Sat math Essentials

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G E O M E T R Y R E V I E W
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Tr a n s l a t i n g Wo r d s i n t o N u m b e r s
To solve word problems, you must be able to translate words into mathematical operations. You must analyze the
language of the question and determine what the question is asking you to do.
The following list presents phrases commonly found in word problems along with their mathematical
equivalents:
■
A 
number
means a 
variable.
Example
17 minus a number equals 4.
17 
x
4
■
Increase
means 
add
.
Example
a number increased by 8
x
8
C H A P T E R
Problem Solving
This chapter reviews key problem-solving skills and concepts that you
need to know for the SAT. Throughout the chapter are sample ques-
tions in the style of SAT questions. Each sample SAT question is fol-
lowed by an explanation of the correct answer.
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■
More than
means 
add
.
Example
4 more than a number
4 
x
■
Less than
means 
subtract
.
Example
8 less than a number 
x
8
■
Times
means 
multiply
.
Example
6 times a number 
6
x
■
Times the sum
means to 
multiply a number by a quantity
.
Example
7 times the sum of a number and 2
7(
x
2)
■
Note that variables can be used together.
Example
A number
y
exceeds 3 times a number
x
by 12.
y
3
x
12
■