SAT II Math I : Mathematical Relationships

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT II Math I

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Example Questions

Example Question #4 : How To Find Direct Variation

The amount of money you earn is directly proportional to the nunber of hours you worked. On the first day, you earned $32 by working 4 hours.  On the second day, how many hours do you need to work to earn $48.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 7\)

\(\displaystyle 4\)

\(\displaystyle 6\)

\(\displaystyle 3\)

\(\displaystyle 5\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 6\)

Explanation:

The general formula for direct proportionality is 

\(\displaystyle M=kh\)

where \(\displaystyle M\) is how much money you earned, \(\displaystyle k\) is the proportionality constant, and \(\displaystyle h\) is the number of hours worked.

Before we can figure out how many hours you need to work to earn $48, we need to find the value of \(\displaystyle k\). It is given that you earned $32 by working 4 hours. Plug these values into the formula

\(\displaystyle 32=4k\)

Solve for \(\displaystyle k\) by dividing both sides by 4.

\(\displaystyle \frac{32}{4}=\frac{4k}{4}\)

\(\displaystyle 8=k\)

So \(\displaystyle k=8\). We can use this to find out the hours you need to work to earn $48. With \(\displaystyle k=8\), we have

\(\displaystyle M=8h\)

Plug in $48.

\(\displaystyle 48=8h\)

Divide both sides by 8

\(\displaystyle \frac{48}{8}=\frac{8h}{8}\)

\(\displaystyle 6=h\)

So you will need to work 6 hours to earn $48.

Example Question #81 : Mathematical Relationships

The quantity x varies directly with y. If x is 26 when y is 100, find x when y is 200.

Possible Answers:

13

104

26

6.5

52

Correct answer:

52

Explanation:

We must set up a proportion. Since x varies directly with y, when y is multiplied by 2, x is also multiplied by 2. 26 times 2 is 52.

Direct variation: \(\displaystyle \frac{x_1}{x_2}=\frac{y_1}{y_2}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{26}{x_2}=\frac{100}{200}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{26}{x_2}=\frac{1}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle x_2=2(26)=52\)

Example Question #12 : Direct Proportionality

The number of pizzas is directly proportional to the number of people attending the party. If \(\displaystyle 6\) pizzas are needed for \(\displaystyle 12\) people, how many pizzas are needed for \(\displaystyle 18\) people?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 10\)

\(\displaystyle 9\)

\(\displaystyle 8\)

\(\displaystyle 36\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 9\)

Explanation:

Let \(\displaystyle y\) be the number of pizzas and \(\displaystyle x\) be the number of people attending. Because \(\displaystyle y\) is directly proportional to \(\displaystyle x\), we have

\(\displaystyle y=kx\)

and from the problem

\(\displaystyle 6=12k\).

Therefore, solving for \(\displaystyle k\) we get:

\(\displaystyle k=0.5,\,\,\, y=0.5x\)

Now solving for \(\displaystyle x=18\),

\(\displaystyle y=0.5(18)=9\)

Thus, for 18 people 9 pizzas are needed.

Example Question #12 : Other Mathematical Relationships

Resistance in a wire to the flow of electricity is calculated by \(\displaystyle R=\frac{\rho L}{A}\) where \(\displaystyle L\) is the length of the wire, \(\displaystyle A\) is the cross sectional area, and \(\displaystyle \rho\) is the predefined resistivity of the material the wire is made of. Which variable (s) is/are directly proportional to the resistance of the wire?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle A\)

\(\displaystyle L\hspace{1mm}and\hspace{1mm}\rho\)

\(\displaystyle L\)

\(\displaystyle L\hspace{1mm} and\hspace{1mm} A\)

\(\displaystyle \rho\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle L\hspace{1mm}and\hspace{1mm}\rho\)

Explanation:

Direct proportionality results when two quantities increase or decrease at the same time. In the formula for resistance, \(\displaystyle R=\frac{\rho L}{A}\), as \(\displaystyle L\) increases so too does \(\displaystyle R\). The same is true for \(\displaystyle \rho\).  It helps to think of these variables in terms of numbers. When the numerator of this formula is increased and the denominator remains the same, the overall quotient would be larger. The opposite is true if the numerator is decreased and the denominator remains the same (quotient would be smaller).

Example Question #11 : Basic Single Variable Algebra

Write the following equation:

k and x are directly proportionate to y.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \small x=\frac{y}{k}\)

\(\displaystyle \small y=\frac{x}{k}\)

\(\displaystyle \small x=\frac{k}{y}\)

\(\displaystyle \small y=kx\)

\(\displaystyle \small y=\frac{k}{x}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \small y=kx\)

Explanation:

Direct proportionality means that as one increases so does the other. The equation that is indicative of this statement is the following:

\(\displaystyle \small y=kx\)

Example Question #14 : Direct Proportionality

The amount of money earned in a week while working in a snow shoveling business is directly proportional to the number of driveways that the workers shovel. If the business earned $3000 in a week while shoveling 600 driveways how much did they earn for shoveling each driveway?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \$5\)

\(\displaystyle \$6\)

\(\displaystyle \$12\)

\(\displaystyle \$10\)

\(\displaystyle \$8.50\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \$5\)

Explanation:

Direct proportionality means you should use the equation \(\displaystyle y=kx\)

The question says that the amount of money earned by the business is directly proportional to the number of driveways shoveled so that means y must be the amount of money earned ($3000) and x must be the amount of driveways shoveled (600). Plugging these values into the equation you should get

\(\displaystyle 3000=600k\)

