SAT Math : Algebraic Fractions

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : How To Evaluate A Fraction

Evaluate the following equation when  and round your answer to the nearest hundredth.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

 

1. Plug in  wherever there is an  in the above equation.

2. Perform the above operations.

Example Question #2 : How To Evaluate A Fraction

If w=\frac{1}{8} then which of the following is equal to ?

Possible Answers:

\frac{1}{4}

\frac{1}{64}

\frac{1}{16}

\frac{1}{32}

\frac{1}{2}

Correct answer:

\frac{1}{4}

Explanation:

To raise \frac{1}{8} to the exponent \frac{2}{3}, square \frac{1}{8} and then take the cube root.

Example Question #1 : How To Evaluate A Fraction

Solve   Actmath_7_113_q10_1

 

Possible Answers:

0

no solution

–1

infinitely many solutions

Correct answer:

infinitely many solutions

Explanation:

The common denominator of the left side is x(x–1). Multiplying the top and bottom of 1/x by (x–1) yields

Actmath_7_113_q10_2

Actmath_7_113_q10_3

Actmath_7_113_q10_4

Actmath_7_113_q10_5

 

Since this statement is true, there are infinitely many solutions. 

Example Question #1 : How To Evaluate A Fraction

Evaluate Actmath_18_159_q9when x=11. Round to the nearest tenth.

 

Possible Answers:

0.3

0.2

1.9

1.8

Correct answer:

1.8

Explanation:

Wherever there is an x, plug in 11 and perform the given operations. The numerator will be equal to 83 and the denominator will be equal to 46. 83 divided by 46 is equal to 1.804… and since the second decimal place is not greater than or equal to 5, the first decimal place stays the same when rounding so the final answer is 1.8.

Example Question #5 : How To Evaluate A Fraction

For this question, the following trigonometric identities apply:

,

Simplify:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To begin a problem like this, you must first convert everything to  and  alone. This way, you can begin to cancel and combine to its most simplified form.

Since  and , we insert those identities into the equation as follows.

From here we combine the numerator and denominators of each fraction together to easily see what we can combine and cancel.

Since there is a  in the numerator and the denominator, we can cancel them as they divide to equal 1. All we have left is , the answer. 

Example Question #1 : How To Evaluate A Fraction

If 3x = 12, y/4 = 10, and 4z = 9, what is the value of (10xyz)/xy?

Possible Answers:

360

22 1/2

10

160

1/2

Correct answer:

22 1/2

Explanation:

Solve for the variables, the plug into formula.

x = 12/3 = 4

y = 10 * 4 = 40

z= 9/4 = 2 1/4

10xyz = 3600

Xy = 160

3600/160 = 22 1/2

Example Question #1 : How To Evaluate A Fraction

If  , , and , find the value of .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In order to solve , we must first find the values of , and  using the initial equations provided. Starting with :

Then:

 

Finally:

 

With the values of , and  in hand, we can solve the final equation:

 

Example Question #6 : How To Evaluate A Fraction

If    and , then which of the following is equal to 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In order to solve , first substitute the values of  and  provided in the problem:

Find the Least Common Multiple (LCM) of the fractional terms in the denominator and find the equivalent fractions with the same common denominator:

Finally, in order to divide by a fraction, we must multiply by the reciprocal of the fraction:

 

Example Question #7 : How To Evaluate A Fraction

Find the value of  if  and .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In order to solve for , first substitute  into the equation for :

 

Then, find the Least Common Multiple (LCM) of the two fractions and generate equivalent fractions with the same denominator:

Finally, simplify the equation:

Example Question #21 : Algebraic Fractions

\frac{7^{12}-7^{10}}{7^{11}-7^{9}}=

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Factor out 7 from the numerator: \frac{7(7^{11}-7^{9})}{7^{11}-7^{9}}

This simplifies to 7.

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