All ISEE Upper Level Quantitative Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : How To Find The Exponent Of Variables
Expand:
Which is the greater quantity?
(a) The coefficient of
(b) The coefficient of
It is impossible to tell from the information given.
(b) is greater.
(a) is greater.
The two quantities are equal.
(b) is greater.
Using the Binomial Theorem, if is expanded, the term is
.
This makes the coefficient of .
We compare the values of this expression at for both and .
(a) If and , the coefficient is
.
This is the coefficient of .
(b) If and , the coefficient is
.
This is the coefficient of .
(b) is the greater quantity.
Example Question #3 : How To Find The Exponent Of Variables
Consider the expression
Which is the greater quantity?
(a) The expression evaluated at
(b) The expression evaluated at
(b) is greater
(a) is greater
It is impossible to tell from the information given
(a) and (b) are equal
(b) is greater
Use the properties of powers to simplify the expression:
(a) If , then
(b) If , then
(b) is greater.
Example Question #4 : How To Find The Exponent Of Variables
Which of the following expressions is equivalent to
?
None of the other answers is correct.
None of the other answers is correct.
Use the square of a binomial pattern as follows:
This expression is not equivalent to any of the choices.
Example Question #3 : How To Find The Exponent Of Variables
Express in terms of .
, so
, so
Example Question #11 : Variables And Exponents
. Which is the greater quantity?
(a)
(b)
(b) is the greater quantity
It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given
(a) and (b) are equal
(a) is the greater quantity
(a) is the greater quantity
By the Power of a Power Principle,
Therefore,
It follows that
Example Question #911 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Quantitative Reasoning
is a real number such that . Which is the greater quantity?
(a)
(b) 11
(b) is the greater quantity
(a) and (b) are equal
(a) is the greater quantity
It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given
It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given
By the Power of a Power Principle,
Therefore, is a square root of 121, of which there are two - 11 and . Since it is possible for a third (odd-numbered) power of a real number to be positive or negative, we cannot eliminate either possibility, so either
or
.
Therefore, we cannot determine whether is less than 11 or equal to 11.
Example Question #912 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Quantitative Reasoning
By the Power of a Product Principle,
Also, by the Power of a Power Principle
Therefore,
Example Question #12 : Variables And Exponents
is a negative number. Which is the greater quantity?
(a)
(b)
It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given
(a) is the greater quantity
(a) and (b) are equal
(b) is the greater quantity
(b) is the greater quantity
Any nonzero number raised to an even power, such as 4, is a positive number. Therefore,
is the product of a negative number and a positive number, and is therefore negative.
By the same reasoning, is a positive number.
It follows that .
Example Question #914 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Quantitative Reasoning
Evaluate .
By the Power of a Power Principle,
By way of the Power of a Quotient Principle,
.
Example Question #915 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Quantitative Reasoning
and are both real numbers.
Evaluate .
, as the product of a sum and a difference, can be rewritten using the difference of squares pattern:
By the Power of a Power Principle,
Therefore, is a square root of - that is, a square root of 121. 121 has two square roots, and 121, but since is real, must be the positive choice, 11. Similarly, is the positive square root of 81, which is 9.
The above expression can be evaluated as
.