Math Precalculus Test - Sample Questions

You have up to 90 minutes to complete 30 multiple choice questions.

Calculators and dictionaries are NOT allowed.

Sample Questions
f ( a + h) − f ( a )
1. f ( x ) = 4 x 2 − 7 x . Find .
h
A) 8a + 2h B) 4a + 2h − 7 C) 8a + 4h − 7 D) 6a + 2h − 7

2. Which one of the following has a graph symmetric with respect to the y-axis?
A) y = 2 x B) x = 4 y 2 C) xy = 3 D) ( x − 2) 2 + ( y + 1) 2 = 4

3. Find ( g  f )( x) , if f ( x ) = 3 x − 2 and g( x ) = x 2 + x − 1
A) 3 x 2 + 3 x − 5 B) 9 x 2 − 11x + 3
C) 3 x 2 + 3 x − 3 D) 9 x 2 − 9 x + 1

4. Which one of the functions is neither odd nor even?

A) f ( x ) = 3 x B) f ( x ) = 2 x 2 + 3
C) f ( x) = x − 1 D) f ( x ) = − x 3 − 2 x

5. The domain of the function f ( x ) = 4 − 2 x is

A) {x | x ≤ 2} B) {x | x > 0} C) {x | x ≥ 2} D) {x | x > 2}

6. An equation of the line through the points (3,2) and ( −6,−1) is

A) x + 3y = 3 B) x − 3y = 3
C) 3 x − y = −3 D) x − 3y = −3

7. Find the distance between the points P( −3,−5) and Q(1,−3) .

A) 12 B) 8 C) 4 5 D) 2 5

8. Find the equation of the line containing the point (6, -6) and parallel to
the line 2 y − x =10 .
A) y = − 2 x − 12
1
B) y = −2 x − 6
C) y = −2 x + 6 y
D) = 1
2 x −9
 2
9. Which line is perpendicular to 2 x + 6 y = 1 ?
A) y = −3 x + 4 B) 2 x − 6 y = 1 C) 6 x − 2 y = 1 D) 2 x + 6 y = −1

6
10. Rationalize the denominator .
5 +8

30 + 8 6 30 − 8 6 3 30 + 5 6 30 − 8 6
A) B) C) D)
−59 13 40 −59

11. Which quadratic equation has the following solutions? 3 + 2i and 3 − 2i

A) x 2 − 6 x + 7 = 0 B) x 2 − 6 x + 11 = 0
C) x 2 + 6 x + 9 = 0 D) x 2 + 6 x + 7 = 0

9x + 9 y =81
12. Solve the system
−7 x + 4 y =
36

A) –1, 10 B) No solution C) 0, 9 D) 0, 10

13. What is the value of k in the polynomial function P ( x ) = 2 x 3 − 3 x 2 + kx − 1, if P ( −1) = 4 ?

A) −10 B) −4 C) −2 D) 6

14. Find (f+g)(x) when f(3) = x + 6, and g(x) = x – 1.

A) 13 B) – 1 C) 1 D) 11

15. For f ( x=
) 2 x − 5 and g ( =
x) x + 8 , what is the domain of g  f ?

A) [−∞, −1.5) B) [8, ∞) C) [−1.5, ∞) D) (−8,8)

16. Given f ( x ) = 7 x + 2, find f −1 ( x ) .

x−2 x 1
A) −7 x − 2 B) C) −2 D)
7 7 7x + 2

f ( x + h) − f ( x ) 1
17. Compute and simplify the difference quotient , h ≠ 0 where f ( x) = .
h 6− x

1 x 6 hx
A) B) C) − D)
(6 − x − h)(6 − x) (6 − x + h)(6 − x) (6 − x + h)(6 − x) (6 − x − h)(6 − x)
18. Solve: log x 8 = −3
 3
1
A) 2 B) 512 C) D) −2
2

19. Solve: log x (log2 8) = 2

3
A) 3 B) C) 2 D) 3
2

20. Solve: log4 ( x + 6) − log4 x = 2

2 5 2
A) B) 2 C) D)
33 2 5

21. Solve for t: 272t −1 = 81t +2

1 11
A) 3 B) −3 C) − D)
2 2

22. Solve the equation x+6 +7 =9.

A) 2 B) – 2 C) – 6 D) 6

23. Solve the inequality 13 x − 9 < −3 .

 6 12   6   12 
A)  ,  B) ∅ C) (−∞, ∞) D)  −∞,  ∪ ,∞
 13 13   13   13 

3
24. ( x)
Find the inverse of the function f = x + 4.

3
A) f −1 ( x=
) ( x + 4)3 B) f −1=
( x) x −4 C) f −1 ( x=
) ( x − 4)3 D) f −1 ( x=
) x3 − 4

25. Solve: log( 3 x + 7) + log( x − 2) = 1

8 5
A) B) 3 C) −1 D)
3 2

26. Solve the exponential equation 3(1+ 2 x ) = 27 .

A) 3 B) – 1 C) 1 D) 9

9π
27. Find the exact value of cos .
4
2 2 1 1
A) − B) C) D) −
2 2 2 2
28. In a right triangle, if t = u sec V, which side is the hypotenuse?

A) t B) u C) v D) none of these
 4

29. In which quadrant does θ lie if sin θ < 0 and cos θ > 0?

A) I B) II C) III D) IV

 π
30. −4sin  8 x +
Find the period of y = .
 2
π
Α) 8 Β) π C) 4 D)
4

31. Find the exact value of cot (−120). Do not use a calculator.
A) 3 B) 3 /3 C) - 3 / 3 D) − 3

32. Simplify sin θ (secθ tan θ + cscθ + cot θ ) .

A) sin 2 θ − 1 + cos θ B) sec 2 θ + cos θ C) sin θ + 2secθ D) 1 + 2sin 2 θ

33. The graph of y = sin x passes through the point:

A) (0, 1) B) (π/6, 1/4) C) (π/2, 1) D) (π, −1)

34. What is the period of the function y = 4 sin (πx)?

A) 2π B) 4π C) 2 D) 4

35. The amplitude of the function y = −4 sin 3x is:

A) 1 B) 3 C) 4 D) − 4

36. The phase shift of the function y = −2 cos (3x − π/2) is:
A) - π/6 B) π/2
C) π/6 D) - π/2

37. The period and phase shift of the graph of y = 2 sin (x/2 − π) are:

A) 4π and π B) 4π and 2π C) 2π and π D) π and 2π

ANSWER KEY
34. C 35. C 36. C
1. C 2. A 3. D 37. B
4. C 5. A 6. D
7. D 8. D 9. C
10. D 11. B 12. C
13. A 14. D 15. C
16. B 17. A 18. C
19. D 20. D 21. D
22. B 23. B 24. C
25. A 26. C 27. B
28. A 29. D 30. D
31. B 32. B 33. C