Module

Math
27 QUESTIONS

DIRECTIONS
The questions in this section address a number of important math skills.
Use of a calculator is permitted for all questions.

,a-nH
NOTES

Unless otherwise indicated:

• All variables and expressions represent real numbers.
• Figures provided are drawn to scale.
• All figures lie in a plane.
• The domain of a given function f is the set of all real numbers x for which f(x)
is a real number.

li04ii1Ut31
REFERENCE

G
£
x
CJw b~ ~ 0 '~
45°
b a x--../3 s
A =nr 2 A= Rw A =_!bh c2 = a2 + b2 Special Right Triangles
2
C=2nr

62h E} £

V= Rwh V= nr 2h
@
V = i,.r3
3
4
V=½nr 2h
£
1
V = 3 £wh

The number of degrees of arc in a circle is 360.

The number of radians of arc in a circle is 2n.
The sum of the measures in degrees of the angles of a triangle is 180.

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 Module
1

...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
-1 -- -3 --
y y
...
"\
9
I
-
\ I
- 8 --8
- 7
\ I I
--7
- 6 \ V I

'\
'/ --6 \

- 5 I
i- v, --5
,. I
- 3 \ --4
I
\ --3 \

'\
- 2
-1 ' \
I
--2
--1
I

rg
X
2 -1 U 1 2 3 4 s\ 6 7 8 9 I \
\.
'
1u lf
X
2 1 19 11
+-1 ,.

The graph of a system of a linear equation and a The graph of the linear function f is shown, where
nonlinear equation is shown. What is the solution y = f (x). What is the y-intercept of the graph of f ?
(x, y) to this system?
A) (0, 0) A) (0, 0)
B) (0, 4)
 16 
C) (4, 5) B) 0, − 
 11 
D) (5, 0)
C) (0, −8)

D) (0, 8)

-
2 - - - - - - - - ~

On the first day of a semester, a film club has

90 members. Each day after the first day of the
semester, 10 new members join the film club. If
no members leave the film club, how many total
members will the film club have 4 days after the
first day of the semester?
A) 400
B) 130
C) 94
D) 90

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 Module
1

-4 - - - - - - - - - -6 -

...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
s + 7r = 27 y
--s • I

'
r=3
What is the solution (r, s) to the given system of \ I
\
--4
equations? I
--3
A) (6, 3)
--2 \ I
B) (3, 6)
--1
\I
/\
C) (3, 27)
X
D) (27, 3) 1 u 1 2 3/ 4 ' 6 7 8 9
-L1
_lz .J \•
The graph of a system of linear equations is shown.
The solution to the system is (x, y). What is the value
of x ?
-5 ---------
The table shows selected values from function f.

x f(x)
−1 16
0 17
1 18
2 19 7
23, 27, 27, 32, 35, 36, 52
Which of the following is the best description of
function f ? What is the range of the 7 scores shown?

A) Decreasing linear
B) Increasing linear
C) Decreasing exponential
D) Increasing exponential

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 Module
1

-10 - - - - - - - - ~

...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
-8 -------
k Scott selected 20 employees at random from all
400 employees at a company. He found that 16 of
the employees in this sample are enrolled in exactly
three professional development courses this year.
m Based on Scott’s findings, which of the following is
the best estimate of the number of employees at the
company who are enrolled in exactly three
professional development courses this year?
n A) 4
B) 320
C) 380
D) 384

Note: Figure not drawn to scale.

In the figure, line m is parallel to line n, and line k

intersects both lines. Which of the following
statements is true?
A) The value of x is less than 145.
B) The value of x is greater than 145.
-11 - - - - - - - - ~
C) The value of x is equal to 145. If 4x − 28 = −24, what is the value of x − 7 ?
D) The value of x cannot be determined.
A) −24
B) −22
C) −6
D) −1

-9 --------~
The equation x + y = 1,440 represents the number
of minutes of daylight (between sunrise and sunset),
x, and the number of minutes of non-daylight, y, on
a particular day in Oak Park, Illinois. If this day has
670 minutes of daylight, how many minutes of
non-daylight does it have?
A) 670
B) 770
C) 1,373
D) 1,440

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 Module
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-12 - - - - - ~ -14 - - - - - ~
For a snowstorm in a certain town, the minimum A store sells two different-sized containers of
rate of snowfall recorded was 0.6 inches per hour, blueberries. The store’s sales of these blueberries
and the maximum rate of snowfall recorded was totaled 896.86 dollars last month. The equation
1.8 inches per hour. Which inequality is true for all
4.51x + 6.07y = 896.86 represents this situation,
values of s, where s represents a rate of snowfall, in
inches per hour, recorded for this snowstorm? where x is the number of smaller containers sold
and y is the number of larger containers sold.
A) s ≥ 2.4 According to the equation, what is the price, in
B) s ≥ 1.8 dollars, of each smaller container?
C) 0 ≤ s ≤ 0.6
D) 0.6 ≤ s ≤ 1.8

-15 - - - - - ~
A right circular cylinder has a base diameter of
22 centimeters and a height of 6 centimeters. What is
- 13 - - - - - ~ the volume, in cubic centimeters, of the cylinder?
y = 4x
A) 132π
y = x 2 − 12
B) 264π
A solution to the given system of equations is (x, y), C) 726π
where x > 0. What is the value of x ?
D) 2,904π

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 Module
1

- 16 - -
y
12
10 ''
8
\
6 \
\

' ......... -
4
2

u 2- _4_ - 6 - ~8- ~10

X

-2
-4

The graph of the rational function f is shown, where y = f (x)

and x ≥ 0 . Which of the following is the graph of y = f (x) + 5,
where x ≥ 0 ?
A) y B) y
12 12
10 10
8 8
6 6
4 4 \
2 \ 2 \
\ r-...
\
X X
0 0 2- _4_ - 6 - ~8- ~10
1
4- - 6 - - 8 - ~10
-2
-4
' I......_
-
-2
-4

C)
12
y
\
D)
12
y
.\
\ \
10 \ 10
8
\
8
' .._
-
6 ' '\. 6
r-...

---
4 ..... i,.._ 4
2 - 2
X X
0 2- ~4- - 6 - - 8 - ~10 0 2- _4_ - 6 - ~8- ~10
-2 -2
-4 -4

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 Module
1

-17 - - - - - - - - - -19 - - - - - - - - -

...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
At a particular track meet, the ratio of coaches to 92π
athletes is 1 to 26. If there are x coaches at the track What is the value of tan ?
3
meet, which of the following expressions represents
the number of athletes at the track meet?
A) − 3
x
A)
26 3
B) −
3
B) 26x
3
C)
3
C) x + 26
D) 3
26
D)
x

-20 - - - - - - - - -
- ---------
18
Kaylani used fabric measuring 5 yards in length to
make each suit for a men’s choir. The relationship
between the number of suits that Kaylani made, x,
and the total length of fabric that she purchased y, in
yards, is represented by the equation y − 5x = 6 .
11
What is the best interpretation of 6 in this context?
A) Kaylani made 6 suits.
B) Kaylani purchased a total of 6 yards of fabric.
C) Kaylani used a total of 6 yards of fabric to make
Note: Figure not drawn to scale.
the suits.
D) Kaylani purchased 6 yards more fabric than she In the triangle shown, what is the value of cos x° ?
used to make the suits.

