HSPT Math : How to do other word problems

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for HSPT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #65 : Word Problems

A Special Pizza at Monorail Deli has four different toppings; the customer can choose any one meat from pepperoni, sausage, hamburger, and anchovy, and any two vegetables from mushrooms, onions, black olives, green olives, tomatoes, and green peppers. The fourth topping can be a meat or a vegetable.

Clara wants to order a Special Pizza; however, she does not like pepperoni, and she is allergic to onions. How many possible ways can four toppings be chosen for a Special Pizza in order to meet Clara's specifications?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Clara has three meats from which to choose (the four available, minus the one she will not eat); she has five vegetables from which to choose (the six available minus the one to which she is allergic). She can do one of the following:

Case 1: She can choose one meat and three vegetables.

She can choose one of three meats. 

She can choose three of five vegetables; the number of ways to do so is

The number of possible pizzas with one meat and three vegetables is 

Case 2: She can choose two meats and two vegetables.

She can choose two of three meats. There are three ways to do this, since choosing two meats means leaving one out; there are three ways to choose which meat to leave out.

She can choose two of five vegetables; the number of ways to do so is

The number of possible pizzas with two meats and two vegetables is 

The total number of combinations of toppings from which Clara can choose is 

 

Example Question #66 : Word Problems

Rent in Melissa's apartment is $575 per month. The rent is due on the fifth of the month, and Melissa must pay $25 penalty per day late. 

Melissa moved into the apartment on February 15 and agreed to pay a prorated rent of $250 for February. She also paid a $300 security deposit. For the remainder of the year, she paid the regular rent on the first of each month, except for October, when she paid on the fourth of the month. Calculate the amount of money she paid the apartment complex in 2014, including the security deposit and any penalties.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Melissa paid $575 rent for each month from March to December - ten months - for a total of 

.

Add to this her prorated February rent and her security deposit (she was not late with any rent payments, hence no penalties); Melissa paid

Example Question #67 : Word Problems

Rent in Henry's apartment is $645 per month. The rent is due on the fifth of the month, and Henry must pay $20 penalty per day late.

In 2014, Henry paid the rent on time each month except in November, when he paid the rent on November 8. How much rent did Henry pay for the year, including the penalty for November?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Henry's rent is $645 per month; multiply this by 12 to get yearly rent before the penalty.

Henry paid his November rent three days late, so multiply the daily penalty of $20 by 3 to get the total penalty.

Add the regular yearly rent and the November penalty:

 

Example Question #61 : Word Problems

Consider the sequence 

What number replaces the square?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The increment that is added to each successive term to obtain the next term is doubled each time.

, the number in the circle

, the number in the square, which is the correct choice.

Example Question #511 : Problem Solving

Consider the sequence 

What number replaces the square?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Beginning with the third term, each term is the sum of the previous two:

, the number in the circle;

, the number in the square.

Example Question #512 : Problem Solving

Consider the sequence

What number replaces the circle?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The number that is added to each term to obtain the next one increases by 2 each time:

If we let  be the number in the circle, then to maintain the pattern,

so

. This is the correct choice. 

Example Question #513 : Problem Solving

Consider the sequence

What number replaces the circle?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Each term, beginning with the third, is the sum of the previous two:

If  is the term in the circle, then 

and

.

Example Question #31 : How To Do Other Word Problems

An arithmetic sequence begins

What number replaces the square?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In an arithmetic sequence, each term is obtained by adding the same number to the previous term - the common difference. Since , 6 is the common difference. The next two terms are:

19 replaces the square and is the correct choice.

Example Question #511 : Problem Solving

A geometric sequence begins

What number replaces the square? Give the closest answer.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In a geometric sequence, each term is obtained by muliplying the previous term by the same number - the common ratio. 

Since , 7 is the common ratio. The next two numbers in the sequence are 

343 replaces the square; of the four choices, 350 comes closest and is the correct response.

Example Question #516 : Problem Solving

A Special Pizza at Deli Llama has four different toppings; the customer can choose any one meat from pepperoni, sausage, hamburger, and anchovy, and any three vegetables from mushrooms, onions, black olives, green olives, tomatoes, and green peppers.

Mike and John want to order a Special Pizza. Mike doesn't like anchovies, and John is allergic to mushrooms. How many ways can the toppings of a Special Pizza be chosen to both men's specifications?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

There are three ways to choose a meat topping - four minus the one Mike won't eat.

There are five vegetable toppings - six minus the one to which John is allergic - from which to choose three. This is

The number of ways to make a Special Pizza that leaves out anchovies and mushrooms is 

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