eSpyMath: AP Precalculus Practice Questions (2024)

1. If α and β are the roots of the quadratic equation of x 2 - 4 x + 2 =0 , determine

(α + β ) × (α × β )

2. If α and β are the roots of the quadratic equation of x 2 - 4 x + 2 =0 , determine α − β

1
3. Find f  g ( 4 ) where f  =
 x − 2 and g ( x ) = 2 x
x

4. For what value of a, the value of the term of ax 2 - 2 x + 3a is always positive?

5. What is the numerical coefficient of the term containing u 4v 3 in the expansion of (3u + v)7 ?

5 −1
6. What is the inverse of the matrix  ?
7 2 

7. If g(x) =x 4 + Cx 3 + Dx 2 + 6 , and g(2) = 8 and g(−2) =−32 , what is the value of 3C + D ?

8. If h(x) = x 5 − 3x 3 + 2 x − 4 , find h(−1) .

x2 − 9
9. What is the domain of h(x) = ?
x 3 − 27

2x − 6
10. What is the domain of p(x) = 2
?
x − 4x + 4
11. Which of the following represents the equa�on of k −1 (x) for the inverse of the func�on
( x) 2 x +2 − 4 ?
k=

 p4 q 3 
12. Which of the following is equivalent to the expression log 5  2  ?
 r 

4 3 2
(A) log 5 p + log 5 q − log 5 r
5 5 5

1 2
(B) (4log 5 p + 3log 5 q) − log 5 r
5 5

(C) 4log 5 p + 3log 5 q − 2log 5 r

4 3
(D) log 5 p + log 5 q − log 5 r
2 2

x3 − 1
13. Iden�fy the ver�cal asymptote(s) for the func�on g(x) = .
x2 − x − 6

−2 x 2 + 8, x ≤ 1
14. Given h(x) =  , find h(0.5) .
 x + 4 , x >1

2 x 2 − 5x
15. Find the slant asymptote of m(x) = .
x −2
 π
16. In polar coordinates, which of the following choices is not equivalent to (3, − ) ?
4

7π
(A) (3, )
4

3π
(B) (−3, )
4

15π
(C) (3, )
4

5π
(D) (−3, − )
4

17. Which of the following represents zeros of s= 3 − 3cos2θ ?

π 5π
(A) ,
6 6

π
(B) 0, ,π
2

π 3π 5π 7π
(C) , , ,
4 4 4 4

π 2π 4π 5π
(D) , , ,
3 3 3 3

18. Which of the following choices represents the corresponding rectangular equa�on of the
curve with the parametric equa�ons x(t ) = 4t , y(t ) = t 2 − 2t + 3 ?

1 2 1
(A) y= x − x +3
16 2

1 2
(B) y = x − 2x + 3
4

(C) y = x 2 − 8 x + 12

(D) y = 4 x − x 2 + 3
   4  π
19. Evaluate: sin  arctan    , given that 0 ≤ θ ≤ .
  3  2

3
20. Given that cos α = and sinα < 0 , find sinα .
5

16
(A)
25

16
(B) −
25

4
(C)
5

4
(D) −
5

21. Which of the following is a possible equa�on for the sinusoidal graph shown with a
maximum at y = 4 , a minimum at y = −2 , and a period of 8 ?

π 
(A) y 3sin  x  + 1
=
4 

π 
=(B) y 3cos  x  − 1
4 

π 
(C) y 6sin  x  + 1
=
4 

π 
=(D) y 6cos  x  + 1
4 
22. Which of the following is equivalent to 2sin(7 x)cos(2 x) + 2cos(7 x)sin(2 x) ?

(A) 2sin 5x

(B) 2sin 9x

(C) 2cos 5x

(D) 2cos 9x

23. Given cos x = -1/3 and tan x > 0, find cos 2x.

  π 
24. Determine the period of the func�on y =
−3cos  2  x +   .
  4 

25. Solve the equa�on log d (5 − log d (m)) =

n for m.

26. Determine whether the func�on h(x=) x 6 − x 2 cos(x) is odd, even, or neither.

27. Find the linear equa�on for the func�on p that passes through the points (2, −5) and
(−4,3) .

28. Find Inverse fuctionof f ( x ) , which is f −1 ( x ) where f ( x − 1) = x 2 + 2 x

29. If m(x=) x 3 + 1 and n(=

x) 3
x − 5 , find the composi�on (n°m)(x) .

30. Evaluate the limit lim k(x) , where k(x) = (3x − 5)2 − (2 x + 7)4 .
x →∞
 3(x + 2)
31. Solve the inequality: ≥0.
(x − 2)(x + 4)

32. Determine the equa�on of the ellipse shown in the graph below, with its center at (2, −3) ,
horizontal major axis of length 10, and minor axis of length 6.

33. Evaluate the limit: lim 4 − x − 1 .

x →−∞

34. What is the func�on whose graph is a reflec�on over the y-axis of the graph of
h(x)= 2 − 4 x ? (Reflec�on over the y-axis)

35. Which of the following func�ons does not have an inverse func�on on the specified
domain?

(A) y = cos(x) , where 0 ≤ x ≤ π

y x2 − 3
(B) =

1
(C) y= −3
x

(D) y = 3x

36. Give an algebraic expression for sin(cos −1 (x)) . (Algebraic Expression)

37. A circle is graphed using the parametric equa�ons shown below:

= x 7sin(t ) − 2 and
=y 7cos(t ) + 4 Where is the center of the circle located? (Parametric Equa�ons)
38. The table shows the predicted growth of a par�cular bacteria popula�on a�er various
numbers of hours. Write an explicit formula for the sequence of the number of bacteria.
(Arithme�c Sequence)

Hours (n) 1 2 3 4 5
Bacteria (bn ) 23 46 69 92 115

39. What are the points where the graph of the polynomial g(x) =3(x + 6)(x − 6)2 crosses the x-
axis? (Polynomial Zeros)

2 x 2 − 5x − 7
40. Evaluate: lim (Limits)
x →∞ 4 x 2 + 5 x − 9

41. Given the func�on g(x) = (x 2 − 4) − (x − 2)(x + 1) , at what value of x is the absolute
maximum of g(x) over the interval [−1.5,3] ? (Maximum Value of a Func�on)

42. Approximate log 5 36 , given that log2 5 ≈ 2.33 and log2 3 ≈ 1.58 .

43. (Exponen�al Equa�on): Solve for y : 52 y = 25y+1 .

44. Which of the following choices is equivalent to the complex number 1 − 4i ? (Complex
Number Representa�on)

 
45. Find the angle between two vectors r and s with magnitudes 3 and 4, respec�vely, that
has a dot product equal to 6. (Vector Dot Product)

46. How long will it take for 500 to triple in value in an investment when interest is
compounded con�nuously at the rate of 4.2% per annum? Round your answer to the nearest
year. (Compound Interest)
47. (Projec�le Mo�on): A rock is thrown ver�cally upward from a cliff that is 100 feet above
ground level with an ini�al velocity of 60 feet per second. The height h , in feet above ground
level, of the rock t seconds a�er the throw is given by the func�on h(t ) =
−16t 2 + 60t + 100 . At
approximately what value of t will the rock be at the height of 80 feet and moving upward?

48. (Exponen�al Decay): A ball is dropped from a height of 25 feet. A�er each bounce, the ball
reaches 80% of its previous height. How high will the ball rebound a�er the second bounce?

49. (Exponen�al Decay): Suppose you release a balloon from a height of 20 feet. A�er it
ascends, it stabilizes at 120% of its previous height each minute. How high, to the nearest
tenth, will the balloon be a�er 2 minutes?

50. What is the third term in the expansion of (2a + 3b)5 ?

51. Simplify: ln ( 3
)
e3 x .

tan2 x
52. If sec x ≠ 1 , which of the following is equivalent to ?
1 + sec x

53. 4. If cos α = a , then what is sinα ⋅ cos α ⋅ cotα ?

g(θ ) m sinθ + n , what is the maximum value of g(θ ) ?

54. If=

55. Which of the following equa�ons could represent the graph shown below, assuming the
graph depicts a simple transforma�on of a basic trigonometric func�on with a period of π
and an amplitude of 1?
  3π 
56. Which of the following expressions is equivalent to sec  ?
 4 

1
(A) y = − cos(2 x)
2

3π
(B) tan
4

 3π 
(C) csc  − 
 4 

3π
(D) cos
4

57. In which quadrant is the terminal side of angle φ located if the graphs of y = tanφ and
y = secφ are both increasing when angle φ is increasing?

  5 
58. Evaluate: sec  tan−1   
  12  

1
59. For the expression k − cos2 φ to be an iden�ty, what does k equal?
=
cos φ
2

(A) 1

(B) 0

(C) sin2 φ

(D) tan2 φ

cos2φ
60. What is the expression equivalent to?
2sinφ

61. In the interval 0 ≤ x < 2π , what are the solu�ons of the equa�on cos2 x = cos x ?
 π
cos(x − )
62. What is the expression 2 equivalent to?
sin x

4 5
63. If cos C = and cos D = , and if C and D are acute angles, what is the value of sin(C + D)
5 13
?

64. Which of the following choices represents the graph of r = 4sinθ in polar coordinates?

(A) A circle centered at the pole with a radius of 4.

(B) A cardioid that starts at the pole and extends to the right.

(C) A limaçon with an inner loop.

(D) A circle centered on the horizontal axis, 2 units to the right of the pole.

3π
65. Which of the following points does not change the loca�on of the point (3, ) in polar
4
coordinates?

 11π 
(A)  3, 
 4 

 7π 
(B)  −3, 
 4 

 3π 
(C)  −3, 
 4 

 −5π 
(D)  3, 
 4 

π
66. Given the polar coordinates (5, − ) , find the rectangular coordinates of this point.
6
67. Given the rectangular coordinates (2, -2), find the polar coordinates of this point.

68. If h(x) = x 2 − 4 x + 3 and p(x)= 3 − x , then what does p(h(x)) equal?

(A) 3x 2 − 12 x + 6

(B) x 2 − 4 x

(C) − x 2 + 4 x

(D) 9 − x 2 + 4 x − 3

69. Let g be a func�on defined for all real numbers. Which of the following condi�ons is not
sufficient to guarantee that g has an inverse func�on?

(A) g is one-to-one.

(B) g has a con�nuous, non-repea�ng range.

(C) g has no cri�cal points.

(D) g passes the Horizontal Line Test in its domain.

70. Which of the following func�ons is not even?

(A) q(x) = cos(x)

(B) r (x) = cos(3x)

(C) s(x) = x 6

x3
(D) t (x) =
x2 + 1

y 3x + 1 and y 2= 9 − x 2 intersect?
71. At what value(s) of x do the graphs of =
72. If g −1 (x) is the inverse of g(x) = 10 x , then what does g −1 (x) equal?

73. Find g(x + k) when g(x) = 3x 2 + 5x + 2 .

74. Given the Markov matrix below, which of the following statements is true about the
variable b ?

 b 1−b 0 
 0 b 1 − b 

1 − b 0 b 

(A) b is any real number

(B) b is any posi�ve real number

(C) 0 ≤ b ≤ 1

(D) b = 1

9 x − 2, if x < 3
75. For G=
(x) g(x) + 2 where g(x) =  , evaluate G(7) .
5 − x , if x ≥ 3

(A) 62

(B) -2

(C) 0

(D) 5
76. Use the graph of f (x) below to determine the intervals where f (x) is increasing and
where f (x) is decreasing. Find correct one.