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 Module
1

...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
-21 - - - - - ~ -23 - - - - - ~
The function g is defined by g(x) = (x + 14)(t − x), A right rectangular prism has a height of 9 inches.
where t is a constant. In the xy-plane, the graph of The length of the prism’s base is x inches, which is
7 inches more than the width of the prism’s base.
y = g(x) passes through the point (24, 0). What is
Which function V gives the volume of the prism,
the value of g(0) ? in cubic inches, in terms of the length of the
prism’s base?
A) V(x) = x(x + 9)(x + 7)
B) V(x) = x(x + 9)(x − 7)
C) V(x) = 9x(x + 7)
D) V(x) = 9x(x − 7)
- 22 - - - - - ~
(x + 4)2 + (y − 19)2 = 121
The graph of the given equation is a circle in the
xy-plane. The point (a, b) lies on the circle. Which of
the following is a possible value for a ?
A) −16 - 24 - - - - - ~
B) −14 Which of the following functions has(have) a
C) 11 minimum value at −3 ?
D) 19 I. f (x) = −6(3)x − 3
II. g(x) = −3(6)x
A) I only
B) II only
C) I and II
D) Neither I nor II

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 Module
1

25 27

.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
The result of increasing the quantity x by 400% is The function g is defined by g(x) = x(x − 2)(x + 6)2 .
60. What is the value of x ?
The value of g(7 − w) is 0, where w is a constant.
A) 12 What is the sum of all possible values of w ?
B) 15
C) 240
D) 340

26

The function f is defined by f (x) = ax 2 + bx + c,

where a, b, and c are constants. The graph of
y = f (x) in the xy-plane passes through the points
(7, 0) and (−3, 0). If a is an integer greater than 1,
which of the following could be the value of a + b ?
A) −6
B) −3
C) 4
D) 5

STOP
If you finish before time is called, you may check your work on this module only.
Do not turn to any other module in the test.

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 Module
2

Math
27 QUESTIONS

DIRECTIONS
The questions in this section address a number of important math skills.
Use of a calculator is permitted for all questions.

,a-nH
NOTES
Unless otherwise indicated:
• All variables and expressions represent real numbers.
• Figures provided are drawn to scale.
• All figures lie in a plane.
• The domain of a given function f is the set of all real numbers x for which f(x)
is a real number.

li04ii1Ut31
REFERENCE

G
£
x
CJw b~ ~ 0 '~
45°
b a x--../3 s
A =nr 2 A= Rw A =_!bh c2 = a2 + b2 Special Right Triangles
2
C=2nr

62h E} £

V= Rwh V= nr 2h
@
V = i,.r3
3
4
V=½nr 2h
£
1
V = 3 £wh

The number of degrees of arc in a circle is 360.

The number of radians of arc in a circle is 2n.
The sum of the measures in degrees of the angles of a triangle is 180.

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 Module
2

-1 - - - - - - - - ~ -3 - - - - - - - - ~

...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
What is 20% of 440? The function f is defined by f (x) = 4x − 3. What is
A) 44 the value of f (10) ?
B) 88 A) −30
C) 880 B) 37
D) 1,760 C) 40
D) 43

-
2 --------~

-4 - - - - - - - - ~
Argon is placed inside a container with a constant
volume. The graph shows the estimated pressure y,
in pounds per square inch (psi), of the argon when Which expression is equivalent to 16x 3y 2 + 14xy ?
its temperature is x kelvins.
A) 2xy(8xy + 7)
y
36 B) 2xy(8x 2y + 7)

30 C) 14xy(2x 2y + 1)
D) 14xy(8x 2y + 1)

,,,,,....-
~"
.... i.--....
~',,,.
.
6 ~,,,,,....-
5
() 100200300400500600700800x - ---------------~
Temperature (kelvins) A veterinarian recommends that each day a certain
rabbit should eat 25 calories per pound of the rabbit’s
What is the estimated pressure of the argon, in psi, weight, plus an additional 11 calories. Which
when the temperature is 600 kelvins? equation represents this situation, where c is the
total number of calories the veterinarian
A) 6 recommends the rabbit should eat each day if the
B) 12 rabbit’s weight is x pounds?
C) 300 A) c = 25x
D) 600 B) c = 36x
C) c = 11x + 25
D) c = 25x + 11

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 Module
2

-6 - - - - - - - - - -9 -

...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
If 6n = 12, what is the value of n + 4 ? y
12

-
9
" '\.
\
\
6
\
\
- ---------
7
\
3
(d − 30)(d + 30) − 7 = −7 \
What is a solution to the given equation? \
\
u 1 2 3
X

Time (seconds)
A competitive diver dives from a platform into the
water. The graph shown gives the height above the
water y, in meters, of the diver x seconds after diving
from the platform. What is the best interpretation of
-8 - - - - - - - - -
the x-intercept of the graph?

Line r in the xy-plane has a slope of 4 and passes A) The diver reaches a maximum height above the
through the point (0, 6). Which equation defines water at 1.6 seconds.
line r ? B) The diver hits the water at 1.6 seconds.
C) The diver reaches a maximum height above the
A) y = −6x + 4 water at 0.2 seconds.
B) y = 6x + 4 D) The diver hits the water at 0.2 seconds.
C) y = 4x − 6
D) y = 4x + 6

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 Module
2

-10 - - - - - - - - ~ -11 - - - - - - - - ~

...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
The scatterplot shows the relationship between
The kinetic energy, in joules, of an object with mass two variables x and y. A line of best fit for the data is
also shown.
9 kilograms traveling at a speed of v meters per
y
,_
second is given by the function K, where 10
9
V
9
K(v) = v 2. Which of the following is the best 8 /
2 /
interpretation of K(34) = 5,202 in this context?
7
6
v•
5
V
A) The object traveling at 34 meters per second has
4
Y.
/.
a kinetic energy of 5,202 joules.
B) The object traveling at 340 meters per second has 3
•v
a kinetic energy of 5,202 joules.
C) The object traveling at 5,202 meters per second
2
1 -v •
has a kinetic energy of 34 joules.
7 X
l, 12345678910
D) The object traveling at 23,409 meters per second
has a kinetic energy of 34 joules. For how many of the 10 data points is the actual
y-value greater than the y-value predicted by the line
of best fit?
A) 3
B) 4
C) 6
D) 7

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 Module
2

...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
- 12 - - - - - - ~ -15 - - - - - - ~
At a movie theater, there are a total of 350 customers. Five Eretmochelys imbricata, a type of sea turtle, each
Each customer is located in either theater A, have a nest. The table shows an original data set of
theater B, or theater C. If one of these customers is the number of eggs that each turtle laid in its nest.
selected at random, the probability of selecting a
customer who is located in theater A is 0.48, and the Nest Number of eggs
probability of selecting a customer who is located in A 149
theater B is 0.24. How many customers are located in B 144
theater C? C 148
A) 28 D 136
E 139
B) 40
C) 84 A sixth nest with 121 eggs is added to create a new
D) 98 data set. Which of the following correctly compares
the means of the two data sets?
A) The mean of the original data set is greater than
the mean of the new data set.
B) The mean of the original data set is less than the
mean of the new data set.
C) The means of both data sets are equal.
- 13 - - - - - - ~ D) There is not enough information to compare the
means.
What is the slope of the graph of
1
y= (29x + 10) + 5x in the xy-plane?
3

-16 - - - - - - ~
In △RST , the measure of ∠R is 63° . Which of the
following could be the measure, in degrees, of ∠S ?
-14 - - - - - - ~ A) 116
The length of each edge of a box is 29 inches. Each
side of the box is in the shape of a square. The box B) 118
does not have a lid. What is the exterior surface area, C) 126
in square inches, of this box without a lid?
D) 180

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 Module
2

...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
- 17 - - - - - - ~ -19 - - - - - - ~
Which expression is equivalent to 2x − y > 883
(8x 3 + 8) − (x 3 − 2) ? For which of the following tables are all the values of
x and their corresponding values of y solutions to the
A) 8x 3 + 6 given inequality?
B) 7x 3 + 10
A) x y
C) 8x 3 + 10
440 0
D) 7x 3 + 6 441 −2
442 −4

B) x y
440 0
442 −2
441 −4
-
18 - - - - - - ~
C) x y
If 4 2x = 16, what is the value of 6x ?
442 0
A) 24
440 −2
B) 48
441 −4
C) 72
D) 96 D) x y
442 0
441 −2
440 −4

-20 - - - - - - ~
5y = 10x + 11
−5y = 5x − 21

The solution to the given system of equations is

(x, y). What is the value of 30x ?

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 Module
2

...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
- 21 - - - - - - - -23 - - - - - - -
A rectangle is inscribed in a circle, such that each 42a
Which expression is equivalent to + 42ak ,
vertex of the rectangle lies on the circumference of k
the circle. The diagonal of the rectangle is twice the where k > 0 ?
length of the shortest side of the rectangle. The area
84a
of the rectangle is 1,089 3 square units. What is the A)
k
length, in units, of the diameter of the circle?
84ak 2
B)
k

42a(k + 1)
C)
k

42a(k 2 + 1)
22 D)
- - - - - - - - k
Rectangles ABCD and EFGH are similar. The length
of each side of EFGH is 6 times the length of the
corresponding side of ABCD. The area of ABCD is
54 square units. What is the area, in square units, of
EFGH?
A) 9
B) 36 -
24 - - - - - - -
C) 324 Which quadratic equation has no real solutions?
D) 1,944
A) x 2 + 14x − 49 = 0
B) x 2 − 14x + 49 = 0
C) 5x 2 − 14x − 49 = 0
D) 5x 2 − 14x + 49 = 0

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 Module
2

-25 - - - - - ~ -27 - - - - - ~

................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
P(t) = 260(1.04)
( 4)
6
t For an electric field passing through a flat surface
perpendicular to it, the electric flux of the electric
The function P models the population, in thousands, field through the surface is the product of the electric
of a certain city t years after 2003. According to the field’s strength and the area of the surface. A certain
model, the population is predicted to increase by 4% flat surface consists of two adjacent squares, where
every n months. What is the value of n ? the side length, in meters, of the larger square is
A) 8 3 times the side length, in meters, of the smaller
B) 12 square. An electric field with strength 29.00 volts per
meter passes uniformly through this surface, which is
C) 18
perpendicular to the electric field. If the total electric
D) 72
flux of the electric field through this surface is
4,640 volts · meters , what is the electric flux, in
volts · meters , of the electric field through the larger
square?

- 26 - - - - - ~
A circle in the xy-plane has its center at (−1, 1).
Line t is tangent to this circle at the point (5, −4).
Which of the following points also lies on line t ?
 6
A) 0, 
 5 

B) (4, 7)

C) (10, 2)

D) (11, 1)

STOP
If you finish before time is called, you may check your work on this module only.
Do not turn to any other module in the test.

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 SAT ANSWER EXPLANATIONS n MATH: MODULE 1

Math
Module 1
(27 questions)

QUESTION 1
Choice C is correct. The solution to the system of two equations corresponds to
the point where the graphs of the equations intersect. The graphs of the linear
equation and the nonlinear equation shown intersect at the point ^4, 5h. Thus, the
solution to the system is ^4, 5h.

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 2
Choice B is correct. It’s given that the film club has 90 members on the first day
of a semester, and 10 new members join the film club each day after the first day
of the semester. This means that after 4 days, 4 # 10, or 40, new members will
have joined the club. Adding 40 members to the original 90 club members yields
130 members. Thus, the film club will have 130 total members 4 days after the
first day of the semester.

Choice A is incorrect. This is the number of members that will have joined the film
club 4 days after the first day of the semester if 100 new members, not 10, join
the film club each day. Choice C is incorrect. This is the number of members the
film club will have 4 days after the first day of the semester if 1 new member, not
10, joins the film club each day. Choice D is incorrect. This is the number of
members the film club has on the first day of the semester.

QUESTION 3
Choice D is correct. The y-intercept of a graph is the point where the graph
intersects the y-axis. The graph of function f shown intersects the y-axis at the
point ^0, 8h. Therefore, the y-intercept of the graph of f is ^0, 8h.

34 SAT PRACTICE TEST #5 ANSWER EXPLANATIONS

 SAT ANSWER EXPLANATIONS n MATH: MODULE 1

Choice A is incorrect. This is the point where the x-axis, not the graph of f ,
intersects the y-axis. 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 4
Choice B is correct. The second equation in the given system is r = 3.
Substituting 3 for r in the first equation in the given system yields s + 7^3h= 27,
or s + 21 = 27. Subtracting 21 from both sides of this equation yields s = 6.
Therefore, the solution ^r, sh to the given system of equations is ^3, 6h.

Choice A is incorrect. This is the solution ^s, rh, not ^r, sh, to the given system of
equations. 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 5
Choice B is correct. The given values show that as x increases, f ^xh also
increases, which means that f is an increasing function. Furthermore, f ^xh
increases at a constant rate of 1 for each increase of x by 1. A function with a
constant rate of change is linear. Thus, the function f can be described as an
increasing linear function.

Choice A is incorrect. For a decreasing linear function, as x increases, f ^xh

decreases rather than increases. Choice C is incorrect. For a decreasing
exponential function, for each increase of x by 1, f ^xh decreases by a fixed
percentage rather than increases at a constant rate. Choice D is incorrect. For an
increasing exponential function, for each increase of x by 1, f ^xh increases by a
fixed percentage rather than at a constant rate.

QUESTION 6
The correct answer is 4. A solution to a system of equations must satisfy each
equation in the system. It follows that if ^x, y h is a solution to the system, the point
^x, y h lies on the graph in the xy-plane of each equation in the system. According
to the graph, the point ^x, y h that lies on the graph of each equation in the system
is ^4, 1h. Therefore, the solution to the system is ^4, 1h. It follows that the value of
x is 4.

QUESTION 7
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.

35 SAT PRACTICE TEST #5 ANSWER EXPLANATIONS

 SAT ANSWER EXPLANATIONS n MATH: MODULE 1

QUESTION 8
Choice C is correct. Vertical angles, or angles that are opposite each other when
two lines intersect, are congruent. It’s given that line k intersects line n. Based on
the figure, the angle with measure x° and the angle with measure 145° are vertical
angles. Therefore, the value of x is equal to 145.

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 9
Choice B is correct. It’s given that the equation x + y = 1,440 represents the
number of minutes of daylight, x, and the number of minutes of non-daylight, y,
on a particular day in Oak Park, Illinois. It’s also given that this day has
670 minutes of daylight. Substituting 670 for x in the equation x + y = 1,440
yields 670 + y = 1,440. Subtracting 670 from both sides of this equation yields
y = 770. Therefore, this day has 770 minutes of non-daylight.

Choice A is incorrect. This is the number of minutes of daylight, not non-daylight,

on this day. Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation
errors. Choice D is incorrect. This is the total number of minutes of daylight and
non-daylight.

QUESTION 10
Choice B is correct. It’s given that from the sample of 20 employees at the
company, 16 of the employees are enrolled in exactly three professional
development courses this year. Since e o is equal to 0.80, or , it follows that
16 80
20 100
80% of the employees in the sample are enrolled in exactly three professional
development courses this year. Therefore, the best estimate for the percentage of
employees at the company who are enrolled in exactly three professional
development courses this year is 80%. It’s given that there are a total of
400 employees at the company. Therefore, the best estimate of the number of
employees at the company who are enrolled in exactly three professional
development courses this year is b 100 l`400j, or 320.
80

Choice A is incorrect. This is the number of employees from the sample who
aren’t enrolled in exactly three professional development courses this year.
Choice C is incorrect. This is the number of employees who weren’t selected for
the sample. Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation
errors.

QUESTION 11
Choice C is correct. Dividing all terms in the given equation by 4 yields
4x
4
- 28
4
=- 244
, or x - 7 =-6. Therefore, the value of x - 7 is -6.

Choice A is incorrect. This is the value of 4x - 28, not x - 7. Choice B is incorrect

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

36 SAT PRACTICE TEST #5 ANSWER EXPLANATIONS

 SAT ANSWER EXPLANATIONS n MATH: MODULE 1

QUESTION 12
Choice D is correct. It’s given that for a snowstorm in a certain town, the minimum
rate of snowfall recorded was 0.6 inches per hour, the maximum rate of snowfall
recorded was 1.8 inches per hour, and s represents a rate of snowfall, in inches
per hour, recorded for this snowstorm. It follows that the inequality 0.6 # s # 1.8 is
true for all values of s.

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 13
The correct answer is 6. It’s given that y = 4x and y = x 2 - 12. Since y = 4x ,
substituting 4x for y in the second equation of the given system yields
4x = x 2 - 12. Subtracting 4x from both sides of this equation yields
0 = x 2 - 4x - 12. This equation can be rewritten as 0 =^x - 6h^x + 2h. By the zero
product property, x - 6 = 0 or x + 2 = 0. Adding 6 to both sides of the equation
x - 6 = 0 yields x = 6. Subtracting 2 from both sides of the equation x + 2 = 0
yields x =-2. Therefore, solutions to the given system of equations occur when
x = 6 and when x =-2. It’s given that a solution to the given system of equations
is ^x, y h, where x 2 0. Since 6 is greater than 0, it follows that the value of x is 6.

QUESTION 14
The correct answer is 4.51. It’s given that the equation 4.51x + 6.07y = 896.86
represents this situation, where x is the number of smaller containers sold, y is
the number of larger containers sold, and 896.86 is the store’s total sales, in
dollars, of blueberries last month. Therefore, 4.51x represents the store’s sales, in
dollars, of smaller containers, and 6.07y represents the store’s sales, in dollars, of
larger containers. Since x is the number of smaller containers sold, the price, in
dollars, of each smaller container is 4.51.

QUESTION 15
Choice C is correct. The volume, V , of a right circular cylinder is given by the
formula V = rr 2 h, where r is the radius of the base of the cylinder and h is the
height of the cylinder. It’s given that a right circular cylinder has a height of
6 centimeters. Therefore, h = 6. It’s also given that the cylinder has a base
diameter of 22 centimeters. The radius of a circle is half the diameter of the circle.
Since the base of a right circular cylinder is a circle, it follows that the radius of the
base of the right circular cylinder is 22
2
, or 11, centimeters. Therefore, r = 11.
Substituting 11 for r and 6 for h in the formula V = rr 2 h yields V = r ^11h2 ^6h,
which is equivalent to V = r ^121h^6h, or V = 726r . Therefore, the volume, in cubic
centimeters, of the cylinder is 726r.

Choice A is incorrect. This is the volume of a right circular cylinder that has a base
diameter of 2 22, not 22, centimeters and a height of 6 centimeters. Choice B is
incorrect. This is the volume of a right circular cylinder that has a base diameter of
4 11, not 22, centimeters and a height of 6 centimeters. Choice D is incorrect.
This is the volume of a right circular cylinder that has a base diameter of 44, not
22, centimeters and a height of 6 centimeters.

37 SAT PRACTICE TEST #5 ANSWER EXPLANATIONS

 SAT ANSWER EXPLANATIONS n MATH: MODULE 1

QUESTION 16
Choice D is correct. It’s given that the graph of the rational function f is shown,
where y = f ^xh and x $ 0. The graph shown passes through the point ^3, 3h. It
follows that when the value of x is 3, the value of f ^xh is 3. When the value of f ^xh
is 3, the value of f ^xh+ 5 is 3 + 5, or 8. Therefore, the graph of y = f ^xh+ 5 passes
through the point ^3, 8h. Of the given choices, choice D is the only graph that
passes through the point ^3, 8h and is therefore the graph of y = f ^xh+ 5.

Choice A is incorrect. This is the graph of y = f ^xh- 5, rather than y = f ^xh+ 5.

f^xh
Choice B is incorrect. This is the graph of y = 5 , rather than y = f ^xh+ 5.
Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

QUESTION 17
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 1^xh to 26^xh, 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 18
Choice D is correct. It’s given that the equation y - 5x = 6 represents the
relationship between the number of suits that Kaylani made, x, and the total
length of fabric she purchased, y, in yards. Adding 5x to both sides of the given
equation yields y = 5x + 6. Since Kaylani made x suits and used 5 yards of fabric
to make each suit, the expression 5x represents the total amount of fabric she
used to make the suits. Since y represents the total length of fabric Kaylani
purchased, in yards, it follows from the equation y = 5x + 6 that Kaylani purchased
5x yards of fabric to make the suits, plus an additional 6 yards of fabric.
Therefore, the best interpretation of 6 in this context is that Kaylani purchased
6 yards more fabric than she used to make the suits.

Choice A is incorrect. Kaylani made a total of x suits, not 6 suits. Choice B is

incorrect. Kaylani purchased a total of y yards of fabric, not a total of 6 yards of
fabric. Choice C is incorrect. Kaylani used a total of 5x yards of fabric to make the
suits, not a total of 6 yards of fabric.

QUESTION 19
Choice A is correct. A trigonometric ratio can be found using the unit circle, that
is, a circle with radius 1 unit. If a central angle of a unit circle in the xy-plane
centered at the origin has its starting side on the positive x-axis and its terminal
side intersects the circle at a point ^x, y h, then the value of the tangent of the

38 SAT PRACTICE TEST #5 ANSWER EXPLANATIONS

 SAT ANSWER EXPLANATIONS n MATH: MODULE 1

central angle is equal to the y-coordinate divided by the x-coordinate. There are
2r radians in a circle. Dividing 92r
3
by 2r yields 92
6
, which is equivalent to 15 + 23 . It
follows that on the unit circle centered at the origin in the xy-plane, the angle 92r
3
is the result of 15 revolutions from its starting side on the positive x-axis followed
by a rotation through 2r
3
radians. Therefore, the angles 92r
3
and
2r
3
are coterminal
angles and tan e 92r
3
o is equal to tan e 2r
3
o. Since
2r
3
is greater than r
2
and less than
r, it follows that the terminal side of the angle is in quadrant II and forms an angle
of 3r , or 60°, with the negative x-axis. Therefore, the terminal side of the angle
intersects the unit circle at the point f- , p. It follows that the value of tan e 2r o
1 3
2 2 3
3
is 2 , which is equivalent to - 3 . Therefore, the value of tan e 92r
3
o is - 3 .
1
-
2
1
Choice B is incorrect. This is the value of 92r , not
tan e o
tan e 92r
3
o. Choice C is
3

incorrect. This is the value of 1

r , not tan b 92r l. Choice D is incorrect. This is the
tan d n 3
3

value of tan a 3r k, not tan e 92r

3
o.

QUESTION 20
The correct answer is 11
28
. The cosine of an acute angle in a right triangle is defined
as the ratio of the length of the leg adjacent to the angle to the length of the
hypotenuse. In the triangle shown, the length of the leg adjacent to the angle with
measure x° is 11 units and the length of the hypotenuse is 28 units. Therefore,
the value of cos x° is 11
28
. Note that 11/28, .3928, .3929, 0.392, and 0.393 are
examples of ways to enter a correct answer.

QUESTION 21
The correct answer is 336. By the zero product property, if ^x + 14h^t - xh= 0, then
x + 14 = 0, which gives x =-14, or ^t - xh= 0, which gives x = t . Therefore,
g ^xh= 0 when x =-14 and when x = t . Since the graph of y = g ^xh passes
through the point ^24, 0h, it follows that g ^24h= 0, so t = 24. Substituting 24 for t
in the equation g ^xh=^x + 14h^t - xh yields g ^xh=^x + 14h^24 - xh. The value of
g ^0h can be calculated by substituting 0 for x in this equation, which yields
g ^0h=^0 + 14h^24 - 0h, or g ^0h= 336.

QUESTION 22
Choice B is correct. An equation of the form ^x - hh2 +^y - kh2 = r 2 , where h, k,
and r are constants, represents a circle in the xy-plane with center ^h, kh and
radius r. Therefore, the circle represented by the given equation has center
^-4, 19h and radius 11. Since the center of the circle has an x-coordinate of -4
and the radius of the circle is 11, the least possible x-coordinate for any point on
the circle is -4 - 11, or -15. Similarly, the greatest possible x-coordinate for any
point on the circle is -4 + 11, or 7. Therefore, if the point ^a, bh lies on the circle, it
must be true that -15 # a # 7. Of the given choices, only -14 satisfies this
inequality.

39 SAT PRACTICE TEST #5 ANSWER EXPLANATIONS

 SAT ANSWER EXPLANATIONS n MATH: MODULE 1

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 23
Choice D is correct. The volume of a right rectangular prism can be represented
by a function V that gives the volume of the prism, in cubic inches, in terms of the
length of the prism’s base. The volume of a right rectangular prism is equal to the
area of its base times its height. It’s given that the length of the prism’s base is
x inches, which is 7 inches more than the width of the prism’s base. This means
that the width of the prism’s base is x - 7 inches. It follows that the area of the
prism’s base, in square inches, is x ^x - 7h and the volume, in cubic inches, of the
prism is x ^x - 7h^9h. Thus, the function V that gives the volume of this right
rectangular prism, in cubic inches, in terms of the length of the prism’s base, x, is
V ^xh= 9x ^x - 7h.

Choice A is incorrect. This function would give the volume of the prism if the
height were 9 inches more than the length of its base and the width of the base
were 7 inches more than its length. Choice B is incorrect. This function would give
the volume of the prism if the height were 9 inches more than the length of its
base. Choice C is incorrect. This function would give the volume of the prism if the
width of the base were 7 inches more than its length, rather than the length of the
base being 7 inches more than its width.

QUESTION 24
Choice D is correct. A function of the form f ^xh= a ^bhx + c, where a 1 0 and b 2 1,
is a decreasing function. Both of the given functions are of this form; therefore,
both are decreasing functions. If a function f is decreasing, as the value of x
increases, the corresponding value of f ^xh decreases; therefore, the function
doesn’t have a minimum value. Thus, neither of the given functions has a minimum
value.

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 25
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 +b 400
100
l 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.

40 SAT PRACTICE TEST #5 ANSWER EXPLANATIONS

 SAT ANSWER EXPLANATIONS n MATH: MODULE 1

QUESTION 26
Choice A is correct. It’s given that the graph of y = f ^xh in the xy-plane passes
through the points ^7, 0h and ^-3, 0h. It follows that when the value of x is either
7 or -3, the value of f ^xh is 0. It’s also given that the function f is defined by
f ^xh= ax 2 + bx + c, where a, b, and c are constants. It follows that the function f
is a quadratic function and, therefore, may be written in factored form as
f ^xh= a ^x - uh^x - v h, where the value of f ^xh is 0 when x is either u or v. Since
the value of f ^xh is 0 when the value of x is either 7 or -3, and the value of f ^xh is
0 when the value of x is either u or v, it follows that u and v are equal to 7 and
-3. Substituting 7 for u and -3 for v in the equation f ^xh= a ^x - uh^x - v h yields
f ^xh= a ^x - 7h^x -^-3hh, or f ^xh= a ^x - 7h^x + 3h. Distributing the right-hand side
of this equation yields f ^xh= a ^x 2 - 7x + 3x - 21h, or f ^xh= ax 2 - 4ax - 21a. Since
it’s given that f ^xh= ax 2 + bx + c, it follows that b =-4a. Adding a to each side of
this equation yields a + b =-3a. Since a + b =-3a, if a is an integer, the value of
a + b must be a multiple of 3. If a is an integer greater than 1, it follows that a $ 2.
Therefore, -3a #-3 ^2h. It follows that the value of a + b is less than or equal to
-3 ^2h, or -6. Of the given choices, only -6 is a multiple of 3 that’s less than or
equal to -6.

Choice B is incorrect. This is the value of a + b if a is equal to, not greater than, 1.
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 27
The correct answer is 25. The value of g ^7- w h is the value of g ^xh when
x = 7 - w , where w is a constant. Substituting 7- w for x in the given equation
yields g ^7 - w h=^7 - w h^7 - w - 2h^7 - w + 6h2 , which is equivalent to
g ^7 - w h=^7 - w h^5 - w h^13 - w h2 . It’s given that the value of g ^7- w h is 0.
Substituting 0 for g ^7- w h in the equation g ^7 - w h=^7 - w h^5 - w h^13 - w h2
yields 0 =^7 - w h^5 - w h^13 - w h2 . Since the product of the three factors on the
right-hand side of this equation is equal to 0, at least one of these three factors
must be equal to 0. Therefore, the possible values of w can be found by setting
each factor equal to 0. Setting the first factor equal to 0 yields 7 - w = 0. Adding
w to both sides of this equation yields 7= w . Therefore, 7 is one possible value
of w. Setting the second factor equal to 0 yields 5 - w = 0. Adding w to both
sides of this equation yields 5= w . Therefore, 5 is a second possible value of w.
Setting the third factor equal to 0 yields ^13 - w h2 = 0. Taking the square root of
both sides of this equation yields 13 - w = 0. Adding w to both sides of this
equation yields 13= w . Therefore, 13 is a third possible value of w. Adding the
three possible values of w yields 7 + 5 + 13, or 25. Therefore, the sum of all
possible values of w is 25.

