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1 August 2012 College Level Math
Accuplacer College Level Math Study Guide The following sample questions are similar to the format and content of questions on the Accuplacer College Level
Math test. Reviewing these samples will give you a good idea of how the test works and just what mathematical
topics you may wish to review before taking the test itself. Our purposes in providing you with this information are to
aid your memory and to help you do your best.
I. Factoring and expanding polynomials Factor the following polynomials: Expand the following:
1. 3 2 2 3 215 45 60a b a b a b 9. 1 1 3x x x
2. 3 3 2 2 3 2 27 21 10 30x y x y x y x y 10. 2
2 3x y
3. 4 4 3 2 26 6 8 8x y x y xy 11. 3 3 6 6x x 4. 2 22 7 6x xy y 12.
22 2 3x x
5. 4 2 6y y 13. 5
1x
6. 3 37 56x y 14. 6
1x
7. 4 481 16r s
8. 2
2 1x y x y
II. Simplification of Rational Algebraic Expressions Simplify the following. Assume all variables are larger than zero.
1. 2 03 5 4 4 4. 2 18 5 32 7 162
2. 9 3 5 8 2 27
3. 4
81
x 5.
2
6 18 12 16
3 2 8 4 12
x x
x x x
III. Solving Equations
A. Solving Linear Equations
1. 3 2 1 10x x 3. 22 6y y y
2. 12 7
x x 4. 2 1 3 3 1x x x
B. Solving Quadratic & Polynomial Equations
1. 8 2
03 3
y y
5. 2 1 0t t
2. 3 22 4 30 0x x x 6. 33 24x
3. 327 1x 7.
2 21 25x x
4. 3 6 9 22x x x 8. 25 1y y
2 October 2012 College Level Math
C. Solving Rational Equations
1. 1 2
01 1y y
4.
2
11 2 1
25 5 5x x x
2. 2
2 3 12
3 3 9x x x
5.
2
1 6
5a a
3. 2
1 2 5
6 3 3 18
x
x x x x
6.
2
1 1
3 3
x
x x x x
D. Solving Absolute Value Equations
1. 5 2 1 8z 4. 1 3 1
2 4 4x
2. 5 7 2x 5. 1 7y y
3. 5 1 2x
E. Solving Exponential Equations
1. 10 1000x 4. 2 1
3 93
x x
2. 3 510 100x
3. 1 12
8
x 5. 2 2 12 4
8
x x
F. Solving Logarithmic Equations
1. 2 2log 5 log 1 5x x 4. ln ln 2 1 0x x
2. 3 32log 1 log 4x x 5. ln ln 2 ln3x x
3. 2 2log 1 log 1 3x x 6. 2 13 4x x
G. Solving Radical Equations
1. 4 2 1 2 0y 4. 2 9 1 0x x
2. 2 1 5 8x 5. 3 3 2 4 6x
3. 5 1 2 1 0x x 6. 24 7 2w
IV. Solving Inequalities
Solve the following inequalities and express the answer graphically and using interval notation.
A. Solving Linear Inequalities
1. 3
4 25x 3. 3 2 6 3 14x x
2. 3 3 5 1x x 4. 2 3 10 5x
3 October 2012 College Level Math
B. Solving Absolute value Inequalities: Solve and Graph.
1. 4 1 6x 3. 5
53
x
2. 4 3 2 9x 4. 5 2 15x
C. Solving Quadratic or Rational Inequalities
1. 23 11 4 0x x 3.
20
3
x
x
2. 26 5 4x x 4.
1 30
2 7
x x
x
V. Lines & Regions
1. Find the x and y-intercepts, the slope, and graph 6x + 5y = 30.
2. Find the x and y-intercepts, the slope, and graph x = 3.
3. Find the x and y-intercepts, the slope, and graph y = -4.
4. Write in slope-intercept form the line that passes through the points (4, 6) and (-4, 2).
5. Write in slope-intercept form the line perpendicular to the graph of 4x - y = -1 and containing the point (2, 3).
6. Graph the solution set of x - y 2. 7. Graph the solution set of -x + 3y < -6.
VI. Graphing Relations, Domain & Range
For each relation, state if it is a function, state the domain & range, and graph it.
