was over, I had the new method down.
The actual math classes at Exeter were hard to get used to as well. Teachers usually assign
about eight problems a night, leaving you time to “explore” the problems and give each one
some thought. Then, next class, students put all the homework problems on the board. The
class goes over each problem; everyone shares their method and even difficulties that they
ran into while solving it. I think the hardest thing to get used to, is being able to openly ask
questions. No one wants to be wrong, I guess it is human nature, but in the world of Exeter
math, you can’t be afraid to ask questions. You have to seize the opportunity to speak up
and say “I don’t understand,” or “How did you get that answer?” If you don’t ask questions,
you will never get the answers you need to thrive.
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Something that my current math teacher always says is to make all your mistakes on the
board, because when a test comes around, you don’t want to make mistakes on paper. This
is so true, class time is practice time, and it’s hard to get used to not feeling embarrassed
after you answer problems incorrectly. You need to go out on a limb and try your best. If
you get a problem wrong on the board, it’s one new thing learned in class, not to mention,
one less thing to worry about messing up on, on the next test.
Math at Exeter is really based on cooperation, you, your classmates, and your teacher. It
takes a while to get used to, but in the end, it is worth the effort. — Hazel Cipolle ’04
I entered my second math class of Fall Term as a ninth grader, with a feeling of dread.
Though I had understood the homework the night before, I looked down at my paper with
a blank mind, unsure how I had done any of the problems. The class sat nervously around
the table until we were prompted by the teacher to put the homework on the board. One
boy stood up and picked up some chalk. Soon others followed suit. I stayed glued to my
seat with the same question running through my mind, what if I get it wrong?
I was convinced that everyone would make fun of me, that they would tear my work apart,
that each person around that table was smarter than I was. I soon found that I was the only
one still seated and hurried to the board. The only available problem was one I was slightly
unsure of. I wrote my work quickly and reclaimed my seat.
We reviewed the different problems, and everyone was successful. I explained my work and
awaited the class’ response. My classmates agreed with the bulk of my work, though there
was a question on one part. They suggested different ways to find the answer and we were
able to work through the problem, together.
I returned to my seat feeling much more confident. Not only were my questions cleared up,
but my classmates’ questions were answered as well. Everyone benefited.
I learned one of the more important lessons about math at Exeter that day; it doesn’t matter
if you are right or wrong. Your classmates will be supportive of you, and be tolerant of your
questions. Chances are, if you had trouble with a problem, someone else in the class did
too. Another thing to keep in mind is that the teacher expects nothing more than that you
try to do a problem to the best of your ability. If you explain a problem that turns out to
be incorrect, the teacher will not judge you harshly. They understand that no one is always
correct, and will not be angry or upset with you. — Elisabeth Ramsey ’04
I never thought math would be a problem. That is, until I came to Exeter. I entered into
Math 12T, clueless as to what the curriculum would be. The day I bought the Math 1 book
from the bookstore, I stared at the problems in disbelief. ALL WORD PROBLEMS. “Why
word problems?” I thought. I had dreaded word problems ever since I was a second grader,
and on my comments it always read, “Charly is a good math student, but she needs to work
on word problems.” I was in shock. I would have to learn math in an entirely new language.
I began to dread my B-format math class.
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My first math test at Exeter was horrible. I had never seen a D- on a math test. Never. I
was upset and I felt dumb, especially since others in my class got better grades, and because
my roommate was extremely good in math. I cried. I said I wanted to go home where things
were easier. But finally I realized, “I was being given a challenge. I had to at least try.”
I went to my math teacher for extra help. I asked questions more often (though not as
much as I should have), and slowly I began to understand the problems better. My grades
gradually got better, by going from a D- to a C+ to a B and eventually I got an A-. It was
hard, but that is Exeter. You just have to get passed that first hump, though little ones will
follow. As long as you don’t compare yourself to others, and you ask for help when you need
it, you should get used to the math curriculum. I still struggle, but as long as I don’t get
intimidated and don’t give up, I am able to bring my grades up. — Charly Simpson ’04
“At first, I was very shy and had a hard time asking questions.”
“Solutions to certain problems by other students are sometimes not the fastest or eas-
iest. Some students might know tricks and special techniques that aren’t covered.”
“My background in math was a little weaker than most people’s, therefore I was unsure
how to do many of the problems. I never thoroughly understood how to do a problem
before I saw it in the book.”
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Mathematics 1
1. Assuming that light travels at about 186 thousand miles per second, and the Sun is
about 93 million miles from the Earth, how much time does light take to reach the Earth
from the Sun?
2. How long would it take you to count to one billion, reciting the numbers one after
another? First write a guess into your notebook, then come up with a thoughtful answer.
One approach is to actually do it and have someone time you, but there are more manageable
alternatives. What assumptions did you make in your calculations?
3. Assuming that it takes 1.25 seconds for light to travel from the Moon to the Earth, how
many miles away is the Moon?
4. Many major-league baseball pitchers can throw the ball at 90 miles per hour. At that
speed, how long does it take a pitch to travel from the pitcher’s mound to home plate, a
distance of 60 feet 6 inches? Give your answer to the nearest hundredth of a second. There
are 5280 feet in a mile and 12 inches in a foot.
5. You have perhaps heard the saying, “A journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step.”
How many steps would you take to finish a journey of 1000 miles? What information do you
need in order to answer this question? Find a reasonable answer. What would your answer
be if the journey were 1000 kilometers?
6. In an offshore pipeline, a cylindrical mechanism called a “pig” is run through the pipes
periodically to clean them. These pigs travel at 2 feet per second. What is this speed,
expressed in miles per hour?
7. A class sponsors a benefit concert and prices the tickets at $8 each. Jordan sells 12
tickets, Andy 16, Morgan 17, and Pat 13. Compute the total revenue brought in by these
four people. Notice that there are two ways to do the calculation.
8. Kelly and Brook were discussing a homework problem. Kelly said, “Four plus three
times two is 14, isn’t it?” Brook replied, “No, it’s 10.” Did someone make a mistake? Can
you explain where these two answers came from?
13. Kai took a trip from Stratford to Paris in 2013, and needed to exchange 500 British
pounds for euros. The exchange rate was 1 pound to 1.23 euros. How many euros did Kai
receive in this exchange?
14. When describing the growth of a population, the passage of time is sometimes described
in generations, a generation being about 30 years. One generation ago, you had two ancestors
(your parents). Two generations ago, you had four ancestors (your grandparents). Ninety
years ago, you had eight ancestors (your great-grandparents). How many ancestors did you
have 300 years ago? 900 years ago? Do your answers make sense?
15. On a road map of Uganda, the scale is 1 : 1 500 000. The distance on the map from
Kampala to Ft. Portal is 17 cm. What is the real world distance in km between these two
cities?
16. Choose any number. Double it. Subtract six and add the original number. Now divide
by three. Repeat this process with other numbers, until a pattern develops. By using a
variable such as x in place of your number, show that the pattern does not depend on which
number you choose initially.
17. Compute each of the following. For some of these, there are two ways to compute the
result. Explain.
1
(a) 3(2 + 3 + 5) (b) (9 + 6 − 3) (c) (9+6−3)÷3 (d) 3(2 · 3 · 5) (e) 3÷(9+6−3)
3
18. Davis says that adding a two-digit number to the two-digit number formed by reversing
the digits of the original number results in a sum of 65. Avery says that’s impossible. Is it
impossible?
19. A blueprint of a building gives a scale of 1 inch = 8 feet. If the blueprint shows the
building sitting on a rectangle with dimensions 16 inches by 25 inches, what is the actual
area of the rectangle on which the building sits? Express your answer in square feet.
20. Simplify x + 2 + x + 2 + x + 2 + x + 2 + x + 2 + x + 2 + x + 2 + x + 2 + x + 2.
21. Without
resorting todecimals,
find
equivalences
among the following nine expressions:
2·3
3 ·2 3· 2 2 3 5 2 2÷ 5 2 5÷1 3
5 5 5 5 3 3 3 5 3 2 5/2
22. What is the value of 3 + (−3)? What is the value of (−10.4) + 10.4? These pairs of
numbers are called opposites. What is the sum of a number and its opposite? Does every
number have an opposite? State the opposite of:
(a) −2.341 (b) 1/3 (c) x (d) x + 2 (e) x − 2
24. To buy a ticket for a weekly state lottery, a person selects 6 integers from 1 to 36, the
order not being important. There are 1947792 such combinations of six digits. Alex and nine
friends want to win the lottery by buying every possible ticket (all 1947792 combinations),
and plan to spend 16 hours a day doing it. Assume that each person buys one ticket every
five seconds. What do you think of this plan? Can the project be completed within a week?
25. On a map of South Asia, Nepal looks approximately like a rectangle measuring 8.3 cm
by 2.0 cm. The map scale is listed as 1 : 9 485 000. What is the approximate real world area
of Nepal in square kilometers?
26. The area of the surface of a sphere is described by the formula S = 4πr2 , where r is the
radius of the sphere. The Earth has a radius of 3960 miles and dry land forms approximately
29.2% of the Earth’s surface. What is the area of the dry land on Earth? What is the surface
area of the Earth’s water?
27. At 186282 miles per second, how far does light travel in a year? Give your answer
in miles, but use scientific notation, which expresses a number like 93400000 as 9.34 × 107
(which might appear on your calculator as 9.34 E7 instead). A year is approximately 365.25
days. The answer to this question is called a light-year by astronomers, who use it to measure
huge distances. Other than the Sun, the star nearest the Earth is Proxima Centauri, a mere
4.2 light-years away.
28. Before you are able to take a bite of your new chocolate bar, a friend comes along and
takes 1/4 of the bar. Then another friend comes along and you give this person 1/3 of what
you have left. Make a diagram that shows the part of the bar left for you to eat.
29. Later you have another chocolate bar. This time, after you give away 1/3 of the bar, a
friend breaks off 3/4 of the remaining piece. What part of the original chocolate bar do you
have left? Answer this question by drawing a diagram.
31. The temperature outside is dropping at 3 degrees per hour. Given that the temperature
at noon was 0◦ , what was the temperature at 1 pm? at 2 pm? at 3 pm? at 6 pm? What
was the temperature t hours after noon?
32. One year, there were 1016 students at the Academy, 63 of whom lived in Dunbar Hall.
To the nearest tenth of a percent, what part of the student population lived in Dunbar that
year?
34. Here is another number puzzle: Pick a number, add 5 and multiply the result by 4.
Add another 5 and multiply the result by 4 again. Subtract 100 from your result and divide
your answer by 8. How does your answer compare to the original number? You may need
to do a couple of examples like this until you see the pattern. Use a variable for the chosen
number and show how the pattern holds for any number.
35. Jess takes a board that is 50 inches long and cuts it into two pieces, one of which is 16
inches longer than the other. How long is each piece?
37. A group of ten people were planning to contribute equal amounts of money to buy some
pizza. After the pizza was ordered, one person left. Each of the other nine people had to
pay 60 cents extra as a result. How much was the total bill?
38. Let k represent some unknown non-integer number greater than 1. Mark your choice
on a number line. Then locate each of the following:
√
(a) −k (b) k + 2 (c) k − 3 (d) k (e) k 2
39. For each of the following, find the value of x that makes the equation true. The usual
way of wording this instruction is solve for x :
(a) 2x = 12 (b) −3x = 12 (c) ax = b
40. On each of the following number lines, all of the labeled points are evenly spaced. Find
coordinates for the seven points designated by the letters.
3 a b c d 23
p 8/3 q 6 r
41. Let k represent some unknown positive non-integer number less than 1. Mark your
choice on a number line. Then locate each of the following:
√
(a) −k (b) k + 2 (c) k − 3 (d) k (e) k 2
√
42. (Continuation) What changed for k and k 2 when you chose k between 0 and 1 com-
pared to k > 1?
45. The volume of a pyramid is one third its height times the area of its base. The Louvre
pyramid has a height of 20.6 meters and a square base with sides of 35 meters. Find its
volume, rounded to the nearest tenth. Include units in your answer.
49. Solve 32 (3x + 14) = 7x + 6, by first multiplying both sides of the equation by 3, before
applying the distributive property.
50. In each of the following, use appropriate algebraic operations to remove the parentheses
and combine like terms. Leave your answers in a simple form.
(a) x(2x) + 2(x + 5) (b) 2x(5x − 2) + 3(6x + 7) (c) 5m(3m − 2n) + 4n(3m − 2n)
51. Find whole numbers m and n that fit the equation 3m + 6n = 87. Is it possible to find
whole numbers m and n that fit the equation 3m + 6n = 95? If so, find an example. If not,
explain why not.
52. If m and n stand for integers, then 2m and 2n stand for even integers. Explain. Use
the distributive property to show that the sum of any two even numbers is even.
53. (Continuation) Show that the sum of any two odd numbers is even.
57. Alex is driving at a constant rate of 50 miles per hour. How far will Alex travel in:
(a) 2 hours? (b) 4.3 hours? (c) 20 minutes?
60. Suppose you are a detective assigned to a robbery case. In this case, the robbery
occurred at 2:30 PM. You have a witness who saw the suspect at a gas station 12 miles from
the robbery site at 2:48 PM. The suspect claims innocence, arguing that it would have been
impossible to get to the gas station in that amount of time. Do you agree? Support your
answer.
61. Often it is necessary to rearrange an equation so that one variable is expressed in terms
of others. For example, the equation D = 3t expresses D in terms of t. To express t in terms
of D, divide both sides of this equation by 3 to obtain D/3 = t.
(a) Solve the equation C = 2πr for r in terms of C.
(b) Solve the equation p = 2w + 2h for w in terms of p and h.
(c) Solve the equation 3x − 2y = 6 for y in terms of x.
62. On a number line, what number is halfway between (a) −4 and 11? (b) m and n?
63. Coffee beans lose 12.5% of their weight during roasting. In order to obtain 252 kg of
roasted coffee beans, how many kg of unroasted beans must be used?
64. The product of two negative numbers is always a positive number. How would you
explain this rule to a classmate who does not understand why the product of two negative
numbers must be positive?
65. Temperature is measured in both Celsius and Fahrenheit degrees. These two systems
are related: the Fahrenheit temperature is obtained by adding 32 to 9/5 of the Celsius
temperature. In the following questions, let C represent the Celsius temperature and F the
Fahrenheit temperature.
(a) Write an equation that expresses F in terms of C.
(b) Use this equation to find the value of F that corresponds to C = 20.
(c) On the Celsius scale, water freezes at 0◦ and boils at 100◦ . Use your formula to find the
corresponding temperatures on the Fahrenheit scale. Do you recognize your answers?
(d) A quick way to get an approximate Fahrenheit temperature from a Celsius temperature
is to double the Celsius temperature and add 30. Explain why this is a good approximation.
Convert 23◦ Celsius the quick way. What is the difference between your answer and the
correct value? For what Celsius temperature does the quick way give the correct value?
66. You measure your stride and find it to be 27 inches. If you were to walk to Newfields,
a town 4.5 miles north of Exeter, how many steps would you have to take? Remember that
there are 12 inches in a foot, and 5280 feet in a mile.
68. The length of a certain rectangle exceeds its width by exactly 8 cm, and the perimeter
of the rectangle is 66 cm. What is the width of the rectangle? Although you may be able to
solve this problem using a method of your own, try the following approach, which starts by
guessing the width of the rectangle. Study the first row of the table below, which is based
on a 10-cm guess for the width. Then make your own guess and use it to fill in the next row
of the table. If you have not guessed the correct width, use another row of the table and try
again.
guess length perimeter target check?
10 10 + 8 = 18 2(10) + 2(18) = 56 66 no
Now use the experience gained by filling in the table to write an equation for the problem:
Write w in the guess column, fill in the length and perimeter entries in terms of w, and set
your expression for the perimeter equal to the target perimeter. Solve the resulting equation.
This approach to creating equations is called the guess-and-check method.
70. Number-line graphs. Observe the following conventions, which may already be familiar:
• To indicate an interval on the number line, thicken that part of the number line.
• To indicate that an endpoint of an interval is included, place a solid dot on the number.
• To indicate that an endpoint is not included, place an open circle on the number.
For example, the diagram illustrates those numbers ◦ •
−2 3
that are greater than −2 and less than or equal to 3.
Draw a number line for each of the following and indicate the numbers described:
(a) All numbers that are exactly two units from 5.
(b) All numbers that are more than two units from 5.
(c) All numbers that are greater than −1 and less than or equal to 7.
(d) All numbers that are less than four units from zero.
71. Percent practice: (a) 25% of 200 is what number? (b) 200 is 25% of what number?
(c) Express 2/25 as a decimal; as a percent. (d) Express 24% as a decimal; as a fraction.
72. Rewrite by hand each of the following as a single fraction. This is called combining over
3y
a common denominator . (a) 27 + (b) 4m − 2 (c) 2 + x (d) x + 2x − 3x
5 5 5 3 3 2 3 4
75. Day student Avery just bought 10 gallons of gasoline, the amount of fuel used for the
last 355 miles of driving. Being a curious sort, Avery wondered how much fuel had been
used in city driving (which takes one gallon for every 25 miles) and how much had been used
in freeway driving (which takes one gallon for each 40 miles). Avery started by guessing 6
gallons for the city driving, then completed the first row of the guess-and-check table below.
Notice the failed check. Make your own guess and use it to fill in the next row of the table.
city g freeway g city mi freeway mi total mi target check
6 10 − 6 = 4 6(25) = 150 4(40) = 160 150 + 160 = 310 355 no
Now write c in the city-gallon column, fill in the remaining entries in terms of c, and set your
expression for the total mileage equal to the target mileage. Solve the resulting equation.
76. On a number line, graph all numbers that are closer to 5 than they are to 8.
77. Remy walked to a friend’s house, m miles away, at an average rate of 4 mph. The
m-mile walk home was at only 3 mph, however. Express as a fraction
(a) the time Remy spent walking home;
(b) the total time Remy spent walking.
78. The sum of four consecutive integers is 2174. What are the integers?
79. (Continuation) The smallest of four consecutive integers is n. What expression repre-
sents the next larger integer? Write an expression for the sum of four consecutive integers,
the smallest of which is n. Write an equation that states that the sum of four consecutive
integers is s. Solve the equation for n in terms of s. Check that your answer to the previous
question satisfies this equation by considering the case s = 2174.
83. There are 396 people in the Assembly Hall. If the ratio of uppers to lowers is 2:3, and
the ratio of lowers to preps is 1:2, how many lowers are in the Assembly Hall?
84. On a number line, graph a number that is twice as far from 5 as it is from 8. How many
such numbers are there?
85. Intervals on a number line are often described using the symbols < (“less than”), >
(“greater than”), ≤ (“less than or equal to”), and ≥ (“greater than or equal to”). As you
graph the following inequalities, remember the endpoint convention regarding the use of the
dot • and the circle ◦ for included and excluded endpoints, respectively:
(a) x < 5 (b) x ≥ −6 (c) −12 ≥ x (d) 4 < x < 8 (e) x < −3 or 7 ≤ x
88. Draw a number line for each of the following and indicate the numbers described (if
any):
(a) The numbers that are less than 2 or greater than 4.
(b) The numbers that are less than 2 and greater than 4.
89. Find the smallest positive integer divisible by every positive integer less than or equal
to 10.
90. The indicator on the oil tank in my home indicated that the tank was one-eighth full.
After a truck delivered 240 gallons of oil, the indicator showed that the tank was half full.
What is the capacity of the oil tank, in gallons?
94. Combine over a common denominator each of the expressions below. Express each of
your answers in lowest terms.
(a) 3 + 7 (b) 3 + 7 (c) 3 + 7 (d) 3 + 7
a a a 2a a b b
95. Solve the following for x:
(a) 4 − (x + 3) = 8 − 5(2x − 3) (b) x − 2(3 − x) = 2x + 3(1 − x)
96. Owl can clean Piglet’s house in 25 minutes. Eeyore can clean Piglet’s house in 40 min-
utes. How long will it take Owl and Eeyore to do the job if they work together?
After hearing the result of the last calculation, Pat can do a simple mental calculation and
then state Kim’s birthday. Explain how. To test your understanding of this trick, try it on
someone whose birthday is unknown to you.
98. Last year, three fifths of the pets in my apartment building were cats, but this year,
the number of dogs doubled and six new cats moved into the apartment building. There are
now as many dogs as cats in the apartment building. How many pets were in the apartment
building last year?
104. By hand, combine the following over a common denominator. What happens to the
expression in (c) when x = 4 and when x = 10?
(a) 1 + 1 (b) 1 + 1 (c) 1 + 1
4 5 10 11 x x+1
vol
105. It takes one minute to fill a four-gallon container at the 20
Exeter spring. How long does it take to fill a six-gallon con-
tainer? Fill in the missing entries in the table below, and plot 15
points on the grid at right.
