ISEE Middle Level Quantitative : Geometry

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ISEE Middle Level Quantitative

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Geometry

Give the equation of the line through point \(\displaystyle (1,4)\) that has slope \(\displaystyle -\frac{1}{5}\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle y = -\frac{1}{5}x + \frac{21}{5}\)

\(\displaystyle y = -5x + 9\)

\(\displaystyle y = -\frac{1}{5}x + 4\)

\(\displaystyle y = \frac{1}{5}x - \frac{19}{5}\)

\(\displaystyle y = -5x + 4\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle y = -\frac{1}{5}x + \frac{21}{5}\)

Explanation:

Use the point-slope formula with \(\displaystyle m = -\frac{1}{5}, x_{1}= 1, y_{1} = 4\)

\(\displaystyle y -y _{1} = m (x -x _{1} )\)

\(\displaystyle y -4 = -\frac{1}{5} (x -1 )\)

\(\displaystyle y -\frac{20}{5} = -\frac{1}{5} x + \frac{1}{5}\)

\(\displaystyle y = -\frac{1}{5} x + \frac{21}{5}\)

Example Question #1 : Geometry

Which is the greater quantity?

(A) The slope of the line \(\displaystyle 2x+y = 15\)

(B) The slope of the line \(\displaystyle 3x+y = 15\)

Possible Answers:

(B) is greater

It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given

(A) is greater

(A) and (B) are equal

Correct answer:

(A) is greater

Explanation:

Rewrite each in the slope-intercept form, \(\displaystyle y = mx + b\)\(\displaystyle m\) will be the slope.

\(\displaystyle 2x+y = 15\)

\(\displaystyle 2x+y -2x = 15-2x\)

\(\displaystyle y=15-2x\)

\(\displaystyle y = -2x+ 15\)

The slope of this line is \(\displaystyle m = -2\).

 

\(\displaystyle 3x+y = 15\)

\(\displaystyle 3x+y -3x = 15-3x\)

\(\displaystyle y=15-3x\)

\(\displaystyle y = -3x+ 15\)

The slope of this line is \(\displaystyle m = -3\).

 

Since \(\displaystyle -2 > -3\), (A) is greater.

Example Question #1 : Coordinate Geometry

Which is the greater quantity?

(A) The slope of the line \(\displaystyle 4x - 2y = 10\)

(B) The slope of the line \(\displaystyle y - 2x = 7\)

Possible Answers:

(A) is greater

(B) is greater

It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given

(A) and (B) are equal

Correct answer:

(A) and (B) are equal

Explanation:

Rewrite each in the slope-intercept form, \(\displaystyle y = mx + b\)\(\displaystyle m\) will be the slope.

\(\displaystyle 4x - 2y = 10\)

\(\displaystyle 4x - 2y -4x = 10-4x\)

\(\displaystyle - 2y = -4x+ 10\)

\(\displaystyle - 2y \div (-2) =\left ( -4x+ 10 \right )\div (-2)\)

\(\displaystyle y = 2x -5\)

The slope of the line of \(\displaystyle 4x - 2y = 10\) is \(\displaystyle m = 2\)

 

\(\displaystyle y - 2x = 7\)

\(\displaystyle y - 2x + 2x = 7+ 2x\)

\(\displaystyle y = 2x + 7\)

The slope of the line of \(\displaystyle y - 2x = 7\) is also \(\displaystyle m = 2\)

 

The slopes are equal.

Example Question #2 : Geometry

\(\displaystyle A\) and \(\displaystyle B\) are positive integers, and \(\displaystyle A > B\). Which is the greater quantity?

(a) The slope of the line on the coordinate plane through the points \(\displaystyle (A+ 1, B+ 1 )\) and \(\displaystyle (A-1, B- 1 )\).

(b) The slope of the line on the coordinate plane through the points \(\displaystyle (B- 1, A- 1 )\) and \(\displaystyle (B+1, A+ 1 )\).

Possible Answers:

(b) is the greater quantity

It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given

(a) and (b) are equal

(a) is the greater quantity

Correct answer:

(a) and (b) are equal

Explanation:

The slope of a line through the points \(\displaystyle (A+ 1, B+ 1 )\) and \(\displaystyle (A-1, B- 1 )\) can be found by setting 

\(\displaystyle x_{1} = A-1,y_{1} = B - 1, x_{2} = A+1, y_{2} = B+ 1\)

in the slope formula:

\(\displaystyle m = \frac{y_{2}-y_{1}}{x_{2}-x_{1}}\)

\(\displaystyle = \frac{ (B+ 1)- (B- 1)}{ (A+ 1)- (A- 1)}\)

\(\displaystyle = \frac{ B-B+ 1+1}{ A-A + 1 + 1}\)

\(\displaystyle = \frac{ 2}{ 2}\)

\(\displaystyle =1\)

The slope of a line through the points \(\displaystyle (B- 1, A- 1 )\) and \(\displaystyle (B+1, A+ 1 )\) can be found similarly:

\(\displaystyle m = \frac{y_{2}-y_{1}}{x_{2}-x_{1}}\)

\(\displaystyle = \frac{(A+ 1)- (A- 1) }{ (B+ 1)- (B- 1) }\)

\(\displaystyle = \frac{A-A + 1+1}{B-B + 1 + 1}\)

\(\displaystyle = \frac{ 2}{ 2}\)

\(\displaystyle =1\)

The lines have the same slope.

