APPLIED ALGEBRA - C957 PRACTICE
TEST QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
Instantaneous Rate of Change - Answer-The rate of change at a particular moment, as
opposed to average rate of change, which is change over a period of time.
Linear Functions - Answer-A function that produces a straight line (linear means
"straight"), indicating a constant increase or decrease.
Scatterplot - Answer-A set of points plotted on a horizontal and vertical axes, useful for
identifying and illustrating trends.
Least-Squares Regression (LSR) Algorithm - Answer-The most commonly used
regression algorithm (process), which is greatly seen as the best technique for
regressions.
Regression - Answer-The process of examining data points to determine a valid
equation. "Regression" refers to bringing different data points down toward a normal
average - "regressing" them.
Outlier - Answer-A data point that "lies" significantly "outside" the trend in a set of data.
Polynomial - Answer-A function with real non-negative numbers - constants, variables,
and exponents - that can be combined using addition, subtraction, multiplication and
division. The word comes from poly- (meaning "many") and -nomial (meaning "terms").
Polynomial's Degree - Answer-The value of a polynomial's largest exponent, that is, if
the largest exponent in a polynomial function is 3, the polynomial is "of the third
degree".
Quadratic Polynomial - Answer-An equation that includes one variable raised to the
second power (like x^2) and no greater exponent (3 or more); its name comes from
Latin (quadratus) because the variable is squared.
Data Regression - Answer-The process of examining data points to determine a valid
equation. "Regression" refers to bringing different data points down toward a normal
average - "regressing" them.
Regression Function - Answer-A proposed function to model a data set, based on a
regression analysis.
Constant Ratio - Answer-Occurs when the numeric relationship between two quantities -
that is, how many times one number contains the second - remains unchanged over
time.
, Exponential Function - Answer-A function that has an extremely rapid increase or
decrease in quantity in proportion to its current value; its form is f(x) = b^2.
Common Ratio or Base - Answer-The number by which each term in a sequence is
multiplied to find the next number in the sequence; for example, 4 is the common ratio
for the sequence [1, 4, 16, 64, 265...].
The Number e or Euler's Number - Answer-e is a constant equal to 2.718
(2.7182818284590455353602874713527...).
Limiting Factors - Answer-A circumstance that tends to prevent an activity or quantity
from expanding or changing.
Asymptote - Answer-A horizontal, vertical, or slanted line on a graph that a curve
approaches but never touches; asymptotes occur when the y-values of a function tend
toward a specific value as the x-values get large or small.
Linear and polynomial functions never have asymptotes.
Exponential functions always have just one asymptote.
Logistic functions always have two asymptotes.
Logistic Functions - Answer-A function that produces an s-shaped curve and contains
two asymptotes.
Market Share - Answer-The portion of total sales in a given market made by a specific
product or company, measured by percentage.
Grouping Symbol - Answer-A symbol such as parentheses, brackets, braces, radicals,
and fraction lines that indicates the starting and ending points of a group.
Horizontal Asymptote - Answer-On a graph, a horizontal line parallel to the x-axis that a
function's curve approaches but does not touch, even to infinity.
Inflection Point or Point of Inflection - Answer-A point on a curve at which the curve's
concavity changes; it is where the instantaneous rate of change is the largest or most
positive for an increasing logistic function, or most negative for a decreasing logistic
function.
Line Graph - Answer-A graph that displays data points connected by segments of
straight lines.
Equation - Answer-A mathematical statement that two things are equal; it consists of
two expressions, one on each side of an equals sign.
TEST QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
Instantaneous Rate of Change - Answer-The rate of change at a particular moment, as
opposed to average rate of change, which is change over a period of time.
Linear Functions - Answer-A function that produces a straight line (linear means
"straight"), indicating a constant increase or decrease.
Scatterplot - Answer-A set of points plotted on a horizontal and vertical axes, useful for
identifying and illustrating trends.
Least-Squares Regression (LSR) Algorithm - Answer-The most commonly used
regression algorithm (process), which is greatly seen as the best technique for
regressions.
Regression - Answer-The process of examining data points to determine a valid
equation. "Regression" refers to bringing different data points down toward a normal
average - "regressing" them.
Outlier - Answer-A data point that "lies" significantly "outside" the trend in a set of data.
Polynomial - Answer-A function with real non-negative numbers - constants, variables,
and exponents - that can be combined using addition, subtraction, multiplication and
division. The word comes from poly- (meaning "many") and -nomial (meaning "terms").
Polynomial's Degree - Answer-The value of a polynomial's largest exponent, that is, if
the largest exponent in a polynomial function is 3, the polynomial is "of the third
degree".
Quadratic Polynomial - Answer-An equation that includes one variable raised to the
second power (like x^2) and no greater exponent (3 or more); its name comes from
Latin (quadratus) because the variable is squared.
Data Regression - Answer-The process of examining data points to determine a valid
equation. "Regression" refers to bringing different data points down toward a normal
average - "regressing" them.
Regression Function - Answer-A proposed function to model a data set, based on a
regression analysis.
Constant Ratio - Answer-Occurs when the numeric relationship between two quantities -
that is, how many times one number contains the second - remains unchanged over
time.
, Exponential Function - Answer-A function that has an extremely rapid increase or
decrease in quantity in proportion to its current value; its form is f(x) = b^2.
Common Ratio or Base - Answer-The number by which each term in a sequence is
multiplied to find the next number in the sequence; for example, 4 is the common ratio
for the sequence [1, 4, 16, 64, 265...].
The Number e or Euler's Number - Answer-e is a constant equal to 2.718
(2.7182818284590455353602874713527...).
Limiting Factors - Answer-A circumstance that tends to prevent an activity or quantity
from expanding or changing.
Asymptote - Answer-A horizontal, vertical, or slanted line on a graph that a curve
approaches but never touches; asymptotes occur when the y-values of a function tend
toward a specific value as the x-values get large or small.
Linear and polynomial functions never have asymptotes.
Exponential functions always have just one asymptote.
Logistic functions always have two asymptotes.
Logistic Functions - Answer-A function that produces an s-shaped curve and contains
two asymptotes.
Market Share - Answer-The portion of total sales in a given market made by a specific
product or company, measured by percentage.
Grouping Symbol - Answer-A symbol such as parentheses, brackets, braces, radicals,
and fraction lines that indicates the starting and ending points of a group.
Horizontal Asymptote - Answer-On a graph, a horizontal line parallel to the x-axis that a
function's curve approaches but does not touch, even to infinity.
Inflection Point or Point of Inflection - Answer-A point on a curve at which the curve's
concavity changes; it is where the instantaneous rate of change is the largest or most
positive for an increasing logistic function, or most negative for a decreasing logistic
function.
Line Graph - Answer-A graph that displays data points connected by segments of
straight lines.
Equation - Answer-A mathematical statement that two things are equal; it consists of
two expressions, one on each side of an equals sign.