41 SAT PRACTICE TEST #5 ANSWER EXPLANATIONS

 SAT ANSWER EXPLANATIONS n MATH: MODULE 2

Math
Module 2
(27 questions)

QUESTION 1
Choice B is correct. 20% of 440 can be calculated as b 100 l`440j, which is
20

equivalent to 100 , or 88.

8,800

Choice A is incorrect. This is 10%, not 20%, of 440. Choice C is incorrect. This is
200%, not 20%, of 440. Choice D is incorrect. This is 400%, not 20%, of 440.

QUESTION 2
Choice B is correct. For the graph shown, the x-axis represents temperature, in
kelvins, and the y-axis represents the estimated pressure, in pounds per square
inch ^psih. The estimated pressure of the argon when the temperature is
600 kelvins can be found by locating the point on the graph where the value of x
is equal to 600. The graph passes through the point ^600, 12h. This means that
when the temperature is 600 kelvins, the estimated pressure is 12 psi.

Choice A is incorrect. This is the estimated pressure, in psi, of the argon when the
temperature is 300 kelvins, not 600 kelvins. Choice C is incorrect and may result
from conceptual or calculation errors. Choice D is incorrect. This is the
temperature, in kelvins, of the argon.

QUESTION 3
Choice B is correct. It’s given that the function f is defined by f ^xh= 4x - 3.
Substituting 10 for x in the given function yields f ^10h= 4 ^10h- 3, which is
equivalent to f ^10h= 40 - 3, or f ^10h= 37. Therefore, the value of f ^10h is 37.

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

Choice C is incorrect. This is the value of f ^10h for the function f ^xh= 4x , not
f ^xh= 4x - 3. Choice D is incorrect. This is the value of f ^10h for the function
f ^xh= 4x + 3, not f ^xh= 4x - 3.

42 SAT PRACTICE TEST #5 ANSWER EXPLANATIONS

 SAT ANSWER EXPLANATIONS n MATH: MODULE 2

QUESTION 4
Choice B is correct. Since 2xy is a common factor of each term in the given
expression, the expression can be rewritten as 2xy ^8x 2 y + 7h.

Choice A is incorrect. This expression is equivalent to 16x 2 y 2 + 14xy . Choice C is

incorrect. This expression is equivalent to 28x 3 y 2 + 14xy . Choice D is incorrect.
This expression is equivalent to 112x 3 y 2 + 14xy .

QUESTION 5
Choice D is correct. It’s given that a veterinarian recommends that each day the
rabbit should eat 25 calories per pound of the rabbit’s weight, plus an additional
11 calories. If the rabbit’s weight is x pounds, then multiplying 25 calories per
pound by the rabbit’s weight, x pounds, yields 25x calories. Adding the additional
11 calories that the rabbit should eat each day yields 25x + 11 calories. It’s given
that c is the total number of calories the veterinarian recommends the rabbit
should eat each day if the rabbit’s weight is x pounds. Therefore, this situation
can be represented by the equation c = 25x + 11.

Choice A is incorrect. This equation represents a situation where a veterinarian

recommends that each day the rabbit should eat 25 calories per pound of the
rabbit’s weight. Choice B is incorrect. This equation represents a situation where a
veterinarian recommends that each day the rabbit should eat 25 + 11, or 36,
calories per pound of the rabbit’s weight. Choice C is incorrect. This equation
represents a situation where a veterinarian recommends that each day the rabbit
should eat 11 calories per pound of the rabbit’s weight, plus an additional 25
calories.

QUESTION 6
The correct answer is 6. Dividing both sides of the equation 6n = 12 by 6 yields
n = 2. Substituting 2 for n in the expression n + 4 yields 2 + 4, or 6.

QUESTION 7
The correct answer is either -30 or 30. Adding 7 to each side of the given
equation yields ^d - 30h^d + 30h= 0. Since a product of two factors is equal to 0 if
and only if at least one of the factors is 0, either d - 30 = 0 or d + 30 = 0. Adding
30 to each side of the equation d - 30 = 0 yields d = 30. Subtracting 30 from
each side of the equation d + 30 = 0 yields d =-30. Therefore, the solutions to
the given equation are -30 and 30. Note that -30 and 30 are examples of ways to
enter a correct answer.

QUESTION 8
Choice D is correct. A line in the xy-plane with a slope of m and a y-intercept of
^0, bh can be defined by an equation in the form y = mx + b. It’s given that line r
has a slope of 4 and passes through the point ^0, 6h. It follows that m = 4 and
b = 6. Substituting 4 for m and 6 for b in the equation y = mx + b yields
y = 4x + 6. Therefore, the equation y = 4x + 6 defines line r.

43 SAT PRACTICE TEST #5 ANSWER EXPLANATIONS

 SAT ANSWER EXPLANATIONS n MATH: MODULE 2

Choice A is incorrect. This equation defines a line that has a slope of -6, not 4,
and passes through the point ^0, 4h, not ^0, 6h. Choice B is incorrect. This equation
defines a line that has a slope of 6, not 4, and passes through the point ^0, 4h, not
^0, 6h. Choice C is incorrect. This equation defines a line that passes through the
point ^0, - 6h, not ^0, 6h.

QUESTION 9
Choice B is correct. It’s given that the graph shows the height above the water y,
in meters, of a diver x seconds after diving from a platform. The x-intercept of a
graph is the point at which the graph intersects the x-axis, or when the value of y
is 0. The graph shown intersects the x-axis between x = 1 and x = 2. In other
words, the diver is 0 meters above the water, or hits the water, between 1 and 2
seconds after diving from the platform. Of the given choices, only choice B
includes an interpretation where the diver hits the water between 1 and 2
seconds. Therefore, the best interpretation of the x-intercept of the graph is the
diver hits the water at 1.6 seconds.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual errors. Choice C is

incorrect. This is the best interpretation of the maximum value, not the
x-intercept, of the graph. Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual
errors.

QUESTION 10
Choice A is correct. It’s given that the kinetic energy, in joules, of an object with a
mass of 9 kilograms traveling at a speed of v meters per second is given by the
function K , where K ^v h= 92 v 2 . It follows that in the equation K ^34h= 5,202, 34 is
the value of v, or the speed of the object, in meters per second, and 5,202 is the
kinetic energy, in joules, of the object at that speed. Therefore, the best
interpretation of K ^34h= 5,202 in this context is the object traveling at 34 meters
per second has a kinetic energy of 5,202 joules.

Choice B is incorrect. The object traveling at 340 meters per second has a kinetic
energy of 520,200 joules. Choice C is incorrect. The object traveling at 5,202
meters per second has a kinetic energy of 121,773,618 joules. Choice D is
incorrect. The object traveling at 23,409 meters per second has a kinetic energy
of 2,465,915,764.5 joules.

QUESTION 11
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.

44 SAT PRACTICE TEST #5 ANSWER EXPLANATIONS

 SAT ANSWER EXPLANATIONS n MATH: MODULE 2

QUESTION 12
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
^0.48h^350h, or 168, customers are located in theater A. If the probability of
selecting a customer in theater B is 0.24, then ^0.24h^350h, 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 13
The correct answer is 44
3
. A linear equation can be written in the form y = mx + b,
where m is the slope of the graph of the equation in the xy-plane and ^0, bh is the
y-intercept. Distributing the 1
3
in the equation y = 13 ^29x + 10h+ 5x yields
y = 29
3
x + 10
3
+ 5x . Combining like terms on the right-hand side of this equation
yields y = 44
3
x + 10
3
. This equation is in the form y = mx + b, where m = 44
3
and
b = 10
3
. Therefore, the slope of the graph of the given equation in the xy-plane is
44
3
. Note that 44/3, 14.66, and 14.67 are examples of ways to enter a correct
answer.

QUESTION 14
The correct answer is 4,205. The exterior surface area of a figure is the sum of the
areas of all its faces. It’s given that the box does not have a lid and that each side
of the box is in the shape of a square. Therefore, the box consists of 5 congruent
square faces. It’s also given that the length of each edge is 29 inches. Let s
represent the length of an edge of a square. It follows that the area of a square is
equal to s 2 . Therefore, the area of each of the 5 square faces is equal to 29 2 , or
841, square inches. Since the box consists of 5 congruent square faces, it follows
that the sum of the areas of all its faces, or the exterior surface area of this box
without a lid, is 5 ^841h, or 4,205, square inches.

QUESTION 15
Choice A is correct. It’s given that the table shows an original data set of 5 values.
It’s also given that a sixth value is added to create a new data set. The new data
set consists of the 5 values in the original data set and one additional value, 121.
Since the additional value, 121, is less than any value in the original data set, the
mean of the original data set is greater than the mean of the new data set.

45 SAT PRACTICE TEST #5 ANSWER EXPLANATIONS

 SAT ANSWER EXPLANATIONS n MATH: MODULE 2

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 16
Choice A is correct. The sum of the measures of the angles of a triangle is 180°.
Therefore, the sum of the measures of +R , +S , and +T is 180°. It’s given that the
measure of +R is 63°. It follows that the sum of the measures of +S and +T is
^180 - 63h° , or 117°. Therefore, the measure of +S , in degrees, must be less than
117. Of the given choices, only 116 is less than 117. Thus, the measure, in
degrees, of +S could be 116.

Choice B is incorrect. If the measure of +S is 118°, then the sum of the measures
of the angles of the triangle is greater than, not equal to, 180°. Choice C is
incorrect. If the measure of +S is 126°, then the sum of the measures of the
angles of the triangle is greater than, not equal to, 180°. Choice D is incorrect. This
is the sum of the measures of the angles of a triangle, in degrees.

QUESTION 17
Choice B is correct. The given expression is equivalent to 8x 3 + 8 - x 3 - ^-2h, or
8x 3 + 8 - x 3 + 2. Combining like terms in this expression yields 7x 3 + 10.

Choice A is incorrect. This expression is equivalent to ^8x 3 + 8h - 2, not

^8x 3 + 8h - ^x 3 - 2h. Choice C is incorrect. This expression is equivalent to
^8x 3 + 8h - ^-2h, not ^8x 3 + 8h - ^x 3 - 2h. Choice D is incorrect. This expression
is equivalent to ^8x 3 + 8h - ^x 3 + 2h, not ^8x 3 + 8h - ^x 3 - 2h.

QUESTION 18
Choice B is correct. Dividing each side of the given equation by 4 yields 2x = 4.
Squaring both sides of this equation yields 2x = 16. Multiplying each side of this
equation by 3 yields 6x = 48. Therefore, the value of 6x is 48.

Choice A is incorrect. This is the value of 3x , not 6x . Choice C is incorrect. This is

the value of 9x , not 6x . Choice D is incorrect. This is the value of 12x , not 6x .

QUESTION 19
Choice D is correct. All the tables in the choices have the same three values of x,
440, 441, and 442, so each of the three values of x can be substituted in the
given inequality to compare the corresponding values of y in each of the tables.
Substituting 440 for x in the given inequality yields 2 ^440h- y 2 883, or
880 - y 2 883. Subtracting 880 from both sides of this inequality yields -y 2 3.
Dividing both sides of this inequality by -1 yields y 1-3. Therefore, when
x = 440, the corresponding value of y must be less than -3. Substituting 441 for
x in the given inequality yields 2 ^441h- y 2 883, or 882 - y 2 883. Subtracting
882 from both sides of this inequality yields -y 2 1. Dividing both sides of this
inequality by -1 yields y 1-1. Therefore, when x = 441, the corresponding value
of y must be less than -1. Substituting 442 for x in the given inequality yields

46 SAT PRACTICE TEST #5 ANSWER EXPLANATIONS

 SAT ANSWER EXPLANATIONS n MATH: MODULE 2

2 ^442h- y 2 883, or 884 - y 2 883. Subtracting 884 from both sides of this
inequality yields -y 2-1. Dividing both sides of this inequality by -1 yields y 1 1.
Therefore, when x = 442, the corresponding value of y must be less than 1. For
the table in choice D, when x = 440, the corresponding value of y is -4, which is
less than -3 ; when x = 441, the corresponding value of y is -2, which is less
than -1; when x = 442, the corresponding value of y is 0, which is less than 1.
Therefore, the table in choice D gives values of x and their corresponding values
of y that are all solutions to the given inequality.

Choice A is incorrect. When x = 440, the corresponding value of y in this table is

0, which isn’t less than -3. Choice B is incorrect. When x = 440, the
corresponding value of y in this table is 0, which isn’t less than -3. Choice C is
incorrect. When x = 440, the corresponding value of y in this table is -2, which
isn’t less than -3.

QUESTION 20
The correct answer is 20. Adding the first equation to the second equation in the
given system yields 5y - 5y = 10x + 5x + 11 - 21, or 0 = 15x - 10. Adding 10 to
both sides of this equation yields 10 = 15x . Multiplying both sides of this equation
by 2 yields 20 = 30x . Therefore, the value of 30x is 20.

QUESTION 21
The correct answer is 66. It’s given that each vertex of the rectangle lies on the
circumference of the circle. Therefore, the length of the diameter of the circle is
equal to the length of the diagonal of the rectangle. The diagonal of a rectangle
forms a right triangle with the shortest and longest sides of the rectangle, where
the shortest side and the longest side of the rectangle are the legs of the triangle
and the diagonal of the rectangle is the hypotenuse of the triangle. Let s
represent the length, in units, of the shortest side of the rectangle. Since it’s given
that the diagonal is twice the length of the shortest side, 2s represents the
length, in units, of the diagonal of the rectangle. By the Pythagorean theorem, if a
right triangle has a hypotenuse with length c and legs with lengths a and b, then
a 2 + b 2 = c 2 . Substituting s for a and 2s for c in this equation yields
s 2 + b 2 =^2sh2 , or s 2 + b 2 = 4s 2 . Subtracting s 2 from both sides of this equation
yields b 2 = 3s 2 . Taking the positive square root of both sides of this equation
yields b = s 3 . Therefore, the length, in units, of the rectangle’s longest side is
s 3. The area of a rectangle is the product of the length of the shortest side and
the length of the longest side. The lengths, in units, of the shortest and longest
sides of the rectangle are represented by s and s 3, and it’s given that the area
of the rectangle is 1,089 3 square units. It follows that 1,089 3 = s ^s 3h, or
1,089 3 = s 2 3 . Dividing both sides of this equation by 3 yields 1,089 = s 2 .
Taking the positive square root of both sides of this equation yields 33= s. Since
the length, in units, of the diagonal is represented by 2s, it follows that the length,
in units, of the diagonal is 2 ^33h, or 66. Since the length of the diameter of the
circle is equal to the length of the diagonal of the rectangle, the length, in units, of
the diameter of the circle is 66.

47 SAT PRACTICE TEST #5 ANSWER EXPLANATIONS

 SAT ANSWER EXPLANATIONS n MATH: MODULE 2

QUESTION 22
Choice D is correct. The area of a rectangle is given by bh, where b is the length
of the base of the rectangle and h is its height. Let x represent the length, in
units, of the base of rectangle ABCD, and let y represent its height, in units.
Substituting x for b and y for h in the formula bh yields xy. Therefore, the area,
in square units, of ABCD can be represented by the expression xy. It’s given that
the length of each side of EFGH is 6 times the length of the corresponding side
of ABCD. Therefore, the length, in units, of the base of EFGH can be represented
by the expression 6x , and its height, in units, can be represented by the
expression 6y . Substituting 6x for b and 6y for h in the formula bh yields
^6xh^6y h, which is equivalent to 36xy . Therefore, the area, in square units, of
EFGH can be represented by the expression 36xy . It’s given that the area of
ABCD is 54 square units. Since xy represents the area, in square units, of ABCD,
substituting 54 for xy in the expression 36xy yields 36 ^54h, or 1,944. Therefore,
the area, in square units, of EFGH is 1,944.

Choice A is incorrect. This is the area of a rectangle where the length of each side
of the rectangle is 16 , not 6, times the length of the corresponding side of ABCD.
Choice B is incorrect. This is the area of a rectangle where the length of each side
of the rectangle is 23 , not 6, times the length of the corresponding side of ABCD.
Choice C is incorrect. This is the area of a rectangle where the length of each side
of the rectangle is 6, not 6, times the length of the corresponding side of ABCD.

QUESTION 23
Choice D is correct. Two fractions can be added together when they have a
common denominator. Since k 2 0, multiplying the second term in the given
k ^42akhk 42ak 2
expression by k
yields k
, which is equivalent to k
. Therefore, the
42a 42a
expression + 42ak can be written as + 42kak which is equivalent to
2

k k
42a + 42ak 2
k
. Since each term in the numerator of this expression has a factor of
42a^1h+42a^k 2h ^ k 2h
42a, the expression 42a +k42ak can be rewritten as , or 42a 1+
2

k k
,
^ h
which is equivalent to 42a kk + 1 .
2

Choice A is incorrect. This expression is equivalent to 42k a + 42k a . Choice B is

incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors. Choice C is
incorrect. This expression is equivalent to 42k a + 42a.

QUESTION 24
Choice D is correct. The number of solutions to a quadratic equation in the form
ax 2 + bx + c = 0, where a, b, and c are constants, can be determined by the value
of the discriminant, b 2 - 4ac. If the value of the discriminant is greater than zero,
then the quadratic equation has two distinct real solutions. If the value of the
discriminant is equal to zero, then the quadratic equation has exactly one real
solution. If the value of the discriminant is less than zero, then the quadratic
equation has no real solutions. For the quadratic equation in choice D,
5x 2 - 14x + 49 = 0, a = 5, b =-14, and c = 49. Substituting 5 for a, -14 for b,
and 49 for c in b 2 - 4ac yields ^-14h2 - 4 ^5h^49h, or -784. Since -784 is less
than zero, it follows that the quadratic equation 5x 2 - 14x + 49 = 0 has no real
solutions.

48 SAT PRACTICE TEST #5 ANSWER EXPLANATIONS

 SAT ANSWER EXPLANATIONS n MATH: MODULE 2

Choice A is incorrect. The value of the discriminant for this quadratic equation is
392. Since 392 is greater than zero, it follows that this quadratic equation has two
real solutions. Choice B is incorrect. The value of the discriminant for this
quadratic equation is 0. Since zero is equal to zero, it follows that this quadratic
equation has exactly one real solution. Choice C is incorrect. The value of the
discriminant for this quadratic equation is 1,176. Since 1,176 is greater than zero,
it follows that this quadratic equation has two real solutions.

QUESTION 25
Choice A is correct. It’s given that the function P models the population, in
thousands, of a certain city t years after 2003. The value of the base of the given
exponential function, 1.04, corresponds to an increase of 4% for every increase
of 1 in the exponent, b 64 l t . If the exponent is equal to 0, then b 64 l t = 0. Multiplying
both sides of this equation by b 46 l yields t = 0. If the exponent is equal to 1, then
b 4 l t = 1. Multiplying both sides of this equation by b 6 l yields t = 6 , or t = 3 .
6 4 4 2

Therefore, the population is predicted to increase by 4% every 2

3
of a year. It’s
given that the population is predicted to increase by 4% every n months. Since
there are 12 months in a year, 2
3
of a year is equivalent to b 23 l`12j, or 8, months.
Therefore, the value of n is 8.

Choice B is incorrect. This is the number of months in which the population is

predicted to increase by 4% according to the model P ^t h= 260 ^1.04ht , not
P ^t h= 260 ^1.04hc 4 mt . Choice C is incorrect. This is the number of months in which
6

the population is predicted to increase by 4% according to the model

P ^t h= 260 ^1.04hc 6 mt , not P ^t h= 260 ^1.04hc 4 mt . Choice D is incorrect. This is the
4 6

number of months in which the population is predicted to increase by

4% according to the model P ^t h= 260 ^1.04hc 6 mt , not P ^t h= 260 ^1.04hc 4 mt .
1 6

QUESTION 26
Choice C is correct. It’s given that the circle has its center at ^-1, 1h and that
line t is tangent to this circle at the point ^5, - 4h. Therefore, the points
^-1, 1h and ^5, - 4h are the endpoints of the radius of the circle at the point of
tangency. The slope of a line or line segment that contains the points ^a, bh and
^c, dh can be calculated as d - b . Substituting ^-1, 1h for ^a, bh and ^5, - 4h for
c-a
^c, dh in the expression d-b
yields -4 - 1
, or - 56 . Thus, the slope of this radius is
c-a 5 - ^-1h
- 56 . A line that’s tangent to a circle is perpendicular to the radius of the circle at
the point of tangency. It follows that line t is perpendicular to the radius at the
point ^5, - 4h, so the slope of line t is the negative reciprocal of the slope of this
radius. The negative reciprocal of - 56 is 65 . Therefore, the slope of line t is 65 .
Since the slope of line t is the same between any two points on line t, a point lies
on line t if the slope of the line segment connecting the point and ^5, - 4h is 65 .
Substituting choice C, ^10, 2h, for ^a, bh and ^5, - 4h for ^c, dh in the expression
d-b
yields -4 - 2
, or 65 . Therefore, the point ^10, 2h lies on line t.
c-a 5 - 10

49 SAT PRACTICE TEST #5 ANSWER EXPLANATIONS

 SAT ANSWER EXPLANATIONS n MATH: MODULE 2

Choice A is incorrect. The slope of the line segment connecting b0, 65 l and
6
^5, - 4h is
-4 -
5 , or - 26 , not 6 . Choice B is incorrect. The slope of the line
5-0 25 5
segment connecting ^4, 7h and ^5, - 4h is -54--47 , or -11, not 65 . Choice D is
incorrect. The slope of the line segment connecting ^11, 1h and ^5, - 4h is - 4-1
5 - 11
,
or 6 , not 5 .
5 6

QUESTION 27
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 square. This means that the area of the
larger square is 3 2 , 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 29.00 ^10xh= 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 9 ^16h, 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. Thus, the electric flux
is `144 square metersjb 29meter
.00 volts
l, or 4,176 volts $ meters.

50 SAT PRACTICE TEST #5 ANSWER EXPLANATIONS