IB Mathematics HL

Year I—Skills Test (Take Home)

Name:

Instructions and Comments. The problems on this skills test are problems taken
almost verbatim from Mr. Corbett’s IB Math HL Year 1 final exam, December,
2004 and account for the vast majority of this examination. However, as you will
soon agree, these problems are really review, mostly from Algebra II/Trigonometry,
but some requiring material from Precalculus. You have one week to complete these
problems. Write the solutions in the spaces indicated along the right-hand margin.
(There are 157 points on this skills test.)

1. (3 pts) Solve 2x + 1 > 3x − 4 and graph the solution on the number line
provided.

 -

2. (3 pts) Solve |6x − 1| ≥ 11 and sketch the solution on the number line provided.

 -

3. (3 pts) Divide x3 + 2x2 − x − 2 by x − 1.

 √
3+2
4. (3 pts) Rationalize the denominator in √ and simplify your result as much
3−2
as possible.

5x − 3
5. (3 pts) Solve for x in the equation 3x − 5 = .
x

6. (3 pts) Give the exact value of cos 210◦ sin(−60◦ ).

7. (3 pts) If (3, −4) is on the terminal side of an angle θ in standard position, find
the exact value of csc θ.

8. (3 pts) Find the x-intercept(s) of the graph of y = x2 − 3x + 2.

9. If f (x) = 4x − 3 and g(x) = x2 , x > 0, find
 
−3
(a)(1 pts) f
4

(b)(3 pts) all value(s) of x satisfying f (x) = g(x).

(c)(1 pts) f (g(−2)).

1
(d)(3 pts) Let h(x) = . Compute h−1 (x) and state the domain and range
g(x)
of h−1 .

h−1 (x)

Domain of h−1 (x)

Range of h−1 (x)

(e)(2 pts) Determine whether or not the function k(x) = xg(x) (here allow x
to take all real values) is an odd function, showing your work.
 b = 25◦ . Find to two decimal places:
10. In 4ABC, CA = 8, AB = 12 and A
(a)(5 pts) BC

(b)(3 pts) the area of 4ABC.

11. A runner left home (point A) and travelled on a bearing of 60◦ for 550 m to
point C, then travelled on a bearing of 120◦ for 700 m to point B.
(a)(3 pts) Draw a rough diagram of this situation.

(b)(5 pts) How far is it from point A to point B, to two decimal places?

(c)(3 pts) What is the bearing from his home to point B, to the nearest degree?
12. (2 pts) Find the value of y if the slope of the line passing through the points
(−3, −4) and (−5, y) is −2

13. (2 pts) Find the values of a and b if the midpoint of the line segment with end
points A(−2, −4) and B(a, b) is M (5, −8).

a= b=

14. (2 pts) Find the distance between the points A and M in question #13.

15. (2 pts) Find the equation of the perpendicular bisector of the line segment
joining the points A(3, −2) and B(7, 6).

16. (3 pts) Find the equation of the line passing through the points of intersection
of the curves with equations y = 2x2 − 3x and y = x2 .
17. (2 pts) Find the maximum and minimum values of the function f (x) = 3 cos(2x−
π)

18. (2 pts) Use your graphing calculator to find the first-quadrant solution of the
equation 1 + sin 2x = sin x. Express your answer in radians, correct to three
decimal places.

√
3
19. (2 pts) Solve the equation cos x = − , where = −π ≤ x ≤ π.
2

20. (5 pts) Find all real solutions of the equation 2 cos2 x − 5 cos x + 2 = 0.

21. (3 pts) Use a trigonometric identity to show how you would solve the equation
5 − 5 cos x = 3 sin2 x. Do not solve; leave your answer as a product of two factors
equal to 0.
22. (3 pts) Prove the identity
csc x
= cos x.
cot x + tan x

23. (3 pts) Prove the identity

sin 2x
= tan x.
1 + cos 2x

24. (2 pts) Find the exact value of sin 75◦ using the identity for sin(A + B).

25. (2 pts) Write sin 35◦ cos 50◦ + cos 35◦ sin 50◦ as a single trig function.
26. (3 pts) If A is a Quandrant II angle with sin A = 35 and B is a Quadrant III
angle with cos B = −4
5
, find the exact value of cos(A + B).

27. (3 pts) Solve sin 2x + sin x = 0, exactly, where −π ≤ x ≤ π.

28. (1 pt) Convert 25◦ to exact radian measure.

29. (3 pts) The height, h, of a projectile fired from ground level, varies partly as
the square of t and partly as t. When t = 2, h = 80 and when t = 4, h = 120.
Find the value of h when t = 10.

1
logx 9 + 13 logx 8


30. (2 pts) Write as a single logarithm: logx 12 − 2
31. (2 pts) Solve the equation 4 logx 2 = 0.5.

32. (2 pts) Solve to three decimal places: 5x−1 = 23x−1 .

33. Solve each of the following equations for x:

(a)(3 pts) log4 x − log4 7 = 32 .

(b)(3 pts) log2 x − log8 x = 4.

34. (3 pts) By completing the square, find the minimum value of the quadratic
function f (x) = x2 − 6x + 3.
35. (3 pts) Solve the inequality x2 − 12x > −35.

36. (2 pts) Determine the nature of the roots of x2 −12x+11 = 0. Do this without
solving the equation.

37. (2 pts) Find the product and the sum of the roots of the equation 3x2 +11x+2 =
0.

38. (1 pt) If P (x) is a polynomial, and if P (2) = 5, what is the remainder with
P (x) is divided by x − 2?

39. (2 pts) Solve the inequality (2x − 3)(x + 3)(x − 4) > 0.

40. Write the system
x−y = 5
3x + 2y = 5
as a matrix equation of the form AX = B, identifying the coefficient matrix
A, as well as the matrices X and B. Solve this system by finding the inverse
A−1 of the matrix A.

(2 pts) (matrix formulation)

(3 pts) (solution of system)

   
x2 3 3 6
41. (3 pts) Find all values of x given that A = , B = and
1 3x 2 x
AB = BA.
42. Sam, Joe, Bob, Ann, and Jen are students in a class. In how many ways can the
five students be seated
(a)(2 pts) in a row, if Ann must sit in the middle seat?

(b)(2 pts) if they are to sit in a circular arrangement?

(c)(2 pts) in a row, if Jen and Bob must sit beside each other?

(d)(2 pts) in a circular arrangement, if Jen and Bob must sit beside each other?

(e)(2 pts) in a circular arrangement, if Jen and Bob must sit beside each
other?

(f)(2 pts) in a circular arrangement, if Jen and Bob must not sit beside each
other?
43. (2 pts) In how many ways can the letters in the word COMMONS be rearranged,
if like letters are regarded as identical?

44. In an arithmetic sequence t1 , t2 , t3 , . . ., you are given that t4 = 15 and that

t8 = 7. Find t1 , d , and S22 (the sum of the first 22 terms).

(1 pt) t1 =

(1 pt) d =

(1 pt) S22 =

32
45. In a geometric sequence t1 , t2 , t3 , . . ., you are given that t5 = 18 and that t9 = 9
.
Find the possibilities for r and the resulting possibilities for S10 and S∞ .

(1 pt) r =

(1 pt) S10 =

(1 pt) S∞ =

46. (3 points) Expand (1 − 3x)8 showing the first four terms.

  10
1
47. (3 points) Find the term in 3x + which is independent of x.
x

End of Examination