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High School Archive

Browse High School Basic Algebra
Stars indicate particularly interesting answers or good places to begin browsing.

Selected answers to common questions:
    Solving simple linear equations.
    Positive/negative integer rules.
    Mixture problems.
    Quadratic equations.
    Absolute value.
    Completing the square.
    Direct and indirect variation.
    Inequalities and negative numbers.

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Consecutive Integers [11/7/1995]

Finding consecutive integers.

Consecutive Integers, Divisible by the Sums of Their Digits [05/20/2002]

Find the first three consecutive integers greater than 10, each of which is divisible by the sum of its digits.

Constructing Polynomials [01/20/1999]

I need to find polynomials given certain properties. For example, find a polynomial P(x) that is of degree 4, where P(x) = P(-x), ...

A Container Holds 5/8 Gallon... [11/05/1997]

If the container is 4/5 full and then 25 percent of the liquid is lost due to evaporation, how much liquid is left in the container?

Converting Seconds to MPH [07/11/2000]

I'm looking for a chart that converts the number of seconds needed to travel one mile to miles per hour.

Correct Usage of Equal and Equivalent in Math Statements [02/20/2008]

Is there a mathematical difference between "equal" and "equivalent"?

Cramer's Rule in Action [05/08/1998]

Explaining Cramer's Rule by applying it to a system of equations.

Cube and Square Roots [3/1/1995]

What is the sum of the cubes of the roots of 3x^3 + 4x + 2 = 0, and simplify sqrt(3-sqrt(5))/(sqrt(2) + sqrt(7-3sqrt(5))?

Cubic Equations [01/19/1998]

How would you solve a problem like 3x^3+x^2+15x+27 = 0?

Cubic Equations [05/17/2001]

How do you solve cubic equations? Is there a general formula?

Cubic Functions [5/13/1996]

Investigate the cubic functions of f(x) = ax^3+bx^2+cx+d...

Cycling Motion Problem [6/26/1996]

A cyclist travels from A to B over a high pass...

Cycling Uphill [7/8/1996]

I don't know how to handle the unknown speed at which the cyclist travels uphill.

Dealing with Duplicate Elements [05/17/2002]

I need to develop a general formula to calculate the number of different 'words' that can be formed from an N letter word where some of the letters may be duplicated.

DEFABC = 6(ABCDEF) [12/10/2001]

Let abcdef be a 6-digit integer such that defabc is 6 times the value of abcdef. Find the value of a + b + c + d + e + f.

Definition of 'Solve' [11/29/2005]

In algebra class I was told that a problem such as 2 + 2 cannot be solved. In order to 'solve' a problem there has to be a variable involved. Is this correct?

Delivering a Message [09/02/2000]

A 25-mile long column of soldiers marches 25 miles. As the march begins, a messenger starts at the rear of the column and goes forward...

Derivation of Quadratic Formula [6/12/1996]

I would like to derive the solution to ax(2) + bx + c = 0.

Derivations of Heron's Formula [11/24/1998]

How is Heron's formula (Hero's formula) derived?

Deriving the Hyperbola Formula [04/27/1998]

When speaking of hyperbolas, why does C^2 = A^2 + B^2?

Deriving the Quadratic Formula [10/15/1998]

How do you derive the quadratic formula from ax^2 + bx + c = 0?

Diagram to Prove Difference of Squares Formula [06/18/2008]

I was able to make a picture showing why (a+b)^2 = a^2 + 2ab + b^2 by having a square with sides a+b and getting four areas within the square. But I can't figure out how to show that a^2 - b^2 = (a+b)(a-b) using a similar diagram.

Difference in Radius, Difference in Speed [06/25/2002]

What is the difference in speed between a point on the tread of a tire and another point closer to the center, if the tire is rotating at 5000 rpm?

Difference of Squares of Two Integers [7/2/1996]

Which positive integers can be written as the difference of the squares of two integers?

Difference of Two Cubes [11/18/1996]

What two positive integers satisfy the condition that the difference of their cubes is 56,765?

The Difference of Two Squares [9/21/1995]

In the following problem, I factor the same problem two different ways. Why do I not get the same answer?

Difference of Two Squares [08/17/1997]

Prove that every cube can be expressed as the difference of two squares.

The Difference of x and y... [06/05/2003]

The difference of a number and its square is 42. Is the equation x^2 - x = 42 or x - x^2 = 42?

Different Approach to a Set of Equations [11/13/2002]

The sum of four numbers is 22. The first number is twice the difference of the second and the fourth. The second number is five times the difference of the third and the fourth. The third number is twice the difference of the first and the fourth. What are the four numbers?

Differentiability, Intervals, Inflection Points of Piecewise Function [05/13/1998]

For what values of k and p will the function be continuous and differentiable? On what interval will it be increasing? Find all points of inflection.

Digit Reversal Trick Explained [03/23/2001]

Take a 3-digit number and subtract its reverse. Then, take the result and add its reverse. Why is the answer is always 1089, no matter what the initial numbers were?

Diophantine Equations, Apples, Bananas [06/08/1997]

Mick has $5.63 worth of bananas and apples. Bananas are 13 cents each and apples are 7 cents each. How many different combinations of apples and bananas can he have and what are they?

Direct and Inverse Variation in One Problem [03/23/2006]

If s varies directly as r and inversely as t, and s = 10 when r = 5 and t = 3, for what value of t will s = 3 when r = 4?

The Discriminant of Quadratic Equations [08/06/1998]

Can you explain more about the discriminant, b^2 - 4ac? Why is it sometimes represented by a triangle (delta)?

Discriminants [10/22/1996]

Find the discriminant and determine the nature and the number of roots of 2x^2+x-6 = 0 without solving the equation.

Distance Between a Point and a Line [08/23/1998]

Find the distance between the origin and the line 3x + 4y = 5.

Distance Between Telephone Poles [4/15/1995]

If you have 6 equally spaced telephone poles, and the distance between the first and sixth telephone pole is 1260 feet, what is the distance between the first and fourth telephone poles?

Distribution and Absolute Values [09/22/1999]

Is it okay to distribute through an absolute value sign? For example, is 2|3x+1| = |6x+2|?

Distributive Property [10/29/1997]

I don't understand the Distributive Property at all.

Distributive Property [10/13/2001]

We are learning the distributive property in school. Why do we have to learn this, and how will we use it, and when?

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