320 SAT Math Problems
320 SAT Math Problems
320 SAT Math Problems
ems
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A Proven Roadmap to
Your First-Choice College
Steve Warner, Ph.D.
iii
iv
Table of Contents
Introduction: The Proper Way to Prepare
1. The magical mixture for success
2. Practice problems of the appropriate level
3. Practice in small amounts over a long period of time
4. Redo the problems you get wrong over and over and
over until you get them right
5. Check your answers properly
6. Guess when appropriate
7. Pace yourself
8. Attempt the right number of questions
9. Use your calculator wisely
10. Grid your answers correctly
Problems by Level and Topic with Fully Explained Solutions
Level 1: Number Theory
Level 1: Algebra and Functions
Level 1: Geometry
Level 1: Probability and Statistics
Level 2: Number Theory
Level 2: Algebra and Functions
Level 2: Geometry
Level 2: Probability and Statistics
Level 3: Number Theory
Level 3: Algebra and Functions
Level 3: Geometry
Level 3: Probability and Statistics
Level 4: Number Theory
Level 4: Algebra and Functions
Level 4: Geometry
Level 4: Probability and Statistics
Level 5: Number Theory
Level 5: Algebra and Functions
Level 5: Geometry
Level 5: Probability and Statistics
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I N T R O D U C T I O N
THE PROPER WAY TO PREPARE
here are many ways that a student can prepare for the SAT.
But not all preparation is created equal. I always teach my students the
methods that will give them the maximum result with the minimum
amount of effort.
In The 32 Most Effective SAT Math Strategies I emphasize the
most important techniques for this particular test. That book contains
115 problems that are perfect for implementing the various strategies
discussed there. In fact, using that book alone is enough to significantly
boost anyones SAT math score.
The book you are now reading is also self-contained. Each problem
was carefully created to ensure that you are making the most effective
use of your time while preparing for the SAT. By grouping the problems
given here by level and topic I have ensured that you can focus on the
types of problems that will be most effective to improving your score.
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Strategy: The more SAT specific strategies that you know the better off
you will be. All the strategies you need to know are in The 32 Most
Effective SAT Math Strategies, as well as 115 problems to practice
implementing these strategies. Note that it is not enough to know these
strategies. You must practice using them on SAT problems as often as
possible.
Practice: The book you are now reading is ideal for accomplishing this
task. The problems given in this book are more than enough to vastly
improve your current SAT math score. All you need to do is work on
these problems for about ten to twenty minutes each day over a period
of three to four months and the final result will far exceed your
expectations.
Let me further break this component into two subcomponents topic
and level.
Topic: You want to practice each of the four general math topics
given on the SAT and improve in each independently. The four topics are
Number Theory, Algebra and Functions, Geometry, and Probability and
Statistics. The problem sets in this book are broken into these four
topics.
Level: You will make the best use of your time by primarily
practicing problems that are at and slightly above your current ability
level. For example, if you are struggling with Level 2 Geometry problems,
then it makes no sense at all to practice Level 5 Geometry problems.
Keep working on Level 2 until you are comfortable, and then slowly
move up to Level 3. Maybe you should never attempt those Level 5
problems. You can get an exceptional score without them (higher than
700).
Tests: You want to take about four practice tests before test day to
make sure that you are implementing strategies correctly and using your
time wisely under pressure. For this task you should use the second
edition of The Official SAT Study Guide by the College Board. Take one
test every few weeks to make sure that you are implementing all the
strategies you have learned correctly under timed conditions. Note that
only the second edition has three actual SATs.
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Number Theory
Algebra and Functions
Probability, Statistics and Data Analysis
Geometry
For example, many students have trouble with very easy geometry
problems, even though they can do more difficult number theory
problems. This type of student may want to focus on Level 1, 2, and 3
geometry questions, but Level 3 and 4 number theory questions.
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retain much more of what you study if you study in short bursts than if
you try to tackle everything at once.
The only exception is on a day you do a practice test. You should do at
least four practice tests before you take the SAT. Ideally you should do
your practice tests on a Saturday or Sunday morning. At first you can do
just the 3 math sections. The last one or two times you take a practice
test you should do the whole test in one sitting. As tedious as this is, it
will prepare you for the amount of endurance that it will take to get
through this exam.
So try to choose about a twenty minute block of time that you will
dedicate to SAT math every night. Make it a habit. The results are well
worth this small time commitment.
4. Redo the problems you get wrong over and over and
over until you get them right
If you get a problem wrong, and never attempt the problem again, then
it is extremely unlikely that you will get a similar problem correct if it
appears on the SAT.
Most students will read an explanation of the solution, or have someone
explain it to them, and then never look at the problem again. This is not
how you optimize your SAT score. To be sure that you will get a similar
problem correct on the SAT, you must get the problem correct before
the SATand without actually remembering the problem.
This means that after getting a problem incorrect, you should go over
and understand why you got it wrong, wait at least a few days, then
attempt the same problem again. If you get it right you can cross it off
your list of problems to review. If you get it wrong, keep revisiting it
every few days until you get it right. Your score does not improve by
getting problems correct. Your score improves when you learn from
your mistakes.
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previous work. Ideally, you want to use a different method than you
used the first time.
For example, if you solved the problem by picking numbers the first
time, try to solve it algebraically the second time, or at the very least
pick different numbers. If you dont know, or are not comfortable with a
different method, then use the same method, but do the problem from
the beginning and do not look at your original solution. If your two
answers dont match up, then you know that this a problem you need to
spend a little more time on to figure out where your error is.
This may seem time consuming, but thats ok. It is better to spend more
time checking over a few problems than to rush through a lot of
problems and repeat the same mistakes.
7. Pace yourself
Do not waste your time on a question that is too hard or will take too
long. After youve been working on a question for about 1 minute you
need to make a decision. If you understand the question and think that
you can get the answer in another 30 seconds or so, continue to work on
the problem. If you still dont know how to do the problem or you are
using a technique that is going to take a long time, mark it off and come
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back to it later if you have time.
If you have eliminated at least one answer choice, or it is a grid-in, feel
free to take a guess. But you still want to leave open the possibility of
coming back to it later. Remember that every problem is worth the same
amount. Dont sacrifice problems that you may be able to do by getting
hung up on a problem that is too hard for you.
Score
< 330
330 370
380 430
440 490
500 550
560 620
630 800
6/16
8/16
10/16
11/16
12/16
15/16
16/16
(Multiple
choice)
(Grid-in)
2/8
3/8
4/8
5/8
6/8
7/8
8/8
2/10
3/10
4/10
6/10
8/10
9/10
10/10
For example, a student with a current score of 450 should attempt the
first 14 questions from section A, the first 11 questions from section B,
the first 5 multiple choice questions from section C, and the first 6 gridins from section C.
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This is just a general guideline. Of course it can be fine-tuned. As a
simple example, if you are particularly strong at number theory
problems, but very weak at geometry problems, then you may want to
try every number theory problem no matter where it appears, and you
may want to reduce the number of geometry problems you attempt.
9.
Examples:
We will substitute a 5 in for x in each of the following examples.
Expression
Calculator computation
7x 3
2 x 11
(3x 8) 2 x9
(3*5 8)^(2*5 9)
(2) Clear the screen before using it in a new problem. The big screen
allows you to check over your computations easily.
(3) Press the ANS button (2nd (-) ) to use your last answer in the next
computation.
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(4) Press 2nd ENTER to bring up your last computation for editing. This is
especially useful when you are plugging in answer choices, or guessing
and checking.
(5) You can press 2nd ENTER over and over again to cycle backwards
through all the computations you have ever done.
(6) Know where the
, , and ^ buttons are so you can reach them
quickly.
(7) Change a decimal to a fraction by pressing MATH ENTER ENTER.
(8) Press the MATH button - in the first menu that appears you can take
cube roots and nth roots for any n. Scroll right to PRB and you have nPr
and nCr to compute permutations and combinations very quickly.
The following items are less important but can be useful.
(9) Press the Y= button to enter a function, and then hit ZOOM 6 to
graph it in a standard window.
(10) Practice using the WINDOW button to adjust the viewing window of
your graph.
(11) Practice using the TRACE button to move along the graph and look
at some of the points plotted.
