WEEK 4 EXAM - ALGEBRA

1) In a laboratory, the number of bacteria in a culture grows according to where Q0 denotes the
number of bacteria initially present in the culture, k is a constant determined by the strain of
bacteria under consideration, and t is the elapsed time measured in hours.

𝑄(𝑡) = 𝑄0 𝑒 𝑘𝑡
Suppose 10,000 bacteria are present initially in the culture and 60,000 present two hours later.
How many bacteria will there be in the culture at the end of four hours?

a. 360,000 bacteria
b. 360,100 bacteria
c. 360,200 bacteria
d. 360,300 bacteria

2) Radioactive substances decay exponentially. For example, the amount of radium present at any
time t obeys the law where Q0 is the initial amount present and k is a suitable positive constant.

𝑄(𝑡) = 𝑄0 𝑒 −𝑘𝑡
The half-life of a radioactive substance is the time required for a given amount to be reduced by
one-half. The half-life of radium is approximately 1600 years. Suppose initially there are 200
milligrams of pure radium. What is the amount after 800 years?

a. 120 milligrams
b. 130 milligrams
c. 140 milligrams
d. 150 milligrams

3) The Camera Division of Eastman Optical produces a single lens reflex camera. Eastman’s training
department determines that after completing the basic training program, a new, previously
inexperienced employee will be able to assemble

𝑄(𝑡) = 50 − 30𝑒 −0.5𝑘𝑡

model F cameras per day, t months after the employee starts work on the assembly line. How
many model F cameras can the average experienced employee assemble per day?

a. 40
b. 50
c. 60
d. 70

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4) We throw an object upward from the top of a 1200 ft tall building. The height of the object,
(measured in feet) t seconds after we threw it is

ℎ(𝑡) = −16𝑡 2 + 160𝑡 + 1200

How long does it take for the object to hit the ground?

a. 15 seconds
b. 16 seconds
c. 17 seconds
d. 18 seconds

5) We are standing on the top of a 1680 ft tall building and throw a small object upwards. At every
second, we measure the distance of the object from the ground. Exactly t seconds after we
threw the object, its height, (measured in feet) is

ℎ(𝑡) = −16𝑡 2 + 256𝑡 + 1680

How long does it take for the object to reach a height of 2640 ft?

a. 5 seconds and 10 seconds

b. 6 seconds and 9 seconds
c. 7 seconds and 10 seconds
d. 6 seconds and 10 seconds

6) An excursion boat takes 1.6 hours longer to go 36 miles up a river than to return. If the rate of
the current is 4 miles per hour, what is the rate of the boat in still water?
a. 12 mph
b. 13 mph
c. 14 mph
d. 15 mph

7) Two boats travel at right angles to each other after leaving a dock at the same time. One hour
later they are 25 miles apart. If one boat travels 5 miles per hour faster than the other, what is
the rate of each?
a. 15 and 19 mph
b. 15 and 20 mph
c. 16 and 20 mph
d. 16 and 21 mph

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8) How much water should we add to 10 gallons of 30% acid solution to dilute it to a concentration
of 25%?
a. 1 gallon
b. 2 gallons
c. 3 gallons
d. 4 gallons

9) Bill is three times as old as Pietro. Eighteen years from now, Bill will be twice as old as
Pietro will be then. Find present age of Bill and Pietro.
a. Pietro is 18 and Bill is 54
b. Pietro is 16 and Bill is 48
c. Pietro is 14 and Bill is 42
d. Pietro is 12 and Bill is 36

10) Liza can paint the kitchen in 5 hours. David can paint the same kitchen in 3 hours. If they work
together, how long will it take to paint the kitchen?

a. It will take Liza and David 1 7/8 hours to paint the kitchen together.
b. It will take Liza and David 1 6/8 hours to paint the kitchen together.
c. It will take Liza and David 1 4/6 hours to paint the kitchen together.
d. It will take Liza and David 1 3/5 hours to paint the kitchen together.

11) Allan is 5 years older than Bert. If in 3 years Allan’s age will be twice Bert’s, how old are
Allan and Bert now?
a. Allan is 9 and Bert is 4
b. Allan is 7 and Bert is 2
c. Allan is 6 and Bert is 1
d. Allan is 8 and Bert is 3

12) Carrey is 2 years older than Lea. Last year Carrey was 2 times as old as Lea. How old is
Carrey?
a. Carrey is 4
b. Carrey is 5
c. Carrey is 6
d. Carrey is 7

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 13) A man has two more nickels than dimes, and has $1.15 in total. How many coins of each
kind does he have?
a. 10, 9
b. 9, 8
c. 9, 7
d. 7, 8

14) A boy's coins, consisting of nickels and dimes, amount to 42.15. If the number of dimes
exceeds 3 times the number of nickels by 4, find the number of each kind of coin.
a. 6, 18
b. 4, 16
c. 5, 19
d. 7, 21

15) Ricky and Tom can build a cabinet together in 12 hours. Ricky can build the cabinet alone in 16
hours. How long will it take Tom to build the cabinet alone?
a. 36 hours
b. 30 hours
c. 44 hours
d. 48 hours

item answer 8 b
1 a 9 a
2 c 10 a
3 b 11 b
4 a 12 b
5 d 13 c
6 c 14 c
7 b 15 d