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Math Skills for
Introductory Economics
Geometry
Rick Fenner
Jerry Evensky
Department of Economics
Charles M. Spuches
lnstnrctional Designer
Table of Contents
..................................................................................
3
...................................................................
4
........................................................................................
5
Graphs
............................................................................................
6
Slopes
.............................................................................................. IS
Introduction
How to use this book
Variables
Nonlinear Relationships
Summary
........................................................... 26
.................................................................................33
Review Examination
..................................................................34
Review Examination Answers
................................................
37
Geometry I 1
n13
Introduction
This book has been designed to provide you with the geometry skills that you
will need in the Introductory Economics courses. Mathematics plays an
important part in economics and serves, in fact, as a basic means of
communicating what is happening in an economy and why. Experience has
shown that students who lack command of certain basic math skills will usually
have significant problems passing a basic economics course. This material, when
mastered, will facilitate your study of Introductory Economics.
Specifically, at the completion of this unit you should be able to:
1. Identify different points on a graph using coordinates.
2. Match a graph of a straight line with the appropriate equation.
3. Match an equation of a straight line with the appropriate graph.
4. Calculate the slope of a straight line
a. from the equation
b. from two points
c from the graph
5. Determine whether the slope of a straight line is positive, negative, zero,
or infinite.
6. Identify the point of intersection between two lines on a graph.
7. Determine points of tangency on a curve and use them to calculate the
slope of the curve.
8. Determine whether a curve (or portion of a curve) has a positive,
negative, or zero slope.
9. Ident~fymaximum and minimum points of a curve.
IMPORTANT Before beginning, you should have a pencil and several
sheets of work paper available.
Geometry 1 3
How To Use This Book
To help you use this booklet in geometry, each section begins with an
explanation of the.particular geometric concept that will be covered. The concept
will be followed by an Example question that will be worked out for you step-bystep. Make sure you understand the process before you move ahead. If necessary,
look back at the text for important rules or definitions.
Following the example will be a section called Practice. Work out the questions
asked. Try to do this without looking back at the text. Answers to the Practice
problems will be found on the next page. If you get all of the practice questions
correct, continue on to the next section. If any of your answers don't match, go
back and find out why they are wrong. If necessary, go back to the text. Don't go
on with further sections of the book until you can correctly answer all of the
Practice questions.
In the back of the booklet you will find a summary of the skills ipg. 33) you
should possess when you have completed this unit. Following the summary is a
review test (pg. 34) which you should complete withoutgoing back to the text.
The answers follow the test.
All set? Let's begin.
4 1 Math Skills for Introductory Economics
Variables
In economics, characteristics or traits such as prices, outputs, income, etc., are
measured by numerical values. Since these values can vary (e.g., price can
change from $10 to $20), we call these characteristics or trails "variables." Variable
is the generic term for any characteristic or trait that changes.
We express a relationship between two variables, x and y, by stating the
following: The value of the variable y depends upon the value of the variable x.
For example, the total price of a pizza (y) depends upon the number of toppings
(x) you order.
We can write the relationship between variables in an equation. For instance:
is an example of a variable relationship between x and y. If we know that x and y
represent variables, what are a and b? They are constant. In other words, they are
fixed values which specify how x relates to y. In our pizza example, "a" is the
price of a plain pizza with no toppings and "b" is the cost of each topping.
If we draw a picture of this particular relationship between x and y, we'll see that
all the combinations of x and y that fit the equation, when plotted, form a
straight line.
y = final cost
a = price of plain pizza
b = cost of each topping
x = number of toppings
If plain pizza (a) is $3.00and cost of each topping (3)is $.60, we pet :
Final Cost
Plain
$3.00
$3.00
3.60
Cost of Each Toppinq
Number of TopPinQS
0
3.00
$.60
.60
4.20
3.00
.60
2
4.80
3.00
.60
3
1
4
5.40
.60
3.00
We can take this information and put it into picture form. These pictures are
called graphs.
Geometry 1 5
GRAPHS
Groping Points
In economics, we often use graphs to give us a picture of the relationships
between variables. Below is an example of a graph with a series of points drawn
on it.
The axis are labeled x and y. In economics we will usually give the axis different
names (Price and Quantity, for instance), but for our mathematical rules, always
think of the horizontal axis as the x-axis and the vertical axis as the y-axis. In our
pizza example, the y-axis is the total selling price and the x-axis is the number of
toppings.
In the graph above,
Point A is the origin or point (0,O).
Point B is on the x-axis and is labeled (3,O);
3 is the x-coordinate and 0 is the y-coordinate.
Point C is on neither the x- nor y-axis, but is in the interior. Its xcoordinate is 1 and its y-coordinate is 4, so point C can be labeled (2,4).
Point D is also in the interior. Its x-coordinate is 4 and its y-coordinate is 2,
so point D is (4,2).
Take a minute to review this once again ...it's important.
6 1 Math Skills for Introductory Economics
'
n13
Example.
What point is on the y-axis?
A
What point is labeled (20,60)?
What point(s) have a y-coordinate of 30?
What point has the largest x-coordinate?
D
B&C
E
Example:
Which point is (400, loo)?
D
What is the y-coordinate of point C?
0
C
Which point is on the x-axis?
Now let's see if you are still with us.
Geometry 1 7
'
018
Complete the following practice questions on a piece of scrap paper and, when
you are done, turn to the next page and check your answers.
Practice 11 :
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Which point is (0, 2)?
What is the y-coordinate of point C?
How many points are on the x-axis?
What is the x-coordinate of point A?
8 I Math Skills for Introductory Economics
.
?
01.3
Answer to Practice # I :
(a) Which point is (0,2)?
A
(b) What is the y-cootdinate of point C?
(c) How many points are on the x-axis?
(dl What is the x-coordinate of point A?
1
(don't forget point D)3
0
Matching a Graph of a Straight Line with the
Appropr~ateEquation
If you recall, in our pizza example we have the following final costs based on the
equation (y = a + bx).
Fino1Cost
$3.00
1
Cost of Each Toppina
Ploin
$3.00
Number of Toppinas
0
$.a0
The following is a graph of this equation (y = a + bx) where a = $3.00 and b = $.60.
Y
E
7
-
6
-
21
7
9
v
1
2
3
4
N U W R Of TOPPINGS
1
0
0
X
5
Geometry 1 9
Here is another example of the graph of an equation. Below is the graph of the
equation (y = x + 30).
We can prove to ourselves that this is the graph of the equation (y = x + 30) by
checking to see that any two or more points on the line satisfy the equation.
Point A, for example, is (0,30); the x-coordinate is 0 and the y-coordinate is 30.
Plug (0,30) into the equation (y = x + 30).
These coordinates work in the equation! Now, let's try point C, which is (20,501.
Again, it works! Point E is (40, 70). Try these coordinates in the equation.
(70=40+30)or70=70
It works!
We have now tested three points on the line and they all satisfy the equation.
You must always try at least two points to be sure you have the correct equation
for the line.
Example:
Consider the following graph of an equation.
Y
10 1 Math Skills for Introductory Economics
Is the equation of line AD :
(Note: A line can be named by using the two end points, in this case, A and D.
The line over AD signifies that we are referring to "line AD")
Let's substitute some of the points on the line into each equation, as a check.
First, try equation y = 17- 6x using point B, where point B is (2, 5); then try Point
Dl which is (6,3).
Point B is (2,s)
Point D is (6,3)
5 = 5 This looks good.
3 = -19 This is obviously incorrect.
So, y = 17 - 6x cannot be the equation of the line. Now let's try our second
equation, y = 6 - x
Point B is (2,s).
Point D is (63).
5=5
3=3
Points B and D check out, let's d o one more.
Point C is (4,4).
Since all points check out, we know that the equation of the line is y = 6 - X x .
I
REMEMBER: Always
check at least two points.
