Final Exam Study Guide

4 Exam Content Guidelines and Recommended Resources

Final exam questions are drawn from the following topics. Learning objectives for each topic are also
listed below. To prepare for your final exam, please refer to the relevant Chapters and sections from
the recommended textbook . Chapter numbers and section titles are for 8th edition of the
recommended textbook, and they may differ in other editions.

1. BASIC ALGEBRAIC OPERATIONS (3%) ( 2 questions)

Chapter R: Basic Algebra Operations

1.1 Algebra and Real Numbers (R-1 Algebra and Real Numbers- page 2-11)

1.1.1 Perform prime factorization of natural numbers

1.1.2 Write rational numbers in different formats.

1.1.3 Use a number line to compare real numbers.

1.1.4 Perform arithmetic operations on real numbers.

1.2 Exponents (Section R-2: Exponents (pages 13-24))

1.2.1 Identify the base and exponent in an exponential expression.

1.2.2 Evaluate exponential expressions.

1.2.3 Perform arithmetic operations on exponential expressions.

1.2.4 Simplify exponential expressions.

1.2.5 Convert numbers to and from scientific notation and perform arithmetic

1.3 Radicals (Section R-3: Radicals (pages 27-34))

1.3.1 Convert expressions from radical notation to rational exponents and

vice versa.

1.3.2 Simplify radical expressions and rationalize denominators.

 1.3.3 Perform algebraic operations on radical expressions.

1.4 Polynomials (R-4 Polynomials: Basic Operations - page 36-44 and R-5
Polynomials: Factoring pages 47-56)

1.4.1 Recognize a polynomial containing one variable and determine its

degree.

1.4.2 Evaluate and simplify polynomials.

1.4.3 Perform algebraic operations on polynomials.

1.4.4 Factor polynomials by grouping and factoring out the greatest common
factor.

1.4.6 Use the binomial theorem to expand powers of a binomial.

1.5 Rational Expressions (R-6 Rational Expressions: Basic Operations - page 58-
65)

1.5.1 Identify rational expressions.

1.5.2 Evaluate and simplify rational expressions.

1.5.3 Perform algebraic operations on rational expressions.

2. LINEAR EQUATIONS AND INEQUALITIES ON ONE VARIABLE (10%

of exam) (6 questions)
Chapter 1: Equations and Inequalities

2.1 Linear Equations (Section 1-1: Linear Equations and Applications (pages 76-
86))

2.1.1 Verify solutions of a linear equation.

2.1.2 Solve linear equations in one variable.

2.1.3 Solve applied problems involving linear equations.

2.2 Linear Inequalities (Section 1-2: Linear Inequalities (pages 92-100))

2.2.1 Use set notation, interval notation, and number lines to express the
solution sets of inequalities.
 2.2.2 Solve linear inequalities and determine when inequalities have no
solutions.

2.2.3 Solve applied problems involving linear inequalities.

2.3 Absolute Value in Equations and Inequalities (Section 1-3: Absolute Value in
Equations and Inequalities (pages 103-113))

2.3.1 Explain the relationship between absolute value and distance.

2.3.2 Solve absolute value equations and inequalities.

3. POLYNOMIAL AND OTHER EQUATIONS (12% of exam) (8 questions)

Chapter 1: Equations and Inequalities

3.1 Quadratic Equations (Section 1-5: Quadratic Equations and Applications

(pages 129-141))

3.1.1 Factor quadratic trinomials when a leading coefficient equals to 1 or

does not equal to 1.

3.1.2 Use completing the square techniques transform a trinomial into a

perfect square trinomial.

3.1.3 Find the roots of a quadratic trinomial using the quadratic formula.

3.1.4 Use the discriminant to determine the number of real roots of a

quadratic expression.

3.1.5 Rewrite rational equations as polynomial equations.

3.1.6 Identify quadratic equations with no real solutions.

3.1.7 Solve applied problems involving quadratic equations.

3.2 Additional Equation-Solving Techniques (Section 1.6: Additional Equation-

Solving Techniques (pages 145-153))

3.2.1 Solve equations involving radicals and rational exponents.

3.2.2 Use absolute value to solve inequalities involving radicals.

3.2.3 Solve cubic equations that involve the sums of cubes.

 3.3 Complex Numbers (Section 1-4: Complex Numbers (pages 115-126))

3.3.1 Use the notation of complex numbers.

3.3.2 Perform algebraic operations on complex numbers.

3.3.3 Solve quadratic equations with complex solutions.

4. FUNCTIONS AND GRAPHS (10% of exam) (6 questions)

Chapter 2: Graphs

Chapter 3: Functions

4.1 Cartesian Coordinate Systems (Section 2-1: Cartesian Coordinate Systems

(pages 164-175)

4.1.1 Plot a point on a Cartesian coordinate system given an ordered pair of

coordinates.

