STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) Algebra I, May 2019, cont.

Continuing with the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) exam, administered MAY 2019.

More STAAR problems.

Administered May 2019

Read each question carefully. For a multiple-choice question, determine the best answer to the question from the four answer choices provided. For a griddable question, determine the best answer to the question.





41. A part of an exponential function is graphed on the grid

Which inequality best represents the domain of the part shown?

A x > -2
B y > 4.5
C x > 4.5
D y > -2

Answer: A x > -2
We want the domain, which means the x values. Eliminate Choices B and D.
The x-coordinate of the starting point is -2. Its y-coordinate is 4.5. We want x.



42. What is the solution to -(6m + 8) = 4(17 - m)?
Record your answer and fill in the bubbles on your answer document.

Answer: -38

-(6m + 8) = 4(17 - m)
-6m - 8 = 68 - 4m
-2m = 76
m = -38

Don't forget to distribute the minus sign. Basically, watch your signs everywhere.

43. Which function is equivalent to y = 3(x + 2)² + 7?

A y = 3x² + 12x + 33
B y = 3x² + 12x + 19
C y = 3x² + 19
D y = 3x² + 33

Answer: B y = 3x² + 12x + 19
Option 1: Graph them all and look.
Option 2: Multiply 3(x + 2)(x + 2) and get your answer.
Option 3: which of the four choices has a vertex of (-2, 7)?

The equation in the question is in Vertex form. The choices are in standard form.
The vertex is on the Axis of Symmetry, and the formula for the Axis is x = -b/(2a).
Since neither C nor D have a b term, they can be eliminated.
Note that A and B both have 12 as the middle coefficient, so we don't need to check. Just subsitute -2 for x and see which on gives you 7.

y = 3(-2)² + 12(-2) + 33 = 21
y = 3(-2)² + 12(-2) + 19 = 7. The answer is Choice B.

If you wanted to multiply, then do the following:

y = 3(x + 2)² + 7
y = 3(x + 2)(x + 2) + 7
y = 3(x² + 4x + 4) + 7
y = 3x² + 12x + 12 + 7
y = 3x + 12x + 19



44. Which table shows y as a function of x?

[SEE IMAGE]

Answer: H
In F, G, and J, there are repeating x values, which is not allowed in a functions. For a relation to be a function, each value in the domain (x) can be mapped to only one value in the range (y).
The y values are allowed to repeat.



45. What is the equation in slope-intercept form of the line that passes through the point (5, 0) and is parallel to the line represented by y = 1.2x + 3.8?

A y = 1.2x - 6
B y = -1.2x + 6
C y = 1.2x + 5
D y = -1.2x - 5

Answer: A y = 1.2x - 6
Parallel lines have the same slope. If the slope of the given line is 1.2, then the slope of the answer is 1.2. Eliminate choices B and D.

Next, if the line goes through the point (5, 0), then when 5 is substituted for x, y must be 0.
y = 1.2(5) - 6 = 6 - 6 = 0. Choice A is correct.
y = 1.2(5) + 5 = 6 + 5 = 11. Choice C is incorrect.

More to come. Comments and questions welcome.

More STAAR problems.