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SAT - Passport to Advanced Math

Module - 7
Topic-Polynomials and Algebraic Fractions

A polynomial is a single term or the sum of difference of two or more unlike terms.

Classifying Polynomials :

A polynomial can be classified according to the number of terms it contains.

 A ploynomial with one term, as in 3x2, is called a monomial.

 A polynomial with two unlike terms, as in 2x + 3y, is called a binomial.
 A polynomial with three unlike terms, as in x2 + 3x – 5, is called a trinomial.
Remainder Theorem : When polynomial f(x) is divided by (x – a), the remainder R is equal to f(a),
polynomial f(x) can be expressed as follows.
f(x) = (x –a) Q (x) + R, where Q(x) is the quotient and R is the remainder.
The identical equation above is true for all values of x, expecially x = a.
Therefore, f(a) = (a – a) Q(a) + R  f(a) = R.
Factor Theorem : The factor theorem states that if x – a is a factor of polynomial p(x), then p(x) has
a zero at x = a. In other words, if (x – a) is a factor of p(x), f(a) = 0. for example, the factors of f(x) =
x2 + x – 30 are x – 5 and x + 6 since x2 + x – 30 = (x – 5) (x + 6). If x – 5 = 0, the function has a zero
at x = 5. f(5) = 0 since 52 + 5 – 30 = 0. (5, 0) is a point on the graph of f. If x + 6 = 0, x = – 6 is a
zero. f(–6) = 0 since (–6)2 – 6 – 30 = 0. (–6, 0) is a point on the graph f.
Ex.1. When a polynomial is divided by x – a, the remainder r is equal to f(a).
For example, to determine the remainder when x2 + 2x + 4 is divided by (x –1), simply find (f). (1)2 +
2(1) + 4 = 7. Since f(1) = 7, the remainder is 7. We can confirm this by performing long division.

x+3
(x – 1) 2
x + 2x + 4
2
–(x – x)
Sol.: 3x + 4
–(3x – 3)
7

Ex.2. If x + 2 is a factor of x3y + 4x2 + cx + 8y, what is the value of c?

Sol.: If x + 2 is a factor, then f(–2) = 0. Note that –2 is only plugged in for x, not y(if y + 2 were a factor, then
–2 would be plugged in for y.)
(–2)3 y + 4(–2)2 + c(–2) + 8y = 0
–8y + 16 – 2c + 8y = 0

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 16 – 2c = 0
16 = 2c
8=c
When the factor of an expression is x, the expression is divisible by x and has a 0 at x = 0 (If x is a factor,
x – 0 is a factor. If x– 0 = 0, x = 0.) Thus, f(0) = 0. Likewise, if a multiple of x, such as 2x, is a factor of
a polynomial, then the function has a zero at x = 0.
I. Solve each problem and choose the best answer from the choices provided :
1. For the function f(x), f(0) = 1,f(1) =2, f(2) = 0, and f(3) = – 1. Which of the following is a factor of f?
(a) x + 1 (b) x – 1 (c) x –2 (d) x – 3
2. For a polynomial f(x), f(3) = 4. What is the remainder when f(x) is divided by x – 3?
(a) 1 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) 4

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 Topic-Rational Exponents and Radicals

Rules for Rational Exponents

Zero Exponent Rule Negative Exponent Rule Fractional Exponent Rule

 x  0 x  0  x  0 when n is even 
1 1 n
x0  1 x a   x
xa xn
a
1 a

x a
 xa x n  n xa   x
n

a 4 b2 2 2
0
Ex.  2x   1   27  3   3 27  2
  3  9
b 2 c 5 a 4 c 5

x 3 y 2
Ex.1. Simplify and solve : 4 3 7
x yz

x 3 y 2 x 3 .x 4 .z 7 x 7 z7
Sol.:  
x 4 y3 z 7 y3 .y 2 y5

x3
Ex.2. If x  1 and  x n , what is the value of n?
x2

3 1 1
(a)  (b) –1 (c)  (d)
2 2 2

x3
Sol.: 2
 xn
x


 
x 3 2

 xn
x2
3
x2
 2
 xn
x
3
2
 x2  xn
3 4

 x2 2  xn
1

 x 2  xn
1
 n= 
2
The correct choice is (c)

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II . Simplify or solve each problem and choose the best answer from the choices provided :

 x 4 y9  4x 0 
1.  2 3  3  
 x y  y 

(a) 4x6 y9 (b) 4x 2 y9 (c) x 6 y 6 (d) 4y6

2. 5x 3 2
6
3

(a) – 8 (b) 4 (c) 0 (d) 8

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 Topic-More Advanced Algebraic Methods and Compound Functions

This section extends some previously covered algebraic skills related to factors, equation, and more
complicated algebraic expressions.

Factoring by Grouping Pairs of Terms :

Some polynomials with four terms can be factored by grouping appropriate pairs of terms together and
then factoring out a binomial that is common to both pairs of terms.

Zero of a Function :

A zero of a function is any value of the variable that makes the function evaluate to zero. The zeros of
a function correspond to the x-intercepts of the graph of the function.

Ex.1. f(x) = 2x3 – 5x2 – 8x + 20

What are the zero of function f defined by the above equations?

Sol.: To find the zeros of function f, find the solutions of the equation f(x) = 0 :

(2x3 – 5x2) + (–8x + 20) = 0

x2 (2x – 5) – 4(2x – 5) = 0

(2x – 5) (x2 – 4) = 0

(2x – 5) (x – 2) (x + 2) = 0

5
Setting each factor equal to 0 yields x = –2, 2, and .
2

5
The zeros of the function are –2, 2, and . The zeros of function f correspond to the x-intercepts of
2
its graph in the xy-plane.

