ACT Math : Algebra

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #431 : Algebra

What values of x make the following statement true?

|x – 3| < 9

Possible Answers:

x < 12

–6 < x < 12

6 < x < 12

–12 < x < 6

–3 < x < 9

Correct answer:

–6 < x < 12

Explanation:

Solve the inequality by adding 3 to both sides to get x < 12.  Since it is absolute value, x – 3 > –9 must also be solved by adding 3 to both sides so: x > –6 so combined.

Example Question #432 : Algebra

If –1 < w < 1, all of the following must also be greater than –1 and less than 1 EXCEPT for which choice?

Possible Answers:

w/2

|w|

3w/2

w2

|w|0.5

Correct answer:

3w/2

Explanation:

3w/2 will become greater than 1 as soon as w is greater than two thirds. It will likewise become less than –1 as soon as w is less than negative two thirds. All the other options always return values between –1 and 1.

Example Question #141 : Algebra

Solve for .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Absolute value problems always have two sides: one positive and one negative.

First, take the problem as is and drop the absolute value signs for the positive side: z – 3 ≥ 5. When the original inequality is multiplied by –1 we get z – 3 ≤ –5.

Solve each inequality separately to get z ≤ –2 or z ≥ 8 (the inequality sign flips when multiplying or dividing by a negative number).

We can verify the solution by substituting in 0 for z to see if we get a true or false statement. Since –3 ≥ 5 is always false we know we want the two outside inequalities, rather than their intersection.

Example Question #4 : How To Find The Solution To An Inequality With Addition

If x+1< 4 and y-2<-1 , then which of the following could be the value of ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve this problem, add the two equations together:

x+1<4

y-2<-1

x+1+y-2<4-1

x+y-1<3

x+y<4

The only answer choice that satisfies this equation is 0, because 0 is less than 4.

Example Question #5 : How To Find The Solution To An Inequality With Addition

What values of  make the statement  true?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

First, solve the inequality :

Since we are dealing with absolute value,  must also be true; therefore:

Example Question #6 : How To Find The Solution To An Inequality With Addition

Simplify the following inequality

.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

For a combined inequality like this, you just need to be careful to perform your operations on all the parts of the inequality. Thus, begin by subtracting  from each member:

Next, divide all of the members by :

Example Question #7 : How To Find The Solution To An Inequality With Addition

Simplify

.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Simplifying an inequality like this is very simple. You merely need to treat it like an equation—just don't forget to keep the inequality sign.

First, subtract  from both sides:

Then, divide by :

Example Question #11 : Inequalities

The inequality is equivalent to which of the following inequalities?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In order to simplify an inequality, we must bring the unknown () values on one side and the integers on the other side of the inequality:

 

 

 

Example Question #161 : Equations / Inequalities

.  Solve for  

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We must put all of the like terms together on either side of the inequality symbol. First, we need to subtract the  to the right side and add  to the left side to get all of the terms with  to the right side of the inequality and all of the integers to the left side.

 

We solve for  by dividing by .  

That leaves us with , which is the same as .  Remember, you only flip the direction of the inequality if you divide by a negative number!  

Example Question #17 : Inequalities

Solve the following inequality:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve an equality that has addition, simply treat it as an equation. Remember, the only time you have to do something to the inquality is when you are multiplying or dividing by a negative number.

Subrtract 4 from each side. Thus,

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