SSAT Middle Level Math : Geometry

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #2 : Area Of A Triangle

Please use the following shape for the question. 5x3-adams-graphoc

What is the area of this shape?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 21\ in^{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 40\ in^{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 15\ in^{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 25\ in^{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 32.5\ in^{2}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 32.5\ in^{2}\)

Explanation:

From this shape we are able to see that we have a square and a triangle, so lets split it into the two shapes to solve the problem. We know we have a square based on the 90 degree angles placed in the four corners of our quadrilateral. 

Since we know the first part of our shape is a square, to find the area of the square we just need to take the length and multiply it by the width. Squares have equilateral sides so we just take 5 times 5, which gives us 25 inches squared.

We now know the area of the square portion of our shape. Next we need to find the area of our right triangle. Since we know that the shape below the triangle is square, we are able to know the base of the triangle as being 5 inches, because that base is a part of the square's side. 

To find the area of the triangle we must take the base, which in this case is 5 inches, and multipy it by the height, then divide by 2. The height is 3 inches, so 5 times 3 is 15. Then, 15 divided by 2 is 7.5. 

We now know both the area of the square and the triangle portions of our shape. The square is 25 inches squared and the triangle is 7.5 inches squared. All that is remaining is to added the areas to find the total area. Doing this gives us 32.5 inches squared. 

Example Question #1 : Area Of A Triangle

What is the area of the triangle?

Question_11

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \small 70\)

\(\displaystyle \small 84\)

\(\displaystyle \small 42\)

\(\displaystyle \small 35\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \small 35\)

Explanation:

Area of a triangle can be determined using the equation:

\(\displaystyle \small A=\frac{1}{2}bh\)

\(\displaystyle \small A=\frac{1}{2}(14)(5)=35\)

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Area Of A Triangle

The hypotenuse of a right triangle is 25 inches; it has one leg 15 inches long. Give its area in square feet.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 1 \frac{13}{24}\textrm{ ft} ^{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 2 \frac{5}{48} \textrm{ ft}^{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 2 \frac{29}{48} \textrm{ ft}^{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 1 \frac{1}{24} \textrm{ ft}^{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 1 \frac{1}{12} \textrm{ ft}^{2}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 1 \frac{1}{24} \textrm{ ft}^{2}\)

Explanation:

The area of a right triangle is half the product of the lengths of its legs, so we need to use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the length of the other leg. Set \(\displaystyle c = 25, b = 15\):

\(\displaystyle a^{2} = c^{2} - b^{2}\)

\(\displaystyle a^{2} = 25^{2} - 15^{2}\)

\(\displaystyle a^{2} = 625-225\)

\(\displaystyle a^{2} =400\)

\(\displaystyle a = \sqrt{400} = 20\)

The legs are 15 and 20 inches long. Divide both dimensions by 12 to convert from inches to feet:

\(\displaystyle 20 \div 12 = \frac{5}{3}\) feet

\(\displaystyle 15 \div 12 = \frac{5}{4}\) feet

Now find half their product:

\(\displaystyle A = \frac{1}{2} \times \frac{5}{3}\times \frac{5}{4} = \frac{25}{24} = 1 \frac{1}{24}\) square feet

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Area Of A Triangle

Rectangles

Note: Figure NOT drawn to scale.

What percent of the above figure is green?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 73 \frac{1}{3} \%\)

The correct answer is not given among the other choices.

\(\displaystyle 68 \frac{8}{9} \%\)

\(\displaystyle 78 \frac{3}{4} \%\)

\(\displaystyle 62\frac{1}{2} \%\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 73 \frac{1}{3} \%\)

Explanation:

The area of the entire rectangle is the product of its length and width, or

\(\displaystyle 120 \times 50 = 6,000\).

The area of the right triangle is half the product of its legs, or

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2} \times 40 \times 80 = 1,600\)

The area of the green region is therefore the difference of the two, or

\(\displaystyle 6,000 - 1,600 = 4,400\).

The green region is therefore

\(\displaystyle \frac{4,400}{6,000} \times 100 = 73 \frac{1}{3} \%\)

of the rectangle.

Example Question #11 : Triangles

Rectangles

Note: Figure NOT drawn to scale.

Refer to the above diagram. Give the ratio of the area of the green region to that of the white region.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 2:1\)

\(\displaystyle 23:7\)

The correct answer is not given among the other choices.

\(\displaystyle 11:4\)

\(\displaystyle 21:9\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 11:4\)

Explanation:

The area of the entire rectangle is the product of its length and width, or

\(\displaystyle 120 \times 50 = 6,000\).

The area of the right triangle is half the product of its legs, or

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2} \times 40 \times 80 = 1,600\)

The area of the green region is therefore the difference of the two, or

\(\displaystyle 6,000 - 1,600 = 4,400\).

The ratio of the area of the green region to that of the white region is 

\(\displaystyle \frac{4,400}{1,600} = \frac{4,400 \div 400}{1,600\div 400} = \frac{11}{4}\)

That is, 11 to 4.

Example Question #51 : Geometry

A triangle has a height of 9 inches and a base that is one third as long as the height. What is the area of the triangle, in square inches?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 27\)

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

\(\displaystyle 9\)

None of these

\(\displaystyle 7\)

Correct answer:

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

Explanation:

The area of a triangle is found by multiplying the base times the height, divided by 2. 

\(\displaystyle \text{Area} =\frac{\text{base}\times \text{height}}{2}\)

Given that the height is 9 inches, and the base is one third of the height, the base will be 3 inches.

\(\displaystyle b=h\div3=9\div3=3\)

We now have both the base (3) and height (9) of the triangle. We can use the equation to solve for the area.

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

\(\displaystyle \text{Area} =\frac{27}{2}\)

The fraction cannot be simplified.

Example Question #11 : Triangles

The hypotenuse of a right triangle is \(\displaystyle 39\) feet; it has one leg \(\displaystyle 36\) feet long. Give its area in square inches.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 38,880 \textrm{ in}^{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 43,120 \textrm{ in}^{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 42,120 \textrm{ in}^{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 77,760 \textrm{ in}^{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 101,088 \textrm{ in}^{2}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 38,880 \textrm{ in}^{2}\)

Explanation:

The area of a right triangle is half the product of the lengths of its legs, so we need to use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the length of the other leg. Set \(\displaystyle c = 39 , b = 36\):

\(\displaystyle a^{2} = c^{2} - b^{2}\)

\(\displaystyle a^{2} = 39 ^{2} - 36^{2}\)

\(\displaystyle a^{2} = 1,521 - 1,296\)

\(\displaystyle a^{2} = 225\)

\(\displaystyle a = \sqrt{225} = 15\)

The legs have length \(\displaystyle 15\) and \(\displaystyle 36\) feet; multiply both dimensions by \(\displaystyle 12\) to convert to inches:

\(\displaystyle 15 \times 12 = 180\) inches

\(\displaystyle 36 \times 12 = 432\) inches.

Now find half the product:

\(\displaystyle A = \frac{1}{2} \cdot 180 \cdot 432 = 38,880\ in^{2}\)

Example Question #41 : Geometry

What is the area (in square feet) of a triangle with a base of \(\displaystyle 4\) feet and a height of \(\displaystyle 7\) feet?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 28\)

\(\displaystyle 21\)

\(\displaystyle 14\)

\(\displaystyle 7\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 14\)

Explanation:

The area of a triangle is found by multiplying the base times the height, divided by \(\displaystyle 2\)

\(\displaystyle Area =\frac{base\cdot height}{2}\)

 \(\displaystyle Area =\frac{4\cdot 7}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle Area=14\)

Example Question #22 : Area Of A Triangle

What is the area of a triangle with a base of \(\displaystyle 12\) and a height of \(\displaystyle 3\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 24\)

\(\displaystyle 18\)

\(\displaystyle 36\)

\(\displaystyle 21\)

\(\displaystyle 8\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 18\)

Explanation:

The formula for the area of a triangle is \dpi{100} Area=\frac{1}{2}\times base\times height\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} Area=\frac{1}{2}\times base\times height\).

Plug the given values into the formula to solve:

\dpi{100} Area=\frac{1}{2}\times 12\times 3\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} Area=\frac{1}{2}\times 12\times 3\)

\dpi{100} Area=\frac{1}{2}\times 36\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} Area=\frac{1}{2}\times 36\)

\dpi{100} Area=18\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} Area=18\)

Example Question #12 : Triangles

Right triangle 2

Give the perimeter of the above triangle in feet.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 3 \frac{1}{3}\textrm{ ft }\)

\(\displaystyle 3 \frac{1}{2}\textrm{ ft }\)

\(\displaystyle 2 \frac{1}{2}\textrm{ ft }\)

\(\displaystyle 2 \frac{2}{3}\textrm{ ft }\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 2 \frac{1}{2}\textrm{ ft }\)

Explanation:

The perimeter of the triangle - the sum of the lengths of its sides - is

\(\displaystyle 5 + 12 + 13 = 30\) inches. 

Divide by 12 to convert to feet:

\(\displaystyle 30 \div 12 = 2 \textrm{ R }6\)

As a fraction, this is \(\displaystyle 2 \frac{6}{12}\) or \(\displaystyle 2 \frac{1}{2}\) feet,

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