Question ID c9fad009

Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Percentages Hard

and Data Analysis

ID: c9fad009

The number is less than the positive number . The number is greater than . The number is how many
times ?

ID: c9fad009 Answer

Correct Answer: .48, 12/25

Rationale

70
The correct answer is .48 . It's given that the number 𝑎 is 70% less than the positive number 𝑏. Therefore, 𝑎 = 1 - 100 𝑏, which
60
is equivalent to 𝑎 = 1 - 0.70𝑏, or 𝑎 = 0.30𝑏. It's also given that the number 𝑐 is 60% greater than 𝑎. Therefore, 𝑐 = 1 + 100 𝑎,
which is equivalent to 𝑐 = 1 + 0.60𝑎, or 𝑐 = 1.60𝑎. Since 𝑎 = 0.30𝑏, substituting 0.30𝑏 for 𝑎 in the equation 𝑐 = 1.60𝑎 yields
𝑐 = 1.600.30𝑏, or 𝑐 = 0.48𝑏. Thus, 𝑐 is 0.48 times 𝑏. Note that .48 and 12/25 are examples of ways to enter a correct answer.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID f5b329a4
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Ratios, rates, Hard

and Data Analysis proportional
relationships, and
units

ID: f5b329a4

The speed of a vehicle is increasing at a rate of meters per second squared. What is this rate, in miles per minute
squared, rounded to the nearest tenth?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: f5b329a4 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is correct. It's given that the speed of a vehicle is increasing at a rate of 7.3 meters per second squared. It's given to
use 1 mile = 1,609 meters. There are 60 seconds in 1 minute; therefore, 602 or 3,600 seconds squared is equal to 1 minute
7.3 meters 1 mile 3,600 seconds squared
squared. It follows that the rate of 7.3 meters per second squared is equivalent to 1 second squared 1,609 meters 1 minute squared ,
or approximately 16.33 miles per minute squared. The rate, in miles per minute squared, rounded to the nearest tenth is 16.3.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 4e5308ae
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Percentages Hard

and Data Analysis

ID: 4e5308ae

What number is greater than ?

ID: 4e5308ae Answer

Correct Answer: 161

Rationale

The correct answer is 161. For a number to be 40% greater than 115, it follows that the number is
100 40
100 % of 115 + 40 % of 115, which can be written as 100 115 + 100 115. This expression is equivalent to 1115 + 0.4115,
or 1.4115, which is equal to 161. Therefore, 161 is 40% greater than 115.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 9dd5d775
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Ratios, rates, Hard

and Data Analysis proportional
relationships, and
units

ID: 9dd5d775

One side of a flat board has an area of square inches. If a pressure of pounds per square inch of area is exerted on
this side of the board, what is the total force, in pounds, exerted on this side of the board?

ID: 9dd5d775 Answer

Correct Answer: 16606

Rationale

The correct answer is 16,606. It's given that one side of a flat board has an area of 874 square inches. If a pressure of 19
pounds per square inch of area is exerted on this side of the board, the total force exerted on this side of the board is
19 pounds
874 square inches 1 square inch , or 16,606 pounds.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 2894ecee
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Percentages Hard

and Data Analysis

ID: 2894ecee

is of . What is the value of ?

ID: 2894ecee Answer

Correct Answer: 52

Rationale

13 𝑝
The correct answer is 52. It's given that 13 is 𝑝% of 25. It follows that 25
=
100
. Multiplying both sides of this equation by 100
gives 52 = 𝑝. Therefore, the value of 𝑝 is 52.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 9ac5d061
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Percentages Hard

and Data Analysis

ID: 9ac5d061

The population of Greenville increased by from to . If the population is times the population,
what is the value of ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 9ac5d061 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale

Choice C is correct. Let 𝑥 be the 2015 population of Greenville. It's given that the population increased by 7% from 2015 to
2016. The increase in population can be written as 0.07𝑥. The 2016 population of Greenville is given as the sum of the 2015
population of Greenville and the increase in population from 2015 to 2016. This can be rewritten as 𝑥 + 0.07𝑥, or 1.07𝑥.
Therefore, the value of 𝑘 is 1.07.

Choice A is incorrect. This is the percent, represented as a decimal, that the population increased from 2015 to 2016, not the
value of 𝑘.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice D is incorrect. This is the value of 𝑘 if the population increased by 70%, not 7%, from 2015 to 2016.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 3a05154a
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving One-variable data: Hard

and Data Analysis Distributions and
measures of center
and spread

ID: 3a05154a

Weight (pounds) Frequency

The frequency table summarizes a data set of the weights, rounded to the nearest pound, of tortoises. A weight of
pounds is added to the original data set, creating a new data set of the weights, rounded to the nearest pound, of
tortoises. Which statement best compares the mean and median of the new data set to the mean and median of the original
data set?

A. The mean of the new data set is greater than the mean of the original data set, and the median of the new data set is
greater than the median of the original data set.

B. The mean of the new data set is greater than the mean of the original data set, and the medians of the two data sets are
equal.

C. The mean of the new data set is less than the mean of the original data set, and the median of the new data set is less
than the median of the original data set.

D. The mean of the new data set is less than the mean of the original data set, and the medians of the two data sets are
equal.

ID: 3a05154a Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is correct. The mean of a data set is the sum of the values in the data set divided by the number of values in the
data set. The new data set consists of the weights of the 71 tortoises in the original data set and one additional weight, 39.
Since the additional weight, 39, is greater than any of the values in the original data set, the mean of the new data set is
greater than the mean of the original data set. If a data set contains an odd number of data values, the median is
represented by the middle data value in the list when the data values are listed in ascending or descending order. Since the
original data set consists of the weights of 71 tortoises and is in ascending order, the median of the original data set is
represented by the middle value, or the 36th value. Based on the frequencies shown in the table, the 36th value in this data
set is 17. If a data set contains an even number of data values, the median is between the two middle data values when the
values are listed in ascending or descending order. Since the new data set consists of the weights of 72 tortoises, the
median of the new data set is between the 36th and 37th data values when the values are arranged in ascending order. To
keep the data in ascending order, the additional value of 39 would be placed at the bottom of the frequency table with a
frequency of 1. Therefore, based on the frequencies in the table, the 36th and 37th values in the new data set are both 17. It
follows that the median of the new data set is 17, which is the same as the median of the original data set. Therefore, the
mean of the new data set is greater than the mean of the original data set, and the medians of the two data sets are equal.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 14c3d4f9
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Two-variable data: Hard

and Data Analysis Models and
scatterplots

ID: 14c3d4f9

The scatterplot shows the relationship between two variables, and . A line of best fit is also shown.

Which of the following is closest to the slope of the line of best fit shown?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 14c3d4f9 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is correct. A line of best fit is shown in the scatterplot such that as the value of 𝑥 increases, the value of 𝑦
decreases. Thus, the slope of the line of best fit shown is negative. The slope of a line passing through two points, 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 and
𝑦2 - 𝑦1
𝑥2 , 𝑦2 , can be calculated as . The line of best fit shown passes approximately through the points 1, 12 and 11, 4.
𝑥2 - 𝑥1
𝑦2 - 𝑦1 4 - 12 8
Substituting 1, 12 and 11, 4 for 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 and 𝑥2 , 𝑦2 , respectively, in 𝑥2 - 𝑥1
gives 11 - 1
, which is equivalent to - 10 , or -0.8. Therefore,
of the given choices, -0.8 is closest to the slope of the line of best fit shown.
Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect. The line of best fit shown has a negative slope, not a positive slope.

Choice D is incorrect. The line of best fit shown has a negative slope, not a positive slope.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 60b279a2
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Ratios, rates, Hard

and Data Analysis proportional
relationships, and
units

ID: 60b279a2

For the values and , the ratio of to is to . If is multiplied by , what is multiplied by in order to maintain the
same ratio?

ID: 60b279a2 Answer

Correct Answer: 17

Rationale

The correct answer is 17. If one value is multiplied by a number, then the other value must be multiplied by the same number
in order to maintain the same ratio. It’s given that 𝑗 is multiplied by 17. Therefore, in order to maintain the same ratio, 𝑘 must
also be multiplied by 17.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 41fd4b9f
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving One-variable data: Hard

and Data Analysis Distributions and
measures of center
and spread

ID: 41fd4b9f

The table shows the frequency of values in a data set.

Value Frequency

What is the minimum value of the data set?

ID: 41fd4b9f Answer

Correct Answer: 19

Rationale

The correct answer is 19. The minimum value of a data set is the least value in the data set. The frequency refers to the
number of times a value occurs. The given table shows that for this data set, the value 19 occurs 7 times, the value 21
occurs 1 time, the value 23 occurs 7 times, and the value 25 occurs 4 times. Therefore, of the values 19, 21, 23, and 25 given
in the data set, the minimum value of the data set is 19.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID f956e2a2
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Percentages Hard

and Data Analysis

ID: f956e2a2

A gift shop buys souvenirs at a wholesale price of dollars each and resells them each at a retail price that is of
the wholesale price. At the end of the season, any remaining souvenirs are marked at a discounted price that is off the
retail price. What is the discounted price of each remaining souvenir, in dollars?

ID: f956e2a2 Answer

Correct Answer: 203/50, 4.06

Rationale

The correct answer is 4.06. It's given that the retail price is 290% of the wholesale price of $ 7.00. Thus, the retail price is
290
$ 7.00 , which is equivalent to $ 7.002.9, or $ 20.30. It's also given that the discounted price is 80% off the retail price.
100
80
Thus, the discounted price is $ 20.301 - 100 , which is equivalent to $ 20.300.20, or $ 4.06.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID b7a6f094
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Percentages Hard

and Data Analysis

ID: b7a6f094

A scientist studying the life cycle of dragonflies counted the number of dragonflies in a certain habitat each day for days.
On February , there were dragonflies in the habitat. The percent increase in the number of dragonflies in the habitat
from January to February was . How many dragonflies were in the habitat on January ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: b7a6f094 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale

Choice A is correct. It’s given that a scientist studying the life cycle of dragonflies counted the number of dragonflies in a
certain habitat each day for 46 days. It’s also given that on February 15, there were 99 dragonflies in the habitat and that the
percent increase in the number of dragonflies in the habitat from January 1 to February 15 was 12.50%. This can be
represented by the equation
12.50
99 = 1 +
100
𝑥, where 𝑥 represents the number of dragonflies in the habitat on January 1. This equation can be rewritten as
99 = 1.125𝑥. Dividing both sides of this equation by 1.125 yields 88 = 𝑥. Therefore, there were 88 dragonflies in the habitat
on January 1.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID d847e839
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Ratios, rates, Hard

and Data Analysis proportional
relationships, and
units

ID: d847e839

The population density of Cedar County is people per square mile. The county has a population of people. What
is the area, in square miles, of Cedar County?

ID: d847e839 Answer

Correct Answer: 370

Rationale

The correct answer is 370. It’s given that the population density of Cedar County is 230 people per square mile and the
county has a population of 85,100 people. Based on the population density, it follows that the area of Cedar County is
1 square mile
85,100 people
230 people
, or 370 square miles.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 1ba97e3e
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Probability and Hard

and Data Analysis conditional
probability

ID: 1ba97e3e

At a movie theater, there are a total of customers. Each customer is located in either theater A, theater B, or theater C. If
one of these customers is selected at random, the probability of selecting a customer who is located in theater A is ,
and the probability of selecting a customer who is located in theater B is . How many customers are located in theater
C?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 1ba97e3e Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is correct. It’s given that at a movie theater, there are a total of 350 customers and that each customer is located in
either theater A, theater B, or theater C. If the probability of selecting a customer in theater A is 0.48, then 0.48350, or 168,
customers are located in theater A. If the probability of selecting a customer in theater B is 0.24, then 0.24350, or 84,
customers are located in theater B. It follows that there are 168 + 84, or 252, customers in theater A and theater B.
Therefore, there are 350 - 252, or 98, customers in theater C.

Choice A is incorrect. This is the percent, not the number, of the customers that are located in theater C.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect. This is the number of customers that are located in theater B, not theater C.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 2cc8781a
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Percentages Hard

and Data Analysis

ID: 2cc8781a

The value of a collectible comic book increased by from the end of to the end of and then decreased by
from the end of to the end of . What was the net percentage increase in the value of the collectible comic
book from the end of to the end of ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 2cc8781a Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale

Choice A is correct. It’s given that the value of the comic book increased by 167% from the end of 2011 to the end of 2012.
Therefore, if the value of the comic book at the end of 2011 was 𝑥 dollars, then the value, in dollars, of the comic book at the
167
end of 2012 was 𝑥 + 100 𝑥, which can be rewritten as 1𝑥 + 1.67𝑥, or 2.67𝑥. It’s also given that the value of the comic book
decreased by 16% from the end of 2012 to the end of 2013. Therefore, the value, in dollars, of the comic book at the end of
16
2013 was 2.67𝑥 - 2.67𝑥 , which can be rewritten as 2.67𝑥 - 2.67𝑥0.16, or 2.2428𝑥. Thus, if the value of the comic book at the
100
end of 2011 was 𝑥 dollars, and the value of the comic book at the end of 2013 was 2.2428𝑥 dollars, then from the end of
2011 to the end of 2013, the value of the comic book increased by 2.2428𝑥 - 1𝑥, or 1.2428𝑥, dollars. Therefore, the increase in
the value of the comic book from the end of 2011 to the end of 2013 is equal to 1.2428 times the value of the comic book at
the end of 2011. It follows that from the end of 2011 to the end of 2013, the net percentage increase in the value of the
comic book was 1.2428100%, or 124.28%.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect. This is the difference between the net percentage increase in the value of the comic book from the end
of 2011 to the end of 2012 and the net percentage decrease in the value of the comic book from the end of 2012 to the end
of 2013, not the net percentage increase in the value of the comic book from the end of 2011 to the end of 2013.

Choice D is incorrect. This is the net percentage increase in the value of the comic book from the end of 2011 to the end of
2013, if the value of the comic book increased by 167% from the end of 2011 to the end of 2012 and then increased, not
decreased, by 16% from the end of 2012 to the end of 2013.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 54380bb2
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Two-variable data: Hard

and Data Analysis Models and
scatterplots

ID: 54380bb2

The scatterplot shows the relationship between two variables, and . A line of best fit for the data is also shown.

