SAT Math : Arithmetic

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #24 : How To Convert Decimals To Scientific Notation

Which of the following represents the product of

in scientific notation?

Possible Answers:

None of these

Correct answer:

Explanation:

A number in scientific notation takes the form , where  and is an integer.

To multiply two numbers that are in scientific notation, first, use commutativity to multiply the numbers:

Applying the Product of Powers Rule on the powers of 10:

However, since , this number is not in scientific notation. Adjust by noting that , then applying the Product of Powers Rule again:

Example Question #411 : Arithmetic

Convert 0.0004640 into scientific notation.

Possible Answers:

The value is already in scientific notation

Correct answer:

Explanation:

When written in scientific notation, a number will follow the format in which is between one and ten and is an integer value.

To find , take the first non-zero digit in your given number as the ones place. In 0.0004640 this would be the first 4. All subsequent digits fall into the tenths, hundredths, etc. places.

To find , we must count the number of places that is removed. In 0.0004640, the first digit of  is in the ten-thousandths place. This indicates that will be .

Together, the final scientific notation will be .

Example Question #412 : Arithmetic

If Johnny buys two comic books, priced at $1.50 each, and a candy bar, priced at $0.75, he'll have three quarters and two dimes left over.  How much money does he have right now?

Possible Answers:

$5.10

$4.70

$4.35

$3.75

$3.20

Correct answer:

$4.70

Explanation:

Add what he can purchase to what he has left over:

Two comic books and the candy bar: $1.50 + $1.0 + $0.75 = $3.75

Three quarters and two dimes: $0.75 + $0.20 = $0.95

Therefore his total amount of money is $3.75 + $0.95 = $4.70.

Example Question #2 : How To Add Decimals

Add:  

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In order to add the decimals, add placeholders to the decimal .

Be careful not to add the wrong digits!

Add the thousandths places.

Add the hundredths places.

Add the tenths places.

Combine the numbers and put a decimal before the tenths place.

The correct answer is:  

Example Question #71 : 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 #413 : Arithmetic

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 #492 : Arithmetic

45.728 x 3.2 = ?

Possible Answers:

1463.296

14632.96

146.3296

14.63296

146329.6

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 #414 : Arithmetic

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

$9.05

$11.40

$7.75

$10.40

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

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