1 2 3 4 5 10
time
volume 4 5 6 11 14 19
5
Notice that it makes sense to connect the dots you plotted
(thereby forming a continuous pattern). 1 2 3 4 time
106. Ryan took 25 minutes to type the final draft of a 1200-word English paper. How much
time should Ryan expect to spend typing the final draft of a 4000-word History paper?
109. Forrest is illegally texting while driving along the freeway at 70 miles per hour. How
many feet does the car travel during the 3-second interval when Forrest’s eyes are not on the
road?
110. The statement “x is between 13 and 23” defines an interval using two simultaneous
inequalities: 13 < x and x < 23. The statement “x is not between 13 and 23” also uses two
inequalities, but they are non-simultaneous: x ≤ 13 or 23 ≤ x. Graph these two examples
on separate number lines. Notice that there is a compact form, 13 < x < 23, for only one of
them.
111. Tickets to a school play cost $2 if bought in advance and $3 at the door. By selling all
400 tickets, $1030 was collected. Let x represent the number of tickets sold in advance.
(a) In terms of x, how many tickets were sold at the door?
(b) In terms of x, how much money was taken in by the tickets sold at the door?
112. (Continuation) Write and solve an equation to find out how many tickets were sold in
advance.
115. (Continuation) Which of the following describe quantities that are proportional to one
another?
(a) The gallons of water in a tub and the number of minutes since the tap was opened.
(b) The height of a ball and the number of seconds since it was thrown.
(c) The length of a side of a square and the perimeter of the square.
(d) The length of a side of a square and the area of the square.
(e) The temperature outside dropping at 3 degrees per hour and the number of hours since
noon, when it was 0 degrees.
116. (Continuation) Sketch graphs for each of the situations described above. Be sure to
include meaningful descriptions and scales for each axis.
117. Remy walked to a friend’s house, m miles away, at an average rate of 4 mph. The
m-mile walk home was at only 3 mph. Remy spent 2 hours walking in all. Find the value
of m.
118. The sides of a rectangle in the coordinate plane are parallel to the axes. Two of the
vertices of the rectangle are (3, −2) and (−4, −7). Find coordinates for the other two vertices.
Find the area of the rectangle.
270
121. (Continuation) If Tory’s bill is $9.22, how many pencils does Tory buy?
122. Chandler was given $75 for a birthday present. This present, along with earnings from
a summer job, is being set aside for a mountain bike. The job pays $6 per hour, and the
bike costs $345. To be able to buy the bike, how many hours does Chandler need to work?
123. (Continuation) Let h be the number of hours that Chandler works. What quantity is
represented by the expression 6h? What quantity is represented by the expression 6h + 75?
(a) Graph the solutions to the inequality 6h + 75 ≥ 345 on a number line.
(b) Graph the solutions to the inequality 6h + 75 < 345 on a number line.
(c) What do the solutions to the inequality 6h + 75 ≥ 345 signify?
124. Sandy recently made a 210-mile car trip, starting from dist
home at noon. The graph at right shows how Sandy’s dis- 200 ..
.•
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tance from home (measured in miles) depends on the number ...
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of hours after noon. Make up a story that accounts for the 150 ..
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speed at which Sandy spent most of the afternoon driving. ..
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125. If you bike 10 miles from PEA to the beach in 40 min- .....
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speed. But if you did, what speed would it be? This value .
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126. (Continuation) On the return trip from the beach, you pedal hard for the first ten
minutes and cover 4 miles. Tired, you slow down and cover the last 6 miles in 36 minutes.
What is your average speed for the return trip?
127. Solve the inequality 3 − x > 5 using only the operations of addition and subtraction. Is
x = 0 a solution to the inequality?
128. Alden paid to have some programs printed for the football game last weekend. The
printing cost per program was 54 cents, and the plan was to sell them for 75 cents each.
Poor weather kept many fans away from the game, however, so unlucky Alden was left with
100 unsold copies, and lost $12 on the venture. How many programs did Alden have printed?
5
speed 15 20 25 48 60 r
time 12 8 6 4.8 3
20 40 60 speed
131. Pat bought several pens at Walgreen’s, for 60 cents each. Spending the same amount
of money at the Bookstore, Pat then bought some pens that cost 80 cents each. In all, 42
pens were bought. How many pens did Pat buy at the bookstore?
132. Exeter building code does not permit building a house that is ....
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more than 35 feet tall. An architect working on the design shown at ..
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each foot of horizontal run.
(a) Given the other dimensions in the diagram, will the builder be
allowed to carry out this plan? 22
(b) Two vertical supports (shown dotted in the diagram) are to be
placed 6 feet from the center of the building. How long should they 30
be?
133. Working together, Jamie and Kit can build a wall in 4.5 hours. If Jamie can do the job
in 6 hours working alone, how long would it take Kit to build the wall when working alone?
134. Suppose that n represents an integer. What expression represents the next larger inte-
ger? the previous integer? the sum of these three consecutive integers?
135. A small pool is 20 feet long, 12 feet wide and 4 feet deep. There are 7.5 gallons of water
in every cubic foot. At the rate of 5 gallons per minute, how long will it take to fill this
pool?
136. Jan walks 2 miles at a constant speed of 3 miles per hour and then runs 1 mile at a
constant speed of 8 miles per hour.
(a) What is Jan’s average speed for the entire trip?
(b) Is the average speed in part (a) equal to the average of Jan’s two speeds?
(c) Draw a graph of Jan’s trip similar to #124.
138. A ladder is leaning against the side of a building. Each time I step from one rung to the
next, my foot moves 6 inches closer to the building and 8 inches further from the ground.
The base of the ladder is 9 ft from the wall. How far up the wall does the ladder reach?
139. Each step of the stairs leading from room 9 to room 107 in the Academy Building has a
vertical rise of 7 inches and a horizontal run of 12 inches. Each step of the marble staircase
leading to the Assembly Hall has a vertical rise of 5.5 inches and a horizontal run of 13
inches.
(a) Which flight of stairs do you think is steeper? Why?
(b) Calculate the ratio rise/run for each flight of stairs, and verify that the greater ratio
belongs to the flight you thought to be steeper.
140. (Continuation) The slope of a line is a measure of how steep the line is. It is calculated by
dividing the change in y-coordinates by the corresponding change in x-coordinates between
change in y
two points on the line: slope = . Calculate the slope of the line that goes
change in x
through the two points (1, 3) and (7, 6). Calculate the slope of the line that goes through
the two points (0, 0) and (9, 6). Which line is steeper?
141. At noon one day, the Exeter River peaked at 11 feet above flood stage. It then began
to recede, its depth dropping at 4 inches per hour.
(a) At 3:30 that afternoon, how many inches above flood stage was the river?
(b) Let t stand for the number of hours since noon, and h stand for the corresponding
number of inches that the river was above flood stage. Make a table of values, and write an
equation that expresses h in terms of t.
(c) Plot h versus t, putting t on the horizontal axis.
(d) For how many hours past noon was the river at least 36 inches above flood stage?
144. Cass decided to sell game programs for the Exeter-Andover field hockey game. The
printing cost was 20 cents per program, with a selling price of 50 cents each. Cass sold
all but 50 of the programs, and made a profit of $65. How many programs were printed?
Letting p represent the number of programs printed, set up an equation that describes this
situation. Then solve your equation for p.
153. Each beat of your heart pumps approximately 0.06 liter of blood.
(a) If your heart beats 50 times, how much blood is pumped?
(b) How many beats does it take for your heart to pump 0.48 liters?
(c) Find the proportional relationship in the form V = kn where k is a proportionality
constant that shows the relationship between volume, V , and number of beats, n.
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155. Find the slope of the line containing the points (4, 7) and
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find them. ...
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•
156. To earn Hall of Fame distinction at PEA, a girl on the
cross-country team must run the 5-km course in less than 20
minutes. What is the average speed of a 20-minute runner, in
km per hour? in meters per second? Express your answers to two decimal places.
157. (Continuation) The proportion 5 = x is helpful for the previous question. Explain
20 60
this proportion, and assign units to all four of its members.
158. One day in October at 9am, Sam began hiking an 8-mile trail, hiking for 2.5 hours at
a pace of 2 miles per hour, and then stopping for half an hour to enjoy the view and have
a snack. Sam then hiked the remainder of the trail at 3 miles per hour. Meanwhile, Jaden
decided to run the same trail. Jaden began 1.5 hours after Sam began hiking, and ran at a
rate of 7 miles per hour.
(a) Draw a graph with time (in hours since Sam began) on the horizontal axis and distance
(in miles) on the vertical axis.
(b) According to your graph, does Jaden catch up with Sam on the trail? If so, is it before,
during, or after Sam’s snack break?
(c) What time did Sam reach the end of the trail?
159. Which is greater, 73 percent of 87, or 87 percent of 73?
160. Factor the following: (a) 3x − qx (b) xy + x (c) ax + bx − cdx.
161. Corey deposits $300 in a bank that pays 4% annual interest. How much interest does
Corey earn in one year? What would the interest be if the rate were 6%?
162. The stretch of a spring is proportional to the weight attached to the spring. If a weight
of 20 ounces stretches a spring 5 cm, what weight would stretch the spring 8 cm?
163. (Continuation) Recall that when two values are proportional, their relationship can be
modeled by an equation in the form y = kx, and it is customary to say that y depends on
x. Find an equation that shows how the stretch of the spring, d, depends on the weight, w.
Graph your equation. What does the slope of the line represent in this context?
164. Alex was hired to unpack and clean 576 very small items of glassware, at five cents per
piece successfully unpacked. For every item broken during the process, however, Alex had
to pay $1.98. At the end of the job, Alex received $22.71. How many items did Alex break?
167. Suppose that n represents a positive even integer. What expression represents the next
even integer? Find three consecutive even integers whose sum is 204. Find two ways to do
this.
168. A car and a small truck started out from Exeter at 8:00 am. car
time truck
Their distances, in miles, from Exeter, recorded at hourly intervals, 8 : 00 0 0
are recorded in the tables at right. Plot this information on the same 9 : 00 52 46
set of axes and draw two lines connecting the points in each set of 10 : 00 104 92
data. What is the slope of each line? What is the meaning of these 11 : 00 156 138
12 : 00 208 184
slopes in the context of this problem?
169. (Continuation) Let t be the number of hours each vehicle has been traveling since 8:00
am (thus t = 0 means 8:00 am), and let d be the number of miles traveled after t hours. For
each vehicle, write an equation relating d and t.
170. Day student Chris does a lot of babysitting. When parents drop off their children and
Chris can supervise at home, the hourly rate is $20. If Chris has to travel to the child’s
home, there is a fixed charge of $15 for transportation in addition to the $20 hourly rate.
(a) Graph y = 20x and y = 20x + 15. What do these lines have to do with the babysitting
context? What feature do they have in common? How do they differ?
(b) What does the graph of y = 20x + 16 look like? What change in the babysitting context
does this line suggest?
(c) What does the graph of y = 25x + 15 look like? What change in the babysitting context
does this line suggest?
171. If k stands for an integer, then is it possible for k 2 + k to stand for an odd integer?
Explain.
174. By hand, find coordinates for the points where the line 3x + 2y = 12 intersects the
x-axis and the y-axis. These points are called the x-intercept and y-intercept, respectively.
Use these points to make a quick sketch of the line.
176. Word chains. As the ancient alchemists hoped, it is possible to turn lead into gold.
You change one letter at a time, always spelling real words: lead—load—toad—told—
gold. Using the same technique, show how to turn work into play.
177. Using a graphing tool, with the window set as −10 ≤ x ≤ 10 and −10 ≤ y ≤ 10,
graph the line y = 0.5x + 3. Notice that you can see both axis intercepts. Now graph
y = 0.1x + 18 using the same window settings. What happens? Why? Calculate by hand
the axis intercepts and adjust your window so that they are visible.
178. In 1995, drivers in distress near Exeter had two towing services to choose from: Brook’s
Body Shop charged $3 per mile for the towing, and a fixed $25 charge regardless of the
length of the tow. Morgan Motors charged a flat $5 per mile. On the same system of axes,
represent each of these choices by a linear graph that plots the cost of the tow versus the
length of the tow. If you needed to be towed, which service would you call, and why?
179. Compare the graph of y = 2x + 5 with the graph of y = 3x + 5. These equations are
examples of linear functions.
(a) Describe a context from which the equations might emerge.
(b) Linear equations that look like y = mx+b are said to be in slope-intercept form. Explain.
The terminology refers to which of the two intercepts?
180. Driving from Boston to New York one day, Sasha covered the 250 miles in five hours.
Because of heavy traffic, the 250-mile return took six hours and fifteen minutes. Calculate
average speeds for the trip to New York, the trip from New York, and the round trip. Explain
why the terminology average speed is a bit misleading.
181. Find the value of x that makes 0.1x + 0.25(102 − x) = 17.10 true.
182. So that it will be handy for paying tolls and parking meters, Lee puts pocket change
(dimes and quarters only) into a cup attached to the dashboard. There are currently 102
coins in the cup, and their monetary value is $17.10. How many of the coins are dimes?
183. Find all the values of x that make 0.1x + 0.25(102 − x) < 17.10 true.
184. Without using parentheses, write an expression equivalent to 3(4(3x − 6) − 2(2x + 1)).
185. Day student Morgan left home at 7:00 one morning, determined to make the ten-mile
trip to PEA on bicycle for a change. Soon thereafter, Morgan’s parent noticed forgotten
math homework on the kitchen table, got into the family car, and tried to catch up with the
forgetful child. Morgan had a fifteen-minute head start, and was pedaling at 12 mph, while
the parent pursued at 30 mph. Was Morgan reunited with the homework before reaching
PEA that day? If so, where? If not, at what time during first period (math, which starts at
8:00) was the homework delivered?
189. Find the solution sets and graph them on a number line.
(a) 46 − 3(x + 10) = 5x + 20
(b) 46 − 3(x + 10) < 5x + 20
(c) 46 − 3(x + 10) > 5x + 20
190. At 1 pm, you start out on your bike at 12 mph to meet a friend who lives 8 miles away.
At the same time, the friend starts walking toward you at 4 mph. At what time will you
meet your friend? How far will your friend have to walk?
191. The population of a small town increased by 25% two years ago and then decreased by
by 25% last year. The population is now 4500 people. What was the population before the
two changes?
192. Given that it costs $2.75 less to buy a dozen doughnuts than to buy twelve single
doughnuts, and that 65 doughnuts cost $25.25, and that 65 = 5 · 12 + 5, what is the price of
a single doughnut?
194. It takes ten preps ten days to paint ten houses. How many houses can five preps paint
in five days?
197. According to the US Census Department, someone born in 1950 has a life expectancy
of 68.2 years, while someone born in 1970 has a life expectancy of 70.8 years.
(a) What is a reasonable life expectancy of someone born in 1960?
(b) What is a reasonable life expectancy of someone born in 1980?
(c) What is a reasonable life expectancy of someone born in 2000?
Part (a) is an interpolation question. Parts (b) and (c) are extrapolation questions. Which
of your answers are you the most confident about? Explain.
199. Solve the following inequalities and shade their solution intervals on a number line.
(a) 2x + 3x + 5 ≤ 5 (b) 1 (x − 1) + 3 > 1 (2x + 1) − 1
3 2 2 3
200. A square game board is divided into smaller squares, which are colored red and black
as on a checkerboard. All four corner squares are black. Let r and b stand for the numbers
of red and black squares, respectively. What is the value of the expression b − r?
201. At noon, my odometer read 6852 miles. At 3:30 pm, it read 7034 miles.
(a) What was my average rate of change during these three and a half hours?
(b) Let t represent the number of hours I have been driving since noon and y represent my
odometer reading. Write an equation that relates y and t. Assume constant speed.
(c) Graph your equation.
(d) Show that the point (5,7112) is on your line, and then interpret this point in the context
of this problem.
202. What is the slope between (3, 7) and (5, 4)? (5, 4) and (3, 7)? (a, b) and (c, d)? (c, d)
and (a, b)?
203. On top of a fixed monthly charge, Avery’s cellphone company adds a fee for each text
message sent. Avery’s November bill was $50.79, which covered 104 text messages. The bill
for October, which covered 83 text messages, was only $46.59.
(a) What is the price of a text message?
(b) What is the fixed monthly charge?
(c) What would Avery be charged for a month that included 200 text messages?
(d) What would Avery be charged for a month that included m text messages?
206. How far apart on a number line are (a) 12 and 18? (b) 12 and −7? (c) −11 and −4?
207. For what values of x will the square and the rectangle x+5 x+3
shown at right have the same perimeter?
208. The point (3, 2) is on the line y = 2x + b. Find the value x+7
of b. Graph the line.
211. The absolute value of a non-zero number can be defined by |a| = a or −a, whichever is
positive. Note: |0| is defined to be 0. Evaluate each of the following:
(a) |4| (b) | − 3| (c) |5 − 8| (d) | − 3 − 1| (e) | − 5| − |12|
212. In each of the following, calculate the slope of the line determined by the given pair
of points. Assuming that the first coordinate represents time measured in minutes and
the second coordinate represents distance above sea level measured in feet, interpret your
answers in a a rate-time-distance context.
(a) (2, 8) and (5, 17) (b) (3.4, 6.8) and (7.2, 8.7) (c) 3 ,− 3 and 1 ,2
2 4 4
213. If you double all the sides of a square, a larger square results. By what percentage has
the perimeter increased? By what percentage has the area increased?
215. Find the x-intercept and the y-intercept of the equation y = − 3 x + 6. Graph.
2
..
to spend $200 to set up the machinery to make them. ..
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.
(a) What will it cost to produce the first hundred cars? the ..
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218. A cyclist rides 30 km at an average speed of 9 km/hr. At what rate must the cyclist
cover the next 10 km in order to bring the overall average speed up to 10 km/hr.?
219. On a number line, what is the distance between 6 and −6? between 24 and 17? between
17 and 24? between t and 4? This last question is harder to answer because it depends on
whether t is smaller than or greater than 4. Is the answer t − 4 or 4 − t? This is an absolute
value calculation: use absolute value signs to express the distance between t and 4. What
is the distance between the numbers a and b on the number line? What is the relationship
between |p − q| and |q − p|?
220. Let P = (x, y) and Q = (1, 5). Write an equation that states that the slope of line P Q
is 3. Show how this slope equation can be rewritten in the form y − 5 = 3(x − 1). This
linear function is said to be in point-slope form. Explain the terminology. Find coordinates
for three different points P that fit this equation.
222. Given that 48 ≤ n ≤ 1296 and 24 ≤ d ≤ 36, what are the largest and smallest values
that the expression n can possibly have? Write your answer smallest ≤ n ≤ largest.
d d
223. Jess has 60 ounces of an alloy that is 40% gold. How many ounces of pure gold must
be added to this alloy to create a new alloy that is 75% gold?
225. Write an equation for the line that goes through the point (1,5) and that has slope 2 .
3
226. The equation 5x − 8y = 20 expresses a linear relationship between x and y. The point
(15, 7) is either on the graph of this line, above it, or below it. Which? How do you know?
227. On a number line, how far is each of the following numbers from zero?
(a) 45 (b) −7 (c) x (d) 0
230. When asked to find the distance between two numbers on a number line, Jamie re-
sponded with the following answers. What two numbers do you think Jamie was talking
about?
(a) |9 − 4| (b) |9 + 4| (c) |x − 7| (d) |3 − x| (e) |x + 5| (f ) |x|
231. To graph linear equations such as 3x + 5y = 30, one can put the equation into slope-
intercept form, but (unless the slope is needed) it is easier to find the x- and y-intercepts
and use them to sketch the graph. Find the axis intercepts of each of the following and use
them to draw the given line. An equation ax + by = c is said to be in standard form.
(a) 20x + 50y = 1000 (b) 4x − 3y = 72
232. Find an equation for the line containing the points (−3, 0) and (0, 4).
234. Casey goes for a bike ride from Exeter to Durham, while an odometer keeps a cumulative
record of the number of miles traveled. The equation m = 12t + 37 describes the odometer
reading m after t hours of riding. What is the meaning of 12 and 37 in the context of this
trip?
235. Find an equation for the line that passes through the points (4.1, 3.2) and (2.3, 1.6).
237. As you know, temperatures can be measured by either Celsius or Fahrenheit units; 30◦ C
is equivalent to 86◦ F , 5◦ C is equivalent to 41◦ F , and −10◦ C is equivalent to 14◦ F .
(a) Plot this data with C on the horizontal axis and F on the vertical axis.
(b) Verify that these three data points are collinear .
(c) Find a linear equation that relates C and F .
(d) Graph F versus C. In other words, graph the linear equation you just found.
(e) Graph C versus F . You will need to re-plot the data, with C on the vertical axis.
(f ) On New Year’s Day, I heard a weather report that said the temperature was a balmy
24◦ C. Could this have happened? What is the corresponding Fahrenheit temperature?