Solve for k by doing the opposite of what is being done to k on both sides of the equation. Since k is being multiplied by 600 divide both sides by 600

\(\displaystyle \frac{3000}{600}=k\)

\(\displaystyle k=5\)

Each driveway earned the snow shoveling business $5

Example Question #15 : Direct Proportionality

The force from gravity (\(\displaystyle g\)) is directly proportional to the inverse of the square of the distance (\(\displaystyle d\)) you are from an object.  Which formula shows that?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle g\propto \frac{1}{\sqrt{d}}\)

\(\displaystyle g\propto d\)

\(\displaystyle g\propto \frac{1}{d^{2}}\)

\(\displaystyle g\propto d^{2}\)

\(\displaystyle g\propto \frac{1}{d}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle g\propto \frac{1}{d^{2}}\)

Explanation:

Breaking down the question one small piece at a time:

"The force from gravity (\(\displaystyle g\)) is directly proportional" means that the gravity term is going to be on one side of the proportional symbol, and everything else is going to be on the other side.

"to the inverse...of the distance" means that the distance will be in the denominator.  As distance gets larger, force will get smaller.

"of the square of the distance" means that the distance will be squared.

Putting it all together gives:

\(\displaystyle g\propto \frac{1}{d^{2}}\)

Example Question #82 : Mathematical Relationships

\(\displaystyle x\) varies directly with \(\displaystyle y\), and inversely with the square root of \(\displaystyle z\).

If \(\displaystyle y=6\) and \(\displaystyle z =64\), then \(\displaystyle x = 10\).

Find \(\displaystyle x\) if \(\displaystyle y=9\) and \(\displaystyle z=144\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 4\tfrac{4}{9}\)

\(\displaystyle 6\tfrac{2}{3}\)

\(\displaystyle 8\tfrac{1}{3}\)

\(\displaystyle 10\)

\(\displaystyle 12\tfrac{1}{2}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 10\)

Explanation:

The variation equation can be written as below. Direct variation will put \(\displaystyle y\) in the numerator, while inverse variation will put \(\displaystyle \sqrt{z}\) in the denominator. \(\displaystyle k\) is the constant that defines the variation.

\(\displaystyle x=k* \frac{y}{\sqrt{z}}\)

To find constant of variation, \(\displaystyle k\), substitute the values from the first scenario given in the question.

\(\displaystyle 10=k* \frac{6}{\sqrt{64}}=k* \frac{6}{8}=k* \frac{3}{4}\)

\(\displaystyle k=10\div\frac{3}{4}}= \frac{40}{3}\)

We can plug this value into our variation equation.

\(\displaystyle x=\frac{40}{3}\cdot \frac{y}{\sqrt{z}}\)

Now we can solve for \(\displaystyle x\) given the values in the second scenario of the question.

\(\displaystyle x=\frac{40}{3}* \frac{9}{\sqrt{144}}=\frac{40}{3}* \frac{9}{12}=10\)

Example Question #921 : Functions And Lines

\(\displaystyle A\) varies inversely as the square root of \(\displaystyle x\). If \(\displaystyle x = 15\), then \(\displaystyle A = 45\). Find \(\displaystyle A\) if \(\displaystyle x = 30\) (nearest tenth, if applicable).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 63.6\)

\(\displaystyle 22.5\)

\(\displaystyle 31.8\)

\(\displaystyle 11.3\)

\(\displaystyle 90\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 31.8\)

Explanation:

The variation equation is \(\displaystyle A = \frac{K}{\sqrt{x}}\) for some constant of variation \(\displaystyle K\).

Substitute the numbers from the first scenario to find \(\displaystyle K\):

\(\displaystyle 45= \frac{K}{\sqrt{15}}\) 

\(\displaystyle K = 45 \sqrt{15}\)

The equation is now \(\displaystyle A = \frac{45 \sqrt{15}}{\sqrt{x}}\).

If \(\displaystyle x = 30\), then

\(\displaystyle A = \frac{45 \sqrt{15}}{\sqrt{30}} \approx 31.8\)

Example Question #83 : Mathematical Relationships

\(\displaystyle y\) varies inversely with three times the square root of \(\displaystyle x\). If \(\displaystyle x=81\), then \(\displaystyle y=2.\)

Find \(\displaystyle y\) if \(\displaystyle x=100\). Round to the nearest tenth if applicable.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 5\)

\(\displaystyle 1.8\)

\(\displaystyle 3\)

\(\displaystyle 2\)

\(\displaystyle 2.5\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 1.8\)

Explanation:

In order to find the value of \(\displaystyle y\) when \(\displaystyle x=100\), first determine the variation equation based on the information provided:

\(\displaystyle y=\frac{K}{3\sqrt{x}}\), for some constant of variation \(\displaystyle K\).

Insert the \(\displaystyle x\) and \(\displaystyle y\) values from the first variance to find the value of \(\displaystyle K\):

\(\displaystyle 2=\frac{K}{3\sqrt{81}}\)

\(\displaystyle 2=\frac{K}{(3\times 9)}\)

\(\displaystyle 2=\frac{K}{27}\)

\(\displaystyle 54=K\)

 

Now that we know \(\displaystyle K=54\), the variation equation becomes:

\(\displaystyle y=\frac{54}{3\sqrt{x}}\)

or  

\(\displaystyle y=\frac{18}{\sqrt{x}}\).

 

Therefore, when \(\displaystyle x=100\):

\(\displaystyle y=\frac{18}{\sqrt{100}}\)

\(\displaystyle y=\frac{18}{10}\)

\(\displaystyle y=1.8\)

 

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