SSAT Upper Level Math : How to solve algebraic word problems

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Algebraic Word Problems

The mean of , and  is 125; the mean of , and  is 150. Which of the following gives the sum of  and  if the mean of , and  is ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Since the mean of the four numbers , and  is 125,

Similarly, 

Add the two sums:

 

The mean of , and  is , so 

So:

 

Example Question #11 : Algebraic Word Problems

Which of the following sentences is represented by the equation

 ?

Possible Answers:

The sum of five and the square root of a number is six less than the number.

The square root of the sum of a number and five is six greater than the number.

The square root of the sum of a number and five is six less than the number.

The sum of five and the square root of a number is six greater than the number.

None of the other responses are correct.

Correct answer:

The square root of the sum of a number and five is six greater than the number.

Explanation:

 is the square root of , which in turn can be written as "the sum of a number and five";  can subsequently be written as "the square root of the sum of a number and five". Since ,   is six greater than , the number, so the equation can be stated as "The square root of the sum of a number and five is six greater than the number."

Example Question #11 : Algebraic Word Problems

Which of the following sentences is represented by the equation

 ?

Possible Answers:

The sum of five and a number is equal to three times the difference of the number and seven.

The product of five and a number is equal to seven less than three times the number.

The sum of five and a number is equal to seven less than three times the number.

The product of five and a number is equal to three times the difference of the number and seven.

The product of five and a number is equal to three times the difference of seven and the number.

Correct answer:

The product of five and a number is equal to three times the difference of the number and seven.

Explanation:

The expression  can be written as "the product of five and a number".

The expression  can be written as " the difference of the number and seven"; the expression  can be written as "three times the difference of the number and seven". 

Therefore, the equation

can be written as 

"The product of five and a number is equal to three times the difference of the number and seven".

Example Question #13 : Algebraic Word Problems

In a math contest, the team from Jefferson High comprised Velma, Wendell, Yancy, and Zack. Velma outscored Zack by 12 points, Zack outscored Yancy by 22 points, and Wendell scored 98 points. The team score was 391. Order the four students from greatest score to least score.

Possible Answers:

Wendell, Velma, Zack, Yancy

Velma, Zack, Yancy, Wendell

The order cannot be determined by the information given.

Velma, Zack, Wendell, Yancy

Velma, Wendell, Zack, Yancy

Correct answer:

Velma, Zack, Wendell, Yancy

Explanation:

If we let  be Yancy's xcore, then, since Zack outscored Yancy by 22, Zack scored . Velma outscored Zack by 12, so Velma scored .

The sum of the four scores is the team score, or 391. Since Wendell scored 98, we can add the four expressions to get 391, then solve for :

Yancy scored 79; Zack scored 22 more than Yancy, or 101; Velma scored 12 more than Zack, or 113. Wendell scored 98, so the correct ordering, greatest to least, is: Velma, Zack, Wendell, Yancy.

Example Question #11 : Algebraic Word Problems

Four of the five numbers of a set are:

If the average of the five numbers is , give the fifth number in terms of .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Call the fifth number . If the average of the five numbers is , then  is the sum of the numbers divided by five:

Solve for  in the equation:

The fifth number is .

Example Question #12 : Algebraic Word Problems

Bobby is five years older than his sister Geri. In ten years, Geri's age will be thirty years less than twice Bobby's age. How old is Bobby now?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Let  be Bobby's age. Since Geri is five years younger, her age is five years subtracted from Bobby's age, or 

In ten years, both will have had ten years added to their ages, so Bobby will be  and Geri will be 

Twice Bobby's age will be , and Geri will be thirty years less than this, or . Set the two expressions for Geri's age in five years equal to each other and solve for .

Distribute:

Collect like terms:

Apply the subtraction property of equality and collect like terms:

Apply the addition property of equality:

Bobby is fifteen years old.

Example Question #11 : Algebraic Word Problems

Eddie, Freida, Grant, Helene, and Ira represented Washington High in a math contest. The team score was the sum of the three highest scores. Grant outscored Eddie and Freida; Helene outscored Grant; Freida outscored Ira. Which three students' scores were added to determine the team score?

Possible Answers:

Eddie, Grant, and Ira

Eddie, Grant, and Helene

Insufficient information is given to answer the question.

Grant, Helene, and Ira

Freida, Grant, and Helene

Correct answer:

Insufficient information is given to answer the question.

Explanation:

Let  be Eddie's, Freida's, Grant's, Helene's and Ira's scores. Each of the following statements can be translated into inequalities as follows:

 Grant outscored Eddie and Freida: 

Helene outscored Grant: 

Freida ourtscored Ira:

The first and third statements can be combined to form the three-part inequality:

The second, third, and fourth statements can be combined to form the four-part inequality:

Since Helene and Grant were the top two finishers, their scores were counted. However, it cannot be determined which student finished third from these statements. Therefore, insufficient information is given to answer the question.

Example Question #11 : How To Solve Algebraic Word Problems

In his first seven games of the season LeBron scores 11, 31, 22, 32, 41, 32, and 22 points. How many points would he have to score in his next game in order to average 30 points per game for his first eight games of the season?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

For this question you can simply add up the points LeBron has scored thus far (191), determine how many points he would need through 8 games to be averaging 30 per game (240) and subtract to get 49.

If that's more adding than you want to do, though, you can also take the total number of points that LeBron is under 30 in each of the games when he failed to reach that mark and add these to get . Then combine this with the total number of points that he is over 30 in the rest of the games  to get a net of . So in his 8th game he will need to score the 30 points, but 19 extra to make up for the deficit: .

Example Question #17 : Algebraic Word Problems

What is the mean of the set below?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The first step is to convert the set  to fractions that have a common denominator of 12. This gives us:

The mean is then calculated by dividing the sum of the numbers in the set by the number of items in the set. 

The sum of the items in the set is: 

There are 4 items in the set, so the sum must be divided by 4 (or multiplied by ). 

This results in:

Example Question #13 : Algebraic Word Problems

The price of a nugget is  units, which is two more than twice the value of a bronze object.  What is the price of the bronze object?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Write the word problem in terms of a mathematical equation.  Let  be the value of the bronze object.

Solve for .

The value of the bronze object is  units.

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