PSAT Math : Coordinate Geometry

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Math

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Geometry

A student creates a challenge for his friend.  He first draws a square, the adds the line for each of the 2 diagonals.  Finally, he asks his friend to draw the circle that has the most intersections possible.

How many intersections will this circle have?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 10\)

\(\displaystyle 4\)

\(\displaystyle 12\)

\(\displaystyle 8\)

\(\displaystyle 6\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 12\)

Explanation:

Example Question #1 : Plane Geometry

Two pairs of parallel lines intersect:

 Screen_shot_2013-03-18_at_10.29.11_pm

If A = 135o, what is 2*|B-C| = ?

Possible Answers:

140°

150°

160°

180°

170°

Correct answer:

180°

Explanation:

By properties of parallel lines A+B = 180o, B = 45o, C = A = 135o, so 2*|B-C| = 2* |45-135| = 180o

Example Question #2 : Plane Geometry

Slide1

Lines \(\displaystyle AC\) and \(\displaystyle BD\) are parallel.  \(\displaystyle \angle HFC=10^{\circ}\), \(\displaystyle \angle DGI=50^{\circ}\), \(\displaystyle \triangle EFG\) is a right triangle, and  \(\displaystyle \overline{EG}\) has a length of 10.  What is the length of  \(\displaystyle \overline{EF}\)\(\displaystyle ?\)

 

 

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 5\)

\(\displaystyle 15\)

Not enough information.

\(\displaystyle 20\)

\(\displaystyle 12\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 20\)

Explanation:

Since we know opposite angles are equal, it follows that angle \(\displaystyle \angle AFE=10^{\circ}\) and \(\displaystyle \angle BGE=50^{\circ}\).  

Imagine a parallel line passing through point \(\displaystyle E\).  The imaginary line would make opposite angles with \(\displaystyle \angle AFE\) & \(\displaystyle \angle BGE\), the sum of which would equal \(\displaystyle \angle FEG\).  Therefore, \(\displaystyle \angle FEG=60^{\circ}\).

\cos (60)=.5=\frac{EG}{EF}\rightarrow EF=\frac{EG}{.5}=20\(\displaystyle \cos (60)=.5=\frac{EG}{EF}\rightarrow EF=\frac{EG}{.5}=20\)

Example Question #3 : Plane Geometry

If \angle A\(\displaystyle \angle A\) measures (40-10x)^{\circ}\(\displaystyle (40-10x)^{\circ}\), which of the following is equivalent to the measure of the supplement of \angle A\(\displaystyle \angle A\) ?

Possible Answers:

(140-10x)^{\circ}\(\displaystyle (140-10x)^{\circ}\)

(10x+140)^{\circ}\(\displaystyle (10x+140)^{\circ}\)

(100x)^{\circ}\(\displaystyle (100x)^{\circ}\)

(10x+50)^{\circ}\(\displaystyle (10x+50)^{\circ}\)

(50-10x)^{\circ}\(\displaystyle (50-10x)^{\circ}\)

Correct answer:

(10x+140)^{\circ}\(\displaystyle (10x+140)^{\circ}\)

Explanation:

When the measure of an angle is added to the measure of its supplement, the result is always 180 degrees. Put differently, two angles are said to be supplementary if the sum of their measures is 180 degrees. For example, two angles whose measures are 50 degrees and 130 degrees are supplementary, because the sum of 50 and 130 degrees is 180 degrees. We can thus write the following equation:

\dpi{100} measure\ of\ \angle A+ measure\ of\ supplement\ of\ \angle A=180\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} measure\ of\ \angle A+ measure\ of\ supplement\ of\ \angle A=180\)

\dpi{100} 40-10x+ measure\ of\ supplement\ of\ \angle A=180\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} 40-10x+ measure\ of\ supplement\ of\ \angle A=180\)

Subtract 40 from both sides.

\dpi{100} -10x+ measure\ of\ supplement\ of\ \angle A=140\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} -10x+ measure\ of\ supplement\ of\ \angle A=140\)

Add \dpi{100} 10x\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} 10x\) to both sides.

\dpi{100} measure\ of\ supplement\ of\ \angle A=140+10x=10x+140\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} measure\ of\ supplement\ of\ \angle A=140+10x=10x+140\)

The answer is (10x+140)^{\circ}\(\displaystyle (10x+140)^{\circ}\).

Example Question #1 : Geometry

 

 

In the following diagram, lines \(\displaystyle b\) and \(\displaystyle c\) are parallel to each other. What is the value for \(\displaystyle x\)?

Sat_math_166_03

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 60^o\)

\(\displaystyle 80^o\)

\(\displaystyle 30^o\)

\(\displaystyle 100^o\)

It cannot be determined

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 80^o\)

Explanation:

When two parallel lines are intersected by another line, the sum of the measures of the interior angles on the same side of the line is 180°. Therefore, the sum of the angle that is labeled as 100° and angle y is 180°. As a result, angle y is 80°.

Another property of two parallel lines that are intersected by a third line is that the corresponding angles are congruent. So, the measurement of angle x is equal to the measurement of angle y, which is 80°.

Example Question #3 : Lines

The measure of the supplement of angle A is 40 degrees larger than twice the measure of the complement of angle A. What is the sum, in degrees, of the measures of the supplement and complement of angle A?

Possible Answers:

140

40

50

90

190

Correct answer:

190

Explanation:

Let A represent the measure, in degrees, of angle A. By definition, the sum of the measures of A and its complement is 90 degrees. We can write the following equation to determine an expression for the measure of the complement of angle A.

A + measure of complement of A = 90

Subtract A from both sides.

measure of complement of A = 90 – A

Similarly, because the sum of the measures of angle A and its supplement is 180 degrees, we can represent the measure of the supplement of A as 180 – A.

The problem states that the measure of the supplement of A is 40 degrees larger than twice the measure of the complement of A. We can write this as 2(90-A) + 40.

Next, we must set the two expressions 180 – A and 2(90 – A) + 40 equal to one another and solve for A:

180 – A = 2(90 – A) + 40

Distribute the 2:

180 - A = 180 – 2A + 40

Add 2A to both sides:

180 + A = 180 + 40

Subtract 180 from both sides:

A = 40

Therefore the measure of angle A is 40 degrees. 

The question asks us to find the sum of the measures of the supplement and complement of A. The measure of the supplement of A is 180 – A = 180 – 40 = 140 degrees. Similarly, the measure of the complement of A is 90 – 40 = 50 degrees.

The sum of these two is 140 + 50 = 190 degrees.

 

Example Question #11 : Plane Geometry

 \dpi{100} \small \overline{AB}\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} \small \overline{AB}\) is a straight line. \dpi{100} \small \overline{CD}\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} \small \overline{CD}\) intersects \dpi{100} \small \overline{AB}\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} \small \overline{AB}\) at point \dpi{100} \small E\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} \small E\). If \dpi{100} \small \angle AEC\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} \small \angle AEC\) measures 120 degrees, what must be the measure of \dpi{100} \small \angle BEC\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} \small \angle BEC\)?

Possible Answers:

\dpi{100} \small 75\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} \small 75\) degrees

None of the other answers

\dpi{100} \small 70\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} \small 70\) degrees

\dpi{100} \small 65\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} \small 65\) degrees

\dpi{100} \small 60\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} \small 60\) degrees

Correct answer:

\dpi{100} \small 60\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} \small 60\) degrees

Explanation:

\dpi{100} \small \angle AEC\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} \small \angle AEC\)\dpi{100} \small \angle BEC\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} \small \angle BEC\) must add up to 180 degrees. So, if \dpi{100} \small \angle AEC\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} \small \angle AEC\) is 120, \dpi{100} \small \angle BEC\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} \small \angle BEC\) (the supplementary angle) must equal 60, for a total of 180.

Example Question #181 : Coordinate Geometry

Two parallel lines are intersected by a transversal. If the minor angle of intersection between the first parallel line and the transversal is \(\displaystyle 36^{\circ}\), what is the minor angle of intersection between the second parallel line and the transversal?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 66^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 54^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 18^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 144^{\circ}\)

\(\displaystyle 36^{\circ}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 36^{\circ}\)

Explanation:

When a line intersects two parallel lines as a transversal, it always passes through both at identical angles (regardless of distance or length of arc).

Example Question #12 : Plane Geometry

If  \(\displaystyle \overleftrightarrow{FH} \parallel \overleftrightarrow{AD}\), \(\displaystyle \overline{BE}\perp \overleftrightarrow{GC}\), and \(\displaystyle m\angle HGC=58^\circ\), what is the measure, in degrees, of \(\displaystyle \angle ABE\)

Alternate interior angles   

 

Possible Answers:

148

62

58

122

32

Correct answer:

148

Explanation:

The question states that \(\displaystyle \overleftrightarrow{FH} \parallel \overleftrightarrow{AD}\). The alternate interior angle theorem states that if two parallel lines are cut by a transversal, then pairs of alternate interior angles are congruent; therefore, we know the following measure:

\(\displaystyle m\angle GCA = 58^\circ\)

The sum of angles of a triangle is equal to 180 degrees. The question states that \(\displaystyle \overline{BE}\perp \overleftrightarrow{GC}\); therefore we know the following measure:

\(\displaystyle m \angle BEC = 90^\circ\)

Use this information to solve for the missing angle: \(\displaystyle \angle EBC\)

\(\displaystyle 180^\circ=m\angle EBC+58^\circ+90^\circ\)

\(\displaystyle m\angle EBC=32^\circ\)

The degree measure of a straight line is 180 degrees; therefore, we can write the following equation:

\(\displaystyle 180^\circ=m\angle ABE+32^\circ\)

\(\displaystyle m\angle ABE=148^\circ\)

The measure of \(\displaystyle \angle ABE\) is 148 degrees. 

Example Question #4 : How To Find An Angle Of A Line

Lines A and B in the diagram below are parallel. The triangle at the bottom of the figure is an isosceles triangle.

Act2

What is the degree measure of angle \(\displaystyle y\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 32\)

\(\displaystyle 20\)

\(\displaystyle 40\)

\(\displaystyle 35\)

\(\displaystyle 25\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 20\)

Explanation:

Since A and B are parallel, and the triangle is isosceles, we can use the supplementary rule for the two angles, \(\displaystyle 4x\) and \(\displaystyle 2x+30\) which will sum up to \(\displaystyle 180\). Setting up an algebraic equation for this, we get \(\displaystyle 4x+2x+30=180\). Solving for \(\displaystyle x\), we get \(\displaystyle x=25\). With this, we can get either \(\displaystyle 2(25)+30=80\) (for the smaller angle) or \(\displaystyle 4(25)=100\) (for the larger angle - must then use supplementary rule again for inner smaller angle). Either way, we find that the inner angles at the top are 80 degrees each. Since the sum of the angles within a triangle must equal 180, we can set up the equation as \(\displaystyle 80+80+y=180\)

\(\displaystyle y=20\) degrees.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors