ACT Math : Algebra

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #111 : Gre Quantitative Reasoning

A sequence of numbers is: 2, 5, 8, 11. Assuming it follows the same pattern, what would be the value of the 20th number?

Possible Answers:

61

59

56

50

55

Correct answer:

59

Explanation:

This goes up at a constant number between values, making it an arthmetic sequence. The first number is 2, with a difference of 3. Plugging this into the arithmetic equation you get A= 2 + 3 (n – 1). Plugging in 20 for n, you get a value of 59.

Example Question #111 : Gre Quantitative Reasoning

The first four numbers of a sequence are 5, 10, 20, 40. Assuming the pattern continues, what is the 6th term of the sequence?

Possible Answers:

50

140

160

60

80

Correct answer:

160

Explanation:

Looking at the sequence you can see that it doubles each term, making it a geometric sequence. Since it doubles r = 2 and the first term is 5. Plugging this into the geometric equation you get A= 5(2)n–1. Setting n = 6, you get 160 as the 6th term.

Example Question #112 : Gre Quantitative Reasoning

Given f(x) = x– 9. What are the zeroes of the function?

Possible Answers:

3

–3, 3

–3, 0, 3

0, 3

0

Correct answer:

–3, 3

Explanation:

The zeroes of the equation are where f(x) = 0 (aka x-intercepts). Setting the equation equal to zero you get x2 = 9. Since a square makes a negative number positive, x can be equal to 3 or –3.

Example Question #13 : Algebra

Give the lines y = 0.5x+3 and y=3x-2. What is the y value of the point of intersection?

Possible Answers:

3

6

2

7

4

Correct answer:

4

Explanation:

In order to solve for the x value you set both equations equal to each other (0.5x+3=3x-2). This gives you the x value for the point of intersection at x=2. Plugging x=2 into either equation gives you y=4.

Example Question #71 : Linear / Rational / Variable Equations

Tommy's and Sara's current ages are represented by t and s, respectively. If in five years, Tommy will be twice as old as Sara, which of the following represents t in terms of s?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Tommy's current age is represented by t, and Sara's is represented by s. In five years, both Tommy's and Sara's ages will be increased by five. Thus, in five years, we can represent Tommy's age as and Sara's as .

The problem tells us that Tommy's age in five years will be twice as great as Sara's in five years. Thus, we can write an algebraic expression to represent the problem as follows:

In order to solve for t, first simplify the right side by distributing the 2.

Then subtract 5 from both sides.

The answer is .

Example Question #101 : Equations / Inequalities

10 gallons of paint will cover 75 ft2. How many gallons of paint will be required to paint the area of a rectangular wall that has a height of 8 ft and a length of 24 ft? 

Possible Answers:

31.4 gallons 

25.6 gallons 

17 gallons 

14.2 gallons 

22.8 gallons 

Correct answer:

25.6 gallons 

Explanation:

First we need the area or the rectangle. 24 * 8 = 192. So now we know that 10 gallons will cover 75 ft2 and x gallons will cover 192 ft2. We set up a simple ratio and cross multiply to find that 75x = 1920.

x = 25.6

Example Question #111 : Gre Quantitative Reasoning

What number decreased by 7 is equal to 10 increased by 7?

Possible Answers:

10

17

27

15

24

Correct answer:

24

Explanation:

The best way to solve this problem is to translate it into an equation, "decreased" meaning subtract and "increased" meaning add:

x – 7 = 10 + 7

x = 24

Example Question #15 : Algebra

If a%b = (2b + 3a)/(6ab), what would have a greater value, 2%3 or 3%2?

Possible Answers:

They are the same

2%3

3%2

Cannot be determined

Correct answer:

3%2

Explanation:

First find 2%3 = (2 * 3 + 3 * 2)/(6 * 2 * 3) = 12/36 = 1/3, then 3%2 = (2 * 2 + 3 * 3)/(6 * 3 * 2) = 13/36 which is greater.

Example Question #111 : How To Find The Solution To An Equation

If 5 + x is 5 more than 5,what is the value of 2x?

Possible Answers:

10

5

20

15

Correct answer:

10

Explanation:

5 more than 5 = 10

5 + x = 10

Subtract 5 from each side of the equation: x = 5 → 2x = 10

Example Question #31 : Linear / Rational / Variable Equations

Let f(x) = 2x3 + 7x2 - 4x and g(x) = 4x - x3. If k is a positive number such that f(k) = 0, then what is g(k)?

Possible Answers:

17/8

2

1

15/8

7/8

Correct answer:

15/8

Explanation:

First, we need to find the possible values of k such that f(k) = 0.

We can use the definition of f(x) to write an expression for k.

f(x) = 2x3 + 7x2 – 4x

f(k) = 2k3 + 7k2 – 4k = 0

In order to solve this equation, we will want to factor as much as we can. We can immediately see that we could take out a k from all three terms.

2k3 + 7k2 – 4k = 0

k(2k+ 7k – 4) = 0

Now, we need to factor 2k+ 7k – 4 by grouping. When we multiply the outer two coefficients we get (2)(–4) = –8. The middle coefficient is 7. This means we need to think of two numbers that multiply to give us –8, but add to give us 7. These two numbers are 8 and –1. We can now rewrite 2k+ 7k – 4 as follows:

2k+ 7k – 4 = 2k2 + 8k – k – 4

Group the first two terms and the second two terms.

2k2 + 8k – k – 4 = (2k2 + 8k ) + (–k – 4)

Next, factor out a 2k from the first two terms and a –1 from the last two terms.

(2k2 + 8k ) + (–k – 4) = 2k(+ 4) + –1(+ 4)

Then, factor out + 4 from the 2k and the –1.

2k(+ 4) + –1(+ 4) = (+ 4)(2k – 1)

Thus, 2k+ 7k – 4, when fully factored, equals (+ 4)(2k – 1).

Now, let's go back to the equation k(2k+ 7k – 4) = 0 and substitute (+ 4)(2k – 1) for 2k+ 7k – 4.

k(2k+ 7k – 4) = k(+ 4)(2k – 1) = 0

We now have three factors, and we can set each equal to zero to find the possible values of k.

The first factor is k. This means k = 0 is one value for k.

The next factor is k + 4.

k + 4 = 0

k = –4

The last factor is 2k – 1.

2k – 1 = 0

2k = 1

k = 1/2

The values of k for which f(k) = 0 are 0, –4, and 1/2. However, we are told that k is positive, so this means that k can only be 1/2.

Ultimately, the problem asks us to find g(k). This means we must use the equation for g(x) to find g(1/2).

g(x) = 4x – x3

g(1/2) = 4(1/2) – (1/2)3

= 2 – (1/8)

= 15/8

The answer is 15/8.

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