Quantitative_RecrxToCheck_i-146_LearningExpress 10/25/17 1:43 PM Page i

501
Quantitative Comparison
Questions

NE W YOR K
Quantitative_RecrxToCheck_i-146_LearningExpress 10/25/17 1:43 PM Page ii

This book has been reviewed and updated by the LearningExpress Team in 2017.

Copyright © 2003 LearningExpress, LLC.

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.

Published in the United States by LearningExpress, LLC, New York.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:

501 quantitative comparison questions.—1st ed.
p. cm.—(Skill builder in focus)
ISBN 1-57685-434-5 (pbk.)
1. Mathematics—Examinations, questions, etc. 2. Achievement
tests—Study guides. 3. Graduate Management Admissions Test—Study
guides. I. Title: Five hundred and one quantitative comparison
questions. II. Series.
QA43 .A116 2003
510'.76—dc21 2002011852

Printed in the United States of America

9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

First Edition

ISBN 1-57685-434-5
Quantitative_RecrxToCheck_i-146_LearningExpress 10/25/17 1:43 PM Page iii

Contents

Introduction v
1 Arithmetic
Questions 1
Answers and Explanations 11
2 Algebra
Questions 25
Answers and Explanations 42
3 Geometry
Questions 59
Answers and Explanations 85
4 Data Analysis
Questions 113
Answers and Explanations 129
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Introduction

Welcome to 501 Quantitative Comparison Questions! This book

is designed to help you prepare for a specialized math section of a select few
of the most important assessment exams. By completing the exercises in this
book, you will also increase your math knowledge and refine your logic and
analytical skills.
Several important standardized tests, including undergraduate and grad-
uate school admissions exams, include quantitative comparison questions.
Therefore, practicing and building your skills in this key question type is a
great strategy for ensuring future success.
What makes this book different than other math practice books? It’s sim-
ple—this math practice book contains only questions that ask you which
column contains the item of greater value, if the values are the same, or if
the value cannot be determined by the information given. Gaining famil-
iarity with this specialized question type is a proven technique for increas-
ing test scores.

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

In order to solve a quantitative comparison problem, you must first com-

pare the quantities in the two columns and then decide whether:

n one quantity is greater than the other

n the two quantities are equal
n the relationship cannot be determined from the information
given

Math Topics

The book is divided into four content sections. Math topics included in this
volume are arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis. These cate-
gories are further divided to include the following concepts:
Arithmetic
n Absolute Value
n Decimals
n Exponents and Square Roots
n Fractions
n Integers
n Ordering and the Real Number Line
n Percent
n Ratio

Algebra
n Applications
n Coordinate Geometry
n Inequalities
n Operations with Algebraic Expressions
n Rules of Exponents
n Solving Linear Equations
n Solving Quadratic Equations in One Variable
n Translating Words into Algebraic Expressions
Geometry
n Circles
n Lines and Angles
n Polygons
n Quadrilaterals

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

n Three-Dimensional Figures
n Triangles
Data Analysis
n Counting
n Sequences
n Data Representation and Interpretation
n Frequency Distributions
n Measures of Central Tendency
n Measures of Dispersion
n Probability

Questions, Questions, Questions

To mimic a real test environment, math concepts are mixed within each sec-
tion. For example, in the arithmetic section, you may find a question or two
on exponents, then three questions on square roots, followed by three ques-
tions involving decimals and fractions. Then the next question is about
square roots. This way, you are preparing for any type of arithmetic ques-
tion that you could encounter on an exam. Each chapter begins with an
information and instruction overview describing the mathematical concepts
covered in that particular section. Then you are presented with a variety of
problems awaiting your solutions.

Practice Makes Perfect

Because this book is designed for many levels of test takers, you may find
that some of the more advanced questions are beyond your ability. Don’t
worry! If you are getting most of the questions correct, you are probably in
good shape for your test.
The questions in this book can help you prepare for your test in many
ways. First, completing these practice exercises will make you familiar with
the question format. Quantitative comparisons usually involve less reading,
take less time to answer, and require less computation than regular 5-choice
questions. Remember, there are only four choices from which to select the
correct answer: A, B, C, and D. If the quantity in column A is larger, you
will select the letter A on your answer grid. If column B contains the greater
quantity, then you will select B. Select the answer C if the two quantities are

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

equal, and the letter D if you cannot determine which is larger from the
choices and information given. When you take the test, be careful not to
mark an “E” on the answer sheet because it is never the correct choice.
Second, quantitative comparison practice will get you thinking of values
in terms of equalities, inequalities, and estimation. Likewise, you will get
accustomed to knowing how to logically assess whether or not you have
enough information in the question to assign value. However, it is not
always necessary to find the exact value of the two quantities, and often, it
is important not to waste time doing so. Remember, you have a limited
amount of time to arrive at correct answers, so it is important to use esti-
mating, rounding, and the elimination of irrelevant information to deter-
mine the relationship between the information in Column A and the
information in Column B.
Third, in the test-taking environment, it can be difficult to switch gears
from regular math questions to quantitative comparisons; completing the
exercises in this book will make these mental gymnastics more comfortable
as you grow familiar with the question format. Also, your performance on
these questions will help you assess your overall math skill level. Because the
quantitative comparison questions assess a wide variety of math topics, these
exercises will help you pinpoint the areas of math for which you need fur-
ther study.
Finally, each question is fully explained at the end of each chapter. The
answer keys give you not only the right answer, but also an explanation of
why the answer is correct. In other words, for every problem, there is a
complete explanation of the solution. If you find yourself getting stuck solv-
ing a problem, you can look at the answer explanation and use it as a per-
sonal tutor.
You have already taken an important step toward improving your math
skills and your score. You have shown your commitment by purchasing this
book. Now all you need to do is to complete each exercise, study the answer
explanations, and watch your math skills increase. You can even work in pen-
cil and do the exercises again to reinforce what you have learned. Good luck!

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Tip Sheet

4 Not exactly. It is not always necessary to find the exact value of the two
quantities, and often, it is important not to waste time doing so. Use esti-
mating, rounding, and the elimination of excess information to deter-
mine the relationship and avoid wasting time.
4 Look alikes. Attempt to make the two columns look as similar as possi-
ble. For example, make sure all units are equal. This is also true if one of
the answer choices is a fraction or a decimal. If this is the case, then make
the other answer into an improper fraction or a decimal, in order to make
the choices look the most similar.
4 It’s not necessarily nice to share. Eliminate any information the
columns share. This will leave you with an easier comparison. For exam-
ple, you are given the two quantities 5(x + 1) and 3(x + 1), with the pro-
viso that x is greater than 0. In this case, you would select the first
quantity because, since you know that x is a positive quantity, you can
eliminate the (x + 1) from both. That leaves you to decide which is
greater, 5 or 3. This has become a very easy problem by eliminating the
information that the two quantities shared.
4 Plug it in. Assign values for unknowns or variables. If you can do this
quickly, many comparisons will become straightforward. Plug in num-
bers for variables whenever they are given. Always remember to simplify
the equation or expression as much as possible before you plug in a value.
4 Sticky situations. Try not to get stuck doing complicated computations.
If you feel yourself doing a lot of computations, stop and try another
method. There is often more than one way to solve a problem. Try to
pick the easier one.
4 No assumptions necessary. Make no assumptions about the informa-
tion listed in the columns. If the question asks you to make assumptions,
then choose D. For example, if one of the answer choices is x2, you can-
not assume that the answer is a positive root. Remember that x2 will have
two roots, one positive and one negative. Many times the test-maker will
try to trick you into assuming that the answer to such a problem is
known. Do not let the test fool you. Be aware of the possibility of mul-
tiple answers.
4 A parenthetical aside. If one or both of the expressions being compared
have parentheses, be sure to remove the parentheses by completing the
calculations before proceeding. This is a simple technique that can make

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

a large difference in the similarity of the two quantities. For example, if

you move the parentheses from the two quantities (x − 2)(x − 2) and
x2 − 4x + 4 by squaring (x − 2), you can clearly see that they are equal.
4 Let’s play Operation™. Sometimes the best way to solve the question
is to perform an operation on both columns. This is especially useful
when working with fractions. Often, on finding a LCD and multiplying
that number in both columns helps to make the comparison easier. Just
keep in mind that, like working in an equation, the operation performed
must be exactly the same in each column.
4 Timing is everything. Use your time wisely. Try to solve each problem,
or be close to a solution, after one minute. It is not necessary to complete
every problem on the test unless you want to be the next math genius
honored by the Educational Testing Service. It is best just to focus on the
problems you know how to do. It is a good idea to practice timing your-
self as you solve the practice problems. See how close you can get to a
solution in one minute per problem.

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Multiplication Table

× 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24
3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30 33 36
4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60
6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 54 60 66 72
7 14 21 28 35 42 49 56 63 70 77 84
8 16 24 32 40 48 56 64 72 80 88 96
9 18 27 36 45 54 63 72 81 90 99 108
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120
11 22 33 44 55 66 77 88 99 110 121 132
12 24 36 48 60 72 84 96 108 120 132 144

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Commonly Used Prime Numbers

2 3 5 7 11 13 17 19 23 29
31 37 41 43 47 53 59 61 67 71
73 79 83 89 97 101 103 107 109 113
127 131 137 139 149 151 157 163 167 173
179 181 191 193 197 199 211 223 227 229
233 239 241 251 257 263 269 271 277 281
283 293 307 311 313 317 331 337 347 349
353 359 367 373 379 383 389 397 401 409
419 421 431 433 439 443 449 457 461 463
467 479 487 491 499 503 509 521 523 541
547 557 563 569 571 577 587 593 599 601
607 613 617 619 631 641 643 647 653 659
661 673 677 683 691 701 709 719 727 733
739 743 751 757 761 769 773 787 797 809
811 821 823 827 829 839 853 857 859 863
877 881 883 887 907 911 919 929 937 941
947 953 967 971 977 983 991 997 1009 1013

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Reference Sheet

n The sum of the interior angles of a triangle is 180°.

n The measure of a straight angle is 180°.
n There are 360 degrees of arc in a circle.

45° 60°
√¯¯¯
2S x
2x
S

45° 30°
S √¯¯¯¯¯
3x
Special Right Triangles

l
h
h
w

b w
1
A= 2
bh l A = lw

r
r
h

A = πr 2
C = 2πr V = πr 2h

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Quantitative_RecrxToCheck_i-146_LearningExpress 10/25/17 1:43 PM Page 1

Arithmetic

In this chapter, the following math concepts will be the subject of the 125
arithmetic-based quantitative comparison questions:

n Absolute Value
n Decimals
n Exponents and Square Roots
n Fractions
n Integers
n Ordering and the Real Number Line
n Percent
n Ratio

Some important guidelines:

Numbers: All numbers used are real numbers.

Figures: Figures that accompany questions are intended to provide infor-

mation useful in answering the questions. Unless otherwise indicated, posi-
tions of points, angles, regions, etc. are in the order shown; angle measures
are positive; lines shown as straight are straight; and figures lie in a plane.

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Unless a note states that a figure is drawn to scale, you should NOT solve
these problems by estimating or by measurement, but by using your knowl-
edge of mathematics.

Common Information: In a question, information concerning one or both

of the quantities to be compared is centered above the two columns. A sym-
bol that appears in both columns represents the same thing in Column A
as it does in Column B.

Directions: Each of the following questions consists of two quantities, one

in Column A and one in Column B. Compare the two quantities and
choose:
a. if the quantity in Column A is greater
b. if the quantity in Column B is greater
c. if the two quantities are equal
d. if the relationship cannot be determined from the information given

Examples:
Column A Column B

1. ᎏ5ᎏ of 25
1 5
ᎏᎏ
2 of 2

The answer is c. The quantities are the same: ᎏ15ᎏ × 25 = 5, and

5
ᎏᎏ × 2 = 5.
2

2. a + 5 a+7

The answer is b. Regardless of the value of a, adding 7 will always

result in a higher number than adding 5.

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Questions

Column A Column B

1. the number of even integers the number of even integers

between 1 and 13 between 2 and 14

2. 兹0.16
苶 兹0.0016
苶

3. Amy, Megan, and Sharon divided a batch of cookies among them-

selves. Amy took 30% of the cookies and Sharon took 40% of the
1 1
cookies. Amy ate ᎏ3ᎏ of the cookies she took and Sharon ate ᎏ4ᎏ of the
cookies she took.
number of cookies Amy ate number of cookies Sharon ate

4. p − 8 p+8

5. 31x 35x

6. a<0
2
a a3

7. w<x<y<z
wx yz

8. the percent increase from the percent increase from

10 cm to 14 cm 54 cm to 58 cm

9. ᎏ25ᎏ
1 .016
ᎏᎏ
4

10. 兹8
苶 + 兹13
苶 兹19
苶 + 兹9
苶

11. 5 + 兹32
苶 兹23
苶+4

12. Marvin sells candy bars at a rate of 3 bars for $4.

at this rate, the cost of x dollars
x candy bars

13. (x + 2)2 (x − 2)2

14. 8.7 × 368 9 × 368

15. 18 − ᎏ5ᎏ + ᎏ2ᎏ

4 1 1 4
18 − ᎏ2ᎏ + ᎏ5ᎏ

16. ᎏ20ᎏ of 800

1
5% of 800

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

17. n<0
7n 4n

18. p2 −p2

19. (85 − 93)(22 − 8) (42 − 95)(11 − 17)

20. x≥0
2
x x3

21. 5 × (3 + 1) ÷ 2 5×3+1÷2

22. There are 150 people in a movie theater. 75 of the people are men,
60 are women, and the remainder are children.
percent of people in the 10%
theater that are children

23. .75% .0075

24. The ratio of dogs to cats in a pet store is 5:3. There are 96 dogs
and cats in the store.
the number of dogs 65
in the pet store

25. 45% of 104 43

26. a, b, and c are integers greater than 1 and (c b)5 = c 5 + a

a b

27. 16.5 × 103 1.65 × 104

28. ᎏ4ᎏ of ᎏ11ᎏ

3 8 6
ᎏ
11ᎏ

29. x<0<y
−x3y 0

30. a and b are integers. ab = 30.

a+b 32

31. 0<x<1
1 1
ᎏxᎏ ᎏxᎏ2

32. 兹.0001
苶 兹.01
苶
4

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

33. .123 × 10−3 12.3 × 10−6

34.
x x
ᎏ5ᎏ and ᎏ6ᎏ are positive integers.
the remainder when x 1
is divided by 2

35. 5.1 5.014

36. x > 20

4 24 − x

37. the average rate of speed the average rate of speed

needed to drive 350 km needed to drive 780 km
in 5 hrs in 12 hrs

38. hours in a year seconds in a day

39. 282 + 422 (28 + 42)2

40. 7 × 9 × 12 × 3 12 × 3 × 9 × 7

41. n>0
n(n − 1) n2

42. a>b
30% of a 50% of b

43. 1
4
ᎏ7ᎏ + ᎏ173ᎏ

44. ᎏ6ᎏ of 12
5 1
ᎏ6ᎏ of 60

45. ᎏxᎏ + 3y
1
7y + ᎏ1xᎏ

46. (n2)4 (n4)2

47. n > 1 and n is an integer.

3
ᎏᎏ
n n

48. 0 < y < x. x and y are odd integers.

x
remainder when xy ᎏyᎏ
is divided by 2

49. x>0
苶
5兹3x 苶
3兹5x

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

50. x>0
x
4x ᎏ5ᎏ

51. −1<x<1
3x −5 2x

52. x2 + 1 x+1

53. 0<x<y
x x
ᎏᎏ ᎏᎏ
x y

54. 70% of the students enrolled in a

chemistry class passed the final exam.
3
the ratio of those ᎏᎏ
5
who failed to those
who passed

55. (84 + 12)(15 + 91) (74 + 22)(20 + 86)

56. 75% of 30 30% of 75

57. .63
1
ᎏᎏ
.63

58. x is an integer
remainder when 4x 0
is divided by 2

59. 2 兹5
苶

60. 兹17
苶 + 兹5
苶 兹22
苶

61.
a 4 b 9
ᎏᎏ = ᎏᎏ and ᎏᎏ = ᎏᎏ
b 5 c 7
a
ᎏcᎏ 1

62. ᎏ4ᎏ%
3
.75

63. x and y are prime numbers and x + y = 12.

xy 38

64. 0<a<b
(a + b)(a + b) (b − a)(b − a)

65. 兹10
苶 + 兹10
苶 7

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

66. number of years number of years

from 1625 to 1812 from 1631 to 1809

67. 兹63
苶 苶
3兹7

68. 76 × 14 + 14 × 26 (76 + 26)14

69. p<0
5p 9p

70. 57 < 8k < 67

8 k

71. 243 × 96 231 × 93

72. The Spartans played a total of 48 games and had

a win to loss ratio of 7 to 5, and no game ended in a tie.
number of wins 28

73. 0<x<5
x−5 5−x

74. ᎏ4ᎏ + ᎏ9ᎏ + ᎏ8ᎏ

3 1 5 1
ᎏ9ᎏ + ᎏ58ᎏ + ᎏ12ᎏ

75. Joel swims laps 50% faster than Sue.

number of laps Sue swims number of laps Joel swims
in 80 minutes in 60 minutes

76. (26 − 31)(296 + 134) (31 − 26)(296 + 134)

77. ᎏ5ᎏ of 80
3
40% of 80

78. x < 0 and y < 0

ⱍxⱍ + ⱍyⱍ x+y

79. 7(3x + 1) 12(3x + 1)

80. 4兹2
苶 兹35
苶

81. Dan runs d miles in 30 minutes. Wendy runs w miles in 1 hour.

number of miles Dan runs number of miles Wendy runs
in 1 hour in 1 hour

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

82. r 6 = 64
32 r5

83. m>1
兹m
苶12 (m2)5

84. x > 0 and y > 0. x is 40 percent of y.

y 3x

85. An appliance store sold 120 refrigerators last year.

This year they sold 20 percent more.
number of refrigerators 145
sold this year

86. 956 + 274 + 189 200 + 275 + 970

87. sum of integers 1,000

from 1 to 100

88. −1<a<b<0
a+b a−b

89. Lisa drove 117 miles between 8:15 A.M.

and 10:30 A.M. without stopping.
60 Lisa’s average speed
in miles per hour

90. the product of the integers the product of the integers

from −21 to −73 from −45 to −72

91. John plans to drive a total of 350 miles.

He has completed ᎏ25ᎏ of his trip in 2.5 hours.
60 John’s average speed
in miles per hour

92. the sum of the integers the sum of the integers

from −10 to 5 from −5 to 10

93. the number of distinct the number of distinct

2
prime factors of 12 prime factors of 503

94. 683 × .05 683 × .1

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

95. ⱍ−83ⱍ ⱍ83ⱍ

96. r<0
45
45r ᎏᎏ
r

97. −11 + (−4) −11 − 4

98. 59 254

99. ᎏ2ᎏ × ᎏ4ᎏ × ᎏ9ᎏ

1 3 7 3
ᎏᎏ
2 × ᎏ79ᎏ × ᎏ14ᎏ

100. 2 + 82 − 6 − 10 (2 + 8)2 − 6 − 10

101. x>0
7兹x苶 兹3x
苶

102. ᎏ3ᎏ of x
1
35% of x

103.
1
ᎏ3ᎏx + ᎏ13ᎏx + ᎏ13ᎏx = 9
x 9

104. a > 1 and b > 1

b (a + 1) ba

105. x>y>0
−xy xy
ᎏxᎏ ᎏxᎏ

106. 1 − ᎏ30ᎏ
1 9 11
ᎏ
10ᎏ +ᎏ
10ᎏ
0

107. (t6)2 t8t4

108. the number of primes the number of primes

between 40 and 50 between 1 and 6

109. x > 0 and y > 0

兹x苶 + 兹y苶 兹x苶
+y

110. Kendra is driving at a steady rate of 56 miles per hour.

number of minutes it will 45 minutes
take Kendra to drive 42 miles

111. {x, y} represents the remainder when x is divided by y.

{56,10} {104,5}

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

112. x, y, z, and m are positive integers.

x = ᎏ25ᎏm and y = ᎏ53ᎏm and z = ᎏ190ᎏ y
x z

113.
3
冪莦
15
ᎏ2ᎏ ᎏᎏ
兹3
苶

114. h<0
5h h4

115. −(x − y) = x − y
x y

116. the product of the integers the product of the integers

from −5 to 6 −8 to 1

117. (−21)12 (−31)13

118. (m3)6 兹m
苶36

119. ᎏ5ᎏ
5x − 35
x−7

120. the number of primes the number of primes

that are divisible by 7 that are divisible by 11

121. .16 .0989

122. 4.25 × 105 42,500,000 ÷ 102

123. ⱍx − 8ⱍ ⱍ8 − xⱍ

124. The sophomore class used 60 packages of cheese to make pizzas.

Each pizza used ᎏ23ᎏ a package of cheese.
number of pizzas they made 100

125. x = ᎏ14ᎏ and y = ᎏ15ᎏ

x y
ᎏyᎏ ᎏxᎏ

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Answer Explanations

The following explanations show one way in which each problem can be
solved. You may have another method for solving these problems.

1. a. There are 6 even integers between 1 and 13. They are 2, 4, 6, 8,

10, and 12. There are 5 even integers between 2 and 14. They
are 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12.

2. a. The square root of 0.16 is 0.4. The square root of 0.0016 is

0.04.

3. c. Amy took 30% of the cookies and ate ᎏ3ᎏ of those, which is 10%
1

of the original number of cookies. Sharon took 40% of the

cookies and ate ᎏ14ᎏ of those, which is also 10% of the original
number of cookies. Since both women ate 10% of the original
number of cookies, they ate the same amount.

4. b. 8 more than any number (p + 8) is more than 8 less than that

number (p − 8).

5. d. The relationship cannot be determined. If the value of x is 0,

then both quantities are 0. If the value of x is positive, then 35x
is greater than 31x. If the value of x is negative, then 31x is
greater than 35x.

6. a. Since a is a negative number (a < 0), a2 is a positive number

because a negative times a negative is a positive; a3 is a negative
number because three negatives multiply to a negative answer.
A positive is always greater than a negative, so quantity A is
greater than quantity B.

