All SSAT Upper Level Math Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #221 : Coordinate Geometry
Define a function . Which of the following is an -intercept of the graph of ?
(a)
(b)
Both (a) and (b)
(a), but not (b)
(b), but not (a)
Neither (a) nor (b)
Neither (a) nor (b)
An -intercept of the graph of a function has 0 as its -coordinate, since it is defined to be a point at which it crosses the -axis. Its -coordinate is a value of for which .
We can most easily determine whether is a point on the graph of by proving or disproving that , which we can do by substituting 2 for :
, so is not an -intercept.
Similarly, substituting 3 for :
, so is not an -intercept.
Example Question #281 : Geometry
Define . The graphs of and a second function, , intersect at their common -intercept. Which of the following could be the definition of ?
An -intercept of the graph of a function has 0 as its -coordinate, since it is defined to be a point at which it crosses the -axis. Its -coordinate is a value of for which , which can be found as follows:
Substituting the definition, we get
Solving for by subtracting 7 from both sides, then dividing both sides by 2:
The -intercept of the graph of is the point .
To determine which of the four choices is correct, substitute for and determine for which definition of it holds that .
can be eliminated immediately as a choice since it cannot take the value 0.
:
The correct choice is .
Example Question #1 : How To Find The Equation Of A Curve
If the -intercept of the line is and the slope is , which of the following equations best satisfies this condition?
Write the slope-intercept form.
The point given the x-intercept of 6 is .
Substitute the point and the slope into the equation and solve for the y-intercept.
Substitute the y-intercept back to the slope-intercept form to get your equation.
Example Question #2 : How To Find The Equation Of A Curve
A vertical parabola on the coordinate plane has vertex and -intercept .
Give its equation.
Insufficient information is given to determine the equation.
The equation of a vertical parabola, in vertex form, is
,
where is the vertex. Set :
To find , use the -intercept, setting :
The equation, in vertex form, is ; in standard form:
Example Question #1 : How To Find The Equation Of A Curve
A vertical parabola on the coordinate plane has vertex ; one of its -intercepts is .
Give its equation.
Insufficient information is given to determine the equation.
The equation of a vertical parabola, in vertex form, is
,
where is the vertex. Set :
To find , use the known -intercept, setting :
The equation, in vertex form, is ; in standard form:
Example Question #2 : How To Find The Equation Of A Curve
A vertical parabola on the coordinate plane has -intercept ; its only -intercept is .
Give its equation.
Insufficient information is given to determine the equation.
If a vertical parabola has only one -intercept, which here is , that point doubles as its vertex as well.
The equation of a vertical parabola, in vertex form, is
,
where is the vertex. Set :
To find , use the -intercept, setting :
The equation, in vertex form, is . In standard form:
Example Question #282 : Geometry
A vertical parabola on the coordinate plane has -intercept ; one of its -intercepts is .
Give its equation.
Insufficient information is given to determine the equation.
Insufficient information is given to determine the equation.
The equation of a vertical parabola, in standard form, is
for some real .
is the -coordinate of the -intercept, so , and the equation is
Set :
However, no other information is given, so the values of and cannot be determined for certain. The correct response is that insufficient information is given.
Example Question #21 : X And Y Intercept
Give the equation of the above ellipse.
The equation of the ellipse with center , horizontal axis of length , and vertical axis of length is
The ellipse has center , horizontal axis of length 8, and vertical axis of length 16. Therefore,
, , and .
The equation of the ellipse is
Example Question #5 : How To Find The Equation Of A Curve
Give the equation of the above ellipse.
The equation of the ellipse with center , horizontal axis of length , and vertical axis of length is
The ellipse has center , horizontal axis of length 10, and vertical axis of length 6. Therefore,
, , and .
The equation of the ellipse is
Example Question #22 : X And Y Intercept
Give the equation of the above ellipse.
The equation of the ellipse with center , horizontal axis of length , and vertical axis of length is
The ellipse has center , horizontal axis of length 8, and vertical axis of length 6. Therefore,
, , and .
The equation of the ellipse is