DSST Fundamentals of College Algebra study materials
DSST Fundamentals of College Algebra study resources

DSST Fundamentals of College Algebra practice questions

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Question 1Complex numbers

What is the value of i raised to the power 2, where i is the imaginary unit?

  1. 1
  2. i
  3. -1 Correct answer.
  4. -i

Explanation

The imaginary unit is defined by the property that its square equals negative one. This definition is the foundation for all arithmetic with complex numbers, since it lets us replace i squared with a real number whenever it appears.

Question 2Complex numbers

Simplify the expression (3 + 2i) + (4 - 5i).

  1. 7 + 7i
  2. 7 - 7i
  3. 7 - 3i Correct answer.
  4. 1 - 3i

Explanation

Addition of complex numbers is performed componentwise: add the real parts and add the imaginary parts separately. Here 3 + 4 = 7 for the real part and 2 + (-5) = -3 for the imaginary part, giving 7 - 3i.

Question 3Complex numbers

Which expression gives the product (2 + 3i)(1 - i)?

  1. 5 + i Correct answer.
  2. -1 + i
  3. 2 - 3i
  4. 5 + 5i

Explanation

Distribute each term of the first factor over the second: 2(1) + 2(-i) + 3i(1) + 3i(-i). This yields 2 - 2i + 3i - 3i squared, and since i squared equals -1, the last term becomes +3, giving 5 + i.

Question 4Complex numbers

What is the conjugate of the complex number -4 + 7i?

  1. -4 - 7i Correct answer.
  2. 7 - 4i
  3. 4 - 7i
  4. 4 + 7i

Explanation

The complex conjugate keeps the real part unchanged and reverses the sign of the imaginary part. Applying that rule to -4 + 7i leaves -4 fixed and changes +7i to -7i.

Question 5Complex numbers

Compute the modulus (absolute value) of the complex number 6 - 8i.

  1. 100
  2. 2
  3. 14
  4. 10 Correct answer.

Explanation

The modulus of a + bi is the square root of a squared plus b squared, which is the distance from the origin in the complex plane. Here 36 + 64 = 100, and the square root of 100 is 10.

Question 6Complex numbers

What is the value of i raised to the power 4?

  1. i
  2. 1 Correct answer.
  3. -1
  4. -i

Explanation

Since i squared equals -1, multiplying by i squared again gives (-1)(-1) = 1. The powers of i therefore cycle through i, -1, -i, and 1 with period four.

Question 7Complex numbers

Write the quotient (5 + i)/(2 - i) in standard form a + bi.

  1. (9 - 7i)/5
  2. (9 + 7i)/5 Correct answer.
  3. (11 + 7i)/5
  4. (5 + i)/2

Explanation

Multiply numerator and denominator by the conjugate 2 + i of the denominator. The denominator becomes 4 + 1 = 5, and the numerator becomes 10 + 5i + 2i + i squared, which simplifies to 9 + 7i.

Question 8Complex numbers

Solve the equation x squared + 9 = 0 over the complex numbers.

  1. x = 3 or x = -3
  2. x = 3i or x = -3i Correct answer.
  3. x = i or x = -i
  4. x = 9i or x = -9i

Explanation

Rearranging gives x squared = -9, so x is a square root of negative nine. Since the square root of 9 is 3 and the square root of -1 is i, the solutions are 3i and -3i.

Question 9Complex numbers

Which of these is the correct standard form of (1 + i) squared?

  1. 0
  2. 2i Correct answer.
  3. 1 + 2i
  4. 2 + 2i

Explanation

Expanding gives 1 + 2i + i squared, and since i squared equals -1, the real terms 1 and -1 cancel. The result is purely imaginary, equal to 2i.

Question 10Complex numbers

If z = 2 - 3i, what is the product z times its conjugate?

  1. 13 Correct answer.
  2. 13i
  3. 5
  4. -5

Explanation

Multiplying a complex number by its conjugate always gives the square of its modulus, a nonnegative real number. Here 2 squared plus 3 squared equals 13, and no imaginary part remains.

Question 11Complex numbers

What are the real and imaginary parts of the complex number 7?

  1. Real part 7, imaginary part 7
  2. Real part 7, imaginary part 0 Correct answer.
  3. Real part 0, imaginary part 7
  4. Real part 0, imaginary part 0

Explanation

Every real number is a complex number of the form a + bi with b equal to zero. Thus 7 equals 7 + 0i, so its real part is 7 and its imaginary part is 0.

Question 12Complex numbers

Simplify i raised to the power 23.

  1. -i Correct answer.
  2. i
  3. -1
  4. 1

Explanation

The powers of i repeat with period four, so reduce the exponent modulo 4. Since 23 divided by 4 leaves remainder 3, i to the 23rd equals i cubed, which is -i.

Question 13Complex numbers

Which complex number is the additive inverse of -5 + 2i?

  1. 5 + 2i
  2. 5 - 2i Correct answer.
  3. -5 + 2i
  4. -5 - 2i

Explanation

The additive inverse of a complex number changes the sign of both the real and imaginary parts so that the sum is zero. Negating -5 + 2i gives 5 - 2i, and adding the two yields 0.

Question 14Complex numbers

Solve x squared - 4x + 13 = 0 over the complex numbers.

  1. x = 4 + 3i or x = 4 - 3i
  2. x = 2 + 3i or x = 2 - 3i Correct answer.
  3. x = 2 + i or x = 2 - i
  4. x = -2 + 3i or x = -2 - 3i

Explanation

The quadratic formula gives x = (4 plus or minus the square root of 16 - 52)/2. The discriminant is -36, whose square root is 6i, so the solutions are 2 plus or minus 3i.

Question 15Complex numbers

What is the modulus of the complex number -1 + i times the square root of 3?

  1. 4
  2. 2 Correct answer.
  3. 1 + the square root of 3
  4. the square root of 2

Explanation

The modulus is the square root of a squared plus b squared. Here a squared is 1 and b squared is 3, so the sum is 4 and the modulus is 2.

Question 16Complex numbers

Which value equals the product of i and its conjugate?

  1. 1 Correct answer.
  2. i
  3. -1
  4. 0

Explanation

The conjugate of i is -i, and their product is -i squared. Because i squared equals -1, the product equals 1, which agrees with the rule that a number times its conjugate equals the square of the modulus.

Question 17Complex numbers

Simplify the expression (2i) raised to the power 3.

  1. -8
  2. 8i
  3. -8i Correct answer.
  4. 8

Explanation

Cube the coefficient and cube the imaginary unit separately: 2 cubed is 8 and i cubed is -i. Multiplying gives -8i, a purely imaginary result.

Question 18Complex numbers

Write (3 + 4i) divided by i in standard form.

  1. -4 + 3i
  2. 4 + 3i
  3. 4 - 3i Correct answer.
  4. 3 - 4i

Explanation

Multiply numerator and denominator by the conjugate -i of i, whose product with i is 1. The numerator becomes -3i - 4i squared, which equals 4 - 3i after using i squared equals -1.

Question 19Complex numbers

For which real value of k does the equation x squared + kx + 25 = 0 have a double real root?

  1. k = 5
  2. k = 10 Correct answer.
  3. k = 0
  4. k = 25

Explanation

A double real root occurs when the discriminant b squared minus 4ac equals zero. Here k squared minus 100 must be zero, so k squared equals 100 and k equals 10 in magnitude.

Question 20Complex numbers

Two complex numbers have a sum of 6 and a product of 25. Which pair of numbers satisfies both conditions?

  1. 6 + 5i and 6 - 5i
  2. 5 + 3i and 5 - 3i
  3. 3 + 4i and 3 - 4i Correct answer.
  4. 3 + 5i and 3 - 5i

Explanation

Conjugate pairs a plus or minus bi have sum 2a and product a squared plus b squared. Setting 2a equal to 6 gives a = 3, and then a squared plus b squared equals 25 forces b squared to be 16, so b = 4.

Question 21Complex numbers

Compute the quotient (2 + i)/(3 - 4i) and express it in standard form.

  1. (2 + 11i)/25 Correct answer.
  2. (10 + 11i)/25
  3. (2 - 11i)/25
  4. (2 + 11i)/7

Explanation

Multiply numerator and denominator by the conjugate 3 + 4i. The denominator becomes 9 + 16 = 25, and the numerator expands to 6 + 8i + 3i + 4i squared, which simplifies to 2 + 11i.

Question 22Complex numbers

If z = cos(theta) + i sin(theta), what is z raised to the power 3?

  1. cos(3theta) - i sin(3theta)
  2. cos(3theta) + i sin(3theta) Correct answer.
  3. 3cos(theta) + 3i sin(theta)
  4. cos(theta) + i sin(3theta)

Explanation

De Moivre's theorem states that raising a complex number in trigonometric form to a power n multiplies the angle by n and leaves the modulus unchanged. With modulus 1, the cube is cos(3theta) + i sin(3theta).

Question 23Complex numbers

How many distinct complex roots does the equation z raised to the power 4 equals 1 have, and where do they lie?

  1. Two roots, 1 and -1
  2. Four roots, all equal to 1
  3. One root, 1
  4. Four roots on the unit circle at angles 0, 90, 180, and 270 degrees Correct answer.

Explanation

The equation asks for the fourth roots of unity, and a nonzero complex number has exactly n distinct nth roots. They are equally spaced around the unit circle, here at angles 0, 90, 180, and 270 degrees, namely 1, i, -1, and -i.

