CHAP TE R 10

Polynomial and Rational Expressions

Directions: Answer the following questions. For multiple-choice questions, choose the best answer. For
other questions, follow the directions provided. Answers begin on page 131.

1. Combine like terms: (2a + 5b – 7) + (a – 9b – 6). The following question contains a blank marked
Select . . . ▾ . Beneath the blank is a set of choices.
A. 2a – 4b – 13
Indicate the choice that is correct and belongs in the
B. 2a – 4b + 13
blank. (Note: On the real GED® test, the choices will
C. 3a – 4b – 13
appear as a “drop-down” menu. When you click on a
D. 3a – 4b + 13
choice, it will appear in the blank.)
2. Write 5(3x – 2y + 4) in an equivalent form
without parentheses. 6. shows “eight less than the
cube of a number.”
A. 15x – 2y + 4
B. 15x – 10y + 20 Select . . . ▾
C. 53x – 2y + 4 3x – 8
D. 53x – 52y + 54 x2 – 8
3. Subtract (2x + 5) – (5x – 7). x3 – 8

A. –3x + 12 9
7. Evaluate C + 32 for C = –40.
B. 3x – 2 5
C. –3x – 2 A. –72
D. 3x + 12 B. –40
C. 0
The following question contains a blank marked D. 40
Select . . . ▾ . Beneath the blank is a set of choices.
Indicate the choice that is correct and belongs in the 8. Which of the following best describes the
blank. (Note: On the real GED® test, the choices will expression 6x + 9y?
appear as a “drop-down” menu. When you click on a
A. sum
choice, it will appear in the blank.)
B. difference
4. shows “five more than twice C. product
a number.” D. quotient

Select . . . ▾ 9. In the expression 4x2 + 6, which quantity is a

coefficient?
5 + 2x
5x + 2 A. 4
B. x
5+2+x C. 2
D. 6
5. Which of the following best describes the
expression 7(y – 1)?
A. sum
B. difference
C. product
D. quotient

69

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 70 McGraw-Hill Education Mathematical Reasoning Workbook for the GED® Test

25 x 9 y 4
10. Working for the census, Nicholle interviews 17. Simplify .
seven fewer households than Val, who 15 x 6 y 12
interviews twice as many households as Kai.
10 x 3 y
If Kai interviews s households, how many A.
households does Nicholle interview? x2y3
10 x 3
A. 2s – 7s B.
B. 2(s – 7) y8
C. 2 – 7s 5x 3 y
C.
D. 2s – 7 3x 2 y 3
5x 3
11. Add (3x2 + x – 2) + (x2 – 4x + 7). D.
3y 8
A. 3x2 – 4x + 5
B. 4x2 – 3x + 5 18. Multiply 5x3y(3xy2 + 2x2y3).
C. 4x4 – 3x2 + 5
D. 3x4 – 4x2 + 5 A. 15x3y2 + 10x5y3
B. 15x3y2 + 10x6y3
12. Subtract (3x + 2y) – (2x + 3y). C. 15x4y3 + 10x5y4
D. 15x4y3 + 10x6y4
A. x–y
B. 5x – y 19. Multiply (3x + 4)(2x – 5).
C. x – 5y
D. 5x – 5y A. 5x2 – 1
B. 6x2 – 20
13. Subtract (6x2 + 2x – 4) – (2x2 – 5x + 1). C. 5x2 – 7x – 1
D. 6x2 – 7x – 20
A. 4x2 – 3x – 3
B. 4x2 – 3x – 5 20. Multiply (x – 2y)(2x – y).
C. 4x2 + 7x – 5
D. 4x2 + 7x – 3 A. 2x2 + 2y2
B. 2x2 – 5xy + 2y2
14. Use the properties of exponents to rewrite C. 2x2 – 2y2
x3 • x6 • x2. D. 2x2 + 5xy – 2y2
A. x11 12 p3 q – 16 p5 q2 + 10 p 4 q 4
21. Divide .
B. x36 8 p2 q3
C. 3x11
D. 3x36 4 p 8 p3
A. – + 2 p2 q
q2 q
15. Multiply 2x4 • 4x5. 4 pq 8 p3 q 2 p2 q
B. – +
A. 6x9 pq2 pq pq
B. 8x9 3p 2 p 3
5p q2
C. 6x20 C. – +
2q 2 q 4
D. 8x20
3 pq 2 p3 q 5 p2 q
8 D. – +
16. Simplify x 2 . 2 pq2 pq 4 pq
x
8
A.
2
B. 4
C. x4
D. x6

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 Chapter 10 ~ Polynomial and Rational Expressions 71

3 2
22. Divide 21x 3 – 14 x 2 . 27. shows “the sum of the square
14 x + 21x of a number and three less than the number.”

