General Information
Test Item Specifications
MA.912.A.1.8 Use the zero product property of real numbers in a variety of contexts to identify solutions to equations.
MA.912.A.7.8 Use quadratic equations to solve realworld problems.
Students will solve quadratic equations over the set of real numbers.
Items must have real solutions only.
Quadratic equations must have integer coefficients only.
Items may assess special forms like the difference of squares and perfect square trinomials.
Items will not require the use of the “completing the square” method of solving quadratic equations.
Items may be set in either real-world or mathematical contexts.
MC options may be given in the form that results from application of
the quadratic formula, e.g.,
MC options may be given using set notation.
Fill-in response items may ask the student to provide the greater (or lesser) of two solutions explicitly or implicitly.
Fill-in response items may have a negative answer.
Sample Test Items (2)
Test Item # | Question | Difficulty | Type |
Sample Item 1 | Jeannie solved the quadratic equation shown below by factoring.
x² + 2x - 8 = 0
Which of the following shows a step in solving the equation shown? |
N/A | MC: Multiple Choice |
Sample Item 2 | A ball is kicked from ground level into the air. Its height y, in feet, after x seconds can be represented by the equation y = 40x - 16x². What is the total elapsed time, in seconds, from the time the ball is kicked until it reaches ground level again? | N/A | FR: Fill-in Response |
Related Resources
Educational Game
Name | Description |
Timed Algebra Quiz | In this timed activity, students solve linear equations (one- and two-step) or quadratic equations of varying difficulty depending on the initial conditions they select. This activity allows students to practice solving equations while the activity records their score, so they can track their progress. This activity includes supplemental materials, including background information about the topics covered, a description of how to use the application, and exploration questions for use with the java applet. |
Student Resources
Educational Game
Name | Description |
Timed Algebra Quiz: | In this timed activity, students solve linear equations (one- and two-step) or quadratic equations of varying difficulty depending on the initial conditions they select. This activity allows students to practice solving equations while the activity records their score, so they can track their progress. This activity includes supplemental materials, including background information about the topics covered, a description of how to use the application, and exploration questions for use with the java applet. |