Precalculus Final Exam Study Guide
This study guide summarizes essential concepts and includes example
exercises to reinforce understanding. It is organized to be learned in under 24
hours.
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## Part 1: Algebraic Foundations
### Real Numbers
- **Natural Numbers (N):** Counting numbers \(1, 2, 3, \dots\).
- **Integers (Z):** Positive and negative whole numbers and zero (e.g., \(-3, 0,
7\)).
- **Rational Numbers (Q):** Numbers expressed as fractions \(rac{a}{b}\), where
\(b \neq 0\) (e.g., \(rac{1}{2}, -3.75\)).
- **Irrational Numbers (I):** Numbers not expressible as fractions (e.g., \(\pi,
\sqrt{2}\)).
- **Real Numbers (R):** Combination of rational and irrational numbers.
### Properties of Real Numbers
1. **Commutative Property:** \(a + b = b + a\), \(ab = ba\).
2. **Associative Property:** \((a + b) + c = a + (b + c)\), \((ab)c = a(bc)\).
3. **Distributive Property:** \(a(b + c) = ab + ac\).
4. **Identity Properties:** \(a + 0 = a\), \(a \cdot 1 = a\).
5. **Inverse Properties:** \(a + (-a) = 0\), \(a \cdot \frac{1}{a} = 1, a \neq 0\).
#### Example:
Simplify \((3x + 5) - (2x - 7)\).
**Solution:** \(3x + 5 - 2x + 7 = x + 12\).
#### Practice Exercises:
1. Identify the sets to which each number belongs: \(\sqrt{16}, -5, 0.25, \pi\).
2. Simplify \((4 + 7) + 3 - 5\).
3. Apply the distributive property to \(2(x + 3) - 4x\).
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## Part 2: Exponents and Radicals
### Rules of Exponents
1. \(a^m \cdot a^n = a^{m+n}\).
2. \(\frac{a^m}{a^n} = a^{m-n}\), \(a \neq 0\).
3. \((a^m)^n = a^{mn}\).
4. \((ab)^n = a^n b^n\).
5. \(\left(\frac{a}{b}ight)^n = \frac{a^n}{b^n}, b \neq 0\).
### Radicals
- \(\sqrt{a^2} = |a|\).
- \(\sqrt{ab} = \sqrt{a} \cdot \sqrt{b}\).
- \(\sqrt{\frac{a}{b}} = \frac{\sqrt{a}}{\sqrt{b}}, b \neq 0\).
#### Example:
Simplify \(\sqrt{50} + \sqrt{8}\).
**Solution:** \(\sqrt{50} = 5\sqrt{2}\), \(\sqrt{8} = 2\sqrt{2}\), \(\Rightarrow
7\sqrt{2}\).
#### Practice Exercises:
1. Simplify \(\sqrt{45} - \sqrt{5}\).
2. Evaluate \((2^3 \cdot 2^2) / 2^4\).
3. Rewrite \(\sqrt{x^2 y}\) assuming \(x > 0\).
---
## Part 3: Factoring
### Methods
1. **Common Factor:** \(ab + ac = a(b + c)\).
2. **Quadratic Trinomials:** \(x^2 + bx + c = (x + p)(x + q)\), where \(p \cdot q =
c\) and \(p + q = b\).
3. **Difference of Squares:** \(a^2 - b^2 = (a - b)(a + b)\).
#### Example:
Factor \(x^2 - 5x + 6\).
**Solution:** \((x - 2)(x - 3)\).
#### Practice Exercises:
1. Factor \(x^2 + 7x + 10\).
2. Factor \(4x^2 - 9\).
3. Simplify \(3x(x + 2) - 2x(x + 1)\).
---
## Part 4: Equations and Inequalities
### Linear Equations
- General form: \(ax + b = 0\).
- Solve for \(x\): \(x = -\frac{b}{a}\).
### Quadratic Equations
- Use factoring, completing the square, or quadratic formula: \(x = \frac{-b \pm
\sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}\).
### Inequalities
- Flip inequality sign when multiplying/dividing by a negative number.
#### Example:
Solve \(2x - 5 \leq 3\).
**Solution:** \(2x \leq 8 \Rightarrow x \leq 4\).
#### Practice Exercises:
1. Solve \(3x + 7 = 1\).
2. Solve \(x^2 - x - 6 = 0\).
3. Solve \(-2x + 4 > 8\).
---
## Part 5: Functions and Graphing
### Key Concepts
- **Definition:** Relation where each input has one output.
- **Domain:** Set of all possible inputs.
- **Range:** Set of all possible outputs.
### Linear Functions
- Slope-intercept form: \(y = mx + b\).
- Parallel lines: Same slope.
- Perpendicular lines: Slopes \(m_1 \cdot m_2 = -1\).
#### Example:
Find the slope of a line passing through points \((1, 2)\) and \((3, 6)\).
**Solution:** \(m = \frac{6 - 2}{3 - 1} = 2\).
#### Practice Exercises:
1. Find the slope of a line passing through \((2, -3)\) and \((5, 9)\).
2. Determine if the lines \(y = 3x + 1\) and \(y = -\frac{1}{3}x + 4\) are
perpendicular.
3. Graph \(y = -2x + 5\).
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## Part 6: Transformations
### Types
1. **Shifts:** Vertical \(f(x) + k\), Horizontal \(f(x - h)\).
2. **Reflections:** Across x-axis \(-f(x)\), across y-axis \(f(-x)\).
3. **Stretches/Compressions:** \(af(x)\), where \(a > 1\) (stretch) and \(0 < a < 1\)
(compression).
#### Example:
Graph \(f(x) = -2(x - 3)^2 + 4\).
**Solution:** Shift right 3, up 4, reflect over x-axis, stretch vertically by 2.
#### Practice Exercises:
1. Describe the transformations for \(f(x) = 3(x + 2)^2 - 5\).
2. Graph \(f(x) = -|x - 4| + 2\).
3. Rewrite \(f(x) = 2x^2 - 8x + 6\) in vertex form.
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## Practice Problems
1. Simplify: \(3^2 \cdot 3^{-4}\).
2. Solve: \(x^2 - 4x - 5 = 0\).
3. Graph: \(y = 2x + 1\) and find its intercepts.
4. Factor: \(2x^2 + 5x + 3\).
5. Transform: \(f(x) = (x + 2)^2 - 1\) (describe the transformations).
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**Tips:**
- Prioritize weak areas.
- Solve all practice problems.
- Review definitions and theorems.
Good luck on your final exam!