A. 3 x – 2 Select . . . ▾
2x + 3
x2 +x–3
B. 21x – 14
14 x + 12 x2 – 3x
2
3x – 2 x 3 – x + x2
C.
2 x 2 + 3x
2
D. 21x 2 – 14 x 28. A rock dropped from a cliff has an altitude in
14 x + 12 x feet given by –16t2 + 350, where t is the time in
seconds after the rock is released. How high is
the rock 4 seconds after it is dropped?
9 s 3t + 6 st 2
23. Divide .
6 s 3t + 4 st 2 A. 256 feet
B. 128 feet
A. 3 C. 94 feet
2
D. 54 feet
9
B.
4
29. What is the leading coefficient of
9s2 + t 5x4 – 6x2 + 2x6 + 1 + 7x3 – x?
C. 2
s + 4t
2 A. 2
D. 9 s 2 + 6t B. 4
6 s + 4t C. 5
D. 7
2
24. Divide 2 x + x – 6 .
x +2 30. Factor 12x4y + 9x3y2 – 6x2y2.
A. 2x2 – 3 A. 3x2(4x2y + 3xy2 – 2y2)
B. 2x2 – 2 B. 3x2y(4x2 + 3xy – 2y)
C. 2x – 3 C. 3y(4x4 + 3x3y – 2x2y)
D. 2x + 5 D. 3xy(4x3 + 3x2y – 2xy)

25. Evaluate 2x2 – 4xy + 3y2 for x = 5 and y = –1. 31. Factor 3x2 – 8x + 4.
A. 129 A. (x – 4)(3x – 1)
B. 73 B. (x – 1)(3x – 4)
C. 33 C. (3x – 1)(3x – 4)
D. 27 D. (x – 2)(3x – 2)

26. Write the polynomial 6x – 2x3 + x4 – 7x2 + 32. Factor 2x2 – xy – y2.
5 in descending order. Write your answer in A. (x + y)(2x + y)
the blank. B. (x – y)(2x – y)
C. (x – y)(2x + y)
D. (x + y)(2x – y)
The following question contains a blank marked
Select . . . ▾ . Beneath the blank is a set of choices. 33. Factor 12x2y + 40xy – 32y completely.
Indicate the choice that is correct and belongs in the A. 4y(3x – 2)(x + 4)
blank. (Note: On the real GED® test, the choices will B. 4(3xy – 2y)(x + 4)
appear as a “drop-down” menu. When you click on a C. 4(3x – 2)(xy + 4y)
choice, it will appear in the blank.) D. (3xy – 2y)(4x + 16)

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 72 McGraw-Hill Education Mathematical Reasoning Workbook for the GED® Test

2x – 5 x +1
34. Factor 16x2 – 81y2. 39. Add + . Write your answer in
5 x + 10 3 x + 6
( ) ( ) lowest terms.

The following question contains a blank marked 11x – 10

A.
Select . . . ▾ . Beneath the blank is a set of choices. 15( x + 2)2
Indicate the choice that is correct and belongs in the 11x – 10
B.
blank. (Note: On the real GED® test, the choices will 15( x + 2)
appear as a “drop-down” menu. When you click on a 11x 2 + 12 x – 20
C.
choice, it will appear in the blank.) (5 x + 10)(3 x + 6)
11x 2 + 12 x – 20
35. shows “twice the square of a D.
15( x + 2)2
number is five more than the number.”
3x 4y
40. Subtract – . Write your answer in
Select . . . ▾ 10 y 15 x
2x2 = 5 + 2x lowest terms.
2x2 = x + 5 9x – 8y
A.
2x2 = 5x 15 xy

