SAT Math : Expressions

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #12 : Expressions

If the first term of a sequence is 15 and each term is 8 more than the previous term, what is the 24th term of the sequence?

Possible Answers:

207

191

184

199

Correct answer:

199

Explanation:

Taking 23 terms * 8 = 184; adding the original term of 15 yields 199.

Example Question #401 : Algebra

If f(x) = 5x/a, and g(x) = ax/10, what is f(2) + g(5)?

Possible Answers:

a/10

10

a

5a

(20+a2)/2a

Correct answer:

(20+a2)/2a

Explanation:

(20+a2) / 2a is the answer. Find a common denominator to add the 2 fractions after plugging in the values. So we get 10/a + a/2 after plugging in the values. The lowest common denominator would be 2a. Mutiply 10/a by 2/2, and multiply a/2 by a/a. The new equation appears as 20/2a + a2/2a. Add them together to get (20 + a2)/2a.

Example Question #13 : Expressions

(√(4) + √(16))2  = ?

Possible Answers:

√20

√30

6

36

20

Correct answer:

36

Explanation:

If we use order of operations (PEMDAS), the answer is 36.

Example Question #31 : Expressions

x * y = –a, a – x = 2a. What is y?

Possible Answers:

1

-2

a

Insufficient Information.

-a

Correct answer:

1

Explanation:

Use the second equation to find x in terms of a. Plug it back in the second equation, that will give you 1 = y.

Example Question #1061 : Psat Mathematics

The projected sales of a movie are given by the function s(p) = 3000/(2a) where s is the number of movies sold, in thousands; p is the price per movie, in dollars; and a is a constant. If according to projections, 75,000 cartidges will be sold at $15 each, how many movies are sold at $20 each?

Possible Answers:

20,000

50,000

150,000

200,000

60,000

Correct answer:

60,000

Explanation:

You set up the equation to solve for a.

75 = 3000/(2(15) + a)

= 10

You then set up the formula again for each movie costing $20, s(20) = 3000/(2(20) + 10), and solve for x, the number sold, giving you 60.

Example Question #23 : Expressions

Half of one hundred divided by five and multiplied by one-tenth is __________.

Possible Answers:

2

10

5

1/2

1

Correct answer:

1

Explanation:

Let's take this step by step. "Half of one hundred" is 100/2 = 50. Then "half of one hundred divided by five" is 50/5 = 10. "Multiplied by one-tenth" really is the same as dividing by ten, so the last step gives us 10/10 = 1.

Example Question #1062 : Psat Mathematics

Let x&y be defined as (x – y)xy . What is the value of –1&2?

Possible Answers:

–1/3

–3

–1/9

1/9

3

Correct answer:

1/9

Explanation:

We are told that x&y = (x – y)xy 

–1&2 = (–1 – 2)(–1)(2) = (–3)–2 

To simplify this, we can make use of the property of exponents which states that ab = 1/(ab ).

(–3)–2 = 1/(–3)2 = 1/9

The answer is 1/9.

Example Question #22 : Evaluating And Simplifying Expressions

If 18 – w is 8 less than 32, what is the value of \dpi{100} \small -\frac{1}{3}w ?

Possible Answers:

–6

2

–2

3

–3

Correct answer:

2

Explanation:

We need to rewrite this problem in mathematic terms.

8 less than 32 can be written as 32 – 8

so we will get the equation

18 – w = 32 – 8.

Now, we need to solve for w. 

w = 32 – 8 – 18

w = 6

w = –6

Find the value of the given expression, \dpi{100} \small -\frac{1}{3}w, by plugging in –6 for w.

\dpi{100} \small -\left (\frac{1}{3} \right )\left ( -6 \right )=2

 

Example Question #31 : Expressions

If x and y are integers such that x > y > 0 and x+ y= 100

Which of the following can be the value of x + y?

I. 10

II. 12

III. 14

IV. 16

V. 18

Possible Answers:

16

12

18

14

10

Correct answer:

14

Explanation:

Note that x must be greater than y and that y must be greater than 0. This means that x and y are different, positive integers. In addition, the sum, x+ y2 must equal to 100. If we list squares beginning from the square of the first integer greater than 0 (12) up to the square of the greatest integer less than 100 (92) we will get:

1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81

We must observe that the only two numbers that will add up to 100 are 36 and 64.

Remember that x > y > 0 and that x+ y=100.

This means that x must be \dpi{100} \small \sqrt{64} and y must be \dpi{100} \small \sqrt{36}

When we solve for x and y we get:

x = 8

and y = 6.

Therefore, x + y can only be 14.

Example Question #27 : Expressions

If m > n, which of the following has to be true?

Possible Answers:

\left | m \right | > \left | n \right |

m^{2} > n^{2}

\frac{m}{2} > \frac{n}{2}

mn > 0

mn > -mn

Correct answer:

\frac{m}{2} > \frac{n}{2}

Explanation:

Plug in numbers for each alternative. If both sides of the inequality \frac{m}{2} > \frac{n}{2} are multiplied by 2, the result is the original inequality, m > n. The other options fail (if confused, try plugging in m as a positive, n as a negative).

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