7. d. The relationship cannot be determined. If w = −10, x = −9,

y = 1, and z = 2, then wx = 90 and yz = 2, so quantity A is
greater. If w = 0, x = 1, y = 2, and z = 3, then wx = 0 and yz = 6,
so quantity B is greater. Either quantity can be greater,
depending on the choice of variables.

8. a. Both quantities increased by 4, but quantity A increased 4 from

10, or 40%, and quantity B increased 4 from 54, or 7.4%. 40%
is greater than 7.4%.

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

9. a. Change ᎏ25ᎏ to a decimal by dividing 1 by 25 to get .04. Change

1
.016
ᎏᎏ
4 to a decimal by dividing .016 by 4 to get .004. .04 is greater
than .004.

10. b. Compare 兹8
苶 to 兹9
苶 and find that 兹9
苶 is greater and comes
from quantity B. Compare 兹13 苶 to 兹19 苶 and find that 兹19 苶 is
greater and comes from quantity B. Since both parts of quantity
B are greater than the parts of quantity A, quantity B is greater.

11. a. Compare 5 to 4 and find that 5 is greater and comes from

quantity A. Compare 兹32 苶 to 兹23苶 and find that 兹32 苶 is greater
and comes from quantity A. Since both parts of quantity A are
greater than the parts of quantity B, quantity A is greater.

12. a. Each candy bar costs more than $1 (divide $4 by 3). Therefore,
the cost of x candy bars is more than x dollars.

13. d. The relationship cannot be determined. If 0 is substituted for x,

both quantities are 4. If 6 is substituted for x, quantity A is 64
[(6 + 2)2 = 64] and quantity B is 16 [(6 − 2)2 = 16]. In the first
example, the quantities are equal and in the second example,
quantity A is greater. The relationship cannot be determined.

14. b. Both quantities contain the number 368. In quantity B, 368 is

being multiplied by a larger number, making quantity B greater
than quantity A.

15. b. Consider there to be an equal sign between the two columns.

Subtract 18 from both sides, leaving −ᎏ45ᎏ + ᎏ12ᎏ = −ᎏ12ᎏ + ᎏ45ᎏ. Since ᎏ45ᎏ is
larger than ᎏ12ᎏ, the left side of the equation (quantity A) is
negative and the right side (quantity B) is positive. A positive
number is always greater than a negative number, so quantity B
is greater.

16. c. ᎏ20ᎏ and 5% are the same thing. Therefore, the two quantities are
1

equal.

17. b. n is a negative number. Try a couple of negative numbers to see

the pattern. Substitute in −2; (7)(−2) = −14 and (4)(−2) = −8,
quantity B is greater. Substitute in −.5; (7)(−.5) = −3.5 and
(4)(−.5) = −2. Again, quantity B is greater.

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

18. a. Any number squared is positive. Therefore, p2 is positive and

( −p)2 is negative. A positive number is always greater than a
negative number. Quantity A is greater.

19. b. Both sets of parentheses in quantity B are negative. Two neg-

atives multiplied yield a positive answer. Quantity A has one
negative set of parentheses and one positive. A negative multi-
plied by a positive yields a negative answer. Since quantity B is
always positive and quantity A is always negative, quantity A is
greater.

20. d. The relationship cannot be determined. If x < 1, for example .5,

then quantity A is larger. If x = 1, then both quantities are equal
(both 1). If x > 1, for example 3, then quantity B is larger.

21. b. Use the order of operations to simplify.

5 × (3 + 1) ÷ 2 =
5×4÷2=
20 ÷ 2 =
10 = quantity A

5×3+1÷2=
15 + .5 =
15.5 = quantity B

22. c. There are 15 children out of 150 people; ᎏ

15
0 = 0.10 = 10%. The
15ᎏ
percentage of people in the theater that are children is 10%.

23. c. Change .75% to a decimal by moving the decimal point two

places to the left. .75% = 0.0075.

24. b. Use the equation 5x + 3x = 96 and solve for x.

5x + 3x = 96
8x = 96
8x
ᎏ8ᎏ = ᎏ986ᎏ
x = 12

5x of the animals are dogs. Since x = 12, 5x = 60. There are 60

dogs, which is less than quantity B.

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

25. a. Notice that 45% of 104 would be more than 45% of 100. Since
45% of 100 is 45, quantity A is greater than 45 which is greater
than quantity B.

26. a. Simplify the exponents on the left-hand side of the equation by

multiplying. Then, since the bases are the same (c), the
exponents can be set equal to each other:

(c b)5 = c5 + a
c5b = c5 + a
5b = 5 + a

Isolate a by subtracting 5 on both sides of the equation.

5b − 5 = 5 + a − 5
5b − 5 = a

The variables must be integers greater than 1 (so the smallest

possible value is 2). When 2 is substituted in for b, a is equal to
5. As the value of b gets larger, so does the value of a. Quantity
A is always greater than quantity B.

27. c. Multiplying by 103 moves the decimal in 16.5 three places to

the right to get 16,500 (quantity A). Multiplying by 104 moves
the decimal in 1.65 four places to the right to get 16,500
(quantity B).

28. c. “Of ” means multiply. Multiply the fractions in quantity A;

3
ᎏᎏ
4 × ᎏ181ᎏ = ᎏ2444ᎏ = ᎏ161ᎏ. Quantity A is equal to quantity B.

29. a. The value of x is negative. x3 is also negative because three

negatives multiply to a negative answer. The negative in front
of −x3y negates the negative of x3, making the quantity positive.
The value of y doesn’t matter because it is positive, making it
greater than quantity B.

30. b. The possible integer factor pairs of 30 are (1,30), (2,15), (3,10),
and (5,6). Of these factor pairs, (1,30) has the largest sum;
1 + 30 = 31. 31 is not larger than 32, so quantity B is greater.

31. b. x is a positive number less than 1. The easiest way to see this
solution is to try different numbers for x. If x = 0.5, then ᎏ1xᎏ = ᎏ01.5ᎏ
= 1 ÷ 0.5 = 2 and ᎏx1ᎏ2 = ᎏ 1
ᎏ=ᎏ
(0.5)2
1
ᎏ = 4. Quantity B is always
0.25
greater than quantity A.

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

32. c. 兹 .0001
4
苶 = .1 and 兹.01
苶 = .1; the two quantities are equal.

33. a. In quantity A, multiplying by 10−3 moves the decimal 3 places to

the left to yield 0.000123. In quantity B, multiplying by 10−6
moves the decimal to the left 6 places to yield 0.0000123.
0.000123 > 0.0000123.

34. b. In order for ᎏ5ᎏ and ᎏ6ᎏ to be integers, x must be evenly divisible by
x x

5 and 6. If a number is divisible by 6, it is even. An even number

does not have a remainder when divided by 2. Quantity A is 0
which is less than quantity B.

35. a. Add two zeros to the end of quantity A to compare it to

quantity B. 5.100 > 5.014.

36. a. If x was 20, then quantity B would be 4. Since x is greater than

20, quantity B is less than 4 and less than quantity A.

37. a. Use this formula: rate × time = distance. If 5r = 350, then r = 70

(quantity A). If 12r = 780, then r = 65 (quantity B).

38. b. To find the number of hours in a year multiply 24 hours by 365

days to get 8,760 hours. To find the number of seconds in a day,
multiply 60 seconds by 60 minutes by 24 hours to get 86,400
seconds.

39. b. Multiply (28 + 42)2 out using FOIL.

(28 + 42)2
= (28 + 42)(28 + 42)
= (28)2 + (28)(42) + (42)(28) + (42)2

Since (28 + 42)2 has the two middle terms in addition to (28)2
and (42)2, it is greater than quantity A.

40. c. Multiplication is commutative (order doesn’t matter). Quantity

A and quantity B are the same, just in a different order.
Therefore, they are equal.

41. b. Distribute the n in quantity A to get n2 − n. Next, subtract n2

from both quantities. Quantity A becomes −n and quantity B
becomes 0. Since n is positive, −n is negative. Any negative
number is less than 0; therefore, quantity B is greater.

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

42. d. The relationship cannot be determined; a is greater than b. If a

is 200 and b is 100, 30% of 200 is 60 and 50% of 100 is 50,
making quantity A greater. If a is 120 and b is 118, 30% of 120
is 36 and 50% of 118 is 59, making quantity B greater.

43. b. Both fractions in quantity B are greater than ᎏ2ᎏ. When they are
1

added together, they will make more than 1 whole.

44. c. “Of” means multiply; ᎏ6ᎏ × 12 = 10 and ᎏ6ᎏ × 60 = 10.

5 1

45. d. The relationship cannot be determined. Subtract ᎏxᎏ from both

1

quantities. Now compare 3y and 7y. If y is negative, 3y is

greater. If y is positive, 7y is greater.

46. c. (n2)4 = n8 and (n4)2 = n8. The quantities are equal.

47. b. The first integer that n can be is 2. Since ᎏ2ᎏ = 1.5, quantity B is
3

greater. Quickly plugging in other integers shows that this is

always true.

48. b. The product of two odd numbers is odd. The remainder when
an odd number is divided by 2 is always 1. Therefore, quantity
A is always 1. Since x is larger than y, ᎏxyᎏ is always greater than 1
because y always goes into x more than one time.

49. a. Square both quantities to compare without the square roots:

苶)2 = 25(3x) = 75x; (3兹5x
(5兹3x 苶)2 = 9(5x) = 45x. Since x is
positive, 75x is always greater than 45x.

50. a. Try a number less than 1 such as 0.5 for x; 4(0.5) = 2 and
0.5
ᎏᎏ
5 = .1. In this case, quantity A is greater. Try a number greater
than 1 such as 20. 4(20) = 80 and ᎏ250ᎏ = 4. Whenever a positive
number is multiplied by 4, it will be greater than if that positive
number was divided by 5.

51. b. Subtract 2x from both quantities. Quantity A is now x − 5 and

quantity B is now 0. Add 5 to both quantities. A is now x and B
is now 5. x is defined as between −1 and 1. Therefore, it is less
than 5.

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

52. d. The relationship cannot be determined. If x = 0.5, quantity A is

(0.5)2 + 1 = .25 + 1 = 1.25 and quantity B is 0.5 + 1 = 1.5. When
x = 0.5, quantity B is greater. If x = 6, quantity A is 62 + 1 = 36 +
1 = 37 and quantity B is 6 + 1 = 7. Quantity A is greater when
x = 6.

53. a. ᎏxᎏ always equals 1. Since x < y and x is positive, ᎏyᎏ < 1.
x x

54. b. If 70% of students passed, 30% of students failed. Therefore,

the ratio of failed to passed is 30 to 70, which simplifies to ᎏ37ᎏ.
3 3
ᎏᎏ > ᎏᎏ.
5 7

55. c. Add the numbers inside the parentheses. (84 + 12)(15 + 91) =
(96)(106) and (74 + 22)(20 + 86) = (96)(106).

56. c. “Of” means multiply; 75% of 30 = .75 × 30 = 22.5 and 30% of

75 = .30 × 75 = 22.5.

57. a. Since the bases are equal, just compare the exponents to
compare the expressions. 3 > ᎏ13ᎏ.

58. c. 4x is an even number because any multiple of 4 is even. The

remainder when an even number is divided by 2 is 0.

59. b. 兹4
苶 = 2, so 兹5
苶 > 2.

60. a. 兹17
苶 > 4 and 兹5
苶 > 2, therefore, 兹17
苶 + 兹5
苶 > 6. Since 兹25
苶 = 5,
苶 < 5. Quantity A is greater.
兹22

61. a. ᎏbᎏ × ᎏcᎏ = ᎏcᎏ and ᎏ5ᎏ × ᎏ7ᎏ = ᎏ35ᎏ; ᎏ35ᎏ > 1.
a b a 4 9 36 36

62. b. ᎏ4ᎏ% = 0.75% = .0075; ᎏ4ᎏ as a decimal is 0.75. To change 0.75%

3 3

to a decimal, move the decimal point two places to the left.

.0075 < .75.

63. b. The only pair of numbers that adds to 12 and is prime is 7 and
5. Therefore, x and y are 5 and 7; xy = (5)(7) = 35. 35 < 38.

64. a. For any positive numbers a and b, a + b > b − a. Therefore,

(a + b)(a + b) > (b − a)(b − a).

65. b. Combine the terms of quantity A; 兹10

苶 + 兹10
苶 = 2兹10
苶. To get
rid of the square root, square both quantities (A and B);
(2兹10苶)2 = 4(10) = 40 and 72 = 49. 40 < 49.

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

66. a. Notice that quantity A starts earlier and ends later. Therefore,
it is a longer period of time. You do not need to do the
subtraction.

67. c. Square both quantities to get rid of the square roots; (兹63
苶)2 =
苶)2 = 9(7) = 63. The two quantities are the same.
63 and (3兹7

68. c. Use the distributive property to multiply quantity B out.

(76 + 26)14 = 76 × 14 + 26 × 14. Quantity B is equivalent to
quantity A.

69. a. Any positive number multiplied by 9 is greater than that same

number multiplied by 5. When the number is negative,
multiplying by 9 yields a number that is “more negative” or less
than that negative multiplied by 5.

70. d. The relationship cannot be determined. Solve the inequality for

k by dividing both sides by 8; ᎏ587ᎏ < ᎏ88ᎏk < ᎏ687ᎏ. 7.125 < k < 8.375. It
cannot be determined whether k is less than, greater than, or
equal to 8.

71. a. Both numbers in quantity A are greater than the corresponding

number in quantity B; 243 > 231 and 96 > 93. Therefore, the
product for quantity A is greater than the product for
quantity B.

72. c. Use the equation 7x + 5x = 48 and solve for x. First, combine

like terms on the left-hand side of the equation; 12x = 48.
12x 48
Divide both sides by 12 to solve for x; ᎏ12 = 12 . x = 4. The wins
ᎏ ᎏᎏ
are 7x or 28.

73. b. x is between 0 and 5. Since x is less than 5, x − 5 must be

negative. Since x is less than 5, 5 − x must be positive. Any
positive number is greater than any negative number.

74. a. Subtract ᎏ9ᎏ and ᎏ8ᎏ from both quantities. Quantity A is then just ᎏ4ᎏ
1 5 3

and quantity B is just ᎏ12ᎏ. Quantity A is greater than quantity B.

75. b. Use the formula distance = rate × time. Let Joel’s rate be 1.5
and Sue’s rate be 1. In 80 minutes, Sue’s distance is 1(80) = d or
80 = d. In 60 minutes, Joel’s distance is 1.5(60) = d or 90 = d.

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

76. b. (26 − 31) is negative and therefore, when multiplied by a

positive (296 + 134) it yields a negative answer. Both
parentheses in quantity B are positive, so quantity B is positive.
Any positive number is greater than any negative number.

77. a. 40% is equivalent to ᎏ

40 2 3 2
0 = ᎏ5ᎏ; ᎏ5ᎏ of 80 is greater than ᎏ5ᎏ of 80.
10ᎏ

78. a. Both x and y are negative. Therefore, the sum of x and y is

negative (quantity B). The absolute value of x and y are both
positive, so their sum is positive (quantity A). Any positive
number is greater than any negative number.

79. d. The relationship cannot be determined. If x = −2, then quantity

A is 7(3(−2) + 1) = 7(−6 + 1) = 7(−5) = −35 and quantity B is
12(3(−2) + 1) = 12(−6 + 1) = 12(−5) = −60. In this case, quantity
A is greater. If x = 2, then quantity A is 7(3(2) + 1) = 7(6 + 1) =
7(7) = 49 and quantity B is 12(3(2) + 1) = 12(6 + 1) = 12(7) = 84.
In this case, quantity B is greater.

80. b. Square both quantities to get rid of the square roots; (4兹2
苶)2 =
苶)2 = 35. 32 < 35. Quantity B is greater.
(16)(2) = 32 and (兹35

81. d. The relationship cannot be determined. There is not enough

information to determine an answer.

82. c. 26 = 64; therefore, r = 2. 25 = 32. Both quantities are equal to 32.

83. b. 兹m
苶12 = m6 and (m2)5 = m10; since m is greater than 1, quantity B

is greater than quantity A.

84. b. “x is 40 percent of y” translates into the equation x = .4y.

Substitute .4y for x in quantity B; 3(.4y) = 1.2y. y < 1.2y.
Quantity B is greater.

85. b. Find 20% of 120 by multiplying 120 by .20 to get 24 more

refrigerators sold. Add 24 to the number of refrigerators sold
last year to get the number sold this year; 120 + 24 = 144; 144
refrigerators were sold this year.

86. b. Compare each number in quantity A to a different number in

quantity B; 956 < 970, 274 < 275, and 189 < 200. Since each of
the numbers in quantity A is less than the corresponding
number in quantity B, quantity B is greater.

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

87. a. Pair the largest number with the smallest number (1 and 100)
from the list of integers and add them together (101). Take the
second largest pair (2 and 99) and add them together (101). The
sum of the third largest pair (3 and 98) is also 101. There are 50
pairs whose sum is 101. To find the sum of the integers,
multiply 101 by 50 to get a sum of 5,050, which is larger than
quantity B.

88. b. Subtract a from both quantities. Quantity A is then b and

quantity B is −b. Since b is negative, −b is positive and therefore
greater than b.

89. a. Use the formula distance = rate × time. Lisa’s distance is 117
miles and her time is 2.25 hours; 117 = 2.25r. Divide both sides
117 2.25r
by 2.25; ᎏ 5 =ᎏ
2.2ᎏ 2.25 , so 52 = r. The rate is 52 miles per hour.
ᎏ

90. b. All the numbers involved in the problem are negative. There is
an odd number of numbers for quantity A and an even number
of numbers for quantity B. When multiplying an odd number
of negatives, you get a negative answer. When multiplying an
even number of negatives, you get a positive answer. Any
positive number is greater than any negative number.

91. a. Find the number of miles that John has driven by finding ᎏ5ᎏ of
2

350; ᎏ25ᎏ × 350 = 140. 140 miles have been driven in 2.5 hours. To
find the average speed, use the formula distance = rate × time.
The distance is 140 and the time is 2.5. 140 = 2.5r. Solve for r
140 2.5r
by dividing both sides of the equation by 2.5; ᎏ2.5 = 2.5 , so
ᎏ ᎏᎏ
r = 56 mph.

92. b. Quantity A and quantity B both contain the integers from −5 to

5. So the only comparison that must be done is outside of those
numbers. The additional numbers that quantity A has are all
negative, which brings the sum down. The additional numbers
that quantity B has are all positive, which brings the sum up.
Quantity B is therefore greater.

93. c. Create a factor tree to help visualize the factors of 122 and 503.
The only distinct prime factors of 123 are 3 and 2. The only
distinct prime factors of 503 are 5 and 2. Since they both have 2
distinct prime factors, the quantities are equal.

94. b. 683 × .05 = 34.15 and 683 × .1 = 68.3

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

95. c. |−83| = 83 and |83| = 83

96. d. The relationship cannot be determined. If r = − 0.1, 45(−0.1)

45
= −4.5 and ᎏ .1 = −450. In this example, quantity A is greater. If
−0ᎏ
r = −5, 45(−5) = −225 and 45ᎏ5 = −9. In this example, quantity B is
−ᎏ
greater.

97. c. −11 + (−4) = −11 − 4 = −15

98. a. In order to compare the two quantities, the bases must be the
same. 25 can be written as 52. Therefore, 254 = (52)4 = 58.
Compare the exponents of quantities A and B. 9 > 8. Quantity A
is greater.

99. c. To multiply fractions, simply multiply across the numerators

and denominators. The numbers in the numerators in quantity
A and quantity B are the same (1, 3, 7), just in a different order.
The quantities in the denominators are also the same (2, 4, 9),
just in a different order. When multiplied out, both quantities
are ᎏ2712ᎏ.

100. b. Follow the order of operations. Quantity A is 2 + 82 − 6 − 10 = 2

+ 64 − 6 − 10 = 50. Quantity B is (2 + 8)2 − 6 − 10 = 102 − 6 − 10
= 100 − 6 − 10 = 84.

101. a. Square both quantities to get rid of the square roots; (7兹x
苶)2 =
49x and (兹3x苶)2 = 3x. Since x is positive, 49x > 3x. Quantity A is
greater than quantity B.

102. d. The relationship cannot be determined. When x is positive,

quantity B is greater. When x is negative, quantity A is greater.

103. c. ᎏ3ᎏx + ᎏ3ᎏx + ᎏ3ᎏx = 1x; therefore, x = 9. The quantities are equal.
1 1 1

104. a. Since the bases are the same (b) and b > 1, the exponents can be
compared. a + 1 > a since a is positive.

105. b. Simplify both fractions by canceling the x’s. The fractions then
become just −y and y. y is positive, so −y is negative. Any
positive number is greater than any negative number.

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

106. b. Quantity A is less than 1 and quantity B is greater than 1. This

is easily seen by the fact that ᎏ310ᎏ is being taken from 1, which
brings the value below 1 for quantity A. For quantity B, create a
90 11 101
common denominator of 100; ᎏ 0 +ᎏ
10ᎏ 0 =ᎏ
10ᎏ 100 . This fraction is
ᎏ
greater than 1.

107. c. Use rules of exponents to simplify quantities. (t6)2 = t12 and

t8t4 = t12. The quantities are equal.

108. c. The primes between 40 and 50 are 41, 43, and 47. The primes
between 1 and 6 are 2, 3, and 5. Each quantity equals 3.

109. a. Square both quantities to get rid of some of the square roots.

(兹x苶 + 兹y苶)2 = (兹x苶 + 兹y苶)(兹x苶 + 兹y苶) = x + 2兹xy

苶+y

(兹x苶)
+y2=x+y

苶, which is positive, it is
Since quantity A has the extra term 2兹xy
greater.

110. c. Use the formula distance = rate × time. Kendra’s rate is 56 and
her distance is 42; 42 = 56t. Solve the equation by dividing by
56; ᎏ4526ᎏ = ᎏ
56t
56 ; t = .75 hr; .75 hours is equivalent to 45 minutes.
ᎏ

111. a. Any power of 5 ends in 5. When it is divided by 10, there will

be a remainder of 5. Therefore, quantity A is 5. Any power of
10 ends in 0. When it is divided by 5, there will be a remainder
of 0.

112. b. Compare x and z in terms of m; x = ᎏ5ᎏm; z can be rewritten in

2
5
terms of m by substituting for y; z = ᎏ190ᎏ(ᎏ53ᎏm) = ᎏ32ᎏm. ᎏ25ᎏ < ᎏ32ᎏ,
ᎏᎏm
3
therefore, quantity B is greater.

113. a. Get rid of the square roots by squaring both fractions; (冪莦
15 2
ᎏᎏ) = 2
15 3 2
ᎏ4ᎏ = 3.75 and (ᎏᎏ
兹3
苶
) = ᎏ93ᎏ = 3.

114. b. h is negative, so 5 times a negative is a negative. Quantity A is

negative. A negative multiplied by itself 4 times is a positive.
Quantity B is positive. Any positive number is greater than any
negative number.

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

115. c. Simplify the equation by distributing the negative.

−(x − y) = x − y
−x + y = x − y

Next, add x to both sides. Then add y to both sides.

−x + x + y = x + x − y
y + y = 2x − y + y
2y = 2x

Divide both sides by 2.

2y
= ᎏ22ᎏx
ᎏ2ᎏ
y=x

116. c. Zero is included in both lists. Zero multiplied by anything

yields a zero. Both products are zero.

117. a. Quantity A is positive because a negative number to an even

power yields a positive answer. Quantity B is negative because a
negative number to an odd power yields a negative answer. Any
positive number is greater than any negative number.

118. c. Use the rules of exponents to simplify the quantities; (m3)6 =

m18; 兹m
苶36 = m18. Both quantities are equivalent to m18.

119. c. Divide both terms in the numerator of quantity A by 5. This

yields x − 7, which is equivalent to quantity B.

120. c. The only prime divisible by 7 is 7. It is the same for 11—the

only prime divisible by 11 is 11. If any other number was
divisible by 7 or 11, it would not be prime.

121. a. Add zeros on to the end of quantity A to make it easier to

compare to quantity B; .16 = .1600; .1600 > .0989.

122. c. When multiplying by 105, move the decimal 5 places to the

right to get 425,000. When dividing by 102, move the decimal 2
places to the left to get 425,000. The values in A and B are the
same.

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

123. c. The absolute value of opposites is the same number. For

example, |5| = 5 and |−5| = 5; x − 8 is the opposite of 8 − x. This
can be shown by multiplying either expression by −1. The result
is the remaining expression; −1(x − 8) = −x + 8 = 8 − x.
Therefore, the two values are equal.

124. b. Divide the number of packages of cheese by the amount used

per pizza to find the number of pizzas made; 60 ÷ ᎏ23ᎏ = ᎏ610ᎏ × ᎏ32ᎏ =
90. They made 90 pizzas. Quantity B is greater.

125. a. Set up the complex fractions and then divide. Quantity A is

ᎏ1ᎏ
x
ᎏᎏ
y = ᎏ
4
= ᎏ14ᎏ ÷ ᎏ15ᎏ = ᎏ14ᎏ × ᎏ51ᎏ = ᎏ54ᎏ, so Quantity A is ᎏ54ᎏ; Quantity B is
ᎏ1ᎏ
5

ᎏ1ᎏ
5
y
ᎏxᎏ = ᎏ = ᎏ15ᎏ ÷ ᎏ14ᎏ = ᎏ15ᎏ × ᎏ41ᎏ = ᎏ45ᎏ, so Quantity B is ᎏ45ᎏ.
ᎏ1ᎏ
4
Since quantity A is greater than 1 and quantity B is less than 1,
quantity A is greater.

24
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Algebra

In this chapter, the following math concepts will be the subject of the 125
algebra-based quantitative comparison questions:

n Applications
n Coordinate Geometry
n Inequalities
n Operations with Algebraic Expressions
n Rules of Exponents
n Solving Linear Equations
n Solving Quadratic Equations in One Variable
n Translating Words into Algebraic Expressions

Some important guidelines:

Numbers: All numbers used are real numbers.

Figures: Figures that accompany questions are intended to provide infor-

mation useful in answering the questions. Unless otherwise indicated, posi-
tions of points, angles, regions, etc. are in the order shown; angle measures
are positive; lines shown as straight are straight; and figures lie in a plane.

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Unless a note states that a figure is drawn to scale, you should NOT solve
these problems by estimating or by measurement, but by using your knowl-
edge of mathematics.

Common Information: In a question, information concerning one or both

of the quantities to be compared is centered above the two columns. A sym-
bol that appears in both columns represents the same thing in Column A
as it does in Column B.

Directions: Each of the following questions consists of two quantities, one

in Column A and one in Column B. Compare the two quantities and
choose:
a. if the quantity in Column A is greater
b. if the quantity in Column B is greater
c. if the two quantities are equal
d. if the relationship cannot be determined from the information given.

Examples
Column A Column B

1. x+5=9
4 x

The correct answer is c. Subtract 5 on both sides of the equation. x

+ 5 − 5 = 9 − 5. Simplifying this gives a solution of x = 4. The
columns are equal.

2. a<0
a2 a3

The correct answer is a. Since a is less than zero, it represents a

negative number. A negative number raised to an even numbered
power will be a positive result, but a negative number raised to an
odd numbered power will be a negative result. Column A is larger.

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Questions

Column A Column B

126. 117 + 23 25

127. a is a positive integer.

1 1
ᎏᎏ7 ᎏ10
ᎏ
a a

128. (a4)2 a8

129. 33 9

130. a is an integer.
a2a3 a6

131. (ᎏ4ᎏ)2 − (ᎏ4ᎏ)2

3 1
(ᎏ12ᎏ)2

132. 4x = 64
x 4

133. 212 = 8x
3 x

134. a<0
2
a a9

135. y = 5x
x is a positive integer.
5x + 1 5y

136. x>0
(2x + 4)(x + 1) 2x2 + 5x + 4

137. x2 − 4x − 21 = 0
sum of the roots product of the roots

138. The prom committee orders an arch for the entrance to the
dance floor. The arch follows the equation y = 2x − .1x2
where y is the height of the arch, in feet.
maximum arch height 10 feet

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

139. x<0
x(x + 7) x2 + 7

140. x>0
(x + 3)2 x2 + 9

141. y = x2 + 6x + 9
minimum y value 9
of the function

142. y = 4x2 + 4x − 8
smaller root −2

143. y = −x2 + 6x
larger root 6

144. 9x2 = 6x − 1
x 1

145. (x + 5)(x − 5) x2 + 10x − 25

146. xy < 0
2
(x + y) x2 + y2

147. 2(x + 3) + 6 = 4x
6 x

148. Julie is 5 years older than Ravi. Three years ago,

Julie was twice as old as Ravi.
Ravi’s age now 5

149. The sum of 3 consecutive integers is 37 more

than the largest integer.
the middle integer 19

150. The sale price for a snowboard is $63.00.

This price reflects a 30% discount.
the original price $90.00
of the snowboard

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

151. The ratio of rabbits to squirrels is 2:3.

There are a total of 225 rabbits and squirrels.
the number of squirrels 90

152. To mail an envelope first class costs $0.34 for the first ounce,
plus $0.17 for each additional ounce. The cost to mail an
envelope was $1.53.
8 ounces weight of the envelope

153. Carlos has 14 coins in his pocket, consisting of quarters

and nickels only. The monetary value of these coins is $2.30.
the number of quarters the number of nickels

154. The drama club collected $907.50 from the sale of tickets.
Adult tickets cost $5.00 and student tickets cost $2.50.
They sold 63 more student tickets than adult.
the number of student tickets 163

155. There are 146 athletes and 8 coaches taking a trip to

a competition. They travel in buses that seat 48 people.
the number of buses needed 4

156. Monique had 68 points correct out of a total of

85 points on her math test.
Monique’s percentage grade 68%

157. A bus leaves the station traveling at a constant speed of 45 miles

per hour. A second bus leaves the same station heading
in the same direction one hour later traveling at a constant
speed of 50 miles per hour.
8 hours The number of hours after first
bus left that the buses will pass
each other

158.
8 + 2x
ᎏᎏ
x = 50
1
x ᎏ6ᎏ

159. 5x + 3 = 18
x 3

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

160. x + 4 = −14
−10 x

161. 4(x − 2) = 8
4 x

162. p + q = 16
3p + 2q = 44
p q

163. 2a + 2b = 20
4a + 2b = 14
b 13

164.
1
ᎏᎏx
6 + 6 = 12
15 x

165. c + 4d = 11
6c − 2d = 40
c d

166. 9c + 12 = d
d − 12
ᎏᎏ
9 c

167.
a
ᎏᎏ
b <0
ab 0

168. a = 2; b = 6; c = 4
c+b÷a 7

169. 3x − (4 + x) 2x − 4

170. b<0
(−2b)2 −2b2

171. a<0
2
2a a3

172. abc > 0

b+c 0

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

173. x≠0
苶)(兹16
(兹x4 苶) 8x2

174. a≥0
兹(a
苶 + 4) 苶2 a+4

175. a≠0
a + b2 (a + b)2 − 2ab

176. x>5
five less than x 5−x

177. twice the sum of 14 and b, b + 14

divided by 2

178. the product of a and b |ab|

179. one third of a variable x,

x
ᎏ ᎏ
12
divided by four

180. x>1
the square root of x, x3
raised to the fourth power

181. Let d = number of dimes.

Let p = number of pennies.
0.10d + 0.01p 10d + p

182. x>y>4
xy
four divided by the ᎏ4ᎏ
product of x and y

183. the cost of a $50.00 sweater, $30.00

on sale for 20% off

184. the cost of a $28.00 28 + .6(28)

basketball, including
6% sales tax

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

185. x is a positive odd integer.

the product of two x(x + 2)
consecutive positive odd
integers

186. 3b + 3 > 18
b 5

187. 2(5 − x) < 70

−30 x

188. 0<a<b
1 1
ᎏᎏ ᎏᎏ
a b

189. b + 7 < −5
b −2

190. x<5;y<z
x+y z+5

191.
1
ᎏᎏx
2 − ᎏ13ᎏx ≥ 4
x 20

192. a>b>0
1 1
ᎏᎏ ᎏᎏ
a b

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

Use the following figure to answer questions 193–194.

10

-5 5 10

-5

193. the x-coordinate of point A the x-coordinate of point B

194. 1 the slope of line AB

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

Use the following figure to answer questions 195–196.

(-3,0) (0,0)
B A

-5 5

C (0,4)
-5

195. 5 the length of segment BC

196. the area of triangle ABC 12

197. A circle with center at the origin passes through the point (0,8).
4 the radius of the circle

198. the slope of the line that 2

passes through the points
(1,2) and (2,4)

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

Use the following figure to answer questions 199–200.

10

(a,b)
5

(4,3)

−10 −5 5 10

−5
(−8,c)

−10

199. a − b 0

200. c −9

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

Use the following figure to answer question 201.

5
(q,3) (5,p)
D C

A B
(2,1) (5,1)

201. p − q q−p

202. ab < 0
b>0
a b

203. ᎏyᎏ
1
y

204. ᎏ
2
3x y
4xᎏ
2y 0.75

205. x and y are positive integers.

10y 10x

206. (ᎏ2ᎏ)2
1 1
(ᎏ3ᎏ)0

207. x>1
2x2 3x3

208.
2+ x −2
8x =1
2
x + x −2 0

209. a<0
b>0
(ab)3 0

210. a>1
a6 × a2 (a6)2

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

211. 0<b<1
b2 b3

212. a≠0
−a2 (−a)2

213. (ᎏ3ᎏ)2
2
(0.667)3

214. 2<c<d<3
1 1
ᎏᎏ ᎏᎏ
c d

215. y=x+8
x+4 y−4

216. 2(x − 5) − 4 = 10
x 12

217. 6x + 3 = −4x − 7
−x x2

218. 11x + 3 = 42
11x + 3 11x − 3

219.
4x
ᎏᎏ
3 + 4 = 2x
6x x2

220. x−y=6
y+x=4
3x xπ

221. x+y=5
x−y=1
x y

222. c+d=3
c−d=3
c 3

223. y = 5x − 1
the value of x when y = 0 the value of y when x = 0

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

224. 8x − 2y = 30
3
x = ᎏ2ᎏy
x y

225. x + y = 16
x−y=8
x2 − y2 (x + y)(x + y)

226. The degree of the quadratic The degree of a cubic term

term of a polynomial of a polynomial

227. 3x2 − 27 = 0
the positive value of x 3

228. x2 − 3x − 10 = 0
the negative value of x −3

229. −y( y − 4) = 10
y2 + 10 4y

230. y > 2x − 1
2x y+1

231. 4 < 2x − 2 < 8

x 6

232. 5<y+1
y 4

233. 6(x − 1) > 30

6 x

234. −3x − 1 > 14

−5 x

235. Point (x, y) is located in Quadrant IV.

x y

236. the slope of the line y = 2x − 3

1
the slope of the line y = ᎏ2ᎏx + 3

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

237. Point (x, y) is located in Quadrant II.

the opposite of x the reciprocal of y

238.
2
The equation of line l is y = ᎏ3ᎏx − 1.
3
Line m is perpendicular to the line y = − ᎏ2ᎏx + 1.
the slope of line l the slope of line m

239. Points (4, c) and (0, d) are on line n.

3
The slope of line n is ᎏ4ᎏ.
c−d 3

240. y = −2x − 3
the y-intercept of the equation the x-intercept of the equation

241. the slope of the equation the slope of the equation

2y − 4x = 6 −3y + 3x = 9

242. the distance between the 5

points (0, 0) and (−3, 4)

243. the difference between 26 the sum of 8 and 2

and the product of 4 and 3

244. six less than nine the square root of four

245. The square of a number is four.

the square root of the number 4

246. the quotient of ten and two the quotient of sixty-five and
thirteen

247. One-half of y is x. One-half of z is y. x + y + z = 35.

z 15

248. Two cars leave the same city traveling in opposite directions.
Car A is traveling at 60 miles per hour and car B is
traveling at 55 miles per hour.
the number of hours it takes 4
for the cars to be 460 miles
apart

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

249. The sum of two consecutive integers is 83.

23 less than three times 16 more than two times
the smaller integer the greater integer

250. A vending machine has exactly $1.15 in quarters and dimes.

the number of quarters the number of dimes

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Answer Explanations

The following explanations show one way in which each problem can be
solved. You may have another method for solving these problems.

126. b. The number 1 to any power is 1; 23 is 2 × 2 × 2 which is 8;

1 + 8 = 9. The quantity 25, in column B, is greater.

127. a. Since the variable a is a positive integer, both choices are

positive, and a10 > a7. These are fractions with the same
numerator. When two fractions are being compared with the
same numerators, the smaller the denominator, the larger the
number. Column A is greater.

128. c. By the laws of exponents, (a4)2 = a4 × 2 = a8. This is true for any
real number a. Therefore, the quantities in Column A and
Column B are equal.

129. a. 33 is equal to 3 × 3 × 3, which is 27. 27 is greater than 9, so

column A is greater.

130. d. The answer cannot be determined. This problem involves a law

of exponents that is true for any real number: a2 × a3 = a2+3 = a5.
For most integers, a6 > a5. Note that this is true even for
negative integers, since 6 is an even number, and 5 is an odd
number. There are two exceptions, however, that would make
these choices equal. They are when a = 0 or a = 1.

131. a. When a fraction is squared, you square both the numerator, and
3 32 9 1 1 9 1 8
the denominator, so (ᎏ4ᎏ)2 = ᎏ4ᎏ2 = ᎏ16ᎏ and (ᎏ4ᎏ)2 = ᎏ16ᎏ and ᎏ16ᎏ − ᎏ16ᎏ = ᎏ16ᎏ
1 1 1
= ᎏ2ᎏ in lowest terms. Likewise, (ᎏ2ᎏ)2 = ᎏ4ᎏ. One half is greater than
one fourth.

132. b. Four to the x power means that 4 is multiplied by itself “x”

times. By trial and error, 4 × 4 × 4 = 64, so x is equal to 3.
Choice B is greater.

133. b. For exponential equations, you must first rewrite the equation
to have the same bases when possible. Since 2 × 2 × 2 = 8,
23 = 8. Two is the common base. Rewrite the equation as
212 = (23)x. By the laws of exponents, (23)x = 23x. The equation is
now 212 = 23x. Since the bases are now the same, this becomes a

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

simple equation to solve, by setting the exponents equal to each

other: 12 = 3x. Divide both sides of this equation by 3, and it
becomes x = 4.

134. a. When a is less than zero, a is negative. A negative number to

any even power is a positive number, while a negative number
to any odd power is a negative number. This is a case where
even though the exponent of 2 is smaller, the quantity will be
greater.

135. c. Since y = 5x, multiply each side of this equation by 5, to get

5y = (51)(5x). (51)(5x) = 5x + 1, which is the value of column A.

136. a. Using the distributive property, (2x + 4)(x + 1) = 2x2 + 2x +

4x + 4. Combine like terms, and this is equal to 2x2 + 6x + 4.
Subtracting 2x2 and 4 from both columns leaves 6x in column A
and 5x in column B. Since x > 0, column A is greater.

137. a. To find the roots of the equation, factor the left hand side into
two binomials; x2 − 4x − 21 = (x − 7)(x + 3), so the equation
becomes (x − 7)(x + 3) = 0. Either x − 7 = 0 or x + 3 = 0 to make
the equation true. So x = 7 or x = −3. The sum of the roots is
7 + −3 = 4. The product of the roots is (−7)(3) = −21.

138. c. The arch is in the shape of a parabola, and the maximum arch
height (the y value) is the height at the vertex. When a quadratic
is in the form ax2 + bx + c (a, b, c are real numbers), the
−b −2
x-coordinate of the vertex is given by the formula ᎏ2ᎏa = ᎏ .2 = 10.
−0ᎏ
2
When x is 10, y = 2(10) − 0.1(10) . So y = 20 − 0.1(100) =
20 − 10 = 10. So the maximum arch height is 10 feet.

139. b. By the distributive property, x(x + 7) = x2 + 7x for column A.

Since x < 0, x is negative, and therefore 7x is negative, x2 + 7
will be greater in this case.

140. a. The quantity (x + 3)2 = (x + 3)(x + 3). By the distributive

property, this equals x2 + 3x + 3x + 9 = x2 + 6x + 9. You can
subtract x2 and 9 from each column and you are left with 6x in
column A and zero in column B. Since x > 0, column A is
greater.

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

141. b. The given equation is a quadratic in the form ax2 + bx + c, where

a, b, and c are real numbers. The minimum y value of the
function is the y value at the vertex. The x-coordinate of the
−b −6
vertex is given by the formula ᎏ2ᎏa = ᎏ2ᎏ = −3. When x = −3,
y = (−3)2 + 6(−3) + 9 = 9 − 18 + 9 = 0. Column B is greater.

142. c. To find the roots of this equation, first factor out the common
factor of 4; 4x2 + 4x − 8 = 4(x2 + x − 2). Next, factor this into two
binomials; 4(x2 + x − 2) = 4(x + 2)(x − 1). The roots are the
values of x that make the y value equal to zero. The equation
will equal zero when x = −2 or x = 1. The smaller root is −2.

143. c. To find the roots of this equation, factor out the common factor
of −x. The equation becomes y = −x(x − 6). The roots are the
values of x that make the y value equal to zero. The equation
will equal zero when x = 0 or x = 6. The larger root is 6.

144. b. To find the values of x, move all terms to the left side so that it
is a quadratic equation set equal to zero. Subtracting 6x and −1
from both sides makes the equation 9x2 − 6x + 1 = 0. Factor this
quadratic into two binomials; 9x2 − 6x + 1 = (3x − 1)(3x − 1).
Now the equation is (3x − 1)(3x − 1) = 0. This will be true when
3x − 1 = 0; add one to both sides to give 3x = 1; divide both
1
sides by 3 and x = ᎏ3ᎏ.

145. d. The answer cannot be determined. The binomials in column A

are the difference of two squares, so (x + 5)(x − 5) =
x2 − 5x + 5x − 25 = x2 − 25. Since there is no indication as to
whether x is positive or negative, the term 10x in column B
could be either positive or negative and the answer cannot be
determined.

146. b. Using the distributive property and combining like terms,

column A is (x + y)2 = x2 + xy + xy + y2 = x2 + 2xy + y2. Since
xy < 0, 2xy is negative, and thus column B is greater.

147. c. To solve this equation, first use the distributive property, and
combine like terms, on the left hand side. The left side becomes
2(x + 3) + 6 = 2x + 6 + 6 = 2x + 12. Now, 2x + 12 = 4x. Subtract
2x from each side, so 12 = 2x. Divide both sides by 2, and x = 6.

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

148. a. Set up an equation and let x represent Ravi’s age now. Julie’s age
now is represented by x + 5. Three years ago, Ravi’s age was
x − 3 and Julie’s age was x + 5 − 3 = x + 2. Three years ago, Julie
was twice as old as Ravi. So x + 2 = 2(x − 3). Use the distributive
property on the right hand side to get x + 2 = 2x − 6. Add six to
both sides, yielding x + 8 = 2x. Subtract x from both sides, and
x = 8. Ravi’s age now is 8.

149. c. Set up an equation where x represents the first consecutive

integer. Therefore the second consecutive integer is x + 1, and
the third is x + 2. The sum of these integers is represented by
x + x + 1 + x + 2. Combining like terms, the sum is represented
by 3x + 3. This sum is 37 more than the largest integer, so
3x + 3 = x + 2 + 37. Combining like terms on the right hand side
yields the equation 3x + 3 = x + 39. Subtracting x from both
sides yields 2x + 3 = 39. Subtract 3 from both sides gives
2x = 36. Divide both sides by 2, and x = 18. Now, x represents
the smallest integer, so the middle integer is x + 1 = 19.

150. c. $63.00, which is the sale price, is 70% of the original price.
Therefore, let x represent the original price of the snowboard.
So 0.70x = 63.00. Divide both sides of this equation by 0.70,
and x = $90.00.

151. a. Since the ratio of rabbits to squirrels is 2:3, there are 2 rabbits
for every 3 squirrels. Let 2x represent the number of rabbits,
and then 3x represents the number of squirrels. So 2x + 3x =
225. Combine like terms: 5x = 225. Divide both sides by 5, and
then x = 45. The number of squirrels is 3x = 3(45) = 135.

152. c. Let x represent the total weight in ounces. So x − 1 will

represent the additional ounces over the first ounce. The cost
is then represented by 0.34 + 0.17(x − 1) = 1.53. Use the
distributive property on the left hand side to get 0.34 + 0.17x −
0.17 = 1.53. Combine like terms: 0.17 + 0.17x = 1.53. Subtract
0.17 from both sides: 0.17x = 1.36. Divide both sides by 0.17,
and x = 8. The total weight is 8 ounces.

153. a. Let q represent the number of quarters. Since there are a total
of 14 quarters and nickels, 14 − q will represent the number of
nickels. Set up an equation to represent the monetary amount:
.25q + .05(14 − q) = 2.30. Use the distributive property, and

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

distribute .05: .25q + .70 − .05q = 2.30. Combine like terms to

get .20q + .70 = 2.30. Subtract .70 from both sides, to get
.20q = 1.60. Divide both sides by .20, so q = 8. Since there are
14 coins, the number of nickels is 14 − q = 14 − 8 = 6.

154. c. Since there were 63 more student tickets sold than adult tickets,
let a represent the number of adult tickets sold. So a + 63 will
represent the number of student tickets sold. The total ticket
sales can be represented by 5a + 2.5(a + 63) = 907.50. Use the
distributive property to distribute 2.5 to the terms in
parentheses: 5a + 2.5a + 157.50 = 907.50. Combine like terms,
to get 7.5a + 157.50 = 907.50. Subtract 157.50 from both sides
of the equation to get 7.5a = 750. Divide both sides by 7.5, and
a = 100. The number of adult tickets is therefore 100; the
number of student tickets is 100 + 63 = 163.

155. c. The buses need to seat 146 athletes, plus 8 coaches. This is 154
people total. Three buses will hold 144 people. Four buses are
needed.

156. a. Monique’s percentage grade is the ratio of the number correct

68
to the total number of points on the test. This is ᎏ85ᎏ = 0.8 and
0.8 is equal to 80%.

157. b. Let x represent the number of hours after the first bus left in
which they will pass. Since the second bus left one hour later,
the number of hours after the second bus leaves is x − 1. The
buses will pass when their distances are the same. Since the first
bus is traveling 45 miles per hour, 45x represents the distance
the bus has gone in x hours, because distance = rate × time. For
the second bus, since it is traveling at 50 miles per hour, its
distance is represented by 50(x − 1). Set up the equation to
represent that the two distances are equal: 45x = 50(x − 1).
Use the distributive property on the right hand side to get
45x = 50x − 50. Subtract 45x from both sides, and add 50 to
both sides, and 5x = 50. Divide both sides by 5, and x = 10
hours.

158. c. For this fractional equation, the best way to simplify is to

multiply both sides by x. This will leave 8 + 2x = 50x. Subtract
2x from both sides to get 8 = 48x. Divide both sides by 48, so
8 1
x = ᎏ48ᎏ = ᎏ6ᎏ in simplest form.

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159. c. For the given equation, subtract three from both sides to get
5x = 15. Divide both sides by 5 to get x = 3.

160. a. For the given equation, subtract four from both sides to get
x = −18.

161. c. For the given equation, first apply the distributive property, and
distribute four to each term on the left. The equation now is
4x − 8 = 8. Now add eight to both sides of the equation to get
4x = 16. Divide both sides by 4 and x = 4.

162. a. One way to solve this system of equations is to multiply each

term in the first equation by 2, to get 2p + 2q = 32. Line up the
equations, and subtract the bottom terms from the top terms:
2p + 2q = −32)
−(3p + 2q = −44)
−p = −12)
Divide both sides now by −1, and p = 12. Going back to the
original first equation, if p = 12, then 12 + q = 16. Therefore, by
subtracting twelve from both sides, q = 4.

163. c. For this given system of equations, both have the term 2b, so
subtract the bottom terms from the top terms:
2a + 2b = 20)
−(4a + 2b = 14)
−2a = 6)
Divide both sides by −2, and a = −3. Going back to the original
first equation, if a = −3, then 2(−3) + 2b = 20, or −6 + 2b = 20.
Add six to both sides of this equation to get 2b = 26. Divide
both sides by two, and b = 13.

164. b. For the given equation, first subtract six from both sides to get
1 1
ᎏ6ᎏx= 6. Next, multiply both sides by the reciprocal of ᎏ6ᎏ, which is
six. The equation now is x = 36.

165. a. For the given system of equations, multiply each of the terms in
the second equation by two, so that both equations have a
common term of 4d:
c + 4d = 11
12c − 4d = 80
Add the two equations to get 13c + 4d = 91.

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Divide both sides of this resulting equation by thirteen to get

c = 7. Using the original first equation and substituting in seven
for c, 7 + 4d = 11. Subtract seven from both sides, and divide
both sides by four, and d = 1.

166. c. Since the choice in column B is c, solve the given equation for c,
by subtracting twelve from both sides, and then dividing both
sides by nine. The quantities are equal.

167. b. It is given that a divided by b is less than zero, so by the rules of

positive/negative arithmetic, either a is negative or b is negative,
but not both. In this case, the term ab will be negative. Zero is
larger.

168. c. For the given values of a, b, and c, column A is 4 + 6 ÷ 2. By

order of operations, first compute six divided by two, which is
three. Now, four plus three is equal to seven.

169. c. Use the distributive property on the expression in column A,

and distribute negative one to both terms in parentheses. Now
column A is 3x − 4 − x. Combining like terms leaves 2x − 4 in
column A, which is now identical to column B.

170. a. It is given that b is less than zero, which means that b is a

negative number. For the expression in column A, do the
quantities in parentheses first. Negative two times any negative
b results in a positive number. Any positive number squared is
also positive. In column B, order of operations says to do the
exponent first. A negative number squared is positive. Now,
however, this number is multiplied by −2, which always results
in a negative number. Any positive number is always greater
than a negative number.

171. a. It is given that a is less than zero, which means that a is a

negative number. By the rules of multiplying with negative
numbers, the quantity in column A is two times a negative
number squared, which is positive. The quantity in column B
is a negative times a negative (a positive result) which is then
multiplied by another negative number. This results in a
negative number.

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172. d. The answer cannot be determined. It is given that the quantity

a multiplied by b multiplied by c is greater than zero. This can
be true if all of a, b, and c are positive numbers, or if any two,
but not all, of the three variables are negative. If all three
variables were positive, then column A would be greater. If,
however, both b and c were negative, then the quantity in
column A would be less than zero, the value of column B.

173. b. Simplify the expression in column A. The square root of x to

the fourth power is x squared. Any number squared, whether
positive or negative, is a positive number. Also, the square root
of 16 is four. Column A is 4x2. Therefore, the quantity in
column B, 8x2, is greater than 4x2.

174. c. The quantity is column A becomes a + 4 when simplified, since

squaring and square root are inverse operations.

175. d. The answer cannot be determined. Simplify the expression in

column B, by first applying the distributive property to (a + b)2,
to get a2 + 2ab + b2. Column B is now a2 + 2ab + b2 − 2ab.
Combining like terms results in a2 + b2. Since a is not equal to
zero, and any number squared is positive, the quantity in
column B is greater if a < 0. If a > 1, column B is also greater. If,
however, a = 1, column A is equal to column B. If 0 < a < 1,
column A is greater.

176. a. The words in column A translate in algebra to x − 5. Since it is

given that x is greater than five, the quantity in column A will
be a positive number. The quantity in column B will be a
negative number.

177. c. The words in column A translate into algebra as ᎏ2ᎏ since it

2(b + 14)

is twice the sum of b and 14, then divided by 2. The twos can
cancel, leaving b + 14.

178. d. The answer cannot be determined. For column A, the product

of a and b is ab. The expression in column B is the absolute
value of ab, which is always positive, regardless of the sign of the
quantity ab. Since there is no indication as to whether a or b is
positive or negative, the answer cannot be determined.

179. c. The words in column A translate into algebra as

1 x 4 x 1 x
ᎏᎏx
3 ÷ 4 = ᎏ3ᎏ ÷ ᎏ1ᎏ = ᎏ3ᎏ × ᎏ4ᎏ = ᎏ12ᎏ.

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180. b. The words in column A translate into algebra as (兹x

苶)4 = x2
since (兹x苶)4 = (兹x苶)2 (兹x苶)2 = x × x = x2. Since x > 1, the quantity
in Column B is greater.

181. b. Since the variables d and p refer to the number of dimes and
pennies respectively, they must be positive whole numbers (it’s
1
impossible to have −3 dimes, or ᎏ4ᎏ of a penny). Regardless of
1
what numbers the variables represent, ᎏ10ᎏ of any positive
1
number plus ᎏ100 of another positive number will always be less
ᎏ
than the sum of the two whole numbers. Column B will always
be greater.

182. b. The words in column A translate into 4 ÷ xy = ᎏxᎏy . Since

4

x > y > 4, both x and y are greater than four. The quantity in
column B is a number larger than one, and the quantity in
column A is a number between zero and one.

183. a. The cost of a $50.00 sweater, on sale for 20% off is 80% of the
$50.00. This is (50.00)(.80) = $40.00.

184. b. The cost of a $28.00 basketball, including 6 percent sales tax, is

28 + .06(28). The decimal in column B representing sales tax is
actually equal to 60 percent, not 6 percent.

185. c. Let x represent an odd integer. The next (consecutive) odd

integer is thus x + 2. The product of these two integers is
x(x + 2).

186. a. To solve the given inequality, first subtract three from both
sides, to get 3b > 15. Now, divide both sides by three, to get
b > 5. Since b is greater than five, column A is greater.

187. b. To solve the given inequality, first use the distributive property
and distribute two to the terms in parentheses. The inequality
becomes 10 − 2x < 70. Subtract ten from both sides to get
−2x < 60. Now, divide both sides by negative two, noting that
when you divide by a negative number with an inequality, you
switch the inequality symbol. The inequality thus becomes
x > −30.

188. a. Since it is given that 0 < a < b, then ᎏaᎏ > ᎏbᎏ since, for fractions
1 1

with the same numerator, the smaller the denominator, the

larger the value of the fraction.

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189. b. Solve the given inequality by subtracting seven from both sides
of the inequality to get b < −12. Since this is true, −2 is greater
than any allowed value for b.

190. b. The expression in column B can be written as 5 + z, because of

the commutative property of addition. Since it is given that
x < 5 and also that y < z, then the quantity in column A, x + y is
less than the quantity in column B, z + 5, because of the one to
one correspondence of the terms and the fact that you are
adding.

191. a. To solve the given inequality, first combine the like terms on
1
the left side of the inequality, to get ᎏ6ᎏx ≥ 4. Now, multiply both
sides by six to isolate the variable. The inequality is now x ≥ 24,
which is greater than the quantity in column B.

192. b. It is given that a > b > 0, so both a and b are positive, and a is
larger than b. For fractions with the same numerator, the
smaller the denominator, the larger the value of the fraction.

193. b. The x-coordinate of an ordered pair determines how far to the

left or right a point is plotted on the coordinate plane. Just by
looking at the drawing, point B is to the right of point A.
Therefore, the x-coordinate of point B is greater.

194. a. The slope of a line is the “steepness” of the graphed line. Lines
that go “downhill” when read from left to right have a negative
slope; lines that go “uphill” when read from left to right have a
positive slope. The line in the figure is going downhill, and
therefore has a negative slope.

195. c. Notice that the points A, B, and C form a right triangle in the
figure. To determine the length of segment BC, you count the
length of segment BA and the length of segment AC. Use these
lengths and the Pythagorean theorem to find the length of
segment BC. The Pythagorean theorem is a2 + b2 = c2, where a
and b are the lengths of the legs of a right triangle. Segment BA
is 3 units long, by counting. Segment AC is 4 units long.
Substituting in for a and b gives 32 + 42 = c2. This is 9 + 16 = c2,
or 25 = c2. Take the square root of both sides and c = 5.

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196. b. Notice that the points A, B, and C form a right triangle in the
figure. The base of this triangle is 3 units (by counting), and the
1
height is 4 units. The formula for the area of a triangle is ᎏ2ᎏbh.
1
This is ᎏ2ᎏ(3)(4), which is six units.

197. b. If the circle has its center at the origin and passes through the
point (0,8), then the radius of the circle is 8.

198. c. The slope of a line that passes through two given points is
change in y y −y 4 −2 2
determined by the formula ᎏ e in x = ᎏ
changᎏ
2
x1 = 2− 1 = 1 = 2.
x2−ᎏ
1
ᎏᎏ ᎏᎏ

199. b. The point given by the coordinates (a,b) is on the y-axis, and
above the x-axis. This indicates that a = 0 and that b is positive.
Therefore the quantity in column A is 0 − b, which will be a
negative number since b is greater than zero. Column B is
greater.

200. a. The points (−8,c) and (0,0) and (4,3) all lie on the same line.
Determine the slope of this line, using the points (0,0) and (4,3).
After the slope is determined, use it to find the value of c. The
change in y y2 −y1 3 −0 3
slope of the line can be found by ᎏ e in x = ᎏ
changᎏ x2−ᎏx1 = 4− 0 = 4 . To
ᎏᎏ ᎏᎏ
3 c
find the value of c, use the given slope, which is ᎏ4ᎏ = ᎏ−ᎏ8 . Using
cross multiplication, 4c = −24. Divide both sides by 4, and
c = −6.

201. a. Since the given figure is a rectangle, and a rectangle has right
angles, then as the figure is drawn, the x-coordinate of point D
equals the x-coordinate of point A. Therefore, q = 2. Similarly,
the y-coordinate of point C equals the y-coordinate of point D,
and p = 3. Column A will be 3 − 2 = 1. Column B is 2 − 3 = −1.

202. b. If ab < 0, then a × b is negative. Since b > 0, b is a positive

number. Thus, a must be a negative number to make the
product negative. Therefore b, the positive value, is larger.

203. d. The relationship cannot be determined. If y < −1, column A is

1
greater. For example, ᎏ−ᎏ4 is greater than −4. If 0 < y < 1, column
1 1
A is greater. For example, ᎏ 1 = 3 which is larger than 3 . If y = 1,
ᎏᎏ
ᎏ3ᎏ
then both columns simplify to 1. If y > 1, then column B is
1
greater; ᎏ5ᎏ < 5.

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204. c. After canceling out the factors of x2y in column A, you are left
3
with ᎏ4ᎏ, which is equal to 0.75.

205. d. The relationship cannot be determined. The relationship

between x and y is not stated. If y is greater than x, column A is
greater. If x is greater than y, column B is greater. If x and y are
equal, then the columns are equal.

206. b. (ᎏ2ᎏ)2 is equal to ᎏ4ᎏ, and anything to the zero power is 1. One
1 1

fourth is less than 1. Column B is greater.

207. b. Since x > 1, any value of x raised to the third power and
multiplied by three will be larger than the same value squared
and multiplied by two. For example, if x = 3, then 2 × 32 = 2 × 9
= 18 and 3 (33 = 3 × 27 = 81. Column B is greater.

208. c. Any base number to the zero power is equal to one, so x2 + x − 2

in column A must equal zero. Column A and column B are
equal.

209. b. Since a is negative and b is positive, multiplying a × b results in a

negative value. A negative value raised to an odd numbered
power, like three, also results in a negative answer. Therefore,
Column B is larger.

210. b. Since a is greater than one, use the rules of exponents to

determine the larger value. In column A, when multiplying like
bases add the exponents. a6 × a2 = a8. In column B, when raising
a power to another power, multiply the exponents. (a6)2 = a12. A
value greater than one raised to the twelfth power will be
greater than the same value raised to the eighth. Column B is
greater.

211. a. Since b is between 0 and 1, the value of b could be a fraction

1 1 12 1 1 13 1 1 1
like ᎏ4ᎏ; (ᎏ4ᎏ)2 = ᎏ4ᎏ2 = ᎏ16ᎏ and (ᎏ4ᎏ)3 = ᎏ4ᎏ3 = ᎏ64ᎏ; ᎏ16ᎏ is larger than ᎏ64ᎏ, so
column A is greater.

212. b. −a2 means a2 times −1, which will result in a negative number.
(−a)2 equals (−a)(−a) which will give a positive result. Therefore
column B is larger.

213. a. ᎏ3ᎏ = 0.6, which is very close in value to 0.667. Since these values
2 –
are between zero and one, raising them to the third power will
be smaller than raising them to the second power.

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214. a. Since c and d are between 2 and 3, and c is less than d, substitute
1 1
values like c = 2.3 and d = 2.5. ᎏ2.3ᎏ = 0.4348 and ᎏ2.5ᎏ = 0.4. 0.4348
is larger than 0.4.

215. c. Since y = x + 8, substitute x + 8 in for y in column B. Now

column B says x + 8 − 4 which simplies to x + 4, making column
A equal to column B.

216. c. Multiply using the distributive property to get 2x − 10 − 4 = 10.

Combine like terms to get 2x − 14 = 10. Add 14 to both sides;
2x − 14 + 14 = 10 + 14. 2x = 24. Divide both sides by 2. x = 12.
Therefore, the columns are equal.

217. c. In order to solve for x, add 4x to both sides of the equation.

6x + 4x + 3 = −4x + 4x − 7. This simplifies to 10x + 3 = −7.
Subtract 3 from both sides of the equation 10x + 3 − 3 = −7 − 3
which simplifies to 10x = −10. Divide both sides by 10 and the
result is x = −1. Therefore, −x = −(−1) = 1 and x2 = (−1)2 = 1.
Both columns equal 1.

218. a. Since 11x + 3 = 42, subtracting 3 from both sides of the

equation results in 11x = 39. Subtracting three again on both
sides results in 11x − 3 = 36. Thus, column A is larger.

219. c. Multiply both sides of the equation by 3; 3(ᎏ3ᎏ + 4) = 3(2x). This

4x

simplifies to 4x + 12 = 6x. Subtract 4x from both sides of the

equation; 4x − 4x + 12 = 6x − 4x, which is 12 = 2x. Divide both
sides by 2 to get x = 6. The columns are equal because 6 × 6 =
36 and 62 = 36.

220. b. Rearrange the second equation to be x + y = 4. Combine like

terms vertically to simplify to 2x = 10. Divide both sides of the
equation by 2 to get x = 5. Therefore 3 × 5 = 15 and π
(approximately equal to 3.14) × 5 would be greater than 15.

221. a. Solving the equations for x and y by adding them together

vertically to simplify to 2x = 6. Dividing both sides of the
equation gives x = 3. Substituting x = 3 into the first equation
results in 3 + y = 5, so y = 2. Since 3 > 2, the answer is column A.

222. c. Solve for c by adding the equations together vertically to

simplify to 2c = 6. Dividing each side of the equation by 2 gives
c = 3. The columns are equal.

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223. a. Substituting y = 0 gives the equation 0 = 5x − 1. Adding 1 to

both sides results in 0 + 1 = 5x − 1 + 1, which is equal to 1 = 5x.
1
Divide both sides by 5 to get an x-value of ᎏ5ᎏ. Substituting
x = 0 gives y = 5(0) − 1 which becomes y = 0 − 1 = − 1. Since
1
ᎏᎏ > −1, column A is greater.
5

224. a. Substitute the second equation into the first for x to get
3 3
8(ᎏ2ᎏ)y − 2y = 30; 8(ᎏ2ᎏ)y simplifies to 12y so the equation becomes
12y − 2y = 30. Subtract to get 10y = 30 and then divide by 10
10y 30
on both sides; ᎏ10ᎏ = ᎏ10ᎏ. y = 3. Using the second equation,
3
x = ᎏ2ᎏ × 3 = 4.5. Thus, x is larger than y.

225. b. x2 − y2 is the difference between two squares and factors to

(x − y)(x + y). Since x + y = 16 and x − y = 8, column A then
becomes 16 × 8 = 128. Column B is (x + y)(x + y) which is 16 ×
16 = 256. Column B is greater.

226. b. The degree of a quadratic term is 2 and the degree of a cubic

term is 3, so column B is greater.

227. c. Divide each term by a factor of three to get x2 − 9 = 0. This is

the difference between two perfect squares which factors to
(x − 3)(x + 3) = 0. Setting each factor equal to zero and solving
results in x-values of 3 or − 3. Since 3 is the positive solution for
x, the columns are equal.

228. a. Factoring the left side of the equation gives (x − 5)(x + 2) = 0.

Setting each factor equal to zero is x − 5 = 0 or x + 2 = 0, which
results in a solution of 5 or −2. Since the negative result is −2,
and −2 is larger than −3, column A is larger.

229. c. Multiplying using the distributive property on the left side

gives −y2 + 4y = 10. Adding y2 to both sides results in the
equation
4y = y2 + 10. Since this equation states that 4y is equal to y2 + 10,
the columns have the same value.

230. b. Add 1 to both sides of the inequality; y + 1 > 2x − 1 + 1. This

simplifies to y + 1 > 2x. Since the inequality states that y + 1 is
greater than 2x, then column B is greater.

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231. b. Take the compound inequality and add 2 to each section;

4 + 2 < 2x − 2 + 2 < 8 + 2. Simplified this becomes 6 < 2x < 10.
Dividing all sections by 2 gives a result of 3 < x < 5. Therefore,
the value of x is between 3 and 5, so column B is larger.

232. a. If you subtract one from both sides of the first inequality, it
yields a result of 4 < y, which means y is greater than 4. Thus,
column A is larger.

233. b. Use the distributive property on the left side of the inequality
to get 6x − 6 > 30. Add 6 to both sides of the inequality.
6x − 6 + 6 > 30 + 6. This simplifies to 6x > 36. Divide both
sides by 6 to get a result of x > 6. Column B is larger.

234. a. Add one to both sides of the inequality; −3x − 1 + 1 > 14 = 1.

This results in −3x > 15. Divide both sides of the inequality
by −3 to get a solution of x > −5. Remember that dividing both
sides of an inequality by a negative number changes the
direction of the inequality symbol. Since x is less than −5, the
answer is column A.

235. a. Since point (x,y) is located in Quadrant IV, the x-values are
positive and y-values are negative. Therefore, the x-values are
greater than the y-values. Column A is greater.

236. a. Using slope-intercept ( y = mx + b) form where m is the slope of

the linear equation, the slope of the line in column A is 2 and
1 1
the slope of the line in column B is ᎏ2ᎏ. Two is greater than ᎏ2ᎏ, so
column A is greater than column B.

237. d. This relationship cannot be determined. Since point (x,y) is

located in Quadrant II, x-values are negative and y-values are
positive. The opposite of any x-values, which are negative in
Quadrant II, would be positive. The reciprocals of any y-values
would also be positive and could be greater than, less than, or
equal to any of the x-values.

238. c. Using slope-intercept ( y = mx + b) form where m is the slope of

2
the linear equation, the slope of line l is ᎏ3ᎏ. Since line m is
3
perpendicular to a line that has a slope of −ᎏ2ᎏ, the slope of line m
2
is the negative reciprocal of this, or ᎏ3ᎏ. The slope of line l is
equal to the slope of line m.

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239. c. To find the slope of a line, calculate the change in the y-values
c −d 3
over the change in the x-values. Therefore, ᎏ 0 = ᎏ4ᎏ which
4 −ᎏ
c −d 3
simplifies to ᎏ4ᎏ = ᎏ4ᎏ. Since the denominators are equal, set the
numerators equal to each other. Then, c − d = 3. The columns
are equal.

240. b. From the equation y = mx + b, b is the y-intercept. The

y-intercept for this equation is −3. The x-intercept is found by
substituting zero for y and solving for x. Starting with
0 = −2x −3, then adding 3 to both sides results in 3 = −2x.
3
Dividing both sides by −2 gives ᎏ−ᎏ2 or −1.5 = x. Since −3 < −1.5,
column B is greater.

241. a. Converting to slope-intercept form, the first equation becomes

2y = 4x + 6 by adding 4x to both sides. Dividing both sides by 2
2y 4x 6
gives ᎏ2ᎏ = ᎏ2ᎏ + ᎏ2ᎏ which simplifies to y = 2x + 3. The slope is 2.
The second equation is −3y = −3x + 9 after subtracting 3x from
both sides. Dividing both sides by −3 to get y by itself results in
−3y −3x 9
ᎏᎏ = ᎏᎏ + ᎏ 3 which simplifies to y = x −3. The slope of the
−ᎏ
−3 −3
second equation is 1. Therefore column A is greater.

242. c. Using the distance formula, 兹(x

苶 1 − x苶
2
苶
2) + (y1 − y2 )2苶, the distance
between (−3,4) and (0,0) is 兹(−3
苶) − 0苶−
2
+ (4 苶.
0)2 This simplifies
to 兹(−3)
苶 2
+苶
(4)2 = 兹(9
苶) + 16苶 = 兹25
苶 = 5. The distance between
the point (0,0) and (−3,4) is 5 units, so the columns are equal.

243. a. “The difference between 26 and the product of 4 and 3”

translates to the expression 26 − (4 × 3), which simplifies to
26 − 12 = 14. “The sum of 8 and 2” is equal to 8 + 2 = 10. 14 is
larger than 10.

244. a. “Six less than nine” translates to 9 − 6 = 3. The square root of

four is 2. Column A is larger.

245. b. If the square of a number is four, then the number is 2. The

square root of 2 is approximately equal to 1.41, which is less
than 4.

246. c. The key word quotient tells you to divide; 10 ÷ 2 = 5 and

65 ÷ 13 = 5. Thus, column A is equal to column B.

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

247. a. If one-half of y is x, let y = 2x. If one-half of y is z, let z = 2y. By

substitution, z = 4x. Using the given equation x + y + z = 35,
substituting gives an equation of x + 2x + 4x = 35. Combine like
terms to get 7x = 35, which results in x = 5. Since z = 4x then
z = 4(5) = 20.

248. c. Use distance = rate × time. The distance of car A can be

expressed as 60t and the distance of car B can be expressed as
55t. Add the two distances and set the result equal to 460 miles.
60t + 55t = 460. Combine like terms. 115t = 460. Divide both
115t 460
115 = 115 = 4; t = 4 hours. The columns are equal.
sides by 115; ᎏ ᎏ ᎏᎏ

249. c. Two consecutive integers are integers that are one number apart
like 4 and 5 or −22 and −23. Two consecutive integers whose
sum is 83 are 41 and 42. Twenty-three less than three times the
smaller is 100 and 16 more than two times the greater is 100.
The columns are equal.

250. b. The only possibilities have an odd number of quarters because

the total amount ends in a 5, which is impossible to get with
dimes. There can be 1 quarter and 9 dimes, or 3 quarters and 4
dimes. Five quarters is too much money. Either way, there are
more dimes than quarters, so the answer is column B.

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Geometry

In this chapter, the following math concepts will be the subject of the 125
geometry-based quantitative comparison questions:

n Circles
n Lines and Angles
n Polygons
n Quadrilaterals
n Three-Dimensional Figures
n Triangles

Some important information:

Numbers: All numbers used are real numbers.

Figures: Figures that accompany questions are intended to provide infor-

mation useful in answering the questions. Unless otherwise indicated, posi-
tions of points, angles, regions, etc. are in the order shown; angle measures
are positive; lines shown as straight are straight; and figures lie in a plane.
Unless a note states that a figure is drawn to scale, you should NOT solve

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

these problems by estimating or by measurement, but by using your knowl-

edge of mathematics.

Common Information: In a question, information concerning one or both

of the quantities to be compared is centered above the two columns. A sym-
bol that appears in both columns represents the same thing in Column A
as it does in Column B.

Directions: Each of the following questions consists of two quantities, one

in Column A and one in Column B. Compare the two quantities and
choose:
a. if the quantity in Column A is greater
b. if the quantity in Column B is greater
c. if the two quantities are equal
d. if the relationship cannot be determined from the information given

Examples:
Column A Column B

1. the sum of the measures 90°

of two acute angles

The answer is d. The only thing you can infer about the acute
angles in column A is that they are, by definition, each less than 90
degrees. However, depending on their measures, column A could
be smaller (two 30-degree angles = 60 degrees) or larger (an 80-
degree and a 45-degree angle = 125 degrees) than column B. The
answer cannot be determined from the information you are given
here.

2. the circumference of a circle the area of a circle with

with radius 2 radius 1.5

The answer is a. This problem is solved by substituting the values

into the formulas for the circumference and area of a circle—2πr
and πr2, respectively. In column A, 2(π)(2) = 4π. In column B,
π(1.5)2 = 2.25π. 4π is greater than 2.25π, so a is correct.

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Questions

Column A Column B

5
4

Q 3

251. the area of DQ 8 sq m

3
(2,3)
2

x
-3 -2 -1 (0,0) 1 2 3
-1
-2

-3

252. the slope of the line in

3
ᎏᎏ
2
the graph

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

2x

253. the area of the circle in the area of a circle with

the figure diameter 3y

h=x
x
r=x
4

6
box with length = 6, cylinder with radius = x, height = x
width = 4, height = x

254. x≥3
the volume of the box the volume of the cylinder
on the left on the right

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

A x B
z

C D
y

Lines AB and CD are parallel.

255. x z

10
6

256. 9 x

80 b

257. 6b the sum of the interior angles of

the polygon above

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

258. the area of the largest circle the area of the largest circle that
that can be cut out of a can be cut out of a rectangular
square piece of paper with piece of paper with length of 3.2ʺ
sides of 3.4ʺ and a width of 5ʺ

60°

2x
x

30°

B 2√3 C

259. AC 4

260. DQRS is an isosceles triangle with angles Q = 45° and R = 45°

and line segments QS = 8 and QR = x. Polygon DEFGH has
sides DE = 3 and GH = y and polygon LMNOP has sides
LM = 1 and OP = 2.
x y

Use the following figure to answer questions 261–265.

D 100 C
70
E
135

B
20

180 0
F O A

261. the measure of ∠AOD the measure of any right angle

262. the measure of ∠AOB the measure of an acute angle

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

263. the measure of a reflex angle the measure of ∠FOA

264. the measure of an angle the measure of an angle

supplementary to ∠BOC supplementary to ∠FOE

265. the sum of the measures of the sum of the measures of the
∠AOF, ∠AOD, and ∠BOD interior angles in a square

Use the following figure to answer questions 266–273.

1 2 n
4 3

5 6 m
8 7

266. the measure of ∠1 the measure of ∠3

267. the measure of ∠1 the measure of ∠5

268. the measure of ∠7 the measure of ∠3

269. the sum of the measures the sum of the measures of

of angles 5 and 8 angles 2 and 3

270. the measure of ∠2 the measure of ∠8

271. the measure of ∠3 the measure of ∠6

272. The measure of ∠1 is 100°.

75° the measure of ∠8

273. The measure of ∠3 is 105°.

the measure of ∠6 77°

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

Use the following figure to answer questions 274–278.

a b

1 2 3 4
c
5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12
d
13 14 15 16

274. The measure of ∠3 is 100°.

the measure of ∠4 the measure of ∠8

275. The measure of ∠2 is 65°.

110° the measure of ∠11

276. The measure of ∠9 is 95°.

the measure of ∠16 the measure of ∠8

277. The measure of ∠1 is x.

the measure of ∠8 2x

278. The sum of the measures of ∠13 and ∠10 is 160°.

the measure of ∠4 the measure of ∠11

Use the following figure to answer questions 279–280.

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

279. the number of sides the number of sides

of this polygon of a triangle

280. the sum of the interior 360

angles of this polygon

Use the following figure to answer questions 281–283.

281. the sum of the interior the sum of the exterior

angles of this polygon angles of this polygon

282. the number of sides the number of sides in

in this polygon a heptagon

283. the sum of the interior the sum of the interior

angles of this polygon angles of a hexagon

Use the following figure to answer questions 284–286.

284. the sum of the interior the sum of the interior angles
angles of an 8-sided polygon of this figure

285. ᎏ2ᎏ of the sum of the interior

1
the sum of the interior angles
angles of this figure of a triangle

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

286. the area of this polygon the area of a convex polygon

if all sides have a length of 8 whose interior angles measure
900.

287. A convex polygon has 5 sides. This polygon also has

three right angles and two congruent angles.
the measure of one of 130°
the congruent angles

Use the following figure to answer questions 288–289.

A 9 B

50°
D C
The figure is a parallelogram.

288. the measure of ∠A the measure of ∠B

289. the length of line segment 6

BC

A B

C D

290. the length of line segment the length of line segment

AE CE

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

291. the length of line segment PR three times the length of line
segment SO

P Q
25°

O
13

S R
The figure is a rectangle.

Use the following figure to answer questions 292–294.

J K

25°

M L
The figure is a rhombus.

292. 25° the measure of ∠JKN

293. the measure of ∠KNL 80°

294. the length of line the length of line

segment NK segment JK

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

Use the following figure to answer questions 295–297.

C
B
1 75°

85°
2 20°
E

295. the measure of ∠AEB the measure of ∠BCD

296. the area of DABE the area of DCBD

297. the ratio of

3
ᎏᎏ
4
the length of line segment AB
ᎏᎏᎏᎏ
the length of line segment DB
to the ratio of
the length of line segment AE
ᎏᎏᎏᎏ
the length of line segment DC

298. A flagpole stands perpendicular to the ground. At noon, the

flagpole casts a shadow on the ground that is 6 feet long. At the
same time, a 5 foot tall woman stands next to the flagpole and
casts a shadow that is 3 feet long. The woman is also
perpendicular to the ground. Assume that the triangles
created in both situations are similar.
the height of the flagpole 9 feet

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

299. A surveyor is looking at two buildings from a distance, both of

which stand perpendicular to the ground. He sets two telescopes
up at 45° angles to the tops of both buildings, and both telescopes
an elevation of 100 feet above sea level. The surveyor knows that
the bases of both buildings are 100 feet above sea level and that the
top of building A is 1,100 feet above sea level. The telescope
pointing at building A is 250 feet away from the base of the
building. The telescope pointing at building B is 300 feet away
from the base of that building.
the height of building A The height of building B

Use the following figure to answer questions 300–302.

10
6

T S

300. the length of line segment TS 7

301. Recreate the diagram substituting 3 for the length of line

segment RT and 4 for the line segment TS. Assume that
the length of line segment RS is not given.
6 the length of line segment RS

302. Recreate the diagram substituting 3 for the length of line segment
RT and 5 for the length of line segment RS.
4 b

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

Use the following figure to answer questions 303–304.

4 in

7 in

The figure is a rectangle.

303. 21 in the perimeter of the figure

304. 28 sq in the area of the figure

Use the following figure to answer questions 305–306.

5 ft

305. 10 ft the perimeter of the figure

306. 25 sq ft the area of this square if each side

is 6 in longer than indicated in
the diagram

307. the perimeter of a rectangle the perimeter of a square with

with length 4 in and width 6 in sides of length 5 in each

308. the area of a square whose the area of a rectangle with

sides have a length of 3x length 2x and width x

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B
309.

3 in

13 in the perimeter of this polygon

Use the following figure to answer questions 310–311.

3 cm 5 cm

8 cm

310. the base of the parallelogram the height of the parallelogram

in the figure in the figure

311. the area of the parallelogram 42 sq cm

in the figure

Use the following figure to answer questions 312–313.

5 ft

7 ft

312. 42 sq in the area of the triangle in the

figure

313. the base of the triangle the base of a triangle whose

in the figure area is 35 sq cm and height is 10
cm

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

314. Mr. Jenkins is installing a pool in his backyard. The pool will
be a rectangle with a length of 12 feet and a width of 8 feet.
There will also be a 36 square foot wooden deck built
adjacent to one side of the pool.
120 sq ft the total area of the pool and
deck

315. Sally is mounting photographs on matting board. She has

48 square inches of matting board to work with, and a stack
of five rectangular photos each measuring 3ʺ × 5ʺ. Assume
that she is cutting the board to fit each photo exactly,
with no board wasted.
the number of photos she the number of photos she does
can mount not have enough board to mount

316. A standard Stop sign has 8 sides, each of which measures

10 inches in length. A special Yield sign built to be seen
from a great distance is an equilateral triangle with sides
of 26 inches each and three reflective circles attached
to the front, each with a radius of 1.5 inches.
the perimeter of the Stop sign the perimeter of the Yield sign

317. A baker has made a square sheet cake for a birthday party.
At the last minute, the woman hosting the party calls to say
that the cake needs to be circular in shape, and not a square.
The square cake has a side 11ʺ in length.
3
the area of the largest ᎏᎏ
4 the total area of the
circular cake that can be cut square cake
out of the square cake

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

318.

8m

3m
5m
the surface area of this 135 sq m
rectangular prism

319.

2 in

the surface area of this cube 24 sq in

320. the surface area of a cube the surface area of a rectangular

with an edge 4ʺ long prism with a length of 5ʺ

321.
3 cm

6 cm

6 cm

100 cubic cm the volume of the prism in the

diagram

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

322.

30 m2
5m

the volume of the prism in the volume of a prism with a

the diagram base of 40 m2 and height of 4 m

323. the volume of a cube with twice the volume of a cube with
an edge of 4 meters an edge of 2 meters

Use the following figure to answer questions 324–325.

h= 12 in

10 in

10 in

324. the volume of this pyramid 1,200 cubic in

325. the volume of the pyramid the volume of the pyramid in

in the diagram if the height the diagram if the length and
is changed to 9 in width are changed to 9 in each

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

Use the following figure to answer questions 326–327.

h = 5 cm

51 cm2

326. the volume of the pyramid 80 cm3

in the diagram

327. the volume of the pyramid the volume of a regular pyramid

in the diagram if the height with area of the base = 60 cm2
is lengthened to 6 cm and height = 5 cm

328. the circumference of a circle the circumference of a circle

with diameter d = 5 cm with diameter d = 7 cm

329. the circumference of a circle 21 cm

with diameter d = 7 cm

330. the diameter of a circle with the radius of a circle with

circumference C = 25.12 m circumference C = 31.4 m

Use the following figure to answer questions 331–332.

10 ft

331. the radius of the circle in the diagram 4 ft

332. the area of the circle in the diagram 15.7 ft2

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

333. A circle has a radius of r = 4 in.

the area of a square that the area of the circle
would fit inside of the circle

334. A circle has a diameter of d = 8 cm.

the area of the circle the area of the largest circle that
could be cut out of a square of
fabric with an area of 16 sq cm

335.
1m

12 m

the total surface area of the 82 cm2

cylinder in the diagram

336.
7 in

8 in

the total surface area of the total surface area of a cube

this cylinder with edges e = 9 cm

337.
9 cm

4 cm

the volume of the cylinder 1,350 cm3

in the diagram

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

338. the volume of a cylinder if the volume of a cylinder if

the radius is doubled the height is doubled

339. A cylinder has a radius r = 5 cm and height h = 10 cm.

750 cm3 the volume of this cylinder

340. A cone has a radius r = 5 cm and height h = 10 cm.

the volume of the cone 300 cm3

341. A sphere has a radius of 6 cm.

the surface area of the sphere 452.16 sq cm

Use the following figure to answer questions 342–343.

7m

342. the surface area of this sphere 615 sq m

343. the volume of this sphere 2,000 cm3

344. the volume of a sphere with the volume of a sphere with

a radius of 2 ft a radius of 3 ft

345.
y

1
the slope of the line in the diagram ᎏ3ᎏ

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

346.
y

1
the slope of the line in −ᎏ3ᎏ
the diagram

347.
y

1
the slope of the line in ᎏᎏ
2
the diagram

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

348.
y

2
the slope of the line in ᎏᎏ
3
the diagram

349. 0 the slope of the line that passes

through the points (2,2) and (4,0)

350. A line passes through the points (0,0) and (−2,−3).

0 the slope of the line

351. 0 the slope of the line y = −1

352. Tommy is standing at the base of a hill at a vertical elevation of 0 ft

above sea level. He knows the hill rises along a line measured
to have a slope of ᎏ25ᎏ. He also knows he has to walk
100 horizontal feet to get to the peak.
35 ft above sea level the vertical elevation of the peak
of the hill

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

Use the following figure to answer questions 353–354.

353. the y-intercept of the line in 0

the diagram

354. the y-intercept of the line in the y-intercept of a line defined

1
the diagram by the equation y = −ᎏ2ᎏx + 4

Use the following figure to answer questions 355–356.

355. the y-intercept of the line in 0

the diagram

356. the y-intercept of the line in the y-intercept of a line defined

the diagram by the equation y = x − 1

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

357. the y-intercept of a line the y-intercept of a line defined

1
defined by the equation by the equation y = −ᎏ4ᎏx + 4
3
y = ᎏ2ᎏx − 6

358. the y-intercept of a line the y-intercept of a line

defined by the equation defined by the equation
y = x + ᎏ25ᎏ y = 9x − 4

359. the y-intercept of a line the y-intercept of a line

defined by the equation defined by the equation
2y = x + 8 y = 4x + 3

360. the y-intercept of a line the y-intercept of a line

defined by the equation defined by the equation
3
y = ᎏ2ᎏx − 6 6=x−y

361. the y-intercept of a line the y-intercept of a line

defined by the equation defined by the equation
1
2y + ᎏ2ᎏx = 0 x=9

362. the y-intercept of a line the y-intercept of a line

defined by the equation defined by the equation
2y = 10 xy = x2 + 4x

Use the following figure to answer questions 363–366.

A
B

X
C
O

O is the center of the circle.

363. The circumference of circle O is 20 cm. The measure of ∠X is 45°.

the length of arc ABC 2 cm

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

364. The circumference of circle O is 10 cm. The measure of ∠X is 36°.

the length of arc ABC 1 cm

365. The length of arc ABC is 2 cm. The measure of ∠X is 45°.

20 cm the circumference of circle O

366. The circumference of circle O is 30 cm.

The length of arc ABC is 3 cm.
35° the measure of ∠x

367. the area of a rectangle the area of a square with

with sides of 2 cm and 3 cm sides of 2 cm

368. the sum of the interior the sum of the interior angles
angles of a 30-60-90 triangle of an isosceles right triangle

369. the volume of a cube with the volume of a cylinder with

side of length 3 cm radius 2 cm and height 3 cm

370. the hypotenuse of a right the hypotenuse of a right

triangle with shorter sides triangle with shorter sides
of length 3 and 4 of length 6 and 8

Use the following figure to answer questions 371–372.

1 2 l
4 3

5 6 m
8 7

371. the measure of ∠3 the measure of ∠1

372. the measure of ∠1 the measure of ∠2

373. A line is represented by the equation y = 3x + 2.

the slope of the line the y-intercept of the line

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

374. ∆ABC is a right triangle with shorter sides of 3 and 6.

∆BCD is a right triangle with shorter sides of 4 and 8.
1
the ratio of the lengths of ᎏᎏ
2
the two triangles’ hypotenuses

375. A circular apple pie with a circumference of 18ʺ is cut into 9 equal
slices. The slices are all cut starting at the center of the pie out to
the edge of the crust.
the length of the arc formed 1.5ʺ
by the crust of one slice at its
outer edge

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Answer Explanations

The following explanations show one way in which each problem can be
solved. You may have another method for solving these problems.

251. b. The area of a triangle = ᎏ2ᎏbh. DQ is a right triangle, so we can

1
1 1
substitute 3 and 4 for b and h. A = ᎏ2ᎏ(3(4)) = ᎏ2ᎏ(12) = 6. The area
of DQ is 6 sq m, which is less than 8 sq m, so the answer is b.

252. c. The slope of a line is defined as ᎏ

change in y
change in x . The line in the graph
ᎏ
crosses the origin at (0,0) and also intersects the point (2,3).
This creates a rise (change in the y-value) of 3 and a run
3
(change in the x-value) of 2, which gives a slope of ᎏ2ᎏ. Thus, the
values in a and b are equal, so the answer is c.

253. d. The area of a circle is defined as A = πr2. The radius of the

circle drawn is 2x, so we can calculate the area of the circle as
4x2π. The area of a circle with diameter 3y would be
a = πr2 = (3y)2π = 9y2π. However, since the values of x and y are
not defined, it is impossible to evaluate whether quantity A
(4x2π) or quantity B (9y2π) is greater. If, for instance, x = 5 and
y = 2, then quantity A would be greater. But if x = 2 and y = 5,
quantity B would be greater. So there is not enough
information to evaluate the equations and the answer is d.

