REVIEW AND STUDY GUIDE FOR MATH 126

The following are the main topics that students are expected to master in this course.
Some items are more important than others, and some are easier to examine than others.
Questions on the final may address any of these topics. Items in bold are particularly
important and are more likely to appear on the final.

Basics
Distribution: This simple rule,
a(b + c) = ab + ac,
permeates all of mathematics and appears multiple times in this course.
• Visual justification:

• More generally
a(b + c + d) = ab + ac + ad,
etc.
• Multiplication of binomials (FOIL) (Section 1.4 in the textbook):
(a + b)(c + d) = a(c + d) + b(c + d)
= ac + ad + bc + bd
= First + Outside + Inside + Last.
• Products of complex numbers. (Section 1.6)
– E.g. Find the product (2 + 3i)(4 + 5i).
• Addition of fractions: (Section 1.1) When there is a common denominator,
a b 1 a+b
+ = (a + b) = .
c c c c
This is why we first find a common denominator.

Date: December 5, 2023.

1
 REVIEW AND STUDY GUIDE FOR MATH 126 2

• Products of polynomials. (Section 1.3) E.g.

(x + 1)(x2 + 2x + 1) = x(x2 + 2x + 1) + 1(x2 + 2x + 1)
= (x3 + 2x2 + x) + (x2 + 2x + 1)
= x3 + 3x2 + 3x + 1.
• Pascal’s triangle and the binomial theorem. (Section 12.6)
– E.g. Expand (x + 2)4 .
• A special product: (a+b)(a−b) = a2 −b2 . We use this to rationalize denominators.
– E.g. Rationalize the denominator in the expression 1+2√2 .
1+i
– E.g. Evaluate 2+3i .
• Related to products of polynomials is factoring. More about this later (see below).

Related rules:
• Associativity: (a + b) + c = a + (b + c) and (ab)c = a(bc). Most students have no
problem with these.
• Commutativity: a + b = b + a and ab = ba. Again, most students have no problems.
• The number 0 has the property that a + 0 = a for all a. We often add zero to get an
equivalent expression.
– E.g. to find the vertex of the parabola y = x2 + 2x + 3, we complete the square
by adding and subtracting one (i.e. we add 0 = 1 − 1). Then
y = x2 + 2x + 1 − 1 + 3 = (x + 1)2 + 2,
so the vertex is at (−1, 2).
• The number 1 has the property that a1 = a for any a. Again, we often multiply by
1 to get an equivalent expression.
– Adding fractions: To add ab to dc , we first find a common denominator. That
is, we multiply the first fraction by 1 = dd and the second by 1 = bb , to get
a c ad bc ad bc ad + bc
+ = + = + = .
b d bd bd bd bd bd
– Changing units: E.g. 365 days = 1 year, so an annual interest rate of 6%/yr is
6% 1 yr
6%/yr = = 0.01644% per day.
yr 365 days

Manipulations of equations (Section 1.5):

• Apply an invertible operation to both sides (equivalent equations):
– We can add (or subtract) the same thing to (from) both sides of an equation.
– We can multiply (or divide) both sides of an equation by the same number or
expression, provided that number or expression is not zero.
 REVIEW AND STUDY GUIDE FOR MATH 126 3

∗ E.g. The expression x2 = 2x is the same as x2 − 2x = 0, which factors as

x(x − 2) = 0 and hence has two solutions, namely 0 and 2. We can also
divide both sides by x to get x = 2, which is one of the solutions. Where
did the other solution go? We can divide by x provided x 6= 0, so we have
to treat the possibility that x = 0 separately.
• Apply a non-invertible operation to both sides of an equation. This gives a new but
not equivalent equation, and sometimes gives us extraneous solutions. A solution to
the original equation is a solution to the new equation, but the opposite is not always
true. √
– E.g. Solve for x if x = 6 − x. Squaring both sides, we get x2 = 6 − x, so
0 = x2 + x − 6 = (x + 3)(x − 2).
Our solutions to the new equation are −3 and 2, but only 2 is a solution to the
original equation. (The solution x = −3 is an extraneous solution.)

Lines (Section 1.10)

Standard equations: You should recognize when an equation is an equation of a line. The
standard forms are
y = mx + b
Ax + By + C = 0

Slope:
• In the equation y = mx + b, m is the slope. (And b is the y-intercept.)
• The slope of a line through two points A = (a1 , a2 ) and B = (b1 , b2 ) is
b 2 − a2 rise
m= = .
b 1 − a1 run
– E.g. Find the slope of the line through P = (1, 2) and Q = (3, 4).
– E.g. Find the slope of the line through P = (1, 2) and Q = (a, a2 + 1).
• Parallel lines have the same slope.
• The product of the slopes of perpendicular lines is −1. That is, the line perpendicular
to the line y = mx + b has slope −1/m.

