Chapter

7
Functions
429. Which of the following is a zero of the function f ( x ) = x 2 ( x − 4)( x + 1)?
(A) -4
(B) -2
1
(C) −
2
(D) 0
(E) 1

430. Which of the following is a factor of x 2 − x − 12?

(A) x
(B) x - 1
(C) x - 3
(D) x - 4
(E) x - 12

431. If f (a ) = 3a 2 − a 3, then what is the value of f (−2)?

(A) -7
(B) -4
(C) -2
(D) 9
(E) 20

❮ 137

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 138 ❯ McGraw-Hill’s 500 ACT Math Questions
139

432. The functions f and g are defined as g(x) = mx + b for nonzero values of
m and b, and f ( x ) = ax 2 + bx + c for nonzero values of a, b, and c. In the
standard (x, y) coordinate plane, what is the maximum number of times
the graphs of f (x) and g(x) can cross each other?
(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) 4
(E) 5

433. In the standard (x, y) coordinate plane, a polynomial function f (x) crosses
the x-axis at the points (-3, 0),(-2, 0), (4, 0), (5, 0), and (7, 0) only. Each
of the following is a factor of f (x) EXCEPT
(A) x - 3
(B) x - 4
(C) x - 7
(D) x - 5
(E) x + 2

434. If the graph of f ( x ) = x 2 − 1 is shifted to the left by 3 units, which of the

following expressions will represent the resulting graph?
(A) x 2 − 4
(B) ( x − 3)2 − 1
(C) x 2 + 2
(D) ( x + 3)2 − 1
(E) x 2 − 3

435. In the standard (x, y) coordinate plane, the graph of the function
f ( x ) = 3 x − 5 crosses through the point (q, 4). What is the value of q?
(A) 2
(B) 3
(C) 5
(D) 7
(E) 9

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 Functions ❮ 139

436. The value of an investment grows based on the function

V (t ) = 1000(1 + 0.06)t , where V is the value in dollars and t is the time in
years. To the nearest cent, what is the value of the investment after 8 years?
(A) $1068.48
(B) $1410.09
(C) $1593.85
(D) $1604.66
(E) $1790.85

437. If f (x) is graphed in the following figure, then which of the following is a
possible formula for f (x)?
y

(A) x2
(B) ( x − 4)2
(C) ( x + 3 )2
(D) x2 − 2
(E) x2 + 4

438. How many imaginary roots does the function g ( x ) = x 2 + 1 have?

(A) 0
(B) 1
(C) 2
(D) 3
(E) 4

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 140 ❯ McGraw-Hill’s 500 ACT Math Questions
141

439. In the standard (x, y) coordinate plane, which of the following statements
best describes the graph of − f ( x ) in terms of the graph of f ( x ) for any
function f ( x )?
(A) It is the graph of f ( x ) shifted downward by one unit.
(B) It is the graph of f ( x ) shifted upward by one unit.
(C) It is the graph of f ( x ) shifted to the left by one unit.
(D) It is the graph of f ( x ) shifted to the right by one unit.
(E) None of these statements are correct.

440. If f ( x ) = x 2 + x − 1, which of the following expressions is equivalent to

f (a − 1)?
(A) a2 − a
(B) a 2 + 3a
(C) a2 + a − 2
(D) a2 − a − 1
(E) a 2 + 3a − 2

441. Which of the following expressions is equivalent to (2m − 6)2 for all values
of m?
(A) 4m 2 − 12
(B) 4m 2 − 24
(C) 4m 2 − 36
(D) 4m 2 − 24 x + 36
(E) 4m 2 − 12 x + 36

442. Given the functions f ( x ) = x + 6 and g ( x ) = x 2 − 2, which of the follow-

ing is the value of ( f  g )(3)?
(A) 7
(B) 9
(C) 10
(D) 13
(E) 79

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 Functions ❮ 141

443. In the standard (x, y) coordinate plane, the graphs of f (x) = 8 and g ( x ) = 64 x 3
intersect at the point (a, b) in the first quadrant. What is the value of a?
1
(A)
8
1
(B)
2
(C) 2
(D) 4
(E) 8

444. What is the value of g ( x ) = x 4 + x 2 if x = 3?

(A) 9
(B) 6 3
(C) 12
(D) 15 3
(E) 15

445. What is the largest value of x that makes the equation x 2 + 2 x − 35 = 0 true?
(A) 5
(B) 7
(C) 12
(D) 33
(E) 35

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 142 ❯ McGraw-Hill’s 500 ACT Math Questions
143

446. The graph of a polynomial function crosses the x-axis at the points A, B, and C
as indicated in the following figure. If the graph does not cross the x-axis at any
other point, which of the following could be the formula for the function?
y

x
A B C

(A) f (x) = (x + 3)(x + 4)(x - 1)

(B) f (x) = (x +3)(x - 4)(x - 1)
(C) f (x) = (x - 3)(x - 4)(x - 1)
(D) f (x) = (x + 3)(x + 4)(x + 1)
(E) Cannot be determined

447. Given the function f ( x ) = x 3 − 3 x , which of the following is true when

x = 1?
(A) f (x) = -3
(B) f (x) = -2
(C) f (x) = 2
(D) f (x) = 3
(E) f (x) is undefined.