(A) Increasing: (−2,1) ; decreasing: (−∞ , −2) ∪ (1, ∞)

(B) Increasing: (−2,0) ∪ (1, ∞) ; decreasing: (−∞ , −2) ∪ (0,1)

(C) Increasing: (−1, ∞) ; decreasing: (−∞ , −1)

(D) Increasing: (−∞ , −2) ∪ (1, ∞) ; decreasing: (−2,1)

77. Using the tables below, evaluate (h  f )(7) . The tables provide values for func�ons f and h
for various inputs.

x 2 7 9 11
f(x) 5 3 8 6

x 3 5 8 6
h(x) 12 14 7 15
(A) 12

(B) 14

(C) 7

(D) 15

2 −1  −1 2 
78. Find the matrix product CD if it is defined, given that C =   and D =  3 5 .
4 6   
79. Calculate the area of the triangle with the ver�ces (1,1) , (4,3) , and (6,7) .

3x 2 − 2 x − 1
80. Find the ver�cal asymptote, if any, for the ra�onal func�on h(x) = .
4x − 1

81. A garden planning app allocates a certain number of pixels on screen to represent lengths
in a garden layout. If a user has a budget that allows for 600 pixels of length to design their
rectangular garden, express the area A of the garden as a func�on of the width w, in pixels, of
the rectangle.

82. If x = 3 is a real zero of the polynomial g(x) =x 3 − 9 x 2 + 27 x − 27 , write g(x) as a product

of linear factors.

2 −3
83. Find the inverse of the matrix B =   if it exists.
0 6 

84. A deposit of 15,000 is made in an account that earns 4.5% interest compounded monthly.
m
 0.045 
The balance in the account a�er m months is given by the sequence
= bm 15,000  1 +  .
 12 
Find the balance in the account a�er 3 years.

85. If log 5 (x + 2) − log 5 (x − 2) , then x lies in which of the following intervals?

(A) (2, ∞)

(B) (0,2)

(C) (−∞ , −2)

(D) (−2,0)
86. If θ is an angle in standard posi�on and its terminal side passes through the point
P(−0.5,0.5) on the unit circle, which of the following is a possible value radian value of θ to
the nearest hundredth?

(A) 2.36

(B) 3.14

(C) 4.71

(D) 5.50

87. A company finds that the revenue R, in dollars, from selling q units of a product is given by
the revenue func�on R(q) = 3q2 − 18q + 500 . Determine the number of units sold that will
maximize the revenue.

88. An object is thrown ver�cally upward, and its height t seconds a�er it is thrown is given
by the equa�on H(t ) =+
5 32t − 16t 2 . Calculate the average velocity of the object over the
interval from t = 1 to t = 3 seconds.

3x + 1
89. Solve the inequality >4.
2x + 3

90. Given the values of a func�on g(y) at various points, determine between which
consecu�ve values of y does g(y) change sign, thus indica�ng the presence of a root.

y -2 0 2 4
g(y) 7.14 -12.32 -0.48 13.92

1
91. Determine the domain of the func�on g(x)= m−x − , where 0 < m < n , 0 < x < n .
n−x

2
92. Calculate the range of values for y for which the equa�on 3y + 3y − 4 =0 has real
solu�ons, rounding your answer to 2 decimal places.
93. If the patern of growth for a certain species of bacteria doubles every hour, and there are
500 bacteria at �me 0, es�mate the popula�on of the bacteria a�er 6 hours.

94. A box with a square base and open top is to be constructed from a square piece of
cardboard with sides of 24 inches by removing equal squares of side y at each corner and
folding up the flaps. What should be the side length of the squares cut from each corner to
maximize the volume of the box?

95. Let T3 : 2 → 2 be a reflec�on about the y-axis, and let T4 : 2 → 2 be a dila�on with
factor k = -2. Find the standard matrix for the composi�on T4 °T3 on 2 .

96. A linear func�on Q is used to model the quan�ty, in thousands, of a certain product sold
as a func�on of its price x , in dollars. It is known that Q(10) = 40 and Q(15) = 25 . Based on this
model, which of the following is true?

A) For each dollar increase in price, the quan�ty sold increases by approximately 3000
units.

B) For each dollar increase in price, the quan�ty sold decreases by approximately 1500
units.

C) For each dollar increase in price, the quan�ty sold decreases by approximately 3000
units.

D) For each dollar increase in price, the quan�ty sold increases by approximately 1500
units.
97. The func�on g is given by g(z=) z 4 − z 2 . Which of the following statements is true and
supports the claim that g is an even func�on and not an odd func�on?

