SSAT Upper Level Math : Geometry

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

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

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

A line segment on the coordinate plane has endpoints \(\displaystyle (a-5,-b)\) and \(\displaystyle (b+8, a-4)\). In terms of \(\displaystyle a\) and \(\displaystyle b\), as applicable, give the \(\displaystyle y\)-coordinate of its midpoint.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{a + b + 3}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle a - b - 4\)

\(\displaystyle a + b + 3\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{a + b - 4}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{a - b - 4}{2}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{a - b - 4}{2}\)

Explanation:

The \(\displaystyle y\)-coordinate of the midpoint of a line segment is the mean of the \(\displaystyle y\)-coordinates of its endpoints. Therefore, the \(\displaystyle y\)-coordinate is 

\(\displaystyle y= \frac{(a-4)+(-b)}{2} = \frac{a-b-4}{2}\).

Example Question #111 : Coordinate Geometry

A line segment has the endpoints \(\displaystyle (6,10)\) and \(\displaystyle (-2, -4)\). What is the midpoint of the line?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle (8,14)\)

\(\displaystyle (4,6)\)

\(\displaystyle (2, 3)\)

\(\displaystyle (4,7)\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle (2, 3)\)

Explanation:

To find the midpoint of a line, take the averages of the x-coordinates and the average of the y-coordinates.

\(\displaystyle \text{Midpoint}=(\frac{6+(-2)}{2}, \frac{10+(-4)}{2})=(\frac{4}{2}, \frac{6}{2})=(2,3)\)

Example Question #1 : Midpoint Formula

What is the midpoint of a line segment with endpoints \(\displaystyle (12,2)\) and \(\displaystyle (-2, 1)\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle (14,1)\)

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

\(\displaystyle (10, 3)\)

\(\displaystyle (\frac{13}{2}, 0)\)

Correct answer:

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

Explanation:

To find the midpoint of a line, just take the average of the \(\displaystyle x\)-coordinates and the average of the \(\displaystyle y\)-coordinates.

\(\displaystyle \text{Midpoint}=(\frac{12+(-2)}{2}, \frac{2+1}{2})=(\frac{10}{2}, \frac{3}{2})=(5, \frac{3}{2})\)

Example Question #113 : Coordinate Geometry

What is the midpoint of a line segments with endpoints \(\displaystyle (2a, -b)\) and \(\displaystyle (4a, 5b)\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle (6a, 4b)\)

\(\displaystyle (3a, 2b)\)

\(\displaystyle (-a, -2b)\)

\(\displaystyle (3, 4)\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle (3a, 2b)\)

Explanation:

To find the midpoint of a line segment, take the average of the \(\displaystyle x\)-coordinates, then take the average of the \(\displaystyle y\)-coordinates.

\(\displaystyle \text{Midpoint}=(\frac{2a+4a}{2}, \frac{-b+5b}{2})\)

\(\displaystyle \text{Midpoint}=(\frac{6a}{2}, \frac{4b}{2})=(3a, 2b)\)

Example Question #121 : Coordinate Geometry

A line has the endpoints \(\displaystyle (8,8) \text{ and }(2, -1)\). What is its midpoint?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \left(5, \frac{7}{2}\right)\)

\(\displaystyle \left(\frac{7}{2}, 5\right)\)

\(\displaystyle (10, 7)\)

\(\displaystyle (5, 7)\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \left(5, \frac{7}{2}\right)\)

Explanation:

The coordinates of the midpoint of a line are just the averages of the coordinates of the endpoints.

\(\displaystyle \text{Midpoint}=\left(\frac{8+2}{2}, \frac{8-1}{2}\right)=\left(5, \frac{7}{2}\right)\)

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

A line segment has endpoints \(\displaystyle (-2, 0) \text{ and }(1, 5)\). What is the midpoint of this line segment?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \left(-\frac{1}{2}, \frac{5}{2}\right)\)

\(\displaystyle (-1, 5)\)

\(\displaystyle \left(-\frac{1}{2}, 5\right)\)

\(\displaystyle \left(5, -\frac{1}{2}\right)\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \left(-\frac{1}{2}, \frac{5}{2}\right)\)

Explanation:

To find the coordinates of the midpoint of a line, take the averages of the x and y coordinates of the endpoints.