(g) Water boils at 212◦ F and freezes at 32◦ F at sea level. Find the corresponding Celsius
temperatures.
(h) Is it ever the case that the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit is the same as the tem-
perature in degrees Celsius?
238. If |x + 1| = 5, then x + 1 can have two possible values, 5 and −5. This leads to two
equations, x + 1 = 5 and x + 1 = −5. If |2x − 7| = 5, what possible values could the
expression 2x − 7 have? Write two equations using the expression 2x − 7 and solve them.
239. A recent poll about crime in schools claimed that 67% of Americans approved of a bill
being debated in Congress. The poll also reported a 3% margin of error.
(a) Make a number-line graph of the possible approval ratings in this report.
(b) Explain why |x − 0.67| ≤ 0.03 describes your graph.
240. Translate the sentence “the distance between x and 12 is 20” into an equation using
algebraic symbols. What are the values of x being described?
241. The solution of |x| = 6 consists of the points 6 and −6. Show how to use a test point
on the number line to solve and graph the inequality |x| ≤ 6. Do the same for |x| ≥ 6.
242. Translate “x is 12 units from 20” into an equation. What are the values of x being
described?
243. On a number line, graph |x| < 2. Now graph |x − 5| < 2. How does the second interval
relate to the first interval?
244. Translate the sentence “x and y are twelve units apart” into algebraic code. Find a pair
(x, y) that fits this description. How many pairs are there?
247. Write two equations without absolute value symbols that, in combination, are equivalent
to |3x + 5| = 12. Solve each of these two equations. Show how to use a test point on the
number line to solve and graph the inequality |3x + 5| ≥ 12.
248. Graph a horizontal line through the point (3, 5). Choose another point on this line.
What is the slope of this line? What is the y-intercept of this line? What is an equation for
this line? Is this a function? Describe a context that could be modeled by this line.
249. Graph a vertical line through the point (3, 5). Does this line have a slope or y-intercept?
What is an equation for this line? Is this a function?
250. After successfully solving an absolute-value problem, Ariel spilled Heath Bar Crunch⃝R
all over the problem. All that can be read now is, “The distance between x and (mess of ice
cream) is (another mess of ice cream).” Given that Ariel’s answers are x = −3 and x = 7,
reconstruct the missing parts of the problem. y
......
......
......
......
251. The figure shows the graph of 20x+40y = 1200. Find the x- ......
......
......
......
......
and y-intercepts, the slope of the line, and the distances between ......
......
......
......
......
tick marks on the axes. Duplicate this figure on a graphing tool. ......
......
......
......
......
What window settings did you use? ......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
x
252. The average of three different positive integers is 8. What ......
......
......
......
is the largest integer that could be one of them? ......
253. Is the point (8.4, 23) below, on, or above the line 3x − y = 2? Justify your answer.
254. An access ramp starts at ground level and rises 27 inches over a distance of 30 feet.
What is the slope of this ramp?
255. Jay thinks that the inequality k < 3 implies the inequality k 2 < 9, but Val thinks
otherwise. Who is right, and why?
256. The specifications for machining a piece of metal state that it must be 12 cm long,
within a 0.01-cm tolerance. What is the longest the piece is allowed to be? What is the
shortest? Using l to represent the length of the finished piece of metal, write an absolute-
value inequality that states these conditions.
257. O’Neil Cinema charges $10.50 for each adult and $8.50 for each child. If the total
amount in ticket revenue one evening was $3136 and if there were 56 more children than
adults, then how many children attended?
........
.
mile. Their big adventure starts at 8 am at Rockingham ......•
....... .......
..........
.
...
.
....... ................
.......
Junction, north of Exeter. They reach the Main St cross- •... .. . .. . .
............
.............................
.
.
.....
............................
........................
ing in Exeter at noon, and finish their ride in Kingston at ........................
..........................................
......................... ...............
..................................
......................•
...............• ......... .........
............................... ................................
3 pm. Let t be the number of hours since the trip began, ........................ ........................ ........................ .................... ........................ ........................ ........................ ........................... ........................ ........................ ........................
and d be the corresponding distance (in miles) between the handcar and Main St. With t
on the horizontal axis, draw a graph of d versus t, after first making a table of (t, d) pairs
for 0 ≤ t ≤ 7.
260. (Continuation) Let y be the distance between the handcar and the Newfields Road
bridge, which Pat and Kim reach at 11 am. Draw a graph that plots y versus t, for the
entire interval 0 ≤ t ≤ 7. Recall that t is the number of hours since the trip began at 8 AM.
Write an equation that expresses y in terms of t. By the way, you have probably noticed
that each of these absolute-value graphs has a corner point, which is called a vertex .
262. Given that 0.0001 ≤ n ≤ 0.01 and 0.001 ≤ d ≤ 0.1, what are the largest and smallest
values that n can possibly have? Write your answer smallest ≤ n ≤ largest.
d d
263. A lattice point is defined as a point whose coordinates are integers. If (−3, 5) and (2, 1)
are two points on a line, find three other lattice points on the same line.
264. The equation 13x+8y = 128 expresses a linear relationship between x and y. The point
(5, 8) is on, or above, or below the linear graph. Which is it? How do you know?
7 11
265. Show that the equation y = x − can be rewritten in the standard form ax + by = c,
3 8
in which a, b, and c are all integers.
267. Find the value for h for which the slope of the line through (−5, 6) and (h, 12) is 3/4.
268. Solve the equation 0.05x + 0.25(30 − x) = 4.90. Invent a context for the equation.
(a) x 2 4 6 (b) x 2 3 8
y 3 6 18 y −8 −12 −20
270. For each of the following equations, find the x-intercept and y-intercept. Then use them
to calculate the slope of the line.
(a) 3x + y = 6 (b) x − 2y = 10 (c) 4x − 5y = 20 (d) ax + by = c
271. Blair’s average on the first five in-class tests is 67. If this is not pulled up to at least
a 70, Blair will not be allowed to watch any more Netflix. To avoid losing those privileges,
what is the lowest score Blair can afford to make on the last in-class test? Assume that all
tests carry equal weight.
272. Sketch the graphs of y = 2x, y = 2x + 1, and y = 2x − 2 all on the same coordinate-axis
system. Find the slope of each line. How are the lines related to one another?
273. A rectangle has a perimeter of 120 cm. The height of the rectangle is 2/3 of its width.
What are the dimensions of the rectangle?
274. Graph y = |x − 5| and y = |x + 2|, then describe in general terms how the graph of
y = |x| is transformed to produce the graph of y = |x − h|.
276. In each case, decide whether the three points given are collinear:
(a) (−4, 8), (0, 2), and (2, −1) (b) (350, 125), (500, 300), and (650, 550)
.....
277. Write an equation for each of the graphs shown at right. .....
.....
.....
.....
..... ..
..... ..... .....
Each graph goes through several lattice points. .....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
..... ..
......
.
.....
.....
..... ..... ....
..... ..... .....
..... ..... .....
..... ..... .....
..... .....
. ...
......
..... ..... .
..... ..... .....
..... ..
278. A horse thief riding at 8 mph has a 32-mile head start. .....
.....
.....
..... 2
.....
.....
..... ........
..........
..... .....
.....
....
..... .......
. .
..
......
The posse in pursuit is riding at 10 mph. In how many hours .....
.....
.....
..... ........
.
. ..
..... .........
..... .....
..... .........
.....
.....
.
.
281. Graph on the same axes y = |x| and y = |x| − 2. Label the x- and y-intercepts. In what
respects are the two graphs similar? In what respects do they differ?
283. As mountain climbers know, the higher you go, the cooler the temperature gets. At
noon on July 4th last summer, the temperature at the top of Mt. Washington — elevation
6288 feet — was 56◦ F . The temperature at base camp in Pinkham Notch — elevation
2041 feet — was 87◦ F . It was a clear, still day. At that moment, a group of hikers reached
Tuckerman Junction — elevation 5376 feet. To the nearest degree, calculate the temperature
the hikers were experiencing at that time and place. When you decided how to model this
situation, what assumptions did you make?
284. Draw a line through the origin with a slope of 0.4. Draw a line through the point (1, 2)
with a slope of 0.4. How are these two lines related? What is the vertical distance between
the two lines? Find an equation for each line.
285. Graph y = |x| + 3 and y = |x| − 5, then describe in general terms how the graph of
y = |x| is transformed to produce the graph of y = |x| + k. How can you tell from the graph
whether k is positive or negative?
286. Randy phones Sandy about a homework question, and asks, “The vertex of the graph
of y equals the absolute value of x plus four is (−4, 0), isn’t it?” Sandy answers, “No, the
vertex is (0, 4).” Who is right? Explain.
289. By hand, find the x- and y-intercepts of y = |x − 3| − 5 and the coordinates of its vertex.
Sketch the graph of this equation.
290. When weights are placed on the end of a spring, the spring stretches. If a three-pound
weight stretches the spring to a length of 4.25 inches, a five-pound weight stretches the spring
to a length of 5.75 inches, and a nine-pound weight stretches the spring to a length of 8.75
inches, what was the initial length of the spring?
291. Given that y is proportional to x and that y = 60 when x = 20, find y when x = 12.
292. Twelve flags are evenly spaced around a running track. Ryan is running at a constant
rate and it takes 30 seconds for Ryan to run from the first flag to the sixth flag. How many
seconds did it take Ryan to run from the first flag to (a) the 10th flag for the first time? (b)
the 8th flag for the 2nd time? (c) the nth flag for the mth time?
295. What effect does the coefficient a have on the graph of the equation y = a|x|? How can
you tell whether a is positive or negative by looking at the graph?
296. Find the x- and y-intercepts of y = 5 − |x − 3|, find the coordinates of its vertex, and
then sketch the graph of this equation.
297. A chemist would like to dilute a 90-cc solution that is 5% acid to one that is 3% acid.
How much water must be added to accomplish this task?
299. Apply the distributive property to write without parentheses and collect like terms:
(a) x(x − 3) + 2(x − 3) (b) 2x(x − 4) − 3(x − 4) (c) x(x − 2) + 2(x − 2)
300. The fuel efficiency of a car depends on the speed at which it is driven. For example,
consider Kit’s Volvo. When it is driven at r miles per hour, it gets m = 32 − 0.2|r − 55|
miles per gallon. Graph m versus r, for 0 < r ≤ 80. Notice that this graph has a vertex.
What are its coordinates?
301. (Continuation) Solve the inequality 30 ≤ 32 − 0.2|r − 55|, and express the solution
interval graphically. What is the meaning of these r-values to Kit?
302. Asked to solve the inequality 3 < |x − 5| at the board, Corey wrote “8 < x < 2,” Sasha
wrote “x < 2 or 8 < x,” and Avery wrote “x < 2 and 8 < x.” What do you think of these
answers? Do any of them agree with your answer?
303. Apply the distributive property to write without parentheses and collect like terms:
(a) (x + 2)(x − 3) (b) (2x − 3)(x − 4) (c) (x + 2)(x − 2)
304. If the width and length of a rectangle are both increased by 10%, by what percent does
the area of the rectangle increase? By what percent does the perimeter of the rectangle
increase?
307. A 20-mile road runs between Buzzardtown and Dry Gulch. Each town has a gas station,
but there are no gas stations between the towns. Let x be the distance in miles from
Buzzardtown, measured along the road (so 0 ≤ x ≤ 20), and y be the distance in miles to
the nearest gas station. Make a table of values that includes entries for x = 7, x = 9, and
x = 16, and then draw a graph of y versus x. The graph should have a vertex at (10, 10).
308. (Continuation) Graph the equation y = 10 − |x − 10|. Explain its significance to the
story.
309. (Continuation) Suppose that you are in a car that has been traveling along the Buzzard-
town-Dry Gulch road for t minutes at 30 miles per hour. How far is it to the nearest gas
station, in terms of t? Graph this distance versus t. What are the coordinates of the vertex
of your graph?
310. A train is leaving in 11 minutes and you are one mile from the station. Assuming you
can walk at 4 mph and run at 8 mph, how much time can you afford to walk before you
must begin to run in order to catch the train?
311. Sandy was told by a friend that “absolute value makes everything positive.” So Sandy
rewrote the equation |x − 6| = 5 as x + 6 = 5. Do you agree with the statement, or with
what Sandy did to the equation? Explain your answer.
312. For each of the following points, find the distance to the y-axis:
(a) (11, 7) (b) (−5, 9) (c) (4, y) (d) (x, −8)
313. To mail a first-class letter in 2016, the rate was 47 cents for the first ounce or fraction
thereof, and 21 cents for each additional ounce or fraction thereof. Let p be the number of
cents needed to mail a first-class letter that weighed w ounces. Make a table that includes
some non-integer values for w. Then graph p versus w, with w on the horizontal axis.
314. Given the line y = 12 x + 6, write an equation for the line through the origin that has
the same slope. Write an equation for the line through (2, −4) that has the same slope.
316. In a suitably large container, there are 100 liters of vinegar that is 12% acetic acid. How
many liters of pure water need to be added to the container in order to dilute this solution
to a 5% acetic acid solution?
317. Twelve math students were each given an individual bag of M&Ms. Each bag has a
stated net weight of 47.9 grams. The students emptied each bag and weighed the contents
on an electronic scale. The weights are recorded in the chart below. Why do the weights
differ from 47.9 g? Are you surprised? If you buy a bag in the store yourself tonight, would
you expect it to weigh 47.9 g? Is there another weight that you think is more likely?
318. Which of the following screens could represent the graph of 9x + 5y = 40?
319. For each of these absolute-value equations, write two equations without absolute-value
symbols that are equivalent to the original. Solve each of the equations.
(a) 2|x + 7| = 12 (b) 3 + |2x + 5| = 17 (c) 6 − |x + 2| = 3 (d) −2|4 − 3x| = −14
320. Hearing Yuri say “This line has no slope,” Tyler responds “Well, ‘no slope’ actually
means slope 0.” What are they talking about? Do you agree with either of them?
321. Suppose a flat, rectangular board is built by gluing together a number of square pieces
of the same size.
(a) If 20 squares are glued together to make a 4 by 5 rectangular board, how many of these
squares are completely surrounded by other squares?
(b) If the dimensions of the finished rectangular board are m by n, how many squares (in
terms of n and m) are completely surrounded by other squares?
323. Lee’s pocket change consists of x quarters and y dimes. Put a dot on every lattice
point (x, y) that signifies that Lee has exactly one dollar of pocket change. What equation
describes the line that passes through these points? Notice that it does not make sense to
connect the dots in this context, because x and y are discrete variables, whose values are
limited to integers.
324. (Continuation) Put a dot on every lattice point (x, y) that signifies that Lee has at
most one dollar in pocket change. How many such dots are there? What is the relationship
between Lee’s change situation and the inequality 0.25x + 0.10y ≤ 1.00?
325. (Continuation) Write two inequalities that stipulate that Lee cannot have fewer than
zero quarters or fewer than zero dimes.
326. The figure shows the graphs of two lines. Use the graphs (the ...
...
... y .
...
... ...
... ..
axis markings are one unit apart) to estimate the coordinates of ...
...
... ...
.
...
... ..
..
the point that belongs to both lines. ...
...
...
...
.
.
...
..
... ..
... ....
... .. .
....
327. (Continuation) The system of equations that has been graphed is .....
.
... ....
... .....
( .... ...
...
... ...
9x − 2y = 16 ...
..
....
...
...
...
...
x
... ...
... ...
3x + 2y = 9 ...
...
...
...
...
... ...
...
... ...
Jess took one look at these equations and knew right away what ...
...
...
...
...
...
...
... ...
to do. “Just add the equations and you will find out quickly what ... ...
...
...
...
...
x is.” Follow this advice, and explain why it works. ...
...
.
328. (Continuation) Find the missing y-value by inserting the x-value you found into either
of the two original equations. Do the coordinates of the point of intersection agree with
your estimate? These coordinates are called a simultaneous solution of the original system
of equations. Explain the terminology.
329. Consider the line with equation y = 2(x + 3) − 1. Write an equation for the line which
has the same slope and contains the point (3, −1).
330. In 2014 a company had a profit of $420000. In 2019 it reported a profit of $1400000.
Find the average rate of change of its profit for that period, expressed in dollars per year.
332. Sam can read k pages in 20 minutes. In terms of k, how many minutes does it take
Sam to read 1 page?
334. The US average retail price of gasoline is shown in the chart below from 2002 to 2008.
(a) Make a scatterplot of the data, putting years on the x-axis. Draw the line L that
contains the first and last points.
(b) Find the equation of line L.
(c) Give the slope of line L with units and explain what the slope means.
(d) What does line L predict the price of gas would be in 2009?
(e) The actual price of gas in 2009 was $2.41. Find the percent error in predicted price from
part (d) compared with the actual price.
335. Find values for x and y that fit both of the equations 2x − 3y = 8 and 4x + 3y = −2.
336. The figure at right shows the graphs of two lines. First use ...
...
... y
...
the figure to estimate the coordinates of the point that belongs ...
...
...
...
...
to both lines. The system of equations is ...
...
...
... ..
... .....
... ......
(
1 ... .....
......
3x + 2y = 6 ...
...
...
.
.....
.....
..
..
... ......
... ......
... ...... x
3x − 4y = 17 1 ...
...
...
......
.....
.....
.
...
...
... ...........
........
Randy took one look at these equations and knew right away ......
........
..... .....
...
...... ...
.....
what to do. “Just subtract the equations and you will find out ..
.......
.
......
...
. ...
...
...
...
...
..... ...
....
quickly what y is.” Follow this advice. ...
......
........
.. ...
...
...
...
.
..... ...
.
..
. ...
338. (Continuation) If you add the two given equations, you obtain the equation of yet
another line. Add its graph to the figure. You should notice something. Was it expected?
1 1 1
340. Find the value of x that fits the equation x + x + x = 26.
2 3 4
341. A hot-air balloon ride has been set up so that a paying customer is carried straight up
at 50 feet per minute for ten minutes and then immediately brought back to the ground at
the same rate. The whole ride lasts twenty minutes. Let h be the height of the balloon (in
feet) and t be the number of minutes since the ride began. Draw a graph of h versus t. What
are the coordinates of the vertex? Find an equation that expresses h in terms of t.
342. Fitness Universe has a membership fee of $50, after which individual visits to the gym
are $5.50. Non-members pay $8.00 per visit. Stuart is going to exercise at the gym regularly,
and is wondering whether it makes sense to become a member. How regularly would Stuart
need to visit this gym, in order for a membership to be worth it?
343. What is the slope of the line graphed at the right, if .....
y
.....
(a) the distance between the x-tick marks is 2 units and the .....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
distance between the y-tick marks is 1 unit? .....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
(b) the distance between the x-tick marks is 100 units and the .....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
distance between the y-tick marks is 5 units? .....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
344. My sleeping bag is advertised to be suitable for tempera- .....
.....
.....
.....
x
.....
tures T between 20 degrees below zero and 20 degrees above .....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
zero (Celsius). Write an absolute-value inequality that describes ...
these temperatures T .
345. Pat has x quarters and y dimes, and, in addition, has no more than two dollars. Write
several inequalities that represent this situation and then graph all points in the coordinate
plane that satisfy this condition.
348. Graph y = |x − 1|. Use your graph to find all values of x that satisfy |x − 1| ≤ 3.
349. Find values for x and y that fit both of the equations 5x + 3y = 8 and 4x + 3y = −2.
350. A 100-liter barrel of vinegar is 8% acetic acid. Before it can be bottled and used in
cooking, the acidity must be reduced to 5% by diluting it with pure water. In order to
produce 64 liters of usable vinegar, how many liters of vinegar from the barrel and how
many liters of pure water should be combined?
... ...
...
both lines. The system of equations is ...
...
...
... ...
...
.
..
.
... ...
... ...
( ... ..
..
4x + 3y = 20 ...
... .....
... ..
..
...........
.. ....
3x − 2y = −5 ...
...
... ...
...
...
....
. ...
... ...
... ...
Lee took one look at these equations and announced a plan: ....
.
..... ...
...
...
...
.
... ...
“Just multiply the first equation by 2 and the second equation ...
.
..
.
..
. ...
...
...
...
.. ...
..
by 3.” What does changing the equations in this way do to their ...
.
.
.
.
..
.
1
...
...
...
... x
...
. ...
graphs? .
...
..
. ...
...
355. (Continuation) Lee’s plan has now created a familiar situation. Do you recognize it?
Complete the solution to the system of equations. Do the coordinates of the point of inter-
section agree with your initial estimate?
356. Bert can weed the garden in 3 hours. If Bert and Ernie work together, they can finish
the job in 2 hours. How long would it take Ernie to do the job by himself? Letting x equal
the number of hours it takes Ernie to do the job by himself, write and solve an equation.
357. Sandy’s first four test scores this term are 73, 87, 81 and 76. To have at least a B test
grade, Sandy needs to average at least 80 on the five term tests (which count equally). Let
t represent Sandy’s score on the fifth test, and write an inequality that describes the range
of t-values that will meet Sandy’s goal.
