SAT Math : SAT Mathematics

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #15 : How To Find Slope Of A Line

Axes

Figure NOT drawn to scale

On the coordinate axes shown above, the shaded triangle has area 16. 

Give the slope of the line that includes the hypotenuse of the triangle.

Possible Answers:

None of the other choices gives the correct response.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The length of the horizontal leg of the triangle is the distance from the origin  to , which is 4.

The area of a right triangle is half the product of the lengths of its legs  and , so, setting  and  and solving for :

Since this is the vertical distance from the origin, this is also the absolute value of the -coordinate of the -intercept of the line; also, this point is along the positive -axis. The line has -intercept .

The slope of a line, given the intercepts , is 

,

Substitute  and :

Example Question #511 : Sat Mathematics

A line passes through the origin, and the points (1, k) and (k,4). What is a possible value for k?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To find k, first identify what is known.

The origin means the point (0,0).

Therefore the line passes through the points:

Since a line by definition has the same slope between the points, calculation the slope between the origin and each of the points.

Let

therefore the slope is,

Now let,

thus the slope is,

From here set the slopes equal to each other and solve for k.

Multiply by k on both sides.

Example Question #512 : Sat Mathematics

Axes

Figure NOT drawn to scale

On the coordinate axes shown above, the shaded triangle has area 60. 

Give the slope of the line that includes the hypotenuse of the triangle. 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The length of the vertical leg of the triangle is the distance from the origin  to , which is 12.

The area of a right triangle is half the product of the lengths of its legs  and , so, setting  and  and solving for :

Since this is the positive horizontal distance from the origin, this is also the -coordinate of the -intercept of the line - that is, the line has -intercept .

The slope of a line, given the intercepts , is 

,

Substitute  and :

Example Question #2 : Coordinate Geometry

Solve the equation for x and y.

x – 4y = 245

5x + 2y = 150

 

 

Possible Answers:

= 234/5

= 1245/15

= –1375/9

= 545/18

x = 3

y = 7

= 545/9

y = –1375/18

Correct answer:

= 545/9

y = –1375/18

Explanation:

While solving the problem requires the same method as the ones above, this is one is more complicated because of the more complex given equations. Start of by deriving a substitute for one of the unknowns. From the second equation we can derive y=75-(5x/2). Since 2y = 150 -5x, we divide both sides by two and find our substitution for y. Then we enter this into the first equation. We now have –x-4(75-(5x/2))=245. Distribute the 4. So we get –x – 300 + 10x = 245. So 9x =545, and x=545/9. Use this value for x and solve for y. The graph below illustrates the solution.

 

Sat_math_165_04 

 

Example Question #11 : Psat Mathematics

Solve the equation for x and y.

y + 5x = 40

x – y = –10

 

 

Possible Answers:

x = 7

y = 12

x = 15

y = 5

x = 5

y = 15

x = 12

y = 7

Correct answer:

x = 5

y = 15

Explanation:

This one is a basic problem with two unknowns in two equations. Derive y=x+10 from the second equation and replace the y in first equation to solve the problem. So, x+10+5x=40 and x = 5. X-y= -10 so y=15. The graph below illustrates the solution.

 Sat_math_165_05

 

 

Example Question #33 : Other Lines

Solve the equation for x and y.

xy=30

x – y = –1

 

 

Possible Answers:

x = 2, 3

y = 4, 5

x = –7, 3

y = 7, –3

x = 4, 5

= –4, –5

x = 5, –6

y = 6, –5

Correct answer:

x = 5, –6

y = 6, –5

Explanation:

Again the same process is required. This problem however involved multiplying x by y so is a bit different. We end up with two possible solutions. Derive y=x+1 and solve in the same manner as the ones above. The graph below illustrates the solution.

Sat_math_165_07 

 

 

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Equation Of A Line

Solve the equation for x and y.

x/= 30

= 5

 

 

Possible Answers:

x = 5/150

y = 150/31

x = 150/31

y = 5/31

x = 7

y = 14

x = 2, 6

y = 3, 7

Correct answer:

x = 150/31

y = 5/31

Explanation:

Similar problem to the one before, with x being divided by y instead of multiplied. Solve in the same manner but keep in mind the way that x/y is graphed. We end up solving for one solution. The graph below illustrates the solution,

Sat_math_165_08 

 

 

 

Example Question #11 : Psat Mathematics

Solve the equation for x and y.

x – y = 26/17

2x + 3y = 2

 

 

Possible Answers:

x = 3

y = 2

x = 85/112

y = –85/18

x = 112/85

y = –18/85

x = –18/85

y = 112/85

Correct answer:

x = 112/85

y = –18/85

Explanation:

Straightforward problem that presents two unknowns with two equations. The student will need to deal with the fractions correctly to get this one right. Other than the fraction the problem is solved in the exact same manner as the rest in this set. The graph below illustrates the solution.

Sat_math_165_09 

 

 

 

Example Question #11 : Psat Mathematics

What is the equation for a line with endpoints (-1, 4) and (2, -5)?

Possible Answers:

y = -3x + 1

y = 3x - 1

y = -x - 3

y = x + 3

Correct answer:

y = -3x + 1

Explanation:

First we need to find the slope. Slope (m) = (y2 - y1)/(x2 - x1). Substituting in our values (-5 - 4)/(2 - (-1)) = -9/3 = -3 so slope = -3. The formula for a line is y = mx +b. We know m = -3 so now we can pick one of the two points, substitute in the values for x and y, and find b. 4 = (-3)(-1) + b so b = 1. Our formula is thus y = -3x + 1

Example Question #131 : Lines

What is the equation of a line that goes through (4, 1) and (–2, –2)?

Possible Answers:

y = 1/2x – 1

y = 4x – 2

y = x + 4

y = 4x – 1/2

y = 2x – 1/2

Correct answer:

y = 1/2x – 1

Explanation:

We will find the equation using slope intercept form: y=mx+b

1. Use the two points to find the slope.

The equation to find the slope of this line using two points is:

Msp12021di7e9ga6058a1500004b461070aaf75f5c

  Therefore, m = 1/2, so the slope of this line is 1/2.

2. Now that we have the slope, we can use one of the points that were given to find the y intercept. In order to do this, substitute y for the y value of the point, and substitute x for the x value of the point.

Using the point (–2, –2), we now have: –2 = (1/2)(–2) + b.

Simplify the equation to solve for b. b = –1

3. In this line m = 1/2 and b = –1

4. Therefore, y = 1/2x –1

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