\(\displaystyle \text{Midpoint}=\left(\frac{-2+1}{2}, \frac{5+0}{2}\right)=\left(-\frac{1}{2}, \frac{5}{2}\right)\)

Example Question #8 : How To Find The Midpoint Of A Line Segment

What is the midpoint of a line if the endpoints of the line are:  \(\displaystyle (6,9) \textup{ and }(3,-2)\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \left(-\frac{3}{2},\frac{1}{2}\right)\)

\(\displaystyle \left(-\frac{3}{2},-\frac{11}{2}\right)\)

\(\displaystyle \left(\frac{9}{2},\frac{7}{2}\right)\)

\(\displaystyle \left(\frac{7}{2},\frac{9}{2}\right)\)

\(\displaystyle \left(\frac{3}{2},\frac{11}{2}\right)\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \left(\frac{9}{2},\frac{7}{2}\right)\)

Explanation:

Write the midpoint formula.

\(\displaystyle M=\left(\frac{x_1+x_2}{2},\frac{y_1+y_2}{2}\right)\)

Substitute the values.

\(\displaystyle M=\left(\frac{6+3}{2},\frac{9-2}{2}\right)= \left(\frac{9}{2},\frac{7}{2}\right)\)

Example Question #2 : Midpoint Formula

A line segment on the coordinate plane has midpoint \(\displaystyle \left ( A + 5, B + 7\right )\). One of its endpoints is \(\displaystyle \left ( 10, 6 \right )\). What is the \(\displaystyle y\)-coordinate of the other endpoint, in terms of \(\displaystyle A\) and/or \(\displaystyle B\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle B + 8\)

\(\displaystyle 2B + 20\)

\(\displaystyle B + 1\)

\(\displaystyle 2B + 1\)

\(\displaystyle 2B + 8\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 2B + 8\)

Explanation:

Let \(\displaystyle Y\) be the \(\displaystyle y\)-coordinate of the other endpoint. Since the \(\displaystyle y\)-coordinate of the midpoint of the segment is the mean of those of the endpoints, we can set up an equation as follows:

\(\displaystyle \frac{Y + 6 }{2} = B + 7\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{Y + 6 }{2} \cdot 2= \left ( B + 7 \right )\cdot 2\)

\(\displaystyle Y + 6 = 2B + 14\)

\(\displaystyle Y + 6 -6 = 2B + 14 -6\)

\(\displaystyle Y = 2B + 8\)

Example Question #3 : Midpoint Formula

A line segment on the coordinate plane has one endpoint at \(\displaystyle \left ( 8, 10 \right )\); its midpoint is \(\displaystyle \left ( A+B, A- B\right )\). Which of the following gives the \(\displaystyle x\)-coordinate of its other endpoint in terms of \(\displaystyle A\) and \(\displaystyle B\) ?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 2 A + 2B+8\)

\(\displaystyle A + B- 8\)

\(\displaystyle 2 A + 2B- 8\)

\(\displaystyle A + B- 16\)

\(\displaystyle A + B+8\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 2 A + 2B- 8\)

Explanation:

To find the value of the \(\displaystyle x\)-coordinate of the other endpoint, we will assign the variable \(\displaystyle T\). Then, since the \(\displaystyle x\)-coordinate of the midpoint of the segment is the mean of those of its endpoints, the equation that we can set up is

\(\displaystyle \frac{T + 8 }{2} = A + B\).

We solve for \(\displaystyle T\):

\(\displaystyle \frac{T + 8 }{2} \cdot 2 =\left ( A + B \right )\cdot 2\)

\(\displaystyle T + 8 =2 A + 2B\)

\(\displaystyle T + 8 - 8 =2 A + 2B- 8\)

\(\displaystyle T =2 A + 2B- 8\)

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

One endpoint of a line segment on the coordinate plane is the point  \(\displaystyle \left (2\frac{4}{5}, -1\frac{1}{5} \right )\); the midpoint of the segment is the point \(\displaystyle \left (6\frac{1}{2}, 4\frac{1}{2} \right )\). Give the \(\displaystyle x\)-coordinate of the other endpoint of the segment.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 3\frac{7}{10}\)

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

\(\displaystyle 10\frac{1}{5}\)

\(\displaystyle 4 \frac{3}{20}\)

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

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 10\frac{1}{5}\)

Explanation:

In the \(\displaystyle x\) part of the midpoint formula 

\(\displaystyle x_{M}= \frac{x_{1} + x_{2} }{2}\) ,

set \(\displaystyle x_{M}= 6\frac{1}{2}, x_{2}= 2\frac{4}{5}\), and solve:

\(\displaystyle x_{M}= \frac{x_{1} + x_{2} }{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 6\frac{1}{2}= \frac{x_{1} + 2\frac{4}{5} }{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 6\frac{1}{2} \cdot 2 = x_{1} + 2\frac{4}{5}\)

\(\displaystyle x_{1} + 2\frac{4}{5} = 13\)

\(\displaystyle x_{1} = 10\frac{1}{5}\)

This is the correct \(\displaystyle x\)-coordinate.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors