All ISEE Upper Level Quantitative Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Exponents
Simplify:
The correct answer is not among the other choices.
Apply the power of a power property:
Example Question #2 : How To Multiply Exponents
Simplify the expression:
Apply the power of a product rule, then apply the power of a power rule:
Example Question #2 : Exponents
Which of the following expressions is equal to ?
The expression is undefined.
Any nonzero number raised to the power of 0 is equal to 1.
Example Question #1 : Exponents
Which quantity is greater?
(a)
(b)
(a) and (b) are equal.
(b) is greater.
It is impossible to tell from the information given.
(a) is greater.
(b) is greater.
(a)
(b)
(b) is the greater quantity.
Example Question #4 : Exponents
is positive.
Which is the greater quantity?
(a)
(b)
(b) is greater
It is impossible to tell from the information given
(a) and (b) are equal
(a) is greater
(a) is greater
Use the power of a power property:
(a)
(b)
Since , . Subsequently,
,
making (a) greater
Example Question #5 : Exponents
Which is the greater quantity?
(a)
(b)
It is impossible to tell from the information given
(a) is greater
(a) and (b) are equal
(b) is greater
(a) and (b) are equal
The two quantities are equal.
Example Question #7 : Exponential Operations
Two quantities are given - one in Column A and the other in Column B. Compare the quantities in the two columns.
Assume, in both columns, that .
Column A Column B
There is no way to determine the relationship between the columns.
The quantities in both columns are equal.
The quantity in Column A is greater.
The quantity in Column B is greater.
There is no way to determine the relationship between the columns.
Column A gives simplifies to give us , and Column B simplifies to give us . At first glance, Column B is greater, as it would be for all answers greater than 1. However, if , the two columns are equal. Furthermore, if is negative, or a fraction, Column A is greater. Thus, since we could arrive at all three answers by using different numbers, we cannot determine the answer conclusively.
Example Question #8 : How To Multiply Exponents
Which of the following expressions is equivalent to
?
Use the difference of squares pattern as follows:
Example Question #6 : Exponents
Column A Column B
The quantity in Column B is greater.
The quantities in both columns are equal.
No relationship between the columns can be determined.
The quantity in Column A is greater.
The quantity in Column A is greater.
Anything raised to zero is equal to 1. Therefore, Column A has to be greater because 1 is greater than 0.
Example Question #7 : Exponents
44,000,000 can be written in scientific notation as for some .
Which is the greater quantity?
(A)
(B) 8
It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given
(A) is greater
(B) is greater
(A) and (B) are equal
(B) is greater
To write 44,000,000 in scientifc notation, write the implied decimal point after the final "0", then move it left until it is after the first nonzero digit (the first "4").
This requires a displacement of seven places, so
, and (B) is greater.
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