Algebra II Midterm Exam

Order of Operations

Parenthesis
Exponents
Multiplication/Division
Addition/Subtraction

Equation

a mathematical sentence where the two sides have the same value

Similar terms

two terms in an equation with the same variable or no variable

Ordered Pairs

a coordinate point on a quadrant of the graph or grid; two parts of every one is the domain and range; (x,y)

Function

set of ordered pairs (relation) in which each element of the domain is paired with exactly one element in the range

Vertical Line Test

process of identifying functions by observing if a vertical line can pass through only one point on the graph at most (if a vertical line passes through two or more points on the graph, then the relation is not a function); visual way to determine if a cu

Linear Equation

an equation that represents a linear function (a function whose graph is a line) with no exponents

Quadratic Function

set of ordered pairs with the highest exponent to the second

Discriminant

Used to determine the number and type of solutions for any quadratic equation; part of the quadratic formula: ?b�?4ac
If it is > 0, 2 real solutions
If it is < 0, 2 imaginary solutions
If it is = 0, 1 real solution

Factoring Methods

GCF
Difference of Two Squares
Trinomials
Sum and Difference of Two Cubes
Grouping

Quadratic Formula

used to find the solution of a quadratic function
x = -b � ?b�?4ac � 2a

Monomial

an algebraic expression that is either a number, a variable, or the product of a number and one or more variables

Polynomial

a monomial or the sum of monomials, each of which is called a term

Sets of Numbers

set of real numbers divided into natural numbers, whole numbers, integers, rational numbers, and irrational numbers in the Number System (does not include set of imaginary numbers)

Evaluate

to find a solution by using the inverse operations to find the value of "x" that makes the equation true

Opposites

two integers on different sides of the number line that are the same distance away from zero

Quadrants

each of the four parts of a plane divided by two lines or planes at right angles

Function Notation

known as "f or x" or a "function of x"; the symbol f(x) replaces the y; f is the name of the function and is not multiplied by the x (letters other than f can be used to represent a function)

Slope of a Line

ratio of the vertical change of a line compared to the horizontal change of a line

Slope-Intercept Form

way of writing the equation of a line so that slope and y-intercept are immediately apparent; y = mx + b

Equation forms of quadratic

Standard Form
Vertex Form
Intercept Form

Axis of Symmetry

the line perpendicular to the parabola's directrix and passing through its focus and vertex

Square Roots/Radicals

an expression of the form ?s where s is a number or an expression; the symbol ? that tells us to find the square root of a number; a number that produces a specified quantity when multiplied by itself

Completing the Square

the process of adding a term to a quadratic expression of the form x� + bx to make it a perfect square trinomial

Binomial

an algebraic expression of the sum or the difference of two terms

Degree

the power of the exponent

Coefficient

the number of this power when a term is the product of a number and a power of a variable

Inequality

the relation between two expressions that are not equal, employing a sign such as ? (not equal to), < (less than), > (greater than), ? (less than or equal to), ? (greater than or equal to)

Reciprocal

Switching the numerator and the denominator of a number in the form of a fraction

Domain

set of all inputs, or x-coordinates, of the ordered pairs in a relation

Range

set of all outputs, or y-coordinates, of the ordered pairs in a relation

Intercepts

point where the curve crosses an axis (x-intercept = x-axis; y-intercept = y-axis)

Vertex

the one place that is the highest or lowest (depending on the graph) point (ordered pair) of the curve of the parabola

Parabola

the set of all points equidistant from a point called the focus and a line called the directrix; a symmetrical curve on the graph of a quadratic function y = ax� + bx + c

Minimum/Maximum

Maximum Value of a Quadratic Function= the y-coordinate of the vertex for y = ax� + bx + c when a<0
Minimum Value of a Quadratic Function= the y-coordinate of the vertex for y = ax� + bx + c when a>0

Imaginary Number

a number that is not real and comes from finding the square root of a negative number; i = ?-1

Complex Numbers

using imaginary numbers with real numbers

Trinomial

an algebraic expression consisting of three terms

Synthetic Division

a shorthand method used to divide a polynomial by a divisor of the form x ? k (linear factor)