I
I
Matching an Equation with the Appropriate Graph
Example:
Which line, W or
, is the graph of the equation y = K x + 2O? To answer this
question, we do the same thing as before; we substitute the coordinates of
different points into the equation to see which line fits.
Let's try point B (20,401 which is on AD .
This is not correct. Therefore,
try some points from
can't be the graph of the equation. Now let's
n.
Point E is (30,30)
y = H x + 20?
-
Point F is (60,40)
y=Hx+20?
30 = K(30) + 20
30=10+20
40 = W(60)+ 20
40 =
20
30 = 30
40=20+20
40=40
Both points from line
graph of y = Kx + 20.
work in the equation, therefore,
12 1 Math Skills for Introductory Economics
is the correct
Now, try these two practice examples. Again, you will find the correct answers on
the next page but, please, no cheating!!!
Practice #2:
What is the equation of the line shown in the graph below?
Practice #3:
Which line is the graph of the equation y = 5 + gx?
Geometry 1 13
034
Answer To Practice Questions
Practice #2: The correct equation is (b) y = 2x + 5.
Practice 113: The equation Is represented by AD.
If you got either answer wrong, review the materials before going on.
A Final Note on Y - Intercepts
Remember that the formula 'for any line is:
The y-intercept is the value of y when x is equal to zero. Note that if x = 0, then
y = a. When we use graphs, we call this point (0, a) the y-intercept. The y-intercept
tells us where the straight line of the graph intersects the y-axis. In the equation
above, the line intersects the y-axis at a. In our pizza example, the y-intercept occurs
when there are no additional toppings (x=O);the y-intercept is at a, which is the price
of a plain pizza.
14 1 Math Skills for Introducton/ Economics
Slopes
The slope is used to tell us how much one variable (y) changes in relation to the
change in another variable (x). This can be written as follows:
change in y
slope =
change in x
Calculating the Slope from the Equation
The equation of a line is given by:
variable
\
Notice that b is the slope of the line. Let's label the equation for our p i u a
example:
total
cost
cost of
pcr
pizza
\
i'"
y=a+hx
bf plain
of
pizza
toppings
Notice that the slope of the line tells us how much the cost of a pizza changes as
the number of toppings changes. Each additional topping raises the cost by $.60.
The equation for the total cost of a pizza is:
Where the y-intercept is $3.00 and the slope of the line is $.60. Now, let's look at
a few more examples.
Geometry I 15
Examples:
y=20+30x
y -intercept is 20
slope is 30
y=4-lox-
y -intercept is 4
slope is (-10)
Y=%x+%
y -intercept is )$
slope is %
When you are sure you understand how to determine the y-intercept and slope
of a line from its equation, do the practice exercises below. The answers to these
are given on the next page.
Practice #4:
What are the slopes and y-intercepts of the following equations?
(a) y=$$x+6
16 1 Moth Skills for Introductory Economics
02'7
Answers To Practice 54:
Slope
Y-intercept
If all of your answers are correct, proceed to the next section. If you missed any,
review the text and example and try the practice items again.
Calculating the Slope from the Coordinates of Two Points
In the equation 4 = 200 + 30x, we know that the slope equals 30. This means that
for every one unit change in x, y will change by 30 units. But what if we are not
given the equation of a line? Can we still figure out the slope? If we at least know
two points on the straight line then, yes, we can determine the slope.
Example:
Let's say that points (8, 15) and (7, 10) are on a straight line. What is the slope of
this line?
change in y
slope =
change in x
First, let's determine the change in y. To do this, we must choose one of the two
points to be our starting point. It doesn't matter which we choose, so let's take
(8, 15) as our initial point. The y value of this point is 15. (Remember that points
are always written in the form (x, y), that is, with the x value first and the y value
second).
The value of y changes to 10 in the next point (7,lO) so the change in y between
the two points is 5 (15 - 10).
So far we have slope =
5
change in x
Now let's measure the change in x. It's very important to use the same starting
point. The value of x at the first point is 8 and it changes to 7, so the change in x
is8-7=1.
