SAT Math : Arithmetic

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : How To Find Absolute Value

Which of the following sentences is represented by the equation 

Possible Answers:

The sum of three and the absolute value of the sum of a number is three less than the number.

The sum of three and the absolute value of the sum of a number is three greater than the number.

The absolute value of the sum of a number and seven is three greater than the number.

None of the other responses are correct.

The absolute value of the sum of a number and seven is three less than the number.

Correct answer:

The absolute value of the sum of a number and seven is three less than the number.

Explanation:

 is the absolute value of , which in turn is the sum of a number and  seven and a number. Therefore,  can be written as "the absolute value of the sum of a number and seven". Since it is equal to , it is three less than the number, so the equation that corresponds to the sentence is 

"The absolute value of the sum of a number and seven is three less than the number."

Example Question #1 : How To Find Absolute Value

Define 

Evaluate .

Possible Answers:

None of the other responses is correct.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Example Question #31 : Algebra

Define an operation  as follows:

For all real numbers ,

Evaluate: .

Possible Answers:

The expression is undefined.

None of the other responses is correct.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

, or, equivalently,

Example Question #11 : How To Find Absolute Value

Define .

Evaluate .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

, or, equivalently,

Example Question #1 : How To Find Absolute Value

Define an operation  as follows:

For all real numbers ,

Evaluate .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Example Question #13 : How To Find Absolute Value

Define .

Evaluate .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Example Question #14 : How To Find Absolute Value

Solve 

Possible Answers:

No solution

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Since this is an absolute value equation, we must set the left hand side equal to both the positive and negative versions of the right side. Therefore,

Solving the first equation, we see that 

Solving the second, we see that 

When we substitute each value back into the original equation  , we see that they both check.

Example Question #15 : How To Find Absolute Value

Solve:

Possible Answers:

None of the given answers. 

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve this equation, we want to set  equal to both  and  and solve for .

Therefore:

and

We can check both of these answers by plugging them back into the inequality to see if the statement is true. 

and

Both answers check, so our final answer is 

Example Question #16 : How To Find Absolute Value

Solve:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve this problem, we want to set what's inside the absolute value signs equal to the positive and negative value on the right side of the equation. That's because the value inside the absolute value symbols could be equivalent to  or , and the equation would still hold true.

So let's set  equal to  and  separately and solve for our unknown.

First:

Second:

Therefore, our answers are  and 

Example Question #21 : How To Find Absolute Value

Evaluate the expression if  and .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve, we replace each variable with the given value.

Simplify. Remember that terms inside of the absolute value are always positive.

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