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UPCAT Mathematics — Algebra — Sets, Exponents, Radicals, Polynomials & EquationsFlash Cards

UPCAT Mathematics flashcards on Algebra — Sets, Exponents, Radicals, Polynomials & Equations. Note the cards you get wrong and come back to them.

Super Tutor's reviews for ACET, DLSU DCAT, USTET, PUPCET, FEU-CAT, CEU Entrance Exam, MSU-SASE, DOST-SEI, PMAEE and PNPACAT use these same chapters, so they live here in the UPCAT section.

Algebra — Sets, Exponents, Radicals, Polynomials & Equations - Flashcards

Master the fundamental building blocks of algebra through problem-solving! This comprehensive flashcard set covers sets, exponents, radicals, polynomials, and equations—essential topics for UPCAT and other college entrance exams. Each card focuses on practical problem-solving with step-by-step solutions to build your mathematical reasoning skills. Practice these problems regularly to develop confidence in algebraic manipulations and equation solving.

Flashcards

Find A ∪ B if A = {1, 3, 5, 7} and B = {2, 4, 6, 7}

Setseasy

Answer

Step 1: Union means all elements in either A or B (no duplicates). Step 2: List all elements from A: 1, 3, 5, 7. Step 3: Add elements from B not already in A: 2, 4, 6. Step 4: Note that 7 appears in both, so write it only once. Answer: A ∪ B = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7}

Find A ∩ B if A = {2, 4, 6, 8, 10} and B = {4, 8, 12, 16}

Setseasy

Answer

Step 1: Intersection means elements common to both A and B. Step 2: Check each element in A: 2 (not in B), 4 (in B ✓), 6 (not in B), 8 (in B ✓), 10 (not in B). Step 3: List common elements. Answer: A ∩ B = {4, 8}

Simplify: 2³ × 2⁵

Exponentseasy

Answer

Step 1: Apply product rule for exponents: aᵐ × aⁿ = aᵐ⁺ⁿ. Step 2: Same base (2), so add exponents: 2³ × 2⁵ = 2³⁺⁵. Step 3: Calculate: 2³⁺⁵ = 2⁸. Step 4: Evaluate: 2⁸ = 256. Answer: 256

Simplify: (3x²)³

Exponentsmedium

Answer

Step 1: Apply power rule: (aᵐ)ⁿ = aᵐⁿ and (ab)ⁿ = aⁿbⁿ. Step 2: Raise each factor to the 3rd power: (3x²)³ = 3³ × (x²)³. Step 3: Calculate: 3³ = 27 and (x²)³ = x²ˣ³ = x⁶. Step 4: Combine results. Answer: 27x⁶

Solve for x: 2ˣ = 32

Exponential Equationseasy

Answer

Step 1: Express 32 as a power of 2: 32 = 2⁵. Step 2: Substitute: 2ˣ = 2⁵. Step 3: Since bases are equal, exponents must be equal: x = 5. Step 4: Verify: 2⁵ = 32 ✓. Answer: x = 5

Simplify: √48

Radicalseasy

Answer

Step 1: Factor 48 into perfect square factors: 48 = 16 × 3 = 4² × 3. Step 2: Apply radical rule: √(a×b) = √a × √b. Step 3: √48 = √(16×3) = √16 × √3. Step 4: Simplify perfect square: √16 = 4. Answer: 4√3

Simplify: ∛54

Radicalsmedium

Answer

Step 1: Factor 54 into perfect cube factors: 54 = 27 × 2 = 3³ × 2. Step 2: Apply cube root rule: ∛(a×b) = ∛a × ∛b. Step 3: ∛54 = ∛(27×2) = ∛27 × ∛2. Step 4: Simplify perfect cube: ∛27 = 3. Answer: 3∛2

Rationalize the denominator: 6/√3

Radicalsmedium

Answer

Step 1: To eliminate √3 from denominator, multiply by √3/√3. Step 2: (6/√3) × (√3/√3) = (6√3)/(√3×√3). Step 3: Simplify denominator: √3×√3 = 3. Step 4: Result: 6√3/3. Step 5: Simplify fraction: 6√3/3 = 2√3. Answer: 2√3

Add: (3x² + 5x - 2) + (2x² - 3x + 7)

Polynomialseasy

Answer

Step 1: Remove parentheses: 3x² + 5x - 2 + 2x² - 3x + 7. Step 2: Group like terms: (3x² + 2x²) + (5x - 3x) + (-2 + 7). Step 3: Combine like terms: 5x² + 2x + 5. Answer: 5x² + 2x + 5

Subtract: (4x³ - 2x + 1) - (x³ + 5x - 3)

Polynomialseasy

Answer

Step 1: Distribute negative sign: 4x³ - 2x + 1 - x³ - 5x + 3. Step 2: Group like terms: (4x³ - x³) + (-2x - 5x) + (1 + 3). Step 3: Combine like terms: 3x³ - 7x + 4. Answer: 3x³ - 7x + 4

Multiply: (x + 4)(x - 3)

Polynomialseasy

Answer

Step 1: Use FOIL method (First, Outer, Inner, Last). Step 2: First: x × x = x². Step 3: Outer: x × (-3) = -3x. Step 4: Inner: 4 × x = 4x. Step 5: Last: 4 × (-3) = -12. Step 6: Combine: x² - 3x + 4x - 12 = x² + x - 12. Answer: x² + x - 12

