Mathematics Test—No Calculator 20 Questions Turn to Section 3 of your answer sheet to answer the questions in this section. Directions For questions 1 through 15, solve each problem, choose the best answer from the choices provided, and fill in the corresponding circle on your answer sheet. For questions 16 through 20, solve the problem and enter your answer in the grid on the answer sheet. You may use any available space in your test booklet for scratch work. Notes 1. The use of a calculator is not permitted. 2. All variables and expressions used represent real numbers unless otherwise indicated. 3. Figures provided in this test are drawn to scale unless otherwise indicated. 4. All figures lie in a plane unless otherwise indicated. 5. Unless otherwise indicated, the domain of a given function f is the set of all real numbers x for which f of x is a real number. The SAT® Copyright 2015 by the College Board Page 1 WF-5KSA09 Reference Begin skippable figure descriptions. The figure presents information for your reference in solving some of the problems. The SAT® Copyright 2015 by the College Board Page 2 WF-5KSA09 Reference figure 1 is a circle with radius r. Two equations are presented below reference figure 1. A equals pi times the square of r. C equals 2 pi r. Reference figure 2 is a rectangle with length ℓ and width w. An equation is presented below reference figure 2. A equals ℓ w. Reference figure 3 is a triangle with base b and height h. An equation is presented below reference figure 3. A equals one-half b h. Reference figure 4 is a right triangle. The two sides that form the right angle are labeled a and b, and the side opposite the right angle is labeled c. An equation is presented below reference figure 4. c squared equals a squared plus b squared. Special Right Triangles Reference figure 5 is a right triangle with a 30-degree angle and a 60-degree angle. The side opposite the 30-degree angle is labeled x. The side opposite the 60-degree angle is labeled x times the square root of 3. The side opposite the right angle is labeled 2 x. Reference figure 6 is a right triangle with two 45-degree angles. Two sides are each labeled s. The side opposite the right angle is labeled s times the square root of 2. The SAT® Copyright 2015 by the College Board Page 3 WF-5KSA09 Reference figure 7 is a rectangular solid whose base has length ℓ and width w and whose height is h. An equation is presented below reference figure 7. V equals ℓ wh. Reference figure 8 is a right circular cylinder whose base has radius r and whose height is h. An equation is presented below reference figure 8. V equals pi times the square of r times h. Reference figure 9 is a sphere with radius r. An equation is presented below reference figure 9. V equals four-thirds pi times the cube of r. Reference figure 10 is a cone whose base has radius r and whose height is h. An equation is presented below reference figure 10. V equals one-third times pi times the square of r times h. Reference figure 11 is an asymmetrical pyramid whose base has length ℓ and width w and whose height is h. An equation is presented below reference figure 11. V equals one-third ℓ w h. End skippable figure descriptions. Additional Reference Information The number of degrees of arc in a circle is 360. The number of radians of arc in a circle is 2 pi. The sum of the measures in degrees of the angles of a triangle is 180. The SAT® Copyright 2015 by the College Board Page 4 WF-5KSA09 Question 1. If the fraction whose numerator is x minus 1, and whose denominator is 3, equals k, and k equals 3, what is the value of x ? A. 12 B. 14 C. 19 D. 10 Answer and explanation for question 1. Question 2. For i equals the square root of negative 1, what is the sum parenthesis, 7 plus 3i, close parenthesis, plus, parenthesis, negative 8 plus 9i, close parenthesis ? A. B. C. D. negative 1 plus 12i negative 1 minus 6 i 15 plus 12i 15 minus 6i Answer and explanation for question 2. The SAT® Copyright 2015 by the College Board Page 5 WF-5KSA09 Question 3. On Saturday afternoon, Armand sent m text messages each hour for 5 hours, and Tyrone sent p text messages each hour for 4 hours. Which of the following represents the total number of messages sent by Armand and Tyrone on Saturday afternoon? A. B. C. D. 9mp 20mp 5m plus 4p 4m plus 5p Answer and explanation for question 3. Question 4. Kathy is a repair technician for a phone company. Each week, she receives a batch of phones that need repairs. The number of phones that she has left to fix at the end of each day can be estimated with the equation P equals 108 minus 23 