What is the difference between two negative numbers?
- A. Negative number
- B. Positive number
- C. Zero
- D. Not enough information
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'Positive number.' When you subtract one negative number from another negative number, the result can be a positive number. For example, the difference between -5 and -3 is 2, which is a positive number. Choice A, 'Negative number,' is incorrect because the result of subtracting two negative numbers can be positive. Choice C, 'Zero,' is incorrect because the difference between two negative numbers is not always zero. Choice D, 'Not enough information,' is incorrect because there is enough information to determine that the difference between two negative numbers can be a positive number.
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Apply the polynomial identity to rewrite (a + b)².
- A. a² + b²
- B. 2ab
- C. a² + 2ab + b²
- D. a² - 2ab + b²
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: When you see something like (a + b)², it means you're multiplying (a + b) by itself:
(a + b)² = (a + b) (a + b)
To expand this, we use the distributive property (which says you multiply each term in the first bracket by each term in the second bracket):
Multiply the first term in the first bracket (a) by both terms in the second bracket:
a a = a²
a b = ab
Multiply the second term in the first bracket (b) by both terms in the second bracket:
b a = ab
b b = b²
Now, add up all the results from the multiplication:
a² + ab + ab + b²
Since ab + ab is the same as 2ab, we can simplify it to:
a² + 2ab + b²
So, (a + b)² = a² + 2ab + b².
This is known as a basic polynomial identity, and it shows that when you square a binomial (a two-term expression like a + b), you get three terms: the square of the first term (a²), twice the product of the two terms (2ab), and the square of the second term (b²).
Therefore, the correct answer is C (a² + 2ab + b²)
What is the mode of the data set: 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5?
- A. 2
- B. 3
- C. 4
- D. 5
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The mode of a data set is the value that appears most frequently. In this data set (2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5), the number 4 appears three times, which is more frequent than any other number in the set. Therefore, the correct answer is 4. Choice A (2), B (3), and D (5) do not appear as frequently as 4 in the data set, so they are not the mode.
What is the median of the data set: 3, 5, 7, 9, 11?
- A. 3
- B. 7
- C. 9
- D. 5
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: To find the median of a set of numbers, you arrange them in ascending order and then find the middle value. Given the data set 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, when arranged in ascending order, becomes 3, 5, 7, 9, 11. The middle value in this set is 7, making it the median. Choice A (3) is the smallest value, not the middle value. Choice C (9) and Choice D (5) are not the middle values of the set either. Therefore, the correct answer is B (7).
What is the result of dividing 8 by 4?
- A. 2
- B. 4
- C. 6
- D. 8
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: To find the result of dividing 8 by 4, we divide 8 by 4, which equals 2. Choice B (4) is incorrect because it is the divisor, not the result of the division. Choice C (6) is incorrect as it is not the correct quotient. Choice D (8) is incorrect as it is the dividend, not the result of the division.
Simplify the expression 3x - 5x + 2.
- A. -2x + 2
- B. -8x
- C. 2x + 2
- D. -2x
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: When simplifying the expression 3x - 5x + 2, start by combining like terms. -5x is subtracted from 3x to give -2x. Adding 2 at the end gives the simplified expression -2x. Therefore, the correct answer is -2x. Choice A, -2x + 2, incorrectly adds 2 at the end. Choice B, -8x, incorrectly combines the coefficients of x without considering the constant term. Choice C, 2x + 2, incorrectly adds the coefficients of x without simplifying.