1. How do I succeed? 34 questions right out of 60 is a 22. That is 57% Spend time wisely on problems you can handle. FINISH the test!! NOT PUNISHED FOR WRONG ANSWERS - GUESS - try eliminating wrong answers or use patterns. Test moves from Easy to Hard for the most part.

2. Concept QuestionsPoints Pre-Algebra: factors, multiples, proportions, percents, probability 148.3 Algebra: exponents, roots, expressions, substitution, linear functions, polynomials, factoring & solving quadratics 106.1 Algebra II: quadratics, inequalities, absolute value equations, systems, matrices, radical & rational expressions, complex numbers, and sequences/functions 95.4 Coordinate Geo: (x,y), slope, distance, Pythagorean theorem, midpoint 95.4 Plane Geo: Properties of shapes like area & volume, angle measurements, and transformations 148.3 Trigonometry: two of the four are right triangle based. Memorize 30-60-90 and 45-45-90 relationships 42.5 Total 6036 THERE ARE SOME EASY POINTS!!

3. TRICK # 1 Underline the question!! What is the fifth term of the arithmetic sequence 8,5,2,… A. -4 B. -1 C. 2 D. 5 E. 16 23% of our kids got it right. The majority Of the wrong answers incorrectly chose the next term or 4 th term -1 Answer: A. -4

4. TRICK # 2 - Substitution: PLUG IN the number The formula for the volume of a sphere with a radius r is If the radius is 1 ⅓, what is the volume? A.6 B.7 C.10 D.17 E.66 Clear memory 2 nd + 712 Finding y (V or volume) 1+ ⅓ Ans = C or 10

5. Substitution If f(x) = x 3 – x 2 –x, what is the value of f(-3)? A.-39 B.-33 C.-21 D.-18 E.0 -3 Clear y= functions first FASTER BY HAND

6. Trick #3 Backsolve WHEN to USE: This is like algebra or finding “x” value. Substitute the answers to see if it matches the output value the problem wants Usually start with middle number or “C” value

7. Trick #3 Backsolve – substitute an answer The velocity, in meters per second, of an object is given by the equation V = 5/3 t + 0.05, where t is the amount of time that has passed, in seconds. After how many seconds will the object be travelling at 0.575 meters per second? A.0.28 finding x not y B.0.315 C.0.365 D.0.525 E.0.57 Too High Try.315 Answer is B 5/3*0.365+.05 Use an answer not 0.575… use 0.365

8. Trick #3 Backsolve – substitute an answer Of the participants at a conference, 1/3 are doctors; ½ are nurses; and the remaining 12 are trainers. Each participant has only one of those careers. What is the total number of participants at the conference? A.36 B.48 C.60 D.72 E.76 Doctors = ⅓ (60) = 20 Nurses = ½ (60) = 30 + trainers = 12 62 Pick 60 and backsolve

9. Trick #3 Backsolve – substitute an answer Of the participants at a conference, 1/3 are doctors; ½ are nurses; and the remaining 12 are trainers. Each participant has only one of those careers. What is the total number of participants at the conference? A.36 B.48 C.60 D.72 E.76 Doctors = ⅓ (72) = 24 Nurses = ½ (72) = 36 + trainers = 12 72 Pick 72 and backsolve D is Answer

10. Trick #4 PICKING NUMBERS When there are variables or expressions in the answers When it is about properties of numbers Pick the easiest numbers to backsolve…just not 0 or 1 normally. 2 and 3 are great choices unless asked for two even numbers or two odd numbers

11. Trick #4 PICKING NUMBERS-tables If m is an integer, then (m-1) 2 + 3 must be: A.An odd integer B.An even integer C.An integer divisible by three D.A positive integer E.A negative integer Ans: D (2-1) 2 +3 (3-1) 2 +3

12. Trick #4 PICKING NUMBERS If r is an even integer and s is an odd integer, which of the following must be odd? A. r (r + s) B. s 2 – r C. 3r + 2s D. (rs)2 E. r/s Let r be 2 2 (2+3) = 10 even 3 2 – 2 = 7 odd 3(2) +2(3) = 12 even (2x3) 2 = 36 even 2/3 =.667 neither Let s be 3 B is answer

13. Trick 5 - USE THE CALCULATOR Be able to square root and use exponents Be able to use absolute value in an equation Trace, Tables & set table, Zoom in/out, Calc Key Find greatest common factor & least common multiple Solve simultaneous equations with app Find roots by graphing or root finder app

14. TI-84+ACT = Success! 14 MATH→NUM for absolute value

15. TI-84+ACT = Success! 6 Graph it: y=x 2 – 15 the x axis is y=0 2 X-intercepts show 2 solutions

16. TI-84+ACT = Success! 13 Graph it – the x intercepts will make factors or roots = 0 X=3 is a zero X=-.4 is a zero (x-3) will make a zero with 3 (5x+2) will make a zero with -.4 Ans=A

17. TI-84+ACT = Success! 7 Systems of equations: Graph

18. What is the solution set for 5x-7 = 5(x+2) A. {2} B. {7} C. no solution D. all positive numbers E. all real numbers Parallel lines have no solution

19. TI-84+ACT = Success! 9 2 nd CALC Key FASTER to TRACE

20. TI-84+ACT = Success! 12 MATH→NUM for gcd or lcm

21. An APP that would need to be added to the calculators APPS:PlySmlt2 Can be used to find solutions and roots of polynomials in lieu of graphing Can be used to solve systems of equations in standard form

22. TI-84+ACT = Success! 11 Systems standard form APPS:PlySmlt2 Substitute or Eliminate Faster

23. TI-84+ACT = Success! 8 Systems APPS:PlySmlt2 Substitute or Eliminate Faster

24. Trick #6 Guessing is GOOD…BUT Don’t randomly choose letters, NEVER randomly choose strangest answer or the never works or none of these (E, K) Eliminate weird answers and guess Look for a pattern and choose most similar OR STICK WITH YOUR LETTER OF THE DAY B, C or D

25. A patterned guess is the next best thing to an educated guess!!! What would you guess? F. 2 F. G. 6 G. H.14 H. J.21 J. K.42 K. Answers are more like many of the choices to challenge you. So we can eliminate unlike answers. Here 21 is only odd answer. It is not a good guess. I like 2 digit answer that is even and has a 2 in it! Guess K. Answer is K

26. A patterned guess is the next best thing to an educated guess!!! What would you guess? A.$ 44.44 A. B.$109.08 B. C.$118.80 C. D.$408.04 D. E.$444.40 E. Answer has to have a four in it and probably be in the hundreds. I picked D because it had an 8 in it too (see all the 8s) Answer is D! Sweet!

27. REVIEW TOPICS Slope, parallel slopes, perpendicular slopes, standard and mx+b X and Y intercepts FOIL and Factoring Vocabulary of roots of a function and solutions of a function Percentages Probability & Combinations (tree diagram) Angles and intersecting lines and parallel lines Pythagorean Theorem and distance formula Area of circles, triangles, rectangles, trapezoids Open or closed inequalities Mean and average

28. REVIEW General Techniques Underline the question!!! Based on answers what can I do to get the question right Make a table Use graphing calculator to find X-intercepts or y- intercepts Backsolve Pick numbers Elimination of possibilities By looking at drawing By type of problem (You might need a π or √ )