Manipulating & Solving Equations (On the SAT, there is a huge emphasis on aquat ne Th get these types of questions right, you: must learn how to isolate the variables and expressions you want. First, we'll cover several useful techniques in dealing, with equations that you may already be familiar with. 1. Don’t forget to combine like terms You should be ruthless in finding like terms and combining them. Doing so will simplify things and allow you to figure out the next step. EXAMPLE E If2(0 4: + 2c+ 3d 41) = 30-+26 }-4e-+ 6d, find the value of a ‘The same four variables are on both sides of the equation, a,b, and d. That should tell you to distribute on the left side first and then combine like terms, Sounds simple but you won't believe how many students forget to do this, especially in the middle of « more complex problem. Dat b+2e43d+1) = 3a+2b +40 + 6d The b,c, and d variables can 1 quite nicely 204 284 AC 642 = 304 244 Of B= a 9 SAT & IG BOOK STORE 01227746409 49CHAPTER 7 MANIPULATING & SOLVING EQUATIONS 2. Square and square root correctly When squaring equations to remove a square root, the most important thing to remember is that you're not squaring individual clements—you're squaring the entire sid EXAMPLE 2: Ifa > Cand b > 0, the equation above is equivalent to which ofthe following? Aab=@=F Bab=@4P Omb=P PF Dysbawe tr “The square root in the problem should scream to you that the equation should be squared. Most students know the square root should be eliminated, but here's the common mistake they make: ab e They square each individual element, However, this is WRONG. When modifying equations, you must apply any given operation to the entire SIDE, like so: (vaby? = (a 8? IF it helps, wrap each side in parentheses before applying the operation. By the way, the same holds true for all other operations, including multiplication and division. When you multiply or divide both sides of an equation, what you're actually doing is wrapping each side in parentheses, but because of the distributive property, it just so happens that multiplying or dividing each individual element gets you the same result, For ‘example, if we had the equation x42=y and we wanted to multiply both sides by 3, what we're actually doing is 3(°+2) =3(y) Which turns out tobe the same as 3x46=3y “Anyway, back tothe problem (vaby? — (a — 6)? ab =a? 2a 6 Bab = a +B The answer is[D] Another common mistake is squaring each side before the square root is isolated on one side. For example, ve 43=x Don’t square each side until you've moved the “3” on the left to the right: [And now we can square both sides and go from there. Now, when it comes to taking the square root of an equation, most students forget the plus or minus (-:) 50 SAT & IG BOOK STORE 01227746409 50THE COLLEGE PANDA Always remember that an equation such as 1? — 25 as two solutions: vB However, this only applies when you're taking the square root to solve an equation. By definition, square roots always refer ta the positive moot So, V9 = 3, NOT +3. And Y® = ~3 is not possible (except when ‘working with non-real numbers, which well look a in a future chapter). The plus or minus is only necessary when the square root is used as a tool to solve an equation. That way, We get all the possible solutions to the equation. EXAMPLE 3: If (1 +3)? = 121, what isthe sum of the two possible values of x? (x43)? = 121 Verray = vii xeg-4n ra-34n1 So x could be either 8 or -14, The sum of those two possiblities ie 3. Cross-multiply when fractions are set equal to each other ‘Whenever a fraction is equal fo another fraction, bod you can crose-multiply: ad = be 4. 10: EXAMPLE 4:1f 2x = 10, whatis the value of x? 4,10 3 31 SAT & IG BOOK STORE 01227746409 51CHAPTER 7 MANIPULATING & SOLVING EQUATIONS 4, Factoring should be in your toolbox ‘Some equations have variables that are tougher to isolate. For a lot of these equations, you will have to do. ‘some shifting around to factor out the variable you want See what we did? We expanded everything out and put every term containing a on the right side. Then we ‘were able to factor out a and isolate it. The answer is| (A) 82 SAT & IG BOOK STORE 01227746409 52‘THE COLLEGE PANDA oy Atte to =0 PEs) Hed (x43)(x9 +1) = x= -3or-1 (Once we factored out 2° from the frst two terms, further factoring, was possible with the (x +3) term. How would you know to do this? Experience. 