Question 24Complex numbers

The complex number 1 + i is written in polar form as r times (cos theta + i sin theta). What are r and theta?

  1. r = the square root of 2, theta = 135 degrees
  2. r = 2, theta = 45 degrees
  3. r = 1, theta = 45 degrees
  4. r = the square root of 2, theta = 45 degrees Correct answer.

Explanation

The modulus is the square root of 1 squared plus 1 squared, which is the square root of 2. The argument is the angle whose tangent is 1/1, and since both components are positive the angle lies in the first quadrant at 45 degrees.

Question 25Complex numbers

If z is a complex number satisfying z times its conjugate equals 0, what can be concluded about z?

  1. z is purely real
  2. z is purely imaginary
  3. z must equal 0 Correct answer.
  4. z lies on the unit circle

Explanation

The product of a complex number with its conjugate equals the square of its modulus. A sum of two squares of real numbers is zero only when both components are zero, so z must be the number 0.

Question 26Complex numbers

What is the value of i raised to the power 2?

  1. -i
  2. i
  3. 1
  4. -1 Correct answer.

Explanation

The imaginary unit is defined by the relation i squared equals -1, so any power of i reduces by replacing pairs of factors of i with -1.

Question 27Complex numbers

Which expression gives the conjugate of the complex number -4 + 7i?

  1. 4 + 7i
  2. 4 - 7i
  3. -4 - 7i Correct answer.
  4. 7 - 4i

Explanation

The conjugate of a + bi is a - bi, so only the sign of the imaginary part changes while the real part stays -4.

Question 28Complex numbers

What is the sum (3 + 5i) + (2 - 8i)?

  1. 5 + 13i
  2. 1 - 3i
  3. 5 - 3i Correct answer.
  4. 5 - 13i

Explanation

Addition of complex numbers is done componentwise: add the real parts 3 + 2 = 5 and the imaginary parts 5 + (-8) = -3.

Question 29Complex numbers

What is the value of the expression (4 - 2i) - (1 - 6i)?

  1. 3 - 8i
  2. 3 + 4i Correct answer.
  3. 5 + 4i
  4. 3 - 4i

Explanation

Subtracting means subtracting real parts and imaginary parts separately: 4 - 1 = 3 and -2 - (-6) = 4, giving 3 + 4i.

Question 30Complex numbers

What is the real part of the complex number -6i?

  1. 6
  2. 1
  3. 0 Correct answer.
  4. -6

Explanation

A pure imaginary number has the form 0 + bi, so its real part is 0 even though the imaginary part is -6.

Question 31Complex numbers

Which complex number lies in the third quadrant of the complex plane?

  1. -3 + 4i
  2. 3 - 4i
  3. 4 + 3i
  4. -3 - 4i Correct answer.

Explanation

The third quadrant contains points whose real part is negative and whose imaginary part is negative, which matches -3 - 4i.

Question 32Complex numbers

What is the product (2 + 3i)(2 - 3i)?

  1. 13 Correct answer.
  2. 4 + 12i
  3. -5
  4. 4 - 9i

Explanation

Multiplying conjugates gives a squared plus b squared, here 4 + 9 = 13, and the imaginary terms cancel.

Question 33Complex numbers

What is the value of i raised to the power 30?

  1. -i
  2. i
  3. -1 Correct answer.
  4. 1

Explanation

Powers of i repeat with period 4, and 30 divided by 4 leaves remainder 2, so i to the 30th equals i squared, which is -1.

Question 34Complex numbers

Which number is the multiplicative inverse of 2 + i?

  1. (2 - i)/5 Correct answer.
  2. 2 - i
  3. (2 + i)/5
  4. (1/2) - i

Explanation

The reciprocal is 1/(2 + i); multiplying numerator and denominator by the conjugate 2 - i gives (2 - i)/(4 + 1) = (2 - i)/5.

Question 35Complex numbers

What is the value of (1 + 2i)(3 - i)?

  1. 1 + 5i
  2. 5 + 5i Correct answer.
  3. 3 - 2i
  4. 5 - 5i

Explanation

Expanding gives 3 - i + 6i - 2i squared, and since i squared equals -1 this becomes 3 + 5i + 2 = 5 + 5i.

Question 36Complex numbers

What is the modulus of the complex number 5 - 12i?

  1. 169
  2. 17
  3. 13 Correct answer.
  4. 7

Explanation

The modulus is the square root of a squared plus b squared, so the square root of 25 + 144 equals the square root of 169, which is 13.

Question 37Complex numbers

If z = 3 - 4i, what is the value of z times its conjugate?

  1. 25 Correct answer.
  2. 5
  3. 7
  4. -7

Explanation

Multiplying by the conjugate gives a squared plus b squared, so 9 + 16 = 25, which is the squared modulus of z.

