Name: __________________________

COLLEGE ALGEBRA MIDTERM STUDY GUIDE

QUARTER 1 / SEMESTER 1
30 Multiple Choice Questions
______________________________________________________________________________________

I. Problem Solving and Critical Thinking

 Estimation, graphs, and mathematical models
 Problem solving

II. Algebraic Expressions

 Evaluating expressions
 Distributive property
 Combining like terms
 Translating from word problems to expressions

III. Algebraic Linear Equations

 Solving one step and two-step equations including fractions
 Solving multi-step equations with distributive property and combining like terms
 Solving multi-step equations with variables on both sides of the equation
 Solving multi-step equations with no solutions or infinite solutions
 Solving literal equations
 Applications of linear equations

IV. Functions
 Function notation
 Evaluating functions
 Vertical line test
 Function mapping
 Domain and range

Problem Solving and Critical Thinking

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 1. Write an algebraic rule for the total number of tiles, T, in terms of the figure, n.

A. n2 + 4
B. 2n + 2
C. 2(n + 1)
D. 3n + 2

2. Write an algebraic rule for the total number of tiles, T, in terms of the figure, n.

A. n+1
B. n(n + 1)
C. 3n
D. n2 + 1

3. Which equation best describes the relationship between the values of x and y shown in the table?
x y
-1 -7
0 -5
2 -1
4 3
A. y = x – 5
B. y = 2x – 5
C. y = 3x – 7
D. y = 4x – 7

Algebraic expressions
4. Two enterprising college students decide to start a business. They will make up and deliver helium balloon
bouquets for special occasions. It will cost them $39.99 to buy a machine to fill the balloons with helium.
They estimate that it will cost them $2.00 to buy the balloons, helium and ribbons needed to make each balloon
bouquet. Which of the following expressions could be used to model the total cost for producing b balloon
bouquets?
A. $2.00b + $39.99
B. $37.99b
C. $39.99b + $2.00
D. $41.99b

5. A plumber charges $13.50 per hour for a plumbing job that requires more than 3 hours to complete. For any job
requiring 3 hours or less, there is a flat charge of $40.50. If h represents the number of hours the job requires,
which of the following expressions gives the charge, in dollars, for a job requiring more than 3 hours to complete?
A. 13.5h + 40.5
B. 13.5h
C. 13.5h – 40.5
D. 40.5

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6. You help in the school cafeteria by emptying the trash barrels. You are paid $4 for each day you work. Let d be
the number of days you work in a month. Which of the following expressions represent your pay for that month,
in dollars?
A. d4
d
B.
4
C. 4 + d
D. 4d

7. What is the value of the expression (x – y)2 when x = 5 and y = -1?

A. 4
B. 16
C. 24
D. 36

1 3ab 2  d 3
8. If a = - , b = 4, and d = -3, what is the value of ?
2 a
1
A. -25
2
B. -6
C. 75
D. 102

9. What is the value of 3 x if x = 6?

A. -3
B. 3
C. 6
D. 9

10. For all x, 5 – 3(x – 4) = ?

A. -3x + 17
B. -3x – 7
C. -3x + 1
D. -3x – 4

11. (6x – 4) – (2x + 8) is equivalent to:

A. 4(x + 4)
B. 4(x – 1)
C. 4(x – 3)
D. 4(x – 12)

12. The expression (3x2 + 5x – 12) – 2(x2 + 4x +9) is equivalent to which of the following:
A. x2 – 3x – 30
B. x2 + 13x + 6
C. 5x2 + x – 18
D. x2 + 3x – 21
Algebraic Linear Equations
Page 3 of 6
13. A Fahrenheit temperature F can be approximated by doubling the Celsius temperature C and adding 32.
Which of the following expresses this approximation method?
1
A. F = C + 32
2
B. F = 2C + 32
C. F = 2(C + 32)
D. F = C2 + 32

14. Roy is saving to buy a new bike, which costs $258. He has $16 towards this purchase. Express how much
more Roy needs in the form of an equation.
A. x + 258 = 16
B. x – 16 = 258
C. x = 258 + 16
D. x + 16 = 258

15. Solve for r: 3r + 2 – r = -4

A. 3
B. -3
C. 4
D. -4

16. Patricia pays $1.19 each to download songs to her MP3 player. If n is the number of downloaded songs, which
equation represents the cost C in dollars?
A. C = 1.19n
B. n = 1.19C
C. C = 1.19 ÷ n
D. C = n + 1.1

3 1
17. Solve the equation a  .
5 4
3
A. a 
20
B. a  2
5
C. a 
12
D. a   3

18. An equation is shown below:

-2x + 9 = -17

What is the solution to the equation?

A. x = -13
B. x = -4
C. x = 4
D. x = 13

a 8b
19. If a + b = 6, then ?
2
Page 4 of 6
 A. 3
B. 7
C. 10
D. 14

20. Solve for y: 3x – 4y = 12

A. y = 3x – 4
3
B. y  x3
4
C. y  3 x  3
D. 3x – 4y = 12

21. The sum of one fifth of a number and three is equal to half of the number. What is the number?
A. 5
B. 10
C. 15
D. 20

22. Given y + 36 = 102, y + 14 = ? (Hint: solve for y first, then find y + 14)
A. 66
B. 76
C. 80
D. 124

23. When n basketball uniforms are purchased, the cost, C, of each uniform is given by the equation
40n  260
C . If the cost of each uniform was $60, how many uniforms were purchased?
n
A. 5
B. 6
C. 8
D. 13
E. 26

Functions
3
 10 
24. What is the value of f(2) if f(x) =   ?
 x 
5
A.
4
B. 15
C. 125
D. 500

x5
25. What are the domain and range for the relation y  .
x5
A. Domain = {all real numbers}
Range = {all real numbers}
Page 5 of 6
 B. Domain = {all real numbers ≠ 5}
Range = {all real numbers}
C. Domain = {all real numbers ≠ −5}
Range = {all real numbers}
D. Domain = {all real numbers}
Range = {all real numbers ≠ 5}

26. If f(x) = 3x – 2, find f(8) – f(-5)

A. 7
B. 9
C. 37
D. 39

27. If f(x) = 2x – 4 find f(q + 1):

A. 2q + 4
B. 2q + 2
C. 2q – 6
D. 2q – 2

28. If f(x) = -4x2 + 15, then f(-3) = ?

A. -21
B. -9
C. 39
D. 51

29. Find the range of the function given the domain: f(x) = 5 – 4x; domain = {-1, 0, 1}
A. {1, 5, 3}
B. {9, 5, 1}
C. {9, 5, 3}
D. {1, 5, 5}

1
30. A function g(x) =   2 . For which value of x will g(x) = 0?
x
1
A. x = 
2
B. x = -1
1
C. x =
2
D. x = 0

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