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WHAT TO EXPECT
MAJORSHIP
Area: MATHEMATICS
LET Competencies
Solve for the roots of a given quadratic equation
Solve problems on quadratic equations
Determine an equation given a set of roots which are imaginary/complex numbers
Perform operations involving exponential and logarithmic functions
Solve for the solution set of a given inequality
Determine the rth term of the expansion (a + b)n
Solve problems involving arithmetic and geometric progressions
Solve problems involving variations
Determine the number of positive and negative roots of a given polynomial
QUADRATIC EQUATION
An equation of the form ax2 + bx + c = 0 where a 0, a ,b, and c are constants, is a quadratic equation.
Examples:
The following are quadratic equations:
1. 3x2 + 4x + 5 = 0
2. 2x2 - 21x = 0
3. 5x2 - 25 = 0
(x + 5) (x 3) = 0
(x + 5) = 0 (x 3) = 0
Solving the resulting linear equations,
x=-5 x=3
2
2. Quadratic Formula (Use this method if ax + bx + c is not factorable)
The quadratic formula is
b b 2 4ac
x
2a
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| Mathematics Major [3]
Example: Solve 3x2 2x 7 = 0
Substitute a = 3 b = -2 c = -7 in the quadratic formula,
2 (2) 2 4(3)(7)
x
2(3)
1 22
x
3
BINOMIAL FORMULA
To obtain the terms of the binomial expansion (a + b)n, we use the binomial formula:
n 1 n (n 1)a n 2 b 2 n (n 1)(n 2)a n 3 b 3
(a + b) = a na
n n
b ... nab n 1 b n
2! 3!
EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Examples:
The following are examples of exponential functions
1. f(x) = 2x
2. f(x) = 32x - 2
4 x 3
1
3. f(x) =
2
The exponential functions f (x) = bx and g(x) = by where x and y are real numbers, b> 0, b 1 , satisfy the
following properties
1. bxby = bx+y
2. bx = by , if and only if x = y
1
3. b-x =
bx
4. If b>1, and x< y, then bx < by
5. If 0 < b < 1 and x < y, then bx > by
EXPONENTIAL EQUATIONS
An equation where the unknown quantity appears in an exponent is called an exponential equation.
Examples:
The following are exponential equations:
1. 60 = 2x-3
2. 5x-3 = 23x-2
3. 62x 6x+3 = 24x+5
To solve an exponential equation is to find the value of the unknown quantity in the given equation.
Example 1: Solve for x in 64 = 8x-2
Solution:
Rewriting the given equation, we have
82 = 8x-2
Since the bases are equal, the exponents must be equal. Thus,
2=x2
4=x
Hence, x = 4
Therefore x = -3 x = -1.
LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS
The equation f(x) = logb x, where b 1 , x> 0 and b> 0 is called a logarithmic function.
Examples:
The following are logarithmic functions:
1. f(x) = log2 (3x -2)
2. f(x) = log2 x
3. f(x) = log8 (6x -3)
Note:
1. If the base of the logarithm is not indicated it is understood that the base is 10.
2. If the base of the logarithm is the number e, then it is called a natural logarithm and it is written as
f(x) = ln x.
LOGARITHMIC EQUATIONS
The logarithmic equation y = logb x can be written in exponential form as by = x and vice-versa.
Log3 81 = 4 34 = 81
PROPERTIES OF LOGARITHMS
x
2. logb x logb y = logb
y
Example:
3. logb xn = nlogb x
Example:
log2 x3 = 3 log2 x
To solve a logarithmic equation means to find the value of the unknown quantity in the given equation.
x2
log log( x 2)
x
Since the logarithmic of both sides of the equation are equal, then we have
x2
x2
x
x(x + 2) = x + 2
x2 + x - 2 = 0
(x + 2) (x-1) = 0
x = -2 x = 1
Thus, x = 1
Example 2
Solve for x in log(x 4) + log(x 3) = log 30
Solution
Rewriting the given equation, we obtain
log(x 4)(x 3) = log 30
(x 4) (x 3) = 30
x2 - 7x + 12 = 30
x2 - 7x -18 = 0
(x 9) (x + 2) = 0
x = 9 x= -2
Thus, x = 9.
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| Mathematics Major [3]
INEQUALITIES
Any relation expressed using the symbols <, >, > or < is called an inequality.
An absolute inequality is an inequality which is always true. A conditional inequality is one which is true only for
certain values of the variable involved.
1. 4 > 3 is an absolute inequality
2. x > 3 is a conditional inequality
PROPERTIES OF INEQUALITIES
4. Transitivity
5. Addition Property
6. Multiplication Property
SOLVING INEQUALITIES
To solve an inequality means to find the value of the unknown that will make the inequality true.
Examples:
1. Solve the inequality 4x + 3 < x + 8
Solution:
4x + 3 < x + 8
4x x < 8 3
3x < 5
5
x<
3
5
Thus, 0 < x <
3
Case II
x < 0 and 3x 5 . 0
x < 0 and 3x > 5
5
x < 0 and x >
3
Thus, the solution is a null set.
5
Therefore the general solution is 0 < x <
3
4. Solve the inequality 3x2 4 < 3x
Solution:
x2 4 < 3 x
2
x +3x4< 0
(x + 4) ( x 1) < 0
Case I
x + 4 < 0 and x 1 > 0
x < 4 and x > 1
Case II
Thus, x = ( -4, 1)
Example:
For the sequence 1, 3, 5, 7, , the first term is 1, the second term is 3, and so on and so forth.
Example:
The sum of the sequence 1, 3, 5, 7, denoted by 1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + is a series.
ARITHMETIC SEQUENCE
A sequence in which a constant d is added to the previous term to get the next is called an arithmetic sequence.
The constant d is called the common difference.
Examples:
Example 1
Find the 20th term of the sequence 4, 14, 24, 34,
Solution:
Here t1 = 4, n = 20, d = 10
Thus,
t20 = t1 + (20 1) (10)
= 4 + (19) (10)
= 4 + (190)
t20 = 194
Example 2
Find the 50th term of the sequence 13, 10, 7, 4,
Solution:
Here t1 = 13, n = 50, d = -3
Thus,
t50 = t1 + (n 1) (d)
= 13 + (50 1) (-3)
= 13 + (49) (-3)
t50 = 134
ARITHMETIC SERIES
n
Sn= ( t 1 t 2 ) or
2
n
Sn = [(2t1 + (n 1)d]
2
Example 2:
How many multiples of 4 are there between 15 and 94?
Solution:
GEOMETRIC SEQUENCE
A sequence in which a constant r is multiplied by the previous term to get the next term is called a geometric
sequence. The constant r is called the common ratio.
Example:
1. The sequence 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, is a geometric sequence whose constant ratio is 2.
8 1
2. The sequence 24, 8, , is a geometric sequence whose constant ratio is .
3 3
POLYNOMIAL FUNCTION
The function defined by the equation
f(x) = a0xn +a1xn-1 + a2xn-2 + . . .+ an-2x2 + an-1x + an
where n is a nonnegative integer and a0, a1, . . ., an are constants, a0, 0 is a polynomial function in x of degree n.
The zeros or roots of f(x) are the numbers x such that f(x) = 0.