SAT II Math I : Mathematical Relationships

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT II Math I

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Matrices

Let  and .

Evaluate .

Possible Answers:

 does not exist.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The inverse  of any two-by-two matrix  can be found according to this pattern:

If 

then 

,

where determinant  is equal to .

Therefore, if , then , the second row/first column entry in the matrix , can be found by setting , then evaluating:

.

 

Example Question #51 : Mathematical Relationships

Solve:  

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To compute the matrices, simply add the terms with the correct placement in the matrices.  The resulting matrix is two by two.

The answer is:  

Example Question #91 : Sat Subject Test In Math I

.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

A matrix  lacks an inverse if and only if its determinant  is equal to zero. The determinant of  is

Set this equal to 0 and solve for :

,

the correct response.

Example Question #51 : Mathematical Relationships

Let 

Which of the following values of  makes  a matrix without an inverse?

Possible Answers:

None of these

Correct answer:

Explanation:

A matrix  lacks an inverse if and only if its determinant  is equal to zero. The determinant of  is 

.

We seek the value of  that sets this quantity equal to 0. Setting it as such then solving for :

,

the correct response.

Example Question #11 : Matrices

Let  equal the following:

Which of the following values of  makes  a matrix without an inverse?

Possible Answers:

There is one such value: 

There are two such values:  or 

There is one such value: 

There are two such values:  or 

There are two such values:  or 

Correct answer:

There are two such values:  or 

Explanation:

A matrix  lacks an inverse if and only if its determinant  is equal to zero. The determinant of  is 

Setting this equal to 0 and solving for :

Example Question #91 : Sat Subject Test In Math I

Let  equal the following:

.

Which of the following real values of  makes  a matrix without an inverse?

Possible Answers:

There are two such values:  or 

There is one such value: 

There are two such values:  or 

There are two such values:  or 

 has an inverse for all real values of 

Correct answer:

 has an inverse for all real values of 

Explanation:

A matrix  lacks an inverse if and only if its determinant  is equal to zero. The determinant of  is 

, so

Since the square of all real numbers is nonnegative, this equation has no real solution. It follows that the determinant cannot be 0 for any real value of , and that  must have an inverse for all real .

Example Question #1 : Sequences

The first two numbers of a sequence are, in order, 1 and 4. Each successive element is formed by adding the previous two. What is the sum of the first six elements of the sequence?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The first six elements are as follows:

Add them:

Example Question #1 : Sequences

The first and third terms of a geometric sequence are 3 and 108, respectively. All What is the sixth term?

Possible Answers:

Insufficient information is given to answer the question.

Correct answer:

Insufficient information is given to answer the question.

Explanation:

Let the common ratio of the sequence be . Then The first three terms of the sequence are . The third term is 108, so

 or .

The common ratio can be either - not enough information exists for us to determine which.

The sixth term is 

If , the seventh term is .

If , the seventh term is .

Therefore, not enough information exists to determine the sixth term of the sequence.

Example Question #1 : Sequences

The first and third terms of a geometric sequence are 2 and 50, respectively. What is the seventh term?

Possible Answers:

Insufficient information is given to answer the question.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Let the common ratio of the sequence be . Then The first three terms of the sequence are . The third term is 50, so

 or .

Not enough information is given to choose which one is the common ratio. But the seventh term is 

If , the seventh term is .

If , the seventh term is .

Either way, the seventh term is 31,250.

 

Example Question #4 : Sequences

The sum of 3 odd consecutive numbers is 345. What is the largest number in the sequence?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

When you are dealing with arithmetic means, it is best to define one number in the sequence as x and every other number relative to x. 

Because we are trying to find the largest of three numbers, let's define x as the largest number in the equation. Because each number is a consecutive odd number, we must subtract 2 to get to the next number in the sequence.

x: largest number in sequence

x-2: middle number in sequence

x-4: smallest number in sequence

Now, let's make an equation finds the sum of all the numbers in the sequence and set it equal to 354.  

117 is the largest number in the sequence. 

 

To check yourself, you can add up the numbers in the sequence {113, 115, 117}.

 

 

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors