SAT II Math II : SAT Subject Test in Math II

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Finding Sides

Which of the following describes a triangle with sides of length 9 feet, 3 yards, and 90 inches?

Possible Answers:

The triangle is obtuse and isosceles, but not equilateral.

The triangle is obtuse and scalene.

The triangle is acute and scalene.

The triangle is acute and isosceles, but not equilateral.

The triangle is acute and equilateral.

Correct answer:

The triangle is acute and isosceles, but not equilateral.

Explanation:

One yard is equal to three feet; One foot is equal to twelve inches. Therefore, 9 feet is equal to  inches, and 3 yards is equal to  inches. The triangle has sides of measure 90, 108, 108.

We compare the squares of the sides.

The sum of the squares of the two smaller sidelengths exceeds that of the third, so the triangle is acute.

The correct response is acute and isosceles.

Example Question #2 : Finding Sides

Triangle

Note: figure NOT drawn to scale.

Refer to the above diagram.

.

Which of the following expressions is equal to  ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

By the Law of Sines,

.

Substitute , and :

We can solve for :

Example Question #6 : Finding Sides

Triangle

Note: figure NOT drawn to scale.

Refer to the triangle in the above diagram.

.

Evaluate .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

By the Law of Sines,

Substitute  and solve for :

Example Question #2 : Finding Sides

Decagon

The above figure is a regular decagon. Evaluate  to the nearest tenth.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Two sides of the triangle formed measure 6 each; the included angle is one angle of the regular decagon, which measures

.

Since we know two sides and the included angle of the triangle in the diagram, we can apply the Law of Cosines, 

with  and :

Example Question #352 : Sat Subject Test In Math Ii

Regular Pentagon  has perimeter 35.  has  as its midpoint; segment  is drawn. To the nearest tenth, give the length of .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The perimeter of the regular pentagon is 35, so each side measures one fifth of this, or 7. Also, since  is the midpoint of 

Also, each interior angle of a regular pentagon measures .

Below is the pentagon in question, with  indicated and  constructed; all relevant measures are marked. 

Pentagon 1

A triangle  is formed with , and included angle measure . The length of the remaining side can be calculated using the law of cosines: 

where  and  are the lengths of two sides,  is the measure of their included angle, and  is the length of the third side. 

Setting , and , substitute and evaluate :

;

Taking the square root of both sides:

,

the correct choice.

Example Question #51 : Geometry

Regular Hexagon  has perimeter 360.  and  have  and as midpoints, respectively; segment  is drawn. To the nearest tenth, give the length of .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The perimeter of the regular hexagon is 360, so each side measures one sixth of this, or 60. Since  is the midpoint of 

Similarly, .

Also, each interior angle of a regular hexagon measures .

Below is the hexagon with the midpoints  and , and with  constructed. Note that perpendiculars have been drawn to  from  and , with feet at points and  respectively.

Hexagon

 is a rectangle, so .

This makes  and  the short leg and hypotenuse of a 30-60-90 triangle; as a consequence,

.

For the same reason,

Adding the segment lengths:

.

Example Question #4 : Finding Sides

Regular Pentagon  has perimeter 60. 

To the nearest tenth, give the length of diagonal .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The perimeter of the regular pentagon is 60, so each side measures one fifth of this, or 12. Also, each interior angle of a regular pentagon measures .

The pentagon, along with diagonal , is shown below:

Pentagon 2

 

A triangle  is formed with , and included angle measure . The length of the remaining side can be calculated using the Law of Cosines: 

where  and  are the lengths of two sides,  the measure of their included angle, and  the length of the side opposite that angle.

Setting , and , substitute and evaluate :

Taking the square root of both sides:

,

the correct choice.

Example Question #51 : 2 Dimensional Geometry

Given a cube, if the volume is 100 feet cubed, what must be the side?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Write the formula for the volume of the cube.

To solve for , cube root both sides.

Substitute the volume.

The answer is:  

Example Question #1 : Angles

Solve for and .

Question_3

(Figure not drawn to scale).

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The angles containing the variable  all reside along one line, therefore, their sum must be .

Because  and  are opposite angles, they must be equal.

Example Question #2 : Finding Angles

What angle do the minute and hour hands of a clock form at 6:15?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

There are twelve numbers on a clock; from one to the next, a hand rotates . At 6:15, the minute hand is exactly on the "3" - that is, on the  position. The hour hand is one-fourth of the way from the "6" to the "7" - that is, on the  position. Therefore, the difference is the angle they make:

.

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