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AoPS Post Test Intermediate Algebra

The document presents 14 problems testing skills in intermediate algebra. It then provides the answers to check understanding of concepts like solving equations, factoring polynomials, finding roots, and more. The document concludes that the answers given are meant to check understanding, and that problem sets in the class will include full step-by-step solutions.

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Elon Musk
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© © All Rights Reserved
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651 views3 pages

AoPS Post Test Intermediate Algebra

The document presents 14 problems testing skills in intermediate algebra. It then provides the answers to check understanding of concepts like solving equations, factoring polynomials, finding roots, and more. The document concludes that the answers given are meant to check understanding, and that problem sets in the class will include full step-by-step solutions.

Uploaded by

Elon Musk
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Art of Problem Solving Online Classes

Do You Know Intermediate Algebra?

If you can solve nearly all of the following problems with little difficulty, then the Art of Problem
Solving Intermediate Algebra text would only serve as a review for you.
1. Solve for real and complex solutions to each of the following equations:
2
√ − 17x √
(a) 7x = −101
(b) √ x − 5 + x + 15 = 10
20
(c) 3 x2 − 1 + √3 2 = 12
x −1
(d) x6 = 1

2. The sum of the roots to a certain quadratic equation is 20. The product of the roots is 91.
What are the roots of the quadratic?

3. Find integers x and y (x > y) that satisfy x + y + xy = 223 and x2 y + xy 2 = 5460.

p
4
√
4. Simplify this expression: 161 − 72 5

5. Factor completely 6x8 − 25x7 − 31x6 + 140x5 − 6x3 + 25x2 + 31x − 140.

6. If a is an integer, what rational numbers could satisfy the equation 6x3 − 17x2 + ax = 35?

7. Find integers a, b, and c such that the equation x4 + ax3 + bx2 + cx + 4 = 0 has four distinct
integer solutions.

8. For x > 0, find the minimum possible value of 4x + x9 .

1 1
9. If x + x = 5, find the value of x5 + x5
.

10. If f (n) is a second degree polynomial such that f (0) = 7, f (1) = 13, and f (2) = 23, find f (3).

11. What is the sum of the coefficients in the expansion of (4x − 2y)8 ?

12. For how many of the first 500 natural numbers, n, will the equation
n = b2xc + b4xc + b8xc + b20xc have solutions?

1
The Art of Problem Solving Online Classes
Do You Know Intermediate Algebra?

13. Find (x, y, z) such that


(i) x + y + z = 23
(ii) xy + yz + zx = 144
(iii) xyz = 252
(iv) x > y > z

k
14. If P (x) denotes a fifth degree polynomial such that P (k) = k+1 for k =0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5,
determine P (6).

15. Find all functions that satisfy the identity f (x + 5y) + f (x − 5y) = 2x2 + 50y 2 .

16. Prove that there is no polynomial P (x) with integer coefficients such that P (1) = 2, P (2) = 3,
and P (3) = 1.

2
The Art of Problem Solving Online Classes
Do You Know Intermediate Algebra?

The answers to Do You Know Intermediate Algebra are below. (The answers to problem sets
and challenges given in the class will include full detailed solutions as opposed to the mere answers
provided below.)
√
1. (a) 17±i142539
(b) 21 √
(c) ±3, ± √ 1001 √
1±i 3 −1±i 3
(d) ±1, 2 , 2

2. 7 and 13

3. x = 15, y = 13
√
4. 5 − 2

5. (x − 1)(x − 4)(2x − 5)(3x + 7)(x4 + x3 + x2 + x + 1) (Yes, there is a faster way than just
plowing ahead with synthetic division.)

6. The 32 possible rational roots are all in the form ± m


n where m takes on each of the values
1, 5, 7, and 35, and where n takes on each of the values 1, 2, 3, and 6.

7. a = 0, b = −5, and c = 0

8. 12

9. 2525

10. 37

11. 256

12. 353

13. (14, 6, 3)

14. 1

15. f (x) = x2

16. Consider the general polynomial P (x) = a0 + a1 x + a2 x2 + . . . + an xn . Notice that


P (r) − P (s) = a1 (r − s) + a2 (r2 − s2 ) + . . . + an (rn − sn ) = (r − s)Q(r, s) for some integer
Q(r, s). This means that 2 − 3 = P (1) − P (2) = −Q(1, 2), 3 − 1 = P (2) − P (3) = −Q(2, 3), and
1 − 2 = P (3) − P (1) = 2Q(3, 1). This gives a non-integer Q(3, 1), which is a contradiction; thus,
no such polynomial P (x) exists.

c 2009 AoPS Incorporated. All rights reserved.

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