We can plug the changes in y and x into the definition of slope:
change in y 5
=-=5
slope =
change in x I
Geometry 1 17
We said that it really doesn't matter which point we choose as our starting point;
let's prove it. Let's take the same two points ((8, 15) and (7, lo), but this time we
will calculate the slope using (7, 10) as the initial point.
The change in y = 10 -15 = -5
The c h a n g e i n x = 7 - 8 = - 1
Put them together:
slope =
change in y
change in x
-5
=-=s
-1
and you get the same answer as before!
Example:
What is the slope of the straight line connecting points (5, 3) and (3, B)? Let's use
(5,3) as the initial point.
Change i n y = 3 - 8 = - 5
Change in x = 5 -3 = 2
Slope =
change in y = -=
-5 -2-I
changein x 2
2
You should now be ready to try a few practice exercies. Below are four exercises
where you can practice calculating the slope of a line from two points on the line.
Practice #5:
What is the slope of the line connecting each of the following sets of points:
(a) (62) and (5,1)?
(b) (03)and (8,5)?
(c) (4,l) and (1,9)?
(dl (6,6) and (3,9)?
18 I Moth Skills for lntraducto~Economics
Answers To F:actice 85:
The slopes of the lines connecting these points are as follows:
(a) (6,2) and (5,l) =1
= 4 = )(
(b) (03)and (83)
(c) (4,l) and (1,9)
(d) (6,6) and (3,9)
==-%
= =) = -1
If you had a wrong answer, take a few seconds to find out why. ONWARD!
Calculating the Slope from the Graph
If we have an equation such as y = 2+Hx, we know that the slope is equal to
K.
But what if we only have the graph of the equation? How can we find the slope?
We can easily calculate the slope by picking out two points on the graph of the
equation and using our formula for slope.
change in y
slope =
change in x
Example:
What is the slope of this line?
Point B on this graph is (2,3) and point C is (4,4). Let's use C as our starting point.
Changeiny=4-3=l
Changeinx=4-2=2
Slope =
K
Geometry 1 19
.
030
Example:
What is the slope of line
x?
Let's use point A (0'30) and point C (20,O). We'll start with point A.
Change in y = 30 - 0 = 30
Change in x = 0 - 20 = -20
Slope=
%=-%
Now, practice calculating the slope of a line. Below are two practice exercises.
Practice #6:
What is the slope of line
x?
20 I Moth Skills for Introductory Economics
031
Proctice #7:
What is the slope of line
m?
Geometry 1 21
A,~swerto Practice Exercises
The slope of line AC is -1.
Practice #6:
Practice #7:
The slope of line
W
is 3.
If you had either question wrong , review this section.
Determining Whether the Slope of a Line is Positive,
Negative, Infinite or Zero
By now you may have recognized a pattern between the direction of a graphed
line and its slope:
If the line is sloping up the right, the slope is positive (+).
If the line is sloping down to the right, the slope is negative (4.
/
This line is upward sloping from left to right
so the slope is positive(+). In our pizza
example, a positive slope tells us that as the
number of toppings we order (x) increases,
the total cost of the pizza (y) also increases.
X
X
This line is downward sloping from left to
right so the slope is negative(-). For example,
as the number of people that quit smoking
(x) increases, the number of people
contracting lung cancer (y) decreases. A graph
of this relationship has a negative slope.
There are two other cases we must consider: (1) when the line on horizontal, and
(2) when the line is vertical.
change in y
change in x
We can see that no matter what two points
we choose, the value of the y-coordinate stays
the same; it is always 4. Therefore, the change
in y along the line is zero. No matter what
the change in x along the line, the slope must
always equal zero.
0
=O
slope =
change in x
slope =
Horizontal lines have a slope of 0.
22 1 Math Skills for lntroductow Economics
change in 2
change in x
In this case, no matter what two points we
choose, the value of the x-coordinate stays
the same; its is always 3. Therefore, the
change in x along the line is zero.
change in y
slope =
.
slope =
1
Since we cannot divide by zero, we say the
slope of a vertical line is infinite. The sign for
infinity is .
-
Vertical lines have an infinite
(0)
slope.
Identifying the Intersection of Two Lines
Now, let's l k k at what happens when there is more than one line on a graph.
Many times in the study of economics we have the situation where there is more
than one relationship between the x and y variables. You'll find this type of
occurrence often in your study of supply and demand.
Y
In this graph, there are two relationships
between the x and y variables; one
and the
represented by the stra&ht line
other by straight line WZ;We can analyze
each relationship separately or we can look at
them together.
Note in the following graph that RT is downward sloping; it has a negative
slope. Line
is upward sloping; it has a positive slope.
Geometry I 23
1934
In all but one instance, the same y value corresponds to different x values on
each line. For instance:
At a y value of 3, the x-value of line
RT is 3 (see point S).
At a y value of 3, the x value of line
is 1 (see point D).
In one case, the two lines have the same (x, y) values simultaneously. This is
where the two lines RT and
intersect o r cross. The intersection occurs at
point E which has the coordinates (2,4); the x-coordinate is 2 and the y-coordinate
is 4.
Practice #8:
(a) At what coordinates does the line
intersect the y-axis?
(b) What are the coordinates of the intersection of lines
(c) At a y value of 8, what is the x value for line
and
m?
q?
(dl At point K, what is the y-coordinate?
24 1 Math Skills tot Introductory Economics
03s
Answers To Practice #8:
intersects the y-axis at (0, 10) (Don't forget when you are asked for
(a)
coordinates to give both the x and the y coordinates).
(b) The coordinates of the intersection of lines G/ and HK are ( 5 3 ) .
(c) When y has a value of 8, the value of x on line Gf is 2.
(d) At point K, the y-coordinate is 8.
Again, don't go ahead until you are sure of why all the correct answers are what
they are.
Geometry 1 25
n
p36
Nonlinear Relationships
Most relationships in economics are, unfortunately, not linear. Each unit change
in the x variable will not always bring about the same change in the y variable.
The graph of this relationship will be a curve instead of a straight line.
This graph shows a linear relationship
between x and y.
This graph shows a nonlinear relationship
between x and y.
Determining the Point of Tangency on a Curve
Earlier, we talked about measuring the slope of a straight line. Now we will
discuss how to find the slope of a point on a curve. One of the differences
between the slope of a straight line and the slope of a curve is that the slope of a
straight line is constant, while the slope of a curve changes from point to point.
Y
Recall the formula for the slope:
-
26 1 Math Skills for Introductory Economics
It doesn't matter what pair of points we use to calculate the slope of this line. The
coordinates for point A are (0,2); the coordinates for B are (1,4). Using these
points, the slope is:
Now lefs use point C h D. The coordinates for point C are (2 ,6);the coordinates
for D are (3, 8). The slope using these points is also
You would get the same slope of 2 with any two points on the line; the slope of a
straight line is constant.
Now let's use the slope formula in a nonlinear relationship.
Let's use our formula for calculating: slope =,*-chm
in y
From point A (0,2) to point B (1,2!4)
slope=
From point B (1, 2
slope =
to point C (2,4)
From point C (2,4) to point D (3,8)
%=*=lx
2-,
slope= ~8 =
4 r=4=4
Here we see that the slope of the curve changes as you move along it. For this
reason, we usually measure the slope of a curve at a just one point. For example,
instead of measuring the slope as the change between any t w o points (like A and
B or B and C) we measure the slope of the curve at a single point (like A or C).
To do this we must introduce the concept of a tangent. A tangent is a straight line
that touches a curve at a single point and does not a o s s through it. The point
where the curve and the tangent meet is called the point of tangency.
Which of these figures illustrates a tangent?
Geometry 1 27
In figures (a) and (b), the straight line is tangent to the curve at point A.
The straight line just touches the curve at point A but it does not cross
the curve; the line is tangent to the curve.