1. 2y x 6. 2 2x y
2. 2y x 7. 2 8 6y x x
3. 1
2
xy
x
8. y x
4. 1 3f x x 9. 3xy
5. 22 5
9
xf x
x
10.
2
2
6
3 2 1
xh x
x x
VII. Exponents and Radicals
Simplify. Assume all variables are >0. Rationalize the denominators when needed.
1. 3 38x 6.
26 2
3 8
54
9
a b
a b
2. 5 147 4 48 7. 3 3
3 2 2
27
2
a
a b
3. 5 15 3 8. 25 3
4.
32 4
3 3
5
3
x y
x
9. 3
x
x
5.
4
39
40x
y
4 October 2012 College Level Math
VIII. Complex Numbers
Perform the indicated operation and simplify.
1. 16 4 9 5. 2
4 3i
2. 16 9 6. 25i
3. 16
9
7.
3 2
4 5
i
i
4. 4 3 4 3i i
IX. Exponential Functions and Logarithms
1. Graph: 3 1xf x 6. Solve: log 9 2x
2. Graph: 12xg x 7. Graph: 3logh x x
3. Express 2 18
64
in logarithmic form 8. Use the properties of logarithms to expand as
4. Express 5log 25 2 in exponential form much as possible: 43
logy
5. Solve: 2log 4x 9. How long will it take $850 to be worth $1000 if
it is invested at 12% interest compounded
quarterly?
X. Systems of Equations & Matrices
1. Solve the system: 2 3 7
6 1
x y
x y
4. Multiply:
1 1 1 0 2 1
0 2 0 1 2 0
2 1 3 0 0 1
2. Solve the system:
2 2 3
2 3 6 2
0
x y z
x y z
x y z
5. Find the determinant: 1 2
3 1
3. Perform the indicated operation: 6. Find the Inverse: 1 2
1 2
13
3 1 22 3
1 2 1 6
XI. Story Problems 1. Sam made $10 more than twice what Pete earned in one month. If together they earned $760, how much
did each earn that month?
2. A woman burns up three times as many calories running as she does when walking the same distance. If she runs 2 miles and walks 5 miles to burn up a total of 770 calories, how many calories does she burn up
while running 1 mile?
3. A pole is standing in a small lake. If one-sixth of the length of the pole is in the sand at the bottom of the
lake, 25 ft. are in the water, and two-thirds of the total
length is in the air above the water, what is the length
of the pole?
Water Line
Sand
5 October 2012 College Level Math
XII. Conic Sections
1. Graph the following, and find the center, 2. Identify the conic section and put it into standard
foci, and asymptotes if possible. form.
a) 2 2( 2) 16x y a) 2 24 12 0x x y
b)
2 2( 1) ( 2)1
16 9
x y b) 2 29 18 16 64 71x x y y
c)
2 2( 1) ( 2)1
16 9
x y c) 2 29 18 16 64 199x x y y
d) 2( 2) 4x y d) 2 4 0x y x
XIII. Sequence and Series
1. Write out the first four terms of the sequence whose general term is 3 2na n
2. Write out the first four terms of the sequence whose general term is 2 1na n
3. Write out the first four terms of the sequence whose general term is 2 1nna
4. Find the general term for the following sequence: 2,5,8,11,14,17....
5. Find the general term for the following sequence: 1 12 4
4,2,1, , ,....
6. Find the sum:
6
0
2 1k
k
7. Expand the following:
44
0
4k k
k
x yk
XIV. Functions
Let ( ) 2 9f x x and 2( ) 16g x x . Find the following.
