DIAGNOSTIC TEST

General Instructions: This test is composed of three parts: Multiple Choice, Skills, and
Problem Solving. Completely, correctly and neatly answer each item. You may consult
books or notes to complete this test. You are allowed to use calculator. This diagnostic
test is not graded and has a deadline.

I. MULTIPLE CHOICE: [2 points each] Decide which answer choice is best. Choose
the letter that corresponds to your choice.

1. Find the pair of statements where the first statement is true and the second
statement is incorrect.
a. If 𝑏2 − 4𝑎𝑐 > 0, then the roots of a quadratic equation are real and equal; a
double root or a root of multiplicity two.
A quadratic inequality is one of the form 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 < 0 where 𝑎, 𝑏, and 𝑐 are
real numbers and 𝑎 ≠ 0.
b. An equation in a single variable 𝑥 is said to be quadratic in form if it can be
written as 𝑎𝑢2 + 𝑏𝑢 + 𝑐 = 0 where 𝑎 ≠ 0 and 𝑢 is an algebraic expression in 𝑥.
The solution set of √9 − 𝑥 is [ 9, +∞).
x−4 2x−1 14
c. The solution of 𝑥 in the given linear inequality 3 − 2 ≥ 12 is 3 ≥ 𝑥.
The slope of the line that passes through the points 𝐴(5.2, −3.5) and 𝐵(−6.3, −1.4)
11.5
is 𝑚 = − 2.1 .
d. The equation of the line that passes through the point 𝑃(−1,6) having slope
𝑚 = −3 is 𝑦 = 3 − 3𝑥.
The equation of the line that passes through the two points 𝐴(3,1) and 𝐾(−5,4) is
8𝑦 + 3𝑥 + 17 = 0.

2. Find the pair of statements which are both incorrect.

a. If 𝑏2 − 4𝑎𝑐 < 0, then the roots of a quadratic equation are real and unequal; if
the value is a perfect square then the roots are rational, if the value is not a
perfect square then the roots are irrational.
The number given by 𝑏2 − 4𝑎𝑐 is called the discriminant of the quadratic equation.
𝑏±√𝑏2 −4𝑎𝑐
b. If 𝑎 ≠ 0, the solutions of the equation 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0 are given by 𝑥 = .
2𝑎
If 𝑎 and 𝑏 are real numbers, then |𝑎 + 𝑏| ≤ |𝑎| + |𝑏|.
c. A linear equation is an equation containing more than one variable or symbols
and we solve for one of the variables in terms of the other variables.
An algebraic expression is a constant or a constant multiplied by a nonnegative-
integer powers of variables and is usually separated by the symbols + or −.
d. An equation of the vertical line having 𝑥 intercept a is 𝑦 = 𝑎.
−1
The line with an equation 𝑥 + 3𝑦 − 6 = 0 has slope 𝑚 = 2 and 𝑦-intercept 𝑏 = 3 .
3. Find the pair of statements which are both true.
a. If the center of a hyperbola is at (h, k) and the distance between the vertices
(𝑥−ℎ)2 (𝑦−𝑘)2
is 2a, then an equation of the hyperbola is of the form + = 1 if the
𝑎2 𝑏2
(𝑦−𝑘)2 (𝑥−ℎ)2
principal axis is horizontal, and + = 1 if the principal axis is vertical.
𝑎2 𝑏2
An ellipse is the set of points in a plane the difference of whose distances from
two fixed points is a constant. Each fixed point is called a focus.
b. A parabola is the set of all points in a plane equidistant from a fixed point and
a fixed line. The fixed point is called the focus, and the fixed line is called the
directrix.
A test number of the inequality 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 < 0 is a real root of the equation 𝑎𝑥 2 +
𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0.
c. Two nonvertical lines ℓ1 and ℓ2 having slopes 𝑚1 and 𝑚2 , respectively, are
perpendicular if and only if 𝑚1 𝑚2 = −1.
The equation 𝐴𝑋 + 𝐵𝑌 + 𝐶 = 0 is the general form of the equation of a line.
d. The 𝑦-intercept of the line having the equation 4𝑥 = 3𝑦 is zero.
The 𝑥-intercept of the line having the equation 𝑥 = 4𝑦 − 2 has the coordinates
(0, −2).

