HSPT Math : Problem Solving

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for HSPT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #491 : Problem Solving

What is the next number in the sequence?

3,9,27,...

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

This is a geometric progression. Therefore you must multiply or divide a number by the number before it to arrive at the next number.

We must first find the ratio between each number.

To start, take the second number and divide the first number yielding 

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

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

In this case the number is .

So we then take the final number and multiply it by 3 we received to get the answer of .

Example Question #492 : Problem Solving

What are the next two numbers in the following sequence?

18,25,32,39,...

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 with .

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

Again the difference is .

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

Then we do the same with the answer to get 

The answer is .

Example Question #493 : Problem Solving

What is the next number in the following sequence?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

 is a geometric progression. Therefore you must multiply or divide a number by the number before it to arrive at the next number.

We must first find the ratio between each number.

To start, take the second number and divide the first number yielding 

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

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

In this case the number is .

So we then take the final number and multiply it by the ratio we received to get the answer of .

Example Question #494 : Problem Solving

How many diagonals are there in a regular pentagon?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The formula for the number of diagonals in a figure is:

where is the number of sides in the figure.

A pentagon is a five-sided figure, so we plug 5 in for .

There are 5 diagonals in a pentagon.

Example Question #495 : Problem Solving

What is the least common multiple of 15 and 25?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The least common multiple is the smallest number that both of the numbers multiply to.

For example, for 2 and 6 it would be 6 because and . For 2 and 5 it would be 10 because  and . For 3 and 8 it would be 24.

Multiply the numbers in the sequence 1,2,3,4 to find their multiples.

So for 15 the multiples are:  .

And for 25 the multiples are: .

The least common multiple is .

Example Question #496 : Problem Solving

1 yard equals how many feet?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

A yard equals 3 feet.

Example Question #497 : Problem Solving

If you multiply an even and an odd number together is the result always going to be even or odd?

Possible Answers:

Even

Odd

Correct answer:

Even

Explanation:

Multiplying an odd and an even number together always results in an even number.

Example Question #498 : Problem Solving

Jacob, Judy and John add up all of their ages and get a total of 29.  If they do the same thing 2 years from now, what will be their total?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In two years, each person will be 2 years older.  Since there are 3 of them, their ages will be  years more, so we add 6 to the original total of 29

Example Question #499 : Problem Solving

Sarah borrowed 48 books in the last six months. She returned half of them and then borrowed 9 more.  How many books does she have now?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

If Sarah borrowed 48 books and returned half of them, she now has

If she then borrowed 9 more, she added 9 to the 24 she had so now she has 33.

Example Question #14 : Equations

Elaine wants to give 2 slices of pizza to each of the 14 children invited to a birthday party.  How many pizzas should she buy if each pizza has 8 slices?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

If Elaine wants to give 2 slices of pizza to 14 children, then she needs  slices of pizza or 28 slices. 28 slices divided by the number of slice per pizza (8) will give you how many pizzas she needs.

.  

In order to ensure she has enough pizza, she needs to round up so she needs to order 4 pizzas.

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