PSAT Math Multiple-Choice Question 188: Answer and Explanation

Question: 188

If 4x² + 7x + 1 is multiplied by 3x + 5, what is the coefficient of x in the resulting polynomial?

• A. 3
• B. 12
• C. 35
• D. 38

Correct Answer: D

Explanation:

D

Difficulty: Medium

Category: Passport to Advanced Math/Polynomials

Getting to the Answer: When multiplying polynomials, carefully multiply each term in the first factor by each term in the second factor. This question doesn't ask for the entire product, so check to make sure you answered the correct question (the coefficient of x). After performing the initial multiplication, look for the x terms and add their coefficients. To save time, you do not need to simplify the other terms in the expression:

The coefficient of x is 35 + 3 = 38, which is (D).