STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) Algebra I, May 2017, cont.

The State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) exam, administered MAY 2018.

More STAAR problems.

Administered May 2017

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.





11. What is the solution to 8x - 3(2x - 4) = 3(x - 6)?

A 6
B 2
C 30
D No solution

Answer: C 30

8x - 3(2x - 4) = 3(x - 6)
8x - 6x + 12 = 3x - 18
2x + 12 = 3x - 18
30 = x



12. A lifeguard earns $320 per week for working 40 hours plus $12 per hour worked over 40 hours. A lifeguard can work a maximum of 60 hours per week.

Which graph best represents the lifeguard’s weekly earnings in dollars for working h hours over 40?

Answer: G
The most hours a lifeguard can work is 60, so the maximum number of hours over 40 is 60 - 40 = 20 hours. So Choices H and J are eliminated.

20 hours at $12 per hour is $240 on top of the $320. That means the maximum a lifeguard can earn is $540. This is Choice G.

13. A shoe company is going to close one of its two stores and combine all the inventory from both stores. These polynomials represent the inventory in each store:

Which expression represents the combined inventory of the two stores?

Answer: A 7/2 g² - 4/5 g + 15/4
Combine the like terms.

1/2 and 3 are 3 1/2 g² or 7/2 g²

- 4/5 g doesn't combine with anything.

7/2 + 1/4 = 14/4 + 1/4 = 15/4

Put it together and you get 7/2 g² - 4/5 g + 15/4



14. The graph of quadratic function f is shown on the grid.

What is the y-intercept of the graph of f ?

Record your answer and fill in the bubbles on your answer document.

Answer: 4
The parabola crosses the y-axis at (0, 4). That's a lot of setup for a very simple problem.

The y-intercept is usually the least important point on a parabola. The vertex and the roots are usually of more interest.



10. A particular type of cell doubles in number every hour. Which function can be used to find the number of cells present at the end of h hours if there are initially 4 of these cells?

A n = 4(1/2)^h
B n = 4(2)^h
C n = 4 + (2)^h
D n = 4 + (1/2)^h

Answer: B n = 4(2)^h
The problem describes exponential growth. Choice A shows exponential decay, as the growth factor is less than 1. Choices C and D are just silly because the initial number of cells is doubling, not being added to.

More to come. Comments and questions welcome.

More STAAR problems.