Precalc 11 – Week 10

3 things I reviewed for the midterm were arithmetic and geometric sequences and series’, multiplying radicals, and completing the square for quadratic equations.

For the sequences and series’ I simply had to remember when to use each formula and how to find the proper pieces. As long as I had two terms or a term and a ratio or common difference, I was able to find the first term and any other term necessary. Afterwards, I could input that information into any series formula I needed. I also had to remember when I could use the infinite formula, which is only if x is in between 1 and -1.

For multiplying radicals, I had to remember the rules of multiplying them. If they’re the same term, you multiply the coefficients normally and then remove the root. If they were different radicals, you would multiply the coefficients normally but then multiply the radicals like normal multiplication as well.

As for completing the square, I needed to refresh myself on the steps taken. To start, I had to put brackets around the first two terms and if there was a coefficient for the x^2 I had to distribute it out. Then, I halved the middle term and then squared it, which gave me the third term within the brackets (which I also subtract outside the brackets). Afterwards, I factored what was in the brackets to be a perfect square factor, and simply solved from there with the completely factored numbers and last term that I could subtract.