M3 Math Core Midterm - Practice
Section 1: Inequalities
1. Write an inequality for a graph with 6. Solve the inequality: Fifty-five is
an open circle at 3 and shading less than or equal to the difference
pointing to the right. of six times a number and five.
• a. x < 3 • a. x ≤ 10
• b. x ≤ 3 o b. x ≥ 10
• c. X ≥ 8.3
° C. X > 3
d. x ≥ 3 d. x ≤ 8.3
2. Solve the inequality: a + 6 > 14 7. Solve the inequality: 2a + 15 > 4(a -
a. a > 8 2)
b. a > 20 a. a > 11.5
c. a < 8 b. a <11.5
d. a < 20 c. a < 3.5
d. a < 23
3. Solve the inequality: 4w 2-24
a.w ≥ -6 8. Write a compound inequality to
b. w ≤ -6 represent a graph with a closed
c. W ≥ -20 circle at -4 and shading extending
d. w ≥ -28 to the left, OR an open circle at 2
and shading extending to the right.
• a. -4≤x < 2
• b. x ≤-4 and x > 2
4. Solve the inequality: 3 > =5 • C. X ≤ -4 or x > 2
• a. x < -15
d. x < -4 or x≥2
• b. x>-15
c. x < 15
d. x < 8
9. Write a compound inequality to
represent a graph with an open
circle at -1, a closed circle at 4, and
Sarah went shopping and spent
shading anywhere in between
$140. After shopping, she had at
them.
least $45 left. Write an inequality to
a. -1<x≤4
find out how much money m Sarah
b.-1≤x <4
had before she went shopping.
c. X<-1 or x ≥ 4
• a. m ≤ 95
d. x <-1 and x ≥ 4
• b. m ≥ 95
c. m ≤ 185
d. m ≥ 185
Solve each compound inequality:
10. -5 < 3v + 1 < 19 11. -p + 15 > 11 or 5p - 2 > 18
• a. -2 < v<6 a.p > 4 orp < 4
• b.-6 < v < 18 b.p < 4 orp > 4
C. -2 < V < 18 c. 4 < p < 4
d. -6 < v <6 d. 2 < p <
Section 2: Polynomials
12. What is the degree of the following 16. (g + 4h)(g - 3h)
expression? x3 - 4/x + 7 a. g? -gh - 12h?
• a. 3rd degree b. g? + gh + 12h2
• b. 2nd degree c.g? + 7gh - 12h?
c. 1st degree d. g? + gh - 12h?
d. This is not a polynomial
17. Use the Distributive Property to
Simplify the polynomials: factor the polynomial: 15x? + 40x
13. (4k? + 5k - 2) + (-3k2 + 6k + 9) • a. 5x(3x + 8)
• a. k2 + 11k + 7 • b. 5(3x? + 8x)
• b. k2 + 11k - 11 • c. 15х(x + 40)
c. 7k^ + 11k + 7 d. 5x(3x - 8)
d. -k° + 11k + 7
18. The height of a toy rocket t
14. (8f + 7) - (2f - 3) seconds after it is launched is
• a. 6f + 4 given by the expression 100t - 5t.
• b. 6f + 10 Factor the expression completely.
c. 6f - 4 • a. 5t(20 - t)
d. 6f - 10 • b. -5t(-20 - t)
• c. 5t(20 - 1)
• d. 2t(50 - 2.5t)
15. 3x(2x4 + 4y)
• a. 6x* + 12xy
• b. 6x + 4xy 19. Factor by grouping: 3k2 + 21k - 2k -
6x + 12xy 14
d. 6x5 + 12x a. (3k - 2)(k + 7)
b. (3k + 2)(k - 7)
c. (3K- 7)(K + 2)
d. (3k + 7)(k - 2)
Section 3: Quadratics
Solve the following quadratics: 25. A downward-opening parabola has
20. a' = 49 an axis of symmetry at x = 1 and a
a. 7, 7 vertex at (1, 4), crossing the x-axis
b. -7,7 at x = -1 and x = 3. Which equation
c. 24.5 models this graph?
d. 49 a.y=-x+2x +3
b. y= -x- 2x + 3
c. y= x- 2x-3
21. (2d + 5)(d - 6) = 0 d. y = -x' + 2x -3
a. 6 and -5/2
b. -6 and 5/2
c. 6 and -5 26. Write a quadratic function that
d. 6 and -2/5 contains the given points: (-2, 0),
(6, 0), (-3, 18)
a. y = x2 + 4x - 12
22x2-9x+20 = 0 b. y= x2-4x - 12
a. -4 and -5 c. y = 2x - 8x - 24
• b. 2 and 10 d. y = x2- 6x - 12
c. 4 and 5
d. -2 and -10
27. Find the value of c that makes the
trinomial a perfect square: x2 - 12x
23. g2 - 30 = -g +C
a. 5 and -6 a. -36
b. -5 and 6 b. 6
c. 3 and -10 c. 36
d. 2 and 15 d. 144
Find the solutions to the following
24. Write an equation for a quadratic polynomials:
function in factored form given the 28. x' - 10x + 12 = -4
zeros x = 4 and x = -5. • a. 2, 8
a. y = (x + 4)(x - 5) b. -2, -8
b. y = (x- 4)(x + 5) c. 5
c. y = x- x-20 d. No real solution
d. y = x+ x-20
29. A quadratic equation has a
discriminant with a value of -15.