(12) Pressing 2nd TRACE (which is really CALC) will bring up a menu of
useful items. For example selecting ZERO will tell you where the graph
hits the x-axis, or equivalently where the function is zero. Selecting
MINIMUM or MAXIMUM can find the vertex of a parabola. Selecting
INTERSECT will find the point of intersection of 2 graphs.
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through 9, a decimal point, and a division symbol for fractions. Note that
there is no negative symbol. So answers to grid-ins cannot be negative.
Also, there are only four slots, so you cant get an answer such as
52,326.
Sometimes there is more than one correct answer to a grid-in question.
Simply choose one of them to grid-in. Never try to fit more than one
answer into the grid.
If your answer is a whole number such as 2451 or a decimal that only
requires four or less slots such as 2.36, then simply enter the number
starting at any column. The two examples just written must be started in
the first column, but the number 16 can be entered starting in column 1,
2 or 3.
Note that there is no zero in column 1, so if your answer is 0 it must be
gridded into column 2, 3 or 4.
Fractions can be gridded in any form as long as there are enough slots.
The fraction 2/100 must be reduced to 1/50 simply because the first
representation wont fit in the grid.
Fractions can also be converted to decimals before being gridded in. If a
decimal cannot fit in the grid, then you can simply truncate it to fit. But
you must use every slot in this case. For example, the decimal
.167777777 can be gridded as .167, but .16 or .17 would both be
marked wrong.
Instead of truncating decimals you can also round them. For example,
the decimal above could be gridded as .168. Truncating is preferred
because there is no thinking involved and you are less likely to make a
careless error.
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Here are three ways to grid in the number 8/9.
Never grid-in mixed numerals. If your answer is 2 , and you grid in the
mixed numeral 2 , then this will be read as 21/4 and will be marked
wrong. You must either grid in the decimal 2.25 or the improper fraction
9/4.
Here are two ways to grid in the mixed numeral 1 correctly.
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0.2106
0.2161
0.2166
0.22
0.221
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2.
1
2
3
5
10
Beginner Method: Pull out your calculator. Since the question has the
word greatest in it, we will start with the greatest answer choice
which is choice (E), and we will divide each of the three numbers by 10.
Since 25 divided by 10 is 2.5 (not an integer), choice (E) is not the
answer. We next try choice (D). The divisions give us 2, 5 and 9
respectively. Since these are all integers, the answer is choice (D).
Note that the three given integers are all divisible by 1, but choice (A) is
not the answer because 5 is greater.
Here we have used Strategy 2 in The 32 Most Effective SAT Math
Strategies.
* Intermediate Method: As in the beginner method, we begin with the
greatest answer choice. Since 25 (as well as 45) does not end in a 0, it is
not divisible by 10. Since all three integers end in a 0 or a 5, they are all
divisible by 5. Thus, the answer is choice (D).
Advanced Method: We are being asked to find the greatest common
factor of 10, 25 and 45, which is 5, choice (D).
Finding the greatest common factor: Here are two ways to find the
greatest common factor of the given integers.
(1) List all factors of each integer and look for the biggest one they
have in common.
Factors of 10: {1, 2, 5 10}
Factors of 25: {1, 5, 25}
Factors of 45: {1, 3, 5, 9, 15, 45}
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1010
1011
2002
2020
2021
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1
1
and ?
7
6
0.13
0.15
0.17
0.19
0.21
24
48
56
72
96
We want a number that is divisible by 4 and 8, but not by 12. Use your
calculator and begin with choice (C). When we divide 56 by 4, 8 and 12
we get 14, 7 and about 4.67. Since 14 and 7 are integers we see that 56
is divisible by 4 and 8. Since 4.67 is not an integer 56 is not divisible by
12. Thus, choice (C) is the answer.
Here we have used Strategy 1 in The 32 Most Effective SAT Math
Strategies.
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(3 4) 2
Beginner Method: Let us try some guesses for the second integer.
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2nd integer
200
250
240
245
244
1st integer
199
249
239
244
243
3rd integer
201
251
241
246
245
Sum
600
750
720
735
732
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A F T E R W O R D
YOUR ROAD
TO SUCCESS
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practice test you can try those last few Number Theory questions at the
end of each math section.
Upon your next reading, try to solve each problem that you
attempt in up to four different ways
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