SSAT Middle Level Math : How to subtract variables
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Example Questions
Example Question #96 : Variables
If 
The easiest way to solve this problem is to pick an odd number (we can use 3 for example), and plug it into each answer choice.
The only answer choice that gives us an odd result is:
As a rule of thumb, an even number subtracted from an odd number will always result in an odd number.
Example Question #94 : Variables
Philip had a glass containing 16 ounces of water. He drank 2 ounces. His brother then drank half of what remained. How many ounces of water are now in the glass?
If there were 16 ounces of water to start, this amount decreased to 14 ounces when Philip drank 2 ounces.
With 14 ounces remaining, his brother drank half. This would be equal to 7 ounces.
This left the other half of the water, which was also 7 ounces; thus, 7 ounces in the amount of water that remained.
Example Question #98 : Variables
If 
The first step is to transfer 
Next, 17 is subtracted from each side.
Each side is now divided by 
Therefore, 
Example Question #31 : How To Subtract Variables
Jim and Jack are having tea together. There are 10 sugar cubes on a small tray. Jim takes 1 cube for his tea, and Jack takes twice as many cubes as Jim. How many sugar cubes remain?
The first step is to convert the following into a mathematical equation:
There are 10 sugar cubes on a small tray. Jim takes 1 cube for his tea, and Jack takes twice as many cubes as Jim.
The equation for the remaining cubes would be:
Therefore, 7 is the correct answer.
Example Question #32 : How To Subtract Variables
There are 9 cats in a shelter. Bob adopts 2 of the cats. Anita then adopts more cats than Bob adopted, but fewer than the majority of the cats remaining. How many cats did Anita adopt?
If Anita adopted more cats than Bob, then she adopted more than 2 cats.
Given that Bob adopted 2 cats, there are 7 cats remaining. A majority of the remaining cats would be 4.
Given that Anita adopted more than 2 cats, but less than 4, she must have adopted 3 cats; therefore, 3 is the correct answer.
Example Question #33 : How To Subtract Variables
Tom has 8 pretzel sticks. He gives one stick to his sister, and then breaks what remains in half. Tom eats 5 of the half-pretzel sticks. How many half-pretzel sticks remain?
If Tom has 8 pretzel sticks and gives one stick to his sister, then he will have 7 pretzel sticks remaining. If he then breaks what remains in half, he will have 14 half-pretzel sticks. If Tom eats 5 of the half-pretzel sticks, 9 half-pretzel sticks will therefore remain.
Example Question #174 : Ssat Middle Level Quantitative (Math)
Subtract the numbers and keep the variable:
Answer:
Example Question #35 : How To Subtract Variables
First distribute the subtraction sign through the terms in the parentheses.
Subtraction of a negative is the same as adding a positive.
Rewrite.
Group all like terms together.
Evaluate the terms in each parentheses.
Rewrite in simplest form.
Example Question #36 : How To Subtract Variables
Simplify:
First distribute the 
Rewrite.
Rewrite putting like terms together.
Evaluate each set of terms in the parentheses.
The constant is
Rewrite in simplest form.
Example Question #37 : How To Subtract Variables
The first step in simplifying the expression
Rewrite.
Group like terms together. Rewrite.
Evaluate the terms in the parentheses.
There are no terms to combine with
Rewrite in simplest form.
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All SSAT Middle Level Math Resources
