M103 PreCalculus Diagnostic Test

Success in a first year Calculus class is highly dependent on your algebra skills. The following is a self-
diagnostic test to be taken by students prior to entering a Math 103 Calculus class (note that there is a
separate test for students entering Math 110).

Instructions: Complete the following test in no more than 90 minutes.

Do not use a calculator for any questions.
Do not refer to books, notes, or other material while completing the test.
Only select one answer per question.

Once you have completed all 40 questions, refer to the last page for scoring and recommendations.
 1 2
1. 2   
4 3
22
a)
24
11
b)
6
6
c)
7
6
d)
14
4
e)
7

1 2 1
2. Express 2
 2  2 3 as a single fraction:
y x y x y
x2 y  2 y 2  1
a)
x2 y3
4
b) 4 6
x y
x  2y
c)
x2 y3
x2  3 y
d)
x2 y 2
x 4 y 4  2 xy 5  x 2
e)
x4 y6

3. Simplify
 2xy  2 3

 x y
2 2

a) 6xy 4
b) 8x 7 y8
6 y3
c)
x
8 y3
d)
x
8 y4
e)
x
 1
4. 16 4  40 =
a) 2
1
b)
2
c) 0
1
d) 
2
e) 2

5. The largest common factor of is

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

6. Factor x 2  2 x  8
a)  x  2 x  4
b)  x  8 x  1
c)  x  8 x  1
d)  x  2 x  4
e)  x  4 x  2

7. If x 2  4 x  1  0 , then x 
a) 2 3 , 2 3
b) 2  3 ,  2  3
c) 2 5 , 2 5
d) 3,  3
e) None of the above.

8. If 2 x  3  9 , then x 
a) 6 or 3
b) 6 or  3
c) 6 or  3
d) 6 or 3
e) None of the above.
9. If x  3  5 , then
a) 2  x  8
b) 8  x  2
c) x  8  x  2
d) x  2  x  8
e) x  8  x  2

10. If , then
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

11. Solve the following pair of equations for x and y : 2 x  y  5 and 4 x  y  7

a) x  2 , y  1
b) x  2 , y  1
c) x  1 , y  3
d) x  6 , y  17
e) x  2 , y  1

1
1
xy
12. 
1 y

x2 x
y
a)
x
x
b)
y
1  xy
c)
x
d) xy
e) xy  1
 1 x
13.  2 =
2 x  18 x  81
1
a)
2  x  9
3  x  3
b)
2  x  9  x  9 
1
c)
2  x  9
9
d)
 x  9  x  9 
1 x
e)
 x  9  x  7 
1
14. If x  11 and y  25 , then  x  y  2

a) 6
b) 6
11
c)
55
1
d)
6
1
e) 
6

15. Factor 16 x 4  1
 2 x  1  2 x  1
2 2
a)

 4 x  1  4 x  1
2 2
b)

c)  2 x 1 2 x  1  4 x2  1
d)  2 x 1 2 x  1  2 x2 1
e)  2 x 1 2 x  1  2 x2  1
16. If , then x 

a) 2
b) 8
c) 8
d) 2
e) None of the above.

17. If then
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

18. Let and . Evaluate

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

19. The graph of the equation is

a) a parabola with vertex
b) a parabola with vertex
c) a line with slope and intercept
d) a line with slope and intercept
e) a circle with radius 2

20. The graph of the equation is

a) a downward opening parabola with vertex
b) a downward opening parabola with vertex
c) a upward opening parabola with vertex
d) an upward opening parabola with vertex
e) a circle with radius 2
21. Find the equation of the straight line through points and .
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

22. Find the equation of the line perpendicular to through the point .
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

23. Which graph best represents the equation ?

a) (2,5) b) c) (-2,5) d) e) (2,-5)

(2,5) (-2,5)

24. The line intersects the parabola at

a) and
b) and
c) and
d) and
e) None of the above.

25. The parabolas and intersect at points

a) and
b) and
c) and
d) and
e) none of the above

26. After a 20% price decrease, the cost of an item is $4.20. What was the original price?
a) $4.40
b) $5.04
c) $5.00
d) $4.96
e) $5.25
27. Adam can shovel a driveway in two hours. Bev can shovel the same driveway in three hours. How
long would it take them working together?
a) 2 hours 30 minutes
b) 2 hours 20 minutes
c) 48 minutes
d) 1 hour 12 minutes
e) 1 hour 36 minutes

28. A car leaves Regina at 1 PM and drives along Highway #1 at constant speed 85 km/h. A 2nd car leaves
Regina at 1:30 PM and follows the same highway at constant speed 110 km/h. At what time will it pass
the first car?
a) 1:47 PM
b) 2:07 PM
c) 2:42 PM
d) 3:12 PM
e) 3:30 PM

29. A cell phone plan costs $20 a month and includes 200 free minutes. Each additional minute costs 5
cents. Assume you use your cell phone for at least 200 minutes a month. If x is the total number of
minutes a month, then your total cost C is given by
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

30. Find the area of the triangle that has sides with length 3, 4, and 5.
a) 6
b) 7.5
c) 10
d) 12
e) 15

31. Find the distance between points and

a) 5
b)
c)
d)
e)
32. Find the total area of the given shape, a square with side length 2 topped by a semi-circle.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

33.

a) 3
b) 9
c) 27
d) 4
e) none of the above

34. If log a 64  2 , then a 

a) 8
b) 32
c) 128
d) 4096
e) 8

 
35. Simplify log xy 2 

a)
b)
c)
d)
e) none of the above

36. If 4 x1  8 , then x 

a) 1
1
b)
2
c) 2
d) 2
1
e)
2
37. Simplify e4 x 2e x 1

a) e5 x 1
2
 2 x 2
b) e4 x
c) e3 x  3
d) e3 x 1
e) e3

38. If 4 x  40 , then

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

39. If log 2 x  log 2  x  2   3 , then x 

a) 4 , 2
b) 4
c) 2
d) 2 ,  4
e) None of the above

40. log5 5 

a) 2
b) 2
1
c)
2
1
d)
2
e) 0
Answers and Scoring
The answer key is given as follows.
1b 2a 3e 4b 5c 6d 7a 8c 9d 10e

11b 12b 13a 14d 15c 16c 17d 18e 19c 20a

21e 22a 23c 24a 25e 26e 27d 28d 29a 30a

31d 32d 33d 34e 35d 36b 37a 38d 39b 40c

Add up your correct answers for all 40 questions. Your score: ________ out of 40

Recommendations:
If you scored 31 or more points, you are likely ready for Calculus. However, you will want to review any
areas of weakness that arose while you were working on this test. Refer to the resources section for
some review suggestions.

If you scored between 20 and 30 points, and are planning to enroll in Calculus, you should definitely
review relevant PreCalculus material as soon as possible. Refer to the resources section for some review
suggestions. If you do not feel comfortable doing this on your own, you may wish to consider enrolling
in PreCalculus Math 102 instead.

If you scored less than 20 points, you will likely have a difficult time with the material in a Calculus
course and face a high probability of failure. You should consider enrolling in PreCalculus Math 102
instead.

Note: While your score on this test is a good indication of how well you might do in a Calculus class, it
is of course not a guarantee of either your success or failure.
Resources

1. Google Terms

The following is a list of relevant terms for each of the 40 questions in this diagnostic test. If you had
difficulties with specific questions, you may wish to google the given term below to look for useful
resources, including online examples, YouTube videos, and more.

1. Google: “fraction arithmetic”

2. Google: “simplify algebraic expressions involving fractions”
3. Google: “simplify algebraic expressions involving exponents”
4. Google: “exponent arithmetic”
5. Google: “common factors”
6. Google: “factoring trinomials”
7. Google: “quadratic formula”
8. Google: ”solving equations involving absolute values”
9. Google: “solving inequalities involving absolute values”
10. Google: “solving quadratic inequalities”
11. Google: “solving two linear equations”
12. Google: “simplify algebraic expressions involving complex fractions”
13. Google: “simplify algebraic expressions involving common denominators”
14. Google: “exponent arithmetic”
15. Google: “difference of squares”
16. Google: “solving rational equations”
17. Google: “evaluating functions”
18. Google: “function composition examples”
19. Google: “equation of a line”
20. Google: “equation of a parabola”
21. Google: “equation of a line through two points”
22. Google: “equation of a perpendicular line”
23. Google: “finding the vertex of a parabola”
24. Google: “intersection of line and parabola example”
25. Google: “intersection of two parabolas”
26. Google: “working with percentages”
27. Google: “shared work word problems”
28. Google: “distance speed time problems”
29. Google: “linear cost function examples”
30. Google: “area of triangles”
31. Google: “distance between two points”
32. Google: “area of squares and circles”
33. Google: “evaluating basic logarithms”
34. Google: “finding the base of a logarithm”
35. Google: “log laws”
36. Google: “solving exponential equations”
37. Google: “base-e exponent laws”
38. Google: “solving exponential equations”
39. Google: “solving logarithmic equations with log laws”
40. Google: “evaluating basic logarithms”

2. Text Resources

If you require more in-depth review (and have elected not to enrol in Math 102), you should also
consider working through a PreCalculus text.

The following are online open text (i.e. free) resources:

 Precalculus, 3rd Edition: http://www.stitz-zeager.com/

 Precalculus: An Investigation of Functions: http://www.opentextbookstore.com/precalc/

The following are relatively inexpensive PreCalculus books that can be ordered through online
booksellers (such as Amazon).

 Just-in-Time Algebra and Trigonometry for Calculus, by Mueller, Brent

 Schaum’s Outline of PreCalculus, by Safier