Solutions to Diagnostic Exercises

1. FORMULAS AND LINEAR EQUATIONS

1. The correct answer is .

6x – 18 = 5

Add 18 to both sides.

6x = 23

Divide by 6 on both sides.

2. The correct answer is (–40°).

Let C = F = x.

Multiply by 9.

Subtract 5x from both sides.

3. The correct answer is (V = πr2h).

V = Bh, B = πr2

Substitute πr2 for B in first equation.

V = πr2h
4. The correct answer is .
t (z – 3) = k

Divide by t.

Add 3 to both sides.

5. The correct answer is (30).

Multiply 3c – d = 30 by –3.

Add the two equations.

Substitute in first equation.

6. The correct answer is (2).

7. The correct answer is (E).

Multiply 5p – q = 9 by 2.

10p – 2q = 18

and

10p – 2q = 7

The two equations represent contradictory statements, and p and q cannot be determined.
8. The correct answer is .

Multiply by 2.

2A = h(b + c)
2A = bh + ch

Subtract ch.

2A – ch = bh

Divide by h.

9. The correct answer is (x = 4, y = 3).

Cross-multiply to find x.

Substitute in first equation.

2. ALGEBRAIC FRACTIONS

1. The correct answer is .

2. The correct answer is (40 gal). Let x = no. of gal tank holds.

Multiply by 8.

3. The correct answer is

4. The correct answer is (4x(x - 1)).

( )( )
4x
x2 − 1 4 x2 x + 1 x − 1 4 x2
x
⋅
x +1
=
x/
⋅
x +1
(
= 4x x + 1)
5. The correct answer is .

Multiply numerator and denominator by x + 3.

6. The correct answer is .

7. The correct answer is (3).

 8. The correct answer is .

9. The correct answer is .

3. SETS
1. The correct answer is (3,5).
A is the set {1,3,5}
B is the set {2,3,4,5}
A ∩ B is the set {3,5}
2. The correct answer is (C).

This value checks in the original equation.

3. The correct answer is (B).

Since a * b = a, b must be the identity element for the operation *.
4. The correct answer is (C).
If P and Q are disjoint sets, they have no elements in common. P ∩ Q = {} (empty set).
 5. The correct answer is (200).

Let x = no. of students studying both.

From the Venn diagram at the left,

6. The correct answer is (8). If S = {a, b, c}, its subsets are ∅, {a}, {b}, {c}, {a, b}, {a, c}, {b, c},
and S.
7. The correct answer is (8). A ∪ B = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10} (8 elements)

4. FUNCTIONS
1. The correct answer is (A). For a relation to be a function, only one value of y exists for any
given value of x. This is true only for x2 + y = 4, a parabola having a vertical axis of symmetry.
2. The correct answer is (3 – 2i). f(x) = x2 – 2x + 4. Substitute i in the equation.

3. The correct answer is (C). Let f(c) = x – x2 = 0

x(1 – x) = 0
x = 0, x = 1 (x-intercepts of parabola)
The axis of symmetry is a vertical line halfway between x = 0 and x = 1, and the maximum value
of f(x) must lie on this line.

4. The correct answer is (f(n) = 3n + 6). Integers are n, (n + 2), and (n + 4).
112 Part IV

5. The correct answer is (2x – 1). f(x) = 2x – 3 and g(x) = x + 1

6. The correct answer is

Solve for x.

Interchange x and y to get f –1 (x).

7. The correct answer is (all real values of y except y = 2).

The function is defined for all values of x except x = 0. Therefore, cannot equal 0.

The range consists of all real values of y except y = 2.

8. The correct answer is (2). where x ≠ 3. Interchange x and y.

Solve for y.

Since
 9. The correct answer is (4x2 + 4x - 1). f(x) = x2 – 2 and g(x) = 2x + 1

5. EXPONENTS
1. The correct answer is (2).

2. The correct answer is (-5). 0.0000753 = 7.53 × 10n

Move the decimal point after the 7, and count back 5 spaces to the original decimal point.

