SAT Math : Graphing

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #192 : Coordinate Plane

Let D be the region on the (x,y) coordinate plane that contains the solutions to the following inequalities:

\displaystyle x\leq k, where \displaystyle k is a positive constant

\displaystyle 0\leq y\leq 12x

Which of the following expressions, in terms of \displaystyle k, is equivalent to the area of D?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 6k^2

\displaystyle 4k^2

\displaystyle 12k^2

\displaystyle 8k^2

\displaystyle 3k^2

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 6k^2

Explanation:

  Inequality_region1

Example Question #1 : How To Graph A Function

Which of the following could be a value of f(x)\displaystyle f(x) for f(x)=-x^2 + 3\displaystyle f(x)=-x^2 + 3?

Possible Answers:

4\displaystyle 4

6\displaystyle 6

5\displaystyle 5

3\displaystyle 3

7\displaystyle 7

Correct answer:

3\displaystyle 3

Explanation:

The graph is a down-opening parabola with a maximum of y=3\displaystyle y=3. Therefore, there are no y values greater than this for this function.

Example Question #2 : How To Graph A Function

2

The figure above shows the graph of y = f(x). Which of the following is the graph of y = |f(x)|?

Possible Answers:

4

5

3

6

2

Correct answer:

2

Explanation:

One of the properties of taking an absolute value of a function is that the values are all made positive. The values themselves do not change; only their signs do. In this graph, none of the y-values are negative, so none of them would change. Thus the two graphs should be identical.

Example Question #4 : How To Graph A Function

Below is the graph of the function \displaystyle f(x):

 

Which of the following could be the equation for \displaystyle f(x)?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle f(x)=\left | 2x-6 \right |

\displaystyle f(x)=\left | x^2-4x \right |-3

\displaystyle f(x)=x^2-4x+3

\displaystyle f(x)=\left | 2x-2 \right |-4

\displaystyle f(x)=\left | x-1 \right |-2

Correct answer:

\displaystyle f(x)=\left | 2x-2 \right |-4

Explanation:

First, because the graph consists of pieces that are straight lines, the function must include an absolute value, whose functions usually have a distinctive "V" shape. Thus, we can eliminate f(x) = x2 – 4x + 3 from our choices. Furthermore, functions with x2 terms are curved parabolas, and do not have straight line segments. This means that f(x) = |x2 – 4x| – 3 is not the correct choice. 

Next, let's examine f(x) = |2x – 6|. Because this function consists of an abolute value by itself, its graph will not have any negative values. An absolute value by itself will only yield non-negative numbers. Therefore, because the graph dips below the x-axis (which means f(x) has negative values), f(x) = |2x – 6| cannot be the correct answer. 

Next, we can analyze f(x) = |x – 1| – 2. Let's allow x to equal 1 and see what value we would obtain from f(1). 

f(1) = | 1 – 1 | – 2 = 0 – 2 = –2

However, the graph above shows that f(1) = –4. As a result, f(x) = |x – 1| – 2 cannot be the correct equation for the function. 

By process of elimination, the answer must be f(x) = |2x – 2| – 4. We can verify this by plugging in several values of x into this equation. For example f(1) = |2 – 2| – 4 = –4, which corresponds to the point (1, –4) on the graph above. Likewise, if we plug 3 or –1 into the equation f(x) = |2x – 2| – 4, we obtain zero, meaning that the graph should cross the x-axis at 3 and –1. According to the graph above, this is exactly what happens. 

The answer is f(x) = |2x – 2| – 4.

Example Question #1 : How To Graph A Function

Screen_shot_2015-03-06_at_2.14.03_pm

What is the equation for the line pictured above?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle y=-x+2

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

\displaystyle y=\frac{2}{3}x+2

\displaystyle y=\frac{3}{2}x-2

Correct answer:

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

Explanation:

A line has the equation

\displaystyle y=mx+b where \displaystyle b is the \displaystyle y intercept and \displaystyle m is the slope.

The \displaystyle y intercept can be found by noting the point where the line and the y-axis cross, in this case, at \displaystyle (0,2) so \displaystyle b=2.

The slope can be found by selecting two points, for example, the y-intercept and the next point over that crosses an even point, for example, \displaystyle (2, -1).

Now applying the slope formula,

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

 which yields \displaystyle m=\frac{-1-2}{2-0}=-\frac{3}{2}.

Therefore the equation of the line becomes:

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

Example Question #131 : Psat Mathematics

\displaystyle f(x)=2x+4

Which of the following graphs represents the y-intercept of this function?

