All PSAT Math Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #11 : Exponents
If , what is the value of ?
Using exponents, 27 is equal to 33. So, the equation can be rewritten:
34x + 6 = (33)2x
34x + 6 = 36x
When both side of an equation have the same base, the exponents must be equal. Thus:
4x + 6 = 6x
6 = 2x
x = 3
Example Question #81 : Exponents
What is the value of such that ?
We can solve by converting all terms to a base of two. 4, 16, and 32 can all be expressed in terms of 2 to a standard exponent value.
We can rewrite the original equation in these terms.
Simplify exponents.
Finally, combine terms.
From this equation, we can see that .
Example Question #13 : How To Add Exponents
How many of the following base ten numbers have a base five representation of exactly four digits?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
Four
Three
Two
One
None
Three
A number in base five has powers of five as its place values; starting at the right, they are
The lowest base five number with four digits would be
in base ten.
The lowest base five number with five digits would be
in base ten.
Therefore, a number that is expressed as a four-digit number in base five must fall in the range
Three of the four numbers - all except 100 - fall in this range.
Example Question #12 : Exponents
Solve for :
Combining the powers, we get .
From here we can use logarithms, or simply guess and check to get .
Example Question #23 : How To Add Exponents
If and are positive integers, and , then what is in terms of ?
is equal to which is equal to . If we compare this to the original equation we get
Example Question #13 : Exponents
If m and n are integers such that m < n < 0 and m2 – n2 = 7, which of the following can be the value of m + n?
I. –5
II. –7
III. –9
II and III only
II only
I, II and III only
I only
I and II only
II only
m and n are both less than zero and thus negative integers, giving us m2 and n2 as perfect squares. The only perfect squares with a difference of 7 is 16 – 9, therefore m = –4 and n = –3.
Example Question #14 : Exponents
To simplify, we can rewrite the numerator using a common exponential base.
Now, we can factor out the numerator.
The eights cancel to give us our final answer.
Example Question #15 : Exponents
If , then what is ?
Follow the order of operations by solving the expression within the parentheses first.
Return to solve the original expression.
Example Question #3 : How To Subtract Exponents
Solve:
Subtract the denominator exponent from the numerator's exponent, since they have the same base.
Example Question #11 : Exponents
54 / 25 =
25
50
5
54 / 5
10
25
25 = 5 * 5 = 52. Then 54 / 25 = 54 / 52.
Now we can subtract the exponents because the operation is division. 54 / 52 = 54 – 2 = 52 = 25. The answer is therefore 25.