ASSIGNMENT 1 - MATH 112

QUESTIONS ARE BASED ON MATERIAL FROM THE PREREQUISITES CHAPTER, SECTIONS 1 THROUGH 6,
OF YOUR TEXTBOOK. (SAME SECTIONS IF YOU ARE USING THE SECOND EDITION OF THE TEXTBOOK.)

(1) Rewrite using set-builder notation each set that is described below in words.
(a) A is the set of natural numbers which are greater than or equal to 4 and strictly less than 79.
(b) B is the set of rational numbers which are less than or equal to 125.
(c) C is the set of real numbers lying strictly between -73 and 58.
(2) Let A, B and C be the sets defined above. Write the following in set-builder notation.
(a) A C
(b) B A
(3) Express the given intervals using inequalities.
(a) (4, )
(b) [3, 9)
(4) Express the given inequalities using interval notation.
(a) x > 1
(b) 10 < x 8
(5) Evaluate each expression.

(a) 3 125

(b) 2 8
(c) 642/3
(6) Write each expression as a power of x.
(a)

1
x3

(b) (x2 xm )n
(c)

( x)3 xa
xb

(7) Simplify each expression.

2 4/3 6
y
(a) xx1/3
y
2 3 2
ab c
(b) 2a3 b4
(c) |2 |2 | 2|||

(8) Write the following numbers in scientific notation.

(a) 6,403,800,000,000,000
(b) 0.0000000000007513
(9) Express the decimal 0.246 as a fraction.
(10) Factor each expression completely.
(a) y 3 2y 2 y + 2
(b) x4 2x2 + 1
(c) 2x2 + 7x 4
(d) 8x3 + y 6
(e) a4 b2 + ab5

(11) If t = 12 x3

1
x3

and x > 0, show that

1
1
3
2
1+t =
x + 3 .
2
x

Why is it the requirement x > 0 necessary in order for the final statement to be true?
(12) This problem demonstrates one of the most powerful techniques used in mathematics: noticing
a pattern, and using that pattern to make a more general statement. Follow the steps below to
derive a factorization of the nth-degree polynomial xn 1.
(a) Factor the expression x2 1.
(b) Factor the expression x3 1.
(c) Factor the expression x4 1.
(d) Write down a factorization of xn 1, for any n N, of the following form:
xn 1 = (x 1)p
where p is an (n 1)-degree polynomial in x.
Hint: It might not be fruitful to factor each expression in (a)-(c) completely. You only want to
factor out the term (x 1) in order to see the pattern.