3. The correct answer is (2).

4. The correct answer is .

5. The correct answer is (3 and 4).

5p = 192; 53 = 125 and 54 = 625, p is between 3 and 4

6. The correct answer is (1.6 × 10–5).

Write .000016 as 1.6 × 10–n. Since the decimal point is moved 5 places, the number is 1.6 × 10–5.
 7. The correct answer is .

8. The correct answer is (4).

9. The correct answer is .

6. LOGARITHMS
1. The correct answer is (2.5369).
 2. The correct answer is (A).
logbx = 1+c
b1+c = x

3 . The correct answer is (D). log 2xy = log 2 + log x + log y

4. The correct answer is (C). From the graph, 20 = 1, 21 = 2, 22 = 4 and 23 = 8 where y is the
exponent and x is the power of 2.

Thus, 2y = x or y = log2x

5. The correct answer is (4 and 5). Let log3 92 = x, then 3x = 92.

Since 34 = 81 and 35 = 243, x is between 4 and 5
6. The correct answer is (D). P = K10-xt

7. The correct answer is (B). If logr 6 = S, logr 3 = T, then

7. EQUATIONSQUADRATIC AND RADICAL

1. The correct answer is (9). x2 + 6x + c = 0

2. The correct answer is (3).

3. The correct answer is .

4. The correct answer is (4).

5. The correct answer is (3).

Check both values in original equation.

x = 3 is the only root

6. The correct answer is (0). x2 + y2 = 4 graphs as a circle of radius 2 with center at the origin.
y = 4 graphs as a horizontal line 4 units above the x-axis.
There are no intersections.

7. The correct answer is .

6r – s = 10 or s = 6r –10
Substitute this value of s in original equation.

8. The correct answer is .

 9. The correct answer is ( ).

Substitute a = 1, b = –6, c = 7.

10. The correct answer is (8,4). x + y = 12 or y = 12 – x

x2 + y2 = 80
Substitute y = 12 – x.

8. INEQUALITIES
1. The correct answer is (x > 3).
2. The correct answer is .

3. The correct answer is .

When q = 90°,
When q = 180°, x = 10
When 90 ° < q < 180 ° , < x < 10
4. The correct answer is (D).

5. The correct answer is (p < –3).

6. The correct answer is (D).

If x > y, in (A), (B), and (C), we are adding, dividing, and subtracting z from both sides of the
inequality; none of these operations affects the inequality when z is a positive number. In (E),
since x > y and they are both positive numbers, must be greater than 1. In (D), we wrote the
reciprocal of the two fractions in (B), and this changes the inequality.
 7. The correct answer is (B).

Since t > 0, y > x

8. The correct answer is (A).

(B), (C), (D), and (E) all show increases as t increases when t > 1. In (A), t is in the denomina-
tor, and decreases as t increases beyond 1.

9. VERBAL PROBLEMS

1. The correct answer is (20). Let x = no. of liters of water to be evaporated.

2. The correct answer is (24). Let x = no. of hours to fill the tank.

3. The correct answer is .

r mph (r + 155)mph
5r mi 0 5(r + 15)mi
4 The correct answer is (46). Let t = ten’s digit of original number
u = unit’s digit of original number
10t + u = original number
10u + t = number with reversed digits
t + u = 10

(from the given information)

The original number is 46.

5. The correct answer is (53,55).

6. The correct answer is ($4000 at 5%, $8000 at 7%).

Let x = amount invested at 5%
y = 2x = amount invested at 7%
10. GEOMETRY
1. The correct answer is (35º).

Let PT be a diameter of Circle O.

2. The correct answer is (36º). Let 2x = smallest angle in degrees, 3x and 5x = other two angles
in degrees.

3. The correct answer is (120º).

m (alernate interior angles), and m

Angle x is an exterior angle of ∆DEF and is
equal to the sum of the measures of the two remote interior angles.
x= 50º + 70º = 120º
4. The correct answer is (240).

