SSAT Middle Level Math : Algebra

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SSAT Middle Level Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Solution To An Equation

James bought candy using a 10 dollar bill and received  dollars in change.  Which of the following describes how much James paid for the candy?

Possible Answers:


Correct answer:

Explanation:

The amount of change given after a purchase is the amount the customer pays minus the cost of the item.  So the cost of the item is the amount the customer pays minus the amount of change received.

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Solution To An Equation

For a party, Marco buys 4 boxes of cookies, each containing 10 cookies.  Marco gives each of his guests 3 cookies, and then he eats 6 cookies himself.  He now has 4 cookies left.  How many guests did Marco give cookies to?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

He begins with 40 and ends with 4, so 36 cookies total were eaten.  Since he ate 6 himself, that means that his guests ate 30.  Since each guest ate 3 cookies,  guests.

Example Question #2 : How To Find The Solution To An Equation

Jacob, Judy and John add up all of their ages and get a total of 29.  If they do the same thing 2 years from now, what will be their total?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In two years, each person will be 2 years older.  Since there are 3 of them, their ages will be  years more, so we add 6 to the original total of 29

Example Question #3 : How To Find The Solution To An Equation

If , then 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Plug in 3 where you see  and 2 where you see  to get .  This equals 7.

Example Question #4 : How To Find The Solution To An Equation

Solve for 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Example Question #5 : How To Find The Solution To An Equation

Solve for :

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Add 35, then divide by 11:

Example Question #5 : How To Find The Solution To An Equation

Solve for :

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Add 13, then divide by 9:

Example Question #6 : How To Find The Solution To An Equation

Solve for :

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Add 25, then divide by 7:

Example Question #7 : How To Find The Solution To An Equation

If  and  is an even whole number, then  could be

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The greater than and less than symbols describe a number that is greater than but not equal to 13 and less than but not equal to 17.  The whole numbers between 13 and 17 are 14, 15, and 16.  The question also qualifies that the number needs to be even so we are looking for 14 or 16. Only 16 is an answer choice available.

Example Question #8 : How To Find The Solution To An Equation

If

,

then

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

So order of operations says to do what's in the parentheses first.  Thus

 

Thus the left side of the equation is 15.  Subtract 5 from both sides to determine what the  is.  

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