36. What is the degree of the polynomial 9x2 − 8y2

B.
3x + 7x3 – 2x2 + 5 + 8x4 – 6x5? 15 xy
9x – 8y
A. 5 C.
30 xy
B. 6
C. 7 9x2 − 8y2
D.
D. 8 30 xy

37. Denny leaves on a drive across the state at 41. Subtract 3x x . Write your answer
–
8:00 a.m. In the afternoon, his average speed 2 x – 10 2 x + 6
in lowest terms.
in miles per hour is given by d , where t is
t+4
the number of hours past noon and d is the A. 4 x 2 + 28 x
distance driven. Find Denny’s average speed at (2 x – 10)(2 x + 6)
2:00 p.m, when he has driven 390 miles. x 2 + 14 x
B.
( x – 5)( x + 3)
A. 70 miles per hour 2 x 2 + 14 x
B. 60 miles per hour C.
2( x – 5)( x + 3)
C. 75 miles per hour
x ( x + 7)
D. 65 miles per hour D.
( x – 5)( x + 3)
38. Add 2 2 + 5 . Write your answer in lowest
3x 6x 42. Simplify x + 1 + x – 1 – 22 x . Write your
2x – 4 2x + 4 x – 4
terms. answer in lowest terms.
2
A. 4 x + 53 x A.
x2 – x + 1
6x 2( x – 1)( x + 1)
12 + 15 x 2x2 – 4x + 4
B. B.
18 x 2 2( x – 2)( x + 2)
4 + 5x x2 – 2x + 2
C. C.
6x2 ( x – 2)( x + 2)
12 x + 51x 2 x2 – x + 1
D. D.
18 x 3 ( x – 1)( x + 1)

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 Chapter 10 ~ Polynomial and Rational Expressions 73

3ax 4 6b3 x 5 4x + 8 x2 – 4
43. Multiply • . Write your answer in 46. Divide 2
÷ 2 . Write your
8b 3 y 9 a 6 y 3 x + 3x x + x – 6
lowest terms. answer in lowest terms.

A. x9 A. 4
4 a5 y 4 x
4( x + 2)
x 20 B.
B. x ( x – 2)
4a6 y 3 4( x + 2)( x – 3)
C.
18 x 20 x ( x + 3)( x – 2)
C.
72a 6 y 3 4( x + 2)( x 2 + x – 6)
D.
18 x 9 x ( x + 3)( x 2 – 4)
D.
72a5 y 4
2 2
2 2
47. Simplify x – 25 x • x –27 x + 12 ÷ 22 x – 10 .
x – 2x – 3 x –9 4x x – 16 x + 2x – 8
44. Multiply • 2 . Write your
x 2 + 3x x + 2x + 1 Write your answer in lowest terms.
answer in lowest terms.
A. ( x + 3)( x + 2)
8x
A. 2( x – 1)( x –2 3)
x ( x + 1) ( x – 3)( x + 2)
B.
8x
( x – 3)2
B. ( x + 3)( x – 2)
x ( x + 1) C.
8x
2( x – 3)
C. ( x – 3)( x – 2)
x ( x + 1) D.
8x
( x – 1)( x – 3)2
D.
x ( x + 1)2 3x 2 + 7 x – 2
48. Evaluate for x = –4.
2x2 – 7x + 3
2 5 2 6
45. Divide 20 x 6y ÷ 10b8 x3 . Write your answer
27a b 9a y A. 74
7
in lowest terms. 18
B.
7
18ay 15
A. 2
27b2 x 3 C.
7
2ay 15 D. 78
B.
3b2 x 3
18a2 y 8
C.
27b3 x 4
2a2 y 8
D.
3b3 x 4

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 74 McGraw-Hill Education Mathematical Reasoning Workbook for the GED® Test

49. Translate into an algebraic expression using x 50. After winning p dollars in a contest, Vivian
as the variable: “the quotient of 5 more than a decides to donate $1000 to charity and split
number and 5 less than the number.” the rest evenly with her brother and sister.
Write an expression that represents the
A. x + 5
x–5 amount Vivian will finally have.
B. x – 5 A. 1000 – p
x+5 3
C. (5 + x)(5 – x) B. p – 1000
D. (5 + x)(x – 5) 3
C. p – 1000
3
D. p – 1000
2

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