4. The y-intercept of the line through the points whose coordinates are 𝑃(5, −2)and
𝑄(1,3) is
a.
5
b. −
5
c. 17 17
d. 4
4 4

5. The length of the segment joining the points with coordinates 𝑈(−2,4) and
𝑉(3, −5) is
a. 2.8 b. 10.3 c. 3.7 d. 10.0
𝑥
6. If 𝑥 + 3𝑦 = 6 and 2𝑥 − 𝑦 = 3, then 𝑦 =
a. 1.67 b. 0.43 c. 0.60 d. 2.14

7. The number of integers that satisfy the inequality 𝑥 2 + 48 < 16𝑥 is

a. 0 b. 4 c. 7 d. infinite number

8. How many integers are there in the solution set of |𝑥 − 2| ≤ 5?

a. 11 b. infinite number c. 9 d. 7

9. The circumference 𝐶 = 2𝜋𝑟of circle 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 10𝑦 − 36 = 0 is

a. 192 b. 38 c. 49 d. 54

10. The absolute value of the difference between the roots of the equation 1.4𝑥 2 +
2.3𝑥 − 5 = 0
a. 4.12 b. 1.64 c. 3.57 d. 2.17
11. If the equation 𝑥 2 + 2(𝑘 + 2)𝑥 + 9𝑘 = 0 has equal roots, then 𝑘 =
a. 1 or 4 b. 0 or 4 c. – 1 or 4 d. 2 or – 4

For number 12, given the four equations, where 𝑎 ≠ 𝑏 ≠ 0:

I. 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑦 = 𝑐 III. −𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑦 = 𝑐
II. 𝑎𝑥 − 𝑏𝑦 = 𝑐 IV. 𝑏𝑥 − 𝑎𝑦 = 𝑐

12. Which pair represents perpendicular lines?

a. I and IV b. II and IV c. II and III d. I and II

13. Solve 𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 8 = 0.
a. {2, 4} b. {−2, − 4} c. {−2, 4} d. {2, − 4}

14. Which equations are equivalent?

𝑚
I. 6(𝑚 + 5) = −6 II. 4 + 2(𝑚 + 3) = 28 III. = −2.25
−4
a. I and III b. I and II c. II and III d. None of these

15. Which equation has no solution?

a. |𝑝 − 1| = 5 b. 7 = |𝑝 + 3| c. |𝑝| − 3 = −8 d. |8 − 2𝑝| = 6

16. Which inequality is not equivalent to −3 ≤ 𝑘 < 5?

a. 5 < 𝑘 ≤ −3 b. 5 > 𝑘 ≥ −3 c. −3 ≤ 𝑘 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑘 < 5 d. 𝑘 < 5 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑘 ≥ −3

17. Which inequality represents all the solutions to −3𝑚 + 8 ≥ −13?

a. 𝑚 ≤ 3
5
b. 𝑚 ≤ 7 c. 𝑚 ≥ 7 d. 𝑚 ≤ −7

18. The larger of two numbers decreased by the smaller is 5. Twice the smaller
number increased by the larger number is 41. Find the two numbers.
a. {−12, −17} b. {−12, 17} c. {12, −17} d. {12, 17}

19. If 2𝑐 − 𝑑 = 𝑐 − 2𝑑, then 𝑐 =

a. 0 b. 1 c. d d. – d

20. Which is not a true statement?

a. 𝑎2 + 2𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏2 = (𝑎 + 𝑏)2 b. 𝑎2 − 2𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏2 = (𝑎 − 𝑏)2
c. 𝑎2 + 2𝑎𝑏 − 𝑏2 = (𝑏 − 𝑎)2 d. 𝑎2 − 𝑏2 = (𝑎 + 𝑏)(𝑎 − 𝑏)

21. The product of the critical numbers of (𝑥 + 1)(2𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 2) > 0 is

−3
a. 2
3
b. 2
1
c. 2 d. −1
 22. The following are true for all values of the variable in the set of real numbers
except one. Find it.
a. 16𝑡 2 + 1 ≥ 8𝑡 3𝑥−11
b. 3𝑥+5 < 7
c. 9𝑦 2 < 30𝑦 − 25 d. 𝑥 2 ≤ 9

23. The solution set of √3𝑥 + 4 + 8 = 0 in the set of real numbers is

a. {20} b. {− 20} c. {±20} d. { }

24. Which has the smallest value of the sum of its roots over the set of real numbers?
a. 𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 6 = 0 b. 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 1 = 0
c. 4𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 3 = 0 d. 3𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 2 = 0

25. A firm can sell at a price of $100 per unit all of a particular commodity it produces.
If x units are produced each day, the number of dollars in the total cost of each
day’s production is 𝑥 2 + 20𝑥 + 700. How many units should be produced each
day so that the firm is guaranteed a profit?
a. more than 10 and less than 70 b. more than zero and less than 70
c. less than 10 or more than 70 d. less than 10

II. SKILLS: Provide what is being asked. Show your complete solution.

For numbers 26 through 34, choose only six items from the given ten.

26. [1 point each] Evaluate the expression:

7−5 72 −1
a. ( ) 3
b. √ 27
−8
7−2

27. [2 points] Rewrite the expression using positive exponents only: (𝑥 − 𝑦)(𝑥 −1 + 𝑦 −1 )

3 2𝑥
28. [2 points] Rationalize the numerator: √
3𝑦

29. [2 points each] Simplify the following expressions:

3
√−27𝑥 6
a. 3 (Assume that x and y are positive)
√8𝑦3
b. (3𝑥 − 4)(3𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 3)

30. [2 points each] Factor completely:

b. (𝑥 + 𝑦)2 − 1
1 −1
1
a. 4𝑥(𝑥 + 1)2 − 2𝑥 2 (2)(𝑥 + 1) 2

31. [2 points] Use the completing the square to solve the following equation: 𝑥 2 =
−3𝑥 + 8.
 32. [2 points each] Simplify the following expressions:
1 (𝑡 2 −4)(2𝑡−4)−(𝑡 2 −4𝑡+4)(2𝑡)
1+
a. 𝑥+1 b.
𝑥−
4 (𝑡 2 −4)2
𝑥

33. [2 points each] Perform the indicated operations and simplify:

a. (𝑒 𝑡 + 𝑒 −𝑡 )(𝑒 𝑡 ) − (𝑒 𝑡 )(𝑒 𝑡 − 𝑒 −𝑡 )
1
𝑥 2 (2𝑥 2 +1)2 4𝑥 3 −6𝑥 2+𝑥−2
b. ∙ 𝑥(𝑥−1)(2𝑥2 +1)
𝑥−1

3𝑥
34. [2 points] Rationalize the denominator: 1−5
√𝑥

35. [2 points each] Choose only five items from the given ten. Find an equation of
the line satisfying the given conditions:
a. the slope is 4 and through the point (2, −3).
b. through the two points (−1, −5) and (3,6).
−2
c. the slope is 3 and the y intercept is 1.
−4
d. the slope is 2 and the x intercept is .
3
e. the x intercept is – 3 and the y intercept is 4.
f. through the point (1, −7) and parallel to the x axis.
g. through the point (2,6) and parallel to the y axis.
h. through the origin and bisecting the angle between the axes in the first and
third quadrants.
i. through the point (−2,3) and parallel to the line whose equation is 2𝑥 − 𝑦 −
2 = 0.
j. through the point (2,4) and perpendicular to the line whose equation 𝑥 −
5𝑦 + 10 = 0.