In figure (c), the line and curve are not tangent. The line intersects the
curve at two points, A and 8.
In figure (dl, the line touches the curve at a single point but the line
also crosses the curve, so it is not tangent to the curve.
The slope of a curve at a point is equal to the slope of the straight line that is
tangent to the curve at that point.
Example:
Yl
ID
c\
X
x.
The slope of the curve at point B is equal to the slope of the straight line
By
finding the coordinates of two points on the straight line and u s i n s h e slope
gin y
formula (slope = &,
,,
,,) we can determine the slope of the line AC. This will
also be the slope of t k curve at point 8. Remember, this is the slope of the curve
only at point 8. To find the slope at point D on the curve, we would have to
draw a line tangent to point D and then measure the slope of that tangent.
Practice #5?
(a) At what point is the straight
line
tangent to the curve?
(b) What is the slope of the
following curve at point B?
28 1 Moth Skills for Introductory Economics
p i g
V
Answers To Practice #9:
is tangent to the curve at point C.
(a) Line
(b) The slope of this cwve at point B is
-%.
Remember our formula for the slope of a straight line. Using points A & C, we get:
changeiny = 8-0 = 8 --4
changeinx 0-6 4 3
Determining Whether the Slope of a Curve is Positive,
Negative, Infinite or Zero
We made some generalizations concerning the slopes of straight lines; we can
also do this with curves.
Y
Y
-
Both (a) and (b) show curves sloping upward from left to right. As with upward
sloping straight lines, we can say that the slope of the curve is positive. While
the slope will differ at each point on the curve, it will always be positive.
To check this, take any point on either curve and draw the tangent of that point.
What-is the slope of the tangent? Positive.
Exampla:
yI
A, B, and C are three points on the
curve. Each has a different tangent.
Each tangent has a positive slope,
therefore, the curve has a positive
slope at points A, 8, and C. In fact, any
tangent drawn to the curve will have a
positive slope.
Both of these next curves are downward sloping. Straight lines that are
downward sloping have negative slopes; curves that are downward sloping also
have negative slopes.
Y
Y
We know, of course, that the slope changes from point to point on a curve, but
all of the slopes along these two curves will be negative.
A, 8, and C are three points on the
curve. Each has a different tangent.
Each tangent has a negative slope since
it's downward sloping; therefore, the
curve has a negative slope at points A,
8, and C. All tangents to this curve
have negative slopes.
Example:
X
X
In this example, our curve has a
positive slope at points A, B, and F, a
negative slope at D, and at points C and
E the slope is zero. (Remember, the
slope of a horizontal line is zero.) Make
sure you understand the logic here
before you move along.
(a) At which points is the slope of the
curve positive?
(b) At which points is the slope of the
curve negative?
(c) What is the slope at point E?
Take your time. ..we've gotten a little
tricky.
30 1 Math Skills for Introductory Economics
, -71
ti4 2
Answen To Practice # 10:
(a) The curve is positive only at point D.
(b) The curve is negative at points A, B, & F.
(c) The slope of point E is 0 (zero). By the way, the slope is also zero at point C.
Maximum and Maximum Points of Curves
The final two terms we will be dealing with are maximum and minimum
points. As the name implies, the maximum point of a curve is the highest point
on the curve. More technically, it is the point on the curve with the highest ycoordinate value.
Point A is the highest point on this
curve. It has a greater y-coordinate
value than any other point on the
curve. Point A is maximum point for
the curve.
X
X
There is no maximum point for this
curve. Although we stopped drawing
this curve just past point C, in actuality
the curve keeps going on up so that we
can't say any given point is a
maximum.
Now we must add another term to our vocabulary. A maximum point is the
point on the curve with the highest y-coordinate and a slope of zero. A
minimum point is the point on the curve with the lowest y-coordinate and a
slope of zero.
