Today’s SAT question of the day is an algebra question that’s rated hard – but I don’t think you’ll agree with the rating!
The question:
If x + 2x is 5 more than y + 2y, then x – y =
Step 1: translation. Continue reading
Category Archives: Algebra
ACT Question of the Day Explained – February 15, 2014 – Math, Trapezoids
Today’s ACT question is a flashback to a week ago – working with trapezoids.
SAT Question of the Day Explained – February 15, 2014 – Math, Algebra
Today’s SAT question of the day is a math question that is rated hard. If you work along with me step by step, I think you’ll see that this problem really isn’t so hard after all. In fact, we are even going to discuss two ways to solve it.
Here is the problem: we have a revenue model that is expressed by r(p) = 2,000p – 10p^2. We need to know which of the values in the answer choices will give us the greatest revenue. Continue reading
SAT Question of the Day Explained – February 12, 2014 – Algebra
Today’s SAT question of the day is an easy algebra question and a great chance to review our algebra basics.
#1 rule of algebra on the SAT: answer the right question. Don’t answer a question that isn’t being asked!
So, they want to know what x – y = when (x/y) = 3 and x =12.
SAT Question of the Day Explained – February 9, 2014 – Math, Algebra
Today’s SAT question of the day is an easy algebra question. Here’s the situation:
N * (5/14) = (5/14) * (7/9)
Naturally, they want to know what N equals. Continue reading
SAT Question of the Day Explained – February 6, 2014 – Math
Today’s SAT Question of the Day is a great algebra question that can be solved in two different ways.
If x + y = 3 and x – y = 5, then x2 – y2 = ??
SAT Question of the Day Explained – January 31, 2014 – Algebra, Radicals
Today’s SAT question of the day is a math question that’s rated easy. Follow along with me to see if that’s true – and to avoid falling into a common trap.
For all test questions everywhere, we have to remember to answer what the question is asking. Today’s question asks us the following:
If √x = 16, √4x = ?? Continue reading
ACT Question of the Day Explained – January 30, 2014 – Math, Absolute Value
Today’s ACT question of the day is a math question about absolute value and number properties. Remember the basic fact about absolute value: everything that comes out of the bars is either positive or 0. Kind of like coming out of prison?
Anyhow. If we have that fact with us, we can answer this question. Continue reading
SAT Question of the Day Explained – January 28, 2014 – Math, Algebra
Today’s SAT question of the day is a medium-difficulty math question that involves some basic algebra…and multiplying by 4. (I’ll wait while you get your calculator for that last part … ….)
We are told that there are two machines: X and Y.
Machine X works at a rate of X bolts per hour.
Machine Y works at a rate of X + 6 bolts per hour.
They want to know how many bolts are produced, total, in four hours. So, first, we have to figure out how many bolts are produced in one hour. 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