4.1.2 Read the coordinates of a point plotted on Cartesian axes.

4.1.3 Sketch the graph of a line by plotting solution points.

4.2 Relations, Functions and Graphs (3-1 Functions and 3-2 Graphing Functions,
page 232-245, 250-262)

4.2.1 Define relation and function.

4.2.2 Determine whether a relation is a function.

4.2.3 Find the domain and range of a relation or function.

4.2.4 Use function notation.

4.2.5 Graph a relation or a function by plotting points.

4.2.6 Graph the greatest integer (piecewise-defined) functions.

4.2.7 Use your knowledge of functions and relations to solve applied

problems.

4.3 Linear Functions (Section: 3.2 Graphing Functions (pages 254-256))

4.3.1 Identify linear functions.

 4.3.2 Use the coordinates of two points on a line to determine the slope of
the line.

4.3.3 Use slopes to determine whether two lines are parallel, perpendicular,
or neither.

4.3.4 Write an equation for a line given the slope of the line and the
coordinates of a point on the line.

4.3.5 Use an equation of a line to determine the slope of a line and the
coordinates of some points on the same line.

4.3.6 Graph a linear function.

4.3.7 Rewrite the equation of a line in different forms (point-slope form, slope-
intercept form, general form).

4.3.8 Solve applied problems involving linear functions.

5. OPERATIONS ON FUNCTIONS AND ANALYZING GRAPHS (15% of

exam) (10 questions)
Chapter 2: Graphs

Chapter 3: Functions

5.1 The Algebra and Composition of Functions (Section 3-5: Operations on

Functions; Composition (pages 310-322))

5.1.1 Perform algebraic operations (including composition) on functions.

5.1.2 Find the domain and range of a composite function.

5.1.3 Decompose a composite function.

5.1.4 Use your knowledge of composite functions solve applied problems.

5.2 One-to-One Functions and Inverses (Section 3-6: Inverse Functions (pages
325-341)

5.2.1 Identify one-to-one functions.

5.2.2 Determine the domain and range of the inverse of a one-to-one

function.
 5.2.3 Write a symbolic expression for the inverse of a function.

5.2.4 Sketch the graph of a function's inverse based on the graph of the
function.

5.3 Graphs and Symmetry (Section 2-1 (pages 171-175)) (Section 3-2: Graphing
Functions (pages 250-253))

5.3.1 Identify an axis or point of symmetry in a graph.

5.3.2 Use symmetry as an aid to graphing.

5.4 Transformations (Section 3-3 (pages 267-279)

5.4.1 Sketch the graphs of parent functions.

5.4.2 Perform a translation on graphs.

5.4.3 Perform a reflection on graphs.

5.4.4 Perform stretches and compressions on graphs.

5.4.5 Analyze a function as a series of transformations on an elementary

function.

5.4.6 Sketch the graph of a function by applying a series of transformations

to the graph of a parent function.

5.4.7 Identify odd and even functions.

6. GRAPHING POLYNOMIAL AND RATIONAL FUNCTIONS (7% of exam)

(5 questions)
Chapter 3: Functions

Chapter 4: Polynomials and Rational Functions

Chapter 5: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

6.1 Graphing Polynomial Functions (Section 3-4: Quadratic Functions: pp. 284 -
302) (Section 4-1: Polynomial Functions and Models: pp. 361 – 379)

6.1.1 Use the technique of completing the square to interpret a quadratic

function as a transformation of x^2.

6.1.2 Use the vertex formula to find the vertex of a parabola.

 6.1.3 Graph a quadratic function.

6.1.4 Determine the end behavior for a polynomial from its graph or symbolic
expression.

6.1.5 Use the multiplicity of a root of a polynomial to determine the behavior

of the polynomial's graph at that root on the x-axis.

6.1.6 Graph a polynomial function.

6.1.7 Use your knowledge of polynomials to solve applied problems.

6.2 Graphing Rational Functions Section 4-4: Rational Functions and Inequalities:
pp. 413 – 435(Section 5-5: Review and Exercises: pp. 519 - 520)

6.2.1 Determine the domain of and the location of any x-intercepts in the
graph of a rational function from its symbolic expression.

