SAT Math : Algebra

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Exponential Ratios And Rational Numbers

Com_exp_1

Which of the following lists the above quantities from least to greatest?

Possible Answers:

I, IV, II, III

II, III, I, IV

I, IV, III, II

IV, III, II, I

I, III, II, IV

Correct answer:

I, III, II, IV

Explanation:

Com_exp_2

Com_exp_3

Example Question #1 : How To Find A Rational Number From An Exponent

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Example Question #2 : How To Find A Rational Number From An Exponent

 

 

 

 

Rationalize the denominator:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The conjugate of is  .

Now multiply both the numerator and the denominator by

and you get:

 

Hence we get

Example Question #1 : How To Find A Rational Number From An Exponent

Solve for :

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

 

Example Question #2 : How To Find A Rational Number From An Exponent

Solve for .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Example Question #3 : How To Find A Rational Number From An Exponent

If,

 

What does

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

If  ,

 then .

Example Question #4 : How To Find A Rational Number From An Exponent

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

From the equation in the problem statement

Now squaring both sides we get

  this is a quadratic equation which equals

and the factors of this equation are

This gives us .

However, if we plug these solutions back into the original equation,   does not create an equality. Therefore,  is an extraneous solution.

 

Example Question #641 : Algebra

If 8〖(2)〗= 2y, what is x in terms of y?

Possible Answers:

y – 3

y + 1

y – 1

y + 3

Correct answer:

y – 3

Explanation:

We replace 8 with 23 so that each term has the same base, making the equation 23 2= 2y. The terms on the left now have the same base, so we add the exponents to get 23+x = 2y. Taking the log2 of each side gives 3 + x = y, and therefore x = y – 3.

Example Question #642 : Algebra

What is the number \dpi{100} \small 256,000,000,000 in scientific notation?

Possible Answers:

\dpi{100} \small 2.56\times 10^{11}

\dpi{100} \small 2.56\times 10^{12}

\dpi{100} \small 2.56\times 10^{9}

\dpi{100} \small 2.56\times 10^{10}

\dpi{100} \small 2.56\times 10^{13}

Correct answer:

\dpi{100} \small 2.56\times 10^{11}

Explanation:

\dpi{100} \small 256,000,000,000 = 2.56\times 10^{11} 

The exponent is equal to the number of decimal points shifted.

Example Question #643 : Algebra

Convert from scientific to decimal notation:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In this case the exponent is positive hence you have to move the decimal point 4 places to the right from where it is in the problem giving us

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