Question ID 85939da5

Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Problem-Solving and Inference from

Data Analysis sample statistics and
margin of error

ID: 85939da5

Does not talk

Texting Talks on cell on cell phone
behavior phone daily daily Total

Light 110 146 256

Medium 139 164 303

Heavy 166 74 240

Total 415 384 799

In a study of cell phone use, 799 randomly selected US teens were asked how
often they talked on a cell phone and about their texting behavior. The data are
summarized in the table above. Based on the data from the study, an estimate of
the percent of US teens who are heavy texters is 30% and the associated margin of
error is 3%. Which of the following is a correct statement based on the given
margin of error?

A. Approximately 3% of the teens in the study who are classified as heavy texters are not really heavy texters.

B. It is not possible that the percent of all US teens who are heavy texters is less than 27%.

C. The percent of all US teens who are heavy texters is 33%.

D. It is doubtful that the percent of all US teens who are heavy texters is 35%.

ID: 85939da5 Answer

Correct Answer:
D
Rationale
Choice D is correct. The given margin of error of 3% indicates that the actual percent of all US teens who are heavy texters is
likely within 3% of the estimate of 30%, or between 27% and 33%. Therefore, it is unlikely, or doubtful, that the percent of all
US teens who are heavy texters would be 35%.

Choice A is incorrect. The margin of error doesn’t provide any information about the accuracy of reporting in the study.
Choice B is incorrect. Based on the estimate and given margin of error, it is unlikely that the percent of all US teens who are
heavy texters would be less than 27%, but it is possible. Choice C is incorrect. While the percent of all US teens who are
heavy texters is likely between 27% and 33%, any value within this interval is equally likely. We can’t be certain that the value
is exactly 33%.
Question Difficulty:
Hard
Question ID 954943a4
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Problem-Solving and Percentages

Data Analysis

ID: 954943a4

Jennifer bought a box of Crunchy Grain cereal. The nutrition facts on the box state

that a serving size of the cereal is cup and provides 210 calories, 50 of which
are calories from fat. In addition, each serving of the cereal provides 180
milligrams of potassium, which is 5% of the daily allowance for adults. If p percent
of an adult’s daily allowance of potassium is provided by x servings of Crunchy
Grain cereal per day, which of the following expresses p in terms of x ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 954943a4 Answer

Correct Answer:
B
Rationale
Choice B is correct. It’s given that each serving of Crunchy Grain cereal provides 5% of an adult’s daily allowance of
potassium, so x servings would provide x times 5%. The percentage of an adult’s daily allowance of potassium, p, is 5 times
the number of servings, x. Therefore, the percentage of an adult’s daily allowance of potassium can be expressed as .

Choices A, C, and D are incorrect and may result from incorrectly converting 5% to its decimal equivalent, which isn’t
necessary since p is expressed as a percentage. Additionally, choices C and D are incorrect because the context should be
represented by a linear relationship, not by an exponential relationship.

Question Difficulty:
Hard
Question ID 1baffbcf
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Problem-Solving and Percentages

Data Analysis

ID: 1baffbcf

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

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 1baffbcf Answer

Correct Answer:
D
Rationale
Choice D is correct. Let represent the percent by which the positive quantity is decreased to result in . The value
of can be found by solving the equation . Since is a common factor of each of the terms on the
left-hand side of this equation, the equation can be rewritten as . Dividing each side of this equation
by yields . Multiplying each side of this equation by yields . Subtracting from
each side of this equation yields . Dividing each side of this equation by yields . Therefore, the
expression represents the result of decreasing the positive quantity by .

Choice A is incorrect. Decreasing the quantity by yields , or , not .

Choice B is incorrect. Decreasing the quantity by yields , or , not .

Choice C is incorrect. Decreasing the quantity by yields , or , not .

Question Difficulty:
Hard
Question ID a5b069b4
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Problem-Solving and One-variable data:

Data Analysis Distributions and
measures of center
and spread

ID: a5b069b4

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

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: a5b069b4 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 values. When listed in
ascending order, the data set is , , , , , , , and the two middle values are and . Since the two middle values are
the same, the median must be .

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:
Medium
Question ID b1b5300b
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Problem-Solving and Probability and

Data Analysis conditional
probability

ID: b1b5300b
Prices of 14 Different Cars
Priced at no more Priced greater
Type of car Total
than $25,000 than $25,000

Nonhybrid 5 3 8

Hybrid 2 4 6

Total 7 7 14

The table above shows information about 14 cars listed for sale on an auto dealership’s website. If one of the
cars listed for sale is selected at random, what is the probability that the car selected will be a hybrid car
priced at no more than $25,000 ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: b1b5300b Answer

Correct Answer:
A
Rationale
Choice A is correct. It’s given that there are 2 hybrid cars priced at no more than $25,000. It’s also given that there are 14 cars
total for sale. Therefore, the probability of selecting a hybrid priced at no more than $25,000 when one car is chosen at

random is .

Choice B is incorrect. This is the probability of selecting a hybrid car priced greater than $25,000 when choosing one car at
random. Choice C is incorrect. This is the probability, when choosing randomly from only the hybrid cars, of selecting one
priced at no more than $25,000. Choice D is incorrect. This is the probability of selecting a hybrid car when selecting at
random from only the cars priced greater than $25,000.
Question Difficulty:
Medium
Question ID d28c29e1
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Problem-Solving and Ratios, rates,

Data Analysis proportional
relationships, and
units

ID: d28c29e1

The International Space Station orbits Earth at an average speed of 4.76 miles per
second. What is the space station’s average speed in miles per hour?

A. 285.6

B. 571.2

C. 856.8

D. 17,136.0

ID: d28c29e1 Answer

Correct Answer:
D
Rationale
Choice D is correct. Since 1 minute = 60 seconds and 1 hour = 60 minutes, it follows that 1 hour = (60)(60), or 3,600
seconds. Using this conversion factor, the space station’s average speed of 4.76 miles per second is equal to an average

speed of , or 17,136 miles per hour.

Choice A is incorrect. This is the space station’s average speed in miles per minute. Choice B is incorrect. This is double the
space station’s average speed in miles per minute, or the number of miles the space station travels on average in 2 minutes.
Choice C is incorrect. This is triple the space station’s average speed in miles per minute, or the number of miles the space
station travels on average in 3 minutes.

Question Difficulty:
Medium
Question ID 1adb39f0
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Problem-Solving and Two-variable data:

Data Analysis Models and
scatterplots

ID: 1adb39f0

The scatterplot shows the relationship between two variables, x and y. A line of
best fit for the data is also shown. Which of the following is closest to the
difference between the y-coordinate of the data point with and the y-value
predicted by the line of best fit at ?

A. 1

B. 2

C. 5

D. 12

ID: 1adb39f0 Answer

Correct Answer:
A
Rationale
Choice A is correct. The data point with has a y-coordinate of 12. The y-value predicted by the line of best fit at
is approximately 11. The difference between the y-coordinate of the data point and the y-value predicted by the line of best fit
at is , or 1.

Choices B and C are incorrect and may result from incorrectly reading the scatterplot. Choice D is incorrect. This is the y-
coordinate of the data point at .

Question Difficulty:
Medium
Question ID 65c49824
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Problem-Solving and Percentages

Data Analysis

ID: 65c49824

A school district is forming a committee to discuss plans for the construction of a

new high school. Of those invited to join the committee, 15% are parents of
students, 45% are teachers from the current high school, 25% are school and
district administrators, and the remaining 6 individuals are students. How many
more teachers were invited to join the committee than school and district
administrators?

ID: 65c49824 Answer

Rationale
The correct answer is 8. The 6 students represent of those invited to join the committee. If

x people were invited to join the committee, then . Thus, there were people invited to join the
committee. It follows that there were teachers and school and district administrators invited
to join the committee. Therefore, there were 8 more teachers than school and district administrators invited to join the
committee.

Question Difficulty:
Hard
Question ID d3b9c8d8
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Problem-Solving and One-variable data:

Data Analysis Distributions and
measures of center
and spread

ID: d3b9c8d8

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: d3b9c8d8 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 is kilograms, and the median mass of the gazelles in group is
kilograms. Since kilograms is greater than kilograms, the median mass of group is greater than the median mass
of group .

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 3f5398a6
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Problem-Solving and Ratios, rates,

Data Analysis proportional
relationships, and
units

ID: 3f5398a6

For a person m miles from a flash of lightning, the length of the time interval from
the moment the person sees the lightning to the moment the person hears the
thunder is k seconds. The ratio of m to k can be estimated to be 1 to 5. According
to this estimate, the person is how many miles from a flash of lightning if the time
interval is 25 seconds?

A. 10

B. 9

C. 6

D. 5

ID: 3f5398a6 Answer

Rationale
Choice D is correct. It’s given that the ratio of m to k is estimated to be 1 to 5. Therefore, when , the relationship

between these ratios can be expressed by the proportion . Multiplying both sides of this equation by 25 yields
.

Choices A, B, and C are incorrect and may result from calculation errors.

Question Difficulty:
Easy
Question ID 1ea09200
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Problem-Solving and Evaluating statistical

Data Analysis claims:
Observational
studies and
experiments

ID: 1ea09200

A sample of 40 fourth-grade students was selected at random from a certain

school. The 40 students completed a survey about the morning announcements,
and 32 thought the announcements were helpful. Which of the following is the
largest population to which the results of the survey can be applied?

A. The 40 students who were surveyed

B. All fourth-grade students at the school

C. All students at the school

D. All fourth-grade students in the county in which the school is located

ID: 1ea09200 Answer

Correct Answer:
B
Rationale
Choice B is correct. Selecting a sample of a reasonable size at random to use for a survey allows the results from that survey
to be applied to the population from which the sample was selected, but not beyond this population. In this case, the
population from which the sample was selected is all fourth-grade students at a certain school. Therefore, the results of the
survey can be applied to all fourth-grade students at the school.

Choice A is incorrect. The results of the survey can be applied to the 40 students who were surveyed. However, this isn’t the
largest group to which the results of the survey can be applied. Choices C and D are incorrect. Since the sample was
selected at random from among the fourth-grade students at a certain school, the results of the survey can’t be applied to
other students at the school or to other fourth-grade students who weren’t represented in the survey results. Students in
other grades in the school or other fourth-grade students in the country may feel differently about announcements than the
fourth-grade students at the school.

Question Difficulty:
Hard
Question ID 82aaa0a1
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Problem-Solving and Two-variable data:

Data Analysis Models and
scatterplots

ID: 82aaa0a1

Of the following, which is the best model for

the data in the scatterplot?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 82aaa0a1 Answer

Correct Answer:
B
Rationale
Choice B is correct. The graphical model that most closely fits the data in the scatterplot is a model in which the number of
data points above and below the model are approximately balanced. Fitting a graphical model to the data shown results in
an upward-facing parabola with a y-intercept near and a vertex with an approximate x-value of 2.5. Of the given
choices, only choice B gives an equation of an upward-facing parabola with a y-intercept at . Furthermore, substituting
2.5 for x into the equation in choice B yields . This is approximately the y-value of the vertex of the model.

Choices A, C, and D are incorrect. These equations don’t give a graphical model that best fits the data. At , they have y-
values of , , and 3, respectively. At , they have y-values of , , and 3, respectively.

Question Difficulty:
Easy
Question ID 3310c2ab
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Problem-Solving and Ratios, rates,

Data Analysis proportional
relationships, and
units

ID: 3310c2ab

How many fluid ounces are equivalent to quarts?

ID: 3310c2ab Answer

Correct Answer:
2432
Rationale
The correct answer is . It's given that . It follows that quarts is equivalent to
, or cups. It's also given that . It follows that cups is equivalent to

, or fluid ounces.

Question Difficulty:
Medium
Question ID 4c774b00
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Problem-Solving and One-variable data:

Data Analysis Distributions and
measures of center
and spread

ID: 4c774b00

Ages of 20 Students Enrolled in a College Class

Age Frequency

18 6

19 5

20 4

21 2

22 1

23 1

30 1

The table above shows the distribution of ages of the 20 students enrolled in a
college class. Which of the following gives the correct order of the mean, median,
and mode of the ages?

A. mode < median < mean

B. mode < mean < median

C. median < mode < mean

D. mean < mode < median

ID: 4c774b00 Answer

Correct Answer:
A
Rationale
Choice A is correct. The mode is the data value with the highest frequency. So for the data shown, the mode is 18. The
median is the middle data value when the data values are sorted from least to greatest. Since there are 20 ages ordered, the
median is the average of the two middle values, the 10th and 11th, which for these data are both 19. Therefore, the median is
19. The mean is the sum of the data values divided by the number of the data values. So for these data, the mean is

.
Since the mode is 18, the median is 19, and the mean is 20, .

Choices B and D are incorrect because the mean is greater than the median. Choice C is incorrect because the median is
greater than the mode.

Alternate approach: After determining the mode, 18, and the median, 19, it remains to determine whether the mean is less
than 19 or more than 19. Because the mean is a balancing point, there is as much deviation below the mean as above the
mean. It is possible to compare the data to 19 to determine the balance of deviation above and below the mean. There is a
total deviation of only 6 below 19 (the 6 values of 18); however, the data value 30 alone deviates by 11 above 19. Thus the
mean must be greater than 19.