Example:
Point C is the maximum point of this
curve. It has the highest y-coordinate
value and the slope of the curve is zero
at that point. How do we know the
slope is zero? Because the tangent to
the curve at C is a horizontal line and
we know that the slope of a horizontal
line is zero.
Geometry 1 31
p42
Point A is the minimum point of this
curve. It has the lowest y-coordinate
value and the curve has a slope of zero
at that point.
This curve has no minimum point.
The curve will continue to go down as
we go to the right. Therefore, there is
no point on this curve with the lowest
y-coordinate value and a slope of zero.
Example:
Some curves have maximums, but no minimums as in figure (a).
Some curves have minimums, but no maximums as in figure Co).
Some curves have both maximum and minimum points as in figure (c).
Some curves have neither maximums nor minimums as in figure (dl.
Practice rir I 1 :
What are the maximum and minimum points (if any) for the following curves?
32 1 Math Skills for Introductory Economics
"('
p43
Answers To Practice # I I :
In graph (a):
In graph (b):
In graph (c):
Maximum point = none Maximum point = B
Maximum point = C
Minimum point = D
Minimum point = B
Minimum point = B
SUMMARY
At this point you should be able to do the following:
1. Identify different points on a graph using coordinates and the x and y axis
(pg. 6-8).
2. Match a graph of a straight line with the appropriate equation (pg. 9-1 1).
3. Match an equation of a straight line with the appropriate graph (pg. 12-14).
4. Calculate the slope of a straight line
(a) from the equation (pg. 15-17).
(b) from the coordinates of two points (pg. 17-19).
(c) from the graph (pg. 2Ck23).
5. Identify whether the slope of a straight line is positive, negative, zero, or
infinite (pg. 22-23).
6. Identify the point of intersection between two lines on a graph (pg. 23-25).
7. Determine points of tangency on a curve and use them to calculate the
slope of the curve (p. 26-29).
8. Determine whether a curve (or portion of a curve) has a positive,
negative, or zero slope (pg. 29-31).
9. Identify maximum and minimum points of a curve (pg. 31-33).
If you still have questions concerning any of these topics, go back and review
them now. If not, then continue and complete the review test that follows. Try to
d o the test without referring back to the material, but after you have finished the
review test and checked your answers, you are strongly encouraged to reread the
sections on the test questions you have missed.
Review Examination
Intructions: For each of the following questions, select the correct answer and
record it on a scrap p i c e of paper. After you have finish the entire examination
check your asnwers against the answer key in the back of this book.
1. The slope of the line (y = a + bx ) is
(a) y
(b)
(d) x
(4 %
(dl -3
(el
(c) b
a
2. The slope of the line ( y = K x - 3) is
(a) )+$
(b) 3
(c) 1
-K
3. What is the slope of a line that connects point A (12, 6) and point B (7, 1I)?
(a)
(b)
(dl
(c) -5
1
(e) -1
Use the following graph for questions 4 through 6 .
A
10
0
20
30
40
50
60
4. Which is point on the y-axis?
(a) A
(b)
B
(c) C
(dl D.
5. What is the x-coordinate of point B?
(a) 60
(b)
40
(c) 10
(dl 20
6. Which of the following is an equation of line
(a) 60 + 2x
(dl 60 - 2x
(e) 30 - 2x
30 + 2x
(c) 60 - x
(b)
X
-
-
-
-
- --
34 1 Math Skils for Introductocy Economics
(el 30
7. What is the slope of line
x?
Y
6
5
(a) 3
(b) 0
(c) 1
8. What is the slope of line
(d)positive
(e) infinite
x?
A
(a) 4
(b) -3
(c) 3
Use this graph for questions 9 through 1 1 .
(d)
%
(el
-%
Y
l01
9. What is the x-coordinate for point F?
(a) 6
(b) 8
(c) 0
(dl 4
(el 3
10. What are the coordinates of the intersection of lines AC and
(a) (0,3)
(b)
(6,3)
(c) (6,O)
(dl (3,6)
(el (0,6)
m?
11. At a y value of 4, what is the x value of line
(a) 0
(b) 6
AC
?
