SSAT Middle Level Math : Numbers and Operations

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SSAT Middle Level Math

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #14 : How To Subtract Fractions

The time is now 1:32 PM. What time was it three hours and seventeen minutes ago?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 10:05\textrm{ AM}\)

\(\displaystyle 10:15\textrm{ AM}\)

\(\displaystyle 11:15\textrm{ AM}\)

The correct answer is not given among the other choices.

\(\displaystyle 11:05 \textrm{ AM}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 10:15\textrm{ AM}\)

Explanation:

One hour and thirty-two minutes have elapsed since midnight. Since three hours and seventeen minutes make a greater quantity, we need to look at this as thirteen hours and thirty-two minutes having elapsed since noon. 

We can subtract hours, then subtract minutes:

 \(\displaystyle 13\textrm{ hr }32\textrm{ min}\)

\(\displaystyle \underline{- 3\textrm{ hr }17\textrm{ min}}\)

 \(\displaystyle 10 \textrm{ hr }15 \textrm{ min}\)

The time was 10:15 AM.

Example Question #13 : How To Subtract Fractions

Which of the following is the difference of seven tenths and seventeen hundredths?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 0.053\)

\(\displaystyle 0.5983\)

\(\displaystyle 0.53\)

\(\displaystyle 0.683\)

\(\displaystyle 0.6983\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 0.53\)

Explanation:

Seven tenths is equal to 0.7; seventeen hundredths is equal to 0.17. Subtract them, rewriting 0.7 as 0.70;

     \(\displaystyle 0.70\)

\(\displaystyle \underline{- \; 0.17 }\)

     \(\displaystyle 0.53\)

Example Question #51 : How To Subtract Fractions

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{4}-\frac{2}{3}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{24}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{0}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{12}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{1}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{12}\)

Explanation:

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{4}-\frac{2}{3}\)

In order to solve this problem, we first have to find common denominators. 

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{4}\times\frac{3}{3}=\frac{9}{12}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{2}{3\time}\times\frac{4}{4}=\frac{8}{12}\)

Now that we have common denominators, we can subtract the fractions. Remember, when we add and subtract fractions, we only add or subtract the numerator. 

\(\displaystyle \frac{9}{12}-\frac{8}{12}=\frac{1}{12}\)

Example Question #141 : Numbers And Operations

\(\displaystyle \frac{8}{12}-\frac{1}4{}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{12}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{0}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{7}{16}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{7}{8}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{4}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{12}\)

Explanation:

\(\displaystyle \frac{8}{12}-\frac{1}4{}\)

In order to solve this problem, we first have to find common denominators. 

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}\times\frac{3}{3}=\frac{3}{12}\)

Now that we have common denominators, we can subtract the fractions. Remember, when we add and subtract fractions, we only add or subtract the numerator. 

\(\displaystyle \frac{8}{12}-\frac{3}{12}=\frac{5}{12}\)

Example Question #151 : Numbers And Operations

Solve:

\(\displaystyle \frac{2}{3}-\frac{3}{5}\)

 

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{3}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{30}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{15}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{15}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{15}\)

Explanation:

\(\displaystyle \frac{2}{3}-\frac{3}{5}\)

In order to solve this problem, we first have to find common denominators. 

\(\displaystyle \frac{2}{3}\times\frac{5}{5}=\frac{10}{15}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{5}\times \frac{3}{3}=\frac{9}{15}\)

Now that we have common denominators, we can subtract the fractions. Remember, when we add and subtract fractions, we only add or subtract the numerator. 

\(\displaystyle \frac{10}{15}-\frac{9}{15}=\frac{1}{15}\)

Example Question #152 : Numbers And Operations

Solve:

\(\displaystyle \frac{7}{8}-\frac{3}{16}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{4}{16}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{13}{16}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{4}{8}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{11}{16}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{11}{16}\)

Explanation:

\(\displaystyle \frac{7}{8}-\frac{3}{16}\)

In order to solve this problem, we first have to find common denominators. 

\(\displaystyle \frac{7}{8}\times\frac{2}{2}=\frac{14}{16}\)

Now that we have common denominators, we can subtract the fractions. Remember, when we add and subtract fractions, we only add or subtract the numerator. 

\(\displaystyle \frac{14}{16}-\frac{3}{16}=\frac{11}{16}\)

Example Question #22 : How To Subtract Fractions

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{6}-\frac{1}{4}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{4}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{7}{12}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{4}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{8}{13}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{7}{0}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{7}{12}\)

Explanation:

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{6}-\frac{1}{4}\)

In order to solve this problem, we first have to find common denominators. 

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{6}\times\frac{2}{2}=\frac{10}{12}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}\times\frac{3}{3}=\frac{3}{12}\)

Now that we have common denominators, we can subtract the fractions. Remember, when we add and subtract fractions, we only add or subtract the numerator. 

\(\displaystyle \frac{10}{12}-\frac{3}{12}=\frac{7}{12}\)

Example Question #141 : Fractions

\(\displaystyle \frac{9}{10}-\frac{3}{5}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{6}{5}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{4}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{10}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{7}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{0}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{10}\)

Explanation:

\(\displaystyle \frac{9}{10}-\frac{3}{5}\)

In order to solve this problem, we first have to find common denominators. 

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{5}\times\frac{2}{2}=\frac{6}{10}\)

Now that we have common denominators, we can subtract the fractions. Remember, when we add and subtract fractions, we only add or subtract the numerator. 

\(\displaystyle \frac{9}{10}-\frac{6}{10}=\frac{3}{10}\)

Example Question #23 : How To Subtract Fractions

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}-\frac{1}{3}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{0}{6}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{6}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{4}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{2}{6}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{6}\)

Explanation:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}-\frac{1}{3}\)

In order to solve this problem, we first have to find common denominators. 

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}\times\frac{3}{3}=\frac{3}{6}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{3}\times\frac{2}{2}=\frac{2}{6}\)

Now that we have common denominators, we can subtract the fractions. Remember, when we add and subtract fractions, we only add or subtract the numerator. 

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{6}-\frac{2}{6}=\frac{1}{6}\)

Example Question #6 : Subtract Fractions With Unlike Denominators

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{4}-\frac{5}{8}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}2{}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{2}{4}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{8}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{8}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{11}{16}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{8}\)

Explanation:

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{4}-\frac{5}{8}\)

In order to solve this problem, we first have to find common denominators. 

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{4}\times\frac{2}{2}=\frac{6}{8}\)

Now that we have common denominators, we can subtract the fractions. Remember, when we add and subtract fractions, we only add or subtract the numerator. 

\(\displaystyle \frac{6}{8}-\frac{5}{8}=\frac{1}{8}\)

 

 

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors