Question ID 358f18bc

Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 358f18bc

What is the minimum value of the given function?

ID: 358f18bc Answer

Correct Answer: 1728

Rationale
2
The correct answer is 1,728. The given function can be rewritten in the form 𝑓𝑥 = 𝑎𝑥 - ℎ + 𝑘, where 𝑎 is a positive
constant and the minimum value, 𝑘, of the function occurs when the value of 𝑥 is ℎ. By completing the square,
2 2
𝑓𝑥 = 𝑥 - 48𝑥 + 2,304 can be written as 𝑓𝑥 = 𝑥 - 48𝑥 +
48 2 + 2,304 - 48 2 , or 𝑓𝑥 = 𝑥 - 242 + 1,728. This equation is in the form
2 2
2
𝑓𝑥 = 𝑎𝑥 - ℎ + 𝑘, where 𝑎 = 1, ℎ = 24, and 𝑘 = 1,728. Therefore, the minimum value of the given function is 1,728.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 3a9d60b2
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear equations

in one variable and
systems of
equations in two
variables

ID: 3a9d60b2

What is the positive solution to the given equation?

ID: 3a9d60b2 Answer

Correct Answer: 9

Rationale
The correct answer is 9. The given equation can be rewritten as 54 - 𝑥 = 25. Dividing each side of this equation by 5 yields
4 - 𝑥 = 5. By the definition of absolute value, if 4 - 𝑥 = 5, then 4 - 𝑥 = 5 or 4 - 𝑥 = - 5. Subtracting 4 from each side of the
equation 4 - 𝑥 = 5 yields -𝑥 = 1. Dividing each side of this equation by -1 yields 𝑥 = - 1. Similarly, subtracting 4 from each
side of the equation 4 - 𝑥 = - 5 yields -𝑥 = - 9. Dividing each side of this equation by -1 yields 𝑥 = 9. Therefore, since the
two solutions to the given equation are -1 and 9, the positive solution to the given equation is 9.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 8490cc45
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 8490cc45

The function is defined by . What is the y-intercept of the graph of in the xy-plane?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 8490cc45 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is correct. The y-intercept of the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓𝑥 in the xy-plane occurs at the point on the graph where 𝑥 = 0. In
other words, when 𝑥 = 0, the corresponding value of 𝑓𝑥 is the y-coordinate of the y-intercept. Substituting 0 for 𝑥 in the
given equation yields 𝑓0 = -820 + 22, which is equivalent to 𝑓0 = -81 + 22, or 𝑓0 = 14. Thus, when 𝑥 = 0, the corresponding
value of 𝑓𝑥 is 14. Therefore, the y-intercept of the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓𝑥 in the xy-plane is 0, 14.

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 the y-intercept for 𝑓𝑥 = -82 , not 𝑓𝑥 = -82 + 22.
𝑥 𝑥

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID ba0edc30
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear equations

in one variable and
systems of
equations in two
variables

ID: ba0edc30

One solution to the given equation can be written as , where is a constant. What is the value of ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: ba0edc30 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is correct. Adding 9 to each side of the given equation yields 𝑥2 - 2𝑥 = 9. To complete the square, adding 1 to
each side of this equation yields 𝑥2 - 2𝑥 + 1 = 9 + 1, or 𝑥 - 12 = 10. Taking the square root of each side of this equation
yields 𝑥 - 1 = ± √10. Adding 1 to each side of this equation yields 𝑥 = 1 ± √10. Since it's given that one of the solutions to
the equation can be written as 1 + √𝑘, the value of 𝑘 must be 10.

Alternate approach: It's given that 1 + √𝑘 is a solution to the given equation. It follows that 𝑥 = 1 + √𝑘. Substituting 1 + √𝑘
2
for 𝑥 in the given equation yields 1 + √𝑘 - 21 + √𝑘 - 9 = 0, or 1 + √𝑘1 + √𝑘 - 21 + √𝑘 - 9 = 0. Expanding the products on the
left-hand side of this equation yields 1 + 2√𝑘 + 𝑘 - 2 - 2√𝑘 - 9 = 0, or 𝑘 - 10 = 0. Adding 10 to each side of this equation yields
𝑘 = 10.

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 fc3d783a
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear equations

in one variable and
systems of
equations in two
variables

ID: fc3d783a

In the -plane, a line with equation intersects a parabola at exactly one point. If the parabola has equation
, where is a positive constant, what is the value of ?

