UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH

SAMPLE ALGEBRA PLACEMENT TEST

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Section 1 Elementary Algebra

You must get 6 out of 8 correct to pass this section.

1. Simplify: 4[12-3(8-5)]-1

a) 11

b) 24

C) 108

d) 36

e) 17

2. Subtract 5x2 - 9 from 7x2 - x + 1

a) 2x2 - x +10

b) -2x2 + x - 10

c) 12x2 - x - 8

d) 2x2 - x - 8

e) None of these.
3. Evaluate for x=7 and y=4

a) 25

b) 75

c) 115

d) 85

e) 15

4.

a) 6u2 +11u

b) 12u2 + 11u

c) 12u2 + 5u

d) 12u2 + 5

e) None of these

5. (4u2v4)(3u3v)

a) 7u5v5

b) 12u5v5

c) 12u6v4

d) 7u6v4

e) None of these
6)

a)

b)

c)

d)

e)

7. A bookstore's markup for textbooks is 40%. What is the wholesale price for
a textbook that sells for $50.75?

a) $36.25

b) $71.05

c) $30.45

d) $8.67

e) $20.30

8. The equation 3y + 7x = 4 best describes a

a) point

b) Parabola
c) line

d) hyperbola

e) circle

Section 2 Basic Algebra

You must get 6 out of 9 correct to pass this section

9. Simplify:

a) 17x - 12

b) 17x + 12

c) 12 - 17x

d) 12x - 17

10. The sum of 2z2 + z + 5 and 4z2 + 3z + 1 is

a) 8z4 +3z2 + 5

b) 6z2 + 3z + 6

c) 6z4 + 4z2 + 6

d) 6z2 + 4z + 6

e) None of these

11. The product of x - 1 and 2x2 - x - 1 is

a) x3 +x2 + x + 1

b) 2x3 - x2x - 1

c) 2x3 - 3x2 + 2x -1

d) x3 - x2 - 1

e) 2x3 - 3x2 + 1

12.

a)

b)

c)

d)

e) None of these

13.

a)

b)
c)

d)

e) None of these

14. Solve 3(x - 2) - 4(2 + 3x) = x + 10

a) -2

b) -45

c)

d)

15. Solve 4(x - 1) - (5x + 1) > 2x + 1

a)

b) x > -2

c) x < -2

d) x > -1

e) x < -1

16. (4 - 5x)(3 + 25x) =

a) 12 - 2x

b) 12 + 55x

c) 12 - 2x + 55x2

d) 7 + 5x

e) 12 + 85x - 125x2

17. Given the points (-6, 1) and (2,4) find the slope of the line that connects
these points

a)

b)

c)

d)

e)

Section 3 Intermediate Algebra

You must get 8 out of 11 correct to pass this section
18.

a) 3x

b) x2 + 9

c) x - 9

d) -3x

e) 1

19. Simplify

a)

b)

c)

d)

20.

a)

b)
c)

d)

21.

a)

b)

c)

d)

22. The distance on the number line between a number and 8 is at least 10

a)

b)

c)

d)
23. Solve for x:

a) x=3

b) x=4

c)

d) x=0

e)

24. Find the product

a)

b) 5x2y7

c)

d)

25. Which is the equation of the corresponding graph?

 a) y = 2x

b) y = -x

c) -2x + y = 1

d) x = y + 2

e) y = 5
26. Solve 3x2 - 2 = -4x

a)

b)

c)

d)

27. Find the dimensions of a rectangle with the perimeter 62m if the length is
5.2 time the width

a) 10m by 52m

b) 13m by 12m

c) 4m by 20.8m

d) 2m by 10.4m

e) 5m by 26m

28. Solve for x: 3x2 - 5x > 2

a) x > 2 or x <

b)
c) or x < -2

d)

e)

Section 4 Advanced Algebra

You must get 8 out of 11 correct to pass this section.

29.

a)

b)

c)

d)

e)
30. Simplify

a)

b)

c)

d)

e)

31.

a)

b)

c)

d)

e) None of these
32.

a)

b)

c)

d)

e)

33. Solve for x:

a)

b)

c) x = 1

d) x = 3

e) x = -1
34) Rationalize the denominator:

a)

b)

c)

d)

e)

35. If x2 - 8x - 4 = - 5 then

a) x = -11, 19

b)

c)

d) No real roots.

36. Solve for x:

a)
b)

c)

d)

e) None of these

37. Solve the system

a) The value of y = -5

b) The value of y is 30

c) The value of y is 5

d) The value of y is -10

38. The width of a rectangular garden is 10 ft. less than its length x. Write an
expression for the perimeter of the garden in terms of its length x.

a) 2x + 2(10 - x)

b) 2x(x - 10)

c) 2x + 2(x - 10)

d) 2(x + 10) + 2x

39. What is the function of the

graph?

a) y = 2(x + 3)2 - 4
b) y = 2(x + 3)2 + 4

c) y = (2x - 3)2- 4

d) y =2(x - 3)2 - 4

e) y = 2(x -3)2 + 4

Section 5 PRE-CALCULUS

You must get 3 out of 6 correct to pass this section.

40. Use the graphs of the given equations to determine the number of solutions
to the system.

a) an infinite number

b) 0

c) 2

d) 1

41. Solve for x

log4 x = -3
a)

b) -12

c) -16

d) -64

e) None of these

42.

a)

b)

c)

d)

43.

a) a2 + 5a - 3

b) a2 + 2a - 5

c) a2 + a - 3

d) a2 + a - 7
44.

a)

b) -29

c)

d)

e)

45. This graph is a representation of one of the following equations. Which one
does it represent?

a) y = (x - 3)( x - 1)

b) y = (x - 3)2(x - 1)

c) y = (3 - x)(1 - x)

d) y = (3 - x)2(1 - x)

e) y = (3 - x)(1 - x)2