1. ( 3) (2)f g 5. ( )( 2)g f
2. (5) (4)f g 6. ( ( ))f g x
3. ( 1) ( 2)f g 7. 1(2)f
4. (5)
(5)f
g 8. 1(3)f f
XV. Fundamental Counting Rule, Factorials, Permutations, & Combinations
1. Evaluate:
8!
3! 8 3 !
2. A particular new car model is available with five choices of color, three choices of transmission, four types of interior, and two types of engines. How many different variations of this model car are possible?
3. In a horse race, how many different finishes among the first three places are possible for a ten-horse race?
4. How many ways can a three-Person subcommittee be selected from a committee of seven people? How many ways can a president, vice president, and secretary be chosen from a committee of seven people.
6 October 2012 College Level Math
XVI. Trigonometry
1. Graph the following through on period: ( ) sinf x x
2. Graph the following through on period: ( ) cos(2 )g x x 3. A man whose eye level is 6 feet above the ground stands 40 feet from a building. The angle of elevation
from eye level to the top of the building is 72 . How tall is the building?
4. A man standing at the top of a 65m lighthouse observes two boats. Using the data given in the picture, determine the distance between the two boats.
7 October 2012 College Level Math
Answers I. Factoring and Expanding Polynomials
When factoring, there are three steps to keep in mind.
1. Always factor out the Greatest Common Factor 2. Factor what is left 3. If there are four terms, consider factoring by grouping.
Answers:
1. 2 215 ( 3 4)a b ab b
2. 2 (7 10)( 3)x y y xy
3 3 2 2 3 2 2
2 2
2 2
2
7 21 10 30
(7 21 10 30)
(7 21 ) ( 10 30)
7 ( 3) 10( 3)
x y x y x y x y
x y xy y xy
x y xy y xy
x y y xy xy
3. 3 2 22(3 4)( 1)x y xy
4. (2 3 )( 2 )x y x y
5. 2 2( 2)( 3)y y
4 2
2
6
6
( 2)( 3)
y y
u u
u u
6. 2 27( 2 )( 2 4 )x y x xy y
7. 2 2(3 2 )(3 2 )(9 4 )r s r s r s
8. 2( 1)x y Hint: Let u=x+y
9. 3 23 3x x x
10. 2 24 12 9x xy y
11. 23 2 3 2x
12. 4 3 24 10 12 9x x x x
13. 5 4 3 25 10 10 5 1x x x x x
14. 6 5 4 3 26 15 20 15 6 1x x x x x x
Since there are 4 terms, we consider factoring by grouping.
First, take out the Greatest Common Factor.
When you factor by grouping, be careful of the minus sign
between the two middle terms.
When a problem looks slightly odd, we can make it appear more natural to us
by using substitution (a procedure needed for calculus). Let 2u y Factor
the expression with us. Then, substitute the 2y back in place of the us. If
you can factor more, proceed. Otherwise, you are done.
Formula for factoring the sum of two cubes:
3 3 2 2( )( )a b a b a ab b
The difference of two cubes is:
3 3 2 2( )( )a b a b a ab b
When doing problems 13 and 14, you may want to use
Pascals Triangle
1
1 1
1 2 1
1 3 3 1
1 4 6 4 1
8 October 2012 College Level Math
II. Simplification of Rational Algebraic Expressions 1. 13 2. 38
3. 2
9
x
4. 49 2
5. 6
2x
III. Solving Equations
A. Solving Linear Equations
1. 5x 2. 14
5x or
42
5 3. 3y 4. 1x
B. Solving Quadratic & Polynomial Equations
1. 8 2
,3 3
y
2. 0, 3,5x
3. 1 1 3
,3 6 6
ix
4. 10, 4x
5. 1 3
2 2
it
6. 2, 1 3x i
7. 3, 4x
8. 1 21
10y
C. Solving Rational Equations
1. 1
3y
1 20
1 1
1 2( 1)( 1) 0( 1)( 1)
1 1
1 2( 1)( 1) ( 1)( 1) 0
1 1
( 1) 2( 1) 0
3 1 0
y y
y y y yy y
y y y yy y
y y
y
2. Working the problem, we get 3x . However, 3 causes the denominators to be zero in the original equation. Hence, this problem has no solution.
If you have 4 , you can write 4 as a product of primes (2 2) . In square
roots, it takes two of the same thing on the inside to get one thing on the
outside: 4 2 2 2
Solving Quadratics or Polynomials:
1. Try to factor
2. If factoring is not possible, use the quadratic formula
2 4
2
b b acx
a
where 2 0ax bx c
Note: 1i
Example: 12 12 2 2 3 2 3i i i
Solving Rational Equations:
1. Find the lowest common denominator for
all fractions in the equation
2. Multiply both sides of the equation by the
lowest common denominator
3. Simplify and solve for the given variable
4. Check answers to make sure that they
do not cause zero to occur in the
denominators of the original equation.
9 October 2012 College Level Math
3. 15
4x
4. 2x 5. 1, 5a
6. 2,1x
D. Solving Absolute Value Equations
1. 2z or 7z
5 2 1 8
5 2 9
z
z
5 2 9z or 5 2 9z 2 4z or 2 14z 2. 0x or 10x 3. No solution. An absolute value
cannot equal a negative number
4. 2x or 1x 5. 3y
1 7y y
1 7y y or 1 (7 )y y
0 8 or 2 6y
No solution or 3y
Hence, 3y is the only solution
E. Solving Exponential Equations
1. 3x
3
10 1000
10 10
3
x
x
x
2. 1x 3. 4x 4. 1, 1x
5. 1, 3x
F. Solving Logarithmic Equations
1. 2
3x
2 2log ( 5) log (1 5 )
5 1 5
6 4
x x
x x
x
2. 1,1x
3 3
2
3 3
2
2
2log ( 1) log (4 )
log ( 1) log (4 )
( 1) 4
2 1 0
x x
x x
x x
x x
Solving Absolute Value Equations:
1. Isolate the Absolute value on one side of the equation
and everything else on the other side
2. Remember that 2x means that the object inside
the absolute value has a distance of 2 away from zero.
The only numbers with a distance of 2 away from zero
are 2 and -2. Hence, 2x or 2x . Use the same thought process for solving other absolute value
equations
Note: An absolute value cannot equal a negative value.
2x does not make any sense.
Note: Always check your answers!!
Some properties you will need to be familiar with.
If r sa a , then r s
If r ra b , then a b
Properties of logarithms to be familiar with:
If log logb bM N , then M N
If logb x y , then this equation can be rewritten in
exponential form as yb x
log ( ) log logb b bM N M N
log log logb b bM
M NN
log logrb bM r M
Always check your answer!! Bases and arguments of
logarithms cannot be negative
10 October 2012 College Level Math
3. 3x is the only solution since -3 causes the argument of a logarithm to be negative
4. 1
2x is the only solution since -1 causes the argument of a logarithm to be negative
5. 1x is the only solution since -3 causes the argument of a logarithm to be negative
6. ln 4
2ln 3 ln 4x
2 13 4
2 ln 3 ( 1) ln 4
2 ln 3 ln 4 ln 4
(2ln 3 ln 4) ln 4
x x
x x
x x
x
G. Solving Radical Equations
1. 5
8y
4 2 1 2 0
12 1
2
12 1
4
52
4
y
y
y
y
2. 4x 3. 5x
2 2
5 1 2 1 0
5 1 2 1
5 1 2 1
5 1 4 1
x x
x x
x x
x x
4. No solution. 4x does not work in the original equation. 5. 2x 6. 3, 3w
IV. Solving Inequalities
A. Linear
1. 3
4 25x
3
65x
10x
Interval Notation: , 10
Solving Equations with radicals:
1. Isolate the radical on one side of the equation and everything
else on the other side
2. If it is a square root, then square both sides. If it is a cube root,
then cube both sides, etc
3. Solve for the given variable and check your answer
Note: A radical with an even index such as 64, , ,
cannot have a negative argument (The square root can but
you must use complex numbers).
