Math Practice Problems - Nonlinear Functions

Nonlinear Functions - Sample Math Practice Problems

The math problems below can be generated by MathScore.com, a math practice program for schools and individual families. References to complexity and mode refer to the overall difficulty of the problems as they appear in the main program. In the main program, all problems are automatically graded and the difficulty adapts dynamically based on performance. Answers to these sample questions appear at the bottom of the page. This page does not grade your responses.

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Complexity=5, Mode=quadratic

Give the equation of this quadratic function. It should be in the form of 'y = ax^2' where a is an integer.

#	Problem	Correct Answer	Your Answer
1
Solution The parabola opens downward so we know n < 0. (2, -20) is in the parabola. y = nx² -20 = n * 2² -20 = 4n n = -5 y = -5x²

#	Problem	Correct Answer	Your Answer
2
Solution The parabola opens upward so we know n > 0. (2, 16) is in the parabola. y = nx² 16 = n * 2² 16 = 4n n = 4 y = 4x²

Complexity=3, Mode=cubic

Give the equation of this cubic function. It should be in the form of 'y = ax^3' where a is an integer.

#	Problem	Correct Answer	Your Answer
1
Solution The cubic function increases as x increases so we know n > 0. (2, 8) is in the cubic function. y = nx³ 8 = n * 2³ 8 = 8n n = 1 y = x³

#	Problem	Correct Answer	Your Answer
2
Solution The cubic function decreases as x increases so we know n < 0. (2, -8) is in the cubic function. y = nx³ -8 = n * 2³ -8 = 8n n = -1 y = -x³

Complexity=5, Mode=mixed

Give the equation of the following functions. They may be quadratic or cubic functions. They should be of the form 'y = ax^2 + b' or 'y = ax^3 + b' where a and b are integers.

#	Problem	Correct Answer	Your Answer
1
Solution The funcction opens downward, so we know it's a parabola and the equation is of the form y = nx² + b with n < 0. The equation intersects the y-axis at(0, -2), so y = nx² + b -2 = n * 0² + b -2 = b y = nx² -2 We also know (1, -3) is in the parabola. -3 = n * 1² -2 -3 = n -2 n = -1 y = -x² -2

#	Problem	Correct Answer	Your Answer
2
Solution The function decreases as x increases and doesn't open in a direction like a parabola, so it is a cubic function of the form y = nx³ + b with n < 0. The equation intersects the y-axis at(0, -5), so y = nx³ + b -5 = n * 0³ + b -5 = b y = nx³ -5 We also know (1, -9) is in the parabola. -9 = n * 1³ -5 -9 = n -5 n = -4 y = -4x³ -5

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