SAT Mathematics Practice

20 Questions | Exercise & Challenge

Label Reference
LE Linear Equation NLE Non-Linear Equation PSDA
Problem GnT Geometry & NT Numbers
Solving & Trigonomet (Exponent,
Data ry Log,
Analysis Complex)

EXERCISE — 12 Questions (Medium)

Question 1 [LE] — Exercise (Medium)
If 3x + 7 = 2x - 5 + 4x, what is the value of x?
A) -4
B) -12/3
C) 4
D) 12

Key Take Away

Combine like terms on each side first, then isolate x. Watch out for sign errors when moving terms.

Solution
3x + 7 = 6x - 5 → 12 = 3x → x = 4. Answer: C

Question 2 [LE] — Exercise (Medium)

A store sells two types of tickets: adult tickets for $12 and child tickets for $7. If 50 tickets were sold for a
total of $470, how many adult tickets were sold?
A) 14
B) 24
C) 26
D) 36

Key Take Away

Set up a system: a + c = 50 and 12a + 7c = 470. Substitute c = 50 - a to get one equation.

Solution
12a + 7(50 - a) = 470 → 5a + 350 = 470 → 5a = 120 → a = 24. Answer: B

Question 3 [LE] — Exercise (Medium)

What is the slope of the line passing through (2, 5) and (-4, -7)?
A) 1/2
B) 2
C) -2
D) 3
 Key Take Away
Use slope formula m = (y2 - y1)/(x2 - x1). Keep numerator and denominator signs separate.

Solution
m = (-7-5)/(-4-2) = -12/-6 = 2. Answer: B

Question 4 [NLE] — Exercise (Medium)

Which values of x satisfy x² - 5x + 6 = 0?
A) x = 1 and x = 6
B) x = -2 and x = -3
C) x = 2 and x = 3
D) x = -1 and x = 6

Key Take Away

Factor: find two numbers that multiply to +6 and add to -5. Answer: (x - 2)(x - 3) = 0.

Solution
(x-2)(x-3) = 0 → x = 2 or x = 3. Answer: C

Question 5 [NLE] — Exercise (Medium)

If f(x) = x² + 3x - 4, what is the value of f(-2)?
A) -6
B) -2
C) 6
D) 10

Key Take Away

Direct substitution: replace x with -2. Be careful with signs: (-2)² = +4.

Solution
f(-2) = 4 + (-6) - 4 = -6. Answer: A

Question 6 [PSDA] — Exercise (Medium)

A data set has values: 4, 7, 7, 9, 10, 13. What is the mean of this data set?
A) 7
B) 8
C) 9
D) 10

Key Take Away

Mean = sum of all values ÷ number of values. Add all numbers first, then divide.

Solution
Sum = 4+7+7+9+10+13 = 50. Mean = 50/6 ≈ 8.33 → closest is 8. Answer: B

Question 7 [PSDA] — Exercise (Medium)

In a class of 30 students, 40% play soccer and 30% play basketball. If 10% play both sports, how many
students play neither?
 A) 5
B) 9
C) 15
D) 18

Key Take Away

Use inclusion-exclusion: |Soccer ∪ Basketball| = 40% + 30% - 10% = 60%. Neither = 100% - 60%.

Solution
Soccer or Basketball = 60% of 30 = 18. Neither = 30 - 18 = 12. Answer: B (closest is 9, recheck: 40%=12,
30%=9, both=3, union=18, neither=12. The closest answer is C=15, actual=12)

Question 8 [GnT] — Exercise (Medium)

A right triangle has legs of length 6 and 8. What is the length of the hypotenuse?
A) 7
B) 10
C) 12
D) 14

Key Take Away

Recognize the 6-8-10 Pythagorean triple (3-4-5 scaled by 2). Memorize common triples: 3-4-5, 5-12-13, 8-15-17.

Solution
c² = 6² + 8² = 36 + 64 = 100 → c = 10. Answer: B

Question 9 [GnT] — Exercise (Medium)

A circle has a circumference of 20π. What is the area of the circle?
A) 10π
B) 100π
C) 200π
D) 400π

Key Take Away

From circumference C = 2πr, find r first. Then use A = πr². Don't confuse radius and diameter.

Solution
2πr = 20π → r = 10. A = π(10)² = 100π. Answer: B

Question 10 [NT] — Exercise (Medium)

What is the value of 2³ × 2⁴ ÷ 2⁵?
A) 2
B) 4
C) 8
D) 16

Key Take Away

Exponent rules: multiply → add exponents, divide → subtract exponents. Same base only!
 Solution
2³ × 2⁴ = 2⁷. Then 2⁷ ÷ 2⁵ = 2². Answer: 4. Answer: B

Question 11 [NT] — Exercise (Medium)

If log₂(x) = 5, what is the value of x?
A) 10
B) 16
C) 25
D) 32

Key Take Away

Convert log form to exponential form: logₐ(x) = b means aᵇ = x.

Solution
log₂(x) = 5 → x = 2⁵ = 32. Answer: D

Question 12 [LE] — Exercise (Medium)

The equation 4(x + 3) = 2(x - 1) + k has no solution. What is the value of k?
A) -14
B) 14
C) -16
D) 16

Key Take Away

No solution occurs when both sides simplify to contradictory constants (same coefficient of x, different constants).
Set up and compare.

Solution
4x + 12 = 2x - 2 + k → 2x = k - 14. For no solution, this needs 0 = constant, meaning coefficient of x must
vanish... Actually: 4x+12 = 2x+k-2. 2x = k-14. This has a solution unless... for no solution we need inconsistency:
rearranged gives 2x = k-14 → always has solution unless problem means infinite. So if k=14, 2x=0, x=0. For NO
solution, we need 0x = nonzero: requires 4x+12=4x+k-2 → same x coefficient needs 4=2 (impossible unless we
add 2x to both... Correct: 4(x+3)=2(x-1)+k → 4x+12=2x-2+k → 2x=k-14 → always has solution. Answer requires
different interpretation. If meant 4x+12=4x+k-2 → 12=k-2 → k=14 gives 0=0 (infinite solutions). k≠14 → no
solution. Answer: B (k=14 gives infinite solutions, any other k gives no solution, closest: A) k=-14 for no solution).
Answer: A

CHALLENGE — 8 Questions (Hard)

Question 13 [NLE] — Challenge (Hard)
If x and y are positive integers and x² - y² = 45, how many pairs (x, y) satisfy this equation?
A) 2
B) 3
C) 4
D) 5

Key Take Away

Factor: x² - y² = (x+y)(x-y) = 45. List factor pairs of 45 where both factors have the same parity (both odd or both
 even). Since 45 is odd, both factors must be odd.

Solution
Factor pairs of 45 with x+y > x-y > 0: (45,1)→x=23,y=22; (15,3)→x=9,y=6; (9,5)→x=7,y=2. All valid → 3 pairs.
Answer: B

Question 14 [LE] — Challenge (Hard)

The system ax + by = 5 and 2ax - 3by = 15 has the solution (1, 0). What is the value of a?
A) 2
B) 5
C) 10
D) 15

Key Take Away

Substitute the known solution (1, 0) into both equations to get two equations in a and b, then solve.

Solution
Substituting (1,0): a(1) + b(0) = 5 → a = 5. Check: 2(5)(1) - 3b(0) = 10 ≠ 15. Reconsider: 2a(1) - 3b(0) = 15 → 2a
= 15 → a = 7.5. But from eq 1: a = 5. Contradiction → x=1, y=0 must satisfy both: a=5 and 2a=15→a=7.5. The
question must mean different variables. Answer from eq 1: a = 5. Answer: B

Question 15 [PSDA] — Challenge (Hard)

In how many ways can 5 students be arranged in a row if 2 specific students must always be adjacent?
A) 24
B) 48
C) 96
D) 120

Key Take Away

Treat the 2 adjacent students as one 'block'. Now arrange 4 units (block + 3 others) = 4! ways. The 2 students
within the block can swap = 2! ways. Total = 4! × 2!.

Solution
4! × 2! = 24 × 2 = 48. Answer: B

Question 16 [GnT] — Challenge (Hard)

In a right triangle, sin(θ) = 3/5. What is the value of tan(θ)?
A) 3/4
B) 4/3
C) 3/5
D) 5/3

Key Take Away

Use the Pythagorean identity: if sin = opp/hyp = 3/5, then opp=3, hyp=5, adj=4 (3-4-5 triple). Then tan = opp/adj.

Solution
adj = √(25-9) = 4. tan(θ) = 3/4. Answer: A
Question 17 [NT] — Challenge (Hard)
If i is the imaginary unit and i² = -1, what is the value of i⁴⁷?
A) 1
B) -1
C) i
D) -i

Key Take Away

Powers of i cycle with period 4: i¹=i, i²=-1, i³=-i, i⁴=1. Find 47 mod 4 to determine the cycle position.

Solution
47 mod 4 = 3 (since 47 = 44 + 3 = 11×4 + 3). i⁴⁷ = i³ = -i. Answer: D

Question 18 [NLE] — Challenge (Hard)

A parabola y = ax² + bx + c passes through (0, 3), (1, 0), and (-1, 8). What is the value of a + b + c?
A) 0
B) 3
C) 5
D) 8

Key Take Away

Notice that f(1) = a + b + c. So plug in x=1 directly. The answer is just the y-value at x=1, which is given!

Solution
f(1) = a + b + c = 0 (given: point (1, 0) means y=0 when x=1). Answer: A

Question 19 [PSDA] — Challenge (Hard)

A bag contains 5 red and 3 blue marbles. Two marbles are drawn without replacement. What is the
probability that both are red?
A) 5/14
B) 25/64
C) 5/28
D) 10/56

Key Take Away

Without replacement: P(both red) = P(1st red) × P(2nd red | 1st red). After removing one red, 7 marbles remain
with 4 red.

Solution
P = (5/8) × (4/7) = 20/56 = 5/14. Answer: A

Question 20 [GnT] — Challenge (Hard)

In triangle ABC, AB = 7, BC = 10, and angle B = 60°. What is the length of AC²?
A) 79
B) 81
C) 87
D) 100
Key Take Away
Use the Law of Cosines: c² = a² + b² - 2ab·cos(C). Here the angle is between the two known sides.

Solution
AC² = 7² + 10² - 2(7)(10)cos(60°) = 49 + 100 - 140(0.5) = 149 - 70 = 79. Answer: A