HSPT Math : Problem Solving

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for HSPT Math

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #5 : How To Do Other Word Problems

How many inches are in a foot?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

This is a conversion question.

There are 12 inches in a foot.

Example Question #6 : How To Do Other Word Problems

What is 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

When multiplying monomials with the same base, you add the powers of each monomial together.

So in this case 

Yielding an answer of 

Example Question #7 : How To Do Other Word Problems

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

This tests your knowledge of scientific notation.

To solve you must move the decimal places to the right to the power of the ten.

In this case you must move the decimal place to the right 7 spaces from its original spot.

The solution is 



Example Question #8 : How To Do Other Word Problems

You have 5 types of meat, 3 different types of vegetables, and 8 different types of bread. How many different sandwiches can you make using only one of each ingredient?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

This is a combination question.

To find the total number of sandwiches using only one ingredient we create three spaces for each ingredient and place each number of possible ingredients into each space. 

We then multiply each number in each space together to find the answer 

 

Example Question #9 : How To Do Other Word Problems

The square of what number is 75 divided by 3?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To answer this question we must first divide the original number by the number following it to get 

Once we have this number we then square root it to find the answer 

Example Question #10 : How To Do Other Word Problems

What is the absolute value of -57?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Absolute values are always positive so the absolute value of a negative number is just the number without the minus sign.

In this case the answer is 

Example Question #481 : Problem Solving

What is the next number in this progression?

35,28,21,...

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

This is an arithmetic progression. Therefore you must add or subtract a number to the number before it to arrive at the next number.

We must first find the difference between each number.

To start, take the second number and subtract the first number

In this case it yields .

Then take the third number and subtract the second number which results in

If the resulting number is the same you now know the difference between each number in the sequence and can apply the difference to each break in the arithmetic sequence.

Again the difference is .

So we take the final number and add the difference to it resulting with 

Example Question #482 : Problem Solving

1 quart equals how many pints?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

"2 pints in a quart, 4 quarts in a gallon"

Example Question #483 : Problem Solving

What is the prime factorization of 63?

 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To get the prime factorization of a number we must factor it in the most reduced version of prime numbers that multiplied together produce the number.

Prime numbers are numbers that are only divisible by themselves and 1. 1,2,3,5,7. . .

In this example we first divide the number by because its 3 and odd number which gives us 

We now know that 3 is at least one of the prime factors.

Then we divide the result by 3 again to get 

We then combine all of the prime numbers to get the answer of .

 

Example Question #484 : Problem Solving

What is the hypotenuse of a triangle with side lengths 3 and 4?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

If we have a right angle triangle and a value for two of the three side lengths use the Pythagorean Theorem to solve for the length of the third side.

The two side lengths that meet to form the right angle are labeled  and  which are interchangeable for each side length. The long side connecting them is labeled  and is known as the hypotenuse.

The Pythagorean Theorem states .

Take 3 and 4 and plug them into the equation as  and  to yield 

First square the numbers .

After squaring the numbers add them together 

Once you have the sum, take the square root of both sides 

After calculating our answer is .

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors