General Information
Test Item Specifications
MA.912.A.5.1 Simplify algebraic ratios.
Students will completely factor polynomial expressions, which may include a greatest common factor, difference of two squares, and trinomials.
Students will use factoring methods to simplify rational expressions.
All monomials in items will have, at most, two variables.
Coefficients must be integers.
In items requiring first factoring the greatest common factor and then factoring the remaining polynomial, the remaining polynomial must have a maximum degree of two.
Rational expressions that may be simplified using any of the factoring methods involving the greatest common factor, difference of two squares, and/or trinomials may be provided.
Items should be set in either real-world or mathematical contexts.
Items including rational expressions must state restrictions to the domain.
Distractors may include expressions that are equivalent to the correct answer, but are not completely factored.
Distractors of rational expression items will not include expressions that are equivalent to the correct answer.
Sample Test Items (2)
Test Item # | Question | Difficulty | Type |
Sample Item 1 | Members of the art club want to raise money for their next field trip. They plan to decorate greeting cards with glitter and origami animals made of origami paper. They wrote the expression below to help calculate their total expenses. (np + ng) + nc where: Which of the following expressions is equivalent to the expression above? |
N/A | MC: Multiple Choice |
Sample Item 2 | If x ≠ 3, which of the following shows the expression below in simplest form? |
N/A | MC: Multiple Choice |
Related Resources
Video/Audio/Animation
Name | Description |
Teach Me How to Factor | This video features a contrafactum of a popular rap song to teach students how to factor. |