Author Archives: Elizabeth

ACT Question of the Day Explained – January 26, 2014 – Geometry, Right Triangles

Today’s ACT question of the day is a repeat of the question we just saw on January 22 about applying the Pythagorean theorem and simplifying radical expressions.

Instead of going over it again, let’s take a moment to remember at least one Pythagorean triplet (3, 4, 5 – a great time save on test day if you know how to apply it).

And, for practice, simplifying another radical expression:

√108 = √(9 * 12 ) = (9 * 4 * 3) = 3√(4 * 3) = 6√3

Check:
6^2 = 36
36 * 3 = 108

SAT Question of the Day Explained – January 26, 2014 – Sentence Completion, Two Blanks

David Livingstone

Today’s SAT question of the day is a two-blank question about explorer David Livingstone.

The first blank tells us that he has a certain kind of reputation – we just don’t know what it is yet, so we’ll have to keep reading.

The second blank helps us unpack the sentence: some revile him, while others…blank him.  Let’s see what revile means. Continue reading →

Today’s ACT Question of the Day Explained – January 25, 2014 – English, Verb Tenses

Mickey Mantle (credit: flickr user brokentaco)

Today’s ACT question of the day is an English question designed to prove me right when I say that verbs are the most frequently tested subject on the ACT English section (as well as on the SAT writing section).

The passage about Mickey Mantle is written in past tense and, indeed, the very sentence we are asked to fix is in the past tense (“…when glints of the afternoon sun shone…”).  We need to put “there will have to be seen for one brief, stirring moment the glimmer of jewels…” into a tense that is compatible with the past tense. Continue reading →

SAT Question of the Day Explained – January 25, 2014 – Math, Functions, Slope

Today’s SAT question of the day is a math question about function notation (the way functions are written).  This question is rated medium difficulty…maybe it’s just my years of tutoring talking, but I thought it was more like mega-easy (I solved it in less than10 seconds).

A function is just a relationship between values, right?  When x changes, y consistently changes in a related way.  And functions are written in a special format:

f(x) = ……

which means that “f of x”, or the function relating to x, is whatever appears on the other side of that equal sign.

This question also asks us about slope, so let’s think of what we know about slope: Continue reading →

SAT Question of the Day Explained – January 24, 2014 – Improving Sentences

Arthur Ashe, 1975

Today’s SAT question of the day is an improving sentences question about a stadium in New York that is named for Arthur Ashe.  We have several pieces of information in this sentence that need to be organized properly:

  • The main stadium of the US Open is in NY
  • Arthur Ashe won the first ever US Open men’s singles title in 1968
  • The main US Open stadium is named after Arthur Ashe Continue reading →

SAT Question of the Day Explained – January 23, 2014 – Sentence Completion

Tom Whittaker (right)

Today’s SAT question of the day is a single-blank sentence completion about a certain mountaineer.  He had “unflagging determination” and “_______ physical preparation” for his successful ascent.  Let’s think of what should go in that blank. Continue reading →