448. What is the value of 9a − a 2 when a = 10?

(A) -90
(B) -10
(C) 70
(D) 81
(E) 90

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 Functions ❮ 143

449. If 2 x 2 − 6 x = −4 and x < 0, then x =

(A) -6
(B) -4
(C) -2
(D) -1
(E) There is no such value of x.

450. Which of the following is a factor of x 4 − 16?

(A) x - 16
(B) x - 8
(C) x - 4
(D) x - 2
(E) x

451. The following table represents values of a function f (x) for the given values
of x. Which of the following must be a solution to the equation f (x) = 0?

x -6 -3 0
f (x) 0 1 4
(A) -6
(B) -4
(C) -3
(D) 1
(E) 4

452. Which of the following functions has the same roots as f ( x ) = 3 x 2 − 3 x − 27?
(A) f 1( x ) = x 2 − 3 x − 27
(B) f 2 ( x ) = 3 x 2 − x − 27
(C) f 3 ( x ) = 3 x 2 − 3 x − 3
(D) f 4 ( x ) = x 2 − x − 3
(E) f 5 ( x ) = x 2 − x − 9

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 144 ❯ McGraw-Hill’s 500 ACT Math Questions
145

453. If the following steps evaluate a function g at the value x, then g(x) =
Step 1: Add 3 to x.
Step 2: Square the result of step 1.
Step 3: Multiply the result of step 2 by 5.

(A) (5 x + 3)2
(B) 5( x + 3)2
(C) 5( x 2 + 3)
(D) (5 x )2 + 3
(E) 5x 2 + 3

454. If f (r , s ) = rs − r , then f (2, − 3) =

(A) -8
(B) -4
(C) 1
(D) 6
(E) 7

455. If f ( x ) = x 3, which of the following tables would correctly represent the

values of − f ( x ) when x is -2, -1, 0, 1, and 2?

(A) x -2 -1 0 1 2
− f (x ) -8 -1 0 1 8
(B) x -2 -1 0 1 2
− f (x ) -8 -1 0 -1 -8
(C) x -2 -1 0 1 2
− f (x ) 8 1 0 -1 -8
(D) x -2 -1 0 1 2
− f (x ) 8 -1 0 -1 8
(E) x -2 -1 0 1 2
− f (x ) 8 1 0 1 8

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 Functions ❮ 145

456. If the point (a, b) lies on the graph of a function f (x) in the standard (x, y)
coordinate plane, then which of the following points lies along the graph
of f (x- 2)?
(A) (-2a, b)
(B) (a, -2b)
(C) (a - 2, b)
(D) (a, b - 2)
(E) (a + 2, b)
x −3
457. If, for a nonzero value of k, f ( x ) = and f (2) = 2, then k =
k
(A) -3
(B) -2
1
(C) −
2
1
(D) −
6
(E) 6

458. If f ( x ) = x 2 and g ( x ) = 72 − x , what is the smallest value of x for which

f (x) = g(x)?
(A) -9
(B) -8
(C) 0
(D) 8
(E) 9

459. If a, b, and c are nonzero real numbers, what is the least number of times a
function f ( x ) = ax 2 + bx + c may cross the x-axis?
(A) 0
(B) 1
(C) 2
(D) 3
(E) Cannot be determined without the values of a, b, c

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 146 ❯ McGraw-Hill’s 500 ACT Math Questions
147

460. Given the graph of g(x) shown, which of the following graphs is of the
function -g(x)?
y

(3, 3)

y
(A) y (B)

(–3, 3)
x
x
(–3, –3)

(C) y
(D) y

(–3, 3) (3, 3)

x x

(E) y

x
(3, –3)

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 Functions ❮ 147

461. If x > 0 and 2 x 2 − 5 x + 3 = x 2 − 5 x + 2, then x =

(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) 5
(E) There are no such real values of x.