d, where P is the number of phones left and d is the number of days she has worked that week. What is the meaning of the value 108 in this equation? A. Kathy will complete the repairs within 108 days. B. Kathy starts each week with 108 phones to fix. C. Kathy repairs phones at a rate of 108 per hour. D. Kathy repairs phones at a rate of 108 per day. Answer and explanation for question 4. The SAT® Copyright 2015 by the College Board Page 6 WF-5KSA09 Question 5. parenthesis, x squared, y, minus 3y squared, plus 5xy squared, close parenthesis, minus, parenthesis, negative x squared, y, plus 3xy squared, minus 3y squared, close parenthesis Which of the following is equivalent to the preceding expression? A. 4x squared, y squared B. C. D. 8xy squared, minus 6y squared 2x squared, y, plus, 2xy squared 2x squared, y, plus 8xy squared, minus 6y squared Answer and explanation for question 5. Question 6. h equals 3a, plus 28.6 A pediatrician uses the model above to estimate the height h of a boy, in inches, in terms of the boy’s age a, in years, between the ages of 2 and 5. Based on the model, what is the estimated increase, in inches, of a boy’s height each year? A. 13 B. 15.7 C. 19.5 D. 14.3 Explanation for question 6. The SAT® Copyright 2015 by the College Board Page 7 WF-5KSA09 Question 7. m equals an expression times P, where the expression is the fraction whose numerator is parenthesis, the fraction r over 1,200, close parenthesis, times parenthesis, 1 plus the fraction r over 1,200, close parenthesis, to the power N, and whose denominator is parenthesis, 1 plus the fraction r over 1,200, close parenthesis, to the power N, end power, minus 1, end fraction. The preceding formula gives the monthly payment m needed to pay off a loan of P dollars at r percent annual interest over N months. Which of the following gives P in terms of m, r, and N ? A. P equals an expression times m, where the expression is the fraction whose numerator is parenthesis, the fraction r over 1,200, close parenthesis, times, parenthesis, 1 plus the fraction r over 1,200, close parenthesis, to the power N, and whose denominator is parenthesis, 1 plus the fraction r over 1,200, close parenthesis, to the power N, minus 1. B. P equals an expression times m, where the expression is the fraction whose numerator is parenthesis, 1 plus the fraction r over 1,200, close parenthesis, to the power N, minus 1, and whose denominator is parenthesis, the fraction r over 1,200, close parenthesis, times, parenthesis, 1 plus the fraction r over 1,200, close parenthesis, to the power N. The SAT® Copyright 2015 by the College Board Page 8 WF-5KSA09 C. P equals, parenthesis, the fraction r over 1,200, close parenthesis, times m. D. P equals, parenthesis, the fraction 1,200 over r, close parenthesis, times m. Answer and explanation for question 7. Question 8. If the fraction, a over b, equals 2, what is the value of the fraction 4b over a ? A. 0 B. 1 C. 2 D. 4 Answer and explanation for question 8. The SAT® Copyright 2015 by the College Board Page 9 WF-5KSA09 Question 9. 3x plus 4y equals negative 23 2y minus x equals negative 19 What is the solution system of equations? A. parenthesis, x comma y, close parenthesis, to the preceding parenthesis, negative 5, comma negative 2, close parenthesis B. parenthesis, 3 comma, negative 8, close parenthesis C. parenthesis, 4 comma, negative 6, close parenthesis D. parenthesis, 9 comma, negative 6, close parenthesis Answer and explanation for question 9. Question 10. g of x equals a, x squared, plus 24. For the function g defined, a is a constant and g of 4 equals 8. What is the value of g of negative 4? A. 8 B. 0 C. negative 1 D. negative 8 Answer and explanation for question 10. The SAT® Copyright 2015 by the College Board Page 10 WF-5KSA09 Question 11. b equals 2.35 plus 0.25x c equals 1.75 plus 0.40x In the preceding equations, b and c represent the price per pound, in dollars, of beef and chicken, respectively, x weeks after July 1 during last summer. What was the price per pound of beef when it was equal to the price per pound of chicken? A. $2.60 B. $2.85 C. $2.95 D. $3.35 Answer and explanation for question 11. Question 12. A line in the xy-plane passes through the origin and has a slope of one seventh. Which of the following points lies on the line? A. parenthesis, 0 comma 7, close parenthesis B. parenthesis, 1 comma 7, close parenthesis C. parenthesis, 7 comma 7, close parenthesis D. parenthesis, 14 comma 2, close parenthesis Answer and explanation for question 12. The SAT® Copyright 2015 by the College Board Page 11 WF-5KSA09 Question 13. If x is greater than 3, which of the following is equivalent to the fraction whose numerator is 1, and whose denominator is the sum of fraction, 1 over x plus 2, end fraction, and the fraction 1 over x plus 3, end fraction, end expression? A. the fraction whose numerator is 2x plus 5, and whose denominator is x squared, plus 5x, plus 6. B. the fraction whose numerator is x squared plus 5x plus 6, and whose denominator is 2x plus 5. C. 2x plus 5 D. x squared plus 5x plus 6 Answer and explanation for question 13. Question 14. If 3x minus y equals 12, what is the value of the fraction 8 to the power x, over 2 to the power y? A. B. 2 to the power 12 4 to the power 4 C. 8 to the power 2 D. The value cannot be determined from the information given. Answer and explanation for question 14. The SAT® Copyright 2015 by the College Board Page 12 WF-5KSA09 Question 15. If parenthesis, a, x plus 2, close parenthesis, times, parenthesis, bx plus 7, close parenthesis, equals 15x squared, plus cx, plus 14, for all values of x, and a, plus b equals 8, what are the two possible values for c ? A. 3 and 5 B. 6 and 35 C. 10 and 21 D. 31 and 41 Answer and explanation for question 15. Question 16. If t is greater than 0 and value of t ? t squared minus 4 equals 0, what is the Answer and explanation for question 16. The SAT® Copyright 2015 by the College Board Page 13 WF-5KSA09 Directions For questions 16 through 20, solve the problem and enter your answer in the grid, as described below, on the answer sheet. 1. Although not required, it is suggested that you write your answer in the boxes at the top of the columns to help you fill in the circles accurately. You will receive credit only if the circles are filled in correctly. 2. Mark no more than one circle in any column. 3. No question has a negative answer. 4. Some problems may have more than one correct answer. In such cases, grid only one answer. 5. Mixed numbers such as three and one half must be gridded as 3.5 or seven slash two. (If will be interpreted as three, one, slash, two, is entered into the grid, it thirty one halves, not three and one half.) 6. Decimal answers: If you obtain a decimal answer with more digits than the grid can accommodate, it may be either rounded or truncated, but it must fill the entire grid. The SAT® Copyright 2015 by the College Board Page 14 WF-5KSA09 The following are four examples of how to record your answer in the spaces provided. Keep in mind that there are four spaces provided to record each answer. Examples 1 and 2 Begin skippable figure description. Example 1: If your answer is a fraction such as seven-twelfths, it should be recorded as follows. Enter 7 in the first space, the fraction bar (a slash) in the second space, 1 in the third space, and 2 in the fourth space. All four spaces would be used in this example. Example 2: If your answer is a decimal value such as 2.5, it could be recorded as follows. Enter 2 in the second space, the decimal point in the third space, and 5 in the fourth space. Only three spaces would be used in this example. End skippable figure description. The SAT® Copyright 2015 by the College Board Page 15 WF-5KSA09 Example 3 Begin skippable figure description. Example 3: Acceptable ways to record two-thirds are: 2 slash 3, .666, and .667. End skippable figure description. The SAT® Copyright 2015 by the College Board Page 16 WF-5KSA09 Example 4 Note: You may start your answers in any column, space permitting. Columns you don’t need to use should be left blank. Begin skippable figure description. Example 4: It is not necessary to begin recording answers in the first space unless all four spaces are needed. For example, if your answer is 201, you may record 2 in the second space, 0 in the third space, and 1 in the fourth space. Alternatively, you may record 2 in the first space, 0 in the second space, and 1 in the third space. Spaces not needed should be left blank. End skippable figure description. The SAT® Copyright 2015 by the College Board Page 17 WF-5KSA09 Question 17 is based on the following graphic. Begin skippable figure description. The figure presents the outline of a lake and some geometric figures with measurements. In the figure, from point A, which is on the top side of the lake, to point E, which is on the bottom side of the lake, the length of the lake, AE, is labeled x feet. To the right of the lake, line segments AC and ED are drawn such that AC slants downward, ED slants upward, and both line segments intersect at point B that is to the right of the lake. In triangle AEB and triangle CDB, angle AEB and angle CDB are both marked with an angle symbol. End skippable figure description. Question 17. A summer camp counselor wants to find a length, x, in feet, across a lake as represented in the preceding sketch. The lengths represented by AB, EB, BD, and CD on the sketch were determined to be 1800 feet, 1400 feet, 700 feet, and 800 feet, respectively. Segments AC and DE intersect at B, and angle AEB and angle CDB have the same measure. What is the value of x ? Answer and explanation for question 17. The SAT® Copyright 2015 by the College Board Page 18 WF-5KSA09 Question 18 is based on the following system of equations. x plus y equals negative 9 x plus 2y equals negative 25 Question 18. According to the preceding system of equations, what is the value of x ? Answer and explanation for question 18. Question 19. In a right triangle, one angle measures x degrees, where x degrees equals four fifths. What is sine of cosine of, parenthesis, 90 degrees minus x degrees, close parenthesis ? Answer and explanation for question 19. Question 20. If a, equals 5 times the square root of 2 and root of 2x, what is the value of x ? 2a, equals the square Answer and explanation for question 20. Stop. If you finish before time is called, you may check your work on this section only. Do not turn to any other section. Answers and explanations for questions 1 through 20 are provided in the next section of this document. The SAT® Copyright 2015 by the College Board Page 19 WF-5KSA09 Answers and Explanations for Questions 1 through 20. Explanation for question 1. Choice D is correct. Since k equals 3, one can substitute 3 for k in the equation the fraction whose numerator is x minus 1, and whose denominator is 3, equals k which gives the fraction whose numerator is x minus 1, and whose denominator is 3, equals 3. Multiplying both sides of the fraction whose numerator is x minus 1 and whose denominator is 3, equals 3, by 3 gives x minus 1, equals 9 and then adding 1 to both sides of x minus 1, equals 9 gives x equals 10. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because the result of subtracting 1 from the value and dividing by 3 is not the given value of k, which is 3. Explanation for question 2. Choice A is correct. To calculate parenthesis, 7 plus 3i, close parenthesis, plus, parenthesis, negative 8 plus 9i, close parenthesis, add the real parts of each complex number, 7 plus, parenthesis, negative 8, close parenthesis, equals negative 1, and then add the imaginary parts, The result is negative 1 plus 12i. 3i plus 9i, equals 12i. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect and likely result from common errors that arise when adding complex numbers. For example, Choice B is the result of adding 3i and negative 9i Choice C is the result of adding 7 and 8. The SAT® Copyright 2015 by the College Board Page 20 WF-5KSA09 Explanation for question 3. Choice C is correct. The total number of messages sent by Armand is the 5 hours he spent texting multiplied by his rate of texting: m texts per hour, times 5 hours, equals 5 m texts. Similarly, the total number of messages sent by Tyrone is the 4 hours he spent texting multiplied by his rate of texting: p texts per hour, times 4 hours, equals 4 p texts. The total number of messages sent by Armand and Tyrone is the sum of the total number of messages sent by Armand and the total number of messages sent by Tyrone: 5m plus 4p. Choice A is incorrect and arises from adding the coefficients and multiplying the variables of 5m and 4p. Choice B is incorrect and is the result of multiplying 5m and 4p. The total number of messages sent by Armand and Tyrone should be the sum of 5m and 4p, not the product of these terms. Choice D is incorrect because it multiplies Armand’s number of hours spent texting by Tyrone’s rate of texting, and vice versa. This mix-up results in an expression that does not equal the total number of messages sent by Armand and Tyrone. Explanation for question 4. Choice B is correct. The value 108 in the equation is the value of P in P equals 108 minus 23d, when d equals 0. When d equals 0, Kathy has worked 0 days that week. In other words, 108 is the number of phones left before Kathy has started work for the week. Therefore, the meaning of the value 108 in the equation is that Kathy starts each week with 108 phones to fix because she has worked 0 days and has 108 phones left to fix. The SAT® Copyright 2015 by the College Board Page 21 WF-5KSA09 Choice A is incorrect, because Kathy will complete the repairs when Since P equals 108 minus 23d, this will occur when 0 equals 108 minus 23d, or when P equals 0. d