Some suggestions on how to review for Test 1

General advice:
Just going through the worked examples and the now try questions may not be
sufficient preparation for the test (and the final examination).

1.1
Know how to add/subtract fractions using LCD (lowest common denominator).

Convert division by a fraction into multiplication by a fraction.

Three ways of showing an interval:

(i) interval notation
(ii) set builder notation
(iii) graphical (sketch on a real line)

Interval notation Set builder notation Graph

[6, ) { x | x 6 }
6

Graph union and intersection of intervals.

Understand and know how to evaluate absolute values.

1.2 (Examples 1 to 5, 8 to 13)

Exponents: positive integer, zero, negative integer, fraction (positive or negative)

Radicals: add/subtract/multiply/divide , simplify
Relationship between radicals and rational exponents
Rationalizing denominator or numerator
[This theme shows up again in Section 1.4 (Examples 9 & 10).]

1.3 (Examples 1 to 13, 15)

Adding, subtracting and multiplying polynomials are very basic skills.
(Examples 1 to 3) Division will come up in a later section.
Know "special product formulas" and "special factoring formulas" well so that you can
easily
(i) carry out multiplication of various forms:
Recognise the right form and apply. (see Examples 4&5 + others)

(ii) factor certain kinds of polynomials.

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For factoring:
1) Look for common factor of all the terms, and factor out the common factor. (see
Example 6 + others)
2) More than THREE terms, try grouping. (see Example 15 + others)
3) For trinomial (3 terms),
(i) try to recognize if it is a perfect square. (see Example 12 + others)
(ii) try to factor by trial and error (see Examples 7 to 9 + others)
4) Recognize difference of two squares and factor. (see Example 10 + others)
5) Recognize sum of two cubes or difference of two cubes, and then factor.
(see Example 11 + others)
6) To factor completely - further processing, sometimes combining more than one
of the above. (see Example 13 + others)

Factoring quadratic (trinomial) is a very important skill.

You must practice enough to master it.

Make sure you know how to factor difference of squares, difference and sum of cubes.

1.4 Rational expressions

Rational expression: Domain of an expression (Example 1)

3 x x7
Examples: x, , ,
x + 2 ( x + 1)( x 2) x( x + 1)( x 2)

Add, subtract, multiply and divide ; simplify. (Examples 2 to 5)

Very often you need to know how to factorize polynomials.

For "add/subtract", you need to know LCD.

Master factoring - VERY IMPORTANT

Compound fractions. (Examples 6 & 7) -- Very critical to write proper steps

Rationalizing the Denominator or the Numerator (Examples 9 & 10)

(i) If | a | = 5 , what can a be?

(ii) If | x 7 | = 5 , what can x be?

[ If you can answer (i), then you could answer (ii); that's "algebraic thinking"!
With this, you should know how to take care of problems like example 14 in Section
2.1] Try (i) & (ii) first before you try to "fastforward" to example 14 in Section 2.1

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1.5 Complex Numbers

Make sure you know how to add, subtract and multiply with complex numbers.
p + qi
Then know how to use complex conjugate to rewrite in the form a + bi
r + si
3 + 5i 3 + 5i 1 + 2i
E.g. = =
1 2i 1 2i 1 + 2i

2.1 Equations
Linear equations (Examples1 to 3)

Quadratic equations:

"Zero product property" - very important for solving quadratic equations.

Solve quadratic equations:

(i) by factoring (Example 4)

(ii) by completing the square (Example 6) - Try to understand the sequence of steps.

If you are given a "completed square" form (Example 5), you should be able to proceed
easily. [Knowing a 2 = 5 , we get a = 5 ]
[Both (i) and (ii) involve transforming a quadratic equation into two linear equations.]

(iii) by quadratic formula, which actually is derived using the completing-the-square

method

Other types of equations:

(i) Involving radical (Example 11)

Make sure you isolate the radical on one side of the equal sign;
then square both sides.
Must remember to check final answers; there may be extraneous solution(s).
(ii) Involving absolute value (Example 14)
(iii) More "other types" skipped for this test