Question Difficulty:
Medium
Question ID 000259aa
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Problem-Solving and Ratios, rates,

Data Analysis proportional
relationships, and
units

ID: 000259aa

A group of monarch butterflies migrated from Chicago, Illinois, to Michoacán,

Mexico, flying a total of 2,100 miles. It took a single butterfly in the group 120 days
to travel this route one way. On average, how many miles did the butterfly travel per
day?

A. 0.057

B. 0.729

C. 17.5

D. 24

ID: 000259aa Answer

Rationale

Choice C is correct. If the butterfly traveled 2,100 miles in 120 days, then it traveled, on average, miles
per day.

Choice A is incorrect. This is approximately the average amount of time, in days, it took the butterfly to fly one mile:

days per mile. Choice B is incorrect and may result from an arithmetic error. Choice D is incorrect.
This is the number of hours in a day rather than the number of miles flown per day.

Question Difficulty:
Easy
Question ID d89c1513
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Problem-Solving and Probability and

Data Analysis conditional
probability

ID: d89c1513

Customer Purchases at a Gas Station

Beverage purchased Beverage not purchased Total

Gasoline purchased 60 25 85

Gasoline not purchased 35 15 50

Total 90 40 135
On Tuesday, a local gas station had 135 customers. The table above summarizes
whether or not the customers on Tuesday purchased gasoline, a beverage, both, or
neither. Based on the data in the table, what is the probability that a gas station
customer selected at random on that day did not purchase gasoline?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: d89c1513 Answer

Correct Answer:
D
Rationale
Choice D is correct. The total number of gas station customers on Tuesday was 135. The table shows that the number of
customers who did not purchase gasoline was 50. Finding the ratio of the number of customers who did not purchase
gasoline to the total number of customers gives the probability that a customer selected at random on that day did not

purchase gasoline, which is .

Choice A is incorrect and may result from finding the probability that a customer did not purchase a beverage, given that the
customer did not purchase gasoline. Choice B is incorrect and may result from finding the probability that a customer did not
purchase gasoline, given that the customer did not purchase a beverage. Choice C is incorrect and may result from finding
the probability that a customer did purchase a beverage, given that the customer did not purchase gasoline.

Question Difficulty:
Easy
Question ID e1ad3d41
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Problem-Solving and Probability and

Data Analysis conditional
probability

ID: e1ad3d41

Eye color
Coat color
Deep blue Light brown Total

Cream-tortoiseshell 16 16 32

Chocolate 12 4 16

Total 28 20 48

The data on the coat color and eye color for 48 Himalayan kittens available for
adoption were collected and summarized in the table above. What fraction of the
chocolate-colored kittens has deep blue eyes?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: e1ad3d41 Answer

Correct Answer:
D
Rationale
Choice D is correct. The table shows that there are a total of 16 kittens that have a chocolate-colored coat. Of the 16 with a
chocolate-colored coat, 12 have deep blue eyes. Therefore, the fraction of chocolate-colored kittens with deep blue eyes is

simply the ratio of those two numbers, or .

Choice A is incorrect; this is the fraction of all chocolate-colored kittens. Choice B is incorrect; this is the fraction of kittens
with deep blue eyes that have a chocolate-colored coat. Choice C is incorrect; this is the fraction of cream-tortoiseshell-
colored kittens with deep blue eyes.

Question Difficulty:
Medium
Question ID 8baf2118
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Problem-Solving and Two-variable data:

Data Analysis Models and
scatterplots

ID: 8baf2118

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

Which of the following equations best represents the line of best fit shown?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 8baf2118 Answer

Correct Answer:
B
Rationale
Choice B is correct. The line of best fit shown intersects the y-axis at a positive y-value and has a negative slope. The graph
of an equation of the form , where and are constants, intersects the y-axis at a y-value of and has a slope
of . Of the given choices, only choice B represents a line that intersects the y-axis at a positive y-value, , and has a
negative slope, .

Choice A is incorrect. This equation represents a line that has a positive slope, not a negative slope.
Choice C is incorrect. This equation represents a line that intersects the y-axis at a negative y-value, not a positive y-value,
and has a positive slope, not a negative slope.

Choice D is incorrect. This equation represents a line that intersects the y-axis at a negative y-value, not a positive y-value.

Question Difficulty:
Easy
Question ID 4aaa9c42
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Problem-Solving and Percentages

Data Analysis

ID: 4aaa9c42

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

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 4aaa9c42 Answer

Correct Answer:
D
Rationale
Choice D is correct. It’s given that is of the sum of and . This can be represented by the equation
, or . It’s also given that that is of . This can be represented by the equation
, or . Dividing both sides of this equation by yields . Substituting for in the
equation yields , or , which is equivalent to , or
. This equation is equivalent to ; therefore, is of .

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