SAT II Math II : Geometry

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #7 : Finding Angles

What angle do the minute and hour hands of a clock form at 4:15?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

There are twelve numbers on a clock; from one to the next, a hand rotates . At 4:15, the minute hand is exactly on the "3" - that is, on the  position. The hour hand is one-fourth of the way from the "4" to the "5" - that is, on the  position. Therefore, the difference is the angle they make:

.

Example Question #1 : Finding Angles

If the vertical angles of intersecting lines are:   and , what must be the value of ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Vertical angles of intersecting lines are always equal.

Set the two expressions equal to each other and solve for .

Subtract  from both sides.

Subtract 6 from both sides.

The answer is:  

Example Question #1 : Finding Angles

If the angles in degrees are  and  which are complementary to each other, what is three times the value of the smallest angle?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Complementary angles add up to 90 degrees.

Set up an equation such that the sum of both angles equal to 90.

Subtract 10 from both sides.

Divide by 2 on both sides.

The angles are:

Three times the value of the smallest angle is:

The answer is:  

Example Question #1 : Finding Angles

If the angles  and  are supplementary, what must be the value of ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Supplementary angles sum up to 180 degrees.

Add five on both sides.

Divide by negative five on both sides to determine .

The answer is:  

Example Question #11 : Finding Angles

Suppose a set of intersecting lines. If an angle is 120 degrees, what must be the sum of the adjacent angle and the vertical angle to the given angle?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In an intersecting pair of lines, recall that vertical angles will always equal.

The adjacent angle with the given angle will form a straight line, and both of the angles must sum to 180 degrees.

Subtract 120 from 180 to get the adjacent angle.

Sum the two angles.

The answer is:  

Example Question #61 : 2 Dimensional Geometry

If a set of angles are supplementary, what must be the other angle if a given angle is ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Supplementary angles must add up to 180 degrees.

To find the missing angle, subtract the known angle from 180 degrees.

The answer is:  

Example Question #11 : Finding Angles

If two angles of a triangle are  radians, what must be the other angle in degrees?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Every pi radians equal 180 degrees.  

We can choose to convert the radians to degrees first.

The sum of these two angles are:

Subtract this value from  to determine the third angle.

The answer is:  

Example Question #1 : Analyzing Figures

Thingy_5

Refer to the above diagram. Which of the following is not a valid name for  ?

Possible Answers:

All of the other choices give valid names for the angle.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

 is the correct choice. A single letter - the vertex - can be used for an angle if and only if that angle is the only one with that vertex. This is not the case here. The three-letter names in the other choices all follow the convention of the middle letter being vertex  and each of the other two letters being points on a different side of the angle.

Example Question #1 : Analyzing Figures

Triangle

Use the rules of triangles to solve for x and y.

Possible Answers:

x=30, y=30

x=45, y=45

x=30, y=60

x=60, y=30

Correct answer:

x=60, y=30

Explanation:

Using the rules of triangles and lines we know that the degree of a straight line is 180. Knowing this we can find x by creating and solving the following equation:

Now using the fact that the interior angles of a triangle add to 180 we can create the following equation and solve for y:

Example Question #2 : Analyzing Figures

Circle

Use the facts of circles to solve for x and y.

 

Possible Answers:

x=10, y=30

x=11, y= 39.5

x=39.5, y=11

x=13, y=10

Correct answer:

x=11, y= 39.5

Explanation:

In this question we use the rule that oppisite angles are congruent and a line is 180 degrees. Knowing these two facts we can first solve for x then solve for y.

Then:

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