359. Shade the points in the plane whose x-coordinates are greater than their y-coordinates.
Write an inequality that describes these points.
362. Raisins make up two thirds of a well-mixed bowl of peanuts and raisins. If half the
mixture is removed and replaced with peanuts, what fraction of the bowl will be raisins?
363. A large telephone company sent out an offer for pre-paid phone cards. The table below
accompanied the ad and summarized their offer. Does this data form a linear relationship?
Explain your answer. Which offer has the best rate per minute?
364. Find an equation for each of the following lines. When possible, express your answer in
both point-slope form and slope-intercept form.
(a) The line passes through (3, 5), and has −1.5 as its slope.
(b) The line is parallel to the line through (−8, 7) and (−3, 1), and has 6 as its x-intercept.
(c) The line is parallel to the line x = −4, and it passes through (4, 7).
367. Use a different color for the regions described in parts (a) and (b):
(a) Shade all points whose x- and y-coordinates sum to less than 10.
(b) Shade all points whose x- and y-coordinates are both greater than zero.
(c) Write a system of three inequalities that describe where the two regions overlap.
368. The figure at right shows the graphs of two lines. Use the ...
...
...
..
...
... y ..
..
figure to estimate the coordinates of the point that belongs to ...
...
...
...
..
..
.
.
... ...
...
both lines. The system of equations is ...
...
...
...
.
...
..
... ..
... ..
...
( ... .
..
4x + 3y = 20 ...
...
...
... ..
...
...
... ..
... .
..
y = 2x − 2 ...
...
...
... ....
...
..
... ..
....
......
Min took one look at these equations and offered a plan: “The ..
... ......
... ...
...
. ...
..
second equation says you can substitute 2x − 2 for y in the first ...
.
.
... ...
...
...
...
... ...
equation. Then you have only one equation to solve.” Explain 1 ...
... ...
...
...
.
.. ...
... ...
the logic behind Min’s substitution strategy. Carry out the plan, ...
..
.
. ...
...
...
x
2
and compare the exact coordinates of the intersection point with
your estimates.
369. Farmer MacGregor wants to know how many cows and ducks are in the meadow. After
counting 56 legs and 17 heads, the farmer knows. How many cows and ducks are there?
370. What are the x- and y-intercepts of y = |x − h| + k, and what are the coordinates of
its vertex?
372. Three gears are connected so that two turns of the first wheel turn the second wheel
nine times and three turns of the second wheel turn the third wheel five times.
(a) If you turn the first wheel once, how many times does the third wheel turn?
(b) How many times must you turn the first wheel so that the third wheel turns 30 times?
373. How much money do you have, if you have d dimes and n nickels? Express your answer
in (a) cents; (b) dollars.
374. How many nickels have the same combined value as q quarters and d dimes?
375. Find the point (x, y) that fits both of the equations y = 1.5x + 2 and 9x + 4y = 41.
377. If the price of a stock goes from $4.25 per share to $6.50 per share, by what percent
has the value of the stock increased?
378. Your company makes spindles for the space shuttle. NASA specifies that the length of
a spindle must be 12.45 ± 0.01 cm. What does this mean? What are the smallest and largest
acceptable lengths for these spindles? Write this range of values as an inequality, letting
L stand for the length of the spindle. Write another inequality using absolute values that
models these constraints.
379. Jan has a 18′′ × 18′′ × 12′′ gift box that needs to be placed carefully into a 2′ × 2′ × 2′
shipping carton, surrounded by packing peanuts. Note that the symbol ′′ is an abbreviation
for inches and ′ for feet.
(a) How many 1-cubic-foot bags of peanuts does Jan need to buy?
(b) Jan opens one bag of peanuts and spreads them evenly on the bottom of the shipping
carton. What is the resulting depth of the peanuts?
(c) Jan centers the square base of the gift box on the peanut layer, pours in another bag of
peanuts, and spreads them around evenly. Now how deep are the peanuts?
(d) Explain why the third bag of peanuts will cover the gift box.
382. Use the distributive property to multiply (x+p)(x+q). The result of this multiplication
can be expressed in the form x2 + ∇x + ∆; what do ∇ and ∆ stand for?
386. After buying and weighing one burrito per week at Las Olas for the whole school year,
Rory recorded the weights, w, in ounces shown in the table below.
Rory’s Burrito Weights (oz)
19.7 15.6 23.2 16.4 19.8 16.3 25.2 22.4 22.5 17.8 20.0
24.0 23.0 19.4 22.5 23.3 18.7 20.0 17.7 21.1 21.9 24.1
19.0 18.7 21.0 20.8 22.1 20.5 18.0 21.9 20.7 21.4 20.8
(a) Using these data, fill in the table below by tallying the number of burritos in each of
the six weight classes.
(b) The following is a histogram depicting Rory’s data. Notice that Rory neglected to label
the axes and provide a scale. Using the table created in part (a), complete Rory’s histogram
by providing labels and scales.
Number
Weight class of
of
Burritos (oz)
Burritos
14 ≤ w < 16
16 ≤ w < 18
18 ≤ w < 20
20 ≤ w < 22
22 ≤ w < 24
24 ≤ w ≤ 26
(c) Calculate the average weight of the burritos from the list. This is also known as the
mean.
(d) Reorder the data by size. Then find the middle number in the list. This is known as
the median. Note that if you have an even number of measurements, there will be no single
middle number; in that case, we define the median as the average of the two middle numbers
in the set.
(e) Locate the mean and median on the horizontal axis of Rory’s histogram.
(f ) Why are the weights of Rory’s burritos variable?
387. What is unusual about the graphs of the equations 9x − 12y = 27 and −3x + 4y = −9?
389. The fuel efficiency m (in miles per gallon) of a truck depends on the speed r (in miles
per hour) at which it is driven. The relationship between m and r usually takes the form
m = a|r −h|+k. For Sasha’s truck, the optimal fuel efficiency is 24 miles per gallon, attained
when the truck is driven at 50 miles per hour. When Sasha drives at 60 miles
r m
per hour, however, the fuel efficiency drops to only 20 miles per gallon. 60 20
(a) Find another driving speed r for which the fuel efficiency of Sasha’s truck 50 24
is exactly 20 mpg. 40
(b) Fill in the rest of the missing entries in the table. 30
(c) Draw graph of m versus r, for 0 < r ≤ 80. 20
10
(d) Find the values of k, a, and h.
390. With parental assistance, Corey buys some snowboarding equipment for $500, promising
to pay $12 a week from part-time earnings until the 500-dollar debt is retired. How many
weeks will it take until the outstanding debt is under $100? Write an inequality that models
this situation and then solve it algebraically.
391. Use the trial-and-error method to factor the following trinomials into the product of
two binomials:
(a) x2 + 2x − 8 (b) x2 − x − 6 (c) 2x2 + 7x + 6
392. The rails on a railroad are built from thirty-foot sections. When a train wheel passes
over the junction between two sections, there is an audible click. Traveling at 70 mph, how
many clicks does one train wheel make during a 20-second interval?
393. In attempting to calculate the carrying capacity of a cylindrical pipe, Avery measured
the outer diameter to be 2 inches, neglecting to notice that the pipe was one eighth of an
inch thick. By what percent did Avery overestimate the carrying capacity of the pipe?
394. On 3 January 2004, after a journey of 300 million miles, the rover Spirit landed on Mars
and began sending back information to Earth. It landed only six miles from its target. This
accuracy is comparable to shooting an arrow at a target fifty feet away and missing the exact
center by what distance?
395. Graph y = 2|x + 1| − 3, then describe in general terms how the graph of y = |x| is
transformed to produce the graph of y = a|x − h| + k. This is the vertex form of an absolute
value function.
396. Find an equation for the line that passes through the point (−3, 6), parallel to the line
through the points (0, −7) and (4, −15). Write your answer in point-slope form.
397. Verify that it is true that 232 − 202 = (23 − 20)(23 + 20) and explain why. By hand
show how to easily compute 312 − 292 .
407. By rearranging the two parts of the diagram shown at right, show
that a2 − b2 is equivalent to (a + b)(a − b). b
b
408. The base of a rectangular tank is three feet by two feet, and the a
tank is three feet tall. The water in the tank is currently nine inches
deep.
(a) How much water is in the tank? a
(b) The water level will rise when a one-foot metal cube (denser than water) is placed on
the bottom of the tank. By how much?
(c) The water level will rise some more when a second one-foot metal cube is placed on the
bottom of the tank, next to the first one. By how much?
410. Factor 4x2 +8x+3. The trial-and-error method works here, but there are other methods
that you might wish to try, illustrated on page 111.
411. Rory’s friend Riley also orders a burrito every week from Las Olas and records the
weight in ounces in the table below.
(a) Make a histogram and compare it with the histogram generated from Rory’s burrito
data in problem #386. You will need to use different classes to group these burritos. Make
sure the widths of your weight classes are equal. What might account for any differences
that you see in Riley’s and Rory’s histograms?
(b) Calculate the mean and median of Riley’s burrito weights. How do these numbers
compare to Rory’s?
Riley’s Burritos (oz)
12.2 10.5 10.4 10.0 12.5 12.7 11.1 12.0 12.1 13.7 13.6
13.0 15.0 15.0 9.90 9.20 19.2 10.7 11.5 13.1 12.5 12.9
8.90 12.7 12.4 9.80 11.8 13.0 13.1 11.4 11.0 10.1 11.3
412. Consider the equation y = 32 |x−5|−3. Complete the following without using a graphing
tool.
(a) What are the coordinates of the vertex of this graph?
(b) Find the coordinates of all axis intercepts of the graph.
(c) Sketch the graph by hand.
(d) Using each of these points and the vertex, compute the slope of each side of the graph.
How are these slopes related?
413. Five gerbils cost p dollars. How many dollars will it cost to buy g gerbils? How many
gerbils can you purchase for d dollars?
414. What values of x satisfy the inequality |x| > 12? Graph this set on a number line, and
describe it in words. Answer the same question for |x − 2| > 12.
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417. The population of Exeter is about 15 thousand people. The population of the United
States is about 300 million people. What percent of the US population lives in Exeter?
418. A rectangle is four times as long as it is wide. If its length were diminished by 6 meters
and its width were increased by 6 meters, it would be a square. What are the rectangle’s
dimensions?
419. Sketch the region common to the graphs of y ≥ −1, y − 2x ≤ 3, and x + y ≤ 6. Find
the area of this region.
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421. Factor:
(a) x2 + 9x + 20 (b) 3x2 + x − 4 (c) x2 − 81 (d) 12x3 + 21x2 + 9x
422. A rectangle has width x and length 2x − 1. Its area is 21. Find its dimensions.
423. After a weekend of rock-climbing in the White Mountains, Dylan is climbing down a
400-foot cliff. It takes 20 minutes to descend the first 60 feet. Assuming that Dylan makes
progress at a steady rate, write an equation that expresses Dylan’s height h above level
ground in terms of t, the number of minutes of descending from the top. Use your equation
to find how much time it will take Dylan to reach level ground.
424. Find the intersection of y = −2|x| + 5 and y = |x − 2| − 1. A sketch might prove helpful,
but you need to justify your answer algebraically.
427. The diagram at the right shows the wire framework for a rectangular box. The length
of this box is 8 cm greater than the width and the height is
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428. A slow 24-hour clock loses 25 minutes a day. At noon on the first of October, it is set
to show the correct time. When will this clock next show the correct time?
429. Write a formula that expresses the distance between p and 17. Describe all the possible
values for p if this distance is to be greater than 29.
431. Cameron bought twelve pounds of candy corn for $3.99 a pound, and eighteen pounds
of M&Ms for $4.19 a pound, planning to make packages of candy for the Exeter-Andover
game. The two types of candy will be mixed and sold in one-pound bags. What is the least
price that Cameron can charge for each of the thirty bags, in order to make at least a 25%
profit?
433. Find how many pairs (x, y) satisfy the equation x + y = 25, assuming that
(a) there is no restriction on the values of x and y;
(b) both x and y must be positive integers;
(c) the values of x and y must be equal.
434. Working alone, Jess can rake the leaves off a lawn in 50 minutes. Working alone, cousin
Tate can do the same job in 30 minutes. Today they are going to work together, Jess starting
at one end of the lawn and Tate starting simultaneously at the other end. In how many
minutes will they meet and thus have the lawn completely raked?
435. (Continuation) Suppose that Tate takes a ten-minute break after just five minutes of
raking. Revise your prediction of how many minutes it will take to complete the job.
438. If x varies directly with y, and if x = 5 when y = 27, find x when y = 30.
440. In 1936, The Literary Digest conducted a poll, in which they contacted their sub-
scribers, approximately one fourth of the nation’s voters, and asked them which candidate
they intended to vote for in the presidential race. Based on more than 2 million responses
(of the 10 million contacted), they issued this prediction: Republican presidential candidate
Alfred Landon would win 370 electoral votes. In reality, Landon only won 8 electoral votes,
with President Franklin Delano Roosevelt winning the rest in a landslide. The polling tech-
niques employed by the magazine were flawed: they surveyed their own readers first, and
this was a group with the disposable income to afford a magazine subscription during the
Great Depression. Next, they turned to two other lists, one of registered automobile owners
and another of telephone users. The people on both other lists were also wealthier than the
average American at the time. This flawed survey was a turning point in how researchers
design polls. Can you find any examples of recent polling that might be similarly flawed?
442. The owner’s manual for my computer printer states that it will print a page in 12
seconds. Re-express this speed in pages per minute, and in minutes per page.
443. My car averages 29 miles per gallon of gasoline, but I know — after many years of
fueling it — that the actual miles per gallon can vary by as much as 3 either way. Write an
absolute-value inequality that describes the range of possible mpg figures for my car.
445. Factor:
(a) 2x2 + x − 21 (b) 4x2 − 15x − 4 (c) 4x2 − 81 (d) 0.04x2 − 81
446. Shaw’s carries two types of apple juice. One is 100% fruit juice, while the other is only
40% juice. Yesterday there was only one 48-ounce bottle of the 100% juice left. I bought it,
along with a 32-ounce bottle of the 40% juice. I am about to mix the contents of the two
bottles together. What percent of the mixture will be actual fruit juice?
447. (Continuation) On second thought, I want the mixture to be at least 80% real fruit
juice. How much of the 32-ounce bottle can I add to the mixture and be satisfied?
449. The points (−6, 4), (2, 4), and (1, 2) are on the graph of y = a|x − h| + k. Use an
accurate graph and your knowledge of absolute-value graphs to find values for a, h, and k.
450. A runner sets out to run 10 000 meters in a world-class time of 27 minutes and 30
seconds. Running at a constant rate, what will the runner’s time be at the 1600 meter
mark?
451. The difference between the length and width of a rectangle is 7 cm. The perimeter is
50 cm. Find the length and width.
452. Randy has 25% more money than Sam, and 20% more money than Max, who has $1800.
How much money does Sam have?
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454. The average of two numbers is 41. If one of the numbers is 27, what is the other
number? If the average of two numbers is x + y, and one of the numbers is x, what is the
other number?
456. Taylor can cut a standard size lawn in 3 hours. Jamie can do the same job in 2 hours.
If Taylor works twice as many hours as Jamie and they complete 4 lawns, how many hours
does Taylor work?
458. Use the distributive property to write each of the following in factored form:
(a) ab2 + ac2 (b) 3x2 − 6x (c) wx + wy + wz + w
459. Most of Conservative Casey’s money is invested in a savings account that pays 1%
interest a year, but some is invested in a risky stock fund that pays 7% a year. Casey’s
total initial investment in the two accounts was $10000. At the end of the first year, Casey
received a total of $250 in interest from the two accounts. Find the amount initially invested
in each.
460. Find the value of p that makes the linear graph y = p − 3x pass through the point
where the lines 4x − y = 6 and 2x − 5y = 12 intersect.
461. Faced with the problem of multiplying 56 times 53 , Brook is having trouble deciding
which of these four answers is correct: 518 , 59 , 2518 , or 259 . Your help is needed. Once you
have answered Brook’s question, experiment with other examples of this type until you are
able to formulate the common-base principle for multiplication of expressions bm · bn .
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lines 5x + 4y = 32 and −5x + 6y = 8 have been graphed. The window ...
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463. For the final in-class test in math this term, a teacher is thinking
of giving a 100-question true-false test! Right answers will count one point, wrong answers
will deduct half a point, and questions left unanswered will have no effect. One way to get a
94 using this scoring system is to answer 96 correctly and 4 incorrectly (and leave 0 blank).
Find another way of obtaining a score of 94.
464. If you were curious to find out what Americans did to celebrate Memorial Day, you
might ask your friends and family what they were doing, but this would not give you a very
good sample. Explain. How might you improve your sample?
467. Find values for a and b that make ax + by = 14 parallel to 12 − 3y = 4x. Is there more
than one answer? If so, how are the different values for a and b related?
468. Sage has a walking speed of 300 feet per minute. On the way to gate 14C at the airport,
Sage has the option of using a moving sidewalk. By simply standing on the sidewalk, it would
take 4 minutes to get to the gate that is 800 feet away.
(a) How much time will it take Sage to walk the distance to the gate without using the
moving sidewalk?
(b) How much time will it take Sage to get to the gate by walking on the moving sidewalk?
(c) After traveling 200 feet (by standing on the sidewalk), Sage notices a Moonbucks, and
turns around on the moving sidewalk. How long will it take Sage to get back to the beginning
of the moving sidewalk, walking in the opposite direction? Assume the sidewalk is empty of
other travelers.
469. Exponents are routinely encountered in scientific work, where they help invesigators
deal with large numbers:
(a) The human population of Earth is roughly 7000000000, which is usually expressed in
scientific notation as 7 × 109 . The average number of hairs on a human head is 5 × 105 . Use
scientific notation to estimate the total number of human head hairs on Earth.
(b) Light moves very fast — approximately 3 × 108 meters every second. At that rate, how
many meters does light travel in one year, which is about 3×107 seconds long? This so-called
light-year is used in astronomy as a yardstick for measuring even greater distances.
470. A car went a distance of 90 km at a steady speed and returned along the same route at
half that speed. The time needed for the whole round trip was four hours and a half. Find
the two speeds.
471. Solve the equation 1.2x + 0.8(20 − x) = 17.9 for x. Make up a word problem that could
use this equation in its solution. In other words, the equation needs a context.
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474. The perimeter of a square is p inches. Write expressions, in terms of p, for the length
of the side of the square and the area of the square.
475. Fill in all of the blanks with the same number in order to make a true statement:
x2 + 8x + 16 = (x + )(x + ) = (x + )2
476. Solve:
(a) x2 + 8x + 16 = 0 (b) x2 − 8x + 15 = 0 (c) x2 − 10x + 25 = 0
...
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479. Find three lattice points on the line x + 3y = 10. How many others are there?
480. In a coordinate plane, shade the region that consists of all points that have positive
x- and y-coordinates whose sum is less than 5. Write a system of three inequalities that
describes this region.
481. Some of Lin’s savings this past year were in a savings account that paid 3% interest for
the year. The rest of the savings were in a riskier stock investment that paid 12% interest
for the year. If Lin’s $8000 total investment yielded a return of $600 in interest, how much
was invested in the riskier account?
483. Pat is the CEO of Pat’s Pickle-Packing Plant, but can still pack 18 jars of pickles per
hour. Kim, a rising star in the industry, packs 24 jars per hour. Kim arrived at work at 9:00
am one day, to find that Pat had been packing pickles since 7:30 am. Later that day, Kim
had packed exactly the same number of jars as Pat. At what time, and how many jars had
each packed?
484. A laser beam is shot from the point (0, 2.35) along the line whose slope is 3.1. Will it
hit a very thin pin stuck in this coordinate plane at the point (10 040, 31126)? Explain your
reasoning and any assumptions that you may have made.
486. A long-distance telephone call used to cost $2.40 plus $0.23 per minute. If the call was
not an integer number of minutes, the caller was charged $0.23 for the fraction of a minute.
Write an inequality that states that an x-minute call cost at most $5.00. Solve the inequality
to find the maximum number of minutes that it was possible to talk without spending more
than $5.00.
488. Impeded by the current, the Outing Club took 4 hours and 24 minutes to paddle 11 km
up the Exeter River to their campsite last weekend. The next day, the same current was
with them, and it took only 2 hours to make the return trip to campus. Everyone paddled
with the same intensity on both days. At what rate would the paddlers have traveled if there
had been no current? What was the speed of the current?
489. The point (2, 3) lies on the line 2x + ky = 19. Find the value of k.
490. Taylor works after school in a health-food store, where one of the more challenging tasks
is to add cranberry juice to apple juice to make a cranapple drink. A liter of apple juice
costs $0.85 and a liter of cranberry juice costs $1.25. The mixture is to be sold for exactly
the cost of the ingredients, at $1.09 per liter. How many liters of each juice should Taylor
use to make 20 liters of the cranapple mixture?
