SSAT Middle Level Math : Variables

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Operations

Which of the following is NOT the same as

 \displaystyle z\times \frac{(2x+3y)}{3}

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle \frac{z}{3}\times(2x+3y)

\displaystyle z\times(\frac{2x}{3}+y)

\displaystyle \frac{2zx +zy}{3}

\displaystyle \frac{2zx}{3}+zy

\displaystyle \frac{2zx+3zy}{3}

Correct answer:

\displaystyle \frac{2zx +zy}{3}

Explanation:

The answer shows that the 3 in front of the \displaystyle y has been cancelled, but not removed from the denomitator for the \displaystyle y.

Example Question #1 : Variables

Simplify: \displaystyle -7 (3x - 11)

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle -21x-77

\displaystyle -21x-11

\displaystyle -21x+11

\displaystyle -21x + 77

\displaystyle 21x-77

Correct answer:

\displaystyle -21x + 77

Explanation:

Apply the distributive property:

\displaystyle -7 (3x - 11) = -7 \cdot 3x - \left (-7 \right ) \cdot 11 = -7 \cdot 3x + 7\cdot 11= -21x + 77

Example Question #2 : Variables

Simplify: \displaystyle -5 (-3x + 13)

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle -15x + 13

\displaystyle 15x - 65

\displaystyle 15x + 65

\displaystyle -15x - 65

\displaystyle -15x - 13

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 15x - 65

Explanation:

Apply the distributive property:

\displaystyle -5 (-3x + 13) = -5 (-3x) + \left (-5 \right ) \cdot 13= 5\cdot 3x - 5\cdot 13 = 15x -65

Example Question #3 : Variables

Simplify: \displaystyle -6 \left ( 5x - 3y - 9 \right )

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle -30x + 18y + 54

\displaystyle -30x + 18y - 54

\displaystyle -30x + 3y + 9

\displaystyle -30x - 18y + 54

\displaystyle -30x - 3y - 9

Correct answer:

\displaystyle -30x + 18y + 54

Explanation:

Apply the distributive property:

\displaystyle -6 \left ( 5x - 3y - 9 \right )= -6 \cdot 5x - \left (-6 \right ) \cdot 3y - \left (-6 \right ) \cdot 9

\displaystyle = -6 \cdot 5x + 6 \cdot 3y + 6 \cdot 9

\displaystyle = -30x + 18y + 54 

Example Question #4 : Operations

Simplify: \displaystyle 6 \left ( 5x - 3y + 7 \right )

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 30x - 18y - 42

\displaystyle 30x - 6y + 7

\displaystyle 30x - 18y + 42

\displaystyle 30x - 18y + 7

\displaystyle 30x - 18y - 7

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 30x - 18y + 42

Explanation:

Apply the distributive property:

\displaystyle 6 \left ( 5x - 3y + 7 \right ) = 6 \cdot 5x - 6 \cdot 3y + 6 \cdot 7=30x - 18y + 42

Example Question #6 : Operations

Shaun has twice as much money as Jessica. Jessica has one third as much money as Chris. Shaun has half as much money as Carmen. Who has the most money?

Possible Answers:

Jessica

Carmen

Chris

Both Shaun and Carmen

Shaun

Correct answer:

Carmen

Explanation:

In order to figure out who has the most money, we must organize the data we have. Since Shaun has more money than Jessica, let us use Jessica as our baseline. So, if the money that Jessica has is represented by \displaystyle m, the money Shaun has will be \displaystyle 2m because he has twice as much money as Jessica.

Jessica = \displaystyle m

Shaun = \displaystyle 2m

Next, we know that Jessica has one third as much money as Chris. In other words, Chris has three times as much money as Jessica. This can be represented by \displaystyle 3m. We then learn that Shaun has half as much money as Carmen or, in other words, Carmen has two times the amount of money Shaun has. Since Shaun has \displaystyle 2m dollars, that must mean Carmen has \displaystyle 4m dollars because \displaystyle 2\times 2m = 4m. So, by comparing everyone side-by-side, we can see that Carmen has the most money as she has four times the amount of money that Jessica has.

Jessica = \displaystyle m

Shaun = \displaystyle 2m

Chris = \displaystyle 3m

Carmen = \displaystyle 4m

Carmen is the answer.

Example Question #6 : How To Multiply Variables

Given \displaystyle x = 3\displaystyle y=6, and \displaystyle z=3,  compute \displaystyle xyz.

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 0

\displaystyle 36

\displaystyle 54

\displaystyle 12

\displaystyle 6

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 54

Explanation:

\displaystyle xyz refers to the product of the three variables: \displaystyle 3\cdot 6\cdot 3=54.

Example Question #1 : Multiplying And Dividing Polynomials

Simplify:

\displaystyle 4m\cdot3m

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 6m^{2}

\displaystyle 12m^{3}

\displaystyle 24m

\displaystyle 12m

\displaystyle 12m^{2}

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 12m^{2}

Explanation:

To solve, you can use the commutative and associative properties of multiplication to group like-terms together.

\displaystyle 4m\cdot3m=4\times m\times 3\times m=4\times3\times m\times m

The 4 and 3 should be first multiplied, resulting in 12.

\displaystyle 12\times m\times m

Next \displaystyle m should be multiplied by \displaystyle m, giving us \displaystyle m^{2}.

\displaystyle 12\times m^2

12 times \displaystyle m^{2} is equal to \displaystyle 12m^{2}

Therefore, the correct answer is \displaystyle 12m^{2}.

Example Question #7 : Operations

Simplify:

\displaystyle 3a(2a+4)-7

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 6a^{2}+12a-7

\displaystyle 6a^{2}+12a

\displaystyle a^{2}+12a-7

\displaystyle 6a+12a-7

\displaystyle 6a^{2}+12-7a

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 6a^{2}+12a-7

Explanation:

When simplifying this expression, the first step is to apply the distributive property. 

\displaystyle 3a(2a+4)-7

\displaystyle (3a\times2a)+(3a\times4)-7

\displaystyle 6a^{2}+12a-7

Next, we assert whether the expression can be reduced further. It cannot, as there are no like-terms to combine.

Therefore, the correct answer is \displaystyle 6a^{2}+12a-7.

Example Question #8 : Operations

Suppose you know the values of all variables in the expression 

\displaystyle x \cdot\left ( y + b \right )^{2}

and you want to evaluate the expression.

In which order will you carry out the operations?

Possible Answers:

Adding, multiplying, squaring

Multiplying, adding, squaring

Adding, squaring, multiplying

Squaring, multiplying, adding

Multiplying, squaring, adding

Correct answer:

Adding, squaring, multiplying

Explanation:

By the order of operations, the operation inside grouping symbols, which here is addition, takes precendence, followed by, in order, squaring and multiplication.

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