Entry Test:

Mathematics for Management and

Economics

BM.0 Introduction

BM.1 Sets

BM.2 Assertions

BM.3 Propositional Formulas

BM.4.1 Algebraic Laws

BM.4.2 Equivalence of Equations

BM.4.3 Transforming Equations

BM.4.4 Specific Equations with one variable

10

BM.4.5 Equation Systems

11

BM.5 Functions

12

Solutions

14

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Mathematics for Management and Economics

BM.0 Introduction

BM.0 INTRODUCTION
The course Mathematics for Management and Economics (first semester) assumes that
students are at swiss professional maturity level (Berufsmaturittssniveau). Mathematical
terms, concepts and theories associated with that level of competence will not be repeated.
This entry test helps you evaluate your mathematical competences. In case you should not
be able to solve most of the problems, please try to work on this before beginning your
studies. One of the many books that might be helpful in case you need some brush up is
Marvin Bittinger & David Ellenbogen: Calclulus and its Applications. Pearson
International Edition.

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Mathematics for Management and Economics

BM.1 Sets

BM.1 SETS
Exercise BM.1 - 1
Let the sets A , B , C , and D be defined as follows:
A people with bloodgroup A,
B women,
C people aged at least 100,
D people in retirement.
Describe the following sets using the symbols A through D :
a) Set of all retired men.
b) Set of retired women having bloodgroup A.
c) Set of retired women having a bloodgroup other than A.
Describe the following sets by naming their peculiarities:
d) B C
e) B D \ A

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Mathematics for Management and Economics

BM.2 Assertions

BM.2 ASSERTIONS
Exercise BM.2 - 1
Which of the following assertions are true:
a) 10 is a natural number.
b) 10 is a rational number.
1
c)
is a natural number.
3
1
is a real number.
d)
3
e) is a rational number.
f) is a real number.
Exercise BM.2 - 2

Which of the following assertions are true:

a) 10 is a natural number and smaller than 20.
b) 10 is a natural number and smaller than 9.
1
c)
is a natural number and smaller than 20.
3

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Mathematics for Management and Economics

BM.3 Propositional Formulas

BM.3 PROPOSITIONAL FORMULAS

Exercise BM.3 - 1
x is smaller than 10 is a propositional formula. For which of the following numbers x is the
resulting assertion true:

a)

x = 10

b)

x=9

c)

x = .

Exercise BM.3 - 1
x is a natural number and larger than 100 is a propositional formula. For which of the
following numbers x is the resulting assertion true:

a)

x = 100

b)

x = 101

c)

x = 300 + .

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Mathematics for Management and Economics

BM.4.1 Algebraic Laws

BM.4.1 ALGEBRAIC LAWS

Exercise BM.4.1 - 1

Complete the following equations without using parantheses:

a)

x( wz av) =

b) (34 x + 17 y ) y =
Exercise BM.4.1 - 2

Complete the following equations by factoring out:

a)

abx + avx =

b) 5 xy 10 xz =
Exercise BM.4.1 - 3

Complete the following equations using just one fraction bar:

a)

ab cd

=
c
a

b)

2(a + b) 3(a b)
+
=
3c
2a

Exercise BM.4.1 - 4

Complete the following equations using just one fraction bar:

a)

4c
ab
=
3d
c2

b)

2(a + b)
3c
=
3(a b)
2a

Exercise BM.4.1 - 5

Complete the following equations by expanding the left side term:

a)

(x 1) 2 =

b) (z + 1) 3 =

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Mathematics for Management and Economics

BM.4.1 Algebraic Laws

Exercise BM.4.1 - 6

Complete the following equations using just one exponent:

a)

( x 1) 2 ( x + 1) 2 =

b)

( z + 1) 3
=
( z 1) 3

Exercise BM.4.1 - 6

Name the following quantities using the units in brackets:

a) 1300 mm 2 [in m 2 ]
b) 23

m
km
[in
]
sec
h

c) 45 m 3

[in cm 3 ]

Exercise BM.4.1 - 7

Complete the following equations using the one log-sign just once:
a)

2 log a x + log a y =

1
b) 3 log a x log a x =
3

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Mathematics for Management and Economics

BM.4.2 Equivalence of Equations

BM.4.2 EQUIVALENCE OF EQUATIONS

Exercise BM.4.2 - 1

Which of the following equations are equivalent:

?

a)

( x 1)( x + 1) = 0

b)

x2 + x 2 = 0

x =1

oder

x = 1

x =1

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Mathematics for Management and Economics