492. Using an absolute-value inequality, describe the set of numbers whose distance from 4
is greater than 5 units. Draw a graph of this set on a number line. Finally, describe this set
of numbers using inequalities without absolute value signs.
493. Ellis has a 30 oz. glass that is full (to the top) with a mixture of 40% cranberry juice
and 60% seltzer, and wants to change those percentages by spilling out some of the mixture
and topping off the glass with seltzer. How much of the original mixture should be drained
and then replaced with seltzer in order to end up with a 30 oz. mixture that is 20% cranberry
juice?
495. (Continuation) Which rooms are in the lowest 10% of rooms in Abbot, in terms of size?
The largest of these numbers is called the 10th percentile of the data set. What is the 20th
percentile of this data set? What percentile is the room size of 283 square feet? What is the
50th percentile?
496. (Continuation) Quartiles roughly separate data into fourths. For example, the 1st quar-
tile is the median of the lowest half of the data set. The 3rd quartile is the median of the
upper half of the data set. Find the 1st and 3rd quartiles for the room sizes in Abbot.
497. Calculate the area of the region defined by the simultaneous inequalities y ≥ x − 4,
y ≤ 10, and 5 ≤ x + y.
498. Mackenzie can spend at most 2 hours on math and biology homework tonight. Biology
reading always takes at least 45 minutes, but, because there is also a math hand-in due
tomorrow, Mackenzie knows that math is going to require more time than biology.
(a) Using the variables m and b, express the constraints on Mackenzie’s study time by a
system of inequalities. Work in minutes.
(b) Graph the inequalities with m on the horizontal axis and b on the vertical axis, and
highlight the region that satisfies all three inequalities. Such a region is called a feasible
region, because every point in the region is a possible (feasible) solution to the system.
(c) Is the point (60, 50) in the feasible region?
499. A polynomial is obtained by adding (or subtracting) monomials. Use the distributive
property to rewrite each of the following polynomials in factored form. In each example, you
will be finding a common monomial factor.
(a) x2 − 2x (b) 6x2 + 21x (c) 80t − 16t2 (d) 9x4 − 3x3 + 12x2 − x
A binomial is the sum of two unlike monomials, and a trinomial is the sum of three unlike
monomials. The monomials that make up a polynomial are often called its terms.
500. The simultaneous conditions x − y < 6, x + y < 6, and x > 0 define a region R. How
many lattice points are contained in R?
∆ ∇
501. In 74 · 74 · 74 = (74 ) and b9 · b9 · b9 · b9 = (b9 ) , replace the triangles by correct
6
exponents. The expression (p5 ) means to write p5 as a factor how many times? To rewrite
this expression without exponents as p · p · p · · · , how many factors would you need?
504. The cooling system of Alex’s car holds 10 quarts. It is now filled with a mixture that
is 60% water and 40% antifreeze. Hearing a weather forecast for severe cold, Alex decides
to increase the strength of the antifreeze mixture to 50%. To do this, Alex must drain off a
certain number of quarts from the cooling system and then replace them by pure antifreeze.
How many quarts must be drained?
505. A boat has a speed of 10 miles per hour in still water. A trip of 24 miles upstream and
then 24 miles downstream (back to the starting place) takes 12 minutes more than a trip of
48 miles in still water. What is the rate of the current?
3
506. Faced with the problem of calculating (54 ) , Brook is having trouble deciding which of
these three answers is correct: 564 , 512 , or 57 . Once you have answered Brook’s question,
experiment with other examples of this type until you are ready to formulate the principle
that tells how to write (bm )n as a power of b.
507. The diameter of an atom is so small that it would take about 108 of them, arranged in a
line, to span one centimeter. It is thus a plausible estimate that a cubic centimeter contains
3
about 108 × 108 × 108 = (108 ) atoms. Write this huge number as a power of 10.
508. Blair runs a kiosk at the local mall that sells sweatshirts. There are two types of shirts
sold. One is 100% cotton, on which the profit is $6 per shirt. The other is a cotton and
polyester blend, on which the profit is $4 per shirt. It costs Blair $900 per month to rent
the kiosk. Let c represent the number of pure cotton sweatshirts sold in one month and b
the number of blended sweatshirts sold in the same month.
(a) In terms of c and b, write a system of three inequalities that model Blair’s sales so that
Blair will at least meet the monthly rental expense. Sketch a graph with c on the vertical
axis and b on the horizontal axis.
(b) This month, Blair could only get 20 of the pure cotton shirts from the distributor. Add
the inequality that models this to the system in part (a). How does it affect the region you
drew in (a)?
...... .....
.....
figure to estimate the coordinates of the point that belongs to ......
......
•
......
...... .....
.....
.....
.
...... .....
.....
both lines, then calculate the exact value. You will of course ......
......
......
...... ...
.....
...
......
...... .....
.....
•
have to find equations for the lines, which both go through ......
......
...... ..........
.....
.....
1 ..... ...........
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designated lattice points. ..
........
.....
......
......
......
..... ......
..... ......
..........
.
..
..
2 ......
•
......
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.... ......
513. By hand, make a table of values and graph the equation ...
......
..
.
....
..
. ......
......
......
...... ..
•..
|x| + |y| = 6. Notice that the graph has several vertices. Shade ..
.....
.
... .
..........
....
the region described by |x| + |y| ≤ 6.
515. In each part, use the same number in each blank to make a true statement. Compare
the number you put in the blanks with the original expression. What do you notice?
(a) x2 + 10x + 25 = (x + )(x + ) = (x + )2
(b) x2 + 12x + 36 = (x + )(x + ) = (x + )2
(c) x2 + 14x + 49 = (x + )(x + ) = (x + )2
516. The figure shows a loading dock and a side view of an attached ramp, whose run is 12 feet
and whose rise is 39 inches. Alex is wondering whether
....
............. ...................................................................................................
.............
a long rectangular box can be stored underneath the .
...
...
..
.............
.............
....................
....................................................................................................
................................................................................
................................................................................ 39′′
...
..
.............
.............
ramp, as suggested by the dotted lines. The box is 2 ......................................
...
...
...
... . ...........................................................
....................................................................................................
................................................................................
.........
feet tall and 5 feet long. Answer Alex’s question. .. ..
...........
12′
.....
......
517. Solve the system {ax + ky = 1 , 2ax − ky = 8} for x and y in terms of a and k.
519. Lee spent c cents to buy five pears. In terms of c and d, how many pears could Lee
have bought with d dollars?
520. Find k so that the three equations 3x − y = 2, 2x + 8 = 3y, and y = kx have a common
solution.
521. In 2015 the world was consuming approximately 97 million barrels of oil per day. The
United States was consuming approximately 19 million barrels of oil per day.
(a) It is estimated that oil shale in the Green River basin of the Rocky Mountains holds
approximately 800 billion barrels of recoverable oil. At the 2015 rate of consumption, how
long would this supply the world with oil?
(b) Production of each barrel of oil from oil shale requires between 2 and 3 barrels of water.
How many barrels of water would be required annually to supply the United States from oil
shale?
524. Let n be a positive integer, and let R be the region defined by the simultaneous condi-
tions x − y < n, x + y < n, and x > 0. In terms of n, how many lattice points are contained
in R?
525. If Sandy spends a standard workday only sawing, then Sandy can saw three cords of
wood. Instead, if Sandy spends a standard workday only splitting, then Sandy can split five
cords of wood. In a standard workday, what is the largest number of cords of wood that
Sandy can both saw and split?
527. Jan had the same summer job for the years 1993 through 1996, earning $250 in 1993,
$325 in 1994, $400 in 1995, and $475 in 1996.
(a) Plot the four data points, using the horizontal axis for “year”. You should be able to
draw a line through the four points.
(b) What is the slope of this line? What does it represent?
(c) Which points on this line are meaningful in this context?
(d) Guess what Jan’s earnings were for 1992 and 1998, assuming the same summer job.
(e) Write an inequality that states that Jan’s earnings in 1998 were within 10% of the
amount you guessed.
528. Now that you have dealt with systems of two-variable equations, you
can apply the same principles to solve systems of three-variable equations. x + y + z = 2
For example, you can (temporarily) eliminate y in the system at right: x−y+ z =6
x + y − 3z = 0
Add the first two equations, and then add the second two equations. This
produces two new equations. Find x, y, and z to complete the solution.
9
529. Replace the triangles in x · x · x · x · x · x · x = x∆ and 64 = 6∇ by correct exponents.
x·x·x·x 6
530. Rewrite each of the following polynomials as a product of two factors. One of the factors
should be the greatest common monomial factor.
(a) 24x2 + 48x + 72 (b) πr2 + πre (c) 7m − 14m2 + 21m3
532. To make a little spending money, Taylor decided to sell special souvenir programs for
the Exeter-Andover wrestling match. The printing cost was $0.32 per program, and they
were priced at $0.50 each. Taylor sold all but 50 of the programs, and made a small profit
of $11. How many programs were printed?
533. Chet has at most 20 hours a week available to work during the summer, dividing that
time between making $3 an hour babysitting and $7 an hour working for a landscaping
company. Chet needs to accumulate at least $84 per week.
(a) Write a system of inequalities that describes the given conditions.
(b) What are the most hours Chet can work babysitting and still earn at least $84?
537. Find the equations of at least three lines that intersect each other at the point (6, −2).
538. Driving along Route 108 one day, a math teacher reached the railroad crossing in New-
market at exactly the same time as a long freight train. While waiting patiently for the
caboose to finally arrive and pass, the teacher decided to estimate the length of the train,
which seemed to be moving at about 10 miles per hour. Given that it was a five-minute
wait, how many feet did the teacher estimate the length of the train to be?
539. Find coordinates for the point of intersection of the lines px + y = 1 and 3px + 2y = 4.
You will have to express your answer in terms of p.
541. Pat and Kim are in the habit of taking a morning coffee break in Grill. Each of them
arrives at a random time between 9 am and 10 am, and stays for exactly ten minutes.
(a) If Kim arrives at Grill at 9:37 tomorrow, what arrival times for Pat allow the two to see
each other during their breaks?
(b) Suppose that Pat and Kim arrive at p minutes and k minutes after 9 am, respectively.
Find values for p and k that signify that one person is arriving just as the other is leaving.
(c) Shade those points (p, k) in the coordinate plane that signify that Pat and Kim see each
other at some time during their breaks.
543. Cameron bought some 39-cent, 24-cent, and 13-cent stamps at the Post Office. The 100
stamps cost $33.40, and there were twice as many 24-cent stamps in the sale as there were
13-cent stamps. How many stamps of each denomination did Cameron buy?
544. You are an editor for the Exonian and a student submitted an article that compares
the size of rooms in dorms that typically house girls to those that typically house boys. The
student calculated the median room size in Abbot and compared it to the median room size
in Langdell. The student concluded that, in general, the rooms in dorms that typically house
boys are larger than the rooms in dorms that typically house girls. What concerns do you,
the editor, have?
545. Given the equation 3x + y = 6, write a second equation that, together with the first,
will create a system of equations that
(a) has one solution;
(b) has an infinite number of solutions;
(c) has no solution;
(d) has the ordered pair (4, −6) as its only solution.
546. At noon, a team bus left Exeter for Deerfield. Soon thereafter, PEA’s first-line player
Brett Starr arrived at the gym. A loyal day-student parent volunteered to overtake the bus
and deliver Brett. The two left at 12:15 pm. The parent drove at 54 mph, while ahead of
them the ancient yellow bus poked along at 48 mph. Did the car catch the bus before it
reached Deerfield, which is 110 miles from Exeter? If so, where and when?
551. In 2015 the world was consuming approximately 97 million barrels of oil per day.
(a) At this rate of consumption, how long would the known world oil reserves of 1.653 × 1012
barrels last?
(b) Uganda discovered a large deposit of oil in the Lake Albert basin. It is estimated that
this deposit holds as many as 6 billion barrels of oil. In how much time would this amount
be consumed by worldwide demand?
552. According to the US Census Bureau in 2017, the population of the USA had a net gain
of 1 person every 13 seconds. How many additional people does that amount to in one year?
555. The distance from here to the beach at Little Boar’s Head is 10 miles. If you walked
there at 4 mph and returned jogging at 8 mph, how much time would the round trip take?
What would your overall average speed be?
556. The diagram at right shows a rectangle that has been cut
into eleven square pieces, no two being the same size. Given
that the smallest piece is 9 cm by 9 cm, figure out the sizes of
the other ten pieces. The original rectangle also looks like it
could be square. Is it?
558. It takes Morgan 8 hours to paint a fence in the backyard. Aubrey needs 12 hours to
do the same job. If they both start work at 9 in the morning, each at opposite ends of the
fence, at what time in the afternoon is the task complete?
559. Jess is running around a circular track, one lap every 40 seconds. Cameron is also
running at a constant speed around the same track, but in the opposite direction. They
meet every 15 seconds. How many seconds does it take Cameron to do one lap?
560. Ten cc of a solution of acid and water is 30% acid. I wish to dilute the acid in the
mixture by adding water to make a mixture that is only 6% acid. How much pure water
must I add to accomplish this?
562. What are the dimensions of a square that encloses the same area as a rectangle that is
two miles long and one mile wide? Answer to the nearest inch, please.
√
563. When I ask my calculator for a decimal value of 2, it displays 1.41421356237. What
is the meaning of this number? To check whether this square root is correct, what needs to
be done? Can the square root of 2 be expressed as a ratio of whole numbers — for example
as 17 ? Before you say “impossible”, consider the ratio 665857 .
12 470832
564. What happens if you try to find an intersection point for the linear graphs 3x − 2y = 10
and 3x − 2y = −6? What does this mean?
565. A jeweler has 10 ounces of an alloy that is 50% gold. How much more pure gold does
the jeweler need to add to this alloy, to increase the percentage of gold to 60%?
566. Billy takes 3 hours to do a job that takes Kim 4 hours. One day they started out
working on the job together, but Kim left after 1 1 hours. How long did it take Billy to finish
4
the job?
567. When an object falls, it gains speed. Thus the number of feet, d, the object has fallen
is not linearly related to the number of seconds, t, spent falling. In fact, for objects falling
near the surface of the Earth, with negligible resistance from the air, d = 16t2 . How many
seconds would it take for a cannonball to reach the ground if it were dropped from the top of
the Eiffel Tower, which is 984 feet tall? How many seconds would it take for the cannonball
to reach the ground if it were dropped from a point that is halfway to the top?
568. The Exeter Bookcase Company makes two types of bookcase, pine and oak. The EBC
produces at least 30 but no more than 45 bookcases each week. They always build more pine
bookcases than oak and they make at least five oak bookcases per week. Let x and y denote
the weekly production of oak bookcases and pine bookcases, respectively, and write a system
of inequalities that models this situation. Graph the inequalities and shade the feasible
region. Given that x and y are discrete variables, are all the shaded points meaningful?
569. (Continuation) Because oak is heavier than pine, the costs of packing and shipping are
$25 for an oak bookcase and only $15 for a pine bookcase.
(a) What combination of bookcases will cost a total of $700 to pack and ship?
(b) Can the packing and shipping costs be reduced to $450?
(c) What combination of bookcases will make the packing and shipping costs as small as
possible?
572. In 2005, the PEA administration considered relaxing the rules about boarders riding
in the cars of day students. All the parents of day students were invited to campus for an
evening meeting, at which they were given the opportunity to express their opinions. Fifty-
eight parents attended the meeting. They were all opposed to the administration’s proposal.
An administrator announced at the next faculty meeting that the parents of day students
were strongly opposed to the proposed rule change and hence the proposal was dropped. Is
the announcement to the faculty an appropriate conclusion to draw from the meeting?
7 3 12
573. What is the value of 57 ? Of 83 ? Of c12 ? What is the value of any number divided by
5 8 c
7
itself? If you apply the common-base rule dealing with exponents and division, 57 should
5
12
equal 5 raised to what power? and c12 should equal c raised to what power? It therefore
c
makes sense to define c0 to be what?
√
574. If 2 can be expressed as a ratio r of two whole numbers, then this fraction can be
p
put in lowest terms. Assume that this √ has been done.
(a) Square both sides of the equation 2 = r .
p
(b) Multiply both sides of the new equation by p2 . The resulting equation tells you that r
must be an even number. Explain.
(c) Because r is even, its square is divisible by 4. Explain.
(d) It follows that p2 is even, hence so is p. Explain.
(e) Thus both r and p are even. Explain why this is a contradictory situation.
A number
√ expressible as a ratio of whole numbers is called rational . All other numbers, such
as 2 , are called irrational .
576. One morning, Ryan remembered lending a friend a bicycle. After breakfast, Ryan
walked over to the friend’s house at 3 miles per hour, and rode the bike back home at 7 miles
per hour, using the same route both ways. The round trip took 1.75 hours. What distance
did Ryan walk?
578. Complete the table at right. Graph by hand both y = |x| and x |x| x2
y = x2 , on the same system of axes. Compare your graphs with −3
those produced by a graphing tool. In what respects are the two −2
graphs similar? In what respects do the two graphs differ? −1
579. Taylor starts a trip to the mall with $160 cash. After 20% of −1/2
it is spent, seven-eighths of the remainder is lost to a pickpocket. 0
This leaves Taylor with how much money? 1/2
1
580. A worker accidentally drops a hammer from the scaffolding of 2
a tall building. The worker is 300 feet above the ground. As you 3
answer the following, recall that an object falls 16t2 feet in t seconds
(assuming negligible air resistance).
(a) How far above the ground is the hammer after falling for one second? for two seconds?
Write a formula that expresses the height h of the hammer after it has fallen for t seconds.
(b) How many seconds does it take the hammer to reach the ground? How many seconds
does it take for the hammer to fall until it is 100 feet above the ground?
(c) By plotting some data points and connecting the dots, sketch a graph of h versus t.
Notice that your graph is not a picture of the path followed by the falling hammer.
√
581. Pat and Kim are having an interesting algebra debate. Pat is quite sure that x2 is
equivalent to x, but Kim thinks otherwise. How would you resolve this?
583. A box with a square base and rectangular sides is to be 2 feet and 6 inches high, and
to contain 25.6 cubic feet. What is the length of one edge of the square base?
584. Equations such as A = 40x − x2 and h = 300 − 16t2 define quadratic functions. The
word function means that assigning a value to one of the variables (x or t) determines a
unique value for the other (A or h). It is customary to say that “A is a function of x.” In
this example, however, it would be incorrect to say that “x is a function of A.” Explain.
585. The graph of a quadratic function is called a parabola. This shape is common to all
graphs of equations of the form y = ax2 + bx + c, where a is nonzero. Confirm this by
comparing the graph of y = x2 , the graph of y = 40x − x2 and the graph of y = 300 − 16x2 .
How are the three graphs alike, and how are they different? Find numbers xmin , xmax , ymin ,
and ymax , so that the significant features of all three graphs fit in the window described by
xmin ≤ x ≤ xmax and ymin ≤ y ≤ ymax .
586. Water pressure varies linearly with the depth of submersion. The pressure at the surface
is 14.7 pounds per square inch. Given that a diver experiences approximately 58.8 pounds
per square inch of pressure at a depth of 100 feet, what pressure will a submarine encounter
when it is one mile below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean?
588. From the tombstone of Diophantus, a famous Greek mathematician: “God granted
him to be a boy for a sixth part of his life, and, adding a twelfth part to this, He clothed
his cheeks with down. He lit him the light of wedlock after a seventh part, and five years
after this marriage He granted him a son. Alas! late-born wretched child — after attaining
the measure of half his father’s life, chill Fate took him. After consoling his grief by his
science of numbers for four more years, then did Diophantus end his life.” Calculate how old
Diophantus lived to be.
593. The manager of the Stratham Flower Shop is ordering potted lilies and tulips from a
local wholesaler. Per pot, the lilies cost $3 and the tulips cost $2. Storage space at the shop
requires that the order be no more than 120 pots total. The manager knows from previous
experience that at least 30 of each type are needed, and that the number of lilies, L, should
be at most two thirds of the number of tulips, T .
(a) Sketch the feasible region that satisfies the above conditions. Put “lilies” on the vertical
axis, and “tulips” on the horizontal axis.
(b) The manager sells lilies for $5 a pot, and tulips for $3.50 a pot. Calculate the profit
earned at each corner of the feasible region.
597. A car traveling at 60 miles per hour is covering how many feet in one second? A football
field is 100 yards long. At 60 mph, how many seconds does it take to cover this distance?
State your answer to the nearest tenth of a second.
√ √
599. (Continuation) Suggest a rule for multiplying numbers in the form a · b. Extend
√ √
your rule to problems in the form of p a q b . Use your rule to simplify the following:
√ √ √ √ √ √
(a) 3 · 15 (b) 12 · 7 (c) 4 8 5 7
√ √ √ √
600. (Continuation) Use what you have just seen to explain why 20 = 4 · 5 = 2 5.
