Names: _____________________________________ Date: ___________________

M. Riling Precalc Diagnostic Problems

Part A: Algebra
Solve the following equations for the unknown variable.
1.

2k +1 = k +5 2.

2 m+1 ( )
2
= 8








3.

2a +6s = 4 (solve for a) 4.

x +2 ( )
3
= 27








5. Youre getting lunch with your friend and she pays. She wont tell you how much
your sandwich cost, but you want to know so you can repay the favor. Here are the facts:
-You both got the same sandwich.
-She also got a cup of tea for $1.50. You had a water bottle so you didnt get a drink.
-She paid with a $20 bill.
-You can see that she got $6.50 in change.
How much did your sandwich cost?








6. Write three lines equations that intersect at one point.






Part B: Special Functions
1. Exponential Functions: Last summer I saw the final Harry Potter movie. I learned that
3D movies are kind of lame and too expensive. Okay here goes: Voldemort started with
a measly 6 followers. Every year, he has 30% more followers. (This isnt exact; there
are fractions.) How many death-eaters will there be in 15 years?










2. Polynomial Functions: There is a graph that swoops up and down, like a roller coaster.
It crosses the x-axis at -1, 2, 3, and 6. Both ends shoot down to negative infinity.
a) Sketch a graph that fits the given information.













b) Which of the following could be the equation of the graph?
(i)

eh(x) =(x 1)(x +2)(x +3)(x +6)
(ii)

bee(x) = 2(x +1)(x 2)(x 3)(x 6)
(iii)

sea(x) =1(x +2)(x +3)(x +6)




3. Without using a graphing calculator, describe what you know about what the graph of
this equation will look like.



y = x 3 ( )
2
+ 4




Part C: Graphing
Graph the following things on the graph. *Please label the things you draw.

1. The line: y = 3x 4 2. The point (6.5, -9.5)

3. The line: 2y + 8 = 5x 4. The graph of:

x 1 ( )
2
+2 = y

5. Any point thats on the graph of:

y +1 ( )
2
= 2x



























6. Does the point (0, 3) satisfy this equation?

x = .1(x 4)(x +1)
3
+ 4 y
(Please note: thats its graph is to the right.)

Part D: Tricky Problem Solving
1. Express the numbers 6, 7, and 8 as expressions that have four 8s in them. You can
also use the number 88, and you can use any other number as an exponent.
example:

4 =8 8 8+8

example:

2 =88
0
+88
0









2. Expand.


rah ( )
2
+ ah ( )
3
+ ro ma+ ma ( )
2
( )
+ ga ( )
2
+ooh la ( )
2






3. When will the graph of

y =2x +4 be higher than the graph of

y =
1
2
x 6 ?