6.2.2 Identify asymptotes in the graph of a rational function.

6.2.3 Determine the asymptotes in the graph of a rational function from its
algebraic expression.

6.2.4 Sketch the graph of a rational function.

6.2.5 Find the simplest rational function that has a given set of asymptotes.

6.2.6 Solve applied problems involving rational functions to

7. EXPONENTIAL AND LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS (13% of exam) (8

questions)
Chapter 5: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

7.1 Exponential Functions (Section 5-1: Exponential Functions: 454 – 469)

(Chapter 5 Review: pp. 519 – 520)

7.1.1 Evaluate an exponential function at a given input value.

7.1.2 Graph an exponential function.

7.1.3 Identify increasing and decreasing exponential functions.

7.1.4 Explain the natural exponential function and the number e.

 7.1.5 Solve applied problems involving exponential functions.

7.2 Logarithms and Logarithmic Functions (Section 5-3: Logarithmic Functions:

pp. 487 – 501) (Chapter 5 Review: pp. 519 – 520) (Section 5-3: pp. 487 – 501)

7.2.1 Write the logarithmic expressions in exponential form

7.2.2 Graph a logarithmic function.

7.2.3 Perform algebraic operations on logarithmic expressions.

7.2.4 Convert expressions from exponential notation to logarithmic notation

and vice versa.

7.2.5 Solve applied problems involving logarithmic functions.

8. EXPONENTIAL AND LOGARITHMIC EQUATIONS (12% of exam) (8

questions)
Chapter 5: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

8.1 Exponential Equations (Section 5-5: pp. 511 – 519) (Chapter 5 Review: pp. 519
– 520)

8.1.1 Solve exponential equations.

8.1.2 Use your knowledge of exponential equations to solve applied

problems.

8.2 Logarithmic Equations (Section 5-5: pp. 511 – 519) (Chapter 5 Review: pp. 519
– 520)

8.2.1 Rewrite logarithmic equations as exponential equations and vice versa.

8.2.2 Solve logarithmic equations.

8.2.3 Solve applied problems involving logarithmic equations.

9. SYSTEMS OF EQUATIONS (11% of exam) (7 questions)

Chapter 7: Systems of Equations and Inequalities
 9.1 Solving Systems Graphically, by Substitution, and Using Elimination (Section
7-1: Systems of Linear Equations in Two Variables: pp. 580 – 581) (Section 7-8: Review and
Exercises: pp. 702 – 706)

9.1.1 Determine whether a system of linear equations has no solutions

(inconsistent system), one solution, or infinitely many solutions (dependent system).

9.1.2 Solve systems of linear equations using graphs, using substitution, and
using elimination.

9.1.3 Solve applied problems involving systems of equations.

9.1.4 Graph systems of linear inequalities.

9.2 Solving Systems Using Matrices (Sections 7-3: Systems of Linear Equations &
7-4: Matrix Operations: pp. 607 – 643)

9.2.1 Form the augmented matrix of a system of equations.

9.2.2 Use Gauss-Jordan elimination to solve a system of equations.

10. SEQUENCES AND SERIES (7% of exam) (5 questions)

Chapter 8: Sequences, Induction, and Probability

10.1 Sequences and Series (Section 8-1: Sequences and Series: pp. 712 – 721)

10.1.1 Write out the terms of a sequence given the general term.

10.1.2 Find a formula that produces the given terms of a sequence.

10.1.3 Determine partial sums of series.

10.1.4 Perform algebraic operations on series.

10.2 Arithmetic Sequences (Section 8-1: Sequences and Series: pp. 712 – 721)
(Chapter 8 Review and Exercises: 787 – 789)

10.2.1 Identify arithmetic series from the general term.

10.2.2 Determine the general term of an arithmetic series.

10.2.3 Find the sum of a finite arithmetic series.

10.2.4 Solve applied problems involving arithmetic series

 10.3 Geometric Sequences (Section 8-3: Arithmetic and Geometric Sequences: pp.
731 – 745) (Chapter 8 Review and Exercises: 787 – 789)

10.3.1 Identify geometric series from the general term.

10.3.2 Determine the general term of a geometric series.

10.3.3 Solve applied problems involving geometric series

Use of the Recommended Resources:

The suggested resources listed above are not intended to be exhaustive, and you may need to refer
to other chapters and sections in the suggested textbook. To support your final exam preparation,
we recommend that you also refer to the lesson presentations and relevant video resources
(examples as below):