Algebra Review

3a + 2b
1. Evaluate the expression when a = -3 and b = -4.
2
1
A) −
2
17
B) −
2
1
C)
2
17
D)
2

2. Simplify: 3+5• 6 −4

A) 17
B) 29
C) 16
D) 30

3. Simplify: 6 − 2 • 2 + 25
A) 40
B) 18
C) 34
D) 12

3x − y
4. Evaluate: if x = 2, y = 8, and z = –2.
6z − x

1
A)
7
1
B) −
7
1
C)
5
1
D) −
5

CPT Review 4/17/01 1

 14 − 30
5. Simplify:
2(− 4 )
A) –2
B) 2
11
C)
2
11
D) −
2

6. Use the distributive property to simplify. − 3( x − 10) + x

A) − 4x + 30
B) − 4x − 30
C) − 2x + 30
D) − 2x − 30

7. Simplify: 8y – 2 – 3(y – 4)
A) 11y – 6
B) 5y – 6
C) 5y – 14
D) 5y + 10

36a 3bc 2
8. Write the fraction in lowest terms:
24ab 4c 2

3b 2
A)
2a 3
2b 3
B)
3a 2
3a 2
C)
2b 3
2a 2
D)
3b 3

CPT Review 4/17/01 2

9. Solve for x : 3( x + 1) = −6

A) − 2
B) − 3
C) 1
7
D)
3

10. Add the polynomials: 2 a + 3b + 5a − 7b

A) 7 a − 4b
B) 7 a + 4b
C) 3ab
D) 7 a − 10b

11. Subtract the polynomials: (9 x 2

) (
− 4 x + 11 − 3 x 2 − 2 x + 2 )
A) 6x 2 − 2x + 9
B) 6x2 − 2 x + 13
C) 6x 2 − 6x + 9
D) 6x 2 − 6 x + 13

12. ( x + 2)(x 2 − 2 x + 4 ) =
A) x3 +8
B) x 3 + 4x 2 − 8x + 8
C) x 3 − 4x 2 + 8x + 8
D) x 3 + 8x + 8

13. The difference of twice a number and six is four times the number. Find an
equation to solve for the number.
A) 2x – 6 = 4
B) 2x – 6 = 4x
C) 2x + 6 = 4x
D) 2x – 6 = x + 4

14. Expand: (2 x − 3) 2
A) 4 x 2 −9
B) 4 x 2 +9
C) 2 x 2 − 12 x + 9
D) 4 x 2 − 12 x + 9

CPT Review 4/17/01 3

15. Which of the following numbers is the smallest?
3
A) −
4
3
B) −
2
C) − 1
2
D) −
3

16. Which of the following is the largest?

A) 5 − 2
B) 2 − 5
C) − 2 − 5
D) 5 − 2 + 2 − 5

17. Solve: 3( x − 5 ) ≤ x − 8
7
A) x ≤
2
2
B) x ≤
7
C) x ≤ −1
D) x ≥ −1

18. A flower-bed is in the shape of a triangle with one side twice the length of the
shortest side and the third side 15 feet longer than the shortest side. If the perimeter
is 100 feet and if x represents the length of the shortest side, find an equation to
solve for the lengths of the three sides.
A) x + 2x + x + 15 = 100
B) x + 15 = 2x
C) x + 15 + 2x = 100
D) x + 2x = x + 115

19. If John has $50 more money than Mary and you choose to represent John’s amount
of money as X how should you represent Mary’s amount of money in terms of X?
A) X + $50
B) X - $50
C) $50 – X
D) $50·X

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20. Multiply: (
2 x 3x 2 − 5 x − 3 )
A) 6 x 3 − 5 x 2 − 6 x
B) 6 x 3 − 5x − 3
C) 6 x 3 − 10 x 2 − 3 x
D) 6 x 3 − 10 x 2 − 6x

14m 2 − 28m8 + 7m
21. Divide:
7m

A) 2 m − 28 m 8 + 7m
B) 2 m − 4 m7 + 1
C) 2 m − 4m 7
D) 2 m 2 − 4m 8 + m

22. Factor completely: 12 x 4 − 20 x 3 + 4 x 2

One factor is:
A) 4x 4
B) 3x + 1
C) x − 1
D) 3x 2 − 5x + 1

23. Factor completely: x 2 − 12 x + 36

One factor is:
A) 6 x
B) x − 6
C) x − 12
D) x + 3

24. Factor completely: 7 x 2 + 14 x − 21

One factor is:
A) 7 x
B) x + 1
C) x − 3
D) x + 3

25. Solve: x 2 − 3 x − 10 = 0
One solution is:
A) x = 10
B) x = 1
C) x = –2
D) x = 2

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26. Solve: 2 x 2 − 5 x = 0
The solutions are:
A) x = 0
B) x = 0, x = 5
C) x = 0, x = –5
5
D) x = 0, x =
2

3 x 2 − 12
27. Simplify and reduce:
9 x + 18
x−2
A)
6
2
B) 3x −
3
x+2
C)
3
x−2
D)
3

28. Given the equation –2x + 3y = 12, find the missing value in the ordered pair (–3,___)
A) –6
B) –2
C) 6
D) 2

29. What are the coordinates of the x-intercept in the graph below?

2
1
-2 -1 0 1 2 3 X

A) (− 1,2)
B) (0,−2)
C) (− 2,0 )
D) (0,1)

CPT Review 4/17/01 6

30. Graph the line 3x + y = 6.
A)

B)

C)

D)

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 x2 9
31. Solve and simplify if possible: − =
x −3 x −3

x 3
A) −
−3 x
B) -1
C) x + 3
D) x − 3

x + 2y = 7
32. Solve the following system of equations for the y-value:
2 x + 2 y = 13
1
A) y =
2
B) y = 6
C) y = 5
13
D) y =
4

5 2
33. − 2 =
6a 3a

3
A)
6a 2
3
B)
3a
1
C)
6a 2
5a − 4
D)
6a 2

9b 2 − 3b
34. =
3b

A) 9b 2 − 1
B) 3b − 1
C) b −1
D) 9b

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35. The DoBee.Com Corporation has 5 more than three times as many female as male
supervisors. If “x” represents the number of male supervisors write an expression
that would represent the total number of female supervisors in terms of “x”.

A) x+5
B) 3x + 5
C) 4x + 5
D) 9x

36. Which of the following is not an equivalent statement?

b2  b  b
A) 4 − =  2 −  2 + 
25  5  5
B) x − 3x = x (x − 3)
5 2 2 3

C) (x )
4 3
= x7
1
D) x − 4 = 4
x

37. Charles needs enough fencing to enclose a rectangular garden with a perimeter of
140 feet. If the width of his garden is to be 30 feet, write the equation that can be
used to solve for the length of the garden.
A) x + 30 = 140
B) 2x + 30 = 140
C) 2x + 60 = 140
D) 140 – x = 60

38. Which one of the following ordered pairs is NOT a solution for the equation:
3x + y = 12?

A)  ,10 
1 1
2 2
B) (6,2)
C) (12, -24)
D) (2,6)

x2 + 4 x + 4
39. For what value(s) of x will each expression be undefined?
x2 + x − 6
A) 6
B) -2
C) -2 and 3
D) 2 and -3

CPT Review 4/17/01 9

 x 2 + 4x − 5
40. Which of the following is a factor of both expressions?
2 x 2 + 3x − 5
A) (x + 5)
B) ( x − 5)
C) ( x −1)
D) ( x − 3)

Solutions
Elementary Algebra Sample Items

3a + 2b
1. B Evaluate the expression when a = -3 and b = -4
2

3(− 3) + 2(− 4 )
2
− 9 + −8
2
− 17
2

2. B Simplify: 3 + 5 • 6 − 4

3+5• 6− 4
3 + 30 − 4
33 − 4 = 29

3. C Simplify: 6 − 2 • 2 + 2 5

6 − 2 • 2 + 25
6 − 2 • 2 + 32
6 − 4 + 32
2 + 32 = 34

CPT Review 4/17/01 10