PSAT Math : PSAT Mathematics

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Math

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #2 : Algebraic Fractions

Define the function \(\displaystyle f\) on the real numbers as follows:

\(\displaystyle f(x) = \frac{x- 7}{\sqrt{10-x}}\)

Give the domain of \(\displaystyle f\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle (- \infty, 10 )\)

\(\displaystyle (10, \infty )\)

\(\displaystyle (- \infty,7) \cup (7, 10 ]\)

\(\displaystyle (- \infty,7) \cup (7, 10 )\)

\(\displaystyle (- \infty, 10 ]\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle (- \infty, 10 )\)

Explanation:

The numerator, being a polynomial, is not restricting our domain. The domain is, however, restricted by the expression in the denominator, which must be nonzero. Furthermore, the radicand must be nonnegative. Combined, these facts mean that the radicand must be positive, and that the following inequality be solved:

\(\displaystyle 10 - x > 0\)

\(\displaystyle 10 > x\) or, equivalently, \(\displaystyle x < 10\).

In interval form, this is \(\displaystyle (- \infty, 10 )\)

Example Question #1 : Algebraic Fractions

Define the functions \(\displaystyle f\) and \(\displaystyle g\) as follows:

\(\displaystyle f(x) = \frac{5}{x-4}\) and \(\displaystyle g(x) = \frac{2x-8}{x-7}\)

Give the domain of the function \(\displaystyle (fg)(x)\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \left (-\infty, 4 \right ) \cup \left ( 4,7\right )\)

\(\displaystyle \left (-\infty, 4 \right ) \cup \left ( 7, \infty \right )\)

\(\displaystyle \left ( 4,7\right ) \cup \left ( 7, \infty \right )\)

\(\displaystyle \left (-\infty, 7\right ) \cup \left ( 7, \infty \right )\)

\(\displaystyle \left (-\infty, 4 \right ) \cup \left ( 4,7\right ) \cup \left ( 7, \infty \right )\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \left (-\infty, 4 \right ) \cup \left ( 4,7\right ) \cup \left ( 7, \infty \right )\)

Explanation:

The domain of the product of two functions is the intersection of the domains of the individual functions.

The domain of \(\displaystyle f\) is restricted to all values of \(\displaystyle x\) that yield a nonzero denominator. Since this means that 

\(\displaystyle x- 4 \ne 0\),

then, subsequently,

\(\displaystyle x \ne 4\),

so the domain is the set of all real numbers except 4.

 

Similarly, the domain of \(\displaystyle g\) is restricted to all values of \(\displaystyle x\) that yield a nonzero denominator. This set is found to be the set of all real numbers except 7.

 

The intersection of these sets is the set of all real numbers except 4 and 7, or

\(\displaystyle \left (-\infty, 4 \right ) \cup \left ( 4,7\right ) \cup \left ( 7, \infty \right )\).

Example Question #2 : Algebraic Fractions

Define the function \(\displaystyle f\) as follows:

\(\displaystyle f(x) = \frac{x}{4- \frac{2}{x-2}}\)

Give the domain of \(\displaystyle f\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \left ( 2, \infty \right )\)

\(\displaystyle \left ( \frac{1}{2}, 2 \right ) \cup \left ( 2 , \infty \right )\)

\(\displaystyle \left ( -\infty , \frac{1}{2} \right ) \cup \left ( \frac{1}{2}, 2 \right ) \cup \left ( 2 , \infty \right )\)

\(\displaystyle \left ( -\infty , 2 \right ) \cup \left ( 2, \infty \right )\)

\(\displaystyle \left ( -\infty , 2 \right ) \cup \left ( 2, 2\frac{1}{2}\right ) \cup \left ( 2\frac{1}{2}, \infty \right )\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \left ( -\infty , 2 \right ) \cup \left ( 2, 2\frac{1}{2}\right ) \cup \left ( 2\frac{1}{2}, \infty \right )\)

Explanation:

The definition of \(\displaystyle f\) has two denominators of two fractions (one within the other), so we must exclude the values of \(\displaystyle x\) that make either denominator equal to zero.

One denominator is \(\displaystyle x-2\). Since it cannot be zero, we have 

\(\displaystyle x- 2 \ne 0\),

and, subsequently,

\(\displaystyle x \ne 2\).

The value 2 is excluded from the domain.

The other denominator is \(\displaystyle 4- \frac{2}{x-2}\). If it is equal to zero, then

\(\displaystyle 4- \frac{2}{x-2} = 0\)

\(\displaystyle 4= \frac{2}{x-2}\)

\(\displaystyle 4\cdot \frac{x-2}{4} = \frac{2}{x-2} \cdot \frac{x-2}{4}\)

\(\displaystyle x-2 = \frac{1}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle x=2 \frac{1}{2}\)

Therefore, this value is also excluded from the domain.

The correct domain is the set \(\displaystyle \left ( -\infty , 2 \right ) \cup \left ( 2, 2\frac{1}{2}\right ) \cup \left ( 2\frac{1}{2}, \infty \right )\).

Example Question #3 : How To Find Excluded Values

Define the function \(\displaystyle f\) as follows:

\(\displaystyle f(x)=\frac{x-4}{1- \frac{3}{\sqrt x}}\)

Give the domain of \(\displaystyle f\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \left ( 0, \sqrt{3}\right ) \cup \left ( \sqrt{3} , \infty \right )\)

\(\displaystyle \left ( 0, \sqrt{3} \right ) \cup \left ( \sqrt{3}, 4\right ) \cup \left ( 4, \infty \right )\)

\(\displaystyle \left ( -\infty, 9\right ) \cup \left ( 9, \infty \right )\)

\(\displaystyle \left ( 0, 9\right ) \cup \left ( 9, \infty \right )\)

\(\displaystyle \left ( 0,4\right ) \cup \left ( 4, 9\right ) \cup \left ( 9, \infty \right )\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \left ( 0, 9\right ) \cup \left ( 9, \infty \right )\)

Explanation:

The numerator \(\displaystyle x-4\), being a polynomial, does not restrict the domain.

\(\displaystyle x\) appears as a radicand of a square root in the definition of \(\displaystyle f\), so \(\displaystyle x\) must be restricted to nonnegative numbers. Also, \(\displaystyle \sqrt{x}\) is a denominator, which means 0 must also be excluded. Therefore, we are restricted so far to positive numbers.

There is one more denominator, which is \(\displaystyle 1- \frac{3}{\sqrt x}\); it must be nonzero. We set this equal to zero to determine any additional value(s) that must be excluded:

\(\displaystyle 1- \frac{3}{\sqrt x} = 0\)

\(\displaystyle 1= \frac{3}{\sqrt x}\)

\(\displaystyle 1 \cdot \sqrt{x}= \frac{3}{\sqrt x} \cdot \sqrt{x}\)

\(\displaystyle \sqrt{x} = 3\)

\(\displaystyle x= 9\)

Therefore, the domain is the set of all positive numbers except 9 - or

\(\displaystyle \left ( 0, 9\right ) \cup \left ( 9, \infty \right )\).

Example Question #1 : How To Find Excluded Values

Which of the following are answers to the equation below?

\(\displaystyle \frac{x^2-4}{x^2+5x+6}=0\)

I. -3

II. -2

III. 2

Possible Answers:

II only

I, II, and III

III only

II and III

I only

Correct answer:

III only

Explanation:

Given a fractional algebraic equation with variables in the numerator and denominator of one side and the other side equal to zero, we rely on a simple concept.  Zero divided by anything equals zero. That means we can focus in on what values make the numerator (the top part of the fraction) zero, or in other words,

\(\displaystyle x^2-4=0\)

The expression \(\displaystyle x^2-4\) is a difference of squares that can be factored as 

\(\displaystyle (x-2)(x+2)=0\)

Solving this for \(\displaystyle x\) gives either \(\displaystyle 2\) or \(\displaystyle -2\).  That means either of these values will make our numerator equal zero.  We might be tempted to conclude that both are valid answers.  However, our statement earlier that zero divided by anything is zero has one caveat. We can never divide by zero itself.  That means that any values that make our denominator zero must be rejected.  Therefore we must also look at the denominator.

\(\displaystyle x^2+5x+6=0\) 

The left side factors as follows

\(\displaystyle (x+3)(x+2)=0\)

This means that if \(\displaystyle x\) is \(\displaystyle -3\) or \(\displaystyle -2\), we end up dividing by zero.  That means that \(\displaystyle -2\) cannot be a valid solution, leaving \(\displaystyle 2\) as the only valid answer.  Therefore only #3 is correct. 

Example Question #1 : How To Find Excluded Values

Which of the following provides the complete solution set for \(\displaystyle |2-z|>0\) ?

Possible Answers:

No solutions

\(\displaystyle z< 2\)

\(\displaystyle z>2\)

\(\displaystyle z=2\)

\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} z|z\neq 2\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} z|z\neq 2\)

Explanation:

The absolute value will always be positive or 0, therefore all values of z will create a true statement as long as \(\displaystyle 2-z\neq 0\). Thus all values except for 2 will work.