For how many of the data points is the actual y-value greater than the y-value predicted by the line of best fit?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 54380bb2 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale

Choice C is correct. Any data point that's located above the line of best fit has a y-value that's greater than the y-value
predicted by the line of best fit. For the scatterplot shown, 6 of the data points are above the line of best fit. Therefore, 6 of
the data points have an actual y-value that's greater than the y-value predicted by the line of best fit.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice B is incorrect. This is the number of data points that have an actual y-value that's less than the y-value predicted by
the line of best fit.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID cba3004b
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Percentages Hard

and Data Analysis

ID: cba3004b

The number of coins in a collection increased from to . What was the percent increase in the number of coins in this
collection?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: cba3004b Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is correct. It's given that the number of coins in the collection increased from 9 to 90. It follows that the number of
coins in the collection increased by 90 - 9, or 81. Let 𝑥% represent the percentage that 81 is of 9. The value of 𝑥 can be found
81 𝑥 𝑥
using the proportion 9
=
100
, or 9 = 100
. Multiplying both sides of this equation by 100 yields 900 = 𝑥. Thus, when the
number of coins in the collection increased from 9 to 90, the percent increase was 900%.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 8956c389
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Probability and Hard

and Data Analysis conditional
probability

ID: 8956c389

The table summarizes the distribution of age and assigned group for participants in a study.

– years – years years Total

Group A

Group B

Group C

Total

One of these participants will be selected at random. What is the probability of selecting a participant from group A, given
that the participant is at least 10 years of age?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 8956c389 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is correct. Since the participant will be selected at random, the probability of selecting a participant from group A,
given that the participant is at least 10 years of age, is equal to the number of participants from group A who are at least 10
years of age divided by the total number of participants who are at least 10 years of age. Based on the table, in group A,
there are 17 participants who are 10–19 years of age and 8 participants who are 20 + years of age. Therefore, there are a
total of 17 + 8, or 25, participants in group A who are at least 10 years of age. Based on the table, of the total number of
participants, there are 30 participants who are 10–19 years of age and 30 participants who are 20 + years of age. Therefore,
a total of 30 + 30, or 60, of the participants are at least 10 years of age. Thus, the probability of selecting a participant from
25 5
group A, given that the participant is at least 10 years of age, is 60
, or 12
.

Choice A is incorrect. This is the number of participants from group A who are at least 10 years of age divided by the total
number of participants, rather than divided by the number of participants who are at least 10 years of age.

Choice C is incorrect. This is the probability of randomly selecting a participant from group A, given that the participant is 10
–19 years of age, rather than given that the participant is at least 10 years of age.
Choice D is incorrect. This is the probability of randomly selecting a participant who is at least 10 years of age, given that the
participant is in group A.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID a963160e
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Percentages Hard

and Data Analysis

ID: a963160e

The positive number is of the number , and is of the number . If is of , which of the following is
closest to the value of ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: a963160e Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

230
Choice D is correct. It's given that 𝑎 is 230% of 𝑏. It follows that 𝑎 = 100
𝑏. It's also given that 𝑎 is 60% of 𝑐. It follows that
60 230 60 230 60 100 23
𝑎= 100
𝑐. Since 𝑎 = 100
𝑏 and 𝑎 = 100
𝑐, it follows that 100
𝑏 = 100
𝑐. Multiplying each side of this equation by 60
yields 6
𝑏 = 𝑐.
𝑝 23 𝑝 2,300
If 𝑐 is 𝑝% of 𝑏, then 𝑐 = 𝑏. It follows that = . Multiplying each side of this equation by 100 yields = 𝑝. It follows
100 6 100 6
that the value of 𝑝 is approximately 383.33. Therefore, of the given choices, 383 is closest to the value of 𝑝.

Choice A is incorrect. This is closest to the value of 𝑝 if 𝑏 is 230% of 𝑎, rather than if 𝑎 is 230% of 𝑏, and if 𝑏 is 𝑝% of 𝑐, rather
than if 𝑐 is 𝑝% of 𝑏.

Choice B is incorrect. This is closest to the value of 𝑝 if 𝑎 is 230% greater than 𝑏, rather than 230% of 𝑏.

Choice C is incorrect. This is closest to the value of 𝑝 if 𝑐 is 𝑝% greater than 𝑏, rather than 𝑝% of 𝑏.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 701ecc09
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Ratios, rates, Hard

and Data Analysis proportional
relationships, and
units

ID: 701ecc09

For a certain rectangular region, the ratio of its length to its width is to . If the width of the rectangular region increases
by units, how must the length change to maintain this ratio?

A. It must decrease by units.

B. It must increase by units.

C. It must decrease by units.

D. It must increase by units.

ID: 701ecc09 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is correct. It’s given that the ratio of the rectangular region’s length to its width is 35 to 10. This can be written as a
length 35 𝑙 35
proportion: width = 10 , or 𝑤 = 10 . This proportion can be rewritten as 10𝑙 = 35𝑤, or 𝑙 = 3.5𝑤. If the width of the rectangular
region increases by 7, then the length will increase by some number 𝑥 in order to maintain this ratio. The value of 𝑥 can be
found by replacing 𝑙 with 𝑙 + 𝑥 and 𝑤 with 𝑤 + 7 in the equation, which gives 𝑙 + 𝑥 = 3.5𝑤 + 7. This equation can be rewritten
using the distributive property as 𝑙 + 𝑥 = 3.5𝑤 + 24.5. Since 𝑙 = 3.5𝑤, the right-hand side of this equation can be rewritten by
substituting 𝑙 for 3.5𝑤, which gives 𝑙 + 𝑥 = 𝑙 + 24.5, or 𝑥 = 24.5. Therefore, if the width of the rectangular region increases by
7 units, the length must increase by 24.5 units in order to maintain the given ratio.

Choice A is incorrect. If the width of the rectangular region increases, the length must also increase, not decrease.

Choice C is incorrect. If the width of the rectangular region increases, the length must also increase, not decrease.

Choice D is incorrect. Since the ratio of the length to the width of the rectangular region is 35 to 10, if the width of the
rectangular region increases by 7 units, the length would have to increase by a proportional amount, which would have to be
greater than 7 units.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID c2de18fb
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Probability and Hard

and Data Analysis conditional
probability

ID: c2de18fb

Site A Site B Total

Tulip

Daffodil

Total

The table shows the distribution of two types of flowers at two different sites. If a flower represented in the table is selected
at random, what is the probability of selecting a flower from site A, given that the flower is a tulip? (Express your answer as a
decimal or fraction, not as a percent.)

ID: c2de18fb Answer

Correct Answer: 0.7, 7/10

Rationale

35
The correct answer is 50
. Based on the table, there are a total of 50 tulips, and 35 of these tulips are from site A. The
probability of selecting at random a flower from site A, given that the flower is a tulip, is equal to the number of tulips from
35 7
site A divided by the total number of tulips, which can be written as 50
, or 10
. Note that 35/50, 7/10, and .7 are examples of
ways to enter a correct answer.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 49dbf54c
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Ratios, rates, Hard

and Data Analysis proportional
relationships, and
units

ID: 49dbf54c

One of a planet's moons orbits the planet every days. A second moon orbits the planet every days. How many more
days does it take the second moon to orbit the planet times than it takes the first moon to orbit the planet times?

ID: 49dbf54c Answer

Correct Answer: 1015

Rationale

The correct answer is 1,015. It’s given that the first moon orbits the planet every 252 days. Therefore, it takes the first moon
25229, or 7,308, days to orbit the planet 29 times. It’s also given that the second moon orbits the planet every 287 days.
Therefore, it takes the second moon 28729, or 8,323, days to orbit the planet 29 times. Since it takes the first moon 7,308
days and the second moon 8,323 days, it takes the second moon 8,323 - 7,308, or 1,015, more days than it takes the first
moon to orbit the planet 29 times.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 95bad03b
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Ratios, rates, Hard

and Data Analysis proportional
relationships, and
units

ID: 95bad03b

A landscaper uses a hose that puts ounces of water in a bucket in minutes. Which expression represents the number
of ounces of water the hose puts in the bucket in minutes at this rate?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 95bad03b Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is correct. It’s given that a hose puts 88𝑥 ounces of water in a bucket in 5𝑦 minutes. Therefore, the rate at which the
88𝑥
hose puts water in the bucket, in ounces per minute, can be represented by the expression . Let 𝑤 represent the number of
5𝑦
ounces of water the hose puts in the bucket in 9𝑦 minutes at this rate. It follows that the rate at which the hose puts water in
𝑤 88𝑥 𝑤
the bucket, in ounces per minute, can be represented by the expression 9𝑦
. The expressions 5𝑦
and 9𝑦
represent the same
88𝑥 𝑤 792𝑥𝑦 792𝑥
rate, so it follows that = . Multiplying both sides of this equation by 9𝑦 yields = 𝑤, or = 𝑤. Therefore, the
5𝑦 9𝑦 5𝑦 5
792𝑥
number of ounces of water the hose puts in the bucket in 9𝑦 minutes can be represented by the expression 5
.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 452a80e3
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Percentages Hard

and Data Analysis

ID: 452a80e3

The result of increasing the quantity by is . What is the value of ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 452a80e3 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

1,800
Choice D is correct. It’s given that the result of increasing the quantity 𝑥 by 1,800% is 684. It follows that 𝑥 + 100
𝑥 = 684,
which is equivalent to 𝑥 + 18𝑥 = 684, or 19𝑥 = 684. Dividing each side of this equation by 19 yields 𝑥 = 36. Therefore, the
value of 𝑥 is 36.

Choice A is incorrect. The result of increasing the quantity 12,996 by 1,800% is 246,924, not 684.

Choice B is incorrect. The result of increasing the quantity 12,312 by 1,800% is 233,928, not 684.

Choice C is incorrect. The result of increasing the quantity 38 by 1,800% is 722, not 684.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID a0707653
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Percentages Hard

and Data Analysis

ID: a0707653

The result of increasing the quantity by is . What is the value of ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: a0707653 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale

400
Choice A is correct. It's given that the result of increasing the quantity 𝑥 by 400% is 60. This can be written as 𝑥 + 100 𝑥 = 60,
which is equivalent to 𝑥 + 4𝑥 = 60, or 5𝑥 = 60. Dividing each side of this equation by 5 yields 𝑥 = 12. Therefore, the value of
𝑥 is 12.

Choice B is incorrect. The result of increasing the quantity 15 by 400% is 75, not 60.

Choice C is incorrect. The result of increasing the quantity 240 by 400% is 1,200, not 60.

Choice D is incorrect. The result of increasing the quantity 340 by 400% is 1,700, not 60.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 012d2a43
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Ratios, rates, Hard

and Data Analysis proportional
relationships, and
units

ID: 012d2a43

The density of a certain type of wood is kilograms per cubic meter. A sample of this type of wood is in the shape of a
cube and has a mass of kilograms. To the nearest hundredth of a meter, what is the length of one edge of this sample?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 012d2a43 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is correct. It’s given that the density of a certain type of wood is 353 kilograms per cubic meter kg/m3 , and a
sample of this type of wood has a mass of 345 kg. Let 𝑥 represent the volume, in m3 , of the sample. It follows that the
relationship between the density, mass, and volume of this sample can be written
353 kg 345 kg 345
as 3 =
1 m 3 , or 353 =
𝑥 m
. Multiplying both sides of this equation by 𝑥 yields 353𝑥 = 345. Dividing both sides of this
𝑥
345 345
equation by 353 yields 𝑥 = 353
. Therefore, the volume of this sample is 353
m3 . Since it’s given that the sample of this type
of wood is a cube, it follows that the length of one edge of this sample can be found using the volume formula for a cube,
345
𝑉 = 𝑠3 , where 𝑉 represents the volume, in m3 , and 𝑠 represents the length, in m, of one edge of the cube. Substituting 353
for 𝑉
345 3 345
in this formula yields 353
= 𝑠3 . Taking the cube root of both sides of this equation yields √ 353 = 𝑠, or 𝑠 ≈ 0 . 99. Therefore, the

length of one edge of this sample to the nearest hundredth of a meter is 0.99.

Choices A, C, and D are incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID a09944fe
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Ratios, rates, Hard

and Data Analysis proportional
relationships, and
units

ID: a09944fe

A competition consisted of four different events. One participant completed the first event with an average speed of
miles per hour. What was this average speed, in yards per hour?

ID: a09944fe Answer

Correct Answer: 35728

Rationale

The correct answer is 35,728. It's given that 1 mile = 1,760 yards. It follows that an average speed of 20.300 miles per hour
20.300 miles 1,760 yards
is equivalent to 1 hour 1 mile
, or 35,728 yards per hour.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 86174ce1
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Percentages Hard

and Data Analysis

ID: 86174ce1

After of the original number of marbles in a group were removed from the group, marbles remained in the group.
How many marbles were removed from the group?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 86174ce1 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is correct. It's given that 20% of the original number of marbles were removed from the group. Let 𝑥 represent the
20
original number of marbles in the group. It follows that 100
𝑥, or 0.20𝑥, marbles were removed from the group. Therefore,
𝑥 - 0.20𝑥 marbles remained in the group. It's also given that 360 marbles remained in the group. Thus, 𝑥 - 0.20𝑥 = 360, or
0.80𝑥 = 360. Dividing both sides of this equation by 0.80 yields 𝑥 = 450. Substituting 450 for 𝑥 in the expression 0.20𝑥 yields
0.20 ( 450 ) , or 90. Therefore, 90 marbles were removed from the group.

Choice A is incorrect. This is 20% of the remaining number of marbles.

Choice C is incorrect. This is the original number of marbles, not the number of marbles that were removed.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 2731baec
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving One-variable data: Hard

and Data Analysis Distributions and
measures of center
and spread

ID: 2731baec

The list gives the mass, in grams, of alpine marmots.

; ; ; ;
What is the mean mass, in grams, of these alpine marmots?

ID: 2731baec Answer

Correct Answer: 3630

Rationale

The correct answer is 3,630. The mean of a data set is the sum of the values in the data set divided by the number of values
in the data set. The sum of the masses, in grams, of these alpine marmots is 4,010 + 4,010 + 3,030 + 4,050 + 3,050, or
18,150 grams. The number of alpine marmots in the data set is 5. Therefore, the mean mass, in grams, of these 5 alpine
18,150
marmots is 5
, or 3,630.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID bd2e4f46
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Two-variable data: Hard

and Data Analysis Models and
scatterplots

ID: bd2e4f46

In the given scatterplot, a line of best fit for the data is shown.