When solving linear inequalities, you use the same steps as
solving an equation. The difference is when you multiply or
divide both sides by a negative number, you must change
the direction of the inequality.
For example:
5 3
1 5 1 3
5 3
11 October 2012 College Level Math
2. 7x Interval Notation: ,7
3. 4x Internal Notation: 4,
4. 4 5x Internal Notation: 4,5
B. Absolute Value
1.
4 1 6
6 4 1 6
7 4 5
7 5
4 4
x
x
x
x
Interval: 7 5
,4 4
2. 1x or 5
2x
Interval: 5
, 1,2
3. 20x or 10x
Interval: , 20 10,
4. 5 10x
Interval: 5,10
Think of the inequality sign as an alligator. If the alligator is
facing away from the absolute value sign such as, 5x ,
then one can remove the absolute value and write
5 5x . This expression indicates that x cannot be farther than 5 units away from zero.
If the alligator faces the absolute value such as, 5x ,
then one can remove the absolute value and write 5x
or 5x . These expressions express that x cannot be less than 5 units away from zero.
12 October 2012 College Level Math
C. Quadratic or Rational
1.
23 11 4 0
3 1 4 0
x x
x x
1
3x and 4x make the above factors zero.
Answer: 1
,43
3 6x y
2. 4 1
, ,3 2
3. 2,3
4. 7
, 1,32
V. Lines and Regions
1. x intercept: (5,0) y intercept: (0,6)
slope: 6
5
2. x intercept: (3,0) y intercept: None
slope: None
Steps to solving quadratic or rational
inequalities.
1. Zero should be on one side of the
inequalities while everything else is on
the other side.
2. Factor
3. Set the factors equal to zero and
solve.
4. Draw a chart. You should have a
number line and lines dividing regions
on the numbers that make the factors
zero. Write the factors in on the side.
5. In each region, pick a number and
substitute it in for x in each factor.
Record the sign in that region.
6. In our example, 3x+1 is negative in
the first region when we substitute a
number such as -2 in for x. Moreover,
3x+1 will be negative everywhere in
the first region. Likewise, x-4 will be
negative throughout the whole first
region. If x is a number in the first
region, then both factors will be
negative. Since a negative times a
negative number is positive, x in the
first region is not a solution. Continue
with step 5 until you find a region that
satisfies the inequality.
7. Especially with rational expression,
check that your endpoints do not
make the original inequality
undefined.
3x + 1
x - 4
4
- + + - - -
13 October 2012 College Level Math
3. x intercept: None y intercept: (0,-4)
slope: 0
4. 1
42
y x
5. 1 1
34 2
y x
6. 2x y
7. 3 6x y
14 October 2012 College Level Math
VI. Graphing Relations
1. 2y x
Domain: 2,
Range: 0,
2. 2y x
Domain: 0,
Range: 2,
3. 1
2
xy
x
Domain: All Real Numbers except -2
Range: ,1 1,
4. 1 3f x x
Domain: ,
Range: ,3
15 October 2012 College Level Math
5. 22 5
9
xf x
x
Domain: All Real Number except 3 Range: All Real Numbers
6. 2 2x y
Domain: 2,
Range: ,
7. 2 8 6y x x
Domain: ,
Range: 22,
8. y x
Domain: ,0
Range: 0,
16 October 2012 College Level Math
9. 3xy
Domain: ,
Range: 0,
10. 2
2
6
3 2 1
xh x
x x
Domain: All Real Numbers except: 1
,13
Range: 2, ,0
VII. Exponents and Radicals
1. 2x
2. 5 147 4 48 35 3 16 3 19 3
3. 5 3 15
4.
7
4
x
y
5.
3
3
2 5x x
y
6.
2 26 2 6 12
3 8 3 6
54 6
9 36
a b a b
a b a b
7.