Ex.2. If f(x) = (2x)2 + 4 and g(x) = x3, what is the value of m if f(g(3m)) = 27m7 + 4?

Sol.: g(3m) = 33 m3

 g(3m) = 27m3

 f(27m3) = (2(27m3))2 + 4

 f(27m3) = (54m3)2 + 4

 f(27m3) = 2916m6 + 4

 2916 m6 + 4 = 27m7 + 4

 2916 m6 + 4 = 27m7 + 4

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 2916m6 = 27m7

2916m 6 27m 7
 
27 27

 0 = m7 – 108 m6

 0 = m6 (m – 108)

 m = 0, 108

III. Solve each problem and choose the best answer from the choices provided :
1. If f(x) = 4 + 7x and g(x) = 3x2 , what is f(g(3))?

(a) 27 (b) 36 (c) 81 (d) 193

2. If d(x) = 6x + 2x2 and f(x) = (3x + 5)2, what is f(d(–2))?

(a) 49 (b) 27 (c) 8 (d) 0

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 Class Assignment

Choose the correct option :

1. In x3 + 2x2 + x + 2 = 0, what is the only rational solution to the equation?
(a) –2 (b) –1 (c) 0 (d) 1
3
2. If (x –3) is a factor of x – 4x + k, what is the value of the constant k?
(a) –15 (b) – 10 (c) 10 (d) 15
2
  x 4 y 
3.  1 3  
 3x y 

9x 6 1 9y6
(a) 4 (b) (c) 4 (d) 9x 6 y 4
y 9x 6 y 4 x
2
4. a 5  1  17
(a) 32 (b) 64 (c) 128 (d) 1024
5. If f(x) = 4x and g(x) = 3(x + 4), what is the value of f(g(2))?
(a) 72 (b) – 72 (c) 64 (d) 68
6. Which equation(s) represent(s) the graph below?
y

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
x
–5 –4 –3 –2 –1 –1 1 2 3 4 5
–2
–3
–4

I. y = (x + 2) (x2 – 4x – 12)

II. y = (x –3) (x2 + x – 2)

III. y = (x –1) (x2 – 5x – 6)

(a) I only (b) II only (c) I and II (d) II and III

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 Home Assignment

Choose the correct option :

1. p = 4a2 + 2a + 1

q = 2a2 – 3a + 7

The polynomials p and q are shown above. What is the value of 3p + q?

(a) 6a2 – a + 8 (b) 14a2 + 6a + 3 (c) 10a2 – 7a – 20 (d) 14a2 + 3a + 10

2. Which of the following is equivalent to (yz2 + 3yz – 4y2z2) – (–2y2z2 + 5yz – 6yz2)?

(a) – 5yz2 – 2yz – 6y2z2 (b) 7yz2 – 2yz – 2y2z2 (c) –yz2 + 8yz + 2y2z2 (d) –yz2 + 8yz – 10y2z2

3. What is the remainder when x3 – x2 – 3x – 1 is divided by (x + 3)?

(a) –36 (b) – 28 (c) 14 (d) 36

4. When graphed, the function p has x-intercepts at –2, 1, and 3. What is a possible expression for p(x)?

(a) p(x) = x3 + 2x2 – 5x – 6 (b) p(x) = x3 + 6x2 + 11x + 6

(c) p(x) = x3 – 2x2 – 5x + 6 (d) p(x) = x3 – 6x2 + 11x – 6

5. For the function f(x), f(0) = 1, f(1) = 2,f(2) = 0, and f(3) = – 1. Which of the following is a factor of f?

(a) x + 1 (b) x – 1 (c) x –2 (d) x – 3

6. f(x) = x3 + x2 + x – 2

5
g(x) = x3 + 3x2 + x 3
2

Two functions are shown above. Which of the following is divisible by 3x – 2 ?

(a) f(x) (b) f(x) + g(x) (c) f(x) + 2(gx) (d) 2f(x) + g(x)

7. f(x) = 8x3 + 3x2 – 4x + 1

g(x) = 7x2 – 4x

Which of the following has 2x – 1 as a factor?

(a) g(x) (b) f(x) + g(x) (c) f(x) + 3g(x) (d) 3f(x) + g(x)

2a
8. Which of the following is equivalent to x b , for all values of x?

(a) b
ax 2 (b) b
x 2a (c) b
xa  2 (d) 2a
xb

9. If x2 = y3, for what value of z does x3z = y9 ?

(a) –1 (b) 0 (c) 1 (d) 2

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 100x 8 y 2
10. Which of the following is equivalent to ?
25x 4 y 2

(a) 4x4 (b) 4x4y (c) 4x2 (d) 4x2y

27x
11. If 7x –2y = 10, what is the value of ?
4y
(a) 210
(b) 410
(c) 510
(d) It cannot be determined from the given information

 1 3n
.
4
12. Which of the following is equivalent to 
 x
 x ?

3n 3
2 n 2
(a) x 2 (b) x 2 (c) x6n (d) x–6n

13. Which of the following is equivalent to 3

x11 . 5 x ?
3 58 28 2
(a) (b) (c) (d)
x5 x 15 x 11 x3

2
 10x 2 y    x  y    x 2  y 2 
14.  2   2 
 x  xy   2xy   y 

Which of the following is equivalent to the expression above?

5y 2 y2 xy xy
(a) (b) (c) x  y (d) xy
xy xy

3y 1
x 4

15. Which of the following is equivalent to 2y  2

?
x 4

5y 1 y3 y 1 y 1
(a) (b) (c) (d)
x 4 x 4 x 4 x 3

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