Assignment 2 

course Mth 158

Z?|???z ??H??????assignment #002002. `query 2

College Algebra

05-31-2009

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09:35:08

query R.2.46 (was R.2.36) Evaluate for x = -2, and y = 3 the expression (2x - 3) / y and explan how you got your result.

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RESPONSE -->

Substitute the x and y values into the expression so

[2(-2)-3] / 3

work in the parenthesis first giving 2*-2 = -4 then subtract 3 so the numerator is -7

divide -7 into 3 giving an answer of -2.33

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09:37:14

query R.2. 55 (was R.2.45) Evaluate for x = 3 and y = -2: | |4x| - |5y| | and explan how you got your result.

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RESPONSE -->

substitute x and y appropriately into expression so

4(3) - 5(-2) giving 12 - (-10) but because of the absolute value bars -10 becomes 10 so

12-10 giving an answer of 2

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09:39:16

query R.2.64 (was R.2.54) Explain what values, if any, must not be present in the domain of the expression (-9x^2 - x + 1) / (x^3 + x)

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RESPONSE -->

the values are present and seen in the expression

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09:41:08

** The denominator of this expression cannot be zero, since division by zero is undefined.

Since x^3 + x factors into (x^2 + 1) ( x ) we see that x^3 + x = 0 only if x^2 + 1 = 0 or x = 0.

Since x^2 cannot be negative x^2 + 1 cannot be 0, so x = 0 is indeed the only value for which x^3 + x = 0. **

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RESPONSE -->

right, a denominator can not be 0 and when you factor out the denominator so x = 0 is the only value

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09:44:26

query R.2.76 \ 73 (was R.4.6). What is -4^-2 and how did you use the laws of exponents to get your result?

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RESPONSE -->

rewrite the expression because of the -2 exponent

so - 1 / 4^2 and follow through with the law of exponents and solve

-1/16

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09:52:03

** (3^(-2)*5^3)/(3^2*5). Grouping factors with like bases we have

3^(-2)/3^2 * 5^3 / 5. Using the fact that a^b / a^c = a^(b-c) we get

3^(-2 -2) * 5^(3-1), which gives us

3^-4 * 5^2. Using a^(-b) = 1 / a^b we get

(1/3^4) * 5^2. Simplifying we have

(1/81) * 25 = 25/81. **

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RESPONSE -->

group factors:

3^-2/3^2 * 5^3/5

so 3^(-2-2) giving 3^-4

5^(3-1) giving 5^2 so

1/3^4 * 5^2 giving 1/81 * 25 hence .31 or 25/81

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09:58:44

query R.2.94. Express [ 5 x^-2 / (6 y^-2) ] ^ -3 with only positive exponents and explain how you used the laws of exponents to get your result.

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RESPONSE -->

work within the parenthesis first so

(1/5x^2 / 1/6y^2) ^ -3 so now work with the exponent -3 giving

[1/ (1/5x^2 / 1/6y^2 ) ] ^ 3

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10:00:34

[ 5 x^-2 / (6 y^-2) ] ^ -3 = (5 x^-2)^-3 / (6 y^-2)^-3, since (a/b)^c = a^c / b^c. This simplifies to

5^-3 (x^-2)^-3 / [ 6^-3 (y^-2)^-3 ] since (ab)^c = a^c b^c. Then since (a^b)^c = a^(bc) we have

5^-3 x^6 / [ 6^-3 y^6 ] . We rearrange this to get the result

6^3 x^6 / (5^3 y^6), since a^-b = 1 / a^b.

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RESPONSE -->

right, simplifying by grouping works and then re-arranging and simplifying the expression.

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10:02:52

query Extra Problem. Express (-8 x^3) ^ -2 with only positive exponents and explain how you used the laws of exponents to get your result.

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RESPONSE -->

keeping -8x^3 together, [1/ (-8x^3) ] ^2 getting rid of the negative exponent

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10:05:06

** ERRONEOUS STUDENT SOLUTION: (-8x^3)^-2

-1/(-8^2 * x^3+2)

1/64x^5

INSTRUCTOR COMMENT:1/64x^5 means 1 / 64 * x^5 = x^5 / 64. This is not what you meant but it is the only correct interpretation of what you wrote.

Also it's not x^3 * x^2, which would be x^5, but (x^3)^2.

