ACT Math : Coordinate Plane

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : How To Graph A Line

What is the distance between (7, 13) and (1, 5)?

 

Possible Answers:

12

None of the answers are correct

10

7

5

Correct answer:

10

Explanation:

The distance formula is given by d = square root [(x2 – x1)2 + (y2 – y1)2].  Let point 2 be (7,13) and point 1 be (1,5).  Substitute the values and solve.

Example Question #1 : How To Graph A Line

What is the slope of this line?Screen_shot_2013-07-13_at_5.10.26_pm

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle -2

\displaystyle -\frac{1}{2}

\displaystyle -1

\displaystyle 2

\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}

Correct answer:

\displaystyle -2

Explanation:

The slope is found using the formula \displaystyle m=\frac{y_2-y_1}{x_2-x_1}.

We know that the line contains the points (3,0) and (0,6). Using these points in the above equation allows us to calculate the slope.

\displaystyle \frac{6-0}{0-3}=\frac{6}{-3}=-2

Example Question #3 : How To Graph A Line

What is the amplitude of the function if the marks on the y-axis are 1 and -1, respectively?

Screen_shot_2013-07-16_at_10.04.45_am

Possible Answers:

π

0.5

1

2π

3π

Correct answer:

1

Explanation:

The amplitude is half the measure from a trough to a peak.

Example Question #883 : Act Math

What is the midpoint between \displaystyle (1, 5) and \displaystyle (7, 3)?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle (4, 2)

\displaystyle (4, 4)

\displaystyle (2, 4)

None of the answers are correct

\displaystyle (6, 2)

Correct answer:

\displaystyle (4, 4)

Explanation:

The x-coordinate for the midpoint is given by taking the arithmetic average (mean) of the x-coordinates of the two end points. So the x-coordinate of the midpoint is given by \displaystyle (1+7)\div2=4

The same procedure is used for the y-coordinates. So the y-coordinate of the midpoint is given by \displaystyle (5+3)\div2=4

Thus the midpoint is given by the ordered pair \displaystyle (4, 4)

Example Question #251 : Coordinate Plane

If the graph has an equation of \displaystyle y=7x+3, what is the value of \displaystyle k-n?Screen_shot_2013-07-16_at_9.41.58_am

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 5

\displaystyle 3

\displaystyle \frac{2}{7}

\displaystyle \frac{13}{7}

\displaystyle \frac{19}{7}

Correct answer:

\displaystyle \frac{19}{7}

Explanation:

\displaystyle k is the \displaystyle y-intercept and equals \displaystyle 3\displaystyle n can be solved for by substituting \displaystyle 5 in the equation for \displaystyle y, which yields \displaystyle \frac{2}{7}

\displaystyle 3-\frac{2}{7}=\frac{21}{7}-\frac{2}{7}=\frac{19}{7}

Example Question #2 : How To Graph A Line

The equation \displaystyle 3x + 2y = 6 represents a line.  This line does NOT pass through which of the four quadrants?

Possible Answers:

II

I

Cannot be determined

IV

III

Correct answer:

III

Explanation:

Plug in \displaystyle 0 for \displaystyle x to find a point on the line:

\displaystyle 3(0) + 2y = 6

\displaystyle y = 3

Thus, \displaystyle (0,3) is a point on the line.

Plug in \displaystyle 0  for \displaystyle y to find a second point on the line:

\displaystyle 3x + 2(0) = 6

\displaystyle x = 2

\displaystyle (2,0) is another point on the line.

Now we know that the line passes through the points \displaystyle (2,0) and \displaystyle (0,3).  

A quick sketch of the two points reveals that the line passes through all but the third quadrant.

Example Question #1 : Graphing Linear Functions

Line

Refer to the above red line. A line is drawn perpendicular to that line, and with the same \displaystyle y-intercept.  Give the equation of that line in slope-intercept form.

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle y = - \frac{1}{2}x + 4

\displaystyle y = \frac{1}{2}x + 4

\displaystyle y = \frac{1}{2}x + 8

\displaystyle y = \frac{1}{2}x - 4

\displaystyle y = - \frac{1}{2}x + 8

Correct answer:

\displaystyle y = - \frac{1}{2}x + 8

Explanation:

First, we need to find the slope of the above line. 

The slope of a line. given two points \displaystyle (x_{1}, y_{1}), (x_{2}, y_{2}) can be calculated using the slope formula

\displaystyle m = \frac{y_{2}-y_{1}}{x_{2}-x _{1}}

Set \displaystyle x_{1}=-4, y_{1}=x_{2}= 0, y_{2}=8:

\displaystyle m = \frac{8-0}{0-(-4)} = \frac{8}{4} = 2

 

The slope of a line perpendicular to it has as its slope the opposite of the reciprocal of 2, which would be \displaystyle m = -\frac{1}{2}. Since we want this line to have the same \displaystyle y-intercept as the first line, which is the point \displaystyle (0,8), we can substitute \displaystyle m = -\frac{1}{2} and \displaystyle b = 8 in the slope-intercept form:

\displaystyle y = mx + b

\displaystyle y = - \frac{1}{2}x + 8

Example Question #2 : Graphing Functions

Axes

Refer to the above diagram. If the red line passes through the point \displaystyle \left ( N, 4\right ), what is the value of \displaystyle N?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle N = -7\frac{1}{3}

\displaystyle N = -3\frac{1}{3}

\displaystyle N= -1\frac{1}{3}

\displaystyle N = -5

\displaystyle N = -4\frac{2}{3}

Correct answer:

\displaystyle N = -4\frac{2}{3}

Explanation:

One way to answer this is to first find the equation of the line. 

The slope of a line. given two points \displaystyle (x_{1}, y_{1}), (x_{2}, y_{2}) can be calculated using the slope formula

\displaystyle m = \frac{y_{2}-y_{1}}{x_{2}-x _{1}}

Set \displaystyle x_{1}=-6, y_{1}=x_{2}= 0, y_{2}=18:

\displaystyle m = \frac{18-0}{0-(-6)} = \frac{18}{6} = 3

The line has slope 3 and \displaystyle y-intercept \displaystyle (0,18), so we can substitute \displaystyle m = 3, b = 18 in the slope-intercept form:

\displaystyle y = mx+b

\displaystyle y = 3x+18

Now substitute 4 for \displaystyle y and \displaystyle N for \displaystyle x and solve for \displaystyle N:

\displaystyle 4= 3N+18

\displaystyle -14 =3N

\displaystyle N = -\frac{14}{3}= -4\frac{2}{3}

Example Question #1 : How To Graph A Quadratic Function

Best friends John and Elliot are throwing javelins. The height of John’s javelin is described as f(x) = -x2 +4x, and the height of Elliot’s javelin is described as f(x) = -2x2 +6x, where x is the horizontal distance from the origin of the thrown javelin. Whose javelin goes higher?

 

Possible Answers:

John’s

The javelins reach the same height

Elliot’s

Insufficient information provided

Correct answer:

Elliot’s

Explanation:

When graphed, each equation is a parabola in the form of a quadratic. Quadratics have the form y = ax2 + bx + c, where –b/2a = axis of symmetry. The maximum height is the vertex of each quadratic. Find the axis of symmetry, and plug that x-value into the equation to obtain the vertex.

 

 

Example Question #1 : How To Graph A Quadratic Function

Where does the following equation intercept the x-axis?

\displaystyle y=x^2+7x+12

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle (0, -4) and \displaystyle (0, -3)

\displaystyle (-7, 0) and \displaystyle (-12, 0)

\displaystyle (-4, 0) only

 \displaystyle (-4, 0) and \displaystyle (0, -3)

\displaystyle (-4, 0) and \displaystyle (-3, 0)

Correct answer:

\displaystyle (-4, 0) and \displaystyle (-3, 0)

Explanation:

To determine where an equation intercepts a given axis, input 0 for either \displaystyle x (where it intercepts the \displaystyle y-axis) or \displaystyle y (where it intercepts the \displaystyle x-axis), then solve. In this case, we want to know where the equation intercepts the \displaystyle x-axis; so we will plug in 0 for \displaystyle y, giving:

\displaystyle y = x^{}2 ­­+ 7x + 12

\displaystyle 0 = x^{}2 ­­+ 7x + 12

Now solve for \displaystyle x.

Note that in its present form, this is a quadratic equation. In this scenario, we must find two factors of 12, that when added together, equal 7. Quickly, we see that 4 and 3 fit these conditions, giving:

\displaystyle 0 = (x + 4)(x + 3)

Solving for \displaystyle x, we see that there are two solutions,

\displaystyle x = -4 or \displaystyle -3

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