A) g(0)= g(−0)

B) g(2)= g(−2)

C) −g(2) =g(−2)

D) g(2) =−g(−2)

98. The polynomial func�on m is given by m(x) =x 4 − 6 x 3 + 8 . Which of the following

describes the behavior of m as the input values increase without bound?

A) The output values decrease without bound.

B) The output values increase without bound.

C) The output values some�mes increase without bound and some�mes decrease
without bound.

D) The output values get closer to 8.

99. The table gives values for the func�on g at selected values of x . Which of the following
conclusions with reason is consistent with the values in the table?

x 1 2 3 4 6
g(x) 3 8 15 24 35

A) The graph of g is concave up because the second differences of g(x) are constant and
posi�ve.

B) The graph of g is concave down because the second differences of g(x) are constant
and posi�ve.

C) The graph of g is linear because the first differences of g(x) are constant.

D) The graph of g is concave up because the first differences of g(x) are increasing.
100. The polynomial func�on h is given by h(x) = cx d , where c is a non-zero constant and d is a
posi�ve integer. It is known that lim h(x) = ∞ and lim h(x) = −∞ . Which of the following
x →∞ x →−∞

statements must be true?

A) The value of c must be posi�ve, because as x increases without bound or decreases

without bound, the end behaviors of h are different.

B) The value of c must be nega�ve, because as x increases without bound or decreases

without bound, the end behaviors of h are the same.

C) The value of d must be even, because as x increases without bound or decreases

without bound, the end behaviors of h are the same.

D) The value of d must be odd, because as x increases without bound or decreases

without bound, the end behaviors of h are different.

101. The func�on L models the level of a certain medica�on in the bloodstream and is given
300t
by L(t ) = for t ≥ 0 , where t is measured in hours since the medica�on was taken. Which
1 + 3t
of the following describes the level of the medica�on in the bloodstream as �me increases?

A) The level decreases and approaches a value of 0 mg/L.

B) The level increases and approaches a value of 100 mg/L.

C) The level increases and approaches a value of 300 mg/L.

D) The medica�on level increases without bound.

x +2
102. The func�on s is given by s(x) = . What are all solu�ons to s(x) < 0 ?
x −4

A) x < −2 and x > 4

B) x < 4 only

C) x > −2 only

D) x > −2 and x < 4

103. The zeros of a ra�onal func�on h are 2 and -3. Which of the following expressions could
define h(x) ?

(x − 1)(x + 4)
A)
(x − 2)(x + 3)

(x − 2)(x + 3)
B)
(x − 1)(x + 4)

(x − 2)(x + 3)
C)
(x + 2)(x − 3)

(x + 2)(x − 3)
D)
(x − 2)(x + 3)

104. For the func�on h , it is known that h(2) = 0 and h(5) = −3 . The func�on k is given by
x) h(x − 3) . Which of the following must be a solu�on to k(x) = 0 ?
k(=

A) x = −1

B) x = 1

C) x = 5

D) x = 8

105. Which of the following func�ons has the same end behavior as the ra�onal func�on q
3x 2 + 4 x − 7
given by q(x) = ?
5x 2 − x + 2

3
A) f (x) =
5

B) g(x) = 1

3
C) h(x) = −
5

D) k(x) = x
 (x − 1)2 (x + 3)(x − 4)
106. The ra�onal func�on m is given by m(x) = . For which of the following
x 2 (x − 1)(x + 2)3
values of x does the graph of m have ver�cal asymptotes?

A) x = 1 and x = −2 only

B) x = 0 and x = −2 only

C) x = 0 , x = 1 , and x = −2

D) x = 0 , x = 1 , and x = 4

x
107. The domain of the func�on f is −4 ≤ x ≤ 16 . If the func�on k is given by =
k( x ) 2   + 1 ,
3
what is the domain of k ?

108. The domain of the func�on f(x) is −4 ≤ x ≤ 16 . If the func�on k(x) is given by
x
k(x) f   + 1 , what is the domain of k ?
=
3