Rewrite the following square roots in the same way — as the product of a whole number
and a square root of an integer that has no perfect square factors. The resulting expression
is said√to be in simplest radical
√ form. √ √
(a) 50 (b) 108 (c) 125 (d) 128
601. Taylor has enough money to buy either 90 granola bars or 78 pop-tarts. After returning
from the store, Taylor has no money, 75 granola bars, and p pop-tarts. Assuming that Taylor
has not yet eaten anything, figure out what p is.
602. Avery and Sasha were comparing parabola graphs on their calculators. Avery had
drawn y = 0.001x2 in the window −1000 ≤ x ≤ 1000 and 0 ≤ y ≤ 1000, and Sasha had
drawn y = x2 in the window −k ≤ x ≤ k and 0 ≤ y ≤ k. Except for scale markings on the
axes, the graphs looked exactly the same! What was the value of k?
603. At Sam’s Warehouse, a member pays $25 a year for membership, and buys at the regular
store prices. A non-member does not pay the membership fee, but does pay an additional 5%
above the store prices. Under what conditions would it make sense to buy a membership?
605. Soccer Math II . Curious about its effect on the kick, y ...................................................................
.................
............
............
.........•
..........
.........
........
Goalkeeper Taylor decides to kick the ball down the field ...................
...
.. ........
.......
.......
......
.......... ...... ......
from the top of a small hill overlooking the field, and ..... . ..... x
.
10 feet above it. Taylor makes another fine kick. Explain why the quadratic function
y = 10 + 0.4x − 0.002x2 describes the parabolic trajectory, shown in the figure above. Why
would you expect this kick to go more than 200 feet? Estimate the length of this kick, then
using a graphing tool, find a more accurate value. How does this trajectory relate to the
trajectory in #592?
606. Graph the equations on the same system of axes: y = x2 , y = 0.5x2 , y = 2x2 , and
y = −x2 . What is the effect of a in equations of the form y = ax2 ?
one edge of the cube? Round your answer to three decimal places.
609. On a recent drive from Exeter to New York City, Taylor maintained an average speed
of 50 mph for the first four hours, but could only average 30 mph for the final hour, because
of road construction. What was Taylor’s average speed for the whole trip? What would the
average have been if Taylor had traveled h hours at 30 mph and 4h hours at 50 mph?
610. What is the average speed for a trip that consists of m miles at 30 mph followed by 4m
miles at 50 mph?
615. For the point (4, 24) to be on the graph of y = ax2 , what should the value of a be?
..
........ .......................
....... ............
........ ............
...........
. ...........................................
........
616. Una rolled a standard six-sided die. What is the probability that ..................
... ..............
...
.
........... .. . . .
... ........... ...
. . ....... ....
....... ..
.
.. . ........... ...... .
... .
... .......... ............................. ....
Una rolled a four? ... ..............................
... ....................
...
...........
...
...
... ..
...
... .... .
........
. ........ ...
... .. ....................... ...
... .... ....
... .. .
... ......... ..
617. When asked to solve the equation (x − 3)2 = 11, Jess said, “That’s ...
...
.........
.........
...
.................................... .... .........................
........................ .. ........ ..........
......
.....
.........
......... ... ......
.
......... .... ..........
easy — just take the square root of both sides.” Perhaps Jess also ...............
remembered that there are two numbers whose squares are 11, one positive and the other
negative. What are the two values for x, in exact form? (In this situation, “exact” means
no decimals.)
618. (Continuation) When asked to solve the equation x2 − 6x = 2, Deniz said, “Hmm . . .
not so easy, but I think that adding something to both sides of the equation is the thing to
do.” This is indeed a good idea, but what number should Deniz add to both sides? How is
this equation related to the previous one?
619. Some coffee roasters mix beans with different flavor profiles to customize their product.
Selling prices are adjusted appropriately. For example, suppose that a roaster mixed some
coffee worth $6.49 a pound with some coffee worth $10.89 a pound, thus obtaining 100
pounds of a mixture worth $9.24 a pound. How many pounds of each type of bean was used
for this mixture?
620. Suppose that m and n stand for positive numbers, with n < m. Which of the following
expressions has the largest value? Which one has the smallest value?
(a) m + 1 (b) m + 1 (c) m (d) m (e) m
n+1 n n n+2 n+1
1
621. At the present time, Toby is 60 inches tall and growing at a rate of 2 inches per year.
3
1
Bailey is 63 inches tall and growing at a rate of inches per year. Assuming both rates
3
remain constant, how many years will it take Toby to catch up to Bailey?
623. Solving a quadratic equation by rewriting the left side as a perfect-square trinomial
is called solving by completing the square. Use this method to solve each of the following
equations. Leave your answers in exact form.
(a) x2 − 8x = 3 (b) x2 + 10x = 11 (c) x2 − 5x − 2 = 0 (d) x2 + 1.2x = 0.28
626. The speed of sound in air is 1100 feet per second. The speed of sound in steel is 16 500
feet per second. Robin, one ear pressed against the railroad track, hears a sound through
the rail six seconds before hearing the same sound through the air. To the nearest foot, how
far away is the source of that sound?
628. In your notebook, use one set of coordinate axes to graph the three curves y = x2 − x,
y = x2 + 2x, and y = x2 − 4x. Make three observations about graphs of the form y = x2 + bx,
where b is a nonzero number.
631. (Continuation) Would the answers to the previous questions be the same if Una rolls a
single die twice rather than two dice simultaneously?
634. (Continuation) Carry out the same calculations, but replace y = x2 by a quadratic
function of your own choosing. Is the new table of differences linear?
a
635. Write (2a)2 without parentheses. Is (2a)2 larger than, smaller
a
than, or the same as 2a2 ? Make reference to the diagram at right
in writing your answer. Draw a similar diagram to illustrate the 2a
non-equivalence of (3a)2 and 3a2 . a
2a a
636. Solve each of the following quadratic equations by hand:
(a) (x + 4)2 = 23 (b) 7x2 − 22x = 0 (c) x2 + 4x = 21 (d) 1415 − 16x2 = 0
637. The cost of a ham-and-bean supper at a local church was $6 for adults and $4 for
children. At the end of the evening, the organizers of the supper found they had taken in a
total of $452 and that 86 people had attended. How many of these people were adults?
638. A hose used by the fire department shoots water out in a parabolic arc. Let x be the
horizontal distance from the hose’s nozzle, and y be the corresponding height of the stream
of water, both in feet. The quadratic function is y = −0.016x2 + 0.5x + 4.5.
(a) What is the significance of the 4.5 that appears in the equation?
(b) Use a graphing tool to graph this function and find the stream’s greatest height.
(c) What is the horizontal distance from the nozzle to where the stream hits the ground?
(d) Will the stream go over a 6-foot high fence that is located 28 feet from the nozzle?
Explain your reasoning.
x+4
....................................................................................................................................................................................
639. In the diagram, the dimensions of a piece of carpeting ................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................
have been marked in terms of x. All lines meet at right 2 ................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................
angles. Express the area and the perimeter of the carpeting x+3 ............................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
in terms of x. x ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
640. Kirby is four miles from the train station, from which a train is due to leave in 56
minutes. Kirby is walking along at 3 mph, and could run at 12 mph if it were necessary. If
Kirby wants to be on that train, it will be necessary to do some running! How many miles
of running?
642. If n stands for a perfect square, what formula stands for the next perfect square?
643. Val hikes up a mountain trail at 2 mph. Because Val hikes at 4 mph downhill, the trip
down the mountain takes 30 minutes less time than the trip up, even though the downward
trail is three miles longer. How many miles did Val hike in all?
√
644. Graph by hand the curves x = y 2 and y = x and explain how they are related.
Remember, plotting points is helpful when graphing something unfamiliar.
645. Express the areas of the following large rectangles in two ways. First, find the area of
each small rectangle and add the expressions. Second, multiply the total length by the total
width.
(a) (b) x 7 (c) m 15
6 12 4
3x m
5
2
646. The height h (in feet) above the ground of a baseball depends upon the time t (in
seconds) it has been in flight. Cameron takes a mighty swing and hits a bloop single whose
height is described approximately by the equation h = 80t − 16t2 . Make a large, clear
diagram and answer the following questions.
(a) How long is the ball in the air?
(b) The ball reaches its maximum height after how many seconds of flight?
(c) What is the maximum height?
(d) It takes approximately 0.92 seconds for the ball to reach a height of 60 feet. On its
way back down, the ball is again 60 feet above the ground; what is the value of t when this
happens?
648. In the shot-put competition at the Exeter-Andover track meet, the trajectory of Blair’s
best put is given by the function h = −0.0186x2 +x+5, where x is the horizontal distance the
shot travels, and h is the corresponding height of the shot above the ground, both measured
in feet. Using a graphing tool, graph the function and find how far the shot went. What
was the greatest height obtained? In the given context, what is the meaning of the “5” in
the equation?
650. Una rolls two dice simultaneously and calculates their sum. What is the probability
that the sum is odd?
√
651. Simplify |3 − 5 | + 4 by√hand, writing an equivalent expression without absolute-value
signs. Do the same for |3 − 10 | + 4. Does a calculator give the same result?
654. Given P = (1, 4), Q = (4, 5), and R = (10, 7), decide whether or not P QR is a straight
line, and give your reasons.
658. By hand, graph each pair of equations on the same system of axes. Describe in words
how the graphs
√ in each√pair are related. Do they intersect? √ √
(a) y = x and y = x − 3 (b) y = x and y = x − 3
Frequency
150
sympatric cogeneric species of birds, Evo-
100
lution, vol. 19 pp. 189-213.], biologists
measured the bills of birds from various 50
660. The hands of a clock point in the same direction at noon, and also at midnight. As-
suming each hand moves at a constant speed, how many times between noon and midnight
does this happen?
661. (Continuation) When does this first happen? When is the last time this happens?
663. Given the equation h = pea + pa, solve the formula for: (a) e (b) a
665. (Continuation) Show that x2 − 2px − 8p2 can be written in factored form.
666. Find the equation of the axis of symmetry for the graph of y = 2x2 − 6x. By hand,
graph this equation, including the axis of symmetry. What are the coordinates of the vertex
of the graph?
667. (Continuation) By hand, graph y = 2x2 − 6x − 3 along with its axis of symmetry. Find
the coordinates of the vertex of this parabola. How do these coordinates compare with those
of the vertex of y = 2x2 − 6x? Find an equation for the graph of a quadratic curve that has
the same axis of symmetry as y = 2x2 − 6x, but whose vertex is at (1.5, −2.5).
meaning?
(e) Graph the line y = 2752. Find the coordinates of the points of intersection with this
line and your graph. Explain what the coordinates mean with relation to the garden.
(f ) Gerry would like to enclose the largest possible area with this fencing. What dimensions
for the garden accomplish this? What is the largest possible area?
670. A Japanese restaurant has a lunch special where customers can pick any two maki rolls
from the five options: kappa, avocado, oshinko, nattō, and tomago.
(a) If Jo wants two different types of rolls, how many lunch choices are possible?
(b) If Jo is willing to have two different or two of the same type of rolls, how many lunch
choices are possible?
60
Frequency
672. Graph y = (x − 4)2 and y = 9. What are the coordinates of the point(s) of intersection?
Now solve the equation (x − 4)2 = 9 by hand. Describe the connection between the points
of intersection on the graph and the solution(s) to the equation.
√
673. By hand, graph y =√3 x and y = x + 2, and then find their points of intersection.
Now solve the equation 3 x = x + 2 by first squaring both sides of the equation. Do your
answers agree with those obtained from the graph?
674. Solve x2 + bx + c = 0 by the method of completing the square. Apply your answer to
the example x2 + 5x + 6 = 0 by setting b = 5 and c = 6.
676. By hand, graph y = x2 + 3 and y = |x| + 3 on the same set of axes in your notebook.
List three ways that the two graphs are alike and three ways in which they differ. Be sure
your graph is large enough to clearly show these differences. On another axis, sketch by
hand the graph of y = 2(x − 3)2 and y = 2|x − 3|. Also be prepared to explain how these
two graphs compare.
677. The data in the table shown was collected from Hill House
dormitory during a flu epidemic. If one student is chosen at blood group
random, what is the probability of selecting someone A O B AB
(a) with blood group A or B? healthy 7 20 3 9
(b) who is healthy and with blood group O? ill 3 10 2 6
(c) who is healthy with either blood group O or AB?
678. Eighteen-carat gold contains 18 parts by weight of gold and 6 parts of other metals.
(Twenty-four-carat gold is pure.) Fourteen-carat gold contains 14 parts of gold and 10 parts
of other metals. How many ounces of fourteen-carat gold need to be mixed with 12 ounces
of eighteen-carat gold to make seventeen-carat gold?
..
679. When asked to find the equation of the parabola pictured ..
..
..
..
...
..
..
..
.
.
... ...
at right, Ryan looked at the x-intercepts and knew that the ...
... ..
...
... ..
.
.
answer had to look like y = a(x + 1)(x − 4), for some coefficient ...
...
...
...
...
...
...
... ...
a. Justify Ryan’s reasoning, then finish the solution by finding ...
...
..
..
..
..
.
.
...
.. ..
the correct value of a. ..
..
..
..
...
..
..
... ..
..
... ..
.
... ..
.. ..
680. (Continuation) Find an equation for the parabola, in fac- ..
..
..
... ...
..
..
... ...
tored form, y = a(x − p)(x − q), whose symmetry axis is parallel ...
...
... ....
...
...
.... ..
....
to the y-axis, whose x-intercepts are −2 and 3, and whose y- ....
.....
....... .....
.......
.....................•
681. There are many quadratic functions whose graphs intersect the x-axis at both (0, 0) and
(6, 0). Sketch graphs for a few of them, including the one that goes through (3, 9). Other
than their axis of symmetry, what do all these graphs have in common? How do the graphs
differ?
684. Completing the square. Confirm that the equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 can be converted
into the form x2 + b x = − c . Describe the steps. To achieve the goal suggested by the title,
a a
what should now be added to both sides of this equation?
2 2
685. (Continuation) Working with the equation x2 + b x + b 2 = b 2 − c ,
a 4a 4a a
(a) show how the left side of the equation can be factored as a perfect square trinomial, and
(b) show how the right side of the equation can be combined over a common denominator.
(c) Now take the square root of both sides of this most recent equation and solve for x. The
expression for x is called the quadratic formula.
(d) Apply your formula to solve 3x2 + 2x − 1 = 0 by letting a = 3, b = 2, and c = −1.
686. As long as the coefficients a and b are nonzero, the parabolic graph y = ax2 + bx has
two x-intercepts. What are they? Use them to find the axis of symmetry for this parabola.
Explain why the axis of symmetry for y = 2x2 − 5x − 12 is the same as the axis of symmetry
for y = 2x2 − 5x. In general, what is the symmetry axis for y = ax2 + bx + c? Does your
description make sense for y = 2x2 − 5x + 7, even though the curve has no x-intercepts?
687. (Continuation). If you know the axis of symmetry for a quadratic function, how do you
find the coordinates of the vertex? Try your method on each of the following, by first finding
the symmetry axis, then the coordinates of the vertex.
(a) y = x2 + 2x − 3 (b) y = 3x2 + 4x + 5
√
688. By hand, graph√y = 2 x and y = x − 3, and then find all points of intersection. Now
solve the equation 2 x = x − 3 by first squaring both sides of the equation. Do your answers
agree with those obtained from the graph?
.
.. ....
....
.. ....
2 2 ... ....
689. Graph vertex form equations y = (x−5) , y = (x − 5) − 4, .
..
...
..
....
....
.. ......
.. ....
and y = (x−5)2 +2. Write the coordinates of the vertex for each .
..
.
..
.. ......
.
..
.
.....
....
693. Tyche opens a drawer and finds two different pairs of pants and five different shirts, all
within dress code, of course. How many outfits can Tyche wear to class?
694. The driver of a red sports car, moving at r feet per second, sees a pedestrian step out
into the road. Let d be the number of feet that the car travels, from the moment when
the driver sees the danger until the car has been brought to a complete stop. The equation
d = 0.75r + 0.03r2 models the typical panic-stop relation between stopping distance and
speed. It is based on data gathered in actual physical simulations. Use it for the following:
(a) Moving the foot from the accelerator pedal to the brake pedal takes a typical driver three
fourths of a second. What does the term 0.75r represent in the stopping-distance equation?
The term 0.03r2 comes from physics; what must it represent?
(b) How much distance is needed to bring a car from 30 miles per hour (which is equivalent
to 44 feet per second) to a complete stop?
(c) How much distance is needed to bring a car from 60 miles per hour to a complete stop?
(d) Is it true that doubling the speed of the car doubles the distance needed to stop it?
695. (Continuation) At the scene of a crash, an officer observed that a car had hit a wall 150
feet after the brakes were applied. The driver insisted that the speed limit of 45 mph had
not been broken. What do you think of this evidence?
♡
♡
♡ ♡
♡ ♡
♡ ♡ ♡
♡ ♡ ♡
♡ ♡ ♡ ♡
?
(a) In your notebook, continue the pattern by drawing the next triangular array.
(b) Let x equal the number of hearts along one edge of a triangle, and let y equal the
corresponding number of hearts in the whole triangle. Make a table of values that illustrates
the relationship between x and y for 1 ≤ x ≤ 6. What value of y should be associated with
x = 0?
(c) Is the relationship between x and y linear? Explain. Is the relationship quadratic?
Explain.
(d) Is y a function of x? Explain.
(e) The numbers 1, 3, 6, 10, . . . are called triangular numbers. Why? Find an equation for
the triangular number relationship. Check it by replacing x with 6. Do you get the same
number as there are hearts in the 6th triangle?
√
697. Consider the equations y = x + 1 − 1 and y = 1 x + 1 .
6 2
(a) Graph the curves on the same coordinate axes.
√
(b) Use your algebra skills to solve the equation x + 1 − 1 = 1 x + 1 .
6 2
(c) Illustrate the solution(s) on your graph.
698. If a hen and a half can lay an egg and a half in a day and a half, then how much time
is needed for three hens to lay three eggs?
700. The equation y = 50x − 0.5x2 describes the trajectory of a toy rocket, in which x is the
number of feet the rocket moves horizontally from the launch, and y is the corresponding
number of feet from the rocket to the ground. The rocket has a sensor that causes a parachute
to be deployed when activated by a laser beam, located at the origin.
(a) If the laser is aimed along the line y = 20x, at what altitude will the parachute open?
(b) At what slope could the laser be aimed to make the parachute open at 1050 feet?
702. Sketch the graphs of y = (x − 4)2 and y = (4 − x)2 . What do you notice about the
graphs? Explain why this is true.
703. Pat walks to Kim’s house on a route that is 3 miles long. Pat jogs home on a route
that is 5 miles long, at a speed that is 4 miles per hour faster than it is when walking. The
total time for the roundtrip is an hour and 45 minutes. Find Pat’s walking speed in miles
per hour.
704. Jess bought a can of paint, whose label stated that the contents of the can were sufficient
to cover 150 square feet. The surface that Jess wants to paint is a square, each edge of which
is n inches long. Given that n is a whole number, how large can it be?
705. During the swimming of a 50-yard sprint in a 25-yard pool, the racers swim away from
the starting line and then return to it. Suppose that Alex, who always swims at a steady
rate, takes 32 seconds to complete the race. Let y stand for the distance from Alex to the
starting line when the race is t seconds old. Make a chart of values for t and y. Use it to
graph y versus t, and write an equation for this graph.
707. By hand, graph the nonlinear equation y = 9 − x2 , identifying all the axis intercepts.
On the same system of coordinate axes, graph the line y = 3x − 5, and identify its axis inter-
cepts. You should see two points where the line intersects the parabola. First estimate their
coordinates, then calculate the coordinates exactly by solving the system of simultaneous
equations. Which methods of solution work best in this example?
708. The foreign language data for a middle school is compiled into the following chart.
Students may choose one of three languages, or none Language
at all. A student is chosen at random. What is the Spanish French German None
probability of selecting someone 7th 25 15 10 10
(a) that takes Spanish or French? 8th
30 25 10 5
(b) that is an 8th grader who takes German?
(c) that is a 7th grader who does not take Spanish?
710. The diagram at the right suggests an easy way of making a box
with no top. Start with a square piece of cardboard, cut squares of
equal sizes from the four corners, and then fold up the sides. Here is
the problem: To produce a box that is 8 cm deep and whose capacity
is exactly one liter (1000 cc). How large a square must you start with
(to the nearest mm)?
712. The three equations y = 2(x − 4) − 1, y = 2|x − 4| − 1, and y = 2(x − 4)2 − 1 are written
in a similar form. Predict what the graph of each will look like, and then sketch them by
hand by plotting a few key points. In each case, think about how the form of the equation
can help provide information.
