SAT Math : Decimals

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : How To Add Decimals

Paths

A family is taking a trip from Town A to Town B, then to Town C. Above is a diagram of the routes available to them. 

Give the range for the driving distance  for the trip.

Possible Answers:

None of the other choices gives the correct response.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Each route includes one path from Point A to Point B and one path from Point B o Point C.

The shortest possible drive is the sum of the shortest paths for each leg of the trip:

The longest possible drive is the sum of the longest paths for each leg of the trip:

The correct response is that .

Example Question #32 : Other Decimals

Paths

Above is a simplified map of the routes from Town A to Town B, and the routes from Town B to Town C. 

A family wants to travel from Town A to Town C by way of Town B, then back to Town A by way of Town B. Since all routes are scenic, the family does not want to take any route twice. 

Give the range for the distance  in miles that the family will travel.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The family's trip will be designed so that the family will take two different routes of the three that connect Town A and Town B, and two different routes of the three that connect Town B and Town C. 

The minimum distance that the family will travel is therefore the sum of the lengths of the two shortest routes from Town A to Town B, and those of the two shortest routes from Town B to Town C:

 miles

The maximum distance that the family will travel is, similarly, the sum of the lengths of the two longest routes from Town A to Town B, and those of the two longest routes from Town B to Town C:

 miles

The correct choice is therefore .

Example Question #33 : Other Decimals

Paths

A family is taking a trip from Town A to Town B, then to Town C. Above is a diagram of the routes available to them. How many routes will only require them to drive 40 miles or fewer:

Possible Answers:

Four

Two

Three

Five

Six

Correct answer:

Five

Explanation:

There are three routes from Point A to Point B, and three from Point B to Point C, for a total of  routes total. The total distance traveled is the distance of one of the first three routes added to that of one of the last three; we can take all nine possibilities and add the distances:

Five of these routes require driving a distance 40 miles or fewer.

Example Question #71 : Decimals

Round the answer to the nearest tenth.

 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

0.57 - 2.657 = -2.087

Don't forget the negative sign!

This number then rounds to -2.1.

Example Question #1 : How To Multiply Decimals

45.728 x 3.2 = ?

Possible Answers:

14.63296

14632.96

146.3296

146329.6

1463.296

Correct answer:

146.3296

Explanation:

Multiply the numbers out in long format, then move the decimal point over the total number of decimal points in the two numbers (3 in the first, 1 in the second, so 4 total):

45.728 * 3.2 = 91456

91456 + 1371840 = 1,463,296 → 146.3296

Or just count the decimal points in the answer and make sure it's 4.

Example Question #72 : Decimals

At the farmer's market, oranges are $0.30 each, apples are $0.25 each, bananas are $0.40 each, and tomatoes are $0.60 each. If Scott buys 3 oranges, 7 apples, 4 bananas, and 8 tomatoes, how much does he spend?

Possible Answers:

$6.80

$7.75

$11.40

$10.40

$9.05

Correct answer:

$9.05

Explanation:

To find out how much Scott spends, we need to multiply the quantity of each fruit by its price and add them all up.

3 * $0.30 + 7 * $0.25 + 4 * $0.40 + 8 * $0.60 = $9.05

Example Question #2 : Decimal Operations

If  is 25% of , what is the closest integer to the value of ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We can approximate the value of y pretty quickly:

y ≈ 1(0.50)(52) = 26

Since y = 0.25x = (1/4)x we know that x  = 4y ≈ 4(26) = 104

Example Question #73 : Decimals

Possible Answers:

0.0006

0.06

0.6

6

0.006

Correct answer:

0.006

Explanation:

It's much easier to work with whole numbers, so we'll ignore the decimals for the first step: 5 x 12 = 60

Now look at the decimals. To add them back in, think of 60 as 60.0. Now move the decimal point four places to the left: 0.5 x 0.012 = .0060 = .006

 

Example Question #52 : Decimals

You bought a dozen eggs marked at  and received  change from . What is the percent of sales tax?  

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Set the equation up as 

 

Solve for , which equals  

or

Therefore the percent sales tax is: 

Example Question #1 : How To Divide Decimals

simplify: 0.2 ÷ 0.04

Possible Answers:
5
0.02
0.05
0.005
2
Correct answer: 5
Explanation:

0.2 ÷ 0.04  <- easiest way to approach is to move the decimal to the right (the same amount of spaces on each side) so that the decimal disappears

since 0.04 has 2 spaces and 0.2 only has 1, move the decimal 2 spaces to the right on each side

0.2 ÷ 0.04 = 20 ÷ 4 = 5

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