ACT Math : Arithmetic

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ACT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #13 : Decimals With Fractions

What fraction is ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Divide  by one.  

Move the decimal place on the numerator 4 units to the right.  Add as many zeros as placeholders for the denominator as many times as the decimal has moved. In other words multiply the numerator and denominator by 10000.

The correct answer is:  

Example Question #14 : Decimals With Fractions

What is the fractional equivalent of the sum ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

First simplify .

Since  has a decimal 3 places from the right, divide this number by , and move the numerator decimal 3 places to the right.  As a result:

This fraction can be reduced fully by using common factors.  Simplify.

Example Question #441 : Arithmetic

An acid-water solution is made in which 65% of the solution is water by volume. How many liters of acid are there in 50 liters of the solution?

Possible Answers:

12.5

17.5

32.5

38.5

Correct answer:

17.5

Explanation:

35% of the solution is acid, therefore 0.35 * 50 = 17.5.

Example Question #1 : Decimals With Fractions

0.3 < 1/3

4 > √17

1/1/8

–|–6| = 6

Which of the above statements is true?

Possible Answers:

0.3 < 1/3

4 > √17

1/< 1/8

–|–6| = 6

Correct answer:

0.3 < 1/3

Explanation:

The best approach to this equation is to evaluate each of the equations and inequalities.  The absolute value of –6 is 6, but the opposite of that value indicated by the “–“ is –6, which does not equal 6.

1/2 is 0.5, while 1/8 is 0.125 so 0.5 > 0.125.

√17 has to be slightly more than the √16, which equals 4, so“>” should be “<”.

Finally, the fraction 1/3 has repeating 3s which makes it larger than 3/10 so it is true.

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Decimal Equivalent Of A Fraction

How much less is  than ?

Possible Answers:

\frac{1}{16} is greater than .

\frac{1}{250}

\frac{2}{250}

\frac{2}{25}

\frac{1}{25}

Correct answer:

\frac{1}{250}

Explanation:

\frac{1}{16}=.0625

.0665-.0625=.004=\frac{4}{1000}=\frac{1}{250}

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Decimal Equivalent Of A Fraction

The ogre under the bridge eats  of a pizza and then throws the rest of the pizza to the rats. The rats eat  of what is left. What fraction of the pizza is left when the rats are done?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

1/5 of the pizza is left after the ogre eats his share. The rats eat 3/4 of that, so 1/4 of 1/5 of the pizza is left.

1/4 * 1/5 = 1/20 = 5%

Example Question #1 : Decimals

Which of the following numbers is between 1/5 and 1/6?

Possible Answers:

0.22

0.16

0.19

0.13

0.25

Correct answer:

0.19

Explanation:

Long division shows that 1/5 = 0.20 and 1/6 = 0.16666...  0.13 < 0.16 < 1/6 < 0.19 < 1/5 < 0.22 < 0.25.

Example Question #442 : Arithmetic

Trevor, James, and Will were each given a candy bar. Trevor ate 7/12 of his and Will ate 20% of his. If James ate more than Will and less than Trevor, what amount could James have eaten?

Possible Answers:

1/10

8/9

3/5

2/7

9/15

Correct answer:

2/7

Explanation:

Turn Trevor and Will’s amounts into decimals to compare: 20% = 0.20  and 7/12 = 0.5083 rounded. When the answer choices are converted into decimals, 2/7 = 0.2871 is the only value between 0.20 and 0.5083.

Example Question #1516 : Act Math

Write the following fraction as a decimal rounded to three decimal places: 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

This is a problem best solved with a calculator, but we will also cover how to work it out by hand, as well as how to eliminate a few answers.

The given fraction is very close to , which means it should just be a little below . Eliminate any answers which are greater than . You can solve this problem more precisely by using your calculator; by dividing  by , you end up with the answer . Rounding to three decimal places means rounding that answer up to , the correct answer.

To work this out by hand, set the problem up as division problem with  underneath the division sign:

Fraction1516

Example Question #3 : How To Find The Decimal Equivalent Of A Fraction

Possible Answers:

0.07

0.04

0.01

0.05

0.10

Correct answer:

0.07

Explanation:

Multiply numerator by the other numerator and multiply the denominator by the other denominator for multiplication. To divide fractions, switch numerator and denominator and treat it as multiplication. The answer is 0.07.

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