713. Make a sketch of the parabola y = (x − 50)2 − 100, by finding the x-intercepts, the
y-intercept, and the coordinates of the vertex. Label all four points with their coordinates
on your graph.
714. A coin is repeatedly flipped. What is the probability that the results are all heads
assuming that it is flipped: (a) twice, (b) three times, (c) ten times?
715. Casey and Avery were asked to factor the following trinomials:
(a) x2 + 3x + 2 (b) x2 + 3x − 1, and (c) x2 + 3x + 4
Casey responded that only (a) was factorable, but Avery thought they were all factorable.
Who do you think is correct and why?
717. Put each of the equations into vertex form, y = a(x−h)2 +k. Then, graph the quadratic
functions by hand.
(a) y = x2 + 6x − 7 (b) y = −x2 + 8x − 10 (c) y = 2x2 + 4x − 5
718. Create sliders in Desmos for a, h, and k to explore the graph of x = a(y − k)2 + h.
Summarize your conclusions about the role that a, h, and k play.
719. The graph of a quadratic function intersects the x-axis at 0 and at 8. Draw two parabolas
that fit this description and find equations for them. How many examples are possible?
720. Find an equation for the parabola whose x-intercepts are 0 and 8, whose axis of sym-
metry is parallel to the y-axis, and whose vertex is at
(a) (4, −16) (b) (4, −8) (c) (4, −4) (d) (4, 16)
721. Find the value for c that forces the graph of 3x + 4y = c to go through (2, −3).
724. (Continuation) In the previous problem, expressing a polynomial in factored form made
it relatively easy to graph the polynomial function. Here we explore the process in reverse;
that is, try using the graph of a polynomial function to factor the polynomial. In particular,
use a graphing tool to draw y = x3 − 3x2 − x + 3 and from that graph deduce the factored
form.
(b) (e)
(c) (f )
726. By using square roots, express the solutions to (x − 5)2 − 7 = 0 exactly (no decimals).
727. Find the x-intercepts of the following graphs, without expanding the squared binomial
that appears in each:
(a) y = (x − 4)2 − 9 (b) y = −2(x + 3)2 + 8
Check your work by sketching each parabola, incorporating the vertex and x-intercepts.
733. (Continuation) Find at least three integers that, when put in the blank space, make the
expression x2 + 4x − a factorable trinomial. Are there other examples? How many?
What do all these integers have in common?
735. Jessie walks a certain distance to a friend’s house at 4 miles per hour and returns by
bicycle on a route that is 8 miles longer. Jessie bikes at an average rate of 12 miles per hour.
If the total time for the round trip is 90 minutes, what is the exact distance Jessie walked?
736. Refer to the histogram of the distances that preps live from Exeter in problem #629
and the histogram of the life expectancies in problem #671. The box plots below depict the
same data set as the histograms. Which box plots reflect which data sets? What information
about the data can you get from the box plots? How do the box plots relate to the shape of
the histograms?
738. (Continuation) Repeat the entire process, starting with a point near the upper left
corner, and use the instructions “20 squares to the right and 21 squares down.” You should
find that the numbers in this problem again fit the equation a2 +b2 = c2 . These are instances
of the Pythagorean Theorem, which is a statement about right-angled triangles. Write a clear
statement of this useful result. You will need to refer to the longest side of a right triangle,
which is called the hypotenuse.
740. The product of two polynomials is also a polynomial. Explain. When a polynomial of
degree 3 is multiplied by a polynomial of degree 2, what is the degree of the result?
742. (Continuation) Add the the line x − 2y = −3 to your graph. Use your algebra skills to
find the intersection of the parabola and the line.
745. Find an equation for the parabola whose symmetry axis is parallel to the y-axis, whose
vertex is (−1, 4), and whose graph contains the point (1, 3).
746. Starting at school, you and a friend ride your bikes in different directions — you ride
4 blocks north and your friend rides 3 blocks west. At the end of this adventure, how far
apart are you and your friend?
747. From the library, you ride your bike east at a rate of 10 mph for half an hour while your
friend rides south at a rate of 15 mph for 20 minutes. How far apart are you? How is this
problem similar to the preceding problem? How do the problems differ?
750. Imagine a circle of rope, which has twelve evenly spaced knots tied in it. Suppose that
this rope has been pulled into a taut, triangular shape, with stakes anchoring the rope at
knots numbered 1, 4, and 8. Make a conjecture about the angles of the triangle.
753. Simplify:
(a) i6 (b) i7 (c) i8 (d) i9
754. In baseball, the infield is a square that is 90 feet on a side, with 2nd
...
..... .....
bases located at three of the corners, and home plate at the fourth. ...
..................
..... .. ........
..... .....
... .....
..... .....
If the catcher at home plate can throw a baseball at 70 mph, how .
...........
..... .....
.....
.....
..
.. .....
... .....
many seconds does it take for the thrown ball to travel from home 3rd .
.
.
........
.
....... .....
... .....
...
......... .......
.
1st
...... .....
plate to 2nd base? .....
.....
.....
.....
..... .......
.....
...
..... .
..
..... ....
..... .....
..... ..... 90
..... ....
..... ... ........
755. Graph the equation y = (x − 5)2 − 7 by hand by plotting its ........ .........
..... .....
...
home
vertex and its x-intercepts (just estimate their positions between
two consecutive integers). Then use a graphing tool to draw the
parabola. Repeat the process on y = −2(x + 6)2 + 10.
757. (Continuation) The expression within the quadratic formula, b2 − 4ac, is called the
discriminant. Explain how the discriminant can be used to determine the number of x-
intercepts of a quadratic function.
758. While flying a kite at the beach, you notice that you are 100
...............
.. .............
yards from the kite’s shadow, which is directly beneath the kite. .
.
........................ ....
..... ...................
.. ....
.....
You also know that you have let out 150 yards of string. How .....
....
.....
.......
.
.....
high is the kite? .....
.....
.....
.
..
.....
.
.....
....
.....
.....
....
759. The sides of Fran’s square are 5 cm longer than the sides of .
.....
.....
.
..
.
....
.....
Tate’s square. Fran’s square has 225 sq cm more area. What is .
....
.....
......
.
.....
.....
the area of Tate’s square? .
.....
.
..
......
.....
•
762. In the figure at right, BAD is a right angle, and C is the midpoint D ............
of segment AB. Given the dimensions marked in the figure, find the ......
......
... ...
... ...
length of CD. ... ....
... ...
... ...
... ...
... ...
... ...
... ....
763. Graph the three points (−2, 1), (3, 1), and (0, 7). There is a ... ...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
quadratic function whose graph passes through these three points. ...
...
...
...
...
24 ...
...
26 ...
...
Sketch the graph. Find its equation in two ways: First, begin with ...
...
...
...
...
...
...
the equation y = ax2 + bx + c and use the three points to find the ...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
... ...
values of a, b, and c. (One of these values is essentially given to you.) ...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Second, begin with the equation y = a(x − h)2 + k and use the three
...
... ...
... ...
... ...
... ...
...
points to determine a, h, and k. (One of these values is almost given ...
. ..
A C B
to you.) Your two equations do not look alike, but they should be
equivalent. Check that they are.
764. Is it possible for a rectangle to have a perimeter of 100 feet and an area of 100 square
feet? Justify your response.
771. Avery traveled to a friend’s house and returned home. The outbound route was 4 miles
long and the return route was 5 miles long. If Avery traveled 2 miles per hour faster on the
return trip and the entire round trip took exactly 1 hour, what was Avery’s speed on the
outbound route?
772. The period of a pendulum is the time T it takes for it to swing back and forth once.
This time (measured in seconds) can be expressed√ as a function of the pendulum length L,
1
measured in feet, by the physics formula T = 4 π 2L.
(a) To the nearest tenth of a second, what is the period for a 2-foot pendulum?
(b) To the nearest inch, how long is a pendulum whose period is 2.26 seconds?
773. A football field is a rectangle, 300 feet long (from goal to goal) and 160 feet wide (from
sideline to sideline). To the nearest foot, how far is it from one corner of the field (on one of
the goal lines) to the furthest corner of the field (on the other goal line)?
(c) Suppose the width is x feet. Express the length and the enclosed area in terms of x.
775. (Continuation) Let y stand for the area of the corral that corresponds to width x. Notice
that y is a quadratic function of x. Sketch a graph of y versus x. For what values of x does
this graph make sense? For what value of x does y attain its largest value? What are the
dimensions of the corresponding corral?
777. Simplify:
(a) i12 (b) i22 (c) i400
778. Rory is taking a standardized test and does not know the answer to two of the questions.
One question is multiple choice with five options and the other is true/false. What is the
probability that Rory correctly guesses the answers to (a) both questions? (b) neither
question? (c) one question?
779. Which of the following screens could be displaying the graph of y = x2 −2x? To support
your answer, explain what portion of the x-axis and y-axis are shown?
... ............ .. ....
.... ....
....
.... .... .. ............ ..
.. ..
(a) ..
..
..
...
..
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..
(b) ........ ..
...
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(c) (d) ..
..
..
... .
..
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..
. ... .. ............. ... .
...
...
..
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..
. ... ... .. ...
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.... ... .. ... .... .. .. ..... .. ..
.... ... ...........
.
....
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.
.. ... ....... ... .. ............
.
..... .
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. .
...
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.
. .. ... ...
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..... .... . .. ... ..
....... ..... . .. ..... ......
.
..................... .
.. ... ...
.
. ...
.... ..
.
780. Refer to the diagram at right and find the value of x for which C.................
.........
... x
triangle ABC has a right angle at C. ...
...
.........
.........
.........
.........
..
. .........
.. .........
. ...
..
..
.
..
. .....
.
.....
..... B
.
781. The mathematician Augustus de Morgan enjoyed telling his 2x − 1 ...
..
.
.
.
.....
.....
.
...
.
....
.
... .....
friends that he was x years old in the year x2 . Figure out the year ...
.
...
.. .
.....
...
.....
.....
.
... .....
.....
of de Morgan’s birth, given that he died in 1871. .
...
.. .
...
..
.....
..... 2x + 1
... .....
... .....
.....
... .....
.. .
.......
782. (Continuation) Are there people alive today who can truthfully .
...
... ........
.....
.....
... ......
...........
make the same statement that de Morgan did? .
...
A
783. Graph the equation y = −2x2 + 5x + 33. For what values of x:
(a) is y = 0? (b) is y = 21? (c) is y ≥ 0?
785. (Continuation) There are two non-vertical lines with y-intercept (0, −4) that each in-
tersect the parabola y = x2 − 4x + 5 exactly once. For each, determine equations and
the coordinates of the intersection points. By hand, sketch a graph that clearly shows the
parabola, both lines and their intersection points.
786. Pat and Kim were looking at the following graphs which are based on a Federal Reserve
report regarding the American family’s net worth from 2001–2004. Pat thinks that the
American family got 6% richer while Kim disagreed arguing that the American family got
only 1.5% richer. What do you think?
500 000 500 000
0 0
2001 2004 2001 2004
Average Net Worth, 6% change Median Net Worth, 1.5% change
787. The
√ expression
√ 4x + 3x can be combined into
√one √ term, but 4x + 3y cannot. Explain.
Can
√ 4√ 5 + 3 5 be combined into one term? Can 2 + 2 be combined √
into one
√ term? Can
2 + 3 be combined into one term? At first glance,
√ it may seem that
√ 2 + 8 cannot be
√
combined into one term. Take a close look at 8 and show that 2 + 8 can in fact be
combined into one term.
788. Morgan began observing the motion of a really tiny red bug on graph paper when the
bug was at the point (3, 4). Ten seconds later it was at (5, 5). Another ten seconds later it
was at (7, 6) After another ten seconds it was at (9, 7).
(a) Draw a picture that illustrates what is happening.
(b) Write a description of any pattern that you notice. What assumptions are you making?
(c) Where was the bug 25 seconds after Morgan started watching it?
(d) Where was the bug 26 seconds after Morgan started watching it?
789. Jordan is thinking of a right triangle, whose sides can be represented by x − 5, 2x, and
2x + 1. Find the lengths of the three sides.
792. In performing a controlled experiment with fruit flies, Wes finds that the population of
male fruit flies is modeled by the equation m = 2.2t2 − 1.6t + 8, while the female population
is modeled by the equation f = 1.6t2 + 2.8t + 9, where t is the number of days since the
beginning of the first day (thus t = 2 is the end of the second day). Assume that all flies
live for the duration of the experiment.
(a) At the beginning of the first day, there are how many more female flies than male flies?
(b) Do male flies ever outnumber female flies? If so, when does that occur?
(c) Find an equation that models the total number n of flies that exist at time t. How
many are present at the end of the tenth day? At what time are there 1000 fruit flies in the
population?
793. Solve
√ each
√ of the following
√ for x.√Leave your answers
√ in exact form. √ √
(a) x 2 = 18 (b) x 6 = − 30 (c) 2x = 5 (d) 2 5x = 30
√ √ √
794. Show by finding examples that it is hardly ever true that a + b is the same as a+ b .
795. Expand each of the following expressions and collect like terms:
(a) (x + 2)3 (b) (x + 3)(x2 − 3x + 9) (c) 1 − (x + 1)2 (d) (2x + 1)2 − 2(x + 1)2
√ √ √ √
796. Given that 72 + 50 − 18 = h, find h by hand.
797. My car averages 35 miles to a gallon of gas. When the price of gasoline was $3.09 per
gallon, what was the cost per mile for gasoline for this car? What was the average distance
I could travel per dollar?
798. Tyche always tosses clean socks into a drawer without matching them. The drawer now
contains 8 black socks and 6 white socks. In a hurry to get to class, Tyche grabs a sock from
the drawer without looking. After putting the first sock on, Tyche grabs another sock again
without looking and dashes out the door.
(a) What is the probability that the first sock is black?
(b) Assuming that the first sock has already been picked and is black, what is the probability
that the second sock is also black?
799. (Continuation)
(a) What is the probability that the first sock is white and the second sock is white?
(b) What is the probability that the first sock is white and the second sock is black?
(c) What is the probability that Tyche goes to class in a matching pair?
801. From its initial position at (1, 6), an object moves linearly with constant speed. It
reaches (7, 10) after two seconds and (13, 14) after four seconds.
(a) Predict the position of the object after six seconds; after nine seconds; after t seconds.
(b) Will there be a time when the object is the same distance from the x-axis as it is from
the y-axis? If so, when, and where is the object?
802. The Exeter News-Letter reported the top 10 munic- 110 000
Salary in $
hired and negotiated a salary that lies in the center of
the top 10 salaries. Given that the employee would like 100 000
to earn as much as possible, should they insist that their
salary be based on the median or the mean of the top 10
95 000
earners?
805. Find the x-intercepts in exact form of each of the following graphs:
(a) y = (x − 6)2 − 10 (b) y = 3(x − 7)2 − 9 (c) y = 120 − 3x2 (d) y = 4.2 − 0.7x2
806. In
√ each √
of the following,
√ collect
√ like terms √
where possible:
√ √ √ √
(a) 7 6 + 3 6 (b) 13 3 − 5 3 (c) 32 − 72 (d) 243 + 48 − 108
√ √ √ √ √ √
807. Given that k = 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2, find the value of k by hand.
815. The figure shows a bridge arching over the Laconic •...............•..................•.................•................•..................•.................•................•..................•.................•..................•................•.................•..................•................•..
...............................................................................................................................................................
Parkway. To accommodate the road beneath, the arch is ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
................................................................. ...................................................................
100 feet wide at its base, 20 feet high in the center, and ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... roadway
...........................................................
......................................
.................................................
...........................................
.........................
............
parabolic in shape.
(a) The arch can be described by y = kx(x − 100), if the origin is placed at the left end of
the arch. Find the value of the coefficient k that makes the equation fit the arch.
(b) Is it possible to move a rectangular object that is 40 feet wide and 16.5 feet high (a wide
trailer, for example) through the opening? Explain.
816. There is a unique parabola whose symmetry axis is parallel to the y-axis, and that passes
through the three points (1, 1), (−2, −2), and (0, −4). Write an equation for it. Given any
three points, must there be a parabola that will pass through them? Explain.
817.r
By hand, combine each of the following into one
rterm.
√ √
r
(a) 1 − 2 2 + √3 (b) − 1 + 27 − 1
2 8 12 3
823. Simplify:
(a) 4i2 (b) 6i15 (c) 2i3 − 3i2
824. Calculate the following distances, and briefly explain your method:
(a) from (2, 1) to (10, 10) (b) from (−2, 3) to (7, −5)
(c) from (0, 0) to (9, 8) (d) from (4, −3) to (−4, 6)
825. Halfway through the basketball season, Fran Tastik has attempted 40 free throws, and
made 24 of them successfully.
(a) What percentage of free throws has Fran made?
(b) Fran anticipates getting 30 more free throw tries by the end of the season. In order to
have a season percentage of at least 70%, how many of these free throws must Fran make?
826. To get from one corner of a rectangular court to the diagonally opposite corner by
walking along two sides, a distance of 160 meters must be covered. By going diagonally
across the court, 40 meters are saved. Find the dimensions of the court, to the nearest cm.
827. A bag contains 7 red marbles and 4 blue marbles. Without looking, Kelsey takes out a
marble and notes its color. Without replacing it, Kelsey takes out a second marble.
(a) Find the probability that the two marbles are both red.
(b) Find the probability that the two marbles are both blue.
(c) Find the probability that the two marbles are different colors.
(d) Would the answers to the questions above change if Kelsey had taken out both marbles
at the same time rather than sequentially?
831. Given four numbers a, b, c, and d, one can ask for the distance from (a, b) to (c, d).
Write a procedure for computing this distance, using the four numbers.
832. In May 2014 the Exonian board published This Is Our School, an online survey to which
all students were invited to respond. The board developed the questions over a period of two
weeks. The questions were critiqued by focus groups, student clubs and faculty members.
The questions covered demographics, school life, gender and sexual identity, health and
drugs, relationships and even a question for seniors, a nostalgic look back. The survey
was designed to be completed in about five minutes. The designers incorporated a feature
which rejected multiple responses from the same computer. Fifty-six percent of the students
responded. Should you be concerned that the results of this survey might be biased by
voluntary response? If so, what steps might you have taken to minimize this bias?
833. The prep class is going to produce a yearbook covering their first year, compiled from
photos and stories submitted by preps. The printing company charges $460 to set up and
print the first 50 copies; additional copies are $5 per book. Only books that are paid for in
advance will be printed (so there will be no unsold copies), and no profit is being made.
(a) What is the cost to print 75 copies? What is the selling price of each book?
(b) Write a function that describes the cost of printing n copies, assuming that n ≥ 50.
(c) Express the selling price of each book as a function of n, assuming that n ≥ 50.
(d) The preps want to sell the book for $6.25. How many books must be sold to do this?
(e) If only 125 copies are ordered, what price will be charged per book?
(f ) For what n is the selling price less than $5.05? How low can the selling price be?
834. The perimeter of a rectangular field is 80 meters and its area is 320 square meters. Find
the dimensions of the field, correct to the nearest tenth of a meter.
835. If p is a positive number, sketch a rough graph of y = 2(x − 3p)(x + p). Label its vertex
and its x- and y-intercepts with coordinates, stated in terms of p.
837. Both legs of a right triangle are 8 cm long. In simplest radical form, how long is the
hypotenuse? How long would the hypotenuse be if both legs were k cm long?
839.
√ Can you find integer
√ lengths for the legs of a right triangle whose hypotenuse has length
5 ? What about 7 ? Explain your reasoning.
840. There are infinitely many points that are exactly 25 units from (0, 0). How many of
them are lattice points? Give the coordinates for all of the lattice points. In simplest radical
form, give the coordinates for a non-lattice point.
841. Let a and b be numbers such that 0 < a < 1 and 1 < b < 2. Explain why 0 < a2 < a.
Using similar inequalities, write possible intervals for each of the following numbers.rTry to
√ √
keep the intervals as small as possible. (a) a (b) b (c) b2 (d) b
a
842. What is the meaning of the number k when you graph the equation y = mx + k? What
is the meaning of the number k when you graph the equation x = my + k?
843. A triangle has K = (3, 1), L = (−5, −3), and M = (−8, 3) for its vertices. Verify that
the lengths of the sides of triangle KLM fit the Pythagorean equation a2 + b2 = c2 .
√
844. A rectangle has an area of 36 square meters. Its length is 2 3 meters. In exact form,
what is the perimeter of the rectangle?
845. How far is the point (5, 5) from the origin? Find two other first-quadrant lattice points
that are exactly the same distance from the origin as (5, 5) is.
846. Find a quadratic equation that has solutions x = 0.75 and x = −0.5, and express your
answer in the form ax2 + bx + c = 0, with a, b, and c being relatively prime integers.
847. Use factoring and no technology, find the value of x3 − 2x2 y + xy 2 when x = 21 and
y = 19.
