Free Practice Questions for WGU Applied-Algebra Exam

The function is:

f(x)=10× 〖 1.09 〗 ^x

This is an exponential growth function because:

1.09 > 1

For an exponential growth function, the rate of increase becomes larger as time passes. That means later intervals usually have faster average increases than earlier intervals.

Since xrepresents years since 2001:

2001 ⇒ x=0

2003 ⇒ x=2

2005 ⇒ x=4

2013 ⇒ x=12

2016 ⇒ x=15

2019 ⇒ x=18

2021 ⇒ x=20

The latest interval is:

2013 " to " 2021

Because the graph is exponential growth and is steepest later in time, this interval has the fastest average increase.

This question asks us to read and interpret a value from a graph.

The horizontal axis represents:

" Days since the beginning of the month "

The vertical axis represents:

" Practice duration in minutes "

We need to find the practice duration for:

" day " 9

To do this, locate 9on the horizontal axis, move upward to the blue graph, and then read the corresponding value on the vertical axis.

From the graph, the point at day 9is approximately:

127

So the musician practiced for:

127 " minutes "

This question asks for the cost of each additional shirt, which is the slope of the linear graph. The slope tells how much the total cost increases for each increase of 1 shirt. From the exhibit, the graph shows a starting cost near $39 and a point near (10, 139). The increase in cost from 0 shirts to 10 shirts is 139−39=100 dollars. Dividing by 10 shirts gives a rate of 10 dollars per shirt. The fixed starting cost is not the cost of a shirt; it is the initial fee or setup cost. Since the graph rises by $10 for each additional shirt, the cost per additional shirt is $10.00. Therefore, the answer is B.

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This question asks which town’s population is growing at a faster rate.

Since both population graphs are straight lines, we compare their slopes.

The slope of a line represents the rate of change:

" slope " = " change in population " / " change in time "

From the graph:

Town A starts at about 8.0thousand people and increases at a rate of about 1.0thousand people per year.

Town B starts at about 5.5thousand people and increases at a rate of about 1.3thousand people per year.

Even though Town A starts with a larger population, the question asks about the growth rate, not the starting population.

Compare the rates:

1.3 > 1.0

So Town B is growing faster than Town A.

The graph shows the value of the coin increasing over time. Since the curve rises from left to right, the value is not decreasing. The graph also becomes steeper as time increases, which means the rate of increase is getting larger. In Applied Algebra, when a graph is increasing and its slope is increasing, the quantity is described as increasing faster and faster. This is typical of exponential growth, where values grow by a repeated percent or factor rather than by a constant amount. The choices involving decreasing are incorrect because the graph moves upward. The choice “increasing slower and slower” would require the graph to flatten, which it does not. Therefore, the correct answer is B.

This problem uses function notation to describe a multiplicative relationship. The input x is the number of properties sold last year, and the output H(x) is the expected number sold this year. Since this year’s sales are 3 times last year’s sales, the function rule is H(x)=3x. The given input is 280 because 280 properties were sold last year. Substituting gives H(280)=3(280)=840. That means 840 property sales are expected this year. The answer choice must show the correct input of 280 and the correct output of 840. The other options either reverse the values or use an incorrect output. Therefore, the correct answer is C.

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The function u(t) gives the number of units in the inventory warehouse t hours after 9:00 a.m. The expression u(8) means the value of the inventory function 8 hours after 9:00 a.m. Since 8 hours after 9:00 a.m. is 5:00 p.m., the time must be 5:00 p.m., not 10:00 a.m. Now evaluate the function: u(8)=0.21(8)

3

−4.09(8)

2

+18.89(8)+69.5. This gives approximately 66.38, which rounds to about 66 units. Therefore, the correct interpretation is that there are approximately 66 units in the inventory at 5:00 p.m.

The function is:

D(t)=48t+23

This is a linear function because it has the form:

D(t)=mt+b

where:

48

is the rate of change, and:

23

is the starting distance from the rest stop.

We need to find:

D(1.7)

That means substitute:

t=1.7

into the function.

D(1.7)=48(1.7)+23

First multiply:

48(1.7)=81.6

Now add 23:

D(1.7)=81.6+23

D(1.7)=104.6

So the vehicle is:

104.6 miles

from the rest stop after 1.7 hours.

The maximum value of a graph is the highest output value the function reaches. Since P(t) represents yearly profit, the maximum value occurs where the store earns its greatest yearly profit. The graph is a downward-opening curve, so its highest point is the vertex. To answer the question, we need the t-value of the vertex, not the profit amount. From the graph, the highest point occurs between 4 and 5 years after opening, closest to 4.5 years. This means the virtual store reached its maximum yearly profit approximately 4.5 years after it opened. The later values decrease after the vertex, so options involving 7.5 or 14 years are not correct. Therefore, the correct answer is B.