5. The correct answer is (150).

6. The correct answer is (24).

The tangent is perpendicular to the radius

at the point of tangency.
In right triangle OTP

7. The correct answer is (96 - 16π).

8. The correct answer is .

Let radius of circle be 1.

Side of square is 1 + 1 =2.

9. The correct answer is (130º).

From noon to 4:00 PM., the hour hand has moved from 12 to 4: of 360º = 120º. In the next 20

minutes it moves of the distance from 4:00 to 5:00: of 30º = 10º.

120º + 10º = 130º

10. The correct answer is (125).

11. The correct answer is (6).

12. The correct answer is (56).

13. The correct answer is (3).

14. The correct answer is .

Cross-multiply.
15. The correct answer is (108°).

16. The correct answer is (2).

The locus of points 10 ft. from T is a

circle of radius 10. The locus of points
12 ft from F consists of two parallel
lines 12 ft from F on each side. The
circle and one parallel line intersect in
two points.
17. The correct answer is (C). The only statement that has the same truth value as the given statement is
the contrapositive of the original statement. This is the converse of the inverse of the original statement.

18. The correct answer is (4).

The locus of points 4 units from P is a circle

of radius 4 with center at P. The locus
of points 3 units from the given line consists
of two parallel lines 3 units from the
line. The two parallel lines intersect the
circle in 4 points.
 19. The correct answer is (1).

The locus of points 8 cm from P consists

of two planes parallel to P and 8 cm from
it. The locus of points 12 cm from Q is a
sphere of radius 12 and center at Q. The
sphere intersects one of the parallel planes
in one point (point of tangency).
20. The correct answer is (1080°). The sum of the interior angles of an n-sided polygon is (n – 2) 180°
= 720°. Divide by 180.

The second polygon has 6 + 2 = 8 sides.

Sum of the measures of its interior angles = 180(8 – 2)
= 180(6) = 1080°

11. TRIGONOMETRY
1. The correct answer is (C).
2. The correct answer is (2). cos x(cos x – 2) = 0

3. The correct answer is (I and III). Curves intersect in Quadrants I and III.

4. The correct answer is . Let x = arc tan .

tan x = 2
2 3 6
sin x = ⋅ =
2 3 3

5. The correct answer is .

6. The correct answer is .

7. The correct answer is (90°, 210°, 330°).

8. The correct answer is (1). Let x = arc sin 1, y = arc cos 1.

sin x = 1, x = 90°
cos y = 1, y = 0°
9. The correct answer is (B).

cos A

10. The correct answer is (A). Use the law of sines to find angle B.

Thus B may be acute or obtuse.

11. The correct answer is (cot θ).

12. The correct answer is .

13. The correct answer is .

14. The correct answer is .

Square both sides.

15. The correct answer is (15).

16. The correct answer is (cot 28°). cot x is positive in Quadrant III, so that cot 208° is positive.
cot 208° = cot (208° - 180°) = cot 28°

17. The correct answer is (2).

Graph y = 2 sin x and y = cos 2x on same set of axes in interval -π ≤ x ≤ π . Graph shows 2 values.

18. The correct answer is .

 19. The correct answer is (B). Use law of sines.

B may have two values, one acute or one obtuse. Also, since a < b, two triangles may be constructed.

20. The correct answer is

12. GRAPHS AND COORDINATE GEOMETRY

1. The correct answer is (20).

In ∆PQR, use QR = 8 as base and PH = 5 as altitude.

2. The correct answer is (2, –1). Solve the two equations simultaneously.

3. The correct answer is (y = x + 1). Slope of line:

4. The correct answer is (3,5). Let (x,y) be the coordinates of the midpoint.

Coordinates are (3,5).

5. The correct answer is . The diameter of the semicircle is the hypotenuse of a 6-8-10
triangle. Radius of the semicircle is 5.

6. The correct answer is ( ) . Let OQ = OP = x.

Coordinates of Q are ( )
7. The correct answer is (QI, QIII). Since xy is positive, x and y must be both positive or both
negative. Thus, the graph is in quadrants I and III.

