June 2011 Algebra II Regents (multiple choice 1 – 27)

Some minor thoughts:
8. The graph is missing a visual illustration of the asymptote.
9. What is considered the “first term” of the sequence? It would be better to ask “In a geometric sequence, a_1 = blah, a_2 = blah, a_3 = blah. Compute a_15.”
10. I assume calculators are allowed? I was able to guess at the answer, knowing that a 13-14-15 triangle breaks down into 5-12-13 and 9-12-15 right triangles, but I assume that’s not common knowledge…
14. Kate already commented on this one…
16. OTL
19. O_o
26. The problem assumes an ordering of terms. Should the answer be the same if the question were written as (-4b + a)^9? If the idea is to calculate the coefficient of the a^6 b^3 term, then that’s what the question should ask!
27. Rather than “appropriate”, the question is asking which regression would fit the data the best. One might also make the argument that an exponential and logarithmic regression are equivalent depending on which variable is independent, and which variable is dependent.

What did they decide for 16? Rationalize the denominator as the “only” correct choice if they’d asked for simplified or did they allow (1) as a correct answer to the question? It is equivalent, after all.