Victory for the ACT Student Text 15e

194 • M ATH

If x x 3 4 7 2 + = − 1

, x

?

3. (E)

‘” –Š‹• ‹–‡ǡ ›‘— ‡‡† –‘ •‘Ž˜‡ ˆ‘” šǣ

3.

A. B. C. D.

x x + = − − = − − − = − = x x x x x 3 4 7 2 3 7 2 4 4 6 4 6 4 6 2 3

4

1

2

3

1

5

= = =

1

2

2

E. 1

3

1

2

4. The ratio of the radii of two circles is :3 4 . What is the ratio of their areas? F. :7 1 G. :3 4

4. (H) With this item, since the ratio of the radii of the two circles is :3 4 , the ratio of

2

r r

r

(3)

16 9

16 9

their areas is

.

9: 16

H. :9 16 J. 3: 4 r K. 9: 16 r

r

2

(4)

PACING

The Mathematics Test consists of 60 items. The time limit is 60 minutes. The items are arranged ‘ ƒ Žƒ††‡” ‘ˆ †‹ˆϐ‹…—Ž–›ǡ •‘ ›‘—ǯŽŽ ‡‡† ƒ ’ƒ…‹‰ ’Žƒ –Šƒ– Š‡Ž’• ›‘— ‘˜‡ ‘”‡ “—‹…Ž› –Š”‘—‰Š the easier items at the beginning of the test and allows you to build up a time reserve for the harder items that are located toward the end. The following table summarizes the timing for this approach: ITEM NUMBERS TIME TO SPEND PER ITEM TOTAL TIME SPENT #1–10 36 seconds 6 minutes #11–20 42 seconds 13 minutes #21–30 54 seconds 22 minutes #31–40 66 seconds 33 minutes #41–50 72 seconds 45 minutes #51–60 90 seconds 60 minutes This table is a schedule for the best of all possible math worlds. It’s intended to be a guideline, not a rule. Try to stay on schedule, but be prepared to adjust your timing according to how many items you can realistically complete. Trying to stay on a schedule during the test will help you avoid the two biggest time wasters for timed tests. First, staying on schedule will ensure that you are not plodding through the easy items at the „‡‰‹‹‰ ‘ˆ –Š‡ –‡•–Ǥ – ϐ‹”•–ǡ ™‹–Š ƒ ͸ͲǦ‹—–‡ –‹‡ Ž‹‹–ǡ ‹– ™‹ŽŽ •‡‡ Ž‹‡ ›‘—ǯ˜‡ ‰‘– ƒŽŽ –Š‡ time in the world. But you don’t. From the moment the test begins, you’re behind schedule and playing catch-up. So, keep a sense of urgency. Second, the schedule will serve as a constant reminder that you cannot afford to spend too much –‹‡ ‘ ƒ› ‘‡ ’”‘„Ž‡Ǥ ˆ ›‘— ƒ‡ ƒ ‹•–ƒ‡ ƒ† •’‡† –Š”‡‡ ‹—–‡• ‘ ‹–‡ ͓ʹʹǡ ›‘—ǯŽŽ ϐ‹† that you’re falling behind schedule. Leave that problem, hoping you’ll have time at the end of the –‡•– –‘…‘‡ „ƒ… ƒ† ϐ‹‹•Š ‹–Ǥ —– •’‡†‹‰ –Š”‡‡ ‹—–‡• –‘ ‰‡– 1 when three minutes could get you ͷ ‹• ƒ ‹‡ˆϐ‹…‹‡– —•‡ ‘ˆ –‹‡Ǥ

The Cambridge Edge Items are arranged on a Žƒ††‡” ‘ˆ †‹ˆϐ‹…—Ž–›Ǥ ˆ…‘—”•‡ǡ ›‘— can’t tell this from the four examples provided in the Anatomy section, but the ladder ‘ˆ †‹ˆϐ‹…—Ž–› ‹• ƒ important feature of the math test. Given that the problems become ‘”‡ †‹ˆϐ‹…—Ž– ƒ• you proceed, you’re obviously going to have to make some important decisions about speed and possibly randomly guessing on some items. You’ll get more advice on this later.