PSAT Math : Linear / Rational / Variable Equations
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Algebra
√( x2 -7) = 3
What is x?
To solve, remove the radical by squaring both sides
(√( x2 -7)) 2 = 32
x2 -7 = 9
x2 = 16
x = 4
Example Question #2 : Algebra
√(3x) = 9
What is x?
–27
9
–3
3
27
27
To solve, remove the radical by squaring both sides
(√3x) 2 = 92
3x = 81
x = 81/3 = 27
Example Question #2 : Algebra
√(8y) + 18 = 4
What is y?
First, simplify the equation:
√(8y) + 18 = 4
√(8y) = -14
Then square both sides
(√8y) 2 = -142
8y = 196
y = 196/8 = 24.5
Example Question #62 : Equations / Inequalities
If y = 4 and 6y = 10z + y, then z = ?
6
4
2
24
30
2
- Substitute y in the equation for 4.
- You now have 6 * 4 = 10z + 4
- Simplify the equation: 24 = 10z + 4
- Subtract 4 from both sides: 24 – 4 = 10z + 4 – 4
- You now have 20 = 10z
- Divde both sides by 10 to solve for z.
- z = 2.
Example Question #111 : Gre Quantitative Reasoning
A sequence of numbers is: 2, 5, 8, 11. Assuming it follows the same pattern, what would be the value of the 20th number?
50
61
59
55
56
59
This goes up at a constant number between values, making it an arthmetic sequence. The first number is 2, with a difference of 3. Plugging this into the arithmetic equation you get An = 2 + 3 (n – 1). Plugging in 20 for n, you get a value of 59.
Example Question #12 : Algebra
The first four numbers of a sequence are 5, 10, 20, 40. Assuming the pattern continues, what is the 6th term of the sequence?
60
140
160
80
50
160
Looking at the sequence you can see that it doubles each term, making it a geometric sequence. Since it doubles r = 2 and the first term is 5. Plugging this into the geometric equation you get An = 5(2)n–1. Setting n = 6, you get 160 as the 6th term.
Example Question #112 : Gre Quantitative Reasoning
Given f(x) = x2 – 9. What are the zeroes of the function?
3
–3, 3
–3, 0, 3
0, 3
0
–3, 3
The zeroes of the equation are where f(x) = 0 (aka x-intercepts). Setting the equation equal to zero you get x2 = 9. Since a square makes a negative number positive, x can be equal to 3 or –3.
Example Question #13 : Algebra
Give the lines y = 0.5x+3 and y=3x-2. What is the y value of the point of intersection?
3
6
2
7
4
4
In order to solve for the x value you set both equations equal to each other (0.5x+3=3x-2). This gives you the x value for the point of intersection at x=2. Plugging x=2 into either equation gives you y=4.
Example Question #112 : Gre Quantitative Reasoning
Tommy's and Sara's current ages are represented by t and s, respectively. If in five years, Tommy will be twice as old as Sara, which of the following represents t in terms of s?
Tommy's current age is represented by t, and Sara's is represented by s. In five years, both Tommy's and Sara's ages will be increased by five. Thus, in five years, we can represent Tommy's age as 
The problem tells us that Tommy's age in five years will be twice as great as Sara's in five years. Thus, we can write an algebraic expression to represent the problem as follows:
In order to solve for t, first simplify the right side by distributing the 2.
Then subtract 5 from both sides.
The answer is 
Example Question #14 : Algebra
10 gallons of paint will cover 75 ft2. How many gallons of paint will be required to paint the area of a rectangular wall that has a height of 8 ft and a length of 24 ft?
31.4 gallons
25.6 gallons
14.2 gallons
22.8 gallons
17 gallons
25.6 gallons
First we need the area or the rectangle. 24 * 8 = 192. So now we know that 10 gallons will cover 75 ft2 and x gallons will cover 192 ft2. We set up a simple ratio and cross multiply to find that 75x = 1920.
x = 25.6
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