BM.4.3 Transforming Equations

BM.4.3 TRANSFORMING EQUATIONS

Exercise BM.4.3 - 1

Solve the following equation for y(given

yand
>0

x {1, 1} ):

log10 y
5 = 7
( x 2 1)

Exercise BM.4.3 - 2

Determine the solutions of the following equation, i.e. name all real numbers satisfying this
equation:
( x 2 3x + 9)( x 2 1) = 0

Exercise BM.4.3 - 3

Determine the solutions of the following equation:

( x 1)( x + 9)( x 9)
=0
( x 9)( x 17)

Exercise BM.4.3 - 4

Determine the solutions of the following equation:

2 y = 2 y+1 64
Exercise BM.4.3 - 5

Determine the solutions of the following equation:

( x 3) 4 = 16

Exercise BM.4.3 - 6

Determine the solutions of the following equation:

23 x 5 = 45 x

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BM.4.4 Specific Equations with one variable

BM.4.4 SPECIFIC EQUATIONS WITH ONE VARIABLE

Exercise BM.4.4 - 1

How many solutions does each of the following equations have:

a)

x 2 2x + 1 = 0

b)

x 2 2x + 1 = 1

c)

x 2 2 x + 1 = 1

Exercise BM.4.4 - 2

What are the parameter values a and b so that the straight line defined by y = ax + b meets the
following requirements: y (0) = 2,
y (2) = 8 .

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BM.4.5 Equation Systems

BM.4.5 EQUATION SYSTEMS

Exercise BM.4.5 - 1

Determine all solutions of the following equation system:

2x + y = 1
x + 4y = 2

Exercise BM.4.5 - 2

Determine all solutions of the following equation system:

2x + y = 1
y 2 = 22

Exercise BM.4.5 - 3

Determine all solutions of the following equation system:

2x + 3y = 1
y + 3z = 2
x + z =1

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BM.5 Functions

BM.5 FUNCTIONS
Exercise BM.5 - 1

Let the function f be defined by the assignment f ( x) = x 3 . What is the domain of that
function, i.e. for which numbers is the assignment defined?
Exercise BM.5 - 2

The public transport system of the city of Aakebr has a unit ticket price: one ticket (price: 3
kroners) entitles you to travel as far and as often as you wish by trolleybus for one day. Let C be
the function showing transportation cost [in kroners] as a function of travelling distance [in km]
per day for one person.
a) What is the domain of that function?
b) What is the assignment of that function?
c) Sketch the graph of that function in the diagram below.

Exercise BM.5 - 3

The new city council of Aakebr decrees a different price system for the trolleybuses. That
system is shown by the graph below. Explanations:
- Bold dots belong to the graph, empty dots do not.
- The domain of the function extends to values beyond x=10.
Give the assignment of the new price system.

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BM.5 Functions

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14

Solutions

SOLUTIONS
Exercise BM.1 - 1
a) D \ B = D B
b) D B A
c) B D \ A = B D A
d) B C is the set of all women aged at least 100 years.
e) B D \ A is the set of all retired women having a bloodgroup other than A
Exercise BM.2 - 1
a) true
b) true
c) false
d) true
e) false
f) true
Exercise BM.2 2
a) true
b) false
c) false
Exercise BM.3 - 1
For the numbers 9 or the assertion is true, for 10 it is false.
Exercise BM.3 - 1
For 101 the assertion is true, for 100 or 300 + it is false.
Exercise BM.4.1 - 1
a) x( wz av) = xwz xav
b) (34 x + 17 y ) y = 34 xy + 17 y 2
Exercise BM.4.1 - 2
a) abx + avx = ax(b + v)
b) 5 xy 10 xz = 5 x( y 2 z )
Exercise BM.4.1 - 3
ab cd aba cdc a 2 b c 2 d

=
=
a)
c
a
ac
ac
2(a + b) 3(a b) 2(a + b)2a + 3(a b)3c 4a (a + b) + 9c(a b)
b)
+
=
=
3c
2a
6ac
6ac
Exercise BM.4.1 - 4
4c
4cc 2
4c 3
ab
a)
=
=
ab3d 3abd
3d

c2
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b)

15

Solutions

2( a + b )
2( a + b ) 2 a 4 a ( a + b )
3c
=
=
3(a b) 3c3(a b) 9c(a b)
2a

Exercise BM.4.1 5
a) ( x 1) 2 = x 2 2 x + 1
b) ( z + 1) 3 = z 3 + 3z 2 + 3z + 1
Exercise BM.4.1 - 6
a) ( x 1) 2 ( x + 1) 2 = [( x 1)( x + 1)]2 = ( x 2 1) 2

b)