462. The following figure represents the graph of a function f (x) whose y-intercept
is located at (0, 2) and whose x-intercept is located at (-4, 0). For what
values of x must f (x) > 0?
y

(A) x < -4
(B) -4 < x < 2
(C) x<2
(D) x > -4
(E) x>2
x−4
463. If f ( x ) = for all nonzero values of x, then f (5) =
x +1
(A) -4
1
(B)
6
(C) 1
3
(D)
2
(E) 5

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 148 ❯ McGraw-Hill’s 500 ACT Math Questions
149

464. The number of patients seen by a doctor over a day is represented by the
function P (t ) = 8t − 5, where P is the total number of patients seen after t
hours. Based on this function, how many patients are seen between hours
5 and 6?
(A) 3
(B) 5
(C) 8
(D) 10
(E) 13

465. For all values of a and b, which of the following expressions is equivalent
to (a − 6)(b + 4)?
(A) ab - 24
(B) ab - 2
(C) a 2b − 2ab − 24
(D) a 2b − 2ab − 2
(E) ab + 4a - 6b - 24

466. Which of the following is a factor of x 2 − 36?

(A) x - 36
(B) x - 9
(C) x - 6
(D) x + 3
(E) x + 12

467. In the standard (x, y) coordinate plane, the graph of the function
3 x + 10
g (x ) = passes through the point (4, c). What is the value of c?
8
4
(A)
3
3
(B)
2
17
(C)
8
11
(D)
4
22
(E)
3

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 Functions ❮ 149

468. If one factor of a polynomial function is x - k, then which of the following

must be a zero of the function?
(A) -k
k
(B) −
2
(C) 0
k
(D)
2
(E) k

469. For which of the following values of x is the value of g ( x ) = − x 2 + 10

negative?
(A) -4
(B) -3
(C) -2
(D) -1
(E) 3
1 2
470. If f ( x ) = x and g ( x ) = 2 x , then for what value or values of x is
2
f ( g ( x )) = 8?
(A) -2 only
(B) -2 and 2 only
(C) 2 only
(D) 2 2 only
(E) −2 2 and 2 2 only

471. The graph of a function g(x) is found by shifting the graph of the function
f (x) up by 6 units and to the left by 1 unit. If f ( x ) = ( x − 5)3, then g(x) =
(A) x 3
(B) ( x − 2)3
(C) ( x + 1)3 − 1
(D) ( x − 6)3 + 6
(E) ( x − 4)3 + 6

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472. If f ( x ) = 2 x (1 − x )2, then f (1) =

(A) 0
(B) 2
(C) 4
(D) 6
(E) 8

473. Let the function f (x) be defined as f ( x ) = − x 2 + c for a positive value of c.

If the function crosses the x-axis at the points -3 and 3, then which of the
following must be true about f (x) if x < -3?
I. f (x) has the same possible values if x > 3.
II. f (x) < 0
III. f (x) > c
(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) III only
(D) I and II only
(E) I and III only

474. If g (a , b ) = 4ab − b + a , then for what values of b is g (1, b ) > 0?

1
(A) b < −
3
1
(B) b>−
5
1
(C) b>−
3
(D) b > −1
(E) b<4

475. If f ( x ) = x + 10 and g ( x ) = −5 x − 8, then ( f  g )(7 ) =

(A) -93
(B) -85
(C) -43
(D) -33
(E) -29

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 Functions ❮ 151

476. Given the following graphs of f (x) and g(x) in the standard (x, y) coordinate
plane, for what values of x is g (x) > f (x)?
y

f(x)

(4, –2)

(–1, –3)
g(x)

(A) x < -1 and x > 4

(B) -1 < x < 4
(C) x < -3
(D) x<4
(E) x > -2

477. For fixed real values of a, b, and c, a solution to the equation

5
ax 2 + bx + c = 0 is − . For the same values of a, b, and c, which of the
2
following is a factor of the expression ax 2 + bx + c ?
(A) 2x - 5
(B) 2x + 5
(C) -5x - 2
(D) -5x + 2
(E) 5x - 2

x 2 − 3x − 4
478. For all values of x ≠ 4, the function f ( x ) = has the same value as
x−4
(A) -7x
(B) -3x
3
(C) - x + 1
4
(D) -3x + 1
(E) x + 1

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 152 ❯ McGraw-Hill’s 500 ACT Math Questions
153

479. In the (x, y) coordinate plane, which of the following functions would have
a graph that crosses or touches the x-axis at only one point?
(A) x 2 + 5
(B) x 2 − 6
(C) x 2 − 8 x + 16
(D) x 2 + 2 x + 18
(E) − x 2 + 4 x − 10

480. Which of the following is equivalent to g (a 2 − 10) when g ( x ) = x 2 + x − 5?

(A) a 4 + 20a 2 + 85
(B) a 4 + a 2 − 115
(C) a 4 + a 2 + 85
(D) a 4 − 19a 2 − 115
(E) a 4 − 19a 2 + 85

481. Which of the following points is on the graph of the function f (x) = (x - 5)
(x + 3)(x - 1)(x + 10)?
(A) (0, 0)
(B) (5, 0)
(C) (0, -3)
(D) (-1, 0)
(E) (0, 10)

482. Let a, b, and c represent any three real numbers where a < 0. If a quadratic
function f ( x ) = ax 2 + bx + c has x-intercepts of (3, 0) and (9, 0), then
which of the following must be true about f (4)?
(A) The value of f (4) is negative.
(B) The value of f (4) is positive.
(C) The value of f (4) is zero.
(D) The value of f (4) is between -5 and 5.
(E) The value of f (4) is undefinable.

