SAT Math : Algebra

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #6 : Evaluating Expressions

If x = 2 and y = 3, then evaluate 2(x – 3) + 5y2

Possible Answers:

37

62

43

52

49

Correct answer:

43

Explanation:

To evaluate an expression we make substitutions into the expression

2(x – 3) + 5y2 becomes 2(2 – 3) + 5 * 32 = –2 + 45 = 43

Example Question #5 : How To Evaluate Algebraic Expressions

IF 5x3 = 40, then what is the value of 12x – (x/2)?

Possible Answers:

24

10

23

17

33

Correct answer:

23

Explanation:

Use the first equation to solve for x, then plug into the 2nd equation to find a value.

5x3 = 40

x3 = 8

x = 2

12(2) – (2/2) = 24 – 1 = 23

Example Question #3 : Evaluating And Simplifying Expressions

A rowing team paddles upstream at a rate of 10 miles every 2 hours and downstream at a rate of 27 miles every 3 hours. Assuming they are paddling at the same rate up and downstream, what is the speed of the water?

Possible Answers:

2

1

7

5

Cannot be determined

Correct answer:

2

Explanation:

Upstream:        p – w = (10/2)    or     p – w = 5 miles/hour

Downstream:    p + w = (27/3)    or    p + w = 9 miles/hour

Then we add the two equations together to cancel out the w's. After adding we see

2p = 14

p = 7 miles/hour   where p is the rate of the paddling. We plug p into the equation to find

w = 2 miles/hour    where w is the rate of the stream's water.

Example Question #3 : Evaluating And Simplifying Expressions

Tim is two years older than his twin sisters, Rachel and Claire. The sum of their ages is 65. How old is Tim?

Possible Answers:

23

22

21

24

20

Correct answer:

23

Explanation:

The answer is 23. 

Since Rachel and Claire are twins they are the same age. We will use the variable r to represent both Rachel and Claire's ages. 

From the question we can form two equations. They are:

t = r + 2       and     65 = t + 2r

lets plug the first equation into the second to solve for r.

65 = (r + 2) + 2r

65 = 3r +2

63 = 3r

r = 21      This means Rachel and Claire are 21 years old. Plug this into the equation so

t = 23       Tim is 23 years old. 

Example Question #711 : Algebra

Drink A is 20% water by weight, and drink B is 35% water by weight. How many fluid ounces of drink A must be added to 80 oz of drink B to have a drink whose final proportion of water is 30%?

Possible Answers:

60 fl oz

50 fl oz

40 fl oz

85 fl oz

75 fl oz

Correct answer:

40 fl oz

Explanation:

It's easiest if we convert all percentages to actual oz of water for each step here. As such, 35% of the 80 oz of drink B would have 0.35(80) = 28 oz of water in it. 

We can set up an equation that similarly converts each "percentage of a fixed weight of liquid" to ensure that our final weight is equivalent to 30% to the sum of drink A and B. On the left side, the fixed values are the percentages of each drink individually, and on the right side is what the question requires as a fixed percentage of the final weight:

0.2(A) + 0.35(80) = 0.3(A + 80)

0.2A + 28 = 0.3A + 24

A = 40 

Solving for A, we get 40 oz of A that must be poured into B. You may plug this back into the equation to check it.

Example Question #11 : Evaluating Expressions

Let x&y = xy – x + y. Which of the following is equal to 5&3 ?

Possible Answers:

2&(8&1)

8&(2&0)

3&(5&2)

4&(3&4)

11&(0&2)

Correct answer:

11&(0&2)

Explanation:

First, we need to evaluate 5&3.

Since x&y = xy – x + y, we can find 5&3 as follows:

5&3 = 5(3) – 5 + 3

= 15 – 5 + 3

= 13

Now, we need to go through each of the choices and determine which one equals 13.

Let's start with 2&(8&1). Remember that we must first evaluate inside the parantheses.

2&(8&1) = 2&(8(1) – 8 + 1)

= 2&(8 – 8 + 1)

= 2&(1)

= 2(1) – 2 + 1 = 1, which doesn't equal 13.

Next, let's evaluate 4&(3&4).

4&(3&4) = 4&(3(4) – 3 + 4)

= 4&(13) = 4(13) – 4 + 13 = 61.

Next, we can evaulate 8&(2&0).

8&(2&0) = 8&(2(0) – 2 + 0)

= 8&(–2) = 8(–2) – 8 + 2 = –22.

Next, let's find 3&(5&2).

3&(5&2) = 3&(5(2) – 5 + 2)

= 3&(7) = 3(7) – 3 + 7 = 25.

Finally, lets evaluate 11&(0&2).

11&(0&2) = 11&(0(2) – 0 + 2)

= 11&(2) = 11(2) – 11 + 2 = 13.

The answer is 11&(0&2).

Example Question #12 : Evaluating Expressions

x is 75% of y, which is 8 times the amount of 150% of z. What is x in terms of z?

Possible Answers:

6z

7.5z

9z

None of the other answers

12z

Correct answer:

9z

Explanation:

Just take this step by step.  First write out each equation:

x = 0.75y

y = 8(1.5z)

First, simplify the second equation:

y = 12z

Then, substitute y from this equation into the first:

x = 0.75(12z) = 9z

Example Question #12 : Evaluating Expressions

2x + 6y = 44

What is x + 3y + 33?

Possible Answers:

23

The answer cannot be determined

77

55

81

Correct answer:

55

Explanation:

The key to solving this question is noticing that we can factor out a two:

2x + 6y = 44 is the same as 2(x + 3y) = 44

Therefore, x + 3y = 22

In this case, x + 3y + 33 is the same as 22 + 33 or 55

Example Question #14 : Evaluating Expressions

John has four more dollars than four times the amount of dollars that Sandy has.

Peter has three times that of John.

Sandy has $20.

How much money does Peter have?

Possible Answers:

288

64

84

252

60

Correct answer:

252

Explanation:

Let's make 3 equations based on our data:

J = 4S + 4

P = 3J

S = 20

All we have to do is sequentially replace values.

Substitute 20 for S in the J equation:

J = 4 * 20 + 4 = 84

Now, we can calculate P: P = 3 * 84 = 252

Example Question #712 : Algebra

There are 42 marbles in a bag. Half are red. The remaining ones are green and blue. There are five more blue marbles than green ones. How many marbles are there of each type?

Possible Answers:

21 Red, 8 Blue, 13 Green

4 Red, 15 Blue, 21 Green

21 Red, 16 Blue, 5 Green

21 Red, 13 Blue, 8 Green

None of the other answers

Correct answer:

21 Red, 13 Blue, 8 Green

Explanation:

Rewrite our question as a set of equations:

R + G + B = 42

R = 42/2 = 21

Therefore, we already know:

G + B = 21

Also, we know that B = 5 + G

Replace that value into the B + G equation:

G + 5 + G = 21 → 2G + 5 = 21 → 2G = 16; G = 8

Therefore, we know that there are 5 + 8 or 13 blue marbles.

The total is therefore 21 Red, 13 Blue, 8 Green

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