ACT Math : Arithmetic

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Square Of An Integer

Simplify the following: 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

 is the same as  multiplied by . Thus, the answer is .

Example Question #7 : How To Find The Square Of An Integer

The last two digits in the square of a number  have a product of . Which of the following could NOT be the last digit of ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

If the last two digits of the squared number multiply to , then the digits must be factors of . The last digit of any square of a number ending in  will be , which is not a factor of . Thus, the number cannot end in .

Example Question #1 : Percentage

We asked 1000 people their preferences of movie genres. 7.5% of those asked preferred horror movies, 35% preferred romantic films, 20% preferred dramas and 37.5% preferred comedies. How many people liked horror films?

Possible Answers:

7.5

75

35

37.5

750

Correct answer:

75

Explanation:

People who prefer horror films = 1000 people x 7.5% = 1000 x 0.075 = 75 people

Example Question #1 : Percentage

There are 20 students in a class. 35 percent of the students in the class are boys. What fraction of the class is girls? 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

There are 20 total students in the class. 35% of 20 is 7. There are 7 boys in the class.

 girls in the class.

Example Question #3 : Percentage

Which of the following represents  as a fraction?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To represent a percentage as a fraction, keep the percentage in the numerator and put  in the denominator.

Therefore: 

 

Example Question #1 : Percentage

Which of the following fractions is equivalent to 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To convert an integer percentage into an improper fraction, set the percentage as a fraction over  and simplify as far as you can. At that point, simply convert the improper fraction into a mixed fraction.

Example Question #5 : Percentage

A politician promises to spend up to  of his budget on improving roads. Which of the following is closest to the fraction of their budget the politician must devote to road improvement?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To convert a decimal percentage into a fraction, first convert it to a decimal:

Now, set ths as a fraction with  as the denominator (expanding to as many significant digits as you need to line the fraction up):

Now just reduce your fraction!

Example Question #6 : Percentage

Convert to a fraction: 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To convert a percentage to a fraction, divide the percentage by 100, then simplify. The presence of a variable does not significantly affect this process.

Example Question #1 : Fractions And Percentage

Luke went to the grocery store. It took him 15 minutes to drive to the store from his house, 30 minutes to shop, 5 minutes to put groceries in his car, and 20 minutes to drive home due to traffic.

What percentage of the trip did Luke spend inside his car?

Possible Answers:

35%

75%

15%

50%

45%

Correct answer:

50%

Explanation:

You take 15 + 20 = 35 minutes as total time spent in the car.

Then, you take 15 + 20 + 5 + 30 = 70 minutes as total trip time.

We take (35/70) x 100% = 50%

Example Question #1 : Fractions And Percentage

There are 300 sandwiches at a company-wide picnic. If half of the sandwiches are tuna, and the provider mistakenly uses expired tuna in three-fifths of those sandwiches, what percentage of total sandwiches still remain edible?

Possible Answers:

 

Correct answer:

 

Explanation:

This multi-part question makes use of both fractions and percentages, as well as some tricky language if you are not paying close attention.

First off, determine what three-fifths of the 150 tuna sandwiches is:

Now, refer back to the question, which asks how many TOTAL sandwiches (tuna and non-tuna) still remain edible. This is simple arithmetic.

Finally, find what percentage this equals:

 

 

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