Lines through two points or given a point and slope:

• Point-slope formula:
y − y0 = m(x − x0 ).
• E.g. Find the line through (1, 2) and (3, 4).
• E.g. Find the line through (1, 2) and perpendicular to the line y = −2x + 3.
 REVIEW AND STUDY GUIDE FOR MATH 126 4

Quadratics
Quadratics are equations of the form
y = ax2 + bx + c.
Parabolas (Section 3.1): You should know that the graph of a quadratic is a parabola
and what it looks like.
• Know how to complete the square.
• E.g. Find the axis of symmetry and the vertex of the parabola y = x2 + 2x + 3.
• E.g. Find the maximum of the function f (x) = −x2 + 3x + 2.
The quadratic formula (Section 1.5): The equation
ax2 + bx + c = 0
has solutions √
−b ± b2 − 4ac
x= .
2a
• E.g. Find the real roots of x2 + x − 1 = 0.
• E.g. Find the real and complex roots of x2 + 4x + 5 = 0.

Factoring
Special polynomials (Section 1.4).
• x2 − a2 = (x − a)(x + a)
• x2 + 2ax + a2 = (x + a)2
• x3 − a3 = (x − a)(x2 + ax + a2 )
• x3 + a3 = (x + a)(x2 − ax + a2 )
The division algorithm (Section 3.3).
• Any non-zero polynomial P (x) can be divided by a polynomial D(x) to get a quotient
Q(x) and remainder R(x):
P (x) = D(x)Q(x) + R(x)
P (x) R(x)
or = Q(x) + .
D(x) D(x)
Furthermore, the remainder is either 0 or has degree smaller than the degree of D(x).
• Long division.
Roots (Section 3.4).
• If p(a) = 0, then (x − a) is a factor of p(x).
• Quadratic formula (to find roots or factor quadratics).
• Rational root theorem.
• E.g. Find all roots of p(x) = x3 + 5x2 + 6x + 2.
 REVIEW AND STUDY GUIDE FOR MATH 126 5

Other equations and their graphs

Circles (Section 1.9). The circle with radius r centered at (h, k) has the equation
(x − h)2 + (y − k)2 = r2 .
Use the technique of completing the square to find the center and radius of a circle not in
this form.
• E.g. Find the center and radius of the circle with equation
x2 − 2x + y 2 − 6x = 0.

Polynomials (Section 3.2):

• We already covered lines and quadratics.
• Cubics: y = ax3 + bx2 + cx + d.
• Quartics: y = a4 x4 + a3 x3 + a2 x2 + a1 x + a0 .
• Quintics: y = a5 x5 + ... + a0 .
• Know the approximate shape of cubics, quartics, and quintics.
• Graph such polynomials by plotting a few points and knowing what it should look
like.
– E.g. Graph the cubic y = (x − 1)(x + 2)(x − 2).

Rational functions (Section 3.6):

• Hyperbolas:
– E.g. y = 1/x
x+1
– E.g. y = x−1
• Know how to find horizontal, vertical, and diagonal asymptotes, and how to graph
rational functions.

Functions (Section 2.1)

Understand function notation: We usually write something like y = f (x), but there are
some functions that have specific notations. For example, log(x) and ex . Note that, for some
functions, we sometimes drop the parenthesis. E.g. We sometimes write log x instead of
log(x).
• Functions have domains and ranges. The domain is usually implied, but sometimes
specified.
– E.g. The function f (x) = x2 is defined for all real numbers, so the implied
domain is R or (−∞, ∞). The function is not invertible (it fails the horizontal
line test).
– The function h(x) = x2 for x ∈ [0, ∞) has a specified domain. This function is
invertible.
• Know how to find the implied domain of a function. That is, be able to identify
where a function is defined.
 REVIEW AND STUDY GUIDE FOR MATH 126 6
√
x−1
– The implied domain for f (x) = x−2 is x ∈ [1, 2) ∪ (2, ∞). Said a different way,
the function f (x) is defined for x ∈ [1, 2) ∪ (2, ∞).

Composition (Section 2.7):

• Know what (f √ ◦ g)(x) = f (g(x)) means.
• E.g. If f (x) = x2 + 1 and g(x) = 2x + 1, what are (f ◦ g)(x) and (g ◦ f )(x)?
• E.g. The difference quotient for f (x) is
f (a + h) − f (a)
.
h
Find and simplify the difference quotient for the function f (x) = x2 + 3x + 2.

