ISEE Upper Level Quantitative : ISEE Upper Level (grades 9-12) Quantitative Reasoning

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ISEE Upper Level Quantitative

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Example Questions

Example Question #701 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Quantitative Reasoning

The slope of a line is 2; the line does not pass through the origin.

Which is the greater quantity?

(a) The -coordinate of the -intercept 

(b) The -coordinate of the -intercept 

Possible Answers:

(a) and (b) are equal.

(a) is greater.

It is impossible to tell from the information given.

(b) is greater.

Correct answer:

It is impossible to tell from the information given.

Explanation:

Let  be the - and -intercepts, respectively. We know that the line does not pass through the origin - so .

Then the slope is:

Either  or  can be the greater. For example, if , then , and if , then 

Example Question #702 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Quantitative Reasoning

.

Which is the greater quantity?

(a) 

(b)

Possible Answers:

It is impossible to tell from the information given.

(a) is greater.

(b) is greater.

(a) and (b) are equal.

Correct answer:

(a) and (b) are equal.

Explanation:

, so substitute and use the power of a power rule.

This makes (a) and (b) equal.

Example Question #701 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Quantitative Reasoning

Which is the greater quantity?

(a) The slope of the line of the equation 

(b) The slope of the line of the equation 

Possible Answers:

(a) is greater.

(a) and (b) are equal.

(b) is greater.

It is impossible to tell from the information given.

Correct answer:

(a) is greater.

Explanation:

Both equations are in slope-intercept form, so compare the coefficients of . The coefficients in (a) and (b) are 5 and 4, respectively, so these are the slopes of the lines. The line in (a) has the greater slope.

Example Question #22 : How To Find The Solution To An Equation

Which is the greater quantity?

(a) 

(b) 

Possible Answers:

(a) and (b) are equal.

It is impossible to tell from the information given.

(a) is greater.

(b) is greater.

Correct answer:

It is impossible to tell from the information given.

Explanation:

Using two different cases, we show that it is impossible to tell which is greater.

Case 1: . Then , and .

Case 2: . Then , and .

Example Question #26 : Algebraic Concepts

Which is the greater quantity?

(a) 

(b) 

Possible Answers:

(a) and (b) are equal.

(a) is greater.

It is impossible to tell from the information given.

(b) is greater.

Correct answer:

(a) is greater.

Explanation:

To solve the system of equations, add the left and right sides of the equation separately:

  

Divide:

 

Substitute to get :

 

 is greater.

Example Question #30 : How To Find The Solution To An Equation

Which is the greater quantity?

(a) 

(b) 

Possible Answers:

(a) is greater

It is impossible to tell from the information given

(a) and (b) are equal

(b) is greater

Correct answer:

It is impossible to tell from the information given

Explanation:

We show that it is possible for either  or  to be the greater by giving one of each case.

Case 1: . Then , so 

Case 2: . Then , so 

In Case 1, ; in Case 2, 

Example Question #31 : How To Find The Solution To An Equation

Which is the greater quantity?

(a) 

(b) 

Possible Answers:

(a) is greater

(a) and (b) are equal

(b) is greater

It is impossible to tell from the information given

Correct answer:

(a) and (b) are equal

Explanation:

Multiply both sides of the top equation by 3, and subtract both sides of the second equation.

          

 

Now substitute to find :

 

The two are equal.

Example Question #32 : How To Find The Solution To An Equation

Which is the greater quantity?

(a) 

(b) 

Possible Answers:

(a) is greater

(a) and (b) are equal

It is impossible to tell from the information given

(b) is greater

Correct answer:

(b) is greater

Explanation:

Triple both sides of the top equation, and subtract both sides of the bottom equation:

  

           

Now substitute to find :

This makes 

Example Question #33 : How To Find The Solution To An Equation

Which is the greater quantity?

(a) 

(b) 

Possible Answers:

(a) and (b) are equal

(b) is greater

It is impossible to tell from the information given

(a) is greater

Correct answer:

It is impossible to tell from the information given

Explanation:

We show that it cannot be determined which of  and , if either, is greater, by showing one case in which  and one case in which .

Case 1: . Then 

and .

Case 2: . Then 

and .

Example Question #34 : How To Find The Solution To An Equation

Which is the greater quantity?

(a) 

(b) 

Possible Answers:

(b) is greater

(a) and (b) are equal

It is impossible to tell from the information given

(a) is greater

Correct answer:

(a) is greater

Explanation:

If , then, since  is nonnegative, .

If , then , so the equation becomes . Therefore, .

Either way, (a) is greater.

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