SAT Math : Squaring / Square Roots / Radicals

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #2 :How To Multiply Complex Numbers

has 4 roots, including the complex numbers. Take the product ofwith each of these roots. Take the sum of these 4 results. Which of the following is equal to this sum?

Possible Answers:

The correct answer is not listed.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

This gives us roots of

The product ofwith each of these gives us:

The sum of these 4 is:

What we notice is that each of the roots has a negative. It thus makes sense that they will all cancel out. Rather than going through all the multiplication, we can instead look at the very beginning setup, which we can simplify using the distributive property:

Example Question #3 :How To Multiply Complex Numbers

Simplify:

Possible Answers:

None of the other responses gives the correct answer.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Apply the Power of a Product Property:

A power ofcan be found by dividing the exponent by 4 and noting the remainder. 6 divided by 4 is equal to 1, with remainder 2, so

Substituting,

.

Example Question #4 :How To Multiply Complex Numbers

Multiplyby its complex conjugate.

Possible Answers:

None of the other responses gives the correct answer.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The complex conjugate of a complex numberis. The product of the two is the number

.

Therefore, the product ofand its complex conjugatecan be found by settingandin this pattern:

,

the correct response.

Example Question #5 :How To Multiply Complex Numbers

Multiplyby its complex conjugate.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The complex conjugate of a complex numberis. The product of the two is the number

.

Therefore, the product ofand its complex conjugatecan be found by settingandin this pattern:

,

the correct response.

Example Question #6 :How To Multiply Complex Numbers

What is the product ofand its complex conjugate?

Possible Answers:

The correct response is not among the other choices.

Correct answer:

The correct response is not among the other choices.

Explanation:

The complex conjugate of a complex numberis, sohasas its complex conjugate.

The product ofandis equal to, so setin this expression, and evaluate:

.

This is not among the given responses.

Example Question #7 :How To Multiply Complex Numbers

Multiply and simplify:

Possible Answers:

None of the other choices gives the correct response.

Correct answer:

None of the other choices gives the correct response.

Explanation:

The two factors are both square roots of negative numbers, and are therefore imaginary. Write both in terms ofbefore multiplying:

Therefore, using the Product of Radicals rule:

Example Question #8 :How To Multiply Complex Numbers

Evaluate

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

is recognizable as the cube of the binomial. That is,

Therefore, settingandand evaluating:

.

Example Question #9 :How To Multiply Complex Numbers

Evaluate

Possible Answers:

None of the other choices gives the correct response.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

is recognizable as the cube of the binomial. That is,

Therefore, settingandand evaluating:

Applying the Power of a Product Rule and the fact that:

,

the correct value.

Example Question #10 :How To Multiply Complex Numbers

Raiseto the power of 3.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To raise any expressionto the third power, use the pattern

Setting:

Taking advantage of the Power of a Product Rule:

Since,

and

:

Collecting real and imaginary terms:

Example Question #201 :Exponents

Raiseto the power of 3.

Possible Answers:

None of the other choices gives the correct response.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To raise any expressionto the third power, use the pattern

Setting:

Taking advantage of the Power of a Product Rule:

Since,

and

:

Collecting real and imaginary terms:

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