Factor: x² + 7x + 12

Polynomialsmedium

Answer

Step 1: Find two numbers that multiply to 12 and add to 7. Step 2: List factor pairs of 12: (1,12), (2,6), (3,4). Step 3: Check sums: 1+12=13, 2+6=8, 3+4=7 ✓. Step 4: Use 3 and 4: x² + 7x + 12 = (x + 3)(x + 4). Step 5: Verify: (x+3)(x+4) = x² + 4x + 3x + 12 = x² + 7x + 12 ✓. Answer: (x + 3)(x + 4)

Factor: x² - 9

Polynomialsmedium

Answer

Step 1: Recognize difference of squares pattern: a² - b². Step 2: Identify: x² - 9 = x² - 3². Step 3: Apply formula: a² - b² = (a + b)(a - b). Step 4: Substitute: x² - 3² = (x + 3)(x - 3). Step 5: Verify: (x+3)(x-3) = x² - 3x + 3x - 9 = x² - 9 ✓. Answer: (x + 3)(x - 3)

Solve: 3x + 7 = 22

Linear Equationseasy

Answer

Step 1: Subtract 7 from both sides: 3x + 7 - 7 = 22 - 7. Step 2: Simplify: 3x = 15. Step 3: Divide both sides by 3: 3x/3 = 15/3. Step 4: Simplify: x = 5. Step 5: Check: 3(5) + 7 = 15 + 7 = 22 ✓. Answer: x = 5

Solve: 2(x - 3) = x + 4

Linear Equationsmedium

Answer

Step 1: Distribute: 2x - 6 = x + 4. Step 2: Subtract x from both sides: 2x - x - 6 = x - x + 4. Step 3: Simplify: x - 6 = 4. Step 4: Add 6 to both sides: x - 6 + 6 = 4 + 6. Step 5: Simplify: x = 10. Step 6: Check: 2(10-3) = 2(7) = 14, and 10+4 = 14 ✓. Answer: x = 10

Solve using quadratic formula: x² - 5x + 6 = 0

Quadratic Equationsmedium

Answer

Step 1: Identify a=1, b=-5, c=6. Step 2: Apply formula: x = [-b ± √(b²-4ac)] / (2a). Step 3: Calculate discriminant: b²-4ac = (-5)²-4(1)(6) = 25-24 = 1. Step 4: Substitute: x = [5 ± √1] / 2 = [5 ± 1] / 2. Step 5: Find solutions: x = (5+1)/2 = 3 or x = (5-1)/2 = 2. Answer: x = 2 or x = 3

Solve by factoring: x² - 4x - 5 = 0

Quadratic Equationsmedium

Answer

Step 1: Find two numbers that multiply to -5 and add to -4. Step 2: Consider factor pairs: (-1,5), (1,-5). Step 3: Check: -1+5=4 (wrong sign), 1+(-5)=-4 ✓. Step 4: Factor: x² - 4x - 5 = (x + 1)(x - 5). Step 5: Set each factor to zero: x+1=0 or x-5=0. Step 6: Solve: x=-1 or x=5. Answer: x = -1 or x = 5

When do you use the quadratic formula instead of factoring?

Quadratic Equationsmedium

Answer

Use quadratic formula when: 1) Trinomial doesn't factor easily with integers, 2) Discriminant is not a perfect square, 3) Coefficients are large or decimal. Example: x² + 3x + 1 = 0 has discriminant 9-4=5 (not perfect square), so factoring is difficult. Formula gives x = [-3 ± √5]/2.

Solve the system: x + y = 8, 2x - y = 1

Systems of Equationsmedium

Answer

Step 1: Use elimination method. Step 2: Add equations to eliminate y: (x+y) + (2x-y) = 8 + 1. Step 3: Simplify: 3x = 9, so x = 3. Step 4: Substitute x=3 into first equation: 3 + y = 8. Step 5: Solve for y: y = 5. Step 6: Check in both equations: 3+5=8 ✓, 2(3)-5=1 ✓. Answer: x = 3, y = 5

Express in scientific notation: 0.00045

Scientific Notationeasy

Answer

Step 1: Move decimal point right until you have one non-zero digit before decimal. Step 2: Count moves: 0.00045 → 4.5 × 10⁻⁴ (moved 4 places right). Step 3: Since we moved right, exponent is negative. Step 4: Verify: 4.5 × 10⁻⁴ = 4.5 × 0.0001 = 0.00045 ✓. Answer: 4.5 × 10⁻⁴

Diagrams

Algebra Topics Overview

Comprehensive overview of all algebra topics covered in this chapter, showing the relationships between different algebraic concepts and their sub-topics.

Quadratic Equation Solving Decision Tree

Step-by-step decision tree for choosing the most efficient method to solve quadratic equations, helping students determine when to use factoring vs. the quadratic formula.

Radical Simplification Process

Systematic approach to simplifying radical expressions, with an example showing how to break down √48 into its simplest form.

Algebra — Sets, Exponents, Radicals, Polynomials & Equations is chapter 3 of 9 in the Mathematics part of Super Tutor's UPCAT review. The University of the Philippines College Admission Test is given by University of the Philippines Office of Admissions; its dates, format and passing rules are on the UPCAT page. See the UPCAT guide.

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