( z + 1) 3 z + 1
=
( z 1) 3 z 1

Exercise BM.4.1 - 6
a) 1300 mm 2 = 0,0013 m 2
m
km
km
= 3,6 23
= 82,8
b) 23
sec
h
h
3
3
c) 45 m = 45'000'000 cm
Exercise BM.4.1 - 7
a) 2 log a x + log a y = log a ( x 2 ) + log a y = log a ( x 2 y )
8
1
x3
1
3
3
b) 3 log a x log a x = log a ( x ) log a ( x ) = log a ( 1 ) = log a ( x 3 ) = log a (3 x 8 )
3
x 3

Exercise BM.4.2 - 1
a) ( x 1)( x + 1) = 0

x = 1 or
x = 1 . There is equivalence.
b) x 2 + x 2 = 0
x = 1 . The converse implication would be false, since -2 is a solution,
too. There is no equivalence.
Exercise BM.4.3 - 1
2
log y
log10 y
5 = 7 2 10 = 7 + 5 = 12 log10 y = 12( x 2 1) y = 1012 ( x 1)
2
( x 1)
( x 1)
Exercise BM.4.3 - 2
( x 2 3x + 9)( x 2 1) = 0 x 2 3 x + 9 = 0 or x 2 1 = 0

( x 1)( x + 1) = 0 x 1, 1}

The quadratic equation x 2 3x + 9 = 0 has no real solution.

Exercise BM.4.3 - 3
( x 1)( x + 9)( x 9)
= 0 ( x 1)( x + 9)( x 9) = 0 and ( x 9)( x 17) 0
( x 9)( x 17)

x 1, 9, 9} and x 9, 17} x 1, 9}

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Solutions

Exercise BM.4.3 - 4
2 y = 2 y +1 7 7 = 2 y +1 2 y = 2 y (2 1) = 2 y y = log 2 7 = 2,80735
Exercise BM.4.3 - 5
( x 3) 4 = 16 ( x 3) 2 = 4 x 3 = 2 or x 3 = 2 x {5, 1}
Exercise BM.4.3 - 6

2 3 x 5 = 4 5 x = (2 2 ) 5 x = 2 25 x = 210 x 3 x 5 = 10 x 5 = 7 x x =

5
7

Exercise BM.4.4 - 1
a) Exactly one solution (which is 1).
b) Exactly two solutions (0 and 2).
c) No real solution (negative discriminant).
Exercise BM.4.4 - 2
y (0) = 2 = b, y (2) = 8 = 2a + 2 2a = 6 a = 3 .
Verification: 3 0 + 2 = 2 and 3 2 + 2 = 8 .
Exercise BM.4.5 - 1
Multiply the second equation with 2 and add it to the first equation to obtain 9 y = 5 , i.e.
y = 5 . x + 4 y = 2 now implies
9
2 9 4 5 18 20
x = 2 4y = 2 4 5 =
=
= 2 .
9
9
9
9
2 ( 2 ) + 5 = 9 = 1
9
9
9
Verification:
2 + 4( 5 ) = 18 = 2
9
9
9
Exercise BM.4.5 - 2
Since y 2 = 22 has no real solution, the entire equation system has no solution either.
Exercise BM.4.5 - 3
x + z = 1 implies z = 1 x . Inserting this in the second equation yields
y + 3(1 x) = y + 3 3x = 2 , i.e. y 3x = 1 . The resulting system is
2 x + 3 y = 1, 3 x + y = 1 , so 2 x + 3 y = 3x y , which implies 4 y = x .
Inserting this in the first equation 2 4 y + 3 y = 11y = 1 , so y = 1 . This implies x = 4 and
11
11
z = 1 4 = 7 .
11
11

2 4

+ 3 1 = 11 = 1
11
11
Verification: 1 + 3 7 = 22 = 2
11
11
11
4 + 7 = 11 = 1
11 11
11
11

Exercise BM.5 - 1
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17

Solutions

The term below the root sign must be nonnegative, which means x 3 .
Exercise BM.5 - 2
a) DK = [0, )
0 fr x = 0
C ( x) =
3 fr x > 0
c) Hint: bold points belong to the graph, empty points do not.

b)

Exercise BM.5 - 3
0
for x = 0

1 for 0 < x 1
2 for 1 < x 2
K ( x) =
3 for 2 < x 3
4 for 3 < x 4

for x > 4
5

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