Inverse functions (Section 2.8): f −1 (x) is the inverse function of f (x) if f −1 (f (x)) = x
and f (f −1 (x)) = x.
• E.g. loga (x) and ax are inverse functions of each other:
loga (ax ) = x for all x.
loga x
a =x for all x > 0.

• Horizontal line test. (Not all functions are invertible.)

• Know how to find inverse functions.
– Suppose f (x) = 1+x1−x
. Find f −1 (x).
– Suppose f (x) = log(2x + 3). Find f −1 (x).

Logarithms and exponentials

Fundamental properties (Section 4.3).
• The inverse function of f (x) = ax is f −1 (x) = loga (x).

aloga x = x for all x > 0

loga (ax ) = x for all x.

• Properties of exponents imply properties of logarithms:

ab+c = ab ac log(ab) = log a + log b
bc b c
a = (a ) log(ab ) = b log a

• E.g. Solve 23x+4 = 4.

2
• E.g. Solve 3x = 92x+1 .
• E.g. Solve log3 (x + 1) + log3 (x − 1) = 2.
 REVIEW AND STUDY GUIDE FOR MATH 126 7

Different bases and change of base (Section 4.5).

• In the sciences and on calculators (and in this course), the logarithm base ten is often
denoted log x. That is, log x = log10 x.
• The natural base is e ≈ 2.71828.... We write ln x = loge x, and call this the natural
logarithm. The functions ex and ln x are inverse functions of each other. (Remark:
That e is a natural choice comes from calculus.)
• Change of basis formula:
ax = bx loga b = 10x log x = ex ln a
logb x log x ln x
loga x = = = .
logb a log a ln a
– E.g. Use your calculator to evaluate log3 (13). (A question like this will not
appear on the final, since calculators are not allowed.)

Systems of equations
Intersection of curves (solving a system of two equations in two unknowns) (Sec-
tion 10.8).
• Know how to find the points of intersection of two curves. That is, know how to find
the solutions to a system of two equations in two unknowns.
– E.g. Find the points of intersection of the line y = 2x + 1 and the parabola
y = x2 . Said a different way: Find the set of solutions to the system of equations
y = 2x + 1 and y = x2 .
– E.g. Find the points of intersection of the parabola y = x2 and the circle that is
centered at (1, 1/2) and goes through (0, 0).
Systems of linear equations (Section 10.3).
• The intersection of two lines is a system of two linear equations in two unknowns.
• Know how to use matrices and row reduction to solve a system of three linear
equations in three unknowns.
• E.g. Solve the following system of linear equations:
x + y + z = −1
x + 2y − 2z = 5
2x − y + z = 0.

Miscellaneous
Inequalities (Section 1.8).
• Understand that the rules for inequalities are slightly different than those for equal-
ities.
– We can add the same thing to both sides and get an equivalent expression.
– We can multiply both sides by a positive value and get an equivalent expression.
 REVIEW AND STUDY GUIDE FOR MATH 126 8

– If we multiply both sides by a negative value, then the direction of the inequality
changes.
– We have to in particular exercise care when multiplying by an expression (e.g.
a polynomial) that might at times be positive and at times be negative.
• Use interval notation to describe solution sets.
• Critical value method.
– E.g. Find the solution set to the inequality 3x+4
5x−1
> 0.
Partial Fractions (Section 10.7). Some instructors did not cover partial fractions, so it
will not be on the Fall 2023 final. E.g. Find A and B such that
x A B
2
= + .
x −1 x−1 x+1

Graphing. Calculus (the subject this course is supposed to prepare you for) is very geo-
metrical, and graphs of functions play a major role. Familiarity with graphs is important,
as has been stressed above.
• You should know how to accurately graph a line or parabola.
• You should know the general shape of cubics and important functions like y = ex
and y = ln x.
• You should know what the graph of y = |x| looks like.
• You should be able to identify horizontal, vertical, and diagonal asymptotes of ratio-
nal functions; and use those to graph rational functions.
• You should know how y = f (x + a) and y = f (x) + a shift the graph of y = f (x).
Word problems (Section 1.7). As corny as they often are, they slowly get closer to
modeling the real world. (In calculus, you’ll see optimization problems and related rates
problems.) In this course ...
• E.g. In anticipation of a storm, operators plan to lower the level of a reservoir by one
foot. Water is released via two spillways, one of which (spillway A) will do the task
in four hours, the other (spillway B) of which will do it in 6 hours. How long will it
take if both are opened?
• E.g. A soda company advertises that its beverage is “naturally flavored”, which by
industry regulations means at least 10% of the beverage is fruit juice. How much
fruit juice must be added to 900 gallons of soda to achieve that ratio?
Matrices (Sections 10.3, 10.4).
• Row reduction, row echelon form, solutions to systems of linear equations
• Addition and multiplication of matrices.
 REVIEW AND STUDY GUIDE FOR MATH 126 9

