The SAT Mathematics Solution Guide

COMPREHENSIVE FULLY EXPLAINED ILLUSTRATED

S OL U T I O NS
TO THE MATHEMATICS PROBLEMS FROM
THE OFFICIAL SAT STUDY GUIDE By Kevin R. Weaver Professional Educator & Tutor
8 Math Practice Tests Fully Explained No Longer Wonder How They Arrived at the Solutions The BEST SAT Review

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The Official SAT Study Guide, Practice Test 1 Math Section 3 page 395 1. B. (Difficulty: Easy) An algebraic solution: Add 3 to both sides of the equation: 2x = 6 Since youre looking for 4x, multiply both sides by 2 Then, 4x = 12 Next, subtract 3 from both sides: 4x 3 = 12 3 and 4x 3 = 9 2. D. (Difficulty: Easy) The minimum number of seats per section is 150; therefore 8150 is the min = 1200. And the maximum number of seats per section is 200; therefore, 8200 is the max = 1600. The only solution between 1200 and 1600 is 1300 (Answer D). 3. A. (Difficulty: Easy) The hypotenuse of each of the triangles formed by connecting each point to the perpendicular ( at X ) is your reference for each triangle. And, AXC has the longest hypotenuse

SAMPLE ONLY DO NOT 8DUPLICATE! 1 E l 3 B 2 IS 3PROTECTED THIS GUIDE BY A C D U.S. COPYRIGHT LAWS. 4. D. (Difficulty: Easy) Since the bars reflect the end of the year, there were 2 more
children in 1997 than in 1996.

5 2 + 8 2 = 89 versus X

4 2 + 8 2 = 80 for the next longest side: XE.

5. B. (Difficulty: Medium) The average of x and y is the sum of the values divided by 2. x+ y = 5, then x + y = 10 (multiply both sides by 2). Since 2 x+ y+z Then, since = 8, x + y+ z = 24 (multiply both sides by 3). 3 Substitute the 10 for x + y and 10 + z = 24, making z = 14. 6. E. (Difficulty: Easy) Try explaining to yourself in English the approach to finding the solution. The shaded region is the large square without the square hole: Then, the area of the large square is 52 minus the area of the square hole ( x2 ) = 25-x2. 7. D. (Difficulty: Easy) Since stuv = 0, one of the values must cause the product to = 0. The value is u when you consider that rstv = 1 (none of the factors can = 0). Therefore, u = 0

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2008, Kevin R. Weaver

The Official SAT Study Guide, Practice Test 2 Math section 9 page 487 1. C. (Difficulty: Easy) B = G, then after 4 boys get off the bus (B 4), there are twice as many girls than boys: 2(B 4) = G. (A) If there are 4 girls on the bus, there would have been 4 boys originally. Then, if four boys got off, there would be no boys on the bus. (B) Cannot be true because if 4 boys got off, there would be 2 remaining. This is NOT half the number of girls (if there are 6). (C) Is true. If they started with 8 each, there would be 4 boys remaining along with the 8 girls and there are twice as many girls at this point than boys. No need to check further. OR: B = G; (B 4) =

G G ; therefore, since G = B, G 4= and 2G 8 = G, so G = 8 2 2

2. D. (Difficulty: Easy) Negative slopes have lines that rise to the left (C, D, or E); positive y-intercept would be intercepting the y-axis above the x-axis (D). 3. B. (Difficulty: Easy) When you buy 6 for $1.89, the per donut cost is:

4. B.

5. C. corresponding y value (3).

1.89 SAMPLE ONLY = $0.32 6 DO NOT DUPLICATE! (Difficulty: Easy) Buy 12 (for $3.59) + 6 (for $1.89) + 3 (for $1.20) THIS GUIDE IS PROTECTED BY = 3.59+1.89+1.20 = $6.68 U.S. COPYRIGHT LAWS. (Difficulty: Easy) h(5) is the y-value when x = 5. Find the value of 5on the x-axis and the

6. C. (Difficulty: Medium) 2x + 4x + 3x = 360 and 9x = 360; x =

1
1

360 = 40 9

7. D. (Difficulty: Medium) Since

x2 Then, x = 9 (because the square root of x is 3). Since z > y, the values are (remember, theyre integers): y z = 24 = 16 which would make z = 4. Then, 9 + 4 = 13.

1 1 , x 2 = 3 (take the reciprocal of both sides). 3

8. C. (Difficulty: Medium) Either use logic or deal with the equation of a circle with an offset center. Logically, you need to remember that there is symmetry. 16 = (x 4)2 + y2 Which points work in this equation for the conditions?

(4, 0) 2
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2008, Kevin R. Weaver

11. 135 (Difficulty: Medium) The non-right angle formed by lines l and m is 25 (90 65). The straight line l is made up of 20 + x + 25 = 180. Therefore, 45+x = 180 and x = 180 45 = 135 .

12. (46) (Difficulty: Medium) The median is the middle number. There are 4 numbers larger than 42, and they are consecutive. The last five are 42, 43, 44, 45 46; or, 42+4 = 46.

SAMPLE ONLY (middle of 9 values) DO NOT DUPLICATE! THIS GUIDE IS PROTECTED BY U.S. COPYRIGHT LAWS.
Median

13. (28) (Difficulty: Medium) First, substitute p in the function: 2f(x) = 2(p+1) = 20. Therefore, p+1 = 10 and p = 9. Then, f(3 9) = f(27) = 27+1 = 28

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2008, Kevin R. Weaver

The Official SAT Study Guide, Practice Test 4 Math Section 8 page 611 1. D. (Difficulty: Easy) Divide both sides by 3: n 4 = 6. Add 4, and n = 10. 2. D. (Difficulty: Easy) For each of 4 types of stones, there are 3 types of metals: 43 = 12 3. B. (Difficulty: Easy) Translating the English to math: 3a+ b = (a+b)2 . 4. E. (Difficulty: Easy) Consider drawing it. To lie within the circle, she can only walk south and west. If she walks north, shes out of range; if she continues to walk east, she is out of range. E N (800') 1000'

SAMPLE ONLY 5. A. (Difficulty: Easy) Multiply both sides by 4a: ax = 8x and divide by x and a = 8 DO NOT DUPLICATE! THISEasy) GUIDE IS PROTECTED BY angles 6. A. (Difficulty: Since r = 50, u and s = 50 (r = u because they are alternate on the same side of the transversal; u = s because vertical angles are equal) and t = 130 U.S. COPYRIGHT LAWS. because it is supplementary to s (and u). Therefore, 50 + 130 + 50 = 230.
7. C. (Difficulty: Medium) Draw it. Since the value of x can be anything, the equation of the line is y = -3 .

(5, -3)

8. E. (Difficulty: Medium) Substitute into the given statement: p(x) = 17x (10x + b) 1900 = 17(300) (10300 + b) is the equation. Solve for b. 1900 = 5100 3000 b ; then, 1900 = 2100 b ; then, b = 200

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2008, Kevin R. Weaver