SAT II Math I : SAT Subject Test in Math I

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Solving Inequalities

Solve for x.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Solving inequalities is very similar to solving an equation. We must start by isolating x by moving the terms farthest from it to the other side of the inequality. In this case, subtract 2from  each side.

Now, divide both sides by 2.

Example Question #1 : Solving Inequalities

Solve the following inequality: 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve for an inequality, you solve like you would for a single variable expression and get  by itself.  

First, subtract  from both sides to get,

.  

Then divide both sides by  and your final answer will be, 

.

Example Question #5 : Solving Inequalities

Solve the inequality:  

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Simplify the left side.

The inequality becomes:

Divide by two on both sides.

The answer is:  

Example Question #4 : Solving Inequalities

Solve the inequality:  

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Subtract  on both sides.

Add 3 on both sides.

Divide by 7 on both sides.

The answer is:  

Example Question #1 : Simplifying Expressions

Simplify the expression.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Because we are only multiplying terms in the numerator, we can disregard the parentheses.

To combine like terms in the numerator, we add their exponents.

To combine like terms between the numerator and denominator, subtract the denominator exponent from the numerator exponent.

Remember that any negative exponents stay in the denominator.

Example Question #1 : Simplifying Expressions

Give the value of  that makes the polynomial  the square of a linear binomial. 

Possible Answers:

None of the other responses gives a correct answer.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

A quadratic trinomial is a perfect square if and only if takes the form

 for some values of  and .

, so 

 and 

For  to be a perfect square, it must hold that 

,

so . This is the correct choice.

Example Question #3 : Simplifying Expressions

Factor:

Possible Answers:

The polynomial is prime.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

This can be factored out as the cube of a difference, where :

Therefore,

Example Question #1 : Simplifying Expressions

Which of the following linear binomials is a factor of the polynomial ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

By the factor theorem, a polynomial  is divisible by the linear binomial  if and only if . We can use this fact to test each of the binomials by evaluating the dividend for the appropriate value of .

 

: Evaluate the polynomial at :

 

: Evaluate the polynomial at :

 

: Evaluate the polynomial at :

 

: Evaluate the polynomial at :

 

: Evaluate the polynomial at :

 

The dividend assumes the value of 0 at , so of the choices given,  is the factor.

Example Question #5 : Simplifying Expressions

What is  increased by 40%?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

A number increased by 40% is equivalent to 100% of the number plus 40% of the number. This is taking 140% of the number, or, equivalently, multiplying it by 1.4.

Therefore,  increased by 40% is 1.4 times this, or

Example Question #2 : Simplifying Expressions

Which of the following is a prime factor of  ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

 is the difference of two squares:

As such, it can be factored as follows:

The first factor is the sum of cubes and the second is the difference of cubes; each can be factored further:

Therefore, 

Of the choices,  appears in the prime factorization and is therefore the correct choice.

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