equals the fraction 108 over 23, not when d equals 108. Therefore, the value 108 in the equation does not represent the number of days it will take Kathy to complete the repairs. Choices C and D are incorrect because the number 23 in P equals 108 minus 23, P equals 108 indicates that the number of phones left will decrease by 23 for each increase in the value of d by 1; in other words, that Kathy is repairing phones at a rate of 23 per day, not 108 per hour (choice C) or 108 per day (choice D). Explanation for question 5. Choice C is correct. Only like terms, with the same variables and exponents, can be combined to determine the answer as shown here: Parenthesis, x squared, y, minus 3y squared, plus 5xy squared, close parenthesis, minus, parenthesis, negative x squared, y, plus 3xy squared, minus 3y squared, close parenthesis. Equals, parenthesis, x squared, y, minus, parenthesis, negative x squared, y, close double parentheses, plus, parenthesis, negative 3y squared, minus, parenthesis, negative 3y squared, close double parentheses, plus, parenthesis, 5xy squared, minus 3xy squared, close parenthesis. Equals, 2x squared, y, plus 0, plus 2xy squared. Equals, 2x squared, y, plus 2xy squared Choices A, B, and D are incorrect and are the result of common calculation errors or of incorrectly combining like and unlike terms. The SAT® Copyright 2015 by the College Board Page 22 WF-5KSA09 Explanation for question 6. Choice A is correct. In the equation of the boy, increases by 1, then h becomes h equals 3a, plus 28.6 if a, the age h equals 3, parenthesis, a, plus 1, close parenthesis, plus 28.6, equals, 3a, plus 3, plus 28.6, equals, parenthesis, 3a, plus 28.6, close parenthesis, plus 3. Therefore, the model estimates that the boy’s height increases by 3 inches each year. Alternatively: The height, h, is a linear function of the age, a, of the boy. The coefficient 3 can be interpreted as the rate of change of the function; in this case, the rate of change can be described as a change of 3 inches in height for every additional year in age. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect and are likely to result from common errors in calculating the value of h or in calculating the difference between the values of h for different values of a. Explanation for question 7. Choice B is correct. Since the right hand side of the equation is P times the expression, The fraction whose numerator is, parenthesis, the fraction r over 1,200, close parenthesis, times, parenthesis, 1 plus the fraction r over 1,200, close parenthesis, to the power N, and whose denominator is, parenthesis, 1 plus the fraction r over 1,200, close parenthesis, to the power N, minus 1, end fraction. multiplying both sides of the equation by the reciprocal of this expression results in The SAT® Copyright 2015 by the College Board Page 23 WF-5KSA09 The reciprocal of the expression times m equals P, where the reciprocal of the expression is the fraction whose numerator is, parenthesis, 1 plus the fraction r over 1,200, close parenthesis, to the power N, minus 1, and whose denominator is, parenthesis, the fraction r over 1,200, close parenthesis, times, parenthesis, 1 plus the fraction r over 1,200, close parenthesis, to the power N. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect and are likely the result of conceptual or computation errors while trying to solve for P. Explanation for question 8. Choice C is correct. Since the fraction a, over b equals 2, it follows that the fraction b over a, equals one half. Multiplying both sides of the equation by 4 gives 4 times, parenthesis, the fraction b over a, close parenthesis, equals the fraction 4b over a, equals 2. Choice A is incorrect because if the fraction 4b over a, equals 0, then fraction a over b would be undefined. Choice B is incorrect because if fraction 4b over a equals 1, then incorrect because if the the the fraction a, over b equals 4. Choice D is the fraction 4b over a, equals 4, then the fraction a over b equals 1. The SAT® Copyright 2015 by the College Board Page 24 WF-5KSA09 Explanation for question 9. Choice B is correct. Adding x and 19 to both sides of 2y minus x equals negative 19 gives x equals 2y plus 19. Then substituting 2y plus 19 for x in 3x plus 4y equals negative 23, gives 3 times, parenthesis, 2y plus 19, close parenthesis, plus 4y equals negative 23. This last equation is equivalent to 10y plus 57 equals negative 23. Solving 10y plus 57 equals negative 23 gives y equals negative 8. Finally, substituting negative 8 for y in 2y minus x equals negative 19, gives 2 times, parenthesis, negative 8, close parenthesis, minus x, equals negative 19, or x equals 3. Therefore, the solution parenthesis, x comma y, close parenthesis, to the given system of equations is parenthesis, 3 comma negative 8, close parenthesis. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because when the given values of x and y are substituted in 2y minus x equals negative 19, the value of the left side of the equation does not equal negative 19. Explanation for question 10. Choice A is correct. Since g is an even function, g of negative 4, equals, g of 4, equals 8. Alternatively: First find the value of a, and then find g of 4 equals 8, substituting 4 for x and 8 for g of negative 4. Since g of x gives 8 equals a, parenthesis, 4, close parenthesis, squared, plus 24, equals 16a, plus 24. Solving this last equation gives Thus a, equals negative 1. g of x equals negative x squared, plus 24, from which it follows that g of negative 4 equals, negative, parenthesis, negative 4, close parenthesis, squared, plus 24; equals, negative 16, plus 24, and The SAT® Copyright 2015 by the College Board g of negative 4 g of negative 4 equals 8. The other choices Page 25 WF-5KSA09 are incorrect because g is a function and there can only be one value of negative 4. g of Explanation for question 11. Choice D is correct. To determine the price per pound of beef when it was equal to the price per pound of chicken, determine the value of x (the number of weeks after July 1) when the two prices were equal. The prices were equal when b equals c; that is, when 2.35 plus 0.25x, equals, 1.75 plus 0.40 x. This last equation is equivalent to 0.60 equals 0.15 x, and so x equals, the fraction whose numerator is 0.60 and whose denominator is 0.15, equals 4. Then to determine b, the price per pound of beef, substitute 4 for x in b equals 2.35 plus 0.25x, which gives b equals 2.35 plus 0.25, parenthesis, 4, close parenthesis, equals, 3.35 dollars per pound. Choice A is incorrect. It results from using the value 1, not 4, for x in b equals 2.35 plus 0.25x. Choice B is incorrect. It results from using the value 2, not 4, for x in b equals 2.35 plus 0.25x. Choice C is incorrect. It results from using the value 3, not 4, for x in c equals 1.75 plus 0.40x. Explanation for question 12. Choice D is correct. Determine the equation of the line to find the relationship between the x- and y-coordinates of points on the line. All lines through the origin are of the form y equals mx, so the equation is y equals one seventh x. A point lies on the line if and only if its y-coordinate is one seventh of its x-coordinate. Of the given choices, only choice D, this condition: parenthesis, 14 comma 2, close parenthesis, satisfies 2 equals one seventh times, parenthesis, 14, close parenthesis. The SAT® Copyright 2015 by the College Board Page 26 WF-5KSA09 Choice A is incorrect because the line determined by the origin 0 comma 0, close parenthesis, and the vertical line with equation y-axis is undefined, not parenthesis, parenthesis, 0 comma 7, close parenthesis, is x equals 0; that is, the y-axis. The slope of the one seventh. Therefore, the point parenthesis, 0 comma 7, close parenthesis, does not lie on the line that passes the origin and has slope one seventh. None of the other coordinate pairs satisfy the equation y equals mx. Explanation for question 13. Choice B is correct. To rewrite the expression which is a fraction whose numerator is 1, and whose denominator is the sum of the fraction, 1 over x plus 2, and the fraction 1 over x plus 3, end expression, multiply by the fraction whose numerator is, parenthesis, x plus 2, close parenthesis, times, parenthesis, x plus 3, close parenthesis, and whose denominator is, parenthesis, x plus 2, close parenthesis, times, parenthesis, x plus 3, close parenthesis. This results in the expression the fraction whose numerator is, parenthesis, x plus 2, close parenthesis, times, parenthesis, x plus 3, close parenthesis, and whose denominator is, parenthesis, x plus 3, close parenthesis, plus, parenthesis, x plus 2, close parenthesis, which is equivalent to the expression in choice B. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect and could be the result of common algebraic errors that arise while manipulating a complex fraction. The SAT® Copyright 2015 by the College Board Page 27 WF-5KSA09 Explanation for question 14. Choice A is correct. One approach is to express the fraction 8 to the power x, over 2 to the power y so that the numerator and denominator are expressed with the same base. Since 2 and 8 are both powers of 2, substituting 2 cubed for 8 in the numerator of the fraction 8 to the power x, over 2 to the power y gives the fraction whose numerator is, parenthesis, 2 cubed, close parenthesis, to the power x, and whose denominator is 2 to the power y which can be rewritten as the fraction 2 to the power 3x, over 2 to the power y. Since the numerator and denominator of the fraction 2 to the power 3x, over 2 to the power y have a common base, this expression can be rewritten as 2 to the 3x minus y power. It is given that 3x minus y equals 12 so one can substitute 12 for the exponent, giving that the expression equal to 3x minus y, the fraction 8 to the power x, over 2 to the power y, is 2 to the power 12. Choices B and C are incorrect because they are not equal to Choice D is incorrect because the value of 2 to the power 12. the fraction 8 to the power x, over 2 to the power y, can be determined. The SAT® Copyright 2015 by the College Board Page 28 WF-5KSA09 Explanation for question 15. Choice D is correct. One can find the possible values of a and b in parenthesis, a, x plus 2, close parenthesis, times, parenthesis, bx plus 7, close parenthesis, by using the given equation a, plus b equals 8, and finding another equation that relates the variables a and b. Since parenthesis, a, x plus 2, close parenthesis, times, parenthesis, bx plus 7, close parenthesis, equals, 15x squared, plus cx plus 14, one can expand the left side of the equation to obtain a, bx squared, plus 7a, x, plus 2bx, plus 14, equals, 15x squared, plus cx, plus 14. Since ab is the coefficient of , x squared on the left side of the equation and 15 is the coefficient of x squared on the right side of the equation, it must be true that a, b equals 15. Since a, plus b equals 8, it follows that b equals 8 minus a. Thus a, b equals 15 can be rewritten as a, times, parenthesis, 8 minus a, close parenthesis, equals 15, which in turn can be rewritten as minus 8a, plus 15, equals 0. Factoring gives a, squared parenthesis, a, minus 3, close parenthesis, times, parenthesis, a, minus 5, close parenthesis, equals 0. Thus, either a, equals 3 and b equals 5, or a, equals 5 and b equals 3. If a, equals 3 and b equals 5, then parenthesis, a, x plus 2, close parenthesis, times, parenthesis, bx plus 7, close parenthesis, equals, parenthesis 3x plus 2, close parenthesis, times, parenthesis, 5x plus 7, close parenthesis, equals, 15x squared, plus 31x, plus 14. Thus, one of the possible values of c is 31. If a, equals 5 and b equals 3, then parenthesis, a, x plus 2, close parenthesis, times, parenthesis, bx plus 7, close parenthesis, equals, parenthesis, 5x plus 2, close parenthesis, times, parenthesis, 3x plus 7, close parenthesis, equals 15x squared, plus 41x, plus 14. Thus another possible value for c is 41. Therefore, the two possible values for c are 31 and 41. The SAT® Copyright 2015 by the College Board Page 29 WF-5KSA09 Choice A is incorrect; the numbers 3 and 5 are possible values for a and b, but not possible values for c. Choice B is incorrect; if a, equals 5 and b equals 3, then 6 and 35 are the coefficients of x when the expression parenthesis, 5x plus 2, close parenthesis, times, parenthesis, 3x plus 7, close parenthesis, is expanded as 15x squared, plus 35x, plus 6x, plus 14. However, when the coefficients of x are 6 and 35, the value of c is 41 and not 6 and 35. Choice C is incorrect; if a, equals 3 and b equals 5, then 10 and 21 are the coefficients of x when the expression parenthesis, 3x plus 2, close parenthesis, times, parenthesis, 5x plus 7, close parenthesis, is expanded as 15x squared, plus 21x, plus 10x, plus 14. However, when the coefficients of x are 10 and 21, the value of c is 31 and not 10 and 21. Explanation for question 16. The correct answer is 2. To solve for t, factor the left side of minus 4 equals 0, giving t squared parenthesis, t minus 2, close parenthesis, parenthesis, t plus 2, close parenthesis, equals 0. Therefore, either t minus 2 equals 0, or t plus 2 equals 0. If t minus 2 equals 0, then t equals 2, and if t plus 2 equals 0, then t equals negative 2. Since it is given that t is greater than 0, the value of t must be 2. Another way to solve for t is to add 4 to both sides of equals 0, giving t squared minus 4 t squared equals 4. Then taking the square root of the left and right side of the equation gives t equals plus or minus the square root of 4, equals, plus or minus 2. Since it is given that t is greater than 0, the value of t must be 2. The SAT® Copyright 2015 by the College Board Page 30 WF-5KSA09 Explanation for question 17. The correct answer is 1600. It is given that angle AEB and