All ISEE Upper Level Quantitative Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #41 : How To Find The Solution To An Equation
is defined as the greatest integer less than or equal to
is defined as the least integer greater than or equal to
; itself is not an integer.
Which is the greater quantity?
(a)
(b)
It is impossible to tell from the information given.
(a) is greater.
(b) is greater.
(a) and (b) are equal.
(a) is greater.
Let .
Then .
Since is a noninteger, and .
(a)
(b)
(a) is greater than (b).
Example Question #711 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Quantitative Reasoning
Define and .
can be any real number.
Which is the greater quantity?
(a)
(b)
It is impossible to tell from the information given.
(b) is greater.
(a) and (b) are equal.
(a) is greater.
(b) is greater.
(a)
Substitute for :
(b)
Substitute for :
, so regardless of the value of , , and (b) is greater.
Example Question #42 : How To Find The Solution To An Equation
Veronica and Stephanie bought sweaters of the same type, but at different stores. Veronica bought hers for at Markham's; Stephanie bought hers for at Schuster's. Veronica got a better discount rate than Stephanie, and she has been bragging about it.
Which is the greater quantity?
(a) The price of the sweater at Markham's before discount
(b) The price of the sweater at Schuster's before discount
(a) and (b) are equal.
(a) is greater.
It is impossible to tell from the information given.
(b) is greater.
It is impossible to tell from the information given.
We show that the question cannot be answered with certainty by taking two sample cases.
Case 1: The sweaters cost at both stores.
Veronica saved and got a discount rate. Stephanie saved and got a discount rate.
Case 2: The sweater cost at Markham's and at Schuster's.
In this case Veronica saved and got a discount rate. Stephanie saved and got a discount rate of .
Example Question #43 : How To Find The Solution To An Equation
Define .
Which is the greater quantity?
(a)
(b)
(a) is greater.
(a) and (b) are equal.
(b) is greater.
It is impossible to tell from the information given.
(a) and (b) are equal.
(a)
(b)
Example Question #44 : How To Find The Solution To An Equation
The distance between Vandalia and Clark is 250 miles and is represented by six inches on a map. The distance between Vandalia and Ferrell is 125 miles.
Which is the greater quantity?
(a) The distance between Clark and Ferrell on a map
(b) Two inches
(a) and (b) are equal.
(b) is greater.
It is impossible to tell from the information given.
(a) is greater.
(a) is greater.
The actual distance between Clark and Ferrell is unknown, but it is at least miles. If is the map distance between Clark and Ferrell, then its minimum can be calculated using a proportion:
At the very least, the two are three inches apart on the map, so (a) is greater regardless.
Example Question #45 : How To Find The Solution To An Equation
Carl starts working for a bicycle store today. He wants to buy a certain bicycle, but his employee discount doesn't take effect until ninety days from now. He finds out that the price of the bicycle is due to increase by in sixty days.
Which is the greater quantity?
(a) The price Carl would pay for the bicycle today
(b) The price Carl would pay for the bicycle in ninety days, assuming that the bicycle does not change in price again
(a) is greater.
(b) is greater.
It is impossible to tell from the information given.
(a) and (b) are equal.
(b) is greater.
(a) Let be the current price of the bicycle. Without the discount and the markup, Carl would pay today.
(b) Now we examine what Carl would pay in ninety days. The increase would be of , or, equivalently, , and the price of the bicycle is
.
The employee discount will be of this, or , and the price Carl would pay is
.
Carl would pay more by waiting ninety days.
Example Question #46 : How To Find The Solution To An Equation
The distance between Vandalia and Clark is 250 miles and is represented by six inches on a map. The distance between Vandalia and Ferrell is 125 miles.
Which is the greater quantity?
(a) The distance between Clark and Ferrell on a map
(b) Ten inches
(b) is greater.
(a) is greater.
It is impossible to tell from the information given.
(a) and (b) are equal.
(b) is greater.
The actual distance between Clark and Ferrell is unknown, but at most it is miles. If is the map distance between Clark and Ferrell, then its maximum can be calculated using a proportion:
At the very most, the two are nine inches apart on the map, so (b) is greater regardless.
Example Question #47 : How To Find The Solution To An Equation
Which is the greater quantity?
(a)
(b)
(b) is greater.
(a) and (b) are equal.
(a) is greater.
It is impossible to tell from the information given.
(a) and (b) are equal.
Substitute to evaluate each expression:
(a)
(b)
Example Question #48 : How To Find The Solution To An Equation
A set of tires costs after a discount.
Which is the greater quantity?
(a) The price of the tires before the discount
(b)
(a) is greater.
It is impossible to tell from the information given.
(b) is greater.
(a) and (b) are equal.
(a) is greater.
A discount means that the tires sell for of their original price. If that original price is , then after the discount, they will sell for of . This is
,
which is less than . Therefore, the original purchase price must be greater than .
Example Question #49 : How To Find The Solution To An Equation
Define , .
Which is the greater quantity?
(a)
(b)
(a) is greater.
(b) is greater.
(a) and (b) are equal.
It is impossible to tell from the information given.
(a) is greater.
(a)
First, evaluate :
,
so .
Now, evaluate :
so .
(b)
First, evaluate :
,
so .
Now evaluate
,
so .