ID: fc3d783a Answer

Correct Answer: 6

Rationale
The correct answer is 6. It’s given that a line with equation 2𝑦 = 4 . 5 intersects a parabola with equation 𝑦 = - 4𝑥2 + 𝑏𝑥,
where 𝑏 is a positive constant, at exactly one point in the xy-plane. It follows that the system of equations consisting of
2𝑦 = 4 . 5 and 𝑦 = - 4𝑥2 + 𝑏𝑥 has exactly one solution. Dividing both sides of the equation of the line by 2 yields 𝑦 = 2 . 25.
Substituting 2.25 for 𝑦 in the equation of the parabola yields 2 . 25 = - 4𝑥2 + 𝑏𝑥. Adding 4𝑥2 and subtracting 𝑏𝑥 from both
sides of this equation yields 4𝑥2 - 𝑏𝑥 + 2 . 25 = 0. A quadratic equation in the form of 𝑎𝑥2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0, where 𝑎, 𝑏, and 𝑐 are
2
constants, has exactly one solution when the discriminant, 𝑏 - 4𝑎𝑐, is equal to zero. Substituting 4 for 𝑎 and 2.25 for 𝑐 in
2 2 2
the expression 𝑏 - 4𝑎𝑐 and setting this expression equal to 0 yields 𝑏 - 4(4)(2 . 25) = 0, or 𝑏 - 36 = 0. Adding 36 to each
2
side of this equation yields 𝑏 = 36. Taking the square root of each side of this equation yields 𝑏 = ± 6. It’s given that 𝑏 is
positive, so the value of 𝑏 is 6.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 457d2f2c
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Problem-Solving One-variable data:

and Data Analysis Distributions and
measures of center
and spread

ID: 457d2f2c

A data set of 27 different numbers has a mean of 33 and a median of 33. A new
data set is created by adding 7 to each number in the original data set that is
greater than the median and subtracting 7 from each number in the original data
set that is less than the median. Which of the following measures does NOT
have the same value in both the original and new data sets?

A. Median

B. Mean

C. Sum of the numbers

D. Standard deviation

ID: 457d2f2c Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is correct. When a data set has an odd number of elements, the median can be found by ordering the values
from least to greatest and determining the middle value. Out of the 27 different numbers in this data set, 13 numbers are
below the median, one number is exactly 33, and 13 numbers are above the median. When 7 is subtracted from each
number below the median and added to each number above the median, the data spread out from the median. Since the
median of this data set, 33, is equivalent to the mean of the data set, the data also spread out from the mean. Since
standard deviation is a measure of how spread out the data are from the mean, a greater spread from the mean indicates
an increased standard deviation.

Choice A is incorrect. All the numbers less than the median decrease and all the numbers greater than the median
increase, but the median itself doesn’t change. Choices B and C are incorrect. The mean of a data set is found by dividing
the sum of the values by the number of values. The net change from subtracting 7 from 13 numbers and adding 7 to 13
numbers is zero. Therefore, neither the mean nor the sum of the numbers changes.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID c9fb15ad
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Problem-Solving Ratios, rates,

and Data Analysis proportional
relationships, and
units

ID: c9fb15ad

Species of Growth
tree factor

Red maple 4.5

River birch 3.5

Cottonwood 2.0

Black walnut 4.5

White birch 5.0

American elm 4.0

Pin oak 3.0

Shagbark
7.5
hickory

One method of calculating the approximate age, in years, of a tree of a particular

species is to multiply the diameter of the tree, in inches, by a constant called the
growth factor for that species. The table above gives the growth factors for eight
species of trees. If a white birch tree and a pin oak tree each now have a
diameter of 1 foot, which of the following will be closest to the difference, in
inches, of their diameters 10 years from now? (1 foot = 12 inches)

A. 1.0

B. 1.2

C. 1.3

D. 1.4

ID: c9fb15ad Answer

Correct Answer: C
Rationale
Choice C is correct. According to the given information, multiplying a tree species’ growth factor by the tree’s diameter is
a method to approximate the age of the tree. A white birch with a diameter of 12 inches (or 1 foot) has a given growth
factor of 5 and is approximately 60 years old. A pin oak with a diameter of 12 inches (or 1 foot) has a given growth factor
of 3 and is approximately 36 years old. The diameters of the two trees 10 years from now can be found by dividing each

tree’s age in 10 years, 70 years, and 46 years, by its respective growth factor. This yields 14 inches and inches. The

difference between and 14 is , or approximately 1.3 inches.

Alternate approach: Since a white birch has a growth factor of 5, the age increases at a rate of 5 years per inch or,

equivalently, the diameter increases at a rate of of an inch per year. Likewise, the pin oak has a growth factor of 3, so

its diameter increases at a rate of of an inch per year. Thus, the pin oak grows of an inch per year more than the

white birch. In 10 years it will grow of an inch more, which is approximately 1.3 inches.

Choices A, B, and D are incorrect and a result of incorrectly calculating the diameters of the two trees in 10 years.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID e438ec3f
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Problem-Solving Probability and

and Data Analysis conditional
probability

ID: e438ec3f

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: e438ec3f 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. Therefore, the probability of selecting a maple tree, given that the tree is 20 feet or taller, is 45
93 , or 31 .
15

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 d6af3572
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Problem-Solving Two-variable data:

and Data Analysis Models and
scatterplots

ID: d6af3572

The scatterplot above shows the federal-mandated minimum wage every 10

years between 1940 and 2010. A line of best fit is shown, and its equation is
. What does the line of best fit predict about the increase in the
minimum wage over the 70-year period?

A. Each year between 1940 and 2010, the average increase in minimum wage was 0.096 dollars.

B. Each year between 1940 and 2010, the average increase in minimum wage was 0.49 dollars.

C. Every 10 years between 1940 and 2010, the average increase in minimum wage was 0.096 dollars.

D. Every 10 years between 1940 and 2010, the average increase in minimum wage was 0.488 dollars.

ID: d6af3572 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is correct. The given equation is in slope-intercept form, or , where m is the value of the slope of
the line of best fit. Therefore, the slope of the line of best fit is 0.096. From the definition of slope, it follows that an
increase of 1 in the x-value corresponds to an increase of 0.096 in the y-value. Therefore, the line of best fit predicts that
for each year between 1940 and 2010, the minimum wage will increase by 0.096 dollar per hour.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from using the y-coordinate of the y-intercept as the average increase, instead of the
slope. Choice C is incorrect and may result from using the 10-year increments given on the x-axis to incorrectly interpret
the slope of the line of best fit. Choice D is incorrect and may result from using the y-coordinate of the y-intercept as the
average increase, instead of the slope, and from using the 10-year increments given on the x-axis to incorrectly interpret
the slope of the line of best fit.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 69f6717f
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Problem-Solving Ratios, rates,

and Data Analysis proportional
relationships, and
units

ID: 69f6717f

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: 69f6717f 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
cubic meter. Therefore, the mass of this sample is 0.729 cubic meters 807 kilograms
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 6c9444cd
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Problem-Solving One-variable data:

and Data Analysis Distributions and
measures of center
and spread

ID: 6c9444cd

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: 6c9444cd 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 d65b9a87
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Problem-Solving One-variable data:

and Data Analysis Distributions and
measures of center
and spread

ID: d65b9a87

The dot plots represent the distributions of values in data sets A and B.

Which of the following statements must be true?

The median of data set A is equal to the median of data set B.
The standard deviation of data set A is equal to the standard deviation of data set B.

A. I only

B. II only

C. I and II

D. Neither I nor II

ID: d65b9a87 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is correct. The median of a data set with an odd number of values that are in ascending or descending order is
the middle value of the data set. Since the distribution of the values of both data set A and data set B form symmetric
dot plots, and each data set has an odd number of values, it follows that the median is given by the middle value in each
of the dot plots. Thus, the median of data set A is 13, and the median of data set B is 13. Therefore, statement I is true.
Data set A and data set B have the same frequency for each of the values 11, 12, 14, and 15. Data set A has a frequency of
1 for values 10 and 16, whereas data set B has a frequency of 2 for values 10 and 16. Standard deviation is a measure of
the spread of a data set; it is larger when there are more values further from the mean, and smaller when there are more
values closer to the mean. Since both distributions are symmetric with an odd number of values, the mean of each data
set is equal to its median. Thus, each data set has a mean of 13. Since more of the values in data set A are closer to 13
than data set B, it follows that data set A has a smaller standard deviation than data set B. Thus, statement II is false.
Therefore, only statement I must be true.

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 1fbd3b67
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Problem-Solving Percentages

and Data Analysis

ID: 1fbd3b67

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

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 1fbd3b67 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
can be written as 𝑏 = 24 - 100
80 24. This is equivalent to 𝑏 = 24 - 0.824, or 𝑏 = 4.8. It's also given that the number 𝑎 is 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 + 190100 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 ecbdbe84
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Problem-Solving One-variable data:

and Data Analysis Distributions and
measures of center
and spread

ID: ecbdbe84

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: ecbdbe84 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 c178d4da
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Problem-Solving One-variable data:

and Data Analysis Distributions and
measures of center
and spread

ID: c178d4da

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: c178d4da 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
27 ,or approximately 40.52. Similarly, the mean of data B is 27 , or approximately 35.48. Therefore, the mean of data set A
958

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