SSAT Upper Level Math : SSAT Upper Level Quantitative (Math)

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #231 : Ssat Upper Level Quantitative (Math)

Give the area of a circle that circumscribes a \(\displaystyle 30-60-90\) triangle whose longer leg has length \(\displaystyle 11\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{484\pi}{3}\)

\(\displaystyle 121 \pi\)

\(\displaystyle 242\pi\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{121 \pi}{3}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{121 \pi}{2}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{121 \pi}{3}\)

Explanation:

If a right triangle is inscribed inside a circle, then the arc intercepted by the right angle is a semicircle, making the hypotenuse of the triangle a diameter. 

By the 30-60-90 Theorem, the length of the shorter leg of a 30-60-90 triangle is that of the longer leg divided by \(\displaystyle \sqrt{3}\), so the shorter leg will have length \(\displaystyle \frac{11}{\sqrt{3}}\); the hypotenuse will have length twice this length, or 

\(\displaystyle 2 \cdot \frac{11}{\sqrt{3}} = \frac{22}{\sqrt{3}}\).

The diameter of the circle is therefore \(\displaystyle \frac{22}{\sqrt{3}}\); the radius is half this, or \(\displaystyle \frac{11}{\sqrt{3}}\). The area of the circle is therefore

\(\displaystyle A = \pi r^{2} = \pi \cdot \left ( \frac{11}{\sqrt{3}} \right ) ^{2} = \frac{121}{3}\cdot \pi = \frac{121 \pi}{3}\)

Example Question #1 : Area And Circumference Of A Circle

\(\displaystyle 90 ^{\circ }\) central angle of a circle has a chord with length \(\displaystyle 15\). Give the area of the circle.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 15 \pi \sqrt{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 30 \pi \sqrt{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 75 \pi\)

\(\displaystyle 225 \pi\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{225 \pi}{2}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{225 \pi}{2}\)

Explanation:

The figure below shows \(\displaystyle \angle AOB\), which matches this description, along with its chord \(\displaystyle \overline{AB}\):

Thingy

By way of the Isoscelese Triangle Theorem, \(\displaystyle \Delta AOB\) can be proved a 45-45-90 triangle with hypotenuse 15. By the 45-45-90 Theorem, its legs, each a radius, have length that can be determined by dividing this by \(\displaystyle \sqrt{2}\):

\(\displaystyle A O = \frac{AB }{\sqrt{2}} = \frac{15}{\sqrt{2}}\)

The area is therefore

\(\displaystyle A = \pi r^{2} = \pi \cdot \left ( \frac{15}{\sqrt{2}} \right )^{2} = \pi \cdot \frac{225}{2} =\frac{225 \pi}{2}\)

Example Question #2 : Area And Circumference Of A Circle

Give the area of a circle that is inscribed in an equilateral triangle with perimeter \(\displaystyle 72\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 72 \pi\)

\(\displaystyle 48 \pi\)

\(\displaystyle 144 \pi\)

\(\displaystyle 96 \pi\)

\(\displaystyle 24 \pi\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 48 \pi\)

Explanation:

An equilateral triangle of perimeter 72 has sidelength one-third of this, or 24. 

Construct this triangle and its inscribed circle, as well as a radius to one side - which, by symmetry, is a perpendicular bisector - and a segment to one of that side's endpoints:

Thingy

Each side of the triangle has measure 24, so \(\displaystyle AB = 12\). Also, the triangle formed by the segments, by symmetry, is a 30-60-90 triangle. Therefore, 

\(\displaystyle BO = \frac{AB}{\sqrt{3}} = \frac{12}{\sqrt{3}} = \frac{12\cdot \sqrt{3}}{\sqrt{3}\cdot \sqrt{3}} = \frac{12 \sqrt{3}}{3} =4\sqrt{3}\)

which is the radius of the circle. The area of this circle is 

\(\displaystyle A = \pi r^{2} = \pi (4 \sqrt{3})^{2} = \pi \cdot 4 ^{2} (\sqrt{3})^{2} = 16\cdot 3 \cdot \pi= 48\pi\)

Example Question #11 : Area And Circumference Of A Circle

Give the area of a circle that circumscribes a right triangle with legs of length \(\displaystyle 10\) and \(\displaystyle 24\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{169 \pi}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{676\pi}{3}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{169 \pi}{3}\)

\(\displaystyle 169 \pi\)

\(\displaystyle 338 \pi\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 169 \pi\)

Explanation:

If a right triangle is inscribed inside a circle, then the arc intercepted by the right angle is a semicircle, making the hypotenuse of triangle a diameter. 

The length of the hypotenuse of this triangle can be calculated using the Pythagorean Theorem:

\(\displaystyle d = \sqrt {10^{2}+24^{2}} = \sqrt{100+576} = \sqrt{676} = 26\)

The radius is half this, or 13, so the area is

\(\displaystyle A = \pi r^{2} = \pi \cdot 13 ^{2} = 169 \pi\)

Example Question #11 : How To Find The Area Of A Circle

\(\displaystyle 120 ^{\circ }\) central angle of a circle has a chord with length \(\displaystyle 15\). Give the area of the circle.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{225 \pi}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{225 \pi}{4}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{75 \pi}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 225 \pi\)

\(\displaystyle 75 \pi\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 75 \pi\)

Explanation:

The figure below shows \(\displaystyle \angle AOB\), which matches this description, along with its chord \(\displaystyle \overline{AB}\) and triangle bisector \(\displaystyle \overline{OM}\)

 

 Chord

We will concentrate on \(\displaystyle \Delta AOM\), which is a 30-60-90 triangle.

