GED Math : Simplifying, Distributing, and Factoring

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GED Math

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Example Questions

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Example Question #1 :Algebra

Multiply:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Example Question #1 :Simplifying, Distributing, And Factoring

Factor:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

where

The numbersandfit those criteria. Therefore,

You can double check the answer using the FOIL method

Example Question #3 :Algebra

Which of the following isnota prime factor of?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Factorall the way to its prime factorization.

can be factored as the difference of two perfect square terms as follows:

is a factor, and, as the sum of squares, it is a prime.is also a factor, but it is not aprimefactor - it can be factored as the difference of two perfect square terms. We continue:

Therefore, all of the given polynomials are factors of, butis the correct choice, as it is not aprimefactor.

Example Question #1 :Simplifying, Distributing, And Factoring

Which of the following is a prime factor of?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

can be seen to fit the pattern

:

where

can be factored as, so

.

does not fit into any factorization pattern, so it is prime, and the above is the complete factorization of the polynomial. Therefore,is the correct choice.

Example Question #5 :Algebra

Divide:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Divide termwise:

Example Question #6 :Algebra

Multiply:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

This product fits the difference of cubes pattern, where:

so

Example Question #7 :Algebra

Give the value ofthat makes the polynomialthe square of a linear binomial.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

A quadratic trinomial is a perfect square if and only if takes the form

for some values ofand.

, so

and.

Forto be a perfect square, it must hold that

,

so. This is the correct choice.

Example Question #1 :Simplifying, Distributing, And Factoring

Which of the following is a factor of the polynomial?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Perhaps the easiest way to identify the factor is to take advantage of the factor theorem, which states thatis a factor of polynomialif and only if. We substitute 1, 2, 4, and 9 forin the polynomial to identify the factor.

:

:

:

:

Onlymakes the polynomial equal to 0, so among the choices, onlyis a factor.

Example Question #1 :Algebra

Which of the following is a prime factor of?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

is the sum of two cubes:

As such, it can be factored using the pattern

where;

The first factor,as the sum of squares, is a prime.

We try to factor the second by noting that it is "quadratic-style" based on. and can be written as

;

we seek to factor it as

We want a pair of integers whose product is 1 and whose sum is. These integers do not exist, sois a prime.

is the prime factorization and the correct response is.

Example Question #1 :Single Variable Algebra

Which of the following is a factor of the polynomial

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Perhaps the easiest way to identify the factor is to take advantage of the factor theorem, which states thatis a factor of polynomialif and only if. We substituteandforin the polynomial to identify the factor.

:

:

:

:

Onlymakes the polynomial equal to 0, so of the four choices, onlyis a factor of the polynomial.

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