Level 4 and Level 5 SAT Subject Questions
Math SAT 800: How To Master the Toughest Problems
Question: If 2x < 100 and x is an integer, how many of the 2x + 2 integers will be divisible by 3 and by 2?
(a) 1
(b) 2
(c) 3
(d) 4
(d) 5
- Answer: 26 = 64 and 27 = 128. If 2x < 100, then the highest x is x = 6
Possible values for x: 0 , 1 , 2 , 3 , 4, , 5 , 6. 2x + 2 can take the values 3 , 4 , 6 , 10 , 18 , 34 , 66
Out of these values, only 6 , 18 and 66 are divisible by 3 and by 2. The correct answer is (c).
Question: The inequality |2x - 1| > 5 must be true in which one of the following cases?
I. x < -5
II. x > 7
III. x > 0
(a) II only
(b) I, II and II
(c) I and II only
(d) I and III only
(e) I only
- Answer: |2x - 1| > 5,
-5 > 2x - 1 or 2x - 1 > 5
-4 > 2x or 2x > 6
-4 > 2x results in x < -2
2x > 6 results in x > 3
I answer is true, II answer is also true, but III answer is false, so the correct answer is (c)
Question: What is the closest approximation of the solution of the equation 2x - 1 = 3x + 1?
(a) -4.42
(b) -5.81
(c) -3.22
(d) 4.93
(e) 3.33
-
log(2x - 1) = 3log(x + 1)
(x - 1)log2 = (x + 1)log3
x(log2 - log3) = log3 + log2
x = (log3 + log2)/(log2 - log3)
x is aprox. = -4.42
Question: What is the range of (x - y) if 3 < x < 4 and -2 < y< -1?
(a) 4< x-y <5
(b) 1< x-y <3
(c) 1< x-y <5
(d) 4< x-y <6
(e) 3< x-y <6
- Answer: We can determine the range of -y:
1<-y<2
We determine the range of x-y by adding the ranges of x and -y:
Therefore, 4< x-y <6
Question: For some positive real number ‘a’, the first 3 terms of a geometric progression are a - 1, a + 3 and 3a + 1. What is the numerical value of the fourth term?
(a) 25
(b) 36
(c) 32
(d) 100
(e) 9
- Answer:
a + 3 = k(a - 1)
3a + 1 = k(a + 3)(a + 3)(a + 3) = (3a + 1)(a - 1)
a2 + 6a + 9 = 3a2 - 2a - 1
2a2 - 8a -10 = 0
a2 - 4a -5 = 0
the solutions of this equation are 5 and -1. The only positive solution is 5, so the progression is 4, 8, 16. The fourth term will be 16·2 = 32
Question: What is the volume of the geometric solid produced by the equilateral triangle in the figure below when it is rotated 360o about the altitude m?

(a) ¶m3/9
(b) ¶m2/9
(c) ¶m3/4
(d) ¶m3
(e) m3/9
- Answer:
The solid produced by the triangle rotation will be a cone with a radius equal to half the side of the triangle.
We apply Pythagoras Theorem in one of the 2 right triangles created by the altitude m:r2 + m2 = (2r)2
r = m/√3
The volume of the cone:
Vcone = ¶m(m/√3)2/3
Vcone = ¶m3/9
Question: In the (x,y) plane, which of the following statements are true?
I. Line y + x = 5 is perpendicular to line y - x = 5.
II. Lines y + x = 5 and y - x = 5 intersect each other on the y axis.
III. Lines y + x = 5 and y - x = 5 intersect each other on the x axis.
(a) I is the only true statement
(b) II is the only true statement
(c) I and II are both true
(d) I and III are both true
(e) II and III are both true
- Answer:
y + x = 5 can be written as y = -x + 5. The slope of this equation is m1 = -1.
y - x = 5 can be written as y = x + 5. The slope of this equation is m2 = 1.
m2 = -1/m1 so the 2 lines are perpendicular.
We also need to find where the 2 lines intersect. If we add the 2 equations, 2·y = 10, y = 5
From the first equation, x = 5 - y = 5 - 5 = 0. In conclusion the lines intersect at (0, 5) and this point is on the y axis.
In conclusion I and II statements are correct.
Question: Find the domain of the function f(x) = √( -x) / [(x - 2)(x + 2)]:
(a) (-∞ , -2) U ( -2 , 0)
(b) (-∞ , -2) U ( -2 , 0]
(c) (-∞ , 2) U ( 2 , 0]
(d) (-∞ , 2) U ( 2 , 0)
(e) (-∞ , -2) U ( -2 , 2)
- Answer:
From the numerator of the fraction, -x should be positive or equal to zero, so x<=0.
x can’t take the values x = 2 and x = -2, so the domain of the function is (-∞ , -2) U ( -2 , 0]
Test your SAT knowledge with our multiple choice tests.