HSPT Math : Word Problems

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for HSPT Math

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Example Questions

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 

Example Question #517 : Problem Solving

Rent in Roger's apartment is $915 per month. The rent is due on the fifth of the month, and Roger must pay $30 penalty per day late. 

In 2014, Roger paid his rent on the first of each month, except for May, when he paid on the seventh. He decided to break his lease and move out on September 20. He agreed to pay a prorated rent of $600 for September, and to pay a fee of two months' rent in order to break the lease. He does, however, get back his entire $400 security deposit. 

How much money did Roger pay the apartment in 2014, after all accounts were settled?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Roger paid $915 rent for each of eight complete months - January through August - for a total of

He paid the rent for May two days late, so the penalty was

To break the lease, he paid two months' rent, or

Add these, add the prorated September rent, and subtract the returned deposit:

Example Question #71 : Word Problems

How many different ways can a single digit be written in the box to form an integer divisible by 4?

Possible Answers:

Five

Ten

One

Two

Correct answer:

Five

Explanation:

A number is divisible by 4 if and only if its last two digits form a number which itself is divisible by 4. The numbers 08, 28, 48, 68, and 88 are each divisible by 4, as seen here:

However, 18, 38, 58, 78, and 98 are not divisible by 4, as seen here:

Therefore, the ways to fill in the box to form a number divisible by 4 are 2, 4, 6, 8, and 0 - five ways.

Example Question #71 : Word Problems

How many different ways can a single digit be written in the box to form an integer divisible by 3?

Possible Answers:

Two

Ten

Five

Three

Correct answer:

Three

Explanation:

An integer is divisible by 3 if and only if its digit sum is also divisible by 3. If we let  be the missing digit, then the digit sum is 

We can test each digit from 0 to 9 to see which sums are divisible by 3. We can see that this is the case if:

The other seven digits can be seen to form a digit sum that is not a mulitiple of 3 using the same method.

Therefore, there are three ways to fill in the box to form a multiple of 3.

Example Question #42 : How To Do Other Word Problems

Table

Mr. and Mrs. Quinn are hosting a party with three other couples. The above shows their two tables along with their seats.

How many ways can the eight persons be seated so that no man is at the same table as his wife?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

For each of the four couples, there are two ways to select the table at which to seat each person - the man can be at the left table and the woman can be at the right, or vice versa. This makes  ways to make this decision total between the four couples.

Once these four choices are made, for each table, there are 

ways to seat the four chosen persons. 

By the multiplication principle. there will be 

 different arrangements that seat each husband and wife at separate tables.

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