SAT Math : Arithmetic

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #431 : Arithmetic

Which of the following is the greatest in value?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Turn the fractions into decimals to easily compare them. You can do this quickly on your calculator.

\dpi{100} \small \frac{8}{3} is approximately 2.667, so this is the largest number.

Example Question #432 : Arithmetic

Which of these decimals has the least value?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Trailing zeros at the end of a decimal do not increase or decrease the value of a given decimal. However, zeros that appear after the decimal point and precede a non-zero number decrease the value of the number.

Example Question #3 : How To Order Decimals From Least To Greatest Or From Greatest To Least

Put the following in order of least to greatest:

 

Possible Answers:

None of the other answers

Correct answer:

None of the other answers

Explanation:

Begin by converting each fraction into a decimal:

 

Now we can put the decimals in order:

0.269, 0.27, 0.2788, 0.28, 0.3157

or:

No answer choice matches this order, so our answer is "None of the other answers"

Example Question #5 : How To Order Decimals From Least To Greatest Or From Greatest To Least

Order the decimals from least to greatest.  

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The higher negative numbers will be the least numbers.

Start with the negative numbers first.

The smaller of the two positive decimals is .

Order from least to greatest.

The answer is:  

Example Question #1 : How To Order Decimals From Least To Greatest Or From Greatest To Least

Which decimal is the greatest?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

When evaluating, we look at each choice. 

It seems like when dividing with a decimal, our value is greater. Therefore  is our answer.

Example Question #6 : How To Order Decimals From Least To Greatest Or From Greatest To Least

Which is the smallest?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

When evaluating, we look at each choice. 

 

Our answer is  being the smallest. 

Example Question #7 : How To Order Decimals From Least To Greatest Or From Greatest To Least

If  is from  which is the greatest?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The numbers are from  to . This means the values are decimals and will be small if raised to any power but greater when multiplied or added. 

Ex: 

Our answer is going to be .

Example Question #11 : How To Order Decimals From Least To Greatest Or From Greatest To Least

If  is from , which of the following is the greatest?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Since the range is from  to , we have negative decimals. We need to see if any operations will generate positive decimals. Only  does that as two negatives becomes positive when multiplied. 

Example Question #12 : How To Order Decimals From Least To Greatest Or From Greatest To Least

Rank from smallest to greatest.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To rank, we check the tenths digit.  are the smallest in the set.

Next, we look at the hundredths digit.  is greater than , so the rank is .

Since the next three numbers have differnt tenths digit, we just put in numerical order.

Final answer should be 

Example Question #11 : Ordering

Which decimal is the GREATEST?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The tenths digits are different. , and  are clearly bigger than the other two.

So now, we compare the remaining decimals.  

 are exacty the same decimal with just more zeroes. 

 is clearly the biggest as it is  much bigger. 

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