Chord \(\displaystyle \overline{AB}\) has length 15, so \(\displaystyle AM = \frac{1}{2} AB = \frac{1}{2} \cdot 15 = \frac{15}{2}\)

By the 30-60-90 Theorem, 

\(\displaystyle OM = AM \div \sqrt{3}= \frac{15}{2} \div \sqrt{3}= \frac{15}{2\sqrt{3}}\)

and 

\(\displaystyle AO = 2 \cdot OM = 2 \cdot \frac{15}{2\sqrt{3}} = \frac{15}{ \sqrt{3}}\)

This is the radius, so the area is

\(\displaystyle A = \pi r^{2} = \pi \cdot \left ( \frac{15}{ \sqrt{3}} \right )^{2}= \frac{225}{3} \pi = 75 \pi\)

Example Question #2 : Area Of A Circle

What is the area of a circle that has a diameter of \(\displaystyle 15\) inches?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 153.938\)

\(\displaystyle 940\)

\(\displaystyle 153.938\)

\(\displaystyle 960\)

\(\displaystyle 960\)

\(\displaystyle 940\)

\(\displaystyle 176.7146\)

\(\displaystyle 706.8583\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 176.7146\)

Explanation:

The formula for finding the area of a circle is \(\displaystyle \pi r^{2}\). In this formula, \(\displaystyle r\) represents the radius of the circle.  Since the question only gives us the measurement of the diameter of the circle, we must calculate the radius.  In order to do this, we divide the diameter by \(\displaystyle 2\).

\(\displaystyle \frac{15}{2}=7.5\)

Now we use \(\displaystyle 7.5\) for \(\displaystyle r\) in our equation.

\(\displaystyle \pi (7.5)^{2}=176.7146 \: in^{2}\)

 

Example Question #4 : Area Of A Circle

What is the area of a circle with a diameter equal to 6?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 18\pi\)

\(\displaystyle 9\pi\)

\(\displaystyle 36\pi\)

\(\displaystyle 3\pi\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 9\pi\)

Explanation:

First, solve for radius:

\(\displaystyle r=\frac{d}{2}=\frac{6}{2}=3\)

Then, solve for area:

\(\displaystyle A=r^2\pi=3^2\pi=9\pi\)

Example Question #3 : Area Of A Circle

The diameter of a circle is \(\displaystyle 4\ cm\). Give the area of the circle.

 

 

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 13\ cm^2\)

\(\displaystyle 11.56\ cm^2\)

\(\displaystyle 12 \ cm^2\)

\(\displaystyle 13.56\ cm^2\)

\(\displaystyle 12.56\ cm^2\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 12.56\ cm^2\)

Explanation:

The area of a circle can be calculated using the formula:

\(\displaystyle Area=\frac{\pi d^2}{4}\),

where \(\displaystyle d\) is the diameter of the circle, and \(\displaystyle \pi\) is approximately \(\displaystyle 3.14\).

\(\displaystyle Area=\frac{\pi d^2}{4}=\frac{\pi\times 4^2}{4}=4\pi \Rightarrow Area\approx 4\times 3.14\Rightarrow Area\approx 12.56 \ cm^2\)

Example Question #232 : Ssat Upper Level Quantitative (Math)

The diameter of a circle is \(\displaystyle 4t\). Give the area of the circle in terms of \(\displaystyle t\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 12.56 t\)

\(\displaystyle 11.56 t^2\)

\(\displaystyle 11.56 t\)

\(\displaystyle 12 t^2\)

\(\displaystyle 12.56 t^2\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 12.56 t^2\)

Explanation:

The area of a circle can be calculated using the formula:

\(\displaystyle Area=\frac{\pi d^2}{4}\),

where \(\displaystyle d\)  is the diameter of the circle and \(\displaystyle \pi\) is approximately \(\displaystyle 3.14\).

\(\displaystyle Area=\frac{\pi (4t)^2}{4}=\frac{16\pi t^2}{4}=4\pi t^2 \Rightarrow Area\approx 4\times 3.14\times t^2\)

\(\displaystyle \Rightarrow Area\approx 12.56t^2\)

Example Question #12 : How To Find The Area Of A Circle

The radius of a circle is  \(\displaystyle \frac{2}{\sqrt{\pi }}\). Give the area of the circle.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 4\)

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

\(\displaystyle 2\)

\(\displaystyle 2\pi\)

\(\displaystyle 4\pi\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 4\)

Explanation:

The area of a circle can be calculated as \(\displaystyle Area=\pi r^2\), where \(\displaystyle r\)  is the radius of the circle, and \(\displaystyle \pi\) is approximately \(\displaystyle 3.14\).

\(\displaystyle Area=\pi r^2=\pi\times (\frac{2}{\sqrt{\pi}})^2=\pi\times \frac{4}{\pi}\Rightarrow Area=4\)

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