5. Treat complicated expressions as one unit Don't let the big and complicated expressions freak you out. Treat these complicated expressions as one unit ‘or variable, like so: a-e ‘Multiply both sides by m. maz ac Divide both sides by A. B Ac 38 SAT & IG BOOK STORE 01227746409 53CHAPTER 7_ MANIPULATING & SOLVING EQUATIONS Finally, plug the original expressions back in. = * eat ta) (r+) ‘Treat (x +1) as one unit and call it A. (e+1P +5 +1)-4=0 ecause the question stipulates that x > 0 the answer i} 6. Be comfortable solving for expressions, rather than any one variable Got in the habit of looking for what you want before you solve for anything specific. Is there any way to get the answer without solving for x and y? ‘est Dividing both sides ofthe given equation by 3 gives x +39 =[3} 54 SAT & IG BOOK STORE 01227746409THE COLLEGE PANDA Here, we have no choice but to solve for the expression. We're given x aver y but we want y aver x. We can flip the given equation to get re sides by 2 to obtain the 4 we're looking for. ‘Then we can divide both sides by 2to obtain the 4 we're looking f The answer is| (A) 7. Guess and check when you're out of options When all else fails and you don't have any answer choices or a calculator to work from, it never hurts to guess and check small numbers EXAMPLE 12: P08 —4) = 4 If-is an integer, what is one possible solution to the equation above? If you have to do a question this complicated without a calculator or any answer choices, you know it has to be solvable through basic guess and check. There's simply no other way: Itwould be silly to show you every step of guess and ch ck on this page Just remember to start with numbers lke 0, 1,2, and =1. tn this ase the answer is[2]} 95 SAT & IG BOOK STORE 01227746409 55(CHAPTER? EXERCISE 1: 1 Asa 2.C=2nr salen 4. V—hok 5. Vath 6 Vanek eae a&V=s> 9, § =2nrh s 2nr? eG ed 12 y= meth 18, m nox 4, m= Bo 15, ot = 12 + 2as 18 A= aera 1. x= 5 pn Xin tesot Yan 20. If x(y +2) = y, find y in terms of x a1. = aan terms of ban b 22.1 = Forint items 23, If3x + 6y = 72, find x + 2y in terms of z 24. Ife 4+ 2b, find 2x +10 in terms of b 4, find 4t in terms of a 2 Pp find P = 3nd nto 28. If x¥ = z, then find x*¥ in terms of z ow 29. 10 = plat ~ x4), whatis pin terms of x? oo. (0-3) mc +1) tation terms of x? = whats ints of? 32. Ha(l? +2) +6 = 5(e+1)°, what isan terms of band a 33, Ika? +4) + ky = BES xandy? what isk in terms of 34, Ifax +304 x-+3 = b, whatis xin terms of a and 6? SAT & IG BOOK STORE 01227746409 56CHAPTER EXERCISE: Answers for this chapter start on page 264, A calculator should NOT be used on the Eee ig following questions. tos oP , = wg) = Sin, whats the value of wi? SE i 5 gmunans mevaneain 1 Vea -b = —2, then (0-46) = NG aa | we BO 15 0-4 5 ) O% D) -8 D6 Bees | For what value of is (n — 4)? = (n +4)? art Ay 1 BI os Dw = -8, what is the value of (x +2)°7 BSS 23 Fie)| BRS ee 1} xb <1, whatisthe value of b~ ac? Jowhere k # —2, what is kin terms A-3 of? B) 0 ay Poe o2 a ee wy) Bat a : o 124+ 2x mi) >) 2 13x — 8 = 23, what is the value of 6x — 7? a5 B) 21 MW (x— 3 =36and x <0, what i the value of Cc) -30 vr D) -97 37 SAT & IG BOOK STORE 01227746409 57pan(@49"=2) ‘The formula above gives the future value f of an annuity based on the monthly payment p, the interest rate i, and the number of months 1 ‘Which of the following gives p in terms of fi, and n? a wrt y ges ° warn Dy fit1- 049)" Ifx 0, for what real value of xis the equation above true? WE ec 1 2VE 54 and x > 0, whats the value of . 20 - VE= 3 ve410 If-x > 0, for what value of xis the equation above true? 58 58A calculator is allowed on the following questions. BSS reas 0+ Bx steko 5, whats the valucof x? a6 3 04 b2 1 3 2 3 6 a=0(S¢) Doctors use Cowling’s rule, shown above, to determine the right dosage d, in milligrams, of ‘medication for a child based on the adult dosage 4, in milligrams, and the child’s age c, in years. Ben is a patient who is in need of a certain medication. Ifa doctor uses Cowling’ rule 1 prescribe Ben a dosage that is half the adult dosage, what is Ben’s age, in years? 7 BD ou by 13 SAT & IG BOOK STORE 01227746409 __THE COLLEGE PANDA 1f3(x —2y) 3: ~ 0, which ofthe following expresses x in terms of y and 2? 4 Be B) ez Cyt D) 6y+ 32 SES SSS Seas aye yp If the equation above is true forall real values of -y, what must the value of x be? 59CHAPTER 7 MANIPULATING & SOLVING EQUATIONS __ —— eee es | Ouione ‘ eee en : doubled, how would the acceleration of the two pone (ae cee ie aerate Soa eRe eieaeres In the figure above, two objects are connected by a string whichis treaded through a pulley Using its | weight, cbject 2 moves object 1 along a flat surface. The acceleration «of the two objets can be determined by the following formula — Mag ~ rg mbm, where my and mare the mases of ebjet 1 ane thet 2 spectively in klograms, gs the seeseraton due to ar’ gravity mens in 22 sands aconstant krownas the coefcentof feton Which ofthe following expresses sin terms of Pree oa = am +m) Die mg — mg mag — ams + m2) ° ae Dy p= Sir tina) = mg = o SAT & IG BOOK STORE 01227746409 60THE COLLEGE PANDA ——— ‘Questions 25-24 refer to the following | information. | v= Pan ‘The value V ofa car depreciates over years | according tothe formula above, where Pisthe | original price and ris the annual rato of depreciation Which of the following expresses rin terms of | parse am V, Prand ® wri’ / | wraisye w py r=1-*7 | Ifacar depreciates toa value equal tohalfits | criginl prc after 5 years, then wich ofthe | Tllowing is lowes tod car's annual rate of deprecation? A) 013 | B) 0.15 ©) 016 | Dy 02 6 SAT & IG BOOK STORE 01227746409 61