SAT Subject Tests: Math Level 2

June 1995
Form 3RBC2

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 Answer Keys and Scoring Statistics

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 Question 31
Question  1
 x2
What is the range of the function defined by f ( x )   x 3
 2 x  1 x  2
(A) 50 (B)  42.5 (C) 5 (D) 42.5 (E) 50
Solution • To find the range of this piecewise function, we must consider both
parts: x > 2, and x  2.
1
• For x > 2, f ( x )  x3 is increasing for all x > 2. Thus, its range is
1
y  f (2)  23
• For x  2, f (x) = 2x – 1 is increasing for all x  2. Thus, its range is
y  f (2)  2(2)  1  3
• Combining y > 21/3 and y  3 gives all real numbers for the range.

 Choice (E) is the correct answer.

• Since both parts of the piecewise
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function are increasing, we can use
the plot to determine the range.
 Question 35
Question Figure shows a triangle inscribed in a semicircle. C
What is the area of the triangle in terms of  ?
 b
 h
(A) (B) (C) tan
2 2 A B
(D) sin (E) 2sin cos
Solution • Since ABC is inscribed in a semicircle, it is a right triangle. We can
use AC as its base and BC as its height. Thus the area of the triangle is
1 1
A  bh  (2cos  )(2sin  )  2sin  cos 
2 2
 Choice (E) is the correct answer.
Alternat. • Using AB as the base, then in ABC, C
Solution
AC  AB cos   2cos 
• In ADC, h
D
h  AC sin   (2cos  )sin   2sin  cos  A
B
b=2
• Thus the area of the triangle is
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1 1
A  bh  (2)(2sin  cos  )  2sin  cos 
2 2
 Question 37
Question If the magnitudes of vectors a and b are 5 and 12, respectively, then the
magnitude of vector (b – a) could NOT be
(A) 5 (B) 7 (C) 10 (D) 12 (E) 17

Solution • Vectors a, b, and b – a can be represented in a a b–a

triangle as shown in the figure.
b
• Using the triangle inequality,
| b |  | a || b  a || a |  | b |
12  5 | b  a | 12  5
7 | b  a | 17

 Choice (A) is the correct answer.

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 Question 40
Question If the 20th term of an arithmetic sequence is 100 and the 40th term of
the sequence is 250. what is the first term of the sequence?
(A) 50 (B)  42.5 (C) 5 (D) 42.5 (E) 50

Solution • The nth term of an arithmetic sequence with a first term a1 and a
common difference d is given by
an  a1  ( n  1)d
• Use the above equation for the 20th and 40th terms,
a20  100  a1  (20  1)d 100  a1  19d

a40  250  a1  (40  1)d 250  a1  39d
• Solving, we have
d = 7.5 a1 = 42.5
 Choice (B) is the correct answer.

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 Question 41
Question If n distinct planes intersect in a line, and another line l intersects one of
these planes in a single point, what is the least number of these n planes
that l could intersect?
n n 1
(A) n (B) n  1 (C) n  2 (D) (E)
2 2
Solution • When n distinct planes intersect in a line, no two of
the planes are parallel (see Figure)
• If another line l intersects one of these planes in a
single point, it is parallel to at most one of the
planes.
• Therefore, line l would intersect at least n  1 planes.
 Choice (B) is the correct answer.

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 Question 44
Question The radius of the base of a right circular cone is 6 and the radius of a
parallel cross section is 4. If the distance between the base and the cross
section is 8, what is the height of the cone?
1
(A) 11 (B) 13 (C) 16 (D) 20 (E) 24
3
Solution • Draw a figure as shown, ABD and ACE are A
similar triangles. Thus
AB BD h 8 4
  
AC CE h 6
• Solving D
B
4h = 6(h – 8)
2h = 48
h = 24 C
E
 Choice (E) is the correct answer.
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 Question 45
Question An indirect proof of the statement “If x = 2, then x is not a rational
number” could begin with the assumption that
(A) x  2 (B) x2 = 2 (C) x is rational
(D) x is not rational (E) x is nonnegative

Solution • An indirect proof begins with assuming the negative of the conclusion.
• The conclusion in this question is “ x is not a rational number”. Then
the negative of this statement is “ x is not a rational number”.

 Choice (C) is the correct answer.

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 Question 46
Question Suppose the graph of f (x) = x2 is translated 3 units left and 1 unit up. If
the resulting graph represents g(x), what is the value of g(1.6)?
(A) 2.96 (B) 0.96 (C) 1.56 (D) 1.96 (E) 2.56

Solution • Recall that if the graph of f (x) shifts a units right and b units up, then
g(x) = f (x – a) + b

• Since now the graph of f (x) is shifted 3 units left and 1 unit up, we
have
g(x) = f (x + 3) +1 = (x + 3)2 +1
g(1.6) = (1.6 + 3)2 +1 = 0.96

 Choice (D) is the correct answer.

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 Question 47
Question In how many ways can 10 people be divided into two groups, one with 7
people and the other with 3 people?
(A) 120 (B) 210 (C) 240 (D) 5,040 (E) 14,400

Solution • This problem is equivalent to “In how many ways can 7 people be
selected from 10 people.” Thus the number of ways is
 10  10!
 7  7!(10  7)!  120

 
 Choice (A) is the answer.

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 Question 48
Question Which of the following has an element that is less than any other element
in that set?
I. The set of positive rational numbers
II. The set of positive rational numbers r such that r2  2
III. The set of positive rational numbers r such that r2 > 4
(A) None (B) I only (C) II only (D) III only (E) I and II

Solution • Let’s exam each of the three statements.

• I is incorrect, since there is no least positive rational number.
• II is incorrect, since the smallest positive real number for r2  2 is 2 ,
but it is not rational.
• III is incorrect, since there is no smallest positive rational number
satisfying r2 > 4 or r > 2.
 Choice (A) is the correct answer.

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 Question 49
Question What is the length of the major axis of the ellipse whose equation is
60x2 + 30y2 = 150 ?
(A) 1.26 (B) 2.50 (C) 3.16 (D) 4.47 (E) 5.00
Solution x2 y2
• Rewrite the equation into the standard form 2  2  1 for the ellipse
a b
2 2
60 x 30 y
 1
150 150
• Simplifying.
x2 y2
 1
2.5 5
• It is seen that the major axis is along the y-axis, and b2 = 5, thus the
length of the major axis is
2b  2 5  4.47

 Choice (D) is the correct answer.

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 Question 50
Question a b
Under which of the following conditions is positive?
ab
(A) 0 < a < b (B) a < b < 0 (C) b < a < 0
(D) b < 0 < a (E) None of the above
Solution • We can exam each of the answer choices.
a b
 (A) is incorrect since 0 < a < b  a  b < 0 and ab > 0  0
ab
a b
 (B) is incorrect since a < b < 0  a  b < 0 and ab > 0  0
ab
a b
 (C) is correct since b < a < 0  a  b > 0 and ab > 0  0
ab
a b
 (D) is incorrect since b < 0 < a  a  b > 0 and ab < 0  0
ab

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