SOLUTIONs:

1. If \(x=\sqrt[4]{x^3+6x^2}\), then the sum of all possible solutions for x is:

A. -2
B. 0
C. 1
D. 3
E. 5

Take the given expression to the 4th power: \(x^4=x^3+6x^2\);

Re-arrange and factor out x^2: \(x^2(x^2-x-6)=0\);

Factorize: \(x^2(x-3)(x+2)=0\);

So, the roots are \(x=0\), \(x=3\) and \(x=-2\). But \(x\) cannot be negative as it equals to the even (4th) root of some expression (\(\sqrt{expression}\geq{0}\)), thus only two solution are valid \(x=0\) and \(x=3\).

The sum of all possible solutions for x is 0+3=3.

Answer: D.
_________________

8. If m is a negative integer and m^3 + 380 = 381m , then what is the value of m?

A. -21
B. -20
C. -19
D. -1
E. None of the above

Given \(m^3 + 380 = 380m+m\).

Re-arrange: \(m^3-m= 380m-380\).

\(m(m+1)(m-1)=380(m-1)\). Since m is a negative integer, then \(m-1\neq{0}\) and we can safely reduce by \(m-1\) to get \(m(m+1)=380\).

So, we have that 380 is the product of two consecutive negative integers: \(380=-20*(-19)\), hence \(m=-20\).

Answer: B.
_________________

10. If f(x) = 2x - 1 and g(x) = x^2, then what is the product of all values of n for which f(n^2)=g(n+12) ?

A. -145
B. -24
C. 24
D. 145
E. None of the above

\(f(x) = 2x - 1\), hence \(f(n^2)=2n^2-1\).
\(g(x) = x^2\), hence \(g(n+12)=(n+12)^2=n^2+24n+144\).

Since given that \(f(n^2)=g(n+12)\), then \(2n^2-1=n^2+24n+144\). Re-arranging gives \(n^2-24n-145=0\).

Next, Viete's theorem states that for the roots \(x_1\) and \(x_2\) of a quadratic equation \(ax^2+bx+c=0\):

\(x_1+x_2=\frac{-b}{a}\) AND \(x_1*x_2=\frac{c}{a}\).

Thus according to the above \(n_1*n_2=-145\).

Answer: A.
_________________

2. The equation x^2 + ax - b = 0 has equal roots, and one of the roots of the equation x^2 + ax + 15 = 0 is 3. What is the value of b?

A. -64
B. -16
C. -15
D. -1/16
E. -1/64

Since one of the roots of the equation \(x^2 + ax + 15 = 0\) is 3, then substituting we'll get: \(3^2+3a+15=0\). Solving for \(a\) gives \(a=-8\).

Substitute \(a=-8\) in the first equation: \(x^2-8x-b=0\).

Now, we know that it has equal roots thus its discriminant must equal to zero: \(d=(-8)^2+4b=0\). Solving for \(b\) gives \(b=-16\).

Answer: B.
_________________

3. a^2 + b^ 2 = m
a^2 - b^2 = n
Solving both the equations( adding them, and then subtracting them ):
2a^2 = m + n
2b^2 = m - n.
a = ((m+n)/2)^(1/2)
b = ((m-n)/2)^(1/2)

ab = ((m^2 - n^2)^(1/2))/2

Answer is C.

7. If x^4 = 29x^2 - 100, then which of the following is NOT a product of three possible values of x?

I. -50
II. 25
III. 50

A. I only
B. II only
C. III only
D. I and II only
E. I and III only

Re-arrange and factor for x^2: \((x^2-25)(x^2-4)=0\).

So, we have that \(x=5\), \(x=-5\), \(x=2\), or \(x=-2\).

\(-50=5*(-5)*2\);
\(50=5*(-5)*(-2)\).

Only 25 is NOT a product of three possible values of x

Answer: B.
_________________

1)\(x^4=x^3+6x^2\)
\(x^4-x^3-6x^2=0\)
\(x^2(x^2-x-6)=0\)
\(x^2=0 (1) x = 0\)
\(x^2-x-6=0 (2) x = 3 (3) x = -2\)
\(0+3-2=1\)
C

2)The equation x^2 + ax - b = 0 has equal roots
\(a^2+4b=0\)
one of the roots of the equation x^2 + ax + 15 = 0 is 3
\((-a+-\sqrt{a^2-4*15})/2=3\)
\(+-\sqrt{a^2-60}=6+a\)
\((\sqrt{a^2-60})^2=(6+a)^2\)
\(-96=12a\)
\(a=-8\)

\(a^2+4b=0\)
\(64+4b=0\)
\(b=-16\)
B

3)We can use some numbers
\(2^2+1^2=5=m 2^2-1^2=5=n\)
\(ab=2\)

\(\sqrt{m^2-n^2}/2 = \sqrt{25-9}/2 = 2 = ab\)
C

4) -3x^2 + 12x -2y^2 - 12y - 39 MAX
\(-3x^2 + 12x\) has max in (2,12)
\(-2y^2 - 12y - 39\) has max in (-6,-3)
-3x^2 + 12x -2y^2 - 12y - 39 MAX = 12 - 3 =9
D
_________________

I completed the squares for -3x^2 + 12x - ... and for -2y^2 - 12y-... So, I asked myself what do I need there in order to have (a+b)^2.

Hope it's clear.
_________________

4. -3x^2 + 12x -2y^2 - 12y - 39 = 3(-x^2 + 4x - 13) + 2(-y^2-6y)

Now -x^2 +4x - 13 has its maximum value at x = -4/-2 = 2 and -y^2 - 6y has its maximum value at y=6/-2 = -3
Therefore max value of the expression
= 3(-4 + 8 -13) + 2 (-9+18) = -27 + 18 = -9

Should be B
_________________

@Bunuel, for Q5, shouldn't the original question also say that we are only looking for solutions where x is an integer?

For this to be satisfied, in x^2 + 2x -15 = -m, 4 - 4(m-15)>0 and 4-4(m-15) must be a perfect square
=> 4 (16-m) must be a perfect square and >0
=> 16-m must be a perfect square and >0
The only values that satisfy this for -10<=m<=10 are m=-9,0,7 of which only 7 is positive
=> probability = 1/3
_________________