Possible Answers:

Function_graph_3

Function_graph_4

Function_graph_1

Function_graph_2

Correct answer:

Function_graph_1

Explanation:

Graphically, the y-intercept is the point at which the graph touches the y-axis.  Algebraically, it is the value of \displaystyle y when \displaystyle x=0.

Here, we are given the function \displaystyle f(x)=2x+4.  In order to calculate the y-intercept, set \displaystyle x equal to zero and solve for \displaystyle y.

\displaystyle y=2(0)+4

\displaystyle y=4

So the y-intercept is at \displaystyle (0,4).

Example Question #4 : Graphing

\displaystyle f(x)=2x+4

Which of the following graphs represents the x-intercept of this function?

Possible Answers:

Function_graph_8

Function_graph_6

Function_graph_5

Function_graph_7

Correct answer:

Function_graph_6

Explanation:

Graphically, the x-intercept is the point at which the graph touches the x-axis.  Algebraically, it is the value of \displaystyle x for which \displaystyle y=0.

Here, we are given the function \displaystyle f(x)=2x+4.  In order to calculate the x-intercept, set \displaystyle y equal to zero and solve for \displaystyle x.

\displaystyle 0=2x+4

\displaystyle -4=2x

\displaystyle -2=x

So the x-intercept is at \displaystyle (-2,0).

Example Question #131 : Psat Mathematics

Which of the following represents \displaystyle f(x)=\frac{1}{2}x-2?

Possible Answers:

Function_graph_12

Function_graph_11

Function_graph_10

Function_graph_9

Correct answer:

Function_graph_9

Explanation:

A line is defined by any two points on the line.  It is frequently simplest to calculate two points by substituting zero for x and solving for y, and by substituting zero for y and solving for x.

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

Let \displaystyle x=0.  Then

\displaystyle y=\frac{1}{2}(0)-2

\displaystyle y=-2

So our first set of points (which is also the y-intercept) is \displaystyle (0,-2)

Let \displaystyle y=0.  Then

\displaystyle 0=\frac{1}{2}x-2

\displaystyle 2=\frac{1}{2}x

\displaystyle 4=x

So our second set of points (which is also the x-intercept) is \displaystyle (4,0)).

Example Question #1 : Graphing

The graphic shows Bob's walk. At what times is Bob the furthest from home?

Screen shot 2016 02 18 at 8.42.52 am

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle \text{Time}=14

\displaystyle \text{Time}=8

\displaystyle \text{Time}=3 to \displaystyle \text{Time}=8

\displaystyle \text{Time}=8 to \displaystyle \text{Time}=14

Correct answer:

\displaystyle \text{Time}=8 to \displaystyle \text{Time}=14

Explanation:

If we look at the graph, the line segment from \displaystyle (8,15) to \displaystyle (14,15), is the furthest from home. So the answer will be from \displaystyle \text{Time}=8 to \displaystyle \text{Time}=14.

Example Question #1 : Graphing

On the coordinate plane, a triangle has its vertices at the points with coordinates 

\displaystyle (-12, 0)\displaystyle (12, 0), and \displaystyle (0, 12). Give the coordinates of the center of the circle that circumscribes this triangle.

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle (0, -6)

\displaystyle (0, 12)

\displaystyle (0,0)

\displaystyle (0, 6)

\displaystyle (0,- 12)

Correct answer:

\displaystyle (0,0)

Explanation:

The referenced figure is below. 

Triangle a

The two non-horizontal line segments are perpendicular, as is proved as follows:

The slope of the line that connects \displaystyle (12, 0 ) and \displaystyle (0,12) can be found using the slope formula, setting \displaystyle x_{1} = 12 , y_{2} = x_{2} = 0, y_{2} = 12:

\displaystyle m_{1} = \frac{y_{2}-y_{1}}{x_{2}-x_{1}}= \frac{12-0}{0-12} = \frac{12}{-12} = -1

The slope of the line that connects \displaystyle (12, 0 ) and \displaystyle (0,-12) can be found similarly, setting \displaystyle x_{1} = 12 , y_{2} = x_{2} = 0, y_{2} = -12:

\displaystyle m_{2} = \frac{y_{2}-y_{1}}{x_{2}-x_{1}}= \frac{-12-0}{0-12} = \frac{-12}{-12} = 1

The product of their slopes is \displaystyle m_{1} m_{2} = -1 \cdot 1 = -1, which indicates perpendicularity between the sides.

This makes the triangle right, and the side with endpoints \displaystyle (12, 0 ) and \displaystyle (0,-12) the hypotenuse. The center of the circle that circumscribes a right triangle is the midpoint of its hypotenuse, which is easily be seen to be the origin, \displaystyle (0,0).

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