SAT Math : Algebra

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #251 : Algebra

Solve for .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Solve the system of equations using substitution.

First, isolate one of the variables. Since we are solving for , we are going to isolate  in the second equation. 

Replace with in our first equation.

Now we can solve to isolate .

 

Example Question #252 : Algebra

A train leaves the station going 60 miles per hour. Twenty minutes later another train leaves going 100 miles per hour. How much time it take from the time the second train leaves the station until it catches up with the first train?

Possible Answers:

28 minutes

30 minutes

10 minutes

42 minutes

20 minutes

Correct answer:

30 minutes

Explanation:

After 20 minutes the first train would have traveled 20 miles. Let x be the amount of time elapsed. When 20 + 60x = 100x you will have the time in hours. 20 = 40x, x = 0.5 hrs. 0.5 hrs = 30 minutes. 

Example Question #253 : Algebra

In the following system of equations, what is the value of m – n?

 

Possible Answers:

6

8

2

4

–2

Correct answer:

–2

Explanation:

Solve by method of elimination. Multiply the first equation by 8 to eliminate the variable, m. Our first equation will then become \dpi{100} \small -4m+8n=24.

By adding this new equation

\dpi{100} \small -4m+8n=24

with our second equation

\dpi{100} \small 4m+2n=16

We will see that our cancel out. We can now solve for n

\dpi{100} \small 10n=40

\dpi{100} \small n=4

Now we have to plug in this value of n into any of our equations to find the value of m

Let's use the second equation.

\dpi{100} \small 4m+2\left (4 \right )=16


\dpi{100} \small 4m+8=16

\dpi{100} \small 4m=8

\dpi{100} \small m=2

\dpi{100} \small m-n=-2

Example Question #254 : Algebra

Solve for  and .

\dpi{100} \small 10x - y = 31

\dpi{100} \small y-x=5

 

 

 

 

Possible Answers:

\dpi{100} \small x=7, y=2

\dpi{100} \small x=2, y=7

\dpi{100} \small x=9, y=5

\dpi{100} \small x=4, y=9

\dpi{100} \small x=5, y=9

Correct answer:

\dpi{100} \small x=4, y=9

Explanation:

Substitution needs to be used in order to solve this system of equations. From the second equation we know that \dpi{100} \small y=5+x,

Substitute that into the first equation and solve.

You get \dpi{100} \small 10x - (5+x)=31

\dpi{100} \small 10x-5-x =31

\dpi{100} \small 9x =36

\dpi{100} \small x=4

From there solve for y using the second equation.

\dpi{100} \small y-x=5

\dpi{100} \small y-4=5

\dpi{100} \small y=9

Example Question #2031 : Sat Mathematics

Solve for  and .

Possible Answers:

None of these

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Multiply the bottom equation by

Add the two equations together. This will allow you to cancel out  from an equation. From here, you can proceed to solve for .

From here, plug in the  value into the equation of your choice to solve for .

Example Question #2032 : Sat Mathematics

If  and , then find the value of .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We are essentially presented with a system of equations. To solve for y, we will need to solve the system. The easiest way to solve this particular system is by adding the equations together.

First, multiply the second equation by 2.

Adding the two equations together will allow you to cancel the x values and solve for y.

         

If y equals 2, then 4y will be equal to 8.

Example Question #2033 : Sat Mathematics

An aquarium has 15 fish tanks that hold a total of 70 fish.  If all of the fish tanks hold either four or six fish, how many tanks hold six fish each?

Possible Answers:

5

7

4

6

10

Correct answer:

5

Explanation:

To solve this problem, we translate the given information into two equations and then solve both simultaneously. If we let F represent the number of tanks that hold four fish and S represent the number of tanks that hold six fish, the problem tells us that F+S=15. The problem also tells us that 4F (the total number of fish in the 4-fish tanks) plus 6S (the total number of fish in the six-fish tanks) equals 70 (the total number of fish in the aquarium).

Thus we have the following system of equations:

F+S=15

4F+6S=70

Multiplying the first equation by -4 and combing it with the second gives 2S = 10, as seen below:

[-4F-4S=-60 (the first equation times -4)]

+ [4F+6S=70 (the second equation)]

2S = 10

Therefore, S, the number of tanks that hold 6 fish, is 5.

Example Question #42 : Systems Of Equations

The distance from Fred’s home to his church is 3 miles less than twice the distance from his church to his mosque.  If the entire drive is 54 miles, how many miles is his church from his home?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Let  be the distance from home to church

Let  be the distance from church to mosque

Example Question #2034 : Sat Mathematics

4x + 9y + 7 = 0

2x – 3y + 6 = 0

What is y?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve for y, first eliminate x by adding the two equations together such that the x’s factor out:

4x + 9y + 7 = 0

(–2)2x – (–2) 3y + (–2) 6 = (–2)0 (Multiply this equation by a factor of –2 so that 4x – 4x = 0)

Therefore, the two equations added together are:

(4x + 9y + 7 = 0) + (–4x –(–6)y +(–12) = 0) = (0 + 15y – 5 = 0)

15y = 5

y = 1/3

Example Question #2035 : Sat Mathematics

Julie has  coins, all dimes and quarters. The total value of all her coins is . How many dimes and quarters does Julie have?

Possible Answers:

 quarters and  dimes

 quarters and  dimes

 quarters and  dimes

 quarters and  dimes

 quarters and  dimes

Correct answer:

 quarters and  dimes

Explanation:

Let  be the number of dimes Julie has and  be the numbers of quarters she has. The number of dimes and the number of quarters add up to  coins. The value of all quarters and dimes is . We can then write the following system of equations:

To use substitution to solve the problem, begin by rearranging the first equation so that  is by itself on one side of the equals sign:

Then, we can replace  in the second equation with :

Distribute the :

Subtract  from each side of the equation:

Divide each side of the equation by :

Now, we can insert our value for  into the first equation and solve for :

Julie has  quarters and  dimes.

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