There are several ways to get the solution. Two ways are shown below. They make more sense if you write them out in standard notation.

ONE CORRECT SOLUTION: (-8x^3)^-2 =

(-8)^-2*(x^3)^-2 =

1 / (-8)^2 * 1 / (x^3)^2 =

1/64 * 1/x^6 =

1 / (64 x^5).

Alternatively

(-8 x^3)^-2 =

1 / [ (-8 x^3)^2] =

1 / [ (-8)^2 (x^3)^2 ] =

1 / ( 64 x^6 ). **

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RESPONSE -->

right I am not solving the expression so

in the denominator -8^2 giving 64

(x^3)^2 hence x^6 so 1/ (64x^6)

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10:09:42

query R.2.90 (was R.4.36). Express (x^-2 y) / (x y^2) with only positive exponents and explain how you used the laws of exponents to get your result.

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RESPONSE -->

the way I am seeing the problem to make the exponent positive first so 1/x^2y so with the 1/(xy^2) equals

1/ (x^2y)(xy^2)

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10:11:08

** (1/x^2 * y) / (x * y^2)

= (1/x^2 * y) * 1 / (x * y^2)

= y * 1 / ( x^2 * x * y^2)

= y / (x^3 y^2)

= 1 / (x^3 y).

Alternatively, or as a check, you could use exponents on term as follows:

(x^-2y)/(xy^2)

= x^-2 * y * x^-1 * y^-2

= x^(-2 - 1) * y^(1 - 2)

= x^-3 y^-1

= 1 / (x^3 y).**

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RESPONSE -->

Yes this is what I wasn't sure of because there were not the * marks on the problem so in this case

(1/x^2 * y) / (x * y^2)

(1/x^2 * y) * 1 / (x * y^2)

y * 1 / ( x^2 * x * y^2)

y / (x^3 y^2)

1 / (x^3 y).

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10:14:07

query Extra Problem. . Express 4 x^-2 (y z)^-1 / [ (-5)^2 x^4 y^2 z^-5 ] with only positive exponents and explain how you used the laws of exponents to get your result.

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RESPONSE -->

make the exponents positive and simplify through

so z^5 / 4x^2 * yz * 25 * x^4 * y^2

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10:15:20

** Starting with

4x^-2(yz)^-1/ [ (-5)^2 x^4 y^2 z^-5] Squaring the -5 and using the fact that (yz)^-1 = y^1 * z^-1:

4x^-2 * y^-1 * z^-1/ [25 * x^4 * y^2 * z^-5} Grouping the numbers, and the x, the y and the z expression:

(4/25) * (x^-2/x^4) * (y^-1/y^2) * (z^-1/z^-5) Simplifying by the laws of exponents:

(4/25) * x^(-2-4) * y^(-1-2) * z^(-1+5) Simplifying further:

(4/25) * x^-6 * y^-3 * z^4 Writing with positive exponents:

4z^4/ (25x^6 * y^3 ) **

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RESPONSE -->

grouping properly is the key and grouping like factors.

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10:16:46

query R.2.122 (was R.4.72). Express 0.00421 in scientific notation.

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RESPONSE -->

4.21 * 10^-3

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10:18:04

query R.2.128 (was R.4.78). Express 9.7 * 10^3 in decimal notation.

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RESPONSE -->

9,700

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10:20:30

query R.2.152 \ 150 (was R.2.78) If an unhealthy temperature is one for which | T - 98.6 | > 1.5, then how do you show that T = 97 and T = 100 are unhealthy?

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RESPONSE -->

97-98.6 = -1.6 but has absolute value bars so 1.6

and 1.6 is greater than 1.5 hence unhealthy

however 100-98.6 = 1.4 and 1.4 is not greater than 1.5 so I believe it is not unhealthy

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M?????~R??????

assignment #002

002. `query 2

College Algebra

05-31-2009

You made some errors but self-critiqued them in a reasonable manner. Be sure you understand everything, and let me know if not.

It is recommended that for future assignments you use the 'open query' rather than the .exe program. It's easier to use, better formatted and provides better information to me and improved feedback to you. There is a link in each assignment to the appropriate document of the 'open query'.

In Step 3 of the Orientation you learn to use the 'open query'. If you haven't yet completed the orientation, at least complete Step 3 so you will know what to do. This step doesn't take long.