(d) 7
(c) 1
(el 9
Use the following graph for questions 12 - 14.
12. Which of these points is a minimum point of the curve?
(a) A
(b)
B
(c) C
(d) D
(e) none of these
13. At which point does the curve have a positive slope?
(a) A
(b)
B
(c) C
(dl D
(el none of these
14. .What is the slope at point B?
(a) 1
(b)
positive
(c) infinite
(dl zero
(e) none of these
15. Which of these graphs show a line tangent to a curve?
(A)
(B)
(a) B only
(b) A and B only
(c) B and C only
(C)
(dl A, B, and C
(el none of these
NOTE: Answers To This Review Test Are On The Next Page.
36 1 Math Skills for Introductory Economics
,
"
fiq 7
Review Examination Answers
If you made any mistakes, we suggest that you review the appropriate
instructional pages.
1&2
3
4h5
6
7
review pages
review pages
review pages
review pages
review pages
15-17
17-19
6-8
9-1 1
19-22
review pages
- review pages
12
review pages
13 & 24 review pages
15
review pages
8
9 & 11
19-22
23-25
33-33
29-31
26-29
Geometry 1 37
048
17.
16.
y = a + bx The slope o f t h i s l i n e is:
y = 7x 4 ?he slope o f t h i s l i n e is:
a) 7
b ) -6
C)
13
d)
5
e) x
7
1 9 . m i n t A is ( 6 , 1 ) . m i n t R is ( 2 , 5 ) .
c o n m c t s these two p o i n t s .
bhat
Uaz t b follving graph for questions 20-22.
20. ?he p o i n t ( 3 , 2 ) is:
a) R
b) S
C) T
d) V
C) T
d) V
e) W
21. 'Ihe o r i g i n is:
a) R
22.
A point
a) S
b) S
cn the y a x i s is:
b) T
c) V
d) w
'
el w
i s t h e slop o f the l i n e that
23.
24.
50
-
mich of the follwing is a graph of the equation y = 20 + x ?
h t
is the equation of thc line shawn in tk graph blow?
a) y = 10 + Sx
- 5x
40..
b ) y = 10
30-
c)y=lO+x
d) y = SO x
el y = 10 + lx
'-
5
.
25.
26.
mt
is the slope o f the! 1 ine ='in
the! following graph?
In the graph below, the s l o p e o f the line
is:
a ) p o s i t i v e b ) negative ' c ) a o ( i n f i n i t e ) d ) z e r o e l c a n ' t be d e t e n i n e d
27.
In the gram below, the slope o f th l i b
a) 0
c) 2
b) 1
e)
1000
dl-
is:
(infinite)
Use this graph for questions 28-32.
QUANTITY
28.
A t point A, w h t is the price?
29.
A t point A, what is the quantity?
a ) 200
30.
b) $2
A t what quantity
a)
32.
c ) 400
d ) SO0
el 600
The s q p l y line intersects the y a x i s a t a price equal to;
a ) $1
31.
b ) 300
sz
c ) $3
d ) $4
el $5
do the s u p ~ l ya d demand lines intersect?
b ) SI
C)WO
d)$1
el NO
A t a price of $1, utmt i s the e ~ a n t i t ydemanded?
a1300
b) 400
c ) 500
dl600
el700
U8a t h i s graph for questions 33-38.
33.
A t which point is t h e slope of the cum.negative?
a) P
34.
b) 0
R
C)
dl S
el T
A t which point is the slope of the curve p i t i v e ?
a) R
b) S
'
C )
T
d) V
35.
A t which point is tb slope of the curve zero?
36.
bhich point lies on a part of the cum that has a decreasingly
p a s i t i v e slop?
37.
A t .*t
a) P
38.
point is tb straight l i n e tangent to the curve?
b) S
c) V
dl W
e) T
Which point is a m a x i m point for tk curve?
a) P
b) R
c) S
dl T
e ) v-
Mathematics Skill Assessment For Economics
(Answer Key)