8. The correct answer is .

9. The correct answer is (x = 1). y = f(x) = 2x – x2

The axis of symmetry is a vertical line halfway between x = 0 and x = 2. Its equation is x = 1.

10. The correct answer is .

11. The correct answer is (0). The line y = x lies in QI and QIII.
The curve xy = –6 lies in QII and QIV.
There are no intersections.

12. The correct answer is (1, –5). Find the x-intercepts of the parabola.
Let x2 – 2x – 4 = 0.

The axis of symmetry is a vertical line midway between the two intercepts. Its equation is x = 1.
Substitute in the original equation

Turning point is (1, –5).

13. The correct answer is (D). x2 = y2 + 3 or x2 – y2 = 3, which is a hyperbola.

14. The correct answer is . Find slope of 2x + 3y = 5. Solve for y.

Slope of perpendicular line is negative reciprocal of

15. The correct answer is (14).

Box ∆OPQ into rectangle ORST as shown.

∆OPQ = Rect ORST – (∆ORP + ∆PSQ + ∆OQT)
Rect ORST = 6 x 5 = 30
 16. The correct answer is (–3).

17. The correct answer is .

18. The correct answer is (x = 3). Locus is vertical line through M whose equation is x = 3.

13. NUMBER SYSTEMS AND CONCEPTS

1. The correct answer is (B). Let the numbers be 2n + 1, 2n + 3, and 2n + 5.
Sum = 6n + 9
= 3(2n + 3)
Sum is always divisible by 3.
2. The correct answer is (A). If , st = 64, s ≠ t (integers)
Therefore, s and t cannot both be 8, or s + t cannot be 16.
3. The correct answer is (C). Subtraction and division are not commutative operations,
eliminating (A), (B), and (E).

Using (D) for *, and

Since these two fractions are not equal, (D) is not commutative. Now try (C).

and

These two fractions are equal and (C) is a commutative operation.

4. The correct answer is (B).

c is a perfect square. Since p is even and q is odd, (p – q) is odd and so is (p – q)2.

5. The correct answer is (D). 8 = 5 + 3; 12 = 7 + 5; 18 = 11 + 7; 24 = 19 + 5; but 23 cannot be

written as the sum of two prime numbers.

6. The correct answer is (–1 + 3i).

7. The correct answer is (2i).

8. The correct answer is (1 – 3i).

9. The correct answer is (19i).

10. The correct answer is . Let a + bi = multiplicative inverse of (2 - i).

11. The correct answer is .

12. The correct answer is (34).

13. The correct answer is (–1 + i). i2 = –1; i4 = 1; i5 = i4 ⋅ i = i; i6 = i2 ⋅ i4 = (–1)(1) = –1

14. The correct answer is .

14. ARITHMETIC AND GEOMETRIC PROGRESSIONS
1. The correct answer is (98). d = 5, n = 20

2. The correct answer is (1683). d = 3, l = 99, n = 33

3. The correct answer is .

4. The correct answer is .

 5. The correct answer is (6).

6. The correct answer is .

7. The correct answer is (108).

8. The correct answer is (2760).

15. VECTORS
1. The correct answer is (100, 37°).

From the figure, right triangle ACD is a

3–4–5 triangle, and so AD = 100.

60 3
tan ∠DAC = = = 0.75 m∠DAC ≈ 37°
80 4
2. The correct answer is (17, S 3° E).

m
m

3. The correct answer is (130 mph, S 23° E).

Triangle OQR is a 5–12–13 right triangle,

and so OR = 130.

m
4. The correct answer is (15,26).

Find the components of the velocity vector. Triangle

AOC is a 30–60–90 triangle.
OA =15 and

15 mph northward and 26 mph eastward

5. The correct answer is (5 mph, 37°).

Triangle OAC is a 3–4–5 right triangle.

OC = 5 mph

m
6. The correct answer is (5 mph, 37° to heading of boat).

In the figure we are trying to find . Draw as a vector with mag-

nitude of 3 and opposite in direction to OB . Now find the resultant of

and from the 3–4–5 right triangle AOC. Then OC = 5 and tan
m so that m∠AOC ≈ 37°.

7. The correct answer is (776 lb).

In the figure, , is the

component of parallel to the incline
and pependicular to the incline. Since
the sides of ∠CAW are perpendicular
to the sides of the 15° angle, m∠CAW = 15°.
Then
 8. The correct answer is (26 mph, N 23° E).

The diagram shows the three forces acting

on the ship. The north and south forces
have a resultant of 24 heading north.

Bearing is N 23° E.

16. VARIATION

1. The correct answer is (40).

Substitute in y = kx.

When
2. The correct answer is (y = 2.4).

Substitute in .

When

3. The correct answer is .

Substitute in F = kx.

When

4. The correct answer is (8 lb/in.2).

Substitute in first equation.

When
5. The correct answer is (C).

Multiply R by 3.

I is divided by 3.

6. The correct answer is (s = 16t2).

Substitute in the first equation.

7. The correct answer is (C).

Multiply d by 3.

I is divided by 9.

8. The correct answer is .

Substitute in the first equation.

9. The correct answer is .

Substitute in the first equation.

10. The correct answer is (B).

Multiply m by 2 and d by 2.

F is divided by 2.
 After The Diagnostic Test

Steps to Take after Each Practice Test

1. Check your answers against the answer key that follows the sample test. Determine your raw score
as follows: Count the number of INCORRECT ANSWERS. Take 25% of this number. Subtract 25%
of the incorrect answers from the number of CORRECT ANSWERS. For example, let us assume
that out of the 50 questions you have gotten 36 correct and 12 incorrect and have omitted 2.
Twenty-five % of 12 = 3, so subtract 3 from 36. 36– 3 = 33. Your raw score on this sample test is 33.
(Reported scores are scaled scores, on a scale of 200–800.)
2. Determine your unofficial percentile ranking by consulting the table below.

PERCENTILE RANKING TABLE

(Unofficial)
Approximate Raw Approximate Raw Approximate Raw
Percentile Score Percentile Score Percentile Score
Ranking Ranking Ranking
99 50 77–78 39 57–58 29
97–98 49 75–76 38 55–56 28
95–96 48 73–74 37 53–54 27
93–94 47 71–72 36 51–52 26
91–92 46 69–70 35 49–50 25
89–90 45 67–68 34 47–48 24
87–88 44 65–66 33 45–46 23
85–86 43 63–64 32 43–44 22
83–84 42 61–62 31 41–42 21
81–82 41 59–60 30 0–40 Under 21
79–80 40

3. Carefully go over the solutions to all the questions that you answered incorrectly. Pinpoint the
areas in which you show weakness. Use the following Diagnostic Checklist to establish
the areas that require the greatest application on your part. One check mark after an item means
that you are moderately weak; two check marks means that you are seriously weak.
 DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST

Area of Weakness Check Below

ALGEBRA
APPROXIMATION
EQUATIONS AND VARIATION
EUCLIDEAN GEOMETRY
EXPONENTS
FORMULAS AND LINEAR EQUATIONS
FRACTIONS
FUNCTIONS
GEOMETRY AND VECTORS
GRAPHS AND COORDINATE GEOMETRY
INEQUALITIES
LOGARITHMS
LOGIC AND PROOF
NUMBER THEORY
PROBABILITY
SEQUENCES AND LIMITS
SETS
TRIGONOMETRY
VERBAL PROBLEMS

4. Eliminate the weaknesses that you just indicated in the preceding Diagnostic Checklist. Do the
following:
a) Get the assistance of a person who is knowledgeable in those areas of Mathematics in which
your weaknesses have been exposed.
b) Refer to textbooks and study to eliminate your weaknesses.
5. Go on to another test. Place yourself under examination conditions. After each sample test
repeat the scoring, diagnostic, and self-improvement procedures. If you diligently and
systematically follow this plan, you should do better on your last sample test than you did on
the first one, and you should be well prepared for your Mathematics Subject Test. Of course,
your Brainworks tutor will always be glad to help. :)