SAT Math : Linear / Rational / Variable Equations

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #43 : Equations / Inequalities

The Widget Company makes widgets.  The monthly fixed costs are $750.  It costs $45 to make each widget.  The widgets sell for $75 a piece.

What is the monthly break-even point?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 15\)

\(\displaystyle 30\)

\(\displaystyle 20\)

\(\displaystyle 35\)

\(\displaystyle 25\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 25\)

Explanation:

The break-even point is where the costs equal revenue.

Let \(\displaystyle w\) = # of widgets sold.

Costs:  \(\displaystyle C(w) = 45w + 750\)

Revenue:  \(\displaystyle R(w) = 75w\)

So the equation to solve becomes \(\displaystyle 45w + 750 = 75w\)

So the break-even point occurs when they sell 25 widgets.

Example Question #41 : Linear / Rational / Variable Equations

The Widget Company makes widgets.  The monthly fixed costs are $750.  It costs $45 to make each widget.  The widgets sells for $75 a piece.

The Widget Company wants to make a profit of $3,000.  How many widgets must be sold?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 125\)

\(\displaystyle 100\)

\(\displaystyle 75\)

\(\displaystyle 150\)

\(\displaystyle 140\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 125\)

Explanation:

Profits = Revenues - Costs

Revenue:  \(\displaystyle R(w) = 75w\)

Costs:  \(\displaystyle C(w) = 45w + 750\)

Profit: \(\displaystyle P(w) = 75w - (45w + 750) = 30w -750\)

So the equation to solve becomes \(\displaystyle 3,000 = 30w - 750\)

So a $3,000 profit occurs when they sell 125 widgets

Example Question #53 : Linear / Rational / Variable Equations

Sally sells custom picture frames.  Her monthly fixed costs are $350.  It costs $10 to make each frame.  Sally sells her picture frames for $35 each.

To make a profit of $500, how many frames need to be sold?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 30\)

\(\displaystyle 37\)

\(\displaystyle 23\)

\(\displaystyle 34\)

\(\displaystyle 25\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 34\)

Explanation:

Let \(\displaystyle x\) = # of frames sold

\(\displaystyle Profits = Revenues-Costs\)

Revenues:  \(\displaystyle R(x) = 35x\)

Costs:  \(\displaystyle C(x) = 10x + 350\)

Profits = \(\displaystyle P(x) = R(x) - C(x) = 35x - (10x + 350) = 25x - 350\)

So the equation to solve becomes \(\displaystyle 500 = 25x - 350\)

So 34 picture frames must be sold to make a $500 profit.

Example Question #44 : How To Find The Solution To An Equation

How much pure water must be added to 2 gallons of 90% pure cleaning solution to yield a 30% pure cleaning solution?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 3\ gallons\)

\(\displaystyle 2.5\ gallons\)

\(\displaystyle 4\ gallons\)

\(\displaystyle 2\ gallons\)

\(\displaystyle 6\ gallons\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 4\ gallons\)

Explanation:

Let pure water be 0% and pure solution be 100%.

So the general equation to solve is:

V_{1}P_{1} + V_{2}P_{2} = V_{f}P_{f}\(\displaystyle V_{1}P_{1} + V_{2}P_{2} = V_{f}P_{f}\) where \(\displaystyle V\) is the volume and the \(\displaystyle P\) is percent solution.

So the equation to solve becomes \(\displaystyle x(0) + 2(0.90) = (x + 2)(0.30)\)

Solving shows that we need to add 4 gallons of pure water to 2 gallons of 90% pure cleaning solution to get a 30% pure solution.

Example Question #54 : Linear / Rational / Variable Equations

Susan got a new piggy bank and counted the change she put into it.  She had one more nickel than dimes and two fewer quarters than nickles.  The value of her change was $1.40.  How many total coins did she have?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 15\)

\(\displaystyle 12\)

\(\displaystyle 9\)

\(\displaystyle 8\)

\(\displaystyle 16\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 12\)

Explanation:

Let \(\displaystyle x\) = number of dimes, \(\displaystyle x + 1\) = number of nickels, and 

\(\displaystyle (x +1) - 2 = x - 1\) = number of quarters.

The general equation to use is:

V_{1}N_{1} + V_{2}N_{2} + V_{3}N_{3} = V_{f}\(\displaystyle V_{1}N_{1} + V_{2}N_{2} + V_{3}N_{3} = V_{f}\) where \(\displaystyle V\) is the money value and \(\displaystyle N\) is the number of coins

So the equation to solve becomes

\(\displaystyle 0.10x + 0.05(x + 1) + 0.25(x - 1) = 1.40\)

Thus, solving the equation shows that she had five nickels, four dimes, and three quarters giving a total of 12 coins.

