Algebra 1 : Equations / Solution Sets

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Algebra 1

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Solving Non Quadratic Polynomials

\(\displaystyle \small 76a^3+19a^2+16a=-4\)

Which of the following displays the full real-number solution set for \(\displaystyle a\) in the equation above?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \small \left\{-\frac{1}{4}\right\}\)

\(\displaystyle \small \left\{\frac{19}{4} \right \}\)

\(\displaystyle \small \left\{-\frac{4}{19}, \frac{4}{19}\right\}\)

\(\displaystyle \small \small \left\{-2, 2\right\}\)

\(\displaystyle \small \left\{-\frac{1}{2}\right\}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \small \left\{-\frac{1}{4}\right\}\)

Explanation:

Rewriting the equation as \(\displaystyle \small 76a^3+19a^2+16a+4=0\), we can see there are four terms we are working with, so factor by grouping is an appropriate method. Between the first two terms, the Greatest Common Factor (GCF) is \(\displaystyle \small 19a^2\) and between the third and fourth terms, the GCF is 4. Thus, we obtain \(\displaystyle \small \small 19a^2(4a+1)+4(4a+1)=0 \rightarrow (4a+1)(19a^2+4)=0\).   Setting each factor equal to zero, and solving for \(\displaystyle \small a\), we obtain \(\displaystyle \small a=-\frac{1}{4}\) from the first factor and \(\displaystyle \small a^2=-\frac{4}{19}\) from the second factor. Since the square of any real number cannot be negative, we will disregard the second solution and only accept \(\displaystyle \small a=-\frac{1}{4}\)

Example Question #1 : Equations / Solution Sets

Factor \(\displaystyle 3u^4 - 24uv^3\).

 

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 3u(u - 2v)(u + 2v)\)

\(\displaystyle 3u(u - 2v)(u^2 + 2uv + 4v^2)\)

\(\displaystyle 3u(u^3 - 8v^3)\)

\(\displaystyle 3u(u - 2v)(u^2 - 2uv -4v^2)\)

\(\displaystyle 3u[u^3 - (2v)^3]\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 3u(u - 2v)(u^2 + 2uv + 4v^2)\)

Explanation:

First pull out 3u from both terms.

3u4 – 24uv= 3u(u3 – 8v3) = 3u[u3 – (2v)3]

This is a difference of cubes. You will see this type of factoring if you get to the challenging questions on the GRE. They can be a pain to remember, but pat yourself on the back for getting to such hard questions! The difference of cubes formula is a3 – b3 = (a – b)(a2 + ab + b2). In our problem, a = u and b = 2v:

3u4 – 24uv= 3u(u3 – 8v3) = 3u[u3 – (2v)3]

                = 3u(u – 2v)(u2 + 2uv + 4v2)

Example Question #2 : Equations / Solution Sets

Factor \(\displaystyle 36x^2 - 49y^2\).

Possible Answers:

Cannot be factored any further.

\(\displaystyle 6x^2 - 7y^2\)

\(\displaystyle (6x + 7y)(6x -7y)\)

\(\displaystyle (6x + 7y)(6x + 7y)\)

\(\displaystyle (6x - 7y)(6x - 7y)\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle (6x + 7y)(6x -7y)\)

Explanation:

This is a difference of squares. The difference of squares formula is a2 – b2 = (a + b)(a – b).

In this problem, a = 6x and b = 7y:

36x2 – 49y= (6x + 7y)(6x – 7y)

Example Question #3 : Equations / Solution Sets

Solve the equation:

\(\displaystyle 3h^2+10h=-8\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \{-6, -4\}\)

\(\displaystyle \{3,1\}\)

\(\displaystyle \{2,4\}\)

\(\displaystyle \left\{ -2, -\frac{4}{3}\right\}\)

\(\displaystyle \{1\}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \left\{ -2, -\frac{4}{3}\right\}\)

Explanation:

Add 8 to both sides to set the equation equal to 0:

\(\displaystyle \small 3h^2+10h+8=0\)

To factor, find two integers that multiply to 24 and add to 10.  4 and 6 satisfy both conditions. Thus, we can rewrite the quadratic of three terms as a quadratic of four terms, using the the two integers we just found to split the middle coefficient:

\(\displaystyle \small 3h^2+6h+4h+8=0\)

Then factor by grouping:

\(\displaystyle \small 3h(h+2)+4(h+2)=0 \rightarrow (h+2)(3h+4)=0\)

Set each factor equal to 0 and solve:

\(\displaystyle h=-2\)

and

\(\displaystyle h=-\frac{4}{3}\)

Example Question #4 : Equations / Solution Sets

What number is the greatest common factor of 90 and 315 divided by the least common multiple of 5 and 15?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 9\)

\(\displaystyle 45\)

\(\displaystyle 12\)

\(\displaystyle 3\)

\(\displaystyle 15\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 3\)

Explanation:

First, find the factors of 90 and 315.  The greatest common factor is the largest factor shared by both of the numbers: 45.

Then, find the least common multiple of 5 and 15.  This will be the smallest number that can be divided by both 5 and 15: 15.

Finally, the greatest common factor (45) divided by the least common multiple (15) = 45 / 15 = 3.