Which of the following is closest to the slope of the line of best fit shown?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: bd2e4f46 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale

𝑦2 - 𝑦1
Choice C is correct. A line in the xy-plane that passes through points 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 and 𝑥2 , 𝑦2 has a slope of 𝑥2 - 𝑥1
. The line of best fit
9.3 - 0.2
shown passes approximately through the points 0, 0.2 and 5, 9.3. It follows that the slope of this line is approximately 5-0
,
9.1
which is equivalent to , or 1.82. Therefore, of the given choices, 1.8 is closest to the slope of the line of best fit shown.
5

Choice A is incorrect. This value is closest to the y-coordinate of the y-intercept of the line of best fit shown.
Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 0346405a
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Two-variable data: Hard

and Data Analysis Models and
scatterplots

ID: 0346405a

In the given scatterplot, a line of best fit for the data is shown.

Which of the following is closest to the slope of the line of best fit shown?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 0346405a Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

𝑦2 - 𝑦1
Choice D is correct. A line in the xy-plane that passes through the points 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 and 𝑥2 , 𝑦2 has a slope of 𝑥2 - 𝑥1
. The line of
best fit shown passes approximately through the points 1, 3.3 and 7, 14.5. It follows that the slope of this best fit line is
14.5 - 3.3 11.2
approximately 7-1
, which is equivalent to 6
, or approximately 1.87. Therefore, of the given choices, 2 is closest to the
slope of the line of best fit shown.
Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID cb3bf491
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Probability and Hard

and Data Analysis conditional
probability

ID: cb3bf491

The table summarizes the distribution of age and assigned group for participants in a study.
– years – years years Total

Group A

Group B

Group C

Total

One of these participants will be selected at random. What is the probability of selecting a participant from group A, given
that the participant is at least years of age? (Express your answer as a decimal or fraction, not as a percent.)

ID: cb3bf491 Answer

Correct Answer: .3833, 23/60

Rationale

23
The correct answer is 60
. It's given that one of the participants will be selected at random. The probability of selecting a
participant from group A given that the participant is at least 10 years of age is the number of participants in group A who
are at least 10 years of age divided by the total number of participants who are at least 10 years of age. The table shows that
in group A, there are 14 participants who are 10–19 years of age and 9 participants who are 20 + years of age. Therefore,
there are 14 + 9, or 23, participants in group A who are at least 10 years of age. The table also shows that there are a total of
30 participants who are 10–19 years of age and 30 participants who are 20 + years of age. Therefore, there are a total of
30 + 30, or 60, participants who are at least 10 years of age. It follows that the probability of selecting a participant from
23
group A given that the participant is at least 10 years of age is 60
. Note that 23/60, .3833, and 0.383 are examples of ways to
enter a correct answer.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 171007e3
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Two-variable data: Hard

and Data Analysis Models and
scatterplots

ID: 171007e3

During a study, the temperature, , of the air in a chamber was recorded to the nearest integer at
certain times. The scatterplot shows the recorded temperature , , of the air in the chamber minutes after the start
of the study.
y
30
28
26
24
22
20
18
Temperature 16
14
(°C) 12
10
8
6
4
2
x
O 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Time (minutes)

What was the average rate of change, per minute, of the recorded temperature of the air in the chamber from
to ?

ID: 171007e3 Answer

Correct Answer: 5

Rationale

The correct answer is 5. For the graph shown, 𝑥 represents time, in minutes, and 𝑦 represents temperature, in degrees
Celsius °C. Therefore, the average rate of change, in °C per minute, of the recorded temperature of the air in the chamber
between two x-values is the difference in the corresponding y-values divided by the difference in the x-values. The graph
shows that at 𝑥 = 5, the corresponding y-value is 14. The graph also shows that at 𝑥 = 7, the corresponding y-value is 24. It
24 - 14 10
follows that the average rate of change, in °C per minute, from 𝑥 = 5 to 𝑥 = 7 is 7-5
, which is equivalent to 2
, or 5.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 004f2999
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Percentages Hard

and Data Analysis

ID: 004f2999

The amount of Hanna's bill for a food order was . Hanna gave a tip of of the amount of the bill. What is the amount,
in dollars, of the tip Hanna gave?

ID: 004f2999 Answer

Correct Answer: 10

Rationale

The correct answer is 10. It’s given that the amount of Hanna's food order was $ 50 and that Hanna gave a tip of 20% of the
20 1000
amount of the bill. 20% of 50 can be calculated as 100
50, which yields 100
, or 10. Therefore, the amount, in dollars, of the tip
Hanna gave is 10.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 13f5630a
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Ratios, rates, Hard

and Data Analysis proportional
relationships, and
units

ID: 13f5630a

The ratio to is equivalent to the ratio to . If the value of is , what is the value of ?

ID: 13f5630a Answer

Correct Answer: 90

Rationale

𝑥 9
The correct answer is 90. It’s given that the ratio of 𝑥 to 𝑦 is equivalent to the ratio 9 to 5. It follows that 𝑦
= . Multiplying
5
5𝑦𝑥 95𝑦 5𝑥
each side of this equation by 5𝑦 yields 𝑦
= 5
, or 5𝑥 = 9𝑦. Dividing each side of this equation by 9 yields 9
= 𝑦.
5162 810
Substituting 162 for 𝑥 in this equation yields = 𝑦, which is equivalent to = 𝑦, or 90 = 𝑦. Therefore, if the value of 𝑥 is
9 9
162, the value of 𝑦 is 90.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 11356bb9
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Ratios, rates, Hard

and Data Analysis proportional
relationships, and
units

ID: 11356bb9

At a particular track meet, the ratio of coaches to athletes is to . If there are coaches at the track meet, which of the
following expressions represents the number of athletes at the track meet?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 11356bb9 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is correct. It’s given that at a particular track meet, the ratio of coaches to athletes is 1 to 26. If one number in a
ratio is multiplied by a value, the other number must be multiplied by the same value in order to maintain the same ratio. If
there are 𝑥 coaches at the track meet, multiplying both numbers in the ratio by 𝑥 yields 1𝑥 to 26𝑥, or 𝑥 to 26𝑥. Therefore, the
expression 26𝑥 represents the number of athletes at the track meet.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID e308945a
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Percentages Hard

and Data Analysis

ID: e308945a

In a group, % of the items are red. Of all the red items in the group, % also have stripes. What percentage of the items in
the group are red with stripes?

A. %

B. %

C. %

D. %

ID: e308945a Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is correct. It’s given that in a group, 40% of the items are red. It follows that the number of red items in the group
can be represented by 0 . 4𝑥, where 𝑥 represents the total number of items in the group. It’s also given that of all the red items
in the group, 30% also have stripes. It follows that the number of items in the group that are red and have stripes can be
represented by 0 . 30 . 4𝑥, or 0 . 12𝑥. The expression 0 . 12𝑥 represents 12% of 𝑥. Since 𝑥 represents the total number of items
in the group, it follows that 12% of the items in the group are red and have stripes.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from subtracting 30% from 40% rather than calculating 30% of 40%.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from adding 30% and 40% rather than calculating 30% of 40%.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from calculating the percentage that 30% is of 40% rather than calculating 30% of 40%.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID ce27ef4f
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving One-variable data: Hard

and Data Analysis Distributions and
measures of center
and spread

ID: ce27ef4f

Data set A consists of positive integers less than . The list shown gives of the integers from data set A.
, , , , , , , ,
The mean of these integers is . If the mean of data set A is an integer that is greater than , what is the value of the
largest integer from data set A?

ID: ce27ef4f Answer

Correct Answer: 52

Rationale

The correct answer is 52. The mean of a data set is calculated by dividing the sum of the data values by the number of
values. It’s given that data set A consists of 10 values, 9 of which are shown. Let 𝑥 represent the 10th data value in data set
43 + 45 + 44 + 43 + 38 + 39 + 40 + 46 + 40 + 𝑥
A, which isn’t shown. The mean of data set A can be found using the expression 10
, or
378 + 𝑥
10
. It’s given that the mean of the 9 values shown is 42 and that the mean of all 10 numbers is greater than 42.
Consequently, the 10th data value, 𝑥, is larger than 42. It’s also given that the data values in data set A are positive integers
less than 60. Thus, 42 < 𝑥 < 60. Finally, it’s given that the mean of data set A is an integer. This means that the sum of the 10
data values, 378 + 𝑥, is divisible by 10. Thus, 378 + 𝑥 must have a ones digit of 0. It follows that 𝑥 must have a ones digit of 2
. Since 42 < 𝑥 < 60 and 𝑥 has a ones digit of 2, the only possible value of 𝑥 is 52. Since 52 is larger than any of the integers
shown, the largest integer from data set A is 52.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 5db19db6
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Ratios, rates, Hard

and Data Analysis proportional
relationships, and
units

ID: 5db19db6

A distance of furlongs is equivalent to how many feet?

ID: 5db19db6 Answer

Correct Answer: 40260

Rationale

The correct answer is 40,260. It's given that 1 furlong = 220 yards and 1 yard = 3 feet. It follows that a distance of 61
220 yards 3 feet
furlongs is equivalent to 61 furlongs 1 furlong 1 yard
, or 40,260 feet.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID f7f7857d
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Percentages Hard

and Data Analysis

ID: f7f7857d

In , Zinah earned more than in , and in Zinah earned more than in . If Zinah earned times as
much in as in , what is the value of ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: f7f7857d Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is correct. It’s given that in 2008 Zinah earned 14% more than in 2007. Let ℎ represent the amount Zinah earned in
2007 and let 𝑗 represent the amount that Zinah earned in 2008. This situation can be represented by the equation
14
𝑗 = 1 + 100 ℎ, or 𝑗 = 1.14ℎ. It’s also given that in 2009 Zinah earned 4% more than in 2008. Let 𝑘 represent the amount Zinah
4
earned in 2009. This situation can be represented by the equation 𝑘 = 1 + 100 𝑗, or 𝑘 = 1.04𝑗. Substituting 1.14ℎ for 𝑗 in the
equation 𝑘 = 1.04𝑗 yields 𝑘 = 1.041.14ℎ, or 𝑘 = 1.1856ℎ. If Zinah earned 𝑦 times as much in 2009 as in 2007, then the value
of 𝑦 is 1.1856.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID de335e2c
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Percentages Hard

and Data Analysis

ID: de335e2c

Which expression represents the result of increasing a positive quantity by ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: de335e2c Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale

𝑥
Choice A is correct. The result of increasing a positive quantity 𝑤 by 𝑥% can be represented by the expression 1 + 𝑤
100
. Therefore, the result of increasing a positive quantity 𝑤 by 43% can be found by substituting 43 for 𝑥 in the expression
𝑥 43
1 + 100 𝑤, which gives 1 + 100 𝑤, or 1.43𝑤. Thus, the expression 1.43𝑤 represents the result of increasing a positive quantity 𝑤
by 43%.

Choice B is incorrect. This is the result of decreasing a positive quantity 𝑤 by 43%.

Choice C is incorrect. This is the result of increasing a positive quantity 𝑤 by 4,200%.

Choice D is incorrect. This is the result of decreasing a positive quantity 𝑤 by 57%.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID b544e3e7
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Percentages Hard

and Data Analysis

ID: b544e3e7

The table summarizes the number of objects in each group.

Group Number of objects

Total

The number of objects in group C is of the number of objects in group A. What is the value of ?

ID: b544e3e7 Answer

Correct Answer: 184

Rationale

The correct answer is 184. It's given in the table that there are 375 objects in group A and 690 objects in group C. It’s also
given that the number of objects in group C is 𝑝% of the number of objects in group A. Therefore, 690 is 𝑝% of 375, which
𝑝
can be represented by 690 = 375, or 690 = 3.75𝑝. Dividing both sides of this equation by 3.75 yields 184 = 𝑝. Therefore,
100
the value of 𝑝 is 184.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID ede40c38
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Percentages Hard

and Data Analysis

ID: ede40c38

The number of zebras in a population in was times the number of zebras in this population in . If the number
of zebras in this population in is of the number of zebras in this population in , what is the value of , to the
nearest whole number?

ID: ede40c38 Answer

Correct Answer: 79

Rationale

The correct answer is 79. Let 𝑥 represent the number of zebras in the population in 2014 and let 𝑦 represent the number of
zebras in the population in 2018. It’s given that the number of zebras in this population in 2018 was 1.27 times the number of
zebras in this population in 2014. It follows that the equation 𝑦 = 1.27𝑥 represents this situation. Dividing both sides of this
𝑦 1 1
equation by 1.27 yields 1.27
= 𝑥, or 1.27
𝑦 = 𝑥. Therefore, the number of zebras in this population in 2014 is 1.27
times the
number of zebras in this population in 2018. If the number of zebras in this population in 2014 is 𝑝% of the number of zebras
𝑝 1 𝑝 100
in this population in 2018, then 𝑥 = 100
𝑦. It follows that 1.27
= 100
, or 1.27
= 𝑝, which means 𝑝 is approximately equal to 78.74.
Therefore, the value of 𝑝, to the nearest whole number, is 79.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID df13ee3e
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving One-variable data: Hard

and Data Analysis Distributions and
measures of center
and spread

ID: df13ee3e

Data set F consists of integers between and . Data set G consists of all the integers in data set F as well as the
integer . Which of the following must be less for data set F than for data set G?
I. The mean
II. The median

A. I only

B. II only

C. I and II

D. Neither I nor II

ID: df13ee3e Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is correct. It's given that data set F consists of 55 integers between 170 and 290 and data set G consists of all the
integers in data set F as well as the integer 10. Since the integer 10 is less than all the integers in data set F, the mean of
data set G must be less than the mean of data set F. Thus, the mean of data set F isn't less than the mean of data set G.
When a data set is in ascending order, the median is between the two middle values when there is an even number of values
and the median is the middle value when there is an odd number of values. It follows that the median of data set F is either
greater than or equal to the median of data set G. Therefore, the median of data set F isn't less than the median of data set
G. Thus, neither the mean nor the median must be less for data set F than for data set G.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 59dac82a
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving One-variable data: Hard

and Data Analysis Distributions and
measures of center
and spread

ID: 59dac82a

The histograms summarize the distributions of number of units sold, in thousands, for company A and company B. Which
statement best compares the standard deviations of number of units sold for these companies?

A. The standard deviation of number of units sold for company A is less than the standard deviation of number of units sold
for company B.

B. The standard deviation of number of units sold for company A is greater than the standard deviation of number of units
sold for company B.

C. The standard deviation of number of units sold for company A is equal to the standard deviation of number of units sold
for company B.

D. There is not enough information to compare the standard deviations.

ID: 59dac82a Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is correct. Standard deviation measures the spread of a given data set from its mean. In a data set with a smaller
standard deviation, there are more values close to the mean. In a data set with a greater standard deviation, there are more
values farther from the mean. The two histograms shown have the same scale on the horizontal axis. Therefore, their
standard deviations can be compared by visually comparing the spreads of their histograms. The distribution summarized
by each histogram is symmetric. Therefore, the mean of the data set for each histogram is a value in the middle bar of that
histogram. The middle bar of each histogram has a value of at least 30 thousand units sold but less than 35 thousand units
sold. Therefore, the mean of the data set for each histogram is at least 30 thousand and less than 35 thousand. The
histogram for company A shows all the values in that data set are close to the mean. For company B, the histogram shows
there are fewer values close to the mean and more values farther from the mean. Therefore, the standard deviation of
number of units sold for company A is less than the standard deviation of number of units sold for company B.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 4be5f7b1
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving One-variable data: Hard

and Data Analysis Distributions and
measures of center
and spread

ID: 4be5f7b1

, , , , , ,
What is the range of the scores shown?

ID: 4be5f7b1 Answer

Correct Answer: 29

Rationale

The correct answer is 29. The range of a data set is the difference between its maximum value and its minimum value. For
the data set shown, the maximum score is 52 and the minimum score is 23. The difference between those scores is 52 - 23,
or 29. Therefore, the range of the 7 scores shown is 29.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 10271e0b
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Ratios, rates, Hard

and Data Analysis proportional
relationships, and
units

ID: 10271e0b

An object has a mass of grams and a volume of cubic centimeters. What is the density, in grams per cubic
centimeter, of the object?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 10271e0b Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale

Choice A is correct. It's given that the object has a mass of 168 grams and a volume of 24 cubic centimeters. Dividing the
mass, in grams, of the object by the volume, in cubic centimeters, of the object gives the density, in grams per cubic
168 grams 168
centimeter, of the object. It follows that the density of the object is 24 cubic centimeters
, which is equivalent to 24
grams per
cubic centimeter, or 7 grams per cubic centimeter.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID c59942a1
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving One-variable data: Hard

and Data Analysis Distributions and
measures of center
and spread

ID: c59942a1

The two box plots show the distribution of number of books read over the summer by the students in two different English
classes. What is the positive difference between the ranges of number of books read over the summer for the two classes?

ID: c59942a1 Answer

Correct Answer: 4

Rationale

The correct answer is 4. It's given that the two boxplots show the distribution of number of books read over the summer by
the students in two different English classes. In a boxplot, the first vertical line represents the minimum value of the data set
and the last vertical line represents the maximum value of the data set. The range of a data set is the difference between its
maximum value and its minimum value. In class A, the maximum number of books read is 5 and the minimum number of
books read is 0. The difference between those values is 5 - 0, or 5. Therefore, the range of the number of books read in class
A is 5. In class B, the maximum number of books read is 10 and the minimum number of books read is 1. The difference
between those values is 10 - 1, or 9. Therefore, the range of the number of books read in class B is 9. To find the positive
difference between the ranges of the number of books read for the two classes, the smaller range must be subtracted from
the larger range. Therefore, the positive difference between the ranges of number of books read over the summer for the two
classes is 9 - 5, or 4.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 0401c1ec
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Ratios, rates, Hard

and Data Analysis proportional
relationships, and
units

ID: 0401c1ec

The density of a certain solid substance is kilograms per cubic meter. A sample of this substance is in the shape of a
cube, where each edge has a length of meters. To the nearest whole number, what is the mass, in kilograms, of this
sample?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 0401c1ec Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale

Choice A is correct. It's given that the sample is in the shape of a cube with edge lengths of 0.60 meters. Therefore, the
3
volume of the sample is 0.60 , or 0.216, cubic meters. It's also given that the sample has a density of 813 kilograms per 1
813 kilograms
cubic meter. Therefore, the mass of this sample is 0.216 cubic meters 1 cubic meter
, or 175.608 kilograms. Rounding this
mass to the nearest whole number gives 176 kilograms. Therefore, to the nearest whole number, the mass, in kilograms, of
this sample is 176.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 90c6099e
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Percentages Hard

and Data Analysis

ID: 90c6099e

An insurance company offers a series of three information sessions. people attended the first information session.
of the people who attended the first information session attended the second information session, and of the
people who attended the first and second information sessions attended the third information session. How many people
attended all three information sessions?

ID: 90c6099e Answer

Correct Answer: 324

Rationale

The correct answer is 324. It’s given that 1,250 people attended the first information session, and that 72% of the people
who attended the first information session attended the second information session. Therefore, the number of people who
72
attended the first and second information sessions can be found by calculating 72% of 1,250, which is equal to 1, 250 100 , or
900. It’s also given that 36% of the people who attended the first and second information sessions attended the third
information session. Since 900 people attended the first and second information sessions, the number of people who
36
attended the first, second, and third information sessions can be found by calculating 36% of 900, which is equal to 900 100 ,
or 324. Therefore, 324 people attended all three information sessions.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 1a983a4f
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Probability and Hard

and Data Analysis conditional
probability

ID: 1a983a4f

Each vertex of a -sided polygon is labeled with one of the letters through , with a different letter at each vertex. If
one vertex is selected at random, what is the probability that the letter will be at the selected vertex? (Express your answer
as a decimal or fraction, not as a percent.)

ID: 1a983a4f Answer

Correct Answer: .0714, 1/14

Rationale

1
The correct answer is 14
. If one vertex of the polygon is selected at random, the probability that the letter 𝐷 will be at the
selected vertex is equal to the number of vertices labeled with the letter 𝐷 divided by the total number of vertices. It's given
that each vertex is labeled with one of the 14 letters 𝐴 through 𝑁, with a different letter at each vertex. It follows that there is
1 vertex labeled with the letter 𝐷. It's also given that the polygon is 14-sided. It follows that there are a total of 14 vertices.
1
Thus, the probability that the letter 𝐷 will be at the selected vertex is 14
. Note that 1/14, .0714, and 0.071 are examples of
ways to enter a correct answer.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 141b4719
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Ratios, rates, Hard

and Data Analysis proportional
relationships, and
units

ID: 141b4719

A triathlon is a multisport race consisting of three different legs. A triathlon participant completed the cycling leg with an
average speed of miles per hour. What was the average speed, in yards per hour, of the participant during the cycling
leg?

ID: 141b4719 Answer

Correct Answer: 34672

Rationale

The correct answer is 34,672. It's given that 1 mile = 1,760 yards. It follows that an average speed of 19.700 miles per hour
19.700 miles 1,760 yards
is equivalent to 1 hour 1 mile
, or 34,672 yards per hour.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID ffbe483a
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Probability and Hard

and Data Analysis conditional
probability

ID: ffbe483a

A box contains red pens and blue pens. If one of these pens is selected at random, what is the probability of selecting
a red pen? (Express your answer as a decimal or fraction, not as a percent.)

ID: ffbe483a Answer

Correct Answer: .26, 13/50

Rationale

13
The correct answer is 50
. It's given that a box contains 13 red pens and 37 blue pens. If one of these pens is selected at
random, the probability of selecting a red pen is the number of red pens in the box divided by the number of red and blue
pens in the box. The number of red and blue pens in the box is 13 + 37, or 50. Since there are 13 red pens in the box, it
13
follows that the probability of selecting a red pen is 50
. Note that 13/50 and .26 are examples of ways to enter a correct
answer.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 8f3dbeec
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Ratios, rates, Hard

and Data Analysis proportional
relationships, and
units

ID: 8f3dbeec

An insect moves at a speed of feet per second. What is this speed, in yards per second?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 8f3dbeec Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale

3
Choice A is correct. It’s given that 3 feet = 1 yard. It follows that a speed of 20
feet per second is equivalent to
3
feet 1 yard 3 1 1
20 , which is equivalent to , or , yards per second.
1 second 3 feet 20 3 20

3
Choice B is incorrect. This is the speed, in feet per second, that's equivalent to 20
yards per second.

3
Choice C is incorrect. This is the speed, in yards per second, that's equivalent to 18, not , feet per second.
20

3
Choice D is incorrect. This is the speed, in yards per second, that's equivalent to 60, not 20
, feet per second.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 21da05e5
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving One-variable data: Hard

and Data Analysis Distributions and
measures of center
and spread

ID: 21da05e5

Value Data set A frequency Data set B frequency

Data set A and data set B each consist of values. The table shows the frequencies of the values for each data set. Which
of the following statements best compares the means of the two data sets?

A. The mean of data set A is greater than the mean of data set B.

B. The mean of data set A is less than the mean of data set B.

C. The mean of data set A is equal to the mean of data set B.

D. There is not enough information to compare the means of the data sets.

ID: 21da05e5 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale

Choice A is correct. The mean value of a data set is the sum of the values of the data set divided by the number of values in
the data set. When a data set is represented in a frequency table, the sum of the values in the data set is the sum of the
products of each value and its frequency. For data set A, the sum of products of each value and its frequency is
302 + 344 + 385 + 427 + 469, or 1,094. It's given that there are 27 values in data set A. Therefore, the mean of data set A is
1,094 958
27
, or approximately 40.52. Similarly, the mean of data B is27
, or approximately 35.48. Therefore, the mean of data set A is
greater than the mean of data set B.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 8dbc9c80
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Two-variable data: Hard

and Data Analysis Models and
scatterplots

ID: 8dbc9c80

In the given scatterplot, a line of best fit for the data is shown.

Which of the following is closest to the slope of this line of best fit?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 8dbc9c80 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale

Choice C is correct. A line of best fit is shown in the scatterplot such that as the value of 𝑥 increases, the value of 𝑦
decreases. It follows that the slope of the line of best fit shown is negative. The slope of a line in the xy-plane that passes
𝑦2 - 𝑦1
through the points 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 and 𝑥2 , 𝑦2 can be calculated as 𝑥2 - 𝑥1
. The line of best fit shown passes approximately through the
𝑦2 - 𝑦1
points 0, 8 and 10, 1. Substituting 0, 8 for 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 and 10, 1 for 𝑥2 , 𝑦2 in 𝑥2 - 𝑥1
yields the slope of the line being approximately
1-8 -7
, which is equivalent to , or -0.7. Therefore, of the given choices, -0.7 is the closest to the slope of this line of best fit.
10 - 0 10
Choice A is incorrect. The line of best fit shown has a negative slope, not a positive slope.

Choice B is incorrect. The line of best fit shown has a negative slope, not a positive slope.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 7b61ae2a
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving One-variable data: Hard

and Data Analysis Distributions and
measures of center
and spread

ID: 7b61ae2a

, , , , , , ,
What is the median of the data set shown?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 7b61ae2a Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is correct. If a data set contains an even number of data values, when the data values are listed in ascending or
descending order, the median is between the two middle values. The given data set contains 8 values. When listed in
ascending order, the data set is 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 10, 18 and the two middle values are 5 and 5. Since the two middle values are
the same, the median must be 5.

Choice A is incorrect. This value is between the two middle values in the list shown, not the two middle values when the data
values are listed in ascending or descending order.

Choice C is incorrect. This is the mean, not the median, of the data set.

Choice D is incorrect. This is the range, not the median, of the data set.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID e4a98693
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Percentages Hard

and Data Analysis

ID: e4a98693

is of what number?

ID: e4a98693 Answer

Correct Answer: 450

Rationale

96
The correct answer is 450. Let 𝑥 represent the number that 432 is 96% of. This can be written as 100
𝑥 = 432, or 0.96𝑥 = 432.
Dividing both sides of this equation by 0.96 yields 𝑥 = 450. Therefore, 432 is 96% of 450.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID b8043845
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Ratios, rates, Hard

and Data Analysis proportional
relationships, and
units

ID: b8043845

A distance of furlongs is equivalent to how many feet?

ID: b8043845 Answer

Correct Answer: 73920

Rationale

The correct answer is 73,920. It's given that 1 furlong = 220 yards and 1 yard = 3 feet. It follows that a distance of 112
220 yards 3 feet
furlongs is equivalent to 112 furlongs 1 furlong 1 yard
, or 73,920 feet.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID f5caf84d
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Ratios, rates, Hard

and Data Analysis proportional
relationships, and
units

ID: f5caf84d

If and , what is the value of ?

ID: f5caf84d Answer

Correct Answer: .0625, 1/16

Rationale

4𝑎 𝑎 4𝑎 𝑎
The correct answer is .0625 . It's given that 𝑏
= 6.7 and 𝑏𝑛
= 26.8. The equation 𝑏
= 6.7 can be rewritten as 4 𝑏 = 6.7.
𝑎 𝑎 𝑎1
Dividing both sides of this equation by 4 yields 𝑏
= 1.675. The equation 𝑏𝑛
= 26.8 can be rewritten as 𝑏𝑛
= 26.8. Substituting
𝑎 1 1.675
1.675 for 𝑏
in this equation yields 1.675 = 26.8, or
𝑛 𝑛
= 26.8. Multiplying both sides of this equation by 𝑛 yields
1.675 = 26.8𝑛. Dividing both sides of this equation by 26.8 yields 𝑛 = 0.0625. Therefore, the value of 𝑛 is 0.0625. Note that
.0625, 0.062, 0.063, and 1/16 are examples of ways to enter a correct answer.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID a307eb9f
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Percentages Hard

and Data Analysis

ID: a307eb9f

The regular price of a shirt at a store is . The sale price of the shirt is less than the regular price, and the sale
price is greater than the store's cost for the shirt. What was the store’s cost, in dollars, for the shirt? (Disregard the
sign when entering your answer. For example, if your answer is , enter )

ID: a307eb9f Answer

Correct Answer: 1.8, 9/5

Rationale

The correct answer is 1.8. It’s given that the regular price of a shirt at a store is $ 11.70, and the sale price of the shirt is 80%
80
less than the regular price. It follows that the sale price of the shirt is $ 11.701 - 100 , or $ 11.701 - 0.8, which is equivalent to
$ 2.34. It’s also given that the sale price of the shirt is 30% greater than the store’s cost for the shirt. Let 𝑥 represent the
30
store’s cost for the shirt. It follows that 2.34 = 1 + 100 𝑥, or 2.34 = 1.3𝑥. Dividing both sides of this equation by 1.3 yields
𝑥 = 1.80. Therefore, the store’s cost, in dollars, for the shirt is 1.80. Note that 1.8 and 9/5 are examples of ways to enter a
correct answer.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 0e144428
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Ratios, rates, Hard

and Data Analysis proportional
relationships, and
units

ID: 0e144428

To study fluctuations in composition, samples of pumice were taken from locations and cut in the shape of a cube. The
length of the edge of one of these cubes is centimeters. This cube has a density of grams per cubic centimeter.
What is the mass of this cube, in grams?

ID: 0e144428 Answer

Correct Answer: 6.21

Rationale

The correct answer is 6.21. It’s given that the samples of pumice were cut in the shape of a cube. It's also given that the
3
length of the edge of one of these cubes is 3.000 centimeters. Therefore, the volume of this cube is 3.000 centimeters , or
27 cubic centimeters. Since the density of this cube is 0.230 grams per cubic centimeter, it follows that the mass of this
0.230 grams
cube is 1 cubic centimeter
27 cubic centimeters, or 6.21 grams.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 5d546c0e
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Two-variable data: Hard

and Data Analysis Models and
scatterplots

ID: 5d546c0e

The scatterplot shows the relationship between two variables, and . An equation for the exponential model shown can be
written as , where and are positive constants. Which of the following is closest to the value of ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 5d546c0e Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale

Choice A is correct. It's given that an equation for the exponential model shown can be written as 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑏𝑥 , where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are
positive constants. For an exponential model written in this form, if the value of 𝑏 is greater than 0 but less than 1, the model
is decreasing. If the value of 𝑏 is greater than 1, the model is increasing. The exponential model shown is decreasing.
Therefore, the value of 𝑏 is greater than 0 but less than 1. Of the given choices, only 0.83 is a value greater than 0 but less
than 1. Thus, 0.83 is closest to the value of 𝑏.
Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 9265f4de
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving One-variable data: Hard

and Data Analysis Distributions and
measures of center
and spread

ID: 9265f4de

The dot plot represents the values in data set A. Data set B is created by adding to each of the values in data set A.
Which of the following correctly compares the medians and the ranges of data sets A and B?

A. The median of data set B is equal to the median of data set A, and the range of data set B is equal to the range of data
set A.

B. The median of data set B is equal to the median of data set A, and the range of data set B is greater than the range of
data set A.

C. The median of data set B is greater than the median of data set A, and the range of data set B is equal to the range of
data set A.

D. The median of data set B is greater than the median of data set A, and the range of data set B is greater than the range of
data set A.

ID: 9265f4de Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale

Choice C is correct. The median of a data set with an odd number of values, in ascending or descending order, is the middle
value of the data set, and the range of a data set is the positive difference between the maximum and minimum values in the
data set. Since the dot plot shown gives the values in data set A in ascending order and there are 15 values in the data set,
the eighth value in data set A, 23, is the median. The maximum value in data set A is 26 and the minimum value is 22, so the
range of data set A is 26 - 22, or 4. It’s given that data set B is created by adding 56 to each of the values in data set A.
Increasing each of the 15 values in data set A by 56 will also increase its median value by 56 making the median of data set
B 79. Increasing each value of data set A by 56 does not change the range, since the maximum value of data set B is 26 + 56
, or 82, and the minimum value is 22 + 56, or 78, making the range of data set B 82 - 78, or 4. Therefore, the median of data
set B is greater than the median of data set A, and the range of data set B is equal to the range of data set A.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID cbd3836a
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Probability and Hard

and Data Analysis conditional
probability

ID: cbd3836a

The table summarizes the distribution of color and shape for tiles of equal area.
Red Blue Yellow Total

Square

Pentagon

Total

If one of these tiles is selected at random, what is the probability of selecting a red tile? (Express your answer as a decimal
or fraction, not as a percent.)

ID: cbd3836a Answer

Correct Answer: 0.3, 3/10

Rationale

3
The correct answer is 10
. It’s given that there are a total of 100 tiles of equal area, which is the total number of possible
outcomes. According to the table, there are a total of 30 red tiles. The probability of an event occurring is the ratio of the
number of favorable outcomes to the total number of possible outcomes. By definition, the probability of selecting a red tile
30 3
is given by 100
, or 10
. Note that 3/10 and .3 are examples of ways to enter a correct answer.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 60ba4b19
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Ratios, rates, Hard

and Data Analysis proportional
relationships, and
units

ID: 60ba4b19

To study the moisture content in a group of trees, samples from the trunk of each tree were taken from trees and cut in
the shape of a cube. The length of the edge of one of these cubes is centimeters. If this cube has a mass of
grams, what is the density of this cube, in grams per cubic centimeter?

ID: 60ba4b19 Answer

Correct Answer: 0.32, 8/25

Rationale

The correct answer is .32. The volume of a cube is given by the formula 𝑉 = 𝑠3 , where 𝑠 is the length of an edge of the cube.
It’s given that each edge of the cube has a length of 2.00 centimeters. Substituting 2.00 centimeters for 𝑠 in the formula
𝑉 = 𝑠3 yields 𝑉 = ( 2.00 centimeters ) 3 , or 𝑉 = 8.00 cubic centimeters. It’s given that the cube has a mass of 2.56 grams.
Dividing the mass, in grams, of the cube by the volume, in cubic centimeters, of the cube gives its density, in grams per cubic
2.56 grams
centimeters. Therefore, the density of the cube is , or .32 grams per cubic centimeter. Note that .32 and
8.00 cubic centimeters
8/25 are examples of ways to enter a correct answer.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 24e7f289
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Percentages Hard

and Data Analysis

ID: 24e7f289

The expression represents the result of decreasing a positive quantity by what percent?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 24e7f289 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is correct. Let 𝑛% represent the percent by which the positive quantity 𝑥 is decreased to result in 0.35𝑥. The value
𝑛
of 𝑛 can be found by solving the equation 𝑥 - 100 𝑥 = 0.35𝑥. Since 𝑥 is a common factor of each of the terms on the left-hand
𝑛
side of this equation, the equation can be rewritten as 𝑥1 - 100 = 0.35𝑥. Dividing each side of this equation by 𝑥 yields
𝑛
1 - 100 = 0.35. Multiplying each side of this equation by 100 yields 100 - 𝑛 = 35. Subtracting 100 from each side of this
equation yields -𝑛 = -65. Dividing each side of this equation by -1 yields 𝑛 = 65. Therefore, the expression 0.35𝑥 represents
the result of decreasing the positive quantity 𝑥 by 65%.

Choice A is incorrect. Decreasing the quantity 𝑥 by 3.5% yields 𝑥 - 0.035𝑥, or 0.965𝑥, not 0.35𝑥.

Choice B is incorrect. Decreasing the quantity 𝑥 by 35% yields 𝑥 - 0.35𝑥, or 0.65𝑥, not 0.35𝑥.

Choice C is incorrect. Decreasing the quantity 𝑥 by 6.5% yields 𝑥 - 0.065𝑥, or 0.935𝑥, not 0.35𝑥.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 5101d922
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Percentages Hard

and Data Analysis

ID: 5101d922

There are tiles in a box. Of these tiles, are black. How many black tiles are in the box?

ID: 5101d922 Answer

Correct Answer: 27

Rationale

The correct answer is 27. It’s given that 6% of the 450 tiles in a box are black. Therefore, the number of black tiles in the box
6 6
can be calculated by multiplying the number of tiles in the box by 100
, which is equivalent to 450 100 , or 27.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID fab4c69e
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Two-variable data: Hard

and Data Analysis Models and
scatterplots

ID: fab4c69e

The scatterplot shows the relationship between two variables, and .

Which of the following equations is the most appropriate linear model for the data shown?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: fab4c69e Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is correct. The data points suggest that as the variable 𝑥 increases, the variable 𝑦 decreases, which implies that an
appropriate linear model for the data has a negative slope. The data points also show that when 𝑥 is close to 0, 𝑦 is greater
than 9. Therefore, the y-intercept of the graph of an appropriate linear model has a y-coordinate greater than 9. The graph of
an equation of the form 𝑦 = 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑥, where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are constants, has a y-intercept with a y-coordinate of 𝑎 and has a slope of
𝑏. Of the given choices, only choice D represents a graph that has a negative slope, -0.9, and a y-intercept with a y-coordinate
greater than 9, 9.4.

Choice A is incorrect. The graph of this equation has a positive slope, not a negative slope, and a y-intercept with a y-
coordinate less than 1, not greater than 9.

Choice B is incorrect. The graph of this equation has a y-intercept with a y-coordinate less than 1, not greater than 9.

Choice C is incorrect. The graph of this equation has a positive slope, not a negative slope.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 08c0b207
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Percentages Hard

and Data Analysis

ID: 08c0b207

is greater than . What is the value of ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 08c0b207 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

𝑝
Choice B is correct. It's given that 140 is 𝑝% greater than 10. It follows that 140 = 10 + 100 10, which is equivalent to
10
140 = 10 + 100 𝑝, or 140 = 10 + 0.1𝑝. Subtracting 10 from each side of this equation yields 130 = 0.1𝑝. Dividing each side of
this equation by 0.1 yields 1,300 = 𝑝, or 𝑝 = 1,300.

Choice A is incorrect. This would be the value of 𝑝 if 140 were 𝑝% of 10, not 𝑝% greater than 10.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 33bd877c
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Ratios, rates, Hard

and Data Analysis proportional
relationships, and
units

ID: 33bd877c

The ratio to is equivalent to the ratio to . What is the value of ?

ID: 33bd877c Answer

Correct Answer: 980

Rationale

The correct answer is 980. It's given that the ratio 140 to 𝑚 is equivalent to the ratio 4 to 28. Therefore, the value of 𝑚 can be
140 4 4𝑚
found by solving the equation 𝑚
= 28
. Multiplying each side of this equation by 𝑚 yields 140 = 28
. Multiplying each side of
this equation by 28 yields 3,920 = 4𝑚. Dividing each side of this equation by 4 yields 980 = 𝑚. Therefore, the value of 𝑚 is
980.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 553eb498
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving One-variable data: Hard

and Data Analysis Distributions and
measures of center
and spread

ID: 553eb498

The dot plot represents a data set of the number of bursts for eruptions of a steam vent. If an additional eruption with
bursts is added to this data set to create a new data set of eruptions, which of the following measures will be greater for
the new data set than for the original data set?
I. The median number of bursts
II. The mean number of bursts

A. I and II

B. I only

C. II only

D. Neither I nor II

ID: 553eb498 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale

Choice C is correct. It’s given that the dot plot represents a data set of the number of bursts for 13 eruptions of a steam vent.
The median of a data set with an odd number of elements is the middle element when the elements are in numerical order.
For 13 elements in numerical order, this is the 7th element. For this data set, the first 4 elements have a value of 1, and the
next 5 elements have a value of 2. Thus, the 7th element in the ordered data set is 2 and the median number of bursts for the
original data set is 2. If an additional eruption with 11 bursts is added to this data set to create a new data set of 14
eruptions, the median of the new data set will be between the 7th and 8th elements in the ordered set, which will also be 2.
Therefore, the median number of bursts for the new data set will be the same as the median number of bursts for the
original data set. The mean number of bursts for the original data set is found by adding the values of all 13 elements and
dividing that sum by the number of elements, 13. Since the data is shown in a dot plot, the sum of the values of the elements
can be found by multiplying each element's value by its frequency: 14 + 25 + 32 + 41 + 51, or 29. Therefore, the mean
29
number of bursts for the original data set is 13
. If an additional eruption with 11 bursts is added to this data set to create a
 29 + 11 40 40 29
new data set of 14 bursts, the mean number of bursts for the new data set is 14
, or 14
. Since 14
>
13
, the mean number of
bursts for the new data set is greater than the mean number of bursts for the original data set. Therefore, of the median
number of bursts and the mean number of bursts, only the mean number of bursts is greater for the new data set than for
the original data set.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 049d8d4e
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Percentages Hard

and Data Analysis

ID: 049d8d4e

of the items in a box are green. Of those, are also rectangular. Of the green rectangular items, are also
metal. Which of the following is closest to the percentage of the items in the box that are not rectangular green metal items?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 049d8d4e Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale

Choice C is correct. It's given that 37% of the items in a box are green. Let 𝑥 represent the total number of items in the box. It
37
follows that 100
𝑥, or 0.37𝑥, items in the box are green. It's also given that of those, 37% are also rectangular. Therefore,
37
100
0.37𝑥, or 0.1369𝑥, items in the box are green rectangular items. It's also given that of the green rectangular items, 42% are
42
also metal. Therefore, 0.1369𝑥, or 0.057498𝑥, items in the box are rectangular green metal items. The number of the items
100
in the box that are not rectangular green metal items is the total number of items in the box minus the number of rectangular
green metal items in the box. Therefore, the number of items in the box that are not rectangular green metal items is
𝑥 - 0.057498𝑥, or 0.942502𝑥. The percentage of items in the box that are not rectangular green metal items is the percentage
0.942502𝑥
that 0.942502𝑥 is of 𝑥. If 𝑝% represents this percentage, the value of 𝑝 is 100 𝑥
, or 94.2502. Of the given choices,
94.25% is closest to the percentage of items in the box that are not rectangular green metal items.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 3e9e1235
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Ratios, rates, Hard

and Data Analysis proportional
relationships, and
units

ID: 3e9e1235

The area of a rectangular region is increasing at a rate of square feet per hour. Which of the following is closest to this
rate in square meters per minute?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 3e9e1235 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale

2 2
Choice A is correct. It’s given that 1 meter = 3.28 feet. It follows that 1 square meter = 3.28 square feet, or
1 square meter = 10.7584 square feet. Since 1 hour = 60 minutes, it follows that 250 square feet per hour is equivalent to
250 square feet 1 square meter 1 hour 250 square meters
1 hour 10.7584 square feet 60 minutes
, or 645.504 minutes
, which is approximately 0.3873 square meters per minute. Of the
given choices, 0.39 is closest to 0.3873.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID a2f38d36
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Percentages Hard

and Data Analysis

ID: a2f38d36

The number is greater than the number . The number is less than . What is the value of ?

ID: a2f38d36 Answer

Correct Answer: 9.87, 987/100

Rationale

110
The correct answer is 9.87. It’s given that the number 𝑎 is 110% greater than the number 𝑏. It follows that 𝑎 = 1 + 100 𝑏, or
90
𝑎 = 2.1𝑏. It’s also given that the number 𝑏 is 90% less than 47. It follows that 𝑏 = 1 - 100 47, or 𝑏 = 0.147, which yields 𝑏 = 4.7.
Substituting 4.7 for 𝑏 in the equation 𝑎 = 2.1𝑏 yields 𝑎 = 2.14.7, which is equivalent to 𝑎 = 9.87. Therefore, the value of 𝑎 is
9.87.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 12df88a4
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Probability and Hard

and Data Analysis conditional
probability

ID: 12df88a4

In a bag, there are red, white, blue, and yellow cubes. If one of these cubes is selected at random, what is the
probability of selecting a cube that is neither blue nor yellow?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 12df88a4 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is correct. It’s given that there are 7 red, 4 white, 33 blue, and 33 yellow cubes in the bag. Therefore, there are a total
of 7 + 4 + 33 + 33, or 77, cubes in the bag. If the cube is neither blue nor yellow, then it must be either red or white.
Therefore, the probability of selecting a cube that is neither blue nor yellow is equivalent to the probability of selecting a cube
that is either red or white. If one of these cubes is selected at random, the probability of selecting a cube that is either red or
white is equal to the sum of the number of red cubes and white cubes divided by the total number of cubes in the bag. There
are 7 red cubes, 4 white cubes, and 77 total cubes in the bag. Therefore, the probability of selecting a red or white cube is
7+4 11 1
77
, which is equivalent to 77
, or 7 . Thus, if one cube is selected at random, the probability of selecting a cube that is neither
1
blue nor yellow is 7 .

Choice A is incorrect. This is the probability of selecting a cube that is either blue or yellow, rather than the probability of
selecting a cube that is neither blue nor yellow.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 7ecea565
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving One-variable data: Hard

and Data Analysis Distributions and
measures of center
and spread

ID: 7ecea565

Each of the following frequency tables represents a data set. Which data set has the greatest mean?

Value Frequency
A.

Value Frequency
B.

Value Frequency
C.

Value Frequency
D.
 ID: 7ecea565 Answer
Correct Answer: A

Rationale

Choice A is correct. The tables in choices B, C, and D each represent a data set where the values 80 and 90 have the same
frequency and the values 70 and 100 have the same frequency. It follows that each of these data sets is symmetric around
the value halfway between 80 and 90, or 85. When a data set is symmetric around a value, that value is the mean of the data
set. Therefore, the data sets represented by the tables in choices B, C, and D each have a mean of 85. The table in choice A
represents a data set where the value 90 has a greater frequency than the value 80 and the value 100 has a greater
frequency than the value 70. It follows that this data set has a mean greater than 85. Therefore, of the given choices, choice
A represents the data set with the greatest mean.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 081070c7
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving One-variable data: Hard

and Data Analysis Distributions and
measures of center
and spread

ID: 081070c7

Data set A consists of the heights of buildings and has a mean of meters. Data set B consists of the heights of
buildings and has a mean of meters. Data set C consists of the heights of the buildings from data sets A and B. What
is the mean, in meters, of data set C?

ID: 081070c7 Answer

Correct Answer: 44

Rationale

The correct answer is 44. The mean of a data set is computed by dividing the sum of the values in the data set by the
number of values in the data set. It's given that data set A consists of the heights of 75 buildings and has a mean of 32
𝑥
meters. This can be represented by the equation 75
= 32, where 𝑥 represents the sum of the heights of the buildings, in
meters, in data set A. Multiplying both sides of this equation by 75 yields 𝑥 = 7532, or 𝑥 = 2,400 meters. Therefore, the sum
of the heights of the buildings in data set A is 2,400 meters. It's also given that data set B consists of the heights of 50
𝑦
buildings and has a mean of 62 meters. This can be represented by the equation 50
= 62, where 𝑦 represents the sum of the
heights of the buildings, in meters, in data set B. Multiplying both sides of this equation by 50 yields 𝑦 = 5062, or 𝑦 = 3,100
meters. Therefore, the sum of the heights of the buildings in data set B is 3,100 meters. Since it's given that data set C
consists of the heights of the 125 buildings from data sets A and B, it follows that the mean of data set C is the sum of the
heights of the buildings, in meters, in data sets A and B divided by the number of buildings represented in data sets A and B,
2,400 + 3,100
or 125
, which is equivalent to 44 meters. Therefore, the mean, in meters, of data set C is 44.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 2e0adfc9
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Percentages Hard

and Data Analysis

ID: 2e0adfc9

The value of is times . The value of is what percent greater than ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 2e0adfc9 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is correct. It’s given that the value of 𝑧 is 1.13 times 100. This can be written as 𝑧 = 1.13100, which is equivalent to
13
𝑧 = 1 + 0.13 ( 100 ) , or 𝑧 = 1 + 100. It follows that the value of 𝑧 is 100% of 100 plus 13% of 100. Therefore, the value of 𝑧
100
is 13% greater than 100.

Choice A is incorrect. This gives a value of 𝑧 that is 1.113, not 1.13, times 100.

Choice C is incorrect. This gives a value of 𝑧 that is 2.30, not 1.13, times 100.

Choice D is incorrect. This gives a value of 𝑧 that is 3.13, not 1.13, times 100.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 9b7ed2d0
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Probability and Hard

and Data Analysis conditional
probability

ID: 9b7ed2d0

A grove has rows of birch trees and rows of maple trees. Each row of birch trees has trees feet or taller and trees
shorter than feet. Each row of maple trees has trees feet or taller and trees shorter than feet. A tree from one
of these rows will be selected at random. What is the probability of selecting a maple tree, given that the tree is feet or
taller?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 9b7ed2d0 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale

Choice C is correct. If a tree from one of these rows is selected at random, the probability of selecting a maple tree, given
that the tree is 20 feet or taller, is equal to the number of maple trees that are 20 feet or taller divided by the total number of
trees that are 20 feet or taller. It's given that there are 6 rows of birch trees, and each row of birch trees has 8 trees that are
20 feet or taller. This means that there are a total of 68, or 48, birch trees that are 20 feet or taller. It's given that there are 5
rows of maple trees, and each row of maple trees has 9 trees that are 20 feet or taller. This means that there are a total of 59,
or 45, maple trees that are 20 feet or taller. It follows that there are a total of 48 + 45, or 93, trees that are 20 feet or taller.
45 15
Therefore, the probability of selecting a maple tree, given that the tree is 20 feet or taller, is 93
, or 31
.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 100494f6
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Ratios, rates, Hard

and Data Analysis proportional
relationships, and
units

ID: 100494f6

The total mass, in kilograms, of identical objects is . Which expression represents the total mass, in kilograms, of of
these objects?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 100494f6 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is correct. It’s given that the total mass, in kilograms, of 𝑟 identical objects is 𝑡. To obtain the expression 146𝑟, 𝑟 is
multiplied by 146. Therefore, to find the total mass, in kilograms, of 146𝑟 of these objects, 𝑡 must also be multiplied by 146.
The result of multiplying 𝑡 by 146 is the expression 146𝑡. Therefore, the total mass, in kilograms, of 146𝑟 of these objects, is
146𝑡.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual errors.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID f4026706
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Two-variable data: Hard

and Data Analysis Models and
scatterplots

ID: f4026706

The scatterplot shows the relationship between two variables, and . A line of best fit is also shown. For how many of the
data points does the line of best fit predict a greater -value than the actual -value?

ID: f4026706 Answer

Correct Answer: 6

Rationale

The correct answer is 6. The line of best fit predicts a greater y-value than the actual y-value for any data point that's located
below the line of best fit. For the scatterplot shown, 6 of the data points are below the line of best fit. Therefore, the line of
best fit predicts a greater y-value than the actual y-value for 6 of the data points.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 227bc381
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Percentages Hard

and Data Analysis

ID: 227bc381

In March, the price of a collectible card was . In April, the price of the collectible card was . The price of the
collectible card in April was of the price of the collectible card in March. What is the value of ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 227bc381 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale

Choice C is correct. It's given that the price of the collectible card was $ 15.50 in March and $ 17.36 in April. It's also given
that the price of the collectible card in April was 𝑝% of the price in March. It follows that $ 17.36 is 𝑝% of $ 15.50. Therefore,
𝑝 15.50𝑝
the value of 𝑝 can be calculated by solving the equation 17.36 = 100
15.50, or 17.36 = 100
. Multiplying each side of this
equation by 100 yields 1,736 = 15.50𝑝. Dividing each side of this equation by 15.50 yields 112 = 𝑝. Therefore, the value of 𝑝
is 112.

Choice A is incorrect. 12% is the percent increase in the price of the collectible card from March to April.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID cc0f545f
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Percentages Hard

and Data Analysis

ID: cc0f545f

A reseller buys certain books for a purchase price of dollars each and then marks them each for sale at a consumer
price that is of the purchase price. After months, any remaining books not yet sold are marked at a discounted price
that is off the consumer price. What is the discounted price of each of the remaining books, in dollars?

ID: cc0f545f Answer

Correct Answer: 4.05, 81/20

Rationale

The correct answer is 4.05. It's given that the purchase price for certain books is 5.00 dollars each. It's also given that each
book is marked for sale at a consumer price that is 270% of the purchase price. Since the consumer price is 270% of the
purchase price of 5.00 dollars, it follows that the consumer price is ( 2.7 ) ( 5.00 ) , or 13.50, dollars. It's given that after 4
months, any remaining books are discounted at 70% off the consumer price. Thus, the discount amount is ( 0.7 ) ( 13.50 ) ,
or 9.45, dollars. Subtracting the discount amount from the consumer price gives the discounted price of each of the
remaining books: 13.50 - 9.45 = 4.05. Note that 4.05 and 81/20 are examples of ways to enter a correct answer.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID a0db586b
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving One-variable data: Hard

and Data Analysis Distributions and
measures of center
and spread

ID: a0db586b

The box plots summarize the masses, in kilograms, of two groups of gazelles. Based on the box plots, which of the following
statements must be true?

A. The mean mass of group 1 is greater than the mean mass of group 2.

B. The mean mass of group 1 is less than the mean mass of group 2.

C. The median mass of group 1 is greater than the median mass of group 2.

D. The median mass of group 1 is less than the median mass of group 2.

ID: a0db586b Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale

Choice C is correct. The median of a data set represented in a box plot is represented by the vertical line within the box. It
follows that the median mass of the gazelles in group 1 is 25 kilograms, and the median mass of the gazelles in group 2 is
24 kilograms. Since 25 kilograms is greater than 24 kilograms, the median mass of group 1 is greater than the median mass
of group 2.

Choice A is incorrect. The mean mass of each of the two groups cannot be determined from the box plots.

Choice B is incorrect. The mean mass of each of the two groups cannot be determined from the box plots.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 108f87f5
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Ratios, rates, Hard

and Data Analysis proportional
relationships, and
units

ID: 108f87f5

A sample of oak has a density of kilograms per cubic meter. The sample is in the shape of a cube, where each edge has
a length of meters. To the nearest whole number, what is the mass, in kilograms, of this sample?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 108f87f5 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale

Choice A is correct. It’s given that the sample is in the shape of a cube with edge lengths of 0.9 meters. Therefore, the
volume of the sample is 0.903 , or 0.729, cubic meters. It’s also given that the sample has a density of 807 kilograms per 1
807 kilograms
cubic meter. Therefore, the mass of this sample is 0.729 cubic meters 1 cubic meter , or 588.303 kilograms. Rounding this mass
to the nearest whole number gives 588 kilograms. Therefore, to the nearest whole number, the mass, in kilograms, of this
sample is 588.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 801aa14c
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Percentages Hard

and Data Analysis

ID: 801aa14c

The number is greater than the positive number . The number is less than . The number is how many
times ?

ID: 801aa14c Answer

Correct Answer: .88, 22/25

Rationale

60
The correct answer is .88 . It’s given that the number 𝑎 is 60% greater than the positive number 𝑏. Therefore, 𝑎 = 1 + 100 𝑏,
45
which is equivalent to 𝑎 = 1 + 0.60𝑏, or 𝑎 = 1.60𝑏. It’s also given that the number 𝑐 is 45% less than 𝑎. Therefore, 𝑐 = 1 - 100 𝑎,
which is equivalent to 𝑐 = 1 - 0.45𝑎, or 𝑐 = 0.55𝑎. Since 𝑎 = 1.60𝑏, substituting 1.60𝑏 for 𝑎 in the equation 𝑐 = 0.55𝑎 yields
𝑐 = 0.551.60𝑏, or 𝑐 = 0.88𝑏. Thus, the number 𝑐 is 0.88 times the number 𝑏. Note that .88 and 22/25 are examples of ways to
enter a correct answer.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID d393a8f5
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Ratios, rates, Hard

and Data Analysis proportional
relationships, and
units

ID: d393a8f5

If and , what is the value of ?

ID: d393a8f5 Answer

Correct Answer: 24

Rationale

24𝑥 24 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥
The correct answer is 24. The equation 𝑛𝑦
= 4 can be rewritten as
𝑛 𝑦
= 4. It's given that
𝑦
= 4. Substituting 4 for
𝑦
in the
24 𝑥 24
equation = 4 yields 4 = 4. Multiplying both sides of this equation by 𝑛 yields 244 = 4𝑛. Dividing both sides of this
𝑛 𝑦 𝑛
equation by 4 yields 24 = 𝑛. Therefore, the value of 𝑛 is 24.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 53b754ac
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Percentages Hard

and Data Analysis

ID: 53b754ac

The number is less than the positive number . The number is greater than . The number is how many
times ?

ID: 53b754ac Answer

Correct Answer: .54, 27/50

Rationale

70
The correct answer is .54 . It's given that the number 𝑎 is 70% less than the positive number 𝑏. Therefore, 𝑎 = 1 - 100 𝑏, which
80
is equivalent to 𝑎 = 1 - 0.70𝑏, or 𝑎 = 0.30𝑏. It's also given that the number 𝑐 is 80% greater than 𝑎. Therefore, 𝑐 = 1 + 100 𝑎,
which is equivalent to 𝑐 = 1 + 0.80𝑎, or 𝑐 = 1.80𝑎. Since 𝑎 = 0.30𝑏, substituting 0.30𝑏 for 𝑎 in the equation 𝑐 = 1.80𝑎 yields
𝑐 = 1.800.30𝑏, or 𝑐 = 0.54𝑏. Thus, 𝑐 is 0.54 times 𝑏. Note that .54 and 27/50 are examples of ways to enter a correct answer.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID e96c77a6
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving One-variable data: Hard

and Data Analysis Distributions and
measures of center
and spread

ID: e96c77a6

Data value Frequency

The frequency table summarizes the data values in a data set. What is the maximum data value in the data set?

ID: e96c77a6 Answer

Correct Answer: 14

Rationale

The correct answer is 14. The maximum value is the largest value in the data set. The frequency refers to the number of
times a data value occurs. The given frequency table shows that for this data set, the data value 6 occurs three times, the
data value 7 occurs three times, the data value 8 occurs eight times, the data value 9 occurs eight times, the data value 10
occurs nine times, the data value 11 occurs eleven times, the data value 12 occurs nine times, the data value 13 occurs zero
times, and the data value 14 occurs six times. Therefore, the maximum data value in the data set is 14.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 9387e0c6
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Ratios, rates, Hard

and Data Analysis proportional
relationships, and
units

ID: 9387e0c6

A certain park has an area of square yards. What is the area, in square miles, of this park?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 9387e0c6 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

2
Choice B is correct. Since 1 mile is equal to 1,760 yards, 1 square mile is equal to 1,760 , or 3,097,600, square yards. It’s
given that the park has an area of 11,863,808 square yards. Therefore, the park has an area of
1 square mile 11,863,808
11,863,808 square yards 3,097,600 square yards
, or 3,097,600
square miles. Thus, the area, in square miles, of the park is 3.83.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect. This is the square root of the area of the park in square yards, not the area of the park in square miles.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from converting 11,863,808 yards to miles, rather than converting 11,863,808 square
yards to square miles.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID a472687e
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Probability and Hard

and Data Analysis conditional
probability

ID: a472687e

At a conference, there are a total of attendees. Each attendee is assigned to either group A, group B, or group C. If one
of these attendees is selected at random, the probability of selecting an attendee who is assigned to group A is and the
probability of selecting an attendee who is assigned to group B is . How many attendees are assigned to group C?

ID: a472687e Answer

Correct Answer: 88

Rationale

The correct answer is 88. It's given that there are a total of 275 attendees and each attendee is assigned to either group A,
group B, or group C. It's also given that if one of these attendees is selected at random, the probability of selecting an
attendee who is assigned to group A is 0.44 and the probability of selecting an attendee who is assigned to group B is 0.24. It
follows that there are 0.44275, or 121, attendees who are assigned to group A and 0.24275, or 66, attendees who are
assigned to group B. The number of attendees who are assigned to group C is the number of attendees who are not
assigned to group A or group B. In other words, the number of attendees who are assigned to group C is the total number of
attendees minus the number of attendees who are assigned to group A and group B. Therefore, the number of attendees
who are assigned to group C is 275 - 121 - 66, or 88.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 09457f65
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Ratios, rates, Hard

and Data Analysis proportional
relationships, and
units

ID: 09457f65

A distance of furlongs is equivalent to how many feet?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 09457f65 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is correct. It's given that 1 furlong = 220 yards and 1 yard = 3 feet. It follows that a distance of 354 furlongs is
220 yards 3 feet
equivalent to 354 furlongs 1 furlong 1 yard
, or 233,640 feet.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 1bddbd65
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Percentages Hard

and Data Analysis

ID: 1bddbd65

is greater than . What is the value of ?

ID: 1bddbd65 Answer

Correct Answer: 600

Rationale

𝑝
The correct answer is 600. It’s given that 210 is 𝑝% greater than 30. It follows that 210 = 1 + 30. Dividing both sides of
100
𝑝 𝑝
this equation by 30 yields 7 = 1 + 100 . Subtracting 1 from both sides of this equation yields 6 = 100 . Multiplying both sides of
this equation by 100 yields 𝑝 = 600. Therefore, the value of 𝑝 is 600.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 3310d2fb
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Percentages Hard

and Data Analysis

ID: 3310d2fb

Last year, Cedric had plants in his garden. This year, the number of plants in Cedric’s garden is greater than the
number of plants in his garden last year. How many plants does Cedric have in his garden this year?

ID: 3310d2fb Answer

Correct Answer: 56

Rationale

The correct answer is 56. It’s given that Cedric had 35 plants in his garden last year and that the number of plants in Cedric's
garden this year is 60% greater than the number of plants in his garden last year. It follows that the number of plants in
60
Cedric’s garden this year is 35 plus 60% of 35, which is equal to 35 + 35 100 , or 35 + 350.6. This expression is equivalent to
35 + 21, or 56. Therefore, Cedric has 56 plants in his garden this year.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID cbf73e2a
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Two-variable data: Hard

and Data Analysis Models and
scatterplots

ID: cbf73e2a

The scatterplot shows the relationship between two variables, and . A line of best fit is also shown.

Which of the following is closest to the slope of this line of best fit?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: cbf73e2a Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
𝑦2 - 𝑦1
Choice B is correct. A line in the xy-plane that passes through points 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 and 𝑥2 , 𝑦2 has a slope of 𝑥2 - 𝑥1
. The line of best fit
shown passes approximately through the points 0, 14 and 13, 0. It follows that the slope of this line of best fit is
0 - 14 14 14
approximately 13 - 0
, or - 13 . Of the given choices, -1.1 is closest to - 13 .

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID bfc9027d
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Percentages Hard

and Data Analysis

ID: bfc9027d

The number is greater than the number . The number is less than . What is the value of ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: bfc9027d Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is correct. It's given that the number 𝑏 is 80% less than 24. It follows that 𝑏 is equal to 24 minus 80% of 24, which
80
can be written as 𝑏 = 24 - 100
24. This is equivalent to 𝑏 = 24 - 0.824, or 𝑏 = 4.8. It's also given that the number 𝑎 is 190%
190
greater than the number 𝑏. It follows that 𝑎 is equal to 𝑏 plus 190% of 𝑏. Since 𝑏 = 4.8, this can be written as 𝑎 = 4.8 + 100 4.8
. This is equivalent to 𝑎 = 4.8 + 1.94.8, or 𝑎 = 13.92.

Choice A is incorrect. This would be the value of 𝑎 if 𝑎 were 190% of 𝑏, not 190% greater than 𝑏.

Choice C is incorrect. This is 190 - 80% of 24.

Choice D is incorrect. This would be the value of 𝑎 if 𝑏 were 80% of 24, not 80% less than 24, and 𝑎 were 190% of 𝑏, not
190% greater than 𝑏.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID d978eef4
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Two-variable data: Hard

and Data Analysis Models and
scatterplots

ID: d978eef4

The scatterplot shows the relationship between two variables, and , for data set E. A line of best fit is shown. Data set F is
created by multiplying the y-coordinate of each data point from data set E by . Which of the following could be an
equation of a line of best fit for data set F?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: d978eef4 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale

Choice A is correct. An equation of a line of best fit for data set F can be written in the form 𝑦 = 𝑎 + 𝑏𝑥, where 𝑎 is the y-
coordinate of the y-intercept of the line of best fit and 𝑏 is the slope. The line of best fit shown for data set E has a y-intercept
at approximately 0, 12. It's given that data set F is created by multiplying the y-coordinate of each data point from data set E
by 3.9. It follows that a line of best fit for data set F has a y-intercept at approximately 0, 123.9, or 0, 46.8. Therefore, the value
 𝑦2 - 𝑦1
of 𝑎 is approximately 46.8. The slope of a line that passes through points 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 and 𝑥2 , 𝑦2 can be calculated as 𝑥2 - 𝑥1
. Since
the line of best fit shown for data set E passes approximately through the point 12, 30, it follows that a line of best fit for data
set F passes approximately through the point 12, 303.9, or 12, 117. Substituting 0, 46.8 and 12, 117 for 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 and 𝑥2 , 𝑦2 ,
𝑦2 - 𝑦1 117 - 46.8 70.2
respectively, in 𝑥2 - 𝑥1
yields 12 - 0
, which is equivalent to 12
, or 5.85. Therefore, the value of 𝑏 is approximately 5.85, or
approximately 5.9. Thus, 𝑦 = 46.8 + 5.9𝑥 could be an equation of a line of best fit for data set F.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice D is incorrect. This could be an equation of a line of best fit for data set E, not data set F.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 52161aeb
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving One-variable data: Hard

and Data Analysis Distributions and
measures of center
and spread

ID: 52161aeb

The table shown summarizes the number of employees at each of the restaurants in a town.
Number of employees Number of restaurants

to

to

to

to

to

Which of the following could be the median number of employees for the restaurants in this town?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 52161aeb Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is correct. If a data set contains an odd number of data values, the median is represented by the middle data value
in the list when the data values are listed in ascending or descending order. Since the numbers of employees are given as
ranges of values rather than specific values, it's only possible to determine the range in which the median falls, rather than
the exact median. Since there are 17 restaurants included in the data set and the numbers of employees are listed in
ascending order, it follows that the median number of employees will be represented by the ninth restaurant in the list. Since
the first 2 restaurants each have 2 to 7 employees, numbers of employees in the 2 to 7 range would be represented by the
first and second restaurants in the list. The next 4 restaurants each have 8 to 13 employees. Therefore, numbers of
employees in the 8 to 13 range will be represented by the third through sixth restaurants in the list. The next 2 restaurants
each have 14 to 19 employees. Therefore, numbers of employees in the 14 to 19 range will be represented by the seventh
and eighth restaurants in the list. Since the next 7 restaurants each have 20 to 25 employees, numbers of employees in the
20 to 25 range will be represented by the ninth through fifteenth restaurants in the list. This means that the ninth restaurant
in the list, which has the median number of employees for the restaurants in this town, has a number of employees in the 20
to 25 range. Of the given choices, the only number of employees in the 20 to 25 range is 21.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice B is incorrect. This is the position of the median in the list, not the value of the median.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID c8ca50d3
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Percentages Hard

and Data Analysis

ID: c8ca50d3

According to a set of standards, a certain type of substance can contain a maximum of phosphorus by mass. If a
sample of this substance has a mass of grams, what is the maximum mass, in grams, of phosphorus the sample can
contain to meet these standards?

ID: c8ca50d3 Answer

Correct Answer: .0014

Rationale

The correct answer is .0014 . It's given that a certain type of substance can contain a maximum of 0.001% phosphorus by
mass to meet a set of standards. If a sample of the substance has a mass of 140 grams, it follows that the maximum mass,
0.001
in grams, of phosphorus the sample can contain to meet the standards is 0.001% of 140, or 100
140, which is equivalent to
0.00001140, or 0.0014. Note that .0014 and 0.001 are examples of ways to enter a correct answer.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID defbe7d4
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Two-variable data: Hard

and Data Analysis Models and
scatterplots

ID: defbe7d4

The scatterplot shows the relationship between the length of time , in hours, a certain bird spent in flight and the number of
days after January , .

What is the average rate of change, in hours per day, of the length of time the bird spent in flight on January to the length
of time the bird spent in flight on January ?

ID: defbe7d4 Answer

Correct Answer: 4.5, 9/2

Rationale

9
The correct answer is 2 . It's given that the scatterplot shows the relationship between the length of time 𝑦, in hours, a certain
bird spent in flight and the number of days after January 11, 𝑥. Since January 13 is 2 days after January 11, it follows that
January 13 corresponds to an x-value of 2 in the scatterplot. In the scatterplot, when 𝑥 = 2, the corresponding value of 𝑦 is 6.
In other words, on January 13, the bird spent 6 hours in flight. Since January 15 is 4 days after January 11, it follows that
January 15 corresponds to an x-value of 4 in the scatterplot. In the scatterplot, when 𝑥 = 4, the corresponding value of 𝑦 is
15. In other words, on January 15, the bird spent 15 hours in flight. Therefore, the average rate of change, in hours per day, of
the length of time the bird spent in flight on January 13 to the length of time the bird spent in flight on January 15 is the
difference in the length of time, in hours, the bird spent in flight divided by the difference in the number of days after January
15 - 6 9
11, or , which is equivalent to 2 . Note that 9/2 and 4.5 are examples of ways to enter a correct answer.
4-2
Question Difficulty: Hard
Question ID 257d9f57
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Percentages Hard

and Data Analysis

ID: 257d9f57

The positive number is of the sum of the positive numbers and , and is of . What percent of is ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 257d9f57 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

2,241
Choice D is correct. It’s given that 𝑎 is 2,241% of the sum of 𝑏 and 𝑐. This can be represented by the equation 𝑎 = 100
𝑏 + 𝑐,
83
or 𝑎 = 22.41𝑏 + 𝑐. It’s also given that that 𝑏 is 83% of 𝑐. This can be represented by the equation 𝑏 = 100
𝑐, or 𝑏 = 0.83𝑐.
𝑏 𝑏
Dividing both sides of this equation by 0.83 yields = 𝑐. Substituting for 𝑐 in the equation 𝑎 = 22.41𝑏 + 𝑐 yields
0.83 0.83
𝑏 1.83𝑏 41.0103𝑏 4,941
𝑎 = 22.41𝑏 +
0.83
, or 𝑎 = 22.41
0.83
, which is equivalent to 𝑎 = 0.83
, or 𝑎 = 49.41𝑏. This equation is equivalent to 𝑎 = 100
𝑏
; therefore, 𝑎 is 4,941% of 𝑏.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID db96d7a7
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Ratios, rates, Hard

and Data Analysis proportional
relationships, and
units

ID: db96d7a7

How many tablespoons are equivalent to teaspoons?

ID: db96d7a7 Answer

Correct Answer: 14/3, 4.666, 4.667

Rationale

14
The correct answer is 3
. It's given that 3 teaspoons is equivalent to 1 tablespoon. Therefore, 14 teaspoons is equivalent to
1 tablespoon 14
14 teaspoons 3 teaspoons , or 3
tablespoons. Note that 14/3, 4.666, and 4.667 are examples of ways to enter a correct
answer.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 3248a2ce
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving One-variable data: Hard

and Data Analysis Distributions and
measures of center
and spread

ID: 3248a2ce

Two data sets of integers each are summarized in the histograms shown. For each of the histograms, the first interval
represents the frequency of integers greater than or equal to , but less than . The second interval represents the
frequency of integers greater than or equal to , but less than , and so on. What is the smallest possible difference
between the mean of data set A and the mean of data set B?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 3248a2ce Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is correct. The histograms shown have the same shape, but data set A contains values between 20 and 60 and
data set B contains values between 10 and 50. Thus, the mean of data set A is greater than the mean of data set B.
Therefore, the smallest possible difference between the mean of data set A and the mean of data set B is the difference
between the smallest possible mean of data set A and the greatest possible mean of data set B. In data set A, since there
are 3 integers in the interval greater than or equal to 20 but less than 30, 4 integers greater than or equal to 30 but less than
40, 7 integers greater than or equal to 40 but less than 50, and 9 integers greater than or equal to 50 but less than 60, the
3 · 20 + 4 · 30 + 7 · 40 + 9 · 50
smallest possible mean for data set A is 23
. In data set B, since there are 3 integers greater than or equal
to 10 but less than 20, 4 integers greater than or equal to 20 but less than 30, 7 integers greater than or equal to 30 but less
than 40, and 9 integers greater than or equal to 40 but less than 50, the largest possible mean for data set B is
3 · 19 + 4 · 29 + 7 · 39 + 9 · 49
23
. Therefore, the smallest possible difference between the mean of data set A and the mean of data set
3 · 20 + 4 · 30 + 7 · 40 + 9 · 50 3 · 19 + 4 · 29 + 7 · 39 + 9 · 49 3 · 20 - 3 · 19 + 4 · 30 - 4 · 29 + 7 · 40 - 7 · 39 + 9 · 50 - 9 · 49
B is 23
-
23
, which is equivalent to 23
. This
320 - 19 + 430 - 29 + 740 - 39 + 950 - 49 23
expression can be rewritten as , or , which is equal to 1. Therefore, the smallest possible
23 23
difference between the mean of data set A and the mean of data set B is 1.

Choice A is incorrect. This is the smallest possible difference between the ranges, not the means, of the data sets.

Choice C is incorrect. This is the difference between the greatest possible mean, not the smallest possible mean, of data set
A and the greatest possible mean of data set B.

Choice D is incorrect. This is the smallest possible difference between the sum of the values in data set A and the sum of the
values in data set B, not the smallest possible difference between the means.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID a4acdfcb
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving One-variable data: Hard

and Data Analysis Distributions and
measures of center
and spread

ID: a4acdfcb

Data set A has values and is represented by the dot plot shown. Data set B is created by adding to each of the values
in data set A. Which of the following correctly compares the medians and the ranges of data sets A and B?

A. The median of data set B is greater than the median of data set A, and the range of data set B is equal to the range of
data set A.

B. The median of data set B is greater than the median of data set A, and the range of data set B is greater than the range of
data set A.

C. The median of data set B is equal to the median of data set A, and the range of data set B is greater than the range of
data set A.

D. The median of data set B is equal to the median of data set A, and the range of data set B is equal to the range of data
set A.

ID: a4acdfcb Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale

Choice A is correct. The median is the middle value in a data set when the data are arranged in order from least to greatest.
Since there are 15 values in data set A, the median is the 8th value. The 8th value is 23, so the median of data set A is 23.
The range is found by subtracting the minimum value in a data set from the maximum value. The minimum value in data set
A is 22 and the maximum value is 26. Therefore, the range of data set A is 26 - 22, or 4. It’s given that data set B is created by
adding 46 to each of the values in data set A. Therefore, the 8th value in data set B is 23 + 46, or 69, so the median of data
set B is 69. The minimum value in data set B is 22 + 46, or 68, and the maximum value is 26 + 46, or 72. Therefore, the range
of data set B is 72 - 68, or 4. Since the median of data set A is 23, and the median of data set B is 69, the median of data set
B is greater than the median of data set A. Since the ranges of data sets A and B are both 4, the range of data set B is equal
to the range of data set A.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID b8f73cba
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Two-variable data: Hard

and Data Analysis Models and
scatterplots

ID: b8f73cba

The graph shows the momentum , in newton-seconds, of an object seconds after the object started moving, for
. What is the average rate of change, in newton-seconds per second, in the momentum of the object from
to ?

ID: b8f73cba Answer

Correct Answer: 0.5, 1/2

Rationale

1
The correct answer is 2 . For the graph shown, 𝑥 represents time, in seconds, and 𝑦 represents momentum, in newton-
seconds. Therefore, the average rate of change, in newton-seconds per second, in the momentum of the object between two
x-values is the difference in the corresponding y-values divided by the difference in the x-values. The graph shows that at
𝑥 = 2, the corresponding y-value is 6. The graph also shows that at 𝑥 = 6, the corresponding y-value is 8. It follows that the
8-6 2 1
average rate of change, in newton-seconds per second, from 𝑥 = 2 to 𝑥 = 6 is 6-2
, which is equivalent to , or . Note that
4 2
1/2 and .5 are examples of ways to enter a correct answer.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID a1d9d0a4
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Ratios, rates, Hard

and Data Analysis proportional
relationships, and
units

ID: a1d9d0a4

How many fluid ounces are equivalent to quarts?

ID: a1d9d0a4 Answer

Correct Answer: 2432

Rationale

4 cups
The correct answer is 2,432. It's given that 4 cups = 1 quart. It follows that 76 quarts is equivalent to 76 quarts 1 quart
, or
8 fluid ounces
304 cups. It's also given that 8 fluid ounces = 1 cup. It follows that 304 cups is equivalent to 304 cups , or 2,432
1 cup
fluid ounces.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID dddca81d
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Percentages Hard

and Data Analysis

ID: dddca81d

The population of City A increased by from to . If the population is times the population, what is
the value of ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: dddca81d Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale

Choice C is correct. It's given that the population of City A increased by 7% from 2015 to 2016. Therefore, the population of
City A in 2016 includes 100% of the population of City A in 2015 plus an additional 7% of the population of City A in 2015.
This means that the population of City A in 2016 is 107% of the population in 2015. Thus, the population of City A in 2016 is
107
100
, or 1.07, times the 2015 population. Therefore, the value of 𝑘 is 1.07.

Choice A is incorrect. This would be the value of 𝑘 if the population in 2016 was 7% of the population in 2015.

Choice B is incorrect. This would be the value of 𝑘 if the population in 2016 was 70% of the population in 2015.

Choice D is incorrect. This would be the value of 𝑘 if the population increased by 70%, not 7%, from 2015 to 2016.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID f0af2609
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving One-variable data: Hard

and Data Analysis Distributions and
measures of center
and spread

ID: f0af2609

Data set A consists of the heights of objects and has a mean of meters. Data set B consists of the heights of
objects and has a mean of meters. Data set C consists of the heights of the objects from data sets A and B. What is
the mean, in meters, of data set C?

ID: f0af2609 Answer

Correct Answer: 41

Rationale

The correct answer is 41. The mean of a data set is computed by dividing the sum of the values in the data set by the
number of values in the data set. It’s given that data set A consists of the heights of 75 objects and has a mean of 25
𝑥
meters. This can be represented by the equation = 25, where 𝑥 represents the sum of the heights of the objects, in meters,
75
in data set A. Multiplying both sides of this equation by 75 yields 𝑥 = 7525, or 𝑥 = 1,875 meters. Therefore, the sum of the
heights of the objects in data set A is 1,875 meters. It’s also given that data set B consists of the heights of 50 objects and
𝑦
has a mean of 65 meters. This can be represented by the equation = 65, where 𝑦 represents the sum of the heights of the
50
objects, in meters, in data set B. Multiplying both sides of this equation by 50 yields 𝑦 = 5065, or 𝑦 = 3,250 meters.
Therefore, the sum of the heights of the objects in data set B is 3,250 meters. Since it’s given that data set C consists of the
heights of the 125 objects from data sets A and B, it follows that the mean of data set C is the sum of the heights of the
1,875 + 3,250
objects, in meters, in data sets A and B divided by the number of objects represented in data sets A and B, or 125
,
which is equivalent to 41 meters. Therefore, the mean, in meters, of data set C is 41.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 6998cbf2
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Ratios, rates, Hard

and Data Analysis proportional
relationships, and
units

ID: 6998cbf2

A certain town has an area of square miles. What is the area, in square yards, of this town?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 6998cbf2 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is correct. Since the number of yards in 1 mile is 1,760, the number of square yards in 1 square mile is
( 1,760 ) ( 1,760 ) = 3,097,600. Therefore, if the area of the town is 4.36 square miles, it is 4.36 ( 3,097,600 ) = 13,505,536, in
square yards.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from dividing the number of yards in a mile by the square mileage of the town.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from multiplying the number of yards in a mile by the square mileage of the town.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from dividing the number of square yards in a square mile by the square mileage of the
town.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID dc2b4649
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Ratios, rates, Hard

and Data Analysis proportional
relationships, and
units

ID: dc2b4649

Objects R and S each travel at a constant speed. The speed of object R is half the speed of object S. Object R travels a
distance of inches in seconds. Which expression represents the time, in seconds, it takes object S to travel a distance
of inches?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: dc2b4649 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is correct. It's given that object R travels a distance of 4𝑥 inches in 𝑦 seconds. This speed can be written as
4𝑥 inches
𝑦 seconds
. It's given that the speed of object R is half the speed of object S. It follows that the speed of object S is twice the
4𝑥 inches 8𝑥 inches
speed of object R, which is 2 𝑦 seconds
, or 𝑦 seconds
. Let 𝑛 represent the time, in seconds, it takes object S to travel a distance of
8𝑥 inches 24𝑥 inches 8𝑥 24𝑥
24𝑥 inches. The value of 𝑛 can be found by solving the equation = , which can be written as = .
𝑦 seconds 𝑛 seconds 𝑦 𝑛
Multiplying each side of this equation by 𝑛𝑦 yields 8𝑥𝑛 = 24𝑥𝑦. Dividing each side of this equation by 8𝑥 yields 𝑛 = 3𝑦.
Therefore, the expression 3𝑦 represents the time, in seconds, it takes object S to travel a distance of 24𝑥 inches.

Choice A is incorrect. This expression represents the time, in seconds, it would take object S to travel a distance of 24𝑥
inches if the speed of object R were twice, not half, the speed of object S.

Choice C is incorrect. This expression represents the time, in seconds, it takes object S to travel a distance of 128𝑥 inches,
not 24𝑥 inches.

Choice D is incorrect. This expression represents the time, in seconds, it takes object R, not object S, to travel a distance of
24𝑥 inches.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 2dd8d6f9
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Percentages Hard

and Data Analysis

ID: 2dd8d6f9

The number is greater than the number . The number is less than . What is the value of ?

ID: 2dd8d6f9 Answer

Correct Answer: 189/4, 47.25

Rationale

110
The correct answer is 47.25. It’s given that the number 𝑤 is 110% greater than the number 𝑧. It follows that 𝑤 = 1 + 100 𝑧, or
55
𝑤 = 2.1𝑧. It’s also given that the number 𝑧 is 55% less than 50. It follows that 𝑧 = 1 - 50, or 𝑧 = 0.4550, which yields
100
𝑧 = 22.5. Substituting 22.5 for 𝑧 in the equation 𝑤 = 2.1𝑧 yields 𝑤 = 2.122.5, which is equivalent to 𝑤 = 47.25. Therefore, the
value of 𝑤 is 47.25. Note that 47.25 and 189/4 are examples of ways to enter a correct answer.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 9bcaa533
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Percentages Hard

and Data Analysis

ID: 9bcaa533

In a sample, of the items are faulty. There are faulty items in the sample. How many total items are in the sample?

ID: 9bcaa533 Answer

Correct Answer: 110

Rationale

The correct answer is 110. Let 𝑥 represent the total number of items in the sample. It’s given that 80% of the items are faulty
80
and that there are 88 faulty items in the sample. Therefore, 80% of 𝑥 is 88. Since 80% can be rewritten as 100
, it follows that
80
𝑥 = 88. Multiplying both sides of this equation by 100 yields 80𝑥 = 8,800. Dividing both sides of this equation by 80 yields
100
𝑥 = 110. Therefore, there are 110 total items in the sample.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 02bf14c3
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

PSAT 8/9 Math Problem-Solving Ratios, rates, Hard

and Data Analysis proportional
relationships, and
units

ID: 02bf14c3

For an electric field passing through a flat surface perpendicular to it, the electric flux of the electric field through the surface
is the product of the electric field’s strength and the area of the surface. A certain flat surface consists of two adjacent
squares, where the side length, in meters, of the larger square is times the side length, in meters, of the smaller square. An
electric field with strength volts per meter passes uniformly through this surface, which is perpendicular to the electric
field. If the total electric flux of the electric field through this surface is , what is the electric flux, in
, of the electric field through the larger square?

ID: 02bf14c3 Answer

Correct Answer: 4176

Rationale

The correct answer is 4,176. It’s given that the side length of the larger square is 3 times the side length of the smaller
2
square. This means that the area of the larger square is 3 , or 9, times the area of the smaller square. If the area of the
smaller square is represented by 𝑥, then the area of the larger square can be represented by 9𝑥. Therefore, the flat surface of
the two adjacent squares has a total area of 𝑥 + 9𝑥, or 10𝑥. It’s given that an electric field with strength 29.00 volts per meter
passes uniformly through this surface and the total electric flux of the electric field through this surface is
4,640 volts · meters. Since it's given that the electric flux is the product of the electric field’s strength and the area of the
surface, the equation 29.0010𝑥 = 4,640, or 290𝑥 = 4,640, can be used to represent this situation. Dividing each side of this
equation by 290 yields 𝑥 = 16. Substituting 16 for 𝑥 in the expression for the area of the larger square, 9𝑥, yields 916, or 144,
square meters. Since the area of the larger square is 144 square meters, the electric flux, in volts · meters, of the electric field
through the larger square can be determined by multiplying the area of the larger square by the strength of the electric field.
29.00 volts
Thus, the electric flux is 144 square meters meter
, or 4,176 volts · meters.

Question Difficulty: Hard