angle CDB have the same measure. Since angle AEB and angle CDB are vertical angles, they have the same measure. Therefore, triangle EAB is similar to triangle DCB because the triangles have two pairs of congruent corresponding angles (angle-angle criterion for similarity of triangles). Since the triangles are similar, the corresponding sides are in the same proportion; thus the fraction CD over x equals the fraction BD over EB. Substituting the given values of 800 for CD, 700 for BD, and 1400 for EB in the fraction CD over x equals the fraction BD over EB. gives the fraction 800 over x, equals, the fraction 700 over 1,400. Therefore, x equals the fraction whose numerator is, parenthesis, 800, close parenthesis, times, parenthesis, 1,400, close parenthesis, and whose denominator is 700, equals 1600 Explanation for question 18. The correct answer is 7. Subtracting the left and right sides of x plus y equals negative 9 from the corresponding sides of x plus 2y equals negative 25, gives parenthesis, x plus 2y, close parenthesis, minus, parenthesis, x plus y, close parenthesis, equals, negative 25, minus, parenthesis, negative 9, close parenthesis, which is equivalent to y equals negative 16. Substituting negative 16 for y in x plus y equals negative 9, gives x plus, parenthesis, negative 16, close parenthesis, equals, negative 9, which is equivalent to x equals negative 9, minus, parenthesis, negative 16, close parenthesis, equals 7. The SAT® Copyright 2015 by the College Board Page 31 WF-5KSA09 Explanation for question 19. The correct answer is four fifths or 0.8. By the complementary angle relationship for sine and cosine, sine, parenthesis, x degrees, close parenthesis, equals, cosine, parenthesis, 90 degrees minus x degrees, close parenthesis. Therefore, cosine, parenthesis, 90 degrees minus x degrees, close parenthesis, equals four fifths. Either the fraction four fifths or its decimal equivalent, 0.8, may be gridded as the correct answer. Alternatively, one can construct a right triangle that has an angle of measure such that x degrees sine, parenthesis, x degrees, close parenthesis, equals four fifths, as shown in the following figure, where sine, parenthesis, x degrees, close parenthesis, is equal to the ratio of the opposite side to the hypotenuse, or four fifths. Begin skippable figure description. The figure presents a triangle with a 90 degree angle. The other two angles of the triangle have degree measures of x and 90 minus x degrees. The side opposite the x degree angle is labeled 4, and the side opposite the 90 degree angle is labeled 5. End skippable figure description. The SAT® Copyright 2015 by the College Board Page 32 WF-5KSA09 Since two of the angles of the triangle are of measure x degrees and 90 degrees, the third angle must have the measure 180 degrees minus 90 degrees, minus x degrees, equals, 90 degrees minus x degrees. From the figure, cosine, parenthesis, 90 degrees minus x degrees, close parenthesis, which is equal to the ratio of the adjacent side to the hypotenuse, is also four fifths. Explanation for question 20. The correct answer is 100. Since can substitute a, equals 5 times the square root of 2, one 5 times the square root of 2 for a in square root of 2x, giving 2a equals the 10 times the square root of 2, equals, the square root of 2x. Squaring each side of 10 times the square root of 2, equals, the square root of 2x gives parenthesis, 10 times the square root of 2, close parenthesis, squared, equals, parenthesis, the square root of 2x, close parenthesis, squared, which simplifies to parenthesis, 10, close parenthesis, squared, times, parenthesis, the square root of 2, close parenthesis, squared, equals, parenthesis, the square root of 2x, close parenthesis, squared, or 200 equals 2x. This gives x equals 100. Checking x equals 100 in the original equation gives 2 times, parenthesis, 5 times the square root of 2, close parenthesis, equals, the square root of, parenthesis, 2, close parenthesis, times, parenthesis, 100, close parenthesis, end square root which is true since 2 times, parenthesis, 5 times the square root of 2, close parenthesis, equals, 10 times the square root of 2, and the square root of, parenthesis, 2, close parenthesis, times, parenthesis, 100, close parenthesis, end square root, equals, parenthesis, the square root of 2, close parenthesis, times, parenthesis, the square root of 100, close parenthesis, equals, 10 times the square root of 2. Stop. This is the end of the answers and explanations for questions 1 through 20. The SAT® Copyright 2015 by the College Board Page 33 WF-5KSA09