Example Question #6 : How To Factor An Equation

 

 

Factor the expression:

\(\displaystyle \small 49r^2 - 36\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \small (7r^2-6)\)

\(\displaystyle \small (7r^2+6)(7r^2-6)\)

\(\displaystyle \small (7r-6)^2\)

\(\displaystyle \small prime\)

\(\displaystyle \small \small (7r+6)(7r-6)\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \small \small (7r+6)(7r-6)\)

Explanation:

The given expression is a special binomial, known as the "difference of squares". A difference of squares binomial has the given factorization: \(\displaystyle \small a^2-b^2=(a+b)(a-b)\). Thus, we can rewrite \(\displaystyle \small 49r^2 - 36\) as \(\displaystyle \small (7r)^2 - (6)^2\) and it follows that \(\displaystyle \small (7r)^2-(6)^2=(7r+6)(7r-6).\)

Example Question #1221 : Algebra Ii

Factor the equation:

\(\displaystyle x^{2}-6x+8\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle (x-8)(x-2)\)

\(\displaystyle (x-8)(x+2)\)

\(\displaystyle (x-4)(x-2)\)

\(\displaystyle (x+4)(x+2)\)

\(\displaystyle (x+4)(x-2)\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle (x-4)(x-2)\)

Explanation:

The product of \(\displaystyle (x+a)(x+b)\) is \(\displaystyle x^{2}+ax+bx+ab\).

For the equation \(\displaystyle x^{2}-6x+8\)

\(\displaystyle a+b\) must equal \(\displaystyle -6\) and \(\displaystyle ab\) must equal \(\displaystyle 8\).

Thus \(\displaystyle a\) and \(\displaystyle b\) must be \(\displaystyle -4\) and \(\displaystyle -2\), making the answer  \(\displaystyle (x-4)(x-2)\).

Example Question #5 : Equations / Solution Sets

Solve for \(\displaystyle \small x\).

\(\displaystyle x^2-5x-36\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle x=0,\ 3\)

\(\displaystyle x=-4,\ 9\)

\(\displaystyle x=-6,\ 4\)

\(\displaystyle x=-2,\ 5\)

\(\displaystyle x=2,\ 12\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle x=-4,\ 9\)

Explanation:

\(\displaystyle x^2-5x-36\)

This is a quadratic equation. We can solve  for \(\displaystyle \small x\) either by factoring or using the quadratic formula. Since this equation is factorable, I will present the factoring method here.

The factored form of our equation should be in the format \(\displaystyle (A+B)(C+D)=0\).

To yield the first value in our original equation (\(\displaystyle \small x^2\)), \(\displaystyle \small A=x\) and \(\displaystyle \small C=x\).

\(\displaystyle (x+B)(x+D)=0\)

To yield the final term in our original equation (\(\displaystyle \small -36\)), we can set \(\displaystyle \small B=-9\) and \(\displaystyle \small D=4\).

\(\displaystyle -9*4=-36\ \text{and}\ -9+4=-5\)

\(\displaystyle (x-9)(x+4)=0\)

Now that the equation has been factored, we can evaluate \(\displaystyle \small x\). We set each factored term equal to zero and solve.

\(\displaystyle \begin{matrix} x-9=0 &x+4=0 \\ x-9+9=0+9&x+4-4=0-4 \\ x=9 & x=-4 \end{matrix}\)

Example Question #5 : How To Factor An Equation

Simplify:

\(\displaystyle \frac{x^{2}+3x+2}{x+2}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle x-3\)

\(\displaystyle x+2\)

\(\displaystyle x+1\)

\(\displaystyle x-1\)

\(\displaystyle x+3\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle x+1\)

Explanation:

First factor the numerator. We need two numbers with a sum of 3 and a product of 2. The numbers 1 and 2 satisfy these conditions:

 \(\displaystyle (x+2)(x+1)\)

Now, look to see if there are any common factors that will cancel:

\(\displaystyle \frac{(x+2)(x+1)}{x+2}\)

The \(\displaystyle x+2\) in the numerator and denominator cancel, leaving \(\displaystyle x+1\).

Example Question #6 : Equations / Solution Sets

Factor the following expression:

\(\displaystyle x^2 -3x +2\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle (x-2)(x-1)\)

\(\displaystyle (x-2)(x+2)\)

\(\displaystyle (x-3)(x+0)\)

\(\displaystyle (x+2)(x-1)\)

\(\displaystyle (x+2)(x+1)\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle (x-2)(x-1)\)

Explanation:

The general form for a factored expression of order 2 is 

\(\displaystyle (x+a)(x+b)\), which, when FOILED, gives \(\displaystyle x^2 + (a+b)x + ab\).

Comparing this generic expression to the one given in the probem, we can see that the \(\displaystyle (a+b)\) term should equal \(\displaystyle -3\), and the \(\displaystyle ab\) term should equal 2.

\(\displaystyle (a+b)=-3\)

\(\displaystyle ab=2\)

The values of \(\displaystyle a\) and \(\displaystyle b\) that satisfy the two equations are \(\displaystyle a=-2\) and \(\displaystyle b=-1\),

so your factored expression is 

\(\displaystyle (x-2)(x-1)\)

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