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 Functions ❮ 153

483. If x = 4 and y = -1, then xy 4 + x 3 y =

(A) -8
(B) -16
(C) -18
(D) -60
(E) -68

484. If one of the solutions to the equation (x - 5)(x + 2)(ax - b) = 0 is -7,

then which of the following pairs of values for a and b is possible?
(A) a = -7, b = 1
(B) a = 1, b = -7
(C) a = 7, b = 1
(D) a = 1, b = 7
(E) a = -1, b = -7

485. The complete graph of a function f (x) is shown in the following figure.
How many real solutions does the equation f (x) = 0 have?
y

(A) 0
(B) 1
(C) 2
(D) 3
(E) 4

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 154 ❯ McGraw-Hill’s 500 ACT Math Questions
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486. Given the following table of values for a function f  (x), which of the
f ( 2)
following is the solution to the equation = 12 x ?
4

x 1 2 3
f (x) 2 8 10

1
(A)
48
1
(B)
12
1
(C)
6
1
(D)
4
1
(E)
3
487. In the (x, y) coordinate plane, the graphs of f ( x ) = 2 x 2 + 14 and
g ( x ) = x 2 + 30 intersect at the point (a, b). If a < 0, what is the value of b?
(A) 22
(B) 28
(C) 30
(D) 39
(E) 46

488. For 0 ≤ t ≤ 9, the motion of a particle can be modeled by the function

s (t ) = −t 2 + 9t where s is the height of the particle in feet at time t seconds.
What is the height of the particle at a time of 4 seconds?
(A) 1 foot
(B) 16 feet
(C) 18 feet
(D) 20 feet
(E) 28 feet

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 Functions ❮ 155

489. If the function f ( x ) = x 2 − 9 x + 8 is graphed in the (x, y) coordinate plane,

then for which of the following values of x will the graph of f (x) be below
the x-axis?
(A) x < 1
(B) x < 8
(C) x < 1 and x > 8
(D) 1 < x < 8
(E) The graph is not below the x-axis for any values of x.

490. How many real number solutions does the equation 2 x 3 = 9 have?
(A) 0
(B) 1
(C) 2
(D) 3
(E) 9

491. Based on the following table of values, what is the minimum number of
zeros of the function g(x)?

x -5 -3 0 1
g(x) 0 0 1 8
(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) 4
(E) Cannot be determined from the given information

492. If f (m, n ) = m 2 − n − 3 and both m and n are positive numbers, then

which of the following statements must be true?
(A) f (m, n ) < −3
(B) f (m, n ) < 0
(C) f (m, n ) > −3
(D) f (m, n ) > 0
(E) Cannot be determined from the given information

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 156 ❯ McGraw-Hill’s 500 ACT Math Questions
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493. If graphed in the (x, y) coordinate plane, which of the following functions
would have a graph that does not intersect the x-axis at any point?
(A) − x 2 + 10
(B) − x 2 − 15
(C) x 2 − 8
(D) x 2 − 4
(E) x 2
x3 1
494. What is the value of f ( x ) = when x = ?
4 2
1
(A)
32
1
(B)
16
1
(C)
12
1
(D)
8
1
(E)
2
495. The point (q, r) lies on the graph of a function f (x) in the (x, y) coordinate
plane. If the graph of g(x) results from shifting the graph of f (x) up 10 units,
then which of the following points must lie on the graph of g (x)?
(A) (q + 10, r)
(B) (q - 10, r)
(C) (q, r + 10)
(D) (q, r - 10)
(E) (q + 10, r - 10)

496. If f (x) = 20 when x = 3, then which of the following expressions is

equivalent to f (x) for this value of x?
(A) 17x
(B) 20x
(C) 20x - 10
(D) 10x - 10
(E) x + 20

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 Functions ❮ 157

497. If f ( x ) = x + 2 and g ( x ) = x 2 − x − 6, then which of the following is equiv-

g (x )
alent to for all values of x ≠ −2?
f (x )
(A) x - 12
(B) x-8
(C) x-4
(D) x-3
(E) x+4

498. Which of the following expressions represents a polynomial with exactly

one real root?
(A) x 2 − 3
(B) x 2 − 1
(C) x 2 + 1
(D) x 2 + 2 x + 1
(E) x 2 + 3 x + 2

499. If f (x) = 2x + 6 and f (b) = 18, then b =

(A) 6
(B) 12
(C) 24
(D) 36
(E) 42

500. If x 2 = 8 x − 15, then which of the following is a possible value of x?

(A) -15
(B) -8
(C) -3
(D) 0
(E) 5

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