How many real solutions does it
have?
a. 2 solutions
• b. 1 solution
c. No real solutions
d. 3 solutions
30. Find the discriminant of: 2x? + 6x + b.-20
7=0 c. 20
a. 92 d. -44
Part 2: Constructed Response
Show all your work.
31. James and his friends are going to an amusement park. The price per entry ticket is
$12. He also has $30 total to spend on snacks. He wants to ensure his total
spending does not exceed $150.
a. Write an inequality to represent this situation, where t is the number of entry tickets
purchased.
b. Solve the inequality. What is the maximum number of tickets James can buy?
32. A manufacturing plant designs a shipping container with a width of s inches. The
length is 4 inches longer than the width, and the height is 1 inch longer than the
width.
a. Write a factored expression to represent the volume V of the box.
b. Multiply the expression to write the volume as a polynomial in standard form.
33. Solve the following quadratic using the Quadratic Formula. Show your work.
x2-6x+8 = 0
34. A ball is dropped from the top of a building. The distance d in feet the ball falls after
t seconds can be represented by the equation d = 16t2 + 16t. If the building is 96
feet tall, how many seconds will it take the ball to reach the ground?
35. Write the quadratic equation y = x2 - 6x + 5 in vertex form. Identify the axis of
symmetry, extrema (minimum/maximum value), and zeros. Then sketch a rough
coordinate graph marking these values.
M3 Math T1 Midterm Study Guide
INEQUALITIES
less than
Section 1: Inequalities
X<1
from number lines.
• Reading Graphs: You need to identify inequalities
greater than
number is not included,
• Key: Remember that open circles mean the X>1
while closed circles mean the number is
included
less than or equal lo
X≤1
• Solving Basic Inequalities:
greater than or equal to
• Solve like solving a regular equation
• Add/subtract to isolate the variable, X≥1
you must
If you multiply or divide both sides by a negative number,
flip the inequality sign.
• Compound Inequalities:
both conditions. Graphically,
• "And" (Intersection): These represent values that satisfy
they look like a segment between two points.
condition. Graphically,
• "Or" (Union): These represent values that satisfy at least one
they often point in opposite directions.
• Always solve both equations.
Solving AND/Intersection Solve
Compound Inequalities
S-9 < -18 OR s+2 ≥ 6
3x+1<4 AND -2x+2 ≤ 8 +9 +9 -2 -2
3x <3 AND -2x ≤6 s < -9 OR 5≥4
x<1 AND x≥-3 {s |s < -9 OR S ≥ 4}
-3 ≤ x < 1 H٥H
-10-8-6-4-2 0 2 4
• Word Problems: Focus on translating phrases to math:
"At least" = ≥
• "No more than" = ≤
• "Difference of X and Y" = subtraction.
Section 2: Polynomials
• Degree: The degree of a polynomial is determined by the highest exponent of the variable.
• 2x° - 7x + 5 - Degree is 3 because of x
• Note: Expressions with radicals, like 2x* - /x + 5, are not standard polynomials
• Operations:
• Addition/Subtraction: Combine "like terms" (terms with the same variable raised to
the same power). Be careful with distributing negative signs during subtraction.
• (22 - 5x + 9) - (x + 10x - 5) → 2x- 5x+9-x- 10x +5→1
(2x - x) + (- 5x - 10x) + (9 + 5) →x- 15x + 14
• Multiplication: Use the Distributive Property (or FOIL method for binomials).
Remember: (x+4)x-8)→(xxx) + (xx-8) + (4 xx) + (4 x 8) →
*- 8x + 4x - 32→x - 4x - 32
• Factoring:
• Greatest Common Factor (GCF): Always look for the largest number and variable that
can be divided out of every term first.
• 42 + 12x→ 4x(x+ 3)
• Difference of Squares: When the b term is 0 and the first and last terms are squared
terms, the equation is a difference of squares. C is always negative.
• x' - 16 → (x+4)(x-4)
• Perfect Squares: When the c term is equal to (%)?, the equation is a perfect square.
C is always positive.
• x - 14x + 49→ (x - 7)?
Section 3: Quadratics
• Solving Quadratics:
• Factoring: Set the equation to 0 and factor, then use the Zero Product Property
• (2x - 10)(x + 7) = 0 → 2x - 10 = 0 andx + 7 = 0 → x = 5 and - 7
• Quadratic Formula: Using standard form, ax? + bx + c, use the formula to find the
x-intercepts.
-b+ Vb -4ac
•x=
2a
• Discriminant: b2- 4ac
• If the result is positive: 2 real solutions.
•If the result is zero: 1 real solution.
• If the result is negative: No real solutions.
• Vertex Form & Graphing:
• Vertex Form: y = a(x - h) + k, where (h, k) is the vertex.
• Complete the square to change an equation to vertex form
• Axis of Symmetry: The vertical line passing through the vertex x = h.
• Extrema: The maximum or minimum value of the parabola
• If a is positive, the graph opens up and the vertex is a minimum
• If a is negative, the graph opens down and the vertex is a maximum
• Zeroes: The x-intercepts (where y = 0). Where the graph crosses the x-axis
Tips for Constructed Response Questions
• Contextualize: For word problems, always re-read the final number to ensure it makes sense
in the context of the story (e.g., does it make sense to have a negative number of movie
tickets?).
• You are usually solving for the height of something
• The maximum height = vertex,
• The distance = x-intercept
• When something hits the ground = x-intercepts