Question 38Complex numbers

Which complex number is the additive inverse of 4 - 9i?

  1. -4 + 9i Correct answer.
  2. 9 - 4i
  3. 4 + 9i
  4. -4 - 9i

Explanation

The additive inverse negates both components so that the sum is zero, giving -4 + 9i.

Question 39Complex numbers

What are the square roots of -16 expressed in the form a + bi?

  1. 4i and -4i Correct answer.
  2. 2i and -2i
  3. 4 and -4
  4. 16i and -16i

Explanation

Since -16 = 16 times i squared, its square roots are plus or minus 4i, because (4i) squared equals -16.

Question 40Complex numbers

Which quadratic equation has roots 2 + i and 2 - i?

  1. x squared + 4x + 5 = 0
  2. x squared - 4x - 5 = 0
  3. x squared - 5x + 4 = 0
  4. x squared - 4x + 5 = 0 Correct answer.

Explanation

The sum of the roots is 4 and the product is 5, so the equation is x squared minus 4x plus 5 equals zero.

Question 41Complex numbers

If z = 1 + i, what is the value of z squared minus 2z?

  1. -2i
  2. -2 Correct answer.
  3. 2
  4. 2i

Explanation

Here z squared equals 2i and 2z equals 2 + 2i, so subtracting gives 2i - 2 - 2i = -2.

Question 42Complex numbers

What is the distance in the complex plane between the points 1 + 2i and 4 + 6i?

  1. 7
  2. 25
  3. 1
  4. 5 Correct answer.

Explanation

The distance is the modulus of the difference (4 - 1) + (6 - 2)i = 3 + 4i, whose modulus is 5.

Question 43Complex numbers

For what real value of k does x squared + kx + 16 = 0 have exactly one real solution?

  1. k = 8 or k = -8 Correct answer.
  2. k = 16
  3. k = 0
  4. k = 4 or k = -4

Explanation

A double root requires the discriminant k squared minus 64 to equal zero, so k squared equals 64 and k is 8 or -8.

Question 44Complex numbers

What is the product (1 + i)(1 - i)(2 + 3i)?

  1. 6 + 4i
  2. 2 + 3i
  3. 4 + 6i Correct answer.
  4. 4 - 6i

Explanation

The conjugate pair gives 1 + 1 = 2, and multiplying 2 by 2 + 3i gives 4 + 6i.

Question 45Complex numbers

If z = 2 - i, which expression equals z squared written in standard form?

  1. 3 - 4i Correct answer.
  2. 4 - i
  3. 5 - 4i
  4. 3 + 4i

Explanation

Squaring gives 4 - 4i + i squared, and since i squared equals -1 the result is 3 - 4i.

Question 46Complex numbers

Which of these is the polar form of -2 + 2i?

  1. 4 (cos 135 degrees + i sin 135 degrees)
  2. 2 (cos 135 degrees + i sin 135 degrees)
  3. 2 sqrt 2 (cos 135 degrees + i sin 135 degrees) Correct answer.
  4. 2 sqrt 2 (cos 45 degrees + i sin 45 degrees)

Explanation

The modulus is the square root of 4 + 4 = 2 sqrt 2, and the point lies in the second quadrant at angle 135 degrees.

Question 47Complex numbers

What is the value of i raised to the power -3?

  1. -i
  2. i Correct answer.
  3. -1
  4. 1

Explanation

Since i to the fourth is 1, i to the -3 equals i to the first, because -3 is congruent to 1 modulo 4.

Question 48Complex numbers

In the complex plane, what does the equation |z - 3| = 2 describe?

  1. A circle of radius 2 centered at -3
  2. A circle of radius 3 centered at 2
  3. A vertical line through 3
  4. A circle of radius 2 centered at 3 Correct answer.

Explanation

The expression |z - z0| measures distance from z to z0, so setting it equal to 2 gives all points at distance 2 from the point 3.

Question 49Complex numbers

Using De Moivre's theorem, what is the value of (1 + i) raised to the power 8?

  1. -16
  2. 16i
  3. 16 Correct answer.
  4. 8

Explanation

The modulus of 1 + i is sqrt 2 and its angle is 45 degrees, so the eighth power has modulus (sqrt 2) to the 8th = 16 and angle 360 degrees, giving 16.

Question 50Complex numbers

Which statement about the equation z cubed = -8 is correct?

  1. It has one root only, namely -2
  2. It has two real roots and one nonreal root
  3. It has three real roots
  4. It has one real root -2 and two nonreal conjugate roots Correct answer.

Explanation

Factoring gives (z + 2)(z squared - 2z + 4) = 0; the quadratic factor has discriminant -12, so its roots form a nonreal conjugate pair.