√
848. Find a quadratic equation of the form ax2 +bx+c = 0 whose solutions are x = 4± 11 .
850. Jordan went to Walgreens and spent $4 to buy pencils. Jordan also spent $4 buying
pencils at the bookstore where each pencil costs 5 cents more. If Jordan bought a total of
36 pencils, what did each pencil cost at Walgreens?
851. Online surveys are often characterized as “unscientific” and therefore unreliable. Is this
a fair characterization? Explain.
852. Imani goes on a long bike ride of 40 miles. If the average speed is 10 miles per hour for
the first 20 miles, what speed will Imani need to average for the last 20 miles in order for
the average speed for the entire trip to be 12 miles per hour?
854. Wes and Kelly decide to test their new walkie-talkies, which have a range of six miles.
Leaving from the spot where Kelly is standing, Wes rides three miles east, then four miles
north. Can Wes and Kelly communicate with each other? What if Wes rides another mile
north? How far can Wes ride on this northerly course before communication breaks down?
855. Pat was talking with Kim about solving the homework problem (x − 2)(x + 1) < 0. Kim
remembered from working with absolute value inequalities that solving the equation first and
then using test points worked nicely. So, Pat and Kim solved the equation (x − 2)(x + 1) = 0
and by using appropriate test points eventually settled on −1 < x < 2 as the correct solution.
Explain how they arrived at their answer and use a similar process for solving the following.
Be very careful on (c).
(a) (x + 2)(x − 3) > 0 (b) x2 − 6x + 5 < 0 (c) (x − 4)(x + 1) ≥ 6
856. A bell rope, passing through a small hole in the ceiling above, just barely reaches the
belfry floor. When one pulls the rope to the wall, keeping the rope taut, it reaches a point
that is three inches above the floor. It is four feet from the wall to the rope when the rope
is hanging freely. How high is the ceiling? It is advisable to make a clear diagram for this
problem.
857. Draw a right triangle whose legs are 2 cm and 1 cm long, as .........
... ..........
...
...
.......
.......
.......
... .......
shown at right. Find the length of its hypotenuse. ...
...
...
.......
2
.......
.......
.......
... .......
(a) Use this hypotenuse as one of the legs of a second right triangle, ...
...
...
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
... ........
and construct the other leg so that it is 2 cm long and adjacent to ...
...
...
. ..
............
...
.
... . ..
the previous 2-cm leg, as shown. Find the length of the hypotenuse ...
...
... .....
..
... ...
...
of this right triangle. ...
...
... .
...
..
... ..
..
(b) Use this hypotenuse as one of the legs of a third right triangle, ...
...
...
...
...
...
...
.
...
.. 2
and construct the other leg so that it is 2 cm long and adjacent to ...
...
... ..
...
...
... ..
...
the previous 2-cm leg. Find the hypotenuse of this right triangle. ...
...
... ...
...
... ....
(c) This process can be continued. What are the lengths of the legs ... ...
... ...
... ..
....
of the next triangle that has a rational hypotenuse? Are there more 1
triangles like this?
858. After running the 100-yard dash for the first time in prep track, Taylor set a PEA career
goal: to run this race 2 seconds faster. Taylor calculated that this means a rate increase of
5 feet per second. Figure out what Taylor’s time was in that first race.
861. Verify algebraically that the line y = 2(x − 2) + 2 intersects the parabola y = 1 x2 at
2
only the point (2, 2).
862. Determine the equation for a non-vertical line that only intersects the parabola y = 1 x2
2
at (−4, 8). By hand, sketch a graph that clearly shows the parabola, the line and their
intersection point.
863. Give an example of a line that is parallel to 2x + 5y = 17. Describe your line by means
of an equation. Which form for your equation is most convenient? Now find an equation for
a line that is equidistant from your line and the line 2x + 5y = 41.
864. A PEA crew training on the Squamscott River, which has a current of 3 kph, wondered
what their speed r would be in still water. A mathematician in the boat suggested that they
row one kilometer going upstream and one going downstream. Write an expression that
represents their total time rowing in terms of r.
865. (Continuation) Assuming it took the crew 8 minutes and 20 seconds to row the suggested
distance, what was the crew’s rate in still water?
866. Hill and Dale were out in their rowboat one day, and Hill spied a water lily. Knowing
that Dale liked a mathematical challenge, Hill demonstrated how it was possible to use the
plant (which was rooted to the bottom of the pond) to calculate the depth of the water under
the boat. Without uprooting it, Hill gently pulled the plant sideways, causing it to disappear
at a point that was 35 inches from its original position. The top of the plant originally stood
5 inches above the water surface. Use this information to calculate the depth of the water.
867. On a single set of coordinate axes, graph several parabolas of the form y = bx − x2 .
Mark the vertex on each curve. What do you notice about the configuration of all such
vertices?
868. From its initial position at (−1, 12), a bug crawls linearly with constant speed and
direction. It passes (2, 8) after two seconds. How much time does the bug spend in the first
quadrant?
average speed: The average speed during a time interval is total distance . [125]
total time
average a list of numbers: Add them and divide by how many numbers in the list. [252]
axis of symmetry: A line that separates a figure into two parts that are equivalent by
reflection across the line. Every parabola has an axis of symmetry. [575, 614]
bar graph: A graph used to depict categorical data where each vertical or horizontal bar
displays the total, frequency or relative frequency of the variable for each category. Also
know as a bar chart. [339]
between: When describing an interval, between means the endpoints are not included. For
example, “x is between 10 and 15” is interpreted as 10 < x and x < 15, which can be written
in the compact form 10 < x < 15. [110]
binomial: The sum of two unlike monomials, e.g. x + 2 or 3x3 y − 7z 5 . [383, 391, 499]
box plot: A graphical rendition of statistical data based on the minimum, first quartile,
median, third quartile, and maximum. [691, 725, 736, 802]
British Thermal Unit: A BTU is a unit of energy, approximately the amount needed to
raise the temperature of a gallon of water by 1 degree Celsius. [511]
Celsius: A scale for recording temperatures. It is defined by the stipulation that water
freezes at 0 degrees and boils at 100 degrees. [65, 237]
center: The center of data or center of distribution. When viewing a histogram, the center
of the distribution under consideration is the approximate middle. One way to visualize the
center is to think about the balance point. If you were to draw the histogram on a piece of
paper and cut it out, approximately where would you put your finger in order to balance the
cutout? That balance point is the approximate center. If a complete data set is available,
then the center can be defined as the median or the mean, and it can be calculated. [587]
collinear: Three (or more) points that all lie on a single line are collinear. [237]
common monomial factor: A monomial that divides every term of a polynomial . [499]
completing the square: Adding a quantity to a trinomial so that the new trinomial can
be factored as a perfect square. [548, 549, 618, 623]
complex number: A complex number is a number, in the form a + bi, consisting of a real
part,
√ a, and an imaginary part, b, where a and b are real numbers and i is equivalent to
−1. [729]
continuous: A variable whose values fill an interval . Continuous variables represent quan-
tities that are arbitrarily divisible, such as time and distance. See also discrete. [105,130]
conversions: 1 mile = 5280 feet; 1 foot = 12 inches; 1 inch = 2.54 centimeters; one liter is
1000 milliliters; a milliliter is the same as a cubic centimeter.
coordinate: A number that locates a point on a number line or describes the position of a
point in the plane with respect to two number lines (axes). [40]
cord: A unit of measure typically used for split firewood. When the wood is stacked tightly
it 4 ft by 4 ft by 8 ft and is approximately 128 cubic feet in volume. [485, 525]
dependent variable: When the value of one variable determines a unique value of another
variable, the second variable is sometimes said to depend on the first variable. See also
function [124, 130]
degree: For a monomial, this counts how many variable factors would appear if the mono-
mial were written without using exponents. The degree of a polynomial is the largest degree
found among its monomial terms. [731]
discrete: A variable that is restricted to a finite number of values. See also continuous.
[323]
discriminant: In the quadratic formula, the expression within the square root, b2 − 4ac is
called the discriminant. See also quadratic formula. [757]
equivalent: Two expressions are equivalent to each other if they are equal for all possible
values. For example, 2x is not equivalent to 6 because 2x = 6 is only true when x = 3, but
2x is equivalent to x + x. [581, 595]
error: The difference between the predicted value and actual value, error = predicted − actual.
[334]
evaluate: Find the numerical value of an expression by substituting numerical values for the
variables. For example, to evaluate 2t + 3r when t = 7 and r = −4, substitute the values 7
and −4 for t and r, respectively. [298]
exponent: An integer that indicates the number of equal factors in a product. For example,
the exponent is 3 in the expression w3 , which means w · w · w. [402]
exponents, rules of: These apply when there is a common base: am · an = ma
m+n
and
m m
a = am−n ; when there is a common exponent: am · bm = (a · b)m and a = a ; or when
an bm b
an exponential expression is raised to a power: (am )n = amn . Notice the special case of the
common-base rules: a0 = 1. [402, 487, 501, 529, 573]
extraneous solution: A solution that results from solving a problem algebraically, but the
solution is found to be invalid. [688]
extrapolate: To enlarge a table of values by going outside the given range of data. [197,
503]
factored form of a quadratic function: For variables x and y, and real numbers a, p
and q, with a ̸= 0, the equation y = a(x − p)(x − q) is commonly called factored form or
intercept form of a quadratic function. [680]
Fahrenheit: A scale for recording temperatures. It is defined by the stipulation that water
freezes at 32 degrees and boils at 212 degrees. [65, 237]
feasible region: A region of the plane defined by a set of inequalities. The coordinates of
any point in the feasible region satisfy all the defining inequalities. [498]
frequency table: A table that displays a total for each group, category, or class. [339]
function: A function is a rule that describes how the value of one quantity (the dependent
variable) is determined uniquely by the value of another quantity (the independent variable).
A function can be defined by a formula, a graph, a table, or a text. [179,220,584]
greatest common (integer) factor: Given a set of integers, this is the largest integer that
divides all of the given integers. Also called the greatest common divisor .
greatest common (monomial) factor: Given a set of monomials, this is the largest
monomial that divides all of the given monomials. [499]
guess-and-check: A method for creating equations to solve word problems. In this ap-
proach, the equation emerges as the way to check a variable guess. Initial practice is with
constant guesses, so that the checking can be done with ordinary arithmetic. [68, 75, 81]
histogram: A specific type of bar chart where the widths of the bars are the class intervals
or bins and the height is the frequency or relative frequency of the data values within each
bin. Often the data is continuous, thus the bars are drawn adjacent to one another. [386]
hypotenuse: In a right triangle, the side opposite the right angle. This is the longest side
of a right triangle. [738]
identity: An equation, containing at least one variable, that is true for all possible values
of the variables that appear in it. For example, x(x + y) = x2 + xy is true no matter what
values are assigned to x and y. [383]
integer: The whole number and their opposites, that is, the set {. . .−3, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, 3, . . .}.
[24]
interpolate: To use given data to estimate a point within the range of the data. [197, 503]
interval: A connected piece of a number line. It might extend infinitely far in the positive
direction (as in −1 < x), extend infinitely far in the negative direction (as in t ≤ 7), or be
confined between two endpoints (as in 2 < m ≤ 7). [70]
lattice point: A point both of whose coordinates are integers. The terminology derives
from the rulings on a piece of graph paper, which form a lattice. [263]
light-year: Approximately 5.88 trillion miles, this is a unit of length used in astronomical
calculations. As the name implies, it is the distance traveled by light during one year. [27,
469]
like terms: These are monomials that have the same variables, each with the same expo-
nents, but possibly different numerical coefficients. Like terms can be combined into a single
monomial; unlike terms cannot. [50]
linear combinations: A method for solving systems of linear equations. [327, 336, 354,
441]
lowest terms: A fraction is in lowest terms if the greatest common factor of the numerator
and denominator is 1. For example, 14 21
is not in lowest terms because 14 and 21 have 7 as
a common factor. When numerator and denominator are each divided by 7 the resulting
fraction 23 is equal to 21
14
, and is in lowest terms. [72]
monomial: A constant (real number) or a product of a constant and variables. In the case
when the monomial is not simply a constant, the constant part is called the coefficient. Any
exponents of variables are restricted to be non-negative integers. For example: 3, x3 , 4 y 3 x2 ,
5
and 3x5 are monomials. See also binomial , polynomial , and trinomial . [487]
number line: A line on which two points have been designated to represent 0 and 1. This
sets up a one-to-one correspondence between numbers and points on the line. [23]
opposite: When the sum of two quantities is zero, they are called opposites (or additive
inverses); each is the opposite of the other. On a number line, zero is exactly midway
between any number and its opposite. [22]
or: Unless you are instructed to do otherwise, interpret this word inclusively in mathematical
situations. Thus a phrase “. . . (something is true) or (something else is true) . . . ” allows for
the possibility that both (something is true) and (something else is true).
parabola: The shape of a graph of the form y = ax2 + bx + c. All parabolas have a vertex
and an axis of symmetry. [585]
percent error: The percent error of a prediction is the error divided by the actual value
error predicted−actual
and multiplied by 100. So percent error = actual value · 100 = actual · 100. While
this is technically a signed percent error, we will colloquially refer to it as percent error.
[334]
percentile of a data set: The percentage of data that fall at or below that data value.
For example, if 10% of scores are at or below 68, then the value of 68 is the 10th percentile
of the data set or of the distribution of scores. [495]
perimeter: The total length of the sides of a figure. The perimeter of a rectangle is twice
the length plus twice the width. In algebraic code, p = 2l + 2w = 2(l + w). [68]
period of a pendulum: The time needed for a pendulum to swing back and forth once.
[216, 772]
point-slope form: The line with slope m that passes through the point (h, k) can be
described in point-slope form by either y − k = m(x − h) or y = m(x − h) + k. [220]
population: The entire set of people, animals or things that share something in common
so that information or data may be collected from them to answer a question. See sample.
[464]
prep: A term used at Phillips Exeter Academy to refer to a ninth grader. Historically the
term junior has also been used. [59]
profit: The result of deducting total costs from total revenues. See also loss. [30]
4 6
proportion: An equation stating that two ratios are equal. For example, 6
= 9
is a
proportion. [157]
proportional: Two quantities are proportional if one can be expressed as a fixed constant
times the other. This constant is called a proportionality constant. For example if y = kx, y
and k are proportional and k is a proportionality constant.[114]
Pythagorean Theorem: The square of the length of the hypotenuse of a right triangle
equals the sum of the squares of the lengths of the other two sides. [738]
rate (of change): Rate often denotes speed, i.e. units of distance per unit of time. For
example, 60 miles per hour, 50 feet per second, 67 furlongs per fortnight. A general rate of
change is similar: number of units of A per one unit of B. For example, 5 liters per student,
24 angels per pinhead, 1.3 thousand people per year, 70 passengers per lifeboat. [1, 145]
ratio: The ratio of a to b is the expression a ; also written a:b or a/b or a ÷ b. [83]
b
rational number: A number that can be written as the ratio of two integers. For example,
5, 7 , and 0.631 are rational numbers. See also irrational number . [574]
13
reciprocal: When the product of two quantities is 1, they are called reciprocals (or multi-
plicative inverses); each is the reciprocal of the other. For example, 0.2 is the reciprocal of
5, and a is the reciprocal of b . Any nonzero number has a reciprocal.
b a
relatively prime integers have no common divisor that is larger than 1. [846]
revenue: This is money received as a result of sales; also known as income. [7, 217, 257]
scientific notation: The practice of expressing numbers in the form a × 10n , in which n is
an integer, and a is a number whose magnitude usually satisfies 1 ≤ |a| < 10. [27, 469]
√
simplest radical form: An expression a b is in simplest radical√form if b is a positive
integer that√has no factors that are perfect squares. For example, 18 5 is in simplest radical
form, but 5 18 is not. [600]
slope: The slope of a line is a measure of its steepness. It is computed by the ratio rise
run
change in y
or . A line with positive slope rises as the value of x increases. If the slope is
change in x
negative, the line drops as the value of x increases. [140]
slope-intercept form: The line whose slope is m and whose y-intercept is b can be described
in slope-intercept form by y = mx + b. [179]
solve: To find the numerical values of the variables that make a given equation or inequality
a true statement. Those values are called solutions. [39]
standard form: A linear equation in the form ax + by = c. Notice that this refers to a
linear equation, which should not be confused with standard form of a quadratic function.
[231]
standard form of a quadratic function: For variables x and y, and real numbers a, b
and c, with a ̸= 0, the equation y = ax2 + bx + c is commonly called standard form of a
quadratic function. [668]
system of equations: A set of two or more equations. The solution to a system of linear
equations is the coordinates of the point where the lines meet. The solution is the values of
the variables that satisfy all the equations of the system at the same time. [327]
trinomial: The sum of three unlike monomials, e.g. x2 − x + 2 or 3x3 y − 7x5 + 8qrs.
Trinomials that factor into the square of a binomal are called perfect square trinomials, for
example x2 − 8x + 16 = (x − 4)2 . [383, 391, 499, 547]
variability: A measure of how spread out a data set is about its center. [365]
versus: This was once the name of a television sports network. It is also a word that
frequently appears when describing graphs, as in “the graph of volume versus time.” This
book follows the convention of associating the first-named variable with the vertical axis, and
the second-named variable with the horizontal axis. The first-named variable is dependent
on the second-named variable. [141, 178, 237]
vertex: A “corner” point on an absolute-value graph. The vertex of the graph y = a|x−h|+k
is (h, k). [260] The vertex of the graph of a quadratic function is the point whose y-coordinate
is extreme (highest or lowest). It is the point on the parabola that is also on the axis of
symmetry. The vertex of the graph y = a(x − h)2 + k is (h, k). [260, 575, 614]
vertex form of a quadratic function: For variables x and y, and real numbers a, h, and
k with a ̸= 0, the equation y = a(x − h)2 + k is commonly called vertex form of a quadratic
function. The ordered pair (h, k) denotes the coordinates of the vertex. [689]
vertex form of an absolute value function: For variables x and y, and real numbers a,
h, and k with a ̸= 0, the equation y = a|x − h| + k is commonly called vertex form of an
absolute value function. The ordered pair (h, k) denotes the coordinates of the vertex. [395]
water lily: In 1849, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote his novel Kavanagh, which con-
tained several mathematical puzzles. One was about water lilies. [866]
whole numbers: The numbers {0, 1, 2, 3, . . .}. [51, 554, 563, 574, 600]
x-intercept: The x-coordinate of a point where a line or curve meets the x-axis. The
terminology is sometimes applied to the point itself. [174]
y-intercept: The y-coordinate of a point where a line or curve meets the y-axis. The
terminology is sometimes applied to the point itself. [174]
zero-product property: If the product of a set of factors is zero, then at least one of the
factors must be zero. In symbols, if ab = 0 then either a = 0 or b = 0. [381]
Factoring by Grouping: To factor by grouping, the expression should have an even number
of monomials. The monomials will be grouped together so that a pattern emerges when
factored, as below.
3x3 + 6x2 + x + 2 = 3x2 (x + 2) + 1(x + 2)
In this example, the monomials 3x3 and 6x2 were grouped together, and the monomials
x and 2 were grouped together, and the greatest common factor was factored out of each
grouping. Notice that (x + 2) is the remaining factor in each grouping. Now, (x + 2) can be
factored out of the entire expression.
Extra Practice:
1. t(t − 1) + 3(t − 1)
2. 3n3 + n2 + 6n + 2
3. mn + m2 n − xm − x
6x2 − x − 12 = 6x2 − 9x + 8x − 12
= 3x(2x − 3) + 4(2x − 3)
= (3x + 4)(2x − 3).
The question is: how were the terms −9x and 8x determined? There were many options,
but the following must be true for the expression to factor nicely:
1. the product of 6x2 and −12 is equal to the product of −9x and 8x, and
2. the sum of −9x and 8x is −x, the middle monomial of the quadratic.
Consider another problem: 4x2 + 9x − 9. In order to factor using grouping, we first must
find two expressions mx and nx so that mx + nx = 9x and mx · nx = 4x2 · (−9) = −36x2 .
Factors of −36 include 1 and −36, −1 and 36, 2 and −18, −2 and 18, 3 and −12, −3 and
12, 4 and −9, −4 and 9, and ±6. With inspection, 12 − 3 = 9, so the factoring is done as
follows:
6x2
−12
Then, as in the method of factoring a trinomial using grouping, we need to find expressions
that multiply to equal 6x2 · (−12) = −72x2 and add to equal −x. As before, −9x and 8x
are the expressions sought. These expressions are added to the factoring box.
6x2 8x
−9x −12
Next, we factor along each row and place the common factor to the left, and we factor along
each column and place the common factor on top. The resulting row and column added will
be the two factors.
2x -3
3x 6x2 −9x
4 8x −12
1. 15x2 + x − 6
2. 6x2 − 13x + 6
3. 42x2 − 47x − 9