[High School - Precalculus] Skills Review

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  • insanefreddy926
    Super Member
    • Feb 2005
    • 187

    #1

    [High School - Precalculus] Skills Review

    Alright, I got this paper with some selected problems on it, and a few of them are a little confusing to me.

    #2: A regular hexagon is inscribed within a circle of radius 1 unit. Find the ratio of the area of the circle to the area of the hexagon.
    I got 2(pi)sqrt(3)/9 for the answer, but I'm just wondering if I did it right or if I'm completely off.

    #7: How many positive integers are factors of 5400?
    I got 47 for this one, but I did it "the long way." I was wondering if there was a shorter way of doing this than finding all of the factors and counting them up.

    And finally #10: Express 0.31245 (with the "45" at the end repeating) as the ratio of two positive integers.
    The decimal to fraction button on my calculator failed at this one.
    yeaorwgh.
  • dag12
    FFR Simfile Author
    FFR Simfile Author
    • Dec 2004
    • 468

    #2
    Re: [High School - Precalculus] Skills Review

    #2: I got the same answer as you. Good Job? (Assuming I didn't screw up either...)

    #7: Start by prime factoring 5400.
    5400 = 2^3 * 3^3 * 5^2
    So, the factors of 5400 will be combinations of these numbers.
    How many combinations can you make?
    2 can appear 4 ways [0,1,2, or 3 times], 3 can appear 4 ways, 5 can appear 3 ways.
    So, the number of combinations = 4*4*3 = 48.
    Perhaps you missed one?
    (You know 47 is wrong immediately because only square numbers have an odd number of factors, and 5400 is not a square number)

    #10: let n = 0.31245454545...
    then 100n = 31.24545454545...
    subtract one from the other, 99n = 30.933
    n = 3437 / 11000
    So, 0.312454545... = 3437 / 11000

    Comment

    • sumzup
      (+ (- (/ (* 1 2) 3) 4) 5)
      • Nov 2005
      • 1398

      #3
      Re: [High School - Precalculus] Skills Review

      Alright, #2 is right.

      #7: The short way involves first getting a prime factorization; after you do so, you see that the prime factorization is 2^3 * 3^3 * 5^2.

      Now, think about how you would get all of the factors. You have a choice between choosing 2s, 3s, and 5s. You multiply the number of ways you can pick each one together, and you should get the right answer. Thus, the answer is 4 ways to pick 2s (pick zero 2s, one 2, two 2s, or 3 twos) * 4 ways for 3 * 3 ways for 5 (3 and five have the same logic as 2). So the final answer is 4*4*3 = 48. (ouch, you were one off!)

      #10: Suppose 0.31245 (45 repeat) = x. Thus, 312.45 (45 repeat) = 1000x. Thus 312 and 45/99 (I'm sure you know this) = 1000x. Convert to an improper fraction --> 30933/99 = 1000x. Thus, x, the fraction form of the decimal, is equal to 30933/99000 which is also, 3437/1100.

      Edit: Whoa, I didn't simplify, and used 100x instead of 1000x. Fixed. Also, damn you dag12 for posting before me.
      Last edited by sumzup; 11-17-2008, 09:14 PM. Reason: minor errors

      Comment

      • insanefreddy926
        Super Member
        • Feb 2005
        • 187

        #4
        Re: [High School - Precalculus] Skills Review

        Ahhh, I started with the prime factorization for #7 but then had no clue what from there, heh. And I just had no clue at all with #10 but I understand now. Thanks!
        yeaorwgh.

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