Example Question #3 : How To Find Excluded Values

If the average (arithmetic mean) of \(\displaystyle x\), \(\displaystyle y\), and \(\displaystyle 9\) is \(\displaystyle 12\), what is the average of \(\displaystyle x+2\), \(\displaystyle y-6\), and \(\displaystyle 10\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 11\)

\(\displaystyle 9\)

\(\displaystyle 12\)

\(\displaystyle 10\)

There is not enough information to determine the answer.

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 11\)

Explanation:

If we can find the sum of \dpi{100} \small x+2\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} \small x+2\), \dpi{100} \small y-6\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} \small y-6\), and 10, we can determine their average. There is not enough information to solve for \dpi{100} \small x\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} \small x\) or \dpi{100} \small y\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} \small y\) individually, but we can find their sum, \dpi{100} \small x+y\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} \small x+y\)

Write out the average formula for the original three quantities.  Remember, adding together and dividing by the number of quantities gives the average: \frac{x + y + 9}{3} = 12\(\displaystyle \frac{x + y + 9}{3} = 12\)

Isolate \dpi{100} \small x+y\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} \small x+y\)

x + y + 9 = 36\(\displaystyle x + y + 9 = 36\)

x + y = 27\(\displaystyle x + y = 27\)

 

Write out the average formula for the new three quantities: 

\frac{x + 2 + y - 6 + 10}{3} = ?\(\displaystyle \frac{x + 2 + y - 6 + 10}{3} = ?\)

Combine the integers in the numerator:

\frac{x + y + 6}{3} = ?\(\displaystyle \frac{x + y + 6}{3} = ?\)

Replace \dpi{100} \small x+y\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} \small x+y\) with 27:

\frac{27+ 6}{3} = \frac{33}{3} = 11\(\displaystyle \frac{27+ 6}{3} = \frac{33}{3} = 11\)

Example Question #1 : How To Find Excluded Values

Find the excluded values of the following algebraic fraction

\(\displaystyle \frac{2x^2-5x-12}{x^2-11x+28}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle x\neq-11\)

\(\displaystyle x\neq4\)

\(\displaystyle x\neq7\)

The numerator cancels all the binomials in the denomniator so ther are no excluded values.

\(\displaystyle x\neq4,7\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle x\neq4,7\)

Explanation:

To find the excluded values of a algebraic fraction you need to find when the denominator is zero. To find when the denominator is zero you need to factor it. This denominator factors into 

\(\displaystyle (x-7)(x-4)\)

so this is zero when x=4,7 so our answer is 

\(\displaystyle x\neq4,7\)

Example Question #1251 : Psat Mathematics

A school's tornado shelter has enough food to last 20 children for 6 days. If 24 children ended up taking shelter together, for how many fewer days will the food last?

Possible Answers:

8

2

1

6

4

Correct answer:

1

Explanation:

Because the number of days goes down as the number of children goes up, this problem type is inverse variation. We can solve this problem by the following steps:

20*6=24*x

120=24x

x=120/24

x=5

In this equation, x represents the total number of days that can be weathered by 24 students. This is down from the 6 days that 20 students could take shelter together. So the difference is 1 day less.

Example Question #1 : How To Find Inverse Variation

\(\displaystyle A\) varies inversely as the cube of \(\displaystyle B\).

If \(\displaystyle A = 8\) when \(\displaystyle B = 66\), then evaluate \(\displaystyle A\) when \(\displaystyle B = 100\). (Nearest tenth)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 27.8\)

\(\displaystyle 5.3\)

\(\displaystyle 7.0\)

\(\displaystyle 2.3\) 

\(\displaystyle 9.2\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 2.3\) 

Explanation:

If \(\displaystyle A\) varies inversely as the cube of \(\displaystyle B\), then, if \(\displaystyle A ,B\) are the initial values of the variables and \(\displaystyle A' ,B'\) are the final values,

\(\displaystyle A'B' ^{3} = AB^{3}\)

Substitute \(\displaystyle A = 8, B = 66, B'= 100\) and find \(\displaystyle A'\):

\(\displaystyle A' \cdot 100 ^{3} = 8 \cdot 66^{3}\)

\(\displaystyle A' =\frac{ 8 \cdot 66^{3}}{100^{3}} = \frac{ 8 \cdot 287,496}{1,000,000} =2.299968\)

This rounds to 2.3.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors