All ACT Math Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #331 : Algebra
How much pure water should be added to of 80% cleaning solution to dilute it to 25% cleaning solution.
Pure water is 0% and pure solution is 100%
where is the volume and is the percent.
So the equation to solve becomes
So we need to add pure water to of 80% cleaning solution to yield 25% cleaning solution.
Example Question #61 : Linear / Rational / Variable Equations
Luke purchased a tractor for $1200. The value of the tractor decreases by 25 percent each year. The value, , in dollars, of the tractor at years from the date of purchase is given by the function .
In how many years from the date of purchase will the value of the tractor be $675?
4
3
2
5
1
2
We are looking for the value of t that gives $675 as the result when plugged in V (t ). While there are many ways to do this, one of the fastest is to plug in the answer choices as values of t .
When we plug t = 1 into V (t ), we get V (1) = 1200(0.75)1 = 1000(0.75) = $900, which is incorrect.
When we plug t = 2 into V (t ), we get V (2) = 1200(0.75)2 = $675, so this is our solution.
The value of the tractor will be $675 after 2 years.
Finally, we can see that if t = 3, 4, or 5, the resulting values of the V (t ) are all incorrect.
Example Question #101 : Linear / Rational / Variable Equations
Solve for :
First combine like terms. In this case, 4x and 9x can be added together:
13x + 13 = 0
Subtract 13 from both sides:
13x = -13
Divide both sides by 13 to isolate x:
x = -13/13
x = -1
Example Question #42 : Equations / Inequalities
Ben is walking three dogs that weigh an average of 75 pounds each. Ben begins to walk a fourth dog, and the average weight of the dogs decreases to 70 pounds. What is the weight in pounds of the fourth dog?
The total weight of the first three dogs is 225 pounds. This amount, plus the weight of the fourth dog, divided by total number of dogs, is the new average weight:
Example Question #41 : Linear / Rational / Variable Equations
Pets Plus makes bird houses. Their monthly fixed expenses are $750. The cost for each bird house is $15. The bird houses sell for $40.
What is the monthly break-even point at Pets Plus?
Let the number of bird houses sold each month.
The break-even point is where the revenue is the same as the costs:
Solve for :
Therefore, Pets Plus must sell 30 bird houses to break-even.
Example Question #51 : Equations / Inequalities
Pets Plus makes bird houses. Their monthly fixed expenses are $750. The cost for each bird house is $15. The bird houses sell for $40.
If Pets Plus sells 50 bird houses, what is the profit?
Let = the number of birdhouses sold each month.
Substituting in 50 for gives an answer of 500, so the profit on 50 birdhouses is $500.
Example Question #51 : Linear / Rational / Variable Equations
George is three times older than Joey. The sum of their ages is 16. What is the product of their ages?
Let = Joey's age and = George's age.
Then the equation to solve becomes .
Therefore, Joey is 4 years old and George is 12 years old, so the product of their ages is 48.
Example Question #52 : Equations / Inequalities
Three consecutive even numbers add to 42. What is the middle number?
Let = 1st even number, = 2nd even number, and = 3rd even number.
Then the equation to solve becomes .
Thus , so the middle number is 14.
Example Question #52 : Linear / Rational / Variable Equations
Consider the following equation:
Which of the following must be true?
The quantity inside the absolute value brackets must equal either or , depending on whether the quantity inside the brackets is positive or negative. We therefore have two seperate equations:
To solve the first equation, add 9 to both sides:
Subtract from both sides:
This is the first solution. Now let's look at the second equation. The distributive law gives us:
Add 9 to both sides:
Add to both sides:
Divide both sides by 3:
Therefore, is either 4 or 6.
Statement does NOT have to be true because can also equal 4.
Statement must be true because both 4 and 6 are positive .
Finally, statement always holds because 4 and 6 are both even.
Example Question #53 : Equations / Inequalities
If
,
then
Divide both sides by 300 to get . Subtract 7 and divide by two to get .