AccelePrep for the ACT Test 2nd Edition Student Text

96 • S URGE TO S UCCESS ! M ATH T EST P REP

WORD PROBLEMS

As you’d expect, some math questions are word problems that require addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. 1. A restaurant chef can order lettuce from Purveyor A or Purveyor B. Purveyor A sells a case with 30 heads of lettuce for $36. Purveyor B sells a case with 48 heads of lettuce for $60. Which purveyor’s price, per head of lettuce, is cheaper and by how much? Example: Since this type of problem doesn’t require any advanced math, you’ll ’”‘„ƒ„Ž› ϐ‹† ‹– –‘™ƒ”† –Š‡ „‡‰‹‹‰ ‘ˆ –Š‡ ƒ–Š •‡…–‹‘Ǥ —•– †‘ –Š‡ arithmetic. Word problems also use averages, percentages, ratios, and proportions. 2. ƒ”–› ”‡…‡‹˜‡† –Š‡ ˆ‘ŽŽ‘™‹‰ •…‘”‡• ‘ –Š‡ ϐ‹˜‡ –‡•–• ‰‹˜‡ †—”‹‰ –Š‡ semester: 82, 88, 96, 92, and x Ǥ ˆ Š‹• ƒ˜‡”ƒ‰‡ ‘ –Š‡ ϐ‹˜‡ –‡•–• ™ƒ• ͻͲǡ ™Šƒ– ™ƒ• Š‹• •…‘”‡ ‘ –Š‡ ϐ‹ˆ–Š –‡•–ǫ F. 82 G. 90 H. 91 Ǥ ͻʹ K. 96 Explanations for the example questions are included later in the chapter. Circle your answers now. Later when you reach the explanations at the end of the section, come back and check to make sure you answered the questions correctly. A. A, $0.05 cheaper per head B. A, $1.20 cheaper per head C. They are the same price D. B, $0.05 cheaper per head E. B, $1.25 cheaper per head

ACCELEPREP APPROACH This HyperPrep covers the problem types that appear most often on the ACT test. We concentrate on alternative strategies— techniques that are common sense and avoid cumbersome math procedures. If the strategies taught in this chapter help you to answer just 10 more questions right (out of a total of 60), your ACT math score will be 5 or even 6 points higher.

AVERAGES

Example:

STRATEGY ALERT ‘—…ƒ •‘Ž˜‡ –Š‹• ϐ‹”•– algebra example using a running total: 82 is –8 from the average of 90; 88 is –2; 96 is +6; and 92 is +2. That’s a total of –2. So to make the average 90, the last test has to be +2, or 92.