Example Question #1 : Geometry

A line passes through the points with coordinates \(\displaystyle (A, B)\) and \(\displaystyle (-A, B )\), where \(\displaystyle A > B >0\). Which expression is equal to the slope of the line?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{B}{A}\)

\(\displaystyle 0\)

Undefined

\(\displaystyle \frac{A}{B}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 0\)

Explanation:

The slope of a line through the points \(\displaystyle (A, B)\) and \(\displaystyle (-A, B )\), can be found by setting 

\(\displaystyle x_{1} = -A,y_{1} =B, x_{2} = A, y_{2} = B\):

in the slope formula:

\(\displaystyle m = \frac{y_{2}-y_{1}}{x_{2}-x_{1}}\)

\(\displaystyle m = \frac{B-B}{A - (-A)} = \frac{0}{A+A} = \frac{0}{2A} = 0\)

Example Question #2 : Geometry

Choose the best answer from the four choices given.

The point (15, 6) is on which of the following lines?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle y=\frac{2}{3}x-4\)

\(\displaystyle y=-\frac{2}{3}x+4\)

\(\displaystyle y=\frac{1}{2}x-7\)

\(\displaystyle y=\frac{-1}{2}x+7\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle y=\frac{2}{3}x-4\)

Explanation:

For this problem, simply plug in the values for the point (15,6) into the different equations (15 for the \(\displaystyle x\)-value and 6 for the \(\displaystyle y\)-value) to see which one fits.

\(\displaystyle (6)=\frac{1}{2}(15)-7\)          (NO)

 

\(\displaystyle (6)=\frac{2}{3}(15)-4\)          (YES!)

 

\(\displaystyle (6)=\frac{-1}{2}(15)+7\)       (NO)

 

\(\displaystyle (6)=\frac{-2}{3}(15)+4\)        (NO)  

Example Question #2 : Geometry

Choose the best answer from the four choices given.

What is the point of intersection for the following two lines?

\(\displaystyle y=\frac{3}{4}x-11\)

\(\displaystyle y=\frac{-5}{6}x+8\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \left ( 8,-5 \right )\)

\(\displaystyle \left ( 12,-2 \right )\)

\(\displaystyle \left ( 6,3 \right )\)

\(\displaystyle \left ( 0,-11 \right )\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \left ( 12,-2 \right )\)

Explanation:

At the intersection point of the two lines the \(\displaystyle x\)- and \(\displaystyle y\)- values for each equation will be the same. Thus, we can set the two equations as equal to each other:

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{4}x-11=\frac{-5}{6}x+8\)

 

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{4}x=\frac{-5}{6}x+19\)

 

\(\displaystyle \frac{9}{12}x=\frac{-10}{12}x+19\)

 

\(\displaystyle \frac{19}{12}x=19\)

 

\(\displaystyle (\frac{12}{19})(\frac{19}{12}x)=19 (\frac{12}{19})\)

 

\(\displaystyle \large x=12\)

 

 

\(\displaystyle y=\frac{3}{4}(12)-11= -2\)

point of intersection \(\displaystyle =\left ( 12,-2 \right )\)

Example Question #3 : Geometry

Choose the best answer from the four choices given.

What is the \(\displaystyle x\)-intercept of the line represented by the equation

\(\displaystyle y=\frac{7}{9}x-3\ ?\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle -3\frac{6}{7}\)

\(\displaystyle 3\)

\(\displaystyle -3\)

\(\displaystyle 3\frac{6}{7}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 3\frac{6}{7}\)

Explanation:

In the formula \(\displaystyle y=mx+b\), the y-intercept is represented by \(\displaystyle b\) (because if you set \(\displaystyle x\) to zero, you are left with \(\displaystyle y=b\) ).

Thus, to find the \(\displaystyle x\)-intercept, set the \(\displaystyle y\) value to zero and solve for \(\displaystyle x\).

 

\(\displaystyle 0=\frac{7}{9}x-3\)

 

\(\displaystyle \frac{-7}{9}x=-3\)

 

\(\displaystyle (\frac{-9}{7})\frac{-7}{9}x=-3 (\frac{-9}{7})\)

 

\(\displaystyle x=\frac{27}{7}=3\frac{6}{7}\)

Example Question #2 : Geometry

The ordered pair \(\displaystyle (-1,4)\) is in which quadrant?

Possible Answers:

Quadrant IV

Quadrant III

Quadrant V

Quadrant II

Quadrant I

Correct answer:

Quadrant II

Explanation:

There are four quadrants in the coordinate plane. Quadrant I is the top right, and they are numbered counter-clockwise. Since the x-coordinate is \(\displaystyle -1\), you go to the left one unit (starting from the origin). Since the y-coordinate is \(\displaystyle 4\), you go upwards four units. Therefore, you are in Quadrant II.

Example Question #3 : Geometry

If angles s and r add up to 180 degrees, which of the following best describes them?

Possible Answers:

Obtuse

Supplementary. 

Acute

Complementary

Correct answer:

Supplementary. 

Explanation:

Two angles that are supplementary add up to 180 degrees. They cannot both be acute, nor can they both be obtuse. Therefore, "Supplementary" is the correct answer. 

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