Sample Problems
Here are some more sample problems. These have appeared on past exams.
1. Simplify the following:
2x−3
3
− 3x−2
2
7x−6 x−3
6
− 3
2. Simplify the following: p4
√ √
5 3 3 6 81
√3
√ √
9 4 15 9 27
3. Simplify each expression and eliminate any negative exponents:
 4 −1 −2
st
3s−1 t
4. Find the domain of the following function:
√
3−x
h(x) = 2
x −9
√
5. Let f (x) = (x − 1)3 and g(x) = 2x. Find (f ◦ g)(2) and (g ◦ f )(3).
6. Factor the expression completely:
2x3 − x2 − 8x + 4
7. Rationalize the denominator:
2(x − y)
√ √
x− y
8. Simplify:
log(20) + log(5)
9. Evaluate the quotient and write the result in the form a + bi:
41
5 − 4i
10. Solve for x in the following equation:
5 8 8
+ = 2
x−1 x+1 x −1
11. Solve for x in the following equation:
log2 (x + 3) − log2 (x + 1) = 2
12. Find the equation of the line that is perpendicular to x − 3y + 2 = 0 and goes through
the point (3, 1).
13. Solve for x given
3x2 − 2x − 1 = 0.
 REVIEW AND STUDY GUIDE FOR MATH 126 10

14. Find all real and complex roots to

x2 + 16x + 65 = 0
15. Compute and simplify the difference quotient
f (a + h) − f (a)
for h 6= 0
h
for the function f (x) = x2 − 4x + 3.
16. Find the center and radius of the circle x2 + y 2 − 4y − 5 = 0.
17. What is the coefficient of the term containing x3 y in the expansion of (2x − y)4 ?
18. Solve the nonlinear inequality and express the solution using interval notation:
x3 − 16x > 0
19. Solve for x given
√
4x + 5 = x − 4.
20. Find the partial fraction decomposition of
3x + 5
(x + 4)(x − 2)
21. Find f −1 (x) for the function
x−3
f (x) = .
x−2
What is the domain of f −1 (x)?
22. Find the inverse function of f (x) = 3x3 + 4.
23. Solve for x given that
2x3 + 3x2 − 3x − 2 = 0
24. Graph the function
3x
f (x) = .
x+2
Identify all asymptotes and intercepts, and state the domain and range.
25. Graph the function
f (x) = (x + 3)(x − 2)2 .
Label the intercepts.
26. Given the function f (x) = |x|, find the equation of the function after the following
transformations are applied to its graph (in the given order): Reflect through the
x-axis; shift 3 units to the right; and shift up 4 units.
27. Solve for x given
e2x − ex − 12 = 0
 REVIEW AND STUDY GUIDE FOR MATH 126 11

28. Solve for x, y and z given

x + 2y + z = 4
3x + y − 2z = 7
x+y+z =2
29. David and Mary took a 340 mile trip. David drove the first 160 miles through heavy
traffic, and Mary drove the rest of the way. Mary’s average speed was one half greater
than David’s average speed. They arrived at their destination in exactly seven hours.
Determine David’s and Mary’s average speeds.
30. Solve for x given
x4 − 5x2 + 4 = 0
31. Solve for x given
x4 + x3 − x2 + x − 2 = 0,
by locating rational roots, long division, and solving what is left.
32. Terry and Jerry have been hired to decorate the lawn with holiday lights in a public
park. Working together they could finish the job in two-thirds the time it would take
Jerry working alone. Terry would take 6 hours to finish the job working alone. How
long would it take Jerry to finish the job alone?
33. Let  
  2
−1 0 3
A= and B = −1 .
4 2 1
0
Find AB.
34. Use synthetic or long division to divide P (x) = x3 − x + 3 by D(x) = x + 1. If your
answer is in the form
P (x) R(x)
= Q(x) + ,
D(x) D(x)
then what are Q(x) and R(x)?
35. Solve for x given
2 ln x = ln 2 + ln(4x − 6)
36. A rental car company charges $50 a day plus 50 cents per mile. Sally rented a car
for three days and the total bill was $190. How many miles did Sally drive?

-Arthur Baragar
Fall, 2023