Example Question #46 : How To Find The Solution To An Equation

How much pure water should be added to 1\ L\(\displaystyle 1\ L\) of 80% cleaning solution to dilute it to 25% cleaning solution.

Possible Answers:

3.0\ L\(\displaystyle 3.0\ L\)

2.2\ L\(\displaystyle 2.2\ L\)

4.1\ L\(\displaystyle 4.1\ L\)

2.6\ L\(\displaystyle 2.6\ L\)

1.5\ L\(\displaystyle 1.5\ L\)

Correct answer:

2.2\ L\(\displaystyle 2.2\ L\)

Explanation:

Pure water is 0% and pure solution is 100%

V_{1}P_{1} + V_{2}P_{2} = V_{f}P_{f}\(\displaystyle V_{1}P_{1} + V_{2}P_{2} = V_{f}P_{f}\) where V\(\displaystyle V\) is the volume and P\(\displaystyle P\) is the percent.

So the equation to solve becomes x(0)+1(0.80)=(1+x)(0.25)\(\displaystyle x(0)+1(0.80)=(1+x)(0.25)\)

So we need to add 2.2\ L\(\displaystyle 2.2\ L\) pure water to 1\ L\(\displaystyle 1\ L\) of 80% cleaning solution to yield 25% cleaning solution.

Example Question #1821 : Act Math

Luke purchased a tractor for $1200. The value of the tractor decreases by 25 percent each year. The value, \(\displaystyle V\), in dollars, of the tractor at \(\displaystyle t\) years from the date of purchase is given by the function \(\displaystyle V(t)=1200(0.75)^t\).

In how many years from the date of purchase will the value of the tractor be $675?

Possible Answers:

4

3

5

1

2

Correct answer:

2

Explanation:

We are looking for the value of t  that gives $675 as the result when plugged in V (t ). While there are many ways to do this, one of the fastest is to plug in the answer choices as values of t .

When we plug = 1 into V (t ), we get V (1) = 1200(0.75)1 = 1000(0.75) = $900, which is incorrect.

When we plug = 2 into V (t ), we get V (2) = 1200(0.75)2 = $675, so this is our solution.

The value of the tractor will be $675 after 2 years.

Finally, we can see that if = 3, 4, or 5, the resulting values of the V (t ) are all incorrect.

Example Question #103 : Linear / Rational / Variable Equations

Solve for \(\displaystyle x\):

\(\displaystyle 4x + 9x + 13 = 0\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 1\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{13}{4}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{12}{13}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{13}{9}\)

\(\displaystyle -1\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -1\)

Explanation:

First combine like terms. In this case, 4x and 9x can be added together:

13x + 13 = 0

Subtract 13 from both sides:

13x = -13

Divide both sides by 13 to isolate x:

x = -13/13

x = -1

Example Question #41 : Algebra

Ben is walking three dogs that weigh an average of 75 pounds each. Ben begins to walk a fourth dog, and the average weight of the dogs decreases to 70 pounds. What is the weight in pounds of the fourth dog?

Possible Answers:

45\(\displaystyle 45\)

55\(\displaystyle 55\)

50\(\displaystyle 50\)

40\(\displaystyle 40\)

60\(\displaystyle 60\)

Correct answer:

55\(\displaystyle 55\)

Explanation:

The total weight of the first three dogs is 225 pounds. This amount, plus the weight of the fourth dog, divided by total number of dogs, is the new average weight:

\frac{d + 225}{4} = 70\(\displaystyle \frac{d + 225}{4} = 70\)

d + 225 = 280\(\displaystyle d + 225 = 280\)

d = 55 lbs\(\displaystyle d = 55 lbs\)

Example Question #42 : Algebra

Pets Plus makes bird houses.  Their monthly fixed expenses are $750.  The cost for each bird house is $15.  The bird houses sell for $40.

What is the monthly break-even point at Pets Plus?

Possible Answers:

30\(\displaystyle 30\)

40\(\displaystyle 40\)

35\(\displaystyle 35\)

25\(\displaystyle 25\)

50\(\displaystyle 50\)

Correct answer:

30\(\displaystyle 30\)

Explanation:

Let x=\(\displaystyle x=\) the number of bird houses sold each month.

Revenue = 40x\(\displaystyle Revenue = 40x\)

Costs=15x+750\(\displaystyle Costs=15x+750\)

The break-even point is where the revenue is the same as the costs:

Revenue=Costs\(\displaystyle Revenue=Costs\) 

40x=15x+750\(\displaystyle 40x=15x+750\) 

Solve for x\(\displaystyle x\):

x=30\(\displaystyle x=30\)

Therefore, Pets Plus must sell 30 bird houses to break-even.

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