36. [4 points each] Choose only two items from the given three. Solve the
inequalities. Write your answer in interval notation and show it using graph.
a. 5𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 1 < 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥
3𝑡
b. |𝑡+1| < 8
c. |5 − 3𝑥 | ≥ 10

III. PROBLEM SOLVING: Solve the following problems. Show your complete solution.
Partial points may be given depending on the progress of your solution.

37. [10 points] Show that the points 𝐴(−6, 1), 𝐵(−4,6), 𝐶 (4, −3), and 𝐷(6,2) are the
vertices of a rectangle.

38. [10 points] Find equations of the three medians of the triangle having vertices at
𝑃(3, −2), 𝑄(3,4), and 𝑅(−1,1).
39. [10 points] Show by means of slopes that the four points 𝑂(0,0), 𝑃(−2,1), 𝑅(3,4),
and 𝑆(5,3) are vertices of a parallelogram (a quadrilateral with opposite sides
parallel).

40. [10 points] Find the value of k such that the lines whose equations are 3𝑘𝑥 + 8𝑦 =
5 and 6𝑦 − 4𝑘𝑥 = −1 are perpendicular.

41. [8 points each] Determine whether the graph is a circle, a point, or the empty
set. If it is a circle, find its center and radius. Sketch the circle.
a. 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 4𝑥 + 10𝑦 + 29 = 0 b. 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 8𝑥 − 6𝑦 + 30 = 0
c. 2𝑥 2 + 2𝑦 2 − 2𝑥 + 2𝑦 + 7 = 0

42. [4 points each] The graph of an equation relating the temperature reading in
Celsius degrees and the temperature reading in Fahrenheit degrees is a line.
Water freezes at 0° Celsius and 32° Fahrenheit, and water boils at 100° Celsius
and 212° Fahrenheit.
a. Given that y degrees Fahrenheit corresponds to x degrees Celsius, write
an equation involving x and y.
b. Draw a sketch of the graph of the equation in part (a).
c. What is the Fahrenheit temperature corresponding to 20° Celsius?
d. What is the Celsius temperature corresponding to 86° Fahrenheit?

43. [15 points] The definition of a tangent line to a general curve at a point on the
curve requires the concept of limit. For a circle, however, the plane geometry
states that a tangent line at a point P on a circle is the line intersecting the circle
at only one point. Find an equation of the tangent line to the circle 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 −
6𝑥 − 2𝑦 − 15 = 0 at the point 𝑃 (6,5). Find another tangent line that is exactly
parallel to the previously obtained tangent line. Plot the circle and tangent lines
in the same window.

44. [15 points] For the given parabola 5𝑦 2 − 4𝑥 + 10𝑦 + 17 = 0, find (a) the vertex, (b)
an equation of the axis of symmetry, (c) the focus, (d) an equation of the
directrix, and (e) the endpoints of the latus rectum. (f) Sketch the parabola from
these properties.
2
45. [8 points] Sketch the graph of the given equation 𝑥 = 3 |𝑦 + 4| − 5. Find its vertex.

46. [15 points] Determine whether the graph of the equation 17𝑥 2 + 8𝑦 2 − 68𝑥 +
24𝑦 − 12 = 0 is an ellipse, a point, or the empty set. If it is an ellipse, find (a) the
center, (b) the principal axis, (c) the vertices, (d) the endpoints of the minor axis,
and (e) the foci. (f) Sketch the graph.

47. [10 points] Find an equation of the ellipse having the properties: center at (4, −2),
a vertex at (9, −2), and one focus at (0, −2). Sketch the ellipse.
48. [15 points] Given the equation for a hyperbola 𝑥 2 − 4𝑦 2 − 6𝑥 − 24𝑦 − 3 = 0, find
(a) the center, (b) the principal axis, and (c) the vertices. (d) Sketch the
hyperbola and show the auxiliary rectangle and asymptotes.