3 3 3 3 3
33 3 32 2 2 2 2 2
27 3 3 4 3 4 3 4
2 242 2 2
a a a ab a ab ab
ab baba b a b a b
8. 5 3
9. 3 3
93 3
x x x x x
xx x
17 October 2012 College Level Math
VIII. Complex Numbers
1. 16 4 9 4 12 8i i i
2. 216 9 4 3 12 12i i i
3.
2
2
16 4 4 3 12 12 4
3 3 3 9 9 39
i i i i
i i i i
4. 24 3 4 3 16 9 16 9 25i i i
5. 2 24 3 4 3 4 3 16 24 9 16 24 9 7 24i i i i i i i
6. 12 1225 24 2 1i i i i i i i
7.
2
2
3 2 4 5 12 23 10 12 23 10 2 23
4 5 4 5 16 25 16 25 41 41
i i i i i i
i i i
IX. Exponential Functions and Logarithms
1. 3 1xf x
2. 12xg x
3. 81
log 264
4. 25 25
5.
2
4
log 4
2
16
x
x
x
18 October 2012 College Level Math
6. x=3; -3 is not a solution because bases are not allowed to be negative
7. 3logh x x
8. 4 4 43
log log 3 log yy
9. 1
ntr
A Pn
where
4
4
4
0.121000 850 1
4
20 0.121
17 4
20 0.12log log 1
17 4
20 0.12log 4 log 1
17 4
20log
17
0.124log 1
4
t
t
t
t
t
A = Money ended with
P = Principle started with
r = Yearly interest rate
n = Number of compounds per year
t = Number of years
19 October 2012 College Level Math
X. Systems of Equations
1. 1 3
,2,2 4
2.
3 2
5 5
8 2
5 5
k
k
k
for k Natural numbers
3. 5 8
5 14
4.
1 0 2
2 4 0
1 2 5
5. 5 6.
1 1
2 2
1 1
4 4
XI. Story Problems
1. Let x = the money Pete earns 2 10 760x x Pete earns $250 2 10x the money Sam earns Sam earns $510
2. x = burned calories walking 2 3 5 770
70
x x
x
3x = burned calories running Answer: 210 calories
3. x = length of pole 2 1
253 6x x x Answer: 150 feet
XII. Conic Sections
1. a) 2 22 16x y
Center: (2,0)
Radius: 4
20 October 2012 College Level Math
b)
2 21 2
116 9
x y
Center: (-1,2)
Foci: 1 7,2
c)
2 21 2
116 9
x y
Center: (-1,2)
Foci: (-6,2), (4,2)
Asymptotes:
3 3
4 4
3 5
4 4
y x
y x
d) 2
2 4x y
Vertex: (2,4)
Foci: 15
2,4
Directrix: 17
4y
2. a) Circle 2 22 16x y
b) Ellipse
2 21 2
116 9
x y
c) Hyperbola
2 21 2
116 9
x y
d) Parabola 2
2 4y x
21 October 2012 College Level Math
XIII. Sequence and Series
1. 1, 4, 7, 10
2. 0, 3, 8, 15
3. 3, 5, 9, 17
4. 3 1na n
5.
131
4 22
nn
na
6. 6
0
2 1 1 1 3 5 7 9 11 35k
k
7.
44 4 3 2 2 3 4
0
44 6 4k k
k
x y y xy x y x y xk
XIV. Functions
1. 3 2 3 12 15f g
2. 5 4 19 0 19f g
3. 1 2 7 12 84f g
4.
5 19 19
5 9 9
f
g
5. 2 2 5 9g f g f g
6. 2 2 216 2 16 9 2 41f g x f x x x
7. 19
;2
xf x
1
2 9 72
2 2f
8. 3
22 October 2012 College Level Math
XV. Fundamental Counting Rule, Permutations, & Combinations
1. 56
2. 120
3. 720
4. Committee 35
Elected 210
XVI. Trigonometry
1. sinf x x
2. cos 2g x x
3. 6 40tan72 129.1x
4. Distance between the boats 65tan 42 65tan35 50 11.59meters