All ISEE Upper Level Quantitative Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : How To Find The Area Of An Equilateral Triangle
is an equilateral triangle. Points are the midpoints of , respectively. is constructed.
Which is the greater quantity?
(a) The area of
(b) Twice the area of
(b) is greater.
(a) and (b) are equal.
It is impossible to tell from the information given.
(a) is greater.
(a) is greater.
If segments are constructed in which the endpoints form the midpoints of the sides of a triangle, then four triangles, congruent to each other and similar to the larger triangle, are formed. Therefore, one of these triangles - specifically, - would have one-fourth the area of . This means has more than twice the area of .
Note that the fact that the triangle is equilateral is irrelevant.
Example Question #2 : Equilateral Triangles
Which of the following could be the three sidelengths of an equilateral triangle?
By definition, an equilateral triangle has three sides of equal length. We can identify the equilateral triangle by converting the given sidelengths to the same units and comparing them.
We can eliminate the following by showing that at least two sidelengths differ.
2 yards = feet.
Two sides have lengths 6 feet and 7 feet, so we can eliminate this choice.
4 feet = inches
Two sides have lengths 48 inches and 50 inches, so we can eliminate this choice.
5 feet = inches
Two sides have lengths 48 inches and 60 inches, so we can eliminate this choice.
yards = feet
Two sides have lengths 4 feet and 5 feet, so we can eliminate this choice.
yards = feet = inches
All three sides have the same length, making this the triangle equilateral. This choice is correct.
Example Question #1 : Right Triangles
What is the hypotenuse of a right triangle with sides 5 and 8?
√89
15
12
5√4
√89
Because this is a right triangle, we can use the Pythagorean Theorem which says a2 + b2 = c2, or the squares of the two sides of a right triangle must equal the square of the hypotenuse. Here we have a = 5 and b = 8.
a2 + b2 = c2
52 + 82 = c2
25 + 64 = c2
89 = c2
c = √89
Example Question #2 : Right Triangles
Which is the greater quantity?
(a) The hypotenuse of a right triangle with a leg of length 20
(b) The hypotenuse of a right triangle with legs of length 19 and 21
(a) and (b) are equal
It is impossible to tell from the information given
(a) is greater
(b) is greater
(b) is greater
The hypotenuses of the triangles measure as follows:
(a)
(b)
, so , making (b) the greater quantity
Example Question #3 : How To Find The Length Of The Hypotenuse Of A Right Triangle : Pythagorean Theorem
Which is the greater quantity?
(a) The hypotenuse of a right triangle with legs and .
(b) The hypotenuse of a right triangle with legs and .
(b) is greater.
(a) and (b) are equal.
It is impossible to tell from the information given.
(a) is greater.
(a) is greater.
The hypotenuses of the triangles measure as follows:
(a)
(b)
, so , making (a) the greater quantity.
Example Question #4 : How To Find The Length Of The Hypotenuse Of A Right Triangle : Pythagorean Theorem
A right triangle has a leg feet long and a hypotenuse feet long. Which is the greater quantity?
(a) The length of the second leg of the triangle
(b) 60 inches
It is impossible to tell from the information given.
(a) is greater.
(a) and (b) are equal.
(b) is greater.
(a) is greater.
The length of the second leg can be calculated using the Pythagorean Theorem. Set :
The second leg therefore measures inches.
Example Question #5 : How To Find The Length Of The Hypotenuse Of A Right Triangle : Pythagorean Theorem
What is the hypotenuse of a right triangle with sides 9 inches and 12 inches?
Since we're dealing with right triangles, we can use the Pythagorean Theorem (). In this formula, a and b are the sides, while c is the hypotenuse. The hypotenuse of a right triangle is the longest side and the side that is opposite the right angle. Now, we can plug into our formula, which looks like this: We simplify and get . At this point, isolate c. This means taking the square root of both sides so that your answer is 15in.
Example Question #6 : How To Find The Length Of The Hypotenuse Of A Right Triangle : Pythagorean Theorem
The perimeter of a regular pentagon is 75% of that of the triangle in the above diagram. Which is the greater quantity?
(A) The length of one side of the pentagon
(B) One and one-half feet
(A) is greater
(B) is greater
It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given
(A) and (B) are equal
(B) is greater
By the Pythagorean Theorem, the hypotenuse of the right triangle is
inches, making its perimeter
inches.
The pentagon in question has sides of length 75% of 112, or
.
Since a pentagon has five sides of equal length, each side will have measure
inches.
One and a half feet are equivalent to inches, so (B) is the greater quantity.
Example Question #7 : How To Find The Length Of The Hypotenuse Of A Right Triangle : Pythagorean Theorem
The track at Gauss High School is unusual in that it is shaped like a right triangle, as shown above.
Cary decides to get some exercise by running from point A to point B, then running half of the distance from point B to point C.
Which is the greater quantity?
(A) The distance Cary runs
(B) One-fourth of a mile
(A) and (B) are equal
(B) is greater
(A) is greater
It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given
(B) is greater
By the Pythagorean Theorem, the distance from B to C is
feet
Cary runs
feet
Since 5,280 feet make a mile, one-fourth of a mile is equal to
feet.
(B) is greater
Example Question #8 : How To Find The Length Of The Hypotenuse Of A Right Triangle : Pythagorean Theorem
Give the length of the hypotenuse of the above right triangle in terms of .
If we let be the length of the hypotenuse, then by the Pythagorean theorem,
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