254. b. The formula for the volume of a box is A = lwh. So the volume
of the box at left = 4(6)x or 24x. The volume of a cylinder =
πr2h, so the volume of the cylinder at right = πx2x, or πx3.
Substituting x = 3 into both equations, the volume of the box
becomes 24(3) = 72 and the volume of the cylinder becomes
π(3)3 = π(27) = 3.14(27) = 85.78. So long as x is greater than or
equal to 3, the volume of the cylinder is greater and the answer
is b.

255. d. When two parallel lines are cut by a line segment, the resulting
corresponding angles created are equal, so x = y. The sum of
two complementary angles is always 180, so x + z = 180, and
since x = y, it is also true that y + z = 180. However, no
information is given about the relationship between x and z
other than the fact that they add up to 180. Even though the

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figure makes it look like x > z is true, this cannot be taken for
fact. Therefore there is not enough information to further
evaluate the problem and the answer is d.

256. a. The Pythagorean theorem states that in any right triangle,

a2 + b2 = c2 where c is the hypotenuse of the triangle and a and b
are the lengths of the other sides. Since the side labeled 10 is
opposite the right angle, it is the hypotenuse of the triangle, so
the Pythagorean theorem can be used by substituting 6, x, and
10 for a, b, and c, respectively.

a2 + b2 = c2
62 + x2 = 102
36 + x2 = 100
x2 = 64
x=8
x = 8 and therefore is less than 9, so the answer is a.

Note: If you recognize that 6, 8, 10 is a Pythagorean triple,

then you know that x must be equal to 8 and you can quickly
solve the problem.

257. b. When two line segments intersect, the resulting vertical angles
are always equal, so b = 80°. Therefore, 6b = 6(80°) = 480°. The
sum of the interior angles of a polygon can be found by drawing
all diagonals of the polygon from one vertex and multiplying
the number of triangles formed by 180°. The polygon at the
right can be divided into 3 triangles, so 3(180°) = 540°.
540° > 480°, so the answer is b.

258. a. The area of a circle is dependent on the length of its radius, so

the problem here is to determine which circle could have the
largest radius. To cut a circle out of a rectangular piece of paper,
you must draw a circle whose radius is no greater than any of
the sides of the rectangle. This is because the radius extends
equally from the center of the circle in all directions. So even
though the width of the rectangle in column B is 5ʺ, its length is
only 3.2ʺ, which is smaller than the sides of the square in
column A (3.4ʺ). Thus a circle with a larger radius—and,
therefore, greater area—could be cut from the square in
column A. So the answer is a.

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259. c. Sketching DABC will be helpful here. ∠B must be right because

the sum of angles A and C is 90°, and the sum of all three angles
in the triangle must add up to 180°. The fact that this triangle
has angles of 30°, 60° and 90° means that it is a 30-60-90 special
right triangle whose sides are x, x兹3 苶 and 2x. (You should have
the lengths of this and the other special right triangle—a
45-45-90 triangle—memorized.) Since AC is the hypotenuse of
this triangle, its value can be represented by 2x according to the
relative lengths of the sides of this kind of special right triangle.
BC measures 2兹3 苶, and it is opposite the 60° angle (∠A), so it
can be represented as the x兹3 苶 side of the triangle. Setting
2兹3 苶 = x兹3 苶, and dividing both sides of the equation by 兹3 苶
yields x = 2. Plugging this value of x into AC = 2x gives line
segment AC a value of 2(2), which equals 4. Thus the values of
column A and column B are the same, and the answer is c.

260. d. Though the problem tempts you to sketch the shapes and use
your knowledge of isosceles triangles to determine x and your
knowledge of similar polygons to determine y, there is no need.
The problem does not state that polygons DEFGH and
LMNOP are similar, and since there is no information
indicating that their corresponding sides are in the same ratio
or that corresponding angles are equal, this cannot be
determined. There is not enough information to solve the
problem, so the answer is d. When taking the test, be sure to
read through the problems before spending time sketching
shapes and solving equations. Determine whether or not you
have enough information to solve the problem before delving
into it.

Note: If you were told that the polygons were, in fact, similar,
the problem could be solved. Line segment QR in DQRS is the
hypotenuse (by virtue of being opposite of ∠s, which must
equal 90°) and therefore has a length greater than 8. The fact
that corresponding sides in similar polygons have lengths of a
similar ratio could then be used to set up the ratio DE/GH =
3 1
LM/OP. Substituting would yield ᎏyᎏ = ᎏ2ᎏ, which solves to y = 6.
Since x > 8, x must be greater than y and therefore the answer
would be a.

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261. a. The measure of ∠AOD as indicated in the diagram is 100°. The

measure of any right angle is always 90°. Therefore ∠AOD is
bigger and the answer is a.

262. d. The measure of ∠AOB as indicated in the diagram is 20°. An

acute angle is an angle with a measure less than 90°. Since an
acute angle could be less than 20°, equal to 20° or between 20°
and 90°, there is not enough information to say whether or not
an acute angle would be greater than ∠AOB. Therefore, the
answer is d.

263. a. A reflex angle is defined as an angle whose measure is between

180° and 360°. The measure of ∠FOA as indicated in the
diagram is 180° (which makes it a straight angle). This is smaller
than a reflex angle, so the answer is a.

264. b. Supplementary angles are angles whose measure adds up to

180°. The diagram does not directly indicate the measures of
angles BOC and FOE, but it does give enough information to
find these measures using subtraction:

∠BOC = ∠AOC − ∠AOB

∠BOC = 70° − 20°
∠BOC = 50°
∠FOE = ∠FOA − ∠EOA
∠FOE = 180° − 135°
∠FOE = 45°

∠BOC = 50°, so its supplement must equal 180° − 50°, or 130°.

∠FOE = 45°, so its supplement must equal 180° − 45°, or 135°.
The supplement to ∠FOE is larger, so the answer is b.

265. c. The interior angles in a square are all right angles, and since
there are four of them, the sum of their measures is always 360°.
∠AOF as indicated in the diagram measures 180° and ∠AOD
measures 100°. To find the measure of ∠BOD, use subtraction:

∠BOD = ∠AOD − ∠AOB

∠BOD = 100° − 20°
∠BOD = 80°

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Therefore the measures of the three angles in column A are

180°, 100°, and 80°, which add up to 360°. This is the same as
the sum in column B, so the answer is c.

266. c. Vertical angles are congruent (equal). Vertical angles are defined
as angles, formed by 2 intersecting lines, which are directly
across or opposite from each other. Angles 1 and 3 are vertical
and therefore congruent. The answer is c.

267. c. When a transversal line intersects two parallel lines, the

resulting corresponding angles are congruent. Corresponding
angles are defined as the angles on the same side of the
transversal and either both above or below the parallel lines.
Angles 1 and 5 are corresponding and therefore congruent, so
the answer is c.

268. c. Angles 7 and 3 are corresponding and therefore congruent. The

answer is c.

269. c. Angles 5 and 8 are supplementary because they combine to

form a straight line. The same is true of angles 2 and 3. Supple-
mentary angles always add up to 180°, so the measures of both
sets of angles are the same and the answer is c.

270. c. Angles 2 and 8 are neither corresponding nor vertical.

However, angles 2 and 6 are corresponding, so their measures
are equal. Angles 6 and 8 are vertical, so their measures are also
equal. This information can be used to determine that angles 2
and 8 are congruent because m∠2 = m∠6 = m∠8. In fact, angles
2 and 8 are called alternate exterior angles. Alternate exterior
angles are always congruent, so the answer is c.

271. d Angles 3 and 6 are same side interior angles. This means that they
are both inside the parallel lines and on the same side of the
transversal. Same side interior angles are always supplementary,
so their measures add up to 180°. However, this relationship
says nothing about the specific values of each angle, and even
though the drawing makes it look like one angle might be larger
than the other, no information is given that could determine the
actual value of either angle. Therefore, there is not enough
information to solve the problem and the answer is d.

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272. b. Angles 1 and 8 are same side exterior angles. This means that they
are both outside the parallel lines and on the same side of the
transversal. Same side exterior angles are always supplementary.
Supplementary angles add up to 180° and the measure of ∠1 is
given as 100°, so the measure of ∠8 must be 180° − 100° = 80°.
80° is greater than 75°, so the answer is b.

273. b. Angles 3 and 6 are same side interior angles, which means that
they are supplementary. Since the measure of ∠3 is 105°, the
measure of ∠6 must be 180° − 105° = 75°; 77° > 75°, so column
B is greater. The answer is b.

274. b. ∠3 and ∠4 are supplementary angles, so the sum of their

measures must add up to 180°. Therefore the measure of
∠4 = 180° − 100° = 80°; ∠3 and ∠8 are vertical angles and
therefore congruent, so the measure of ∠8 = 100°; 100° > 80°,
so the measure of ∠8 is larger than the measure of ∠4 and the
answer is b.

275. b. ∠2 and ∠11 have no direct relationship upon first glance.

However, there are two sets of parallel lines in this diagram
(lines a and b, and lines c and d) so there are many related angles
to work with. ∠2 and ∠3 are same side exterior angles along
transversal c and therefore are supplementary. So the measure
of ∠3 is 180° − 65° = 115°. Angles 3 and 11 are corresponding
angles (along transversal b and both above the parallel lines c
and d) and so are congruent. So the measure of ∠11 is also
115°, which is greater than column A. The answer is b.

276. c. The measure of ∠9 is information you actually don’t need to

solve this problem. Some questions will provide extra
information like this in an attempt to throw you off, so don’t be
tricked if you’re sure of how to solve the problem! In this case,
angles 16 and 8 are corresponding angles (both along
transversal b and beneath parallel lines c and d, respectively) and
so must be congruent. Therefore, the answer is c because their
measures are the same.

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277. b. ∠1 and ∠8 are alternate exterior angles (on opposite sides of

transversal c and on the outside of the parallel lines a and b), and
therefore are congruent. So the measure of ∠8 is x; x indicates
the measure of an angle, so it cannot be negative. Therefore,
2x > x and the answer is b.

278. b. This problem is actually not that difficult to solve, but it does
require several steps to determine the measures of both angles
since there is no direct relationship between the two. First,
angles 13 and 10 are vertical angles and therefore congruent.
1
So the measure of each angle is ᎏ2ᎏ of their sum, or 80°. Next,
angles 10 and 11 are same side interior angles (along trans-
versal d and both on the inside of parallel lines a and b) and
therefore supplementary, so the measure of ∠11 must be
180° − 80° = 100°.

Now find the measure of ∠4. ∠11 and ∠7 are same side interior
angles (along transversal b and both on the inside of parallel
lines c and d) and so are supplementary. Therefore the measure
of ∠7 = 180° − 100° = 80°; ∠7 and ∠4 are vertical angles, and so
the measure of ∠4 must also be 80.

The measure of ∠11 is greater than the measure of ∠4 because

100° > 80°. The answer is b.

With some practice, you will become familiar with the

relationships between the angles created by a transversal cutting
two parallel lines. This will make analyzing a system of multiple
parallel lines and transversals much easier, and you will be able
to quickly intuit the relationship between angles like these by
logically connecting different pairs of congruent and
supplementary angles. Once you know the basic rules it
becomes easier and easier to break down the components of a
complicated system of lines and angles to solve the problem.

279. a. This polygon has four sides, making it a quadrilateral. Triangles

are three-sided polygons. A quadrilateral has more sides than a
triangle, so the answer is a.

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280. c. You can use the formula S = 180(n − 2) to find the sum of the
angles in a convex polygon, where n represents the number of
sides in the polygon. A four-sided polygon such as this one has
an angle sum of S = 180(4 − 2) = 180(2) = 360, which is equal to
the amount in column A, so the answer is c.

281. a. You can use the formula S = 180 (n − 2) to determine that the
angle sum of this polygon is 900. The exterior sum of any
convex polygon is always 360, so the answer is a.

282. c. A heptagon is a seven-sided polygon. This polygon also has

seven sides, so the values in the two choices are equal. The
answer is c.

283. a. Though the formula S = 180 (n − 2) can be used to determine

that the angle sum of this polygon is 900 and the angle sum of a
hexagon is 720, an understanding of the nature of convex
polygons provides an easier way to solve the problem. A
polygon’s angle sum increases as the number of sides of the
polygon increases. Since this polygon has more sides (7) than a
hexagon (6), the sum of its interior angle sum will be greater, so
the answer is a.

284. c. This figure is an 8-sided polygon, so the value of choices are

equal. The answer is c.

285. a. Though you can use the formula S = 180 (n − 2) to determine

1
that ᎏ2ᎏ of the angle sum of this polygon is 540 (the entire sum is
1,080) and the angle sum of a triangle is 180, you should more
quickly be able to determine that since this is an 8-sided
polygon, its angle sum will be more than double that of a
3-sided triangle. In either case, the answer is a.

286. d. This figure is an 8-sided polygon with all sides of length 8.

Though the math is a bit involved, you do have enough
information to determine its area. However, while the sum of
the interior angles of a convex polygon can be used to
determine how many sides the figure has, the area of the second
polygon cannot be calculated without more information.
Therefore this problem cannot be fully solved and the answer
is d.

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287. a. The formula S = 180(n − 2) can be used to determine that the

sum of the interior angles of this polygon is 540. Right angles
measure 90° each, so subtracting the sum of the three right
angles from 540° leaves 270° for the two remaining congruent
angles. Congruent angles are angles with equal measures, so
270°
dividing ᎏ2ᎏ yields 135° for each angle, which is larger than the
value in column B (130°). The answer, therefore, is a.

288. a. This diagram shows a parallelogram. Opposite angles in a

parallelogram are always congruent, so the measure of ∠B is
equal to the measure of ∠D, which is indicated as 50°.
Consecutive angles in a parallelogram are supplementary, so the
measure of ∠A = 180° − m∠B, or 180° − 50° = 130°. Since
130° > 50°, ∠A > ∠B, so the answer is a.

289. c. Opposite sides in a parallelogram are congruent, so the lengths

of line segments AD and BC will be equal. The length of line
segment AD is 6, so the length of BC must be 6, as well. The
value in column B is also 6, so the answer is c.

290. c. This question modifies the diagram to show line segments AC

and BD, which are the diagonals of the parallelogram. Point E
marks the intersection of these line segments, where they bisect
each other. Line segments AE and CE are therefore the two
halves of line segment AC, and have equal lengths. The answer
is c.

291. b. The figure shows a rectangle with diagonals PR and SQ that

intersect at point O. The diagonals of a rectangle are congruent
–––
and bisect each other, so the length of PR is equal to twice the
––– –––
length of SO (which is one half of the diagonal SQ). Three
––– –––
times the length of SO, however, is longer than PR, so the
answer is b.

Note: Line segment SO represents a length and so cannot

–––
reasonably have a negative value. Thus three times SO cannot
–––
be a negative value, either, so three times the length of SO will
–––
always be greater than the length of PR.

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292. c. The figure shows a rhombus. The diagonals of a rhombus

bisect the angles of a rhombus, so angles JKN and NKL have
equal values because they comprise the two halves of the
bisected ∠JKL. The measure of ∠NKL is given as 25°, so the
values in both choices are equal. The answer, then, is c.

293. a. The diagonals of a rhombus are perpendicular, so ∠KNL

measures 90° because it is formed out of the intersection of the
diagonals of this rhombus. 90° > 80°, which is the value in
column B, so the answer is a.

294. b. The diagonals of a rhombus are perpendicular to each other, so

angles JNK and LNK are both right angles. This means that
DJNK is a right triangle. Line segment JK is the hypotenuse of
DJNK because it is opposite the right angle. Line segment NK
is also part of the same triangle, opposite one of the smaller
angles of the triangle (in this case, ∠KJN, which measures 65°).
The hypotenuse is always the longest of the three sides of a
triangle, so line segment JK is longer and the answer is b.

295. c. ∠AEB is indicated to have a measure of 85°. The sum of the

angles in a triangle is always 180°, so ∠BCD also can be
determined to have a measure of 85° (because the other two
angles in DBCD add up to 95°). The values of the two choices
are therefore equal and the answer is c.

296. d. There is enough information given to ascertain that the two

triangles are similar according to Angle-Angle. However, no
information is given to indicate the specific length of any side of
either triangle. Therefore, even though triangle ABE appears
larger in the diagram, the actual area of either triangle cannot
be calculated. There is not enough information to solve this
problem, and the answer is d.

297. a. ∠1 and ∠2 are vertical angles, and therefore congruent, so ∠1

measures 75°. This can be used to determine the measure of the
third angle of each triangle and consequently that triangles ABE
and CBD are similar by Angle-Angle. The lengths of two
corresponding sides of similar triangles are always
1 1 3
proportionate, so the ratio in column A works out to ᎏ1ᎏ; ᎏ1ᎏ > ᎏ4ᎏ,

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so the answer is a. This problem is easy to solve if you know the

properties of similar triangles and are able to understand the
ratio described in column A.

298. a. Drawing a diagram may be helpful to solving this problem.

5 ft

3 ft 6 ft

shadow shadow

The relationships between the flagpole and its shadow and the
woman and her shadow can be depicted as a right triangles
because both the flagpole and the woman are perpendicular to
the ground. The problem states that the triangles are similar.
Similar triangles have sides of lengths proportionate to each
other, so a ratio can be set up between the ratio of the flagpole’s
height to the length of its shadow and the woman’s height to
the length of her shadow as such, where x represents the height
of the flagpole in feet:
x height of woman
ᎏᎏ
length of shadow
= ᎏᎏ
length of shadow
x 5
ᎏ6ᎏ = ᎏ3ᎏ
3x = 30
x = 10

The flagpole is 10 feet tall, which is greater than the value in

column B. Therefore the answer is a.

299. b. The problem states that both buildings are built at the same
elevation and are perpendicular to the ground, and that both
telescopes are level with the bases of the buildings and pointed
at angles of 45° to the tops of the buildings. This means that
similar 45/45/90 right triangles are created because the third
angle in each triangle can only be 45°. A ratio can be set up to
determine the height of building B based on the height of
building A and the distance from the bases of the buildings to

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their respective telescopes. Note that the telescopes are 100 ft

above sea level and subtract that amount from the height of the
top of building A to get its actual height. Let b represent the
height of building B in feet:
height of building A b
ᎏᎏᎏ
distance to telescope A
= ᎏᎏᎏ
distance to telescope B
1000 b
ᎏᎏ
250 =ᎏ
30ᎏ
0
250b = 3,000,000
b = 1,200

The height of building B is 1,200 feet. This is more than the

height of building A (1,000) so the answer is b.

Note: It is not necessary to solve for b because it is evident that

b > 1,000 from looking at the proportion.

300. a. ∆DFE is a right triangle and the lengths of two of its sides are
indicated, so the Pythagorean theorem can be used to
determine the length of the missing side. Note that in the
equation a2 + b2 = c 2, c represents the length of the hypotenuse of
the triangle where a and b are the lengths of the other two sides:

a2 + b2 = c2
62 + b2 = 102
36 + b2 = 100
b2 = 64
b=8

The length of line segment TS is 8; 8 > 7, so a is the answer.

Note: If you know your Pythagorean triples, you would have

recognized the 6, 8, 10 triple and have been able to solve the
problem quickly without the need for any calculations.

301. a. 3, 4, 5 is another Pythagorean triple, so if you recognize this

–––
you can immediately tell that the length of the hypotenuse, RS,
is 5. Otherwise, use the formula as follows:

a2 + b2 = c2
32 + 42 = c2
9 + 16 = c2
25 = c2
5=c

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The length of line segment RS is 5, which is less than the value

in column A. Therefore the answer is a.

302. d. Using the Pythagorean theorem will show that the length of
line segment TS is 4; 3, 4, 5 is also a Pythagorean triple that
you should be familiar with. Even though the variable b is
commonly used to denote one of the shorter sides of a triangle
in the Pythagorean theorem, this problem does not indicate any
specific value for b. As such, there is not enough information to
draw a comparison between 4 and b and the answer is d.

303. b. The figure is a rectangle. The perimeter of a rectangle can be

calculated using the formula p = 2(l + w), where l represents the
length and w is the width:

p = 2(l + w)
p = 2(4 + 7)
p = 2(11)
p = 22

The perimeter is 22 in, which is greater than the value in

column A. The answer is b.

304. c. The area of a rectangle can be found using the formula a = lw,
where l is the length and w is the width of the rectangle:

a = lw
a = 4(7)
a = 28

The area is 28 sq in, which is equal to the value in column A.

The answer is c.

305. b. The figure is a rhombus because it has four sides all of the same
length. The perimeter of a rhombus can be calculated using the
formula p = 4s, where s is the length of any one side:

p = 4s
p = 4(5)
p = 20

The perimeter of the rhombus is 20 ft, which is more than the

value in column A. The answer is b.

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306. b. The formula for calculating the area of a square is A = s2, where
s is the length of any one side. The area of the square as drawn
is 25 sq ft, as follows:

A = s2
A = 52
A = 25

If the square was to be redrawn with sides longer than indicated

in the diagram, the area of the square would increase. Since
column A represents the area of the square as indicated, the
value of column B must be larger, and there is no need to
calculate the area (though it does work out to 30.25 sq ft). The
answer is b.

307. c. The formula p = 2(l + w) can be used to calculate the perimeter

of this rectangle as 2(4 + 6) = 20 in. The formula p = 4s can be
used to calculate the perimeter of this square as 4(5) = 20 in.
The values are the same, so the answer is c.

308. a. The formula A = s2 can be used to calculate the area of this

square as A = (3x)2 or 9x2. The formula A = lw can be used to
calculate the area of this rectangle as A = 2x(x) or 2x2; 9x2 > 2x2,
so the answer is a.

309. b. The diagram indicates that the sides of this five-sided polygon
are congruent, so the perimeter can be calculated using the
formula p = ns, where n is the number of sides and s is the length
of any one side:

p = ns
p = 5(3)
p = 15 in

15 in > 13 in, so the answer is b.

310. a. The base is indicated as being 8 cm, while the height is 3 cm.
The base is longer, so the answer is a. Remember that the
height of a parallelogram is always indicated by a line segment
drawn at a right angle to the base. The height of a
parallelogram is sometimes referred to as its altitude.

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311. b. The area of a parallelogram can be calculated using the formula

A = bh, where b is the base of the parallelogram and h is the
height. In this case, A = 8(3) = 24 sq cm, which is less than the
value in column B. Therefore the answer is b.

312. a. The area of a triangle is calculated using the formula A = ᎏ2ᎏbh,

1

where b is the base of the triangle and h is the height. The base
of the triangle in the figure is 7 cm and the height is 6 cm, so
1 1
the formula works out to A = ᎏ2ᎏ(7)(6) = ᎏ2ᎏ(42) = 21. The area of
the triangle is 21 sq in, which is less than the value in column A.
The answer is a.

313. c. The figure indicates that the base of this triangle is 7 cm. To
find the base of the triangle in column B, use the formula
1
A = ᎏ2ᎏbh. The problem states that the area of this triangle is
35 sq cm and the height is 10 cm, so the base can be calculated
as follows:
1
A = ᎏ2ᎏbh
1
35 = ᎏ2ᎏb(10)
35 = 5b
7=b

The base of the triangle in column B is 7 cm, which is the same

as the value of column A. Therefore the answer is c.

314. b. To find the area of Mr. Jenkins’ pool, use the formula a = lw to
find that the area will equal 12 ft × 8 ft, or 96 sq ft. Added to the
36 square foot area of the deck, the total area is 132 sq ft, which
is more than the value of column A. The answer is b.

315. a. Each photo will require 15 sq in of mounting board, as

determined by using the formula a = lw, where the length is 3ʺ
and the width is 5ʺ. Mounting three photos will use up 15 × 3,
or 45 sq in of matting board. Sally started with 48 sq in of
board, so using 45 sq in will leave her 3 sq in left over, which is
not enough to mount a fourth photo. Mounting 3 of the five
photos will leave her with 2 unmounted photos, so she was able
to mount more photos than not and the answer is a.

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316. a. The perimeter of a polygon is found by adding up the lengths

of all its sides, or multiplying the length of one side by the
number of sides if all sides are of equal length. An 8-sided Stop
sign with sides of 10ʺ length has a perimeter of P = ns =
8(10ʺ) = 80ʺ. An equilateral triangle has three sides of equal
length, so this special Yield sign has a perimeter of P = ns =
3(26ʺ) = 78ʺ. Information regarding the reflectors attached the
front of the sign is irrelevant and should be ignored, as
perimeter is the measure of a shape’s exterior edges. 80ʺ > 78ʺ,
so the Stop sign has a greater perimeter and the answer is a.

317. a. This problem is not difficult in terms of the calculations

required to solve it, but rather requires several steps to get to
the final answer. First, to find the largest circle that can be cut
from a square with sides of 11ʺ, determine the largest possible
radius within the square. Since a radius extends from the center
1
of a circle to any edge, it can be no longer than ᎏ2ᎏ of the length
of any of the square, in this case 5.5ʺ. So the largest possible
circle within this square would have a radius of 5.5ʺ and an area
calculated using the formula A = πr2, where r is the radius and
π = 3.14:

A = πr2
A = π(5.5)2
A = 30.25π
A = 30.25(3.14)
A = 94.99 sq in

The area of the original square can be found using the formula
A = s2, where s is the length of one side of the square; 112 = 121,
3
so the area is 121 sq in. The value in column B, however, is ᎏ4ᎏ of
3
the area of the square, and 121 × ᎏ4ᎏ = 90.75 sq in.

94.99 sq in > 90.75 sq in, so the area of the circle is greater than
3
ᎏᎏ the area of the square, and the answer is a.
4

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318. a. The surface area of a rectangular prism can be calculated using

the formula SA = 2(lw + wh + lh), where l, w, and h are the
length, width and height of the prism, respectively. In this case
the length is 3 m, the width is 5 m and the height is 8 m, so:

SA = 2(lw + wh + lh)
SA = 2(3(5) + 5(8) + 3(8))
SA = 2(15 + 40 + 24)
SA = 2(79)
SA = 158

The surface area of this prism is 158 sq m, which is larger than

the value in column B, so the answer is a.

319. c. The surface area of a cube can be calculated using the formula
SA = 6e2, where e is the length of one edge of the cube. In this
case each edge measures 2 in long, so the formula simplifies as
follows:

SA = 6e2
SA = 6(2)2
SA = 6(4)
SA = 24 sq in

The values in the two choices are equal, so the answer is c.

320. d. To calculate the surface area of a rectangular prism, the length,

width, and height of the prism must be known. There is not
enough information given here to solve the problem, and so the
answer is d.

321. b. The volume of a rectangular prism can be found using the

formula V = lwh, where l is the length, w is the width, and h is
the height. The volume of this prism, then, is calculated as
follows:

V = lwh
V = 6(6)(3)
V = 36(3)
V = 108 cubic cm

Don’t forget that the volume of any container is always

expressed in cubic units. The volume of this prism is 108 cm3
and so the answer is b.

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322. b. The volume of any prism is calculated using the formula

V = Bh, where B is the area of the base and h is the height. The
volume of the prism in the diagram, then, is V = Bh = 30(5) =
150 m3. The volume of the prism in column B is 40(4) = 160 m3.
Column B therefore yields a greater value and the answer is b.

323. a. The formula used to calculate the volume of a cube is V = e3,

where e is the length of one edge; 43 = 64, whereas 2(23) = 2(8)
= 16, so the volume of the cube in column A is greater and the
answer is a.

324. b. The volume of a pyramid is calculated using the formula

1
V = ᎏ3ᎏlwh. The length and width of this pyramid are both 10 in
1
and the height is 12 in, so the formula simplifies to ᎏ3ᎏ(10 × 10 ×
1
12) = ᎏ3ᎏ(1200) = 400. The volume of the pyramid is 400 cubic in,
so the answer is b.

325. b. The value of column A is V = ᎏ3ᎏlwh = ᎏ3ᎏ(10 × 10 × 9) = ᎏ3ᎏ (900) =

1 1 1
1 1
300 cubic in. The value of column B is V = ᎏ3ᎏlwh = ᎏ3ᎏ(9 × 9 × 12)
1
= ᎏ3ᎏ(972) = 324 cubic in. 324 > 200, so the answer is b.

326. a. The area of the base of the pyramid is given in the diagram, so
1
calculate the volume with the formula V = ᎏ3ᎏBh:
1
V = ᎏ3ᎏBh
1
V = ᎏ3ᎏ(51 × 5)
1
V = ᎏ3ᎏ(255)
V = 85 cm3

The value of column A is greater, so the answer is a.

327. a. The value of column A is calculated as V = ᎏ3ᎏBh = ᎏ3ᎏ(51 × 6) =

1 1
1
ᎏᎏ(306) = 102 cm3. The value of column B is calculated as
3
1 1 1
V = ᎏ3ᎏBh = ᎏ3ᎏ(60 × 5) = ᎏ3ᎏ(300) = 100 cm3. The answer is a.

328. b. The circumference of a circle is calculated using the formula

C = 2πr or C = πd. Thus, the greater the diameter of a circle, the
greater its circumference. So the answer is b.

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329. a. Use the formula C = πd to calculate the circumference of this

circle, where π = 3.14:

C = πd
C = (3.14)7
C = 21.98 cm

21.98 cm > 21 cm, so the answer is a.

330. a. Use the formula C = πd to find the diameter in column B:

C = πd
25.12 m = πd
25.12 m = 3.14d
8m=d

Now use the formula C = 2πr to find the radius in column B:

C = 2πr
31.4 m = 2(3.14)r
5m=r

8 m > 5 m, so the answer is a.

331. a. The diagram indicates that the circle has a diameter of 10 ft.
1
The radius is ᎏ2ᎏ of the length of the diameter, which in this case
equals 5 ft; 5 ft > 4 ft, so the answer is a.

332. a. The area of the circle is calculated using the formula A = πr2,
where r is the radius of the circle. The radius is not given in the
diagram, but can be calculated as 5 ft by dividing the diameter
in half. Using the formula yields A = πr2 = 3.14(52) = 3.14(25) =
78.5. The area of the circle is 78.5 ft2, which is greater than the
value of column B, so the answer is a.

333. b. Any figure must be smaller than any other figure it can fit inside
of. Therefore a circle is larger than a square that would fit
inside of it, and the answer is b.

334. a. Before doing any calculations, take a good look at both choices
to note all of the important information provided. The largest
circle that can be cut from a square of fabric has a diameter
equal to the length of a side of that square. Column B refers to
a circle cut out of a square of fabric with a total area of 16 cm2.
This can be used to infer that the edges of the square are 4 cm

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each, because the area of a square = s2, where s is the length of

one side of the square. The largest circle that could be cut out
of that square, then, would have a diameter of 4 cm. The circle
mentioned in column A has a diameter of 8 cm. Since the area
of a circle increases as its diameter increases (remember, d = 2r),
the correct choice here is the circle with the largest diameter.
So the answer is a.

335. b. The surface area of a cylinder is calculated using the formula

SA = 2πr2 + 2πrh, where r is the radius of the base of the
cylinder and h is the height. In this case, the radius is indicated
as 1 m and the height is 12 m, so the formula simplifies as
follows:

SA = 2πr2 + 2πrh
SA = 2π12 + 2π1(12)
SA = 2π + 24π
SA = 2(3.14) + 24(3.14)
SA = 6.28 + 75.36
SA = 81.64 cm2

The total surface area of the cylinder is 81.64 cm2, which is less
than the value of column B, so the answer is b.

336. a. The surface area of this cylinder is calculated as:

SA = 2πr2 + 2πrh
SA = 2π72 + 2π7(8)
SA = 98π + 112π
SA = 98(3.14) + 112(3.14)
SA = 210(3.14)
SA = 659.4 cm2

The surface area of the cube in column B is calculated as

SA = 6e2 = 6(92) = 6(81) = 486 cm2; 659.4 cm2 > 486 cm2, so the
answer is a.

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337. b. The volume of a cylinder is calculated using the formula

V = πr2h, where h is the height of the cylinder. In this case,
the radius is 9cm and the height is 4 cm, so the formula
simplifies as:

V = πr 2h
V = π92(4)
V = π81(4)
V = 1017.36 cm3

This is less than the value of column B, so the answer is b.

338. a. The formula for calculating the volume of a cylinder multiplies

the square of the radius by the height. Doubling the radius of a
cylinder will change the volume more significantly because of
the squaring involved, so the answer is a.

339. b. The volume of this cylinder is V = πr2h = π(25)(10) = 250π

= 785 cm3; 785 cm3 > 750 cm3, so the answer is b.

340. b. The volume of a cone is calculated using the formula

1
V = ᎏ3ᎏ(πr2h), where h is the height of the cone. In this case,
the radius is 5 cm and the height is 10 cm, so the formula
simplifies as:
1
V = ᎏ3ᎏπr2h
1
V = ᎏ3ᎏπ52(10)
1
V = ᎏ3ᎏ(250π)
V = 261.67 cm3

300 cm3 > 261.67 cm3, so the answer is b.

341. c. The surface area of a sphere is calculated using the formula

S A = 4πr2. Substituting yields:

SA = 4πr2
SA = 4(3.14)(62)
SA = 12.56(36)
SA = 452.16 sq cm

The two values are equal, so the answer is c.

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342. a. The surface area of a sphere is calculated using the formula

SA = 4πr2. In this case, the formula simplifies to S A = 4πr2
= 12.56(49) = 615.44 sq m. This is greater than the value in
column B, and so the answer is a.

343. b. The volume of a sphere is calculated using the formula

4
V = ᎏ3ᎏ πr3. The formula simplifies as follows:
4
V = ᎏ3ᎏ πr3
4
V = ᎏ3ᎏ(3.14)(73)
4
V = ᎏ3ᎏ(3.14)(343)
4
V = ᎏ3ᎏ(1077.02)
V = 1,436.03 cm3

The volume of this sphere is 1,436.03 cm3, which is less than

2,000 cm3, so the answer is b.

344. b. As the radius of a sphere increases, so will its volume (and

surface area, for that matter). The sphere in column B has the
greater radius, so it will also have the greater volume. The
answer is b.

345. a. The slope of a line is defined as ᎏᎏᎏᎏ

the change in the y-value of the line
the change in the x-value of the line .
The line in the diagram intersects the points (0,1) and (2,2), so
1 1 1
its slope is ᎏ2ᎏ; ᎏ2ᎏ > ᎏ3ᎏ, so the answer is a.

346. b. The slope of a line is defined as ᎏᎏᎏᎏ

the change in the y-value of the line
the change in the x-value of the line .
The line in the diagram intersects the points (0,1) and (−1,3), so
2 1
its slope is −ᎏ1ᎏ = −2; −ᎏ3ᎏ > −2, so the answer is b.

347. b. The slope of a line is defined as ᎏᎏᎏᎏ

the change in the y-value of the line
the change in the x-value of the line .
The line in the diagram intersects the points (1,−1) and (0,3), so
4 1
its slope is −ᎏ1ᎏ = −4; −4 < ᎏ2ᎏ, so the answer is b.

348. a. The slope of a line is defined as ᎏᎏᎏᎏ

the change in the y-value of the line
the change in the x-value of the line .
The line in the diagram intersects the points (−1,−1) and (1,2),
3 3 2
so its slope is ᎏ2ᎏ; ᎏ2ᎏ > ᎏ3ᎏ, so the answer is a.

349. a. The line’s slope is ᎏ

0 −2
4− 2 = −1; 0 > −1, so the answer is a.
ᎏ

350. b. The line’s slope is ᎏ

−3 − 0 3 3
−2 −0 = 2 ; 2 > 0, so the answer is b.
ᎏ ᎏᎏ ᎏᎏ

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351. c. The line y = −1 is a horizontal line. Thus, its slope is zero and
the answer is c.

352. b. The problem gives enough information to calculate the

elevation of the peak of the hill. Slope is defined as
the change in the y-value of the line
the change in the x-value of the line .
ᎏᎏᎏᎏ In this case, the y-value is the
change in vertical distance (elevation) of the hill, while the
x-value is the horizontal distance Tommy has to walk. While a
diagram may be helpful to you in solving the problem, the
simplest method is to set up a ratio comparing the slope and the
distances Tommy has to travel, where y represents the vertical
distance:
2 y
ᎏᎏ
5 =ᎏ
10ᎏ
0
5y = 200
y = 40 ft

The vertical elevation of the hill is 40 feet above sea level.

40 ft > 35 ft, so the answer is b.

353. a. This line intersects the y-axis at the point (0,1), so its
y-intercept is 1 and the answer is a.

354. b. As determined in the previous problem, the y-intercept of the

line in the diagram is 1. The equation in column B is in slope-
intercept form, so the y-intercept is represented by the term
without a variable. Thus, the y-intercept of this line is 4 and the
answer is b.

355. a. This line intersects the y-axis somewhere between the points
(0,3) and (0,4). Even though the exact value cannot be
determined, it is somewhere between 3 and 4 which is clearly
greater than zero. Therefore, the answer is a.

356. a. Even though the exact y-intercept of the line in the diagram
cannot be determined, it is clearly greater than zero and
therefore positive. The equation in column B. is in slope-
intercept form, so the y-intercept is represented by the term
without a variable which in this case is −1; −1 is a negative
value, so the value of column A must be greater and the answer
is a.

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

357. b. Both equations are in slope-intercept form, so the y-intercepts

can be determined from the terms without variables. The
y-intercept of the line in column A is −6, and in column B it’s 4,
so the answer is b.

358. a. Both equations are in slope-intercept form, so the y-intercepts

can be determined from the terms without variables. The
2
y-intercept of the line in column A is ᎏ5ᎏ, and in column B it’s −4,
so the answer is a.

359. a. The equation in column A must be put into slope-intercept

form in order to determine its y-intercept. Dividing both sides
1
of the equation by 2 yields the proper y = mx + b form as y = ᎏ2ᎏx
+ 4, so the y-intercept is 4. The y-intercept of the line in
column B is 3, so the answer is a.

360. c. The equation in column B must be put into slope-intercept

form in order to determine its y-intercept. Subtracting 6 from
both sides and adding y to both sides yields the proper equation
y = x − 6, with a y-intercept of −6. The y-intercept of the line in
column A is also −6 so the answer is c.

361. d. The equation in column A must be put into slope-intercept

form in order to determine its y-intercept. Simplifying yields
1
y = −ᎏ4ᎏx, so the y-intercept is 0. The line in column B is a
vertical line running through the point (9,0), and so has no
y-intercept. The problem has no solution and so the answer
is d.

362. a. Both equations must be put into slope-intercept form. The first
equation simplifies to y = 5, which represents a horizontal line
that has a y-intercept of 5. The second equation simplifies by
dividing both sides by x, yielding y = x + 4. The y-intercept of
this line is 4, so the answer is a.

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363. a. The length of arc ABC can be determined using the formula
x
length = ᎏ 0 (C), where x is the measure of the angle whose rays
36ᎏ
intersect the arc and C is the circumference of the circle. In this
case, the formula is set up as follows:
x
length = ᎏ 0 (C)
36ᎏ
45
length = ᎏ 0 (20)
36ᎏ
1
length = ᎏ8ᎏ(20)
length = 2.5 cm

2.5 cm > 2 cm, so the answer is a.

364. c. The length of arc ABC can be determined using the formula
x
length = ᎏ 0 (C), where x is the measure of the angle whose rays
36ᎏ
intersect the arc and C is the circumference of the circle. In this
case, the formula is set up as follows:
x
length = ᎏ
36ᎏ0 (C)
36
length = ᎏ 0 (10)
36ᎏ
length = ᎏ110ᎏ(10)
length = 1 cm

The values in both choices are equal, so the answer is c.

365. a. The circumference of the circle can be determined using the

same formula as above but solving for C. In this case, the
formula is set up as follows:
x
length = ᎏ 0 (C)
36ᎏ
45
2=ᎏ 0 (C)
36ᎏ
1
2 = ᎏ8ᎏ(C)
C = 16 cm

20 cm > 16 cm, so the answer is a.

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

366. b. The measure of ∠x can be determined using the same formula

as above but solving for x. In this case, the formula is set up as
follows:
x
length = ᎏ 0 (C)
36ᎏ
x
3=ᎏ 36ᎏ0 (30)
30x
3=ᎏ
36ᎏ
0
1,080 = 30x
36 = x

36° > 35°, so the answer is b.

367. a. The area of the rectangle in column A is 2(3) = 6 cm2. The area
of the square in column B is 22 = 4 cm2.

368. c. The sum of the interior angles of any triangle is 180°. The
values in both choices are equal so the answer is c.

369. b. The volume of the cube in column A is s3 = 33 = 27 cm3. The

volume of the cylinder in column B is πr2(h) = 3.14(22)(3) =
3.14(4)(3) = 3.14(12) = 37.68 cm3; 37.68 > 27, so the answer is b.

370. b. These triangles are 3, 4, 5 and 6, 8, 10 Pythagorean triples,

which means that the hypotenuses are 5 and 10, respectively.
The Pythagorean theorem (a2 + b2 = c2) can also be used to solve
for each hypotenuse individually. Either method will find that
the hypotenuse of the triangle in column B is longer. The
answer is b.

371. c. Angles 1 and 3 are vertical angles created by the intersection of

two lines, and so are equal. The answer is c.

372. d. Angles 1 and 2 are exterior angles on the outside of two parallel
lines cut by a transversal, and so are supplementary. Even
though ∠1 appears to be slightly larger in the diagram, there is
no indication as to either angle’s actual measure. All that can be
determined is that the two angles add up to 180°, which is not
enough information to solve the problem. The answer is d.

373. a. The equation is in slope-intercept form, so the slope is the

coefficient of the x term and the y-intercept is the term without
a variable. In this case, the slope is 3 and the y-intercept is 2.
The slope is the greater quantity, so the answer is a.

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374. a. It may be helpful to draw a diagram of the two triangles. The

triangles are similar, as the lengths of shorter sides of triangles
are proportional. The shorter sides are in a ratio of 3:4 so the
3 1
hypotenuses must also be in a ratio of 3:4; ᎏ4ᎏ > ᎏ2ᎏ, so the answer
is a.

375. a. The pie is a circle, so it measures 360° around. Since it is cut

into eight equal slices, each slice forms an angle of 40° at the
x
center of the pie. The formula length = ᎏ 36ᎏ0 (C) can be used to
determine the length of the arc of one of the slices by
substituting the information given in the problem as follows:
x
length = ᎏ 0 (C)
36ᎏ
40
length = ᎏ 0 (18)
36ᎏ
1
length = ᎏ9ᎏ(18)
length = 2ʺ

The length of the arc formed by one slice of pie is 2ʺ; 2ʺ > 1.5ʺ,
so the answer is a.

112
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Data Analysis

In this chapter, the following math concepts will be the subject of the 126
data analysis-based quantitative comparison questions:

n Counting
n Sequences
n Data Representation and Interpretation
n Frequency Distributions
n Measures of Central Tendency
n Measures of Dispersion
n Probability

Some important information:

Numbers: All numbers used are real numbers.

Figures: Figures that accompany questions are intended to provide infor-

mation useful in answering the questions. Unless otherwise indicated, posi-
tions of points, angles, regions, etc. are in the order shown; angle measures
are positive; lines shown as straight are straight; and figures lie in a plane.
Unless a note states that a figure is drawn to scale, you should NOT solve

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

these problems by estimating or by measurement, but by using your knowl-

edge of mathematics.

Common Information: In a question, information concerning one or both

of the quantities to be compared is centered above the two columns. A sym-
bol that appears in both columns represents the same thing in Column A
as it does in Column B.

Directions: Each of the following questions consists of two quantities, one

in Column A and one in Column B. Compare the two quantities and
choose:
a. if the quantity in Column A is greater
b. if the quantity in Column B is greater
c. if the two quantities are equal
d. if the relationship cannot be determined from the information given

Examples:
Column A Column B

1. 兹3
苶2 + 42 兹(3
苶 + 4)2苶

The correct answer is b. Remember to look carefully at the two

columns, even if they initially appear to be the same. In this case,
while the two quantities look similar, they are not equivalent. In
column A, 兹3 苶 2 + 42 is equal to 兹9 苶,+ 16 or 兹25 苶, which is equal to
5. In column B, be sure the work out the calculations inside the
苶
parentheses first: 兹(3 + 4)2苶 = 兹7
苶2 = 7. 7 is greater than 5, so the
correct answer is b.

2. m and n are integers.

m3 n2

The correct answer is d. The only information you are given about
the two quantities is that they are integers, which tells you nothing
about their respective values. Depending on what values you
assign, column A could be larger than column B or vice versa, or
both values could be the same. Since you cannot determine which
value is greater, the answer is d.

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Questions

Column A Column B

376. the average (arithmetic the average (arithmetic

mean) of 6, 5, 8, 7, and 9 mean) of 11, 2, and 8

377. the average (arithmetic mean) the average (arithmetic

of 16, 23, 30, 45, and 17 mean) of 23, 18, 17, 35, and 45

378. A = {15, 20, 20, 13}

the median of set A the mode of set A

379. The mean of set B is 17.

B = −5, −1, 12, 29, x, y
x y

380. C = 3, 6, 11, 12, 10, 18, x

The mean of set C is 9.
8 x

Use the following figure to answer questions 381–383.

Brown High School Student Distribution
29% 22%

freshmen

sophomores

juniors

seniors

24%

25%

381. number of freshmen 22

382. There are 400 students enrolled at Brown High School.

number of seniors 120

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

383. difference between the difference between the

quantity of freshmen quantity of juniors
and sophomores and seniors

Use the following sequence to answer questions 384 and 385.

.25, .5, .75, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, . . .

384. the 53rd term of the sequence 13

385. the 78th term of the sequence 19.5

Use the following series to answer questions 386 and 387.

2 + 4 + 6 + 8 + . . . + 98 + 100

386. the sum of the first 23 550

terms of the series

387. the sum of all the terms 2,550

in the series

Use the information below to answer questions 388–400.

D = {13, 22, 17, 24, x}
E = {13, 22, 17, 24, y}
x > 0, y > 0

388. the mean of set D the mean of set E

389. the median of set D the median of set E

390. x>y
the mean of set D the mean of set E

391. x > y > 24

the median of set D the median of set E

392. x > 17 > y

the median of set D the median of set E

393. The ranges of the sets are equal.

the median of set D the median of set E

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

394. x=y
the mean of set D the mean of set E

395. x=y
the median of set D the median of set E

396. x<y
the mean of set D the mean of set E

397. x<y
the range of set D the range of set E

398. The means of the two sets are equal.

x y

399. The mean of set D is greater than the mean of set E.

x y

400. The modes of the two sets are equal.

12 x

Use the information below to answer questions 401–402.

F = {28, 29, 30, 31, 32}
G = {10, 20, 30, 40, 50}

401. the mean of set F the median of set G

402. the standard deviation the standard deviation

of set F of set G

Use the following experiment to answer questions 402–405.

A coin is tossed 3 times.

403. the number of possible the number of possible

outcomes containing outcomes containing
exactly 2 heads exactly 1 tail

404. the total number of possible 5

outcomes

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

405. the probability of tossing

1
ᎏᎏ
2
3 tails

Use the following bar graph to answer questions 406–408.

Hair Color of Students

35

30
Number of Students

25

20

15

10

0
blond brown black red gray

Hair Color

406. 12 difference between the number

of students with brown hair and
those with black hair

407. percent of students with percent of students with

red hair gray hair

408. total number of students 90

surveyed

Use the following experiment to answer questions 409–411.

A number cube (die) is rolled and a coin is tossed.

409. total number of possible 8

outcomes

410. number of outcomes in 3

which an even number is
rolled on the cube, and a
head is tossed on the coin

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

411. number of outcomes in 5

which a factor of 2 is rolled
on the cube, and a head or
a tail is tossed on the coin

Use the following experiment to answer questions 412–413.

A coin is tossed 14 times.
Heads occurs 8 times and tails 6 times.
The second and thirteenth tosses are heads.

412. maximum number of 8

heads that can occur in a row

413. minimum number of heads 4

in the first 10 tosses

Use the following series to answer questions 414–416.

−20 + −18 + −16 + . . . + 18 + 20 + 22 + 24

414. the sum of all terms in 50

the series

415. the sum of the first the sum of the fourth, fifth,
three terms and sixth terms.

416. the sum of the 18th, 19th, the sum of the last two terms
and 20th terms

Use the following sequence to answer questions 417–418.

1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, . . .

417. the 11th term in the sequence 90

418. the sum of the 41st and 42nd the 43rd term of the sequence
terms of the sequence

Use the following facts to answer questions 419 and 420.

William bought 4 pairs of pants for $80. The next day, he purchased
another pair of pants. He spent an average of $22.50 for the five
pairs of pants.

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

419. amount of money William average cost of each of the first

spent on the fifth pair of pants four pairs of pants

420. $30 the cost of the fifth pair of pants

Use the graph below to answer question 421–423.

Monthly Budget
$775
$695
Food

Clothing

$261
Housing

$325 Savings

Auto expenses
$439

Other costs

$967

421. percent of budget spent percent of budget spent

on Housing on Clothing and Food

422. percent of budget not spent 86%

on Savings

423. percent of budget spent on percent of budget spent on

Food, Auto, and Other Housing, Clothing and Savings

Use the following situation to answer questions 424–426.

Papa’s Pizza offers any of up to 2 different toppings on their pies.
Papa’s has 8 total toppings from which to choose.

424. total number of possible 8

1 topping pizzas Papa’s makes

425. Pepperoni is an available topping.

number of possible pizzas 8
containing pepperoni

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

426. total number of possible pizzas 12

Papa’s makes

427. The mean of five distinct positive integers is 10.

the largest possible value 46
of one of the integers

Use the following situation to answer questions 428 and 429.

Set H contains five positive integers such that the mean, median,
mode, and range are all equal. The sum of the data is 25.

428. the smallest possible number 6

in set H

429. 10 the largest possible number in

set H

Use the following situation to answer questions 430 and 431.

Set J consists of 5 elements. The range of the numbers in set J is 0,
and the sum of the numbers in set J is 40.

430. highest element in set J lowest element in set J

431. mode of set J 16

Use the following situation to answer questions 432 and 433.

K = {8, x, y, 10}
The mean of set K is 12, there is no mode, and x > y.

432. x + y 24

433. 2x 30

Use the following box plot to answer questions 434 and 435.
Age of College Freshmen

13 17 18 53

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

434. quartile 1 quartile 3

435. quartile 3 median

436. Susan has 3 pairs of pants and 4 shirts.

Assume each pair of pants matches each shirt.
7 number of outfits Susan has

Use the following experiment description to answer questions 437–440.

A card is drawn from a standard deck of 52 cards.

437. probability of drawing a queen probability of drawing a club

438. probability of drawing a jack

17
ᎏᎏ
52
or a spade

439. probability of drawing a probability of drawing a heart

black card or a face card

440. probability of drawing a probability of drawing an eight

red card with an even or a nine
number on it

Use the following experiment description to answer questions

441 and 442.
A bag contains 6 blue marbles and 4 red marbles. Two marbles
are selected at random, one after the other (the first marble
is not replaced in the bag after it is drawn).

441. probability of drawing probability of drawing

2 blue marbles 2 red marbles

442. probability of drawing a probability of drawing a

red followed by a blue marble blue followed by a red marble

Use the following experiment description to answer questions

443 and 444.
A bag contains 6 blue marbles and 8 red marbles. Two marbles
are selected at random, with the first selected marble being
replaced in the bag before the second marble is drawn.

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

443. probability of drawing probability of drawing

2 blue marbles 2 red marbles

444. probability of drawing a probability of drawing a

red followed by a blue marble blue followed by a red marble

Use the following experiment description to answer questions 445–447.

A bag contains 3 blue marbles and 2 red marbles. Two marbles
are selected at random.

445. probability of selecting probability of selecting

2 blue marbles if the first 2 blue marbles if the first
selected marble is replaced selected marble is not replaced

446. probability of selecting a probability of selecting a blue

blue marble, then a red marble, then a red marble
marble if the first selected if the first selected marble is
marble is replaced not replaced

447. probability of selecting 2 probability of selecting 2

red marbles if the first blue marbles if the first
selected marble is replaced selected marble is not replaced

Use the spinner below and the experiment description to answer

questions 448–451.

blue

green yellow

red

The spinner above is spun twice, then a 6-sided number cube (die)
is rolled.

448. number of outcomes 14

449. probability of obtaining .1

the outcome: blue, red, 4

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

450. probability of obtaining probability of obtaining

the outcome: blue or red, the outcome: green, green
red, even number or yellow, odd

451. probability of obtaining probability of obtaining

the outcome: not green, red, the outcome: not blue, not
factor of 2 blue, multiple of 3

Use the frequency distribution table below to answer questions 452–455.

Data Value Frequency
0 3
1 6
2 2
3 1
4 2

452. mean of distribution 2.5

453. median of distribution 2

454. mode of distribution 1

455. range of distribution 5

Use the following set to answer questions 456–458.

For x = 0, x = 1, x = 2, and x = 3,
let set K = {2x, x2, x + 2}.

456. 4 mode of set K

457. range of set K 10

458. median of set K mean of set K

Use the sequence below to answer questions 459–460.

2, 4, 8, 16, 32, . . .

459. the tenth term of the sequence 210

460. the twentieth term of the twice the tenth term

sequence

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

Use the sequence below to answer questions 461–462.

64, 32, 16, 8, 4, . . .

461. the seventh term of the 0

sequence

462. the thirtieth term of the 2−20

sequence

Use the situation below to answer questions 463–464.

A survey of high school seniors at Blake High School revealed that 35%
play an instrument, 43% participate in sports, and 29% do neither.

463. percent of students who 78%

play an instrument and/or
participate in sports

464. percent of students who 10%

play an instrument and
participate in sports

Use the information below to answer questions 465–466.

M = {4, 6, 3, 7, x, x}
N = {1, 5, 8, y}
x > 0, y > 0

465. x>y
the mean of set M the mean of set N

466. x > y > 10

the median of set M the median of set N

Use the following box plot to answer questions 467–469.

Birthweight of Babies at Center Hospital

4 6 7 10 18

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

467. number of data elements number of data elements

between first quartile between third quartile
and median and max

468. interquartile range 3

469. spread of data in third quarter spread of data in second quarter

Use the menu for Kelly’s Deli below to answer questions 470–472.
Bread Meat Cheese
Rye Ham American
Wheat Salami Swiss
White Turkey Provolone
Roast Beef Cheddar
Tuna
A sandwich from Kelly’s consists of one type of bread, one meat,
and one cheese.

470. number of possible 60

sandwiches Kelly’s makes

471. number of sandwiches that number of sandwiches that

can be made on rye bread can be made on wheat bread

472. number of sandwiches that number of sandwiches that

can be made with roast beef can be made with provolone
cheese

Use the sequence below to answer questions 473–476.

1, 4, 9, 16, 25, . . .

473. the seventh term in 36

the sequence

474. the twentieth term in 400

the sequence

475. the difference between the the difference between the

34th and 35th terms 10th and 13th terms

476. the 1000th term in the 1 × 109

sequence

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

477. 50th percentile of data set W average (arithmetic mean) of data

set W

478. 50th percentile of data set W median of data set W

479. 25th percentile of data set W first quartile of data set W

Use the sets below to answer questions 480 and 481.

P = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
Q = {2, 3, 6, 5}

480. standard deviation of set P standard deviation of set Q

481. mean of set P median of set Q

482. 100 meters 1 kilometer

483. 3.46 × 109 miles 34.6 × 108 miles

484. 1.5 × 10−6 millimeters .00000015 millimeters

Use the following figure to answer questions 485–487.

Profits of Company B

5,500
5,000
4,500
4,000
3,500
(in dollars)

3,000
Profit

2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
0
2010 2012 2014 2016 2018
Year

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

485. profit increase from profit increase from

2012 to 2014 2011 to 2013

486. profit decrease from profit decrease from

2014 to 2015 2012 to 2013

487. overall profit from $1,500

2011 to 2017

Use the following sequence to answer questions 488–489.

1, 2, 6, 24, . . .

488. the fifth term of the sequence 150

489. the sixth term of the sequence 720

Use the following series to answer questions 490–491.

2 + 12 + 22 + 32 + 42 + . . . + 102 + 112 + 122 + 132

490. the number of terms 13

in the sequence

491. the sum of the series 1,000

492. 4.23 × 10−5 .423 × 10−4

493. 234 milliliters 2.34 liters

494. 45 centigrams .45 grams

495. 12 square yards 36 square feet

496. 24 square inches 2 square feet

497. 1 cubic foot 123 cubic inches

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Column A Column B

Use the frequency distribution below to answer questions 498–501.

Ages of Women Entered in Road Race

Classes Frequency
15–19 3
20–24 14
25–29 17
30–34 13
35–39 10

498. number of 17-year-olds number of 27-year-olds

entered in race entered in race

499. total number of entrants 55

500. median age of entrant 30

501. number of entrants under 30 28

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

Answer Explanations

The following explanations show one way in which each problem can be
solved. You may have another method for solving these problems.

376. c. The mean of the numbers in column A is 7: 6 + 5 + 8 + 7 + 9

= 35. 35 divided by 5 = 7. The mean of the numbers in
column B is also 7: 11 + 2 + 8 = 21. 21 divided by 3 = 7.

377. b. Of the 5 numbers in each set, 3 are the same (23, 17, and 45).
The remaining 2 numbers are greater in the set in column B
than in the set in column A, therefore, the mean of the set in
column B is greater than the mean of the set in column A.

378. b. The median of set A (the middle of the set when the numbers
are put in numerical order) is 17.5: 13, 15, 20, 20. Since there is
an even number of elements in the set, the average of the two
35
middle numbers, 15 and 20 is found; 15 + 20 = 35; ᎏ2ᎏ = 17.5.
The mode of set A (the most frequently occurring element in
the set) is 20 because it occurs twice. 20 is greater than 17.5.

379. d. The relationship cannot be determined. Since the mean of set B

is 17, and the set has 6 elements, the sum of the elements in the
set must be (17)(6) = 102. The total of the given elements is
−5 + −1 + 12 + 29 = 35. Therefore, x and y must total what’s left,
namely, 102 − 35 = 67. There is no way to know which of the
two might be greater, or if the two are equal.

380. a. Since the mean of set C is 9 and the set has 7 elements, the sum
of the elements in the set must be (9)(7) = 63. The total of the
given elements is 3 + 6 + 11 + 12 + 10 + 18 = 60. Therefore,
x must equal the remaining value, namely, 63 − 60 = 3. 8 is
greater than 3.

381. d. The relationship cannot be determined. Since the number of

students enrolled at Brown High School is not given for this
question, it is not known whether the number of freshmen
equals 22 (if there are 100 students, because 22% of 100 = 22),
is more than 22 (if there are > 100 students, because 22% of >
100 is > 22) or is less than 22 (if there are < 100 students,
because 22% of < 100 is < 22).

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

382. b. Since there are 400 students at Brown High School and 29%
are seniors, 29% of 400, or .29 × 400 = 116; 120 > 116, so the
answer is b.

383. b. The difference between the number of freshmen and

sophomores is 24% − 22% = 2% of 400; .02 × 400 = 8 students.
The difference between the number of juniors and seniors is
29% − 25% = 4%. 4% of 400 is 16. 16 > 8.

384. a. The pattern in this series (.25, .5, .75, 1, 1.25, 1.5 . . .) can also
1 2 3 4 5 6
be written as ᎏ4ᎏ, ᎏ4ᎏ, ᎏ4ᎏ, ᎏ4ᎏ, ᎏ4ᎏ, ᎏ4ᎏ . . . . Since each term given is
equivalent to the term number (its number in the sequence)
n
divided by 4, an nth term would be equal to ᎏ4ᎏ. The 53rd term is
53 53
equal to ᎏ4ᎏ; ᎏ4ᎏ = 13.25; 13.25 > 13, so the answer is a.

385. c. Use the same equation you established in the previous problem.
82
The 82nd term = ᎏ4ᎏ = 19.5. Column B is also 19.5, so the
correct answer is c.

386. a. Note that the first term is 2, the second term is 4, the third
term is 6, etc. The term is equal to two times the term number.
Therefore, the 23rd term is 23 × 2 = 46 and the sum of the even
numbers from 2 to 46 is needed to answer the question. In
series questions, an easy shortcut is to rewrite the series below
the original series and add vertically to get consistent sums. In
this case,

2 + 4 + 6 + . . . + 44 + 46
46 + 44 + 42 + . . . + 4 + 2
48 + 48 + 48 + . . . + 48 + 48

Since 23 terms were added, there are 23 totals of 48. Each term
has been written twice, so 23 × 48 is double the total needed
48
and must be divided by two; 23 × (ᎏ2ᎏ) = 23 × 24 = 552;
552 > 550, so column A is greater.

387. c. Following the same procedure as in the previous question, the

100
last term is 100, so there are ᎏ2ᎏ, or 50 terms in the series. The
consistent sum would be 102 because the first term plus the last
term = 2 + 100 = 102. There would be 50 sums of 102 which
102
would again be double the total needed; 50 × (ᎏ2ᎏ) = 50 × 51
= 2,550.

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

388. d. The answer cannot be determined. Since the value of neither x

nor y is known, the means of the sets cannot be found and
cannot, therefore, be compared.

389. d. The answer cannot be determined. Although the question

indicates that both x and y are greater than zero, and both sets
D and E have 5 elements, the elements are not ordered, so the
third element is not necessarily the median. For example, if
x < 13, the order of the set would be x, 13, 17, 22, 24 and the
median would be 17. If 17 < x < 22, the order of the set would
be 13, 17, x, 22, 24 and the median would be x.

390. a. Since x > y, the sum of the elements in set D > the sum of the
elements in set E. When the sums are divided by 5 (the number
of elements in each set), the mean of set D will be a larger
number.

391. c. Since x > y > 24, we know that in each of sets D and E, x and y
respectively are the largest elements. Therefore, set D in
numerical order is {13, 17, 22, 24, x} and set E in numerical
order is {13, 17, 22, 24, y}, so in each case, the median is the
middle number, 22.

392. a. Since x > 17, the median of set D will be x, 22, or 24, depending
on how large x is. The median will therefore be one of these
elements: x which is > 17, 22, or 24. Since y < 17, the median of
set E must be 17 because the third element will be 17; there are
2 elements less than 17, namely, y and 13.

393. d. The answer cannot be determined. Choose an arbitrary value

for the range, say 15. Therefore, x might be 9 since that would
enable the range to be 24 − 9 = 15. This would make the
median of set D be 17. y might have the same value, which
would make the medians equal, but y could also equal 28
because 28 − 13 = 15 as well. This would make the median
equal 22 as the third element of the set.

394. c. If x = y, then set D = set E, and it follows that the mean of set D
= the mean of set E.

395. c. If x = y, then set D = set E, and all statistics for the two sets
would be equal, including, but not limited to, mean, median,
mode, and range.

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

396. b. Since x < y, the sum of the elements in set D < the sum of the
elements in set E. When the sums are divided by 5 (the number
of elements in each set), the mean of set E will be a larger
number.

397. d. The answer cannot be determined. Let x = 5 and y = 32. Then

the range of set D = 24 − 5 = 19 and the range of set E = 32 − 13
= 19. The ranges are equal, which eliminates choices a and b.
Now let x = 12 and y = 15. Then the range of set D = 24 − 12
= 12 and the range of set E = 24 − 13 = 11. Since in both cases,
x < y, the answer cannot be determined.

398. c. The only way for the mean of the two sets to be equal is for the
sum of the two sets to also be equal. In order for this to happen,
x must equal y.

399. a. Since the mean of set D > the mean of set E, the sum of the
elements in set D must be > the sum of the elements in set E.
Therefore, since the remaining elements are all equal, the only
way to get a larger sum in set D is for x to be > y.

400. b. Because the mode of the two sets are equal, there must be a
mode in each set, meaning that one of the elements must
repeat. This implies that x and y are equal to one of the
elements already shown to be in sets D and E. Since all of these
elements are > 12, x must be > 12.

401. c. The mean of set F is 28 + 29 + 30 + 31 + 32 = 150; ᎏ5ᎏ = 30.

150

The median of set G, which is already in numerical order, is the

middle element, 30.

402. b. Standard deviation is a measure of the spread of the data from

the mean. Since the mean of each set is 30, the data in set F is
obviously clustered more closely to the mean than the data in
set G; therefore, the standard deviation of set G > the standard
deviation of set F.

403. c. The number of possible outcomes containing exactly 2 heads is

3: HHT, HTH, and THH. These are the same three outcomes
that contain exactly one tail.

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

404. a. Since there are two possible outcomes for each toss of the coin,
and the coin is being tossed three times, there are 23 = 8
possible outcomes. 8 > 5.

405. b. Only one of the 8 possible outcomes, TTT, contains three tails
1 1 1
so the probability of tossing three tails is ᎏ8ᎏ; ᎏ8ᎏ < ᎏ2ᎏ.

406. b. It appears that there are at most 17 students with black hair and
32 students with brown hair; 32 − 17 = 15. 15 > 12.

407. a. Since more students have red hair than have gray hair, the
percent of students with red hair must be higher than the
percent of students with gray hair. The actual percents do not
have to be determined.

408. b. Even with rough approximations done with the data, rounding
up, if there are about 30 blond students, 32 brown-haired
students, 18 black-haired students, 4 redheads and 3 with gray
hair, that total, 87, is < 90.

409. a. There are 6 possible outcomes on the number cube, {1, 2, 3, 4,

5, 6}, and 2 on the coin, {H, T}. According to the counting
principle for probability, there are therefore, 6 × 2 = 12 possible
outcomes. 12 > 8.

410. c. The outcomes in which an even number on the cube would be

followed by a head on the coin would be: (2, H), (4, H), (6, H).
There are three outcomes, so columns A and B are equivalent.

411. b. The factors of 2 are 1 and 2. The outcomes that meet the
condition that there is a factor of 2 on the number cube and a
head or a tail on the coin are (1, H), (1, T), (2, H), (2, T). There
are four outcomes, and 5 > 4, so the correct answer is b.

412. b. Since there are a total of 8 tosses that were heads, but the
second and thirteenth are known to be two of them, there can
only be a maximum of 7 heads in a row since there are more
than 8 tosses between the second and thirteenth tosses. For
example, the outcomes could be: H H H H H H H T T T T T
H T or T H T T T T T H H H H H H H.

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413. c. Since there are 8 total heads and the objective is to have a
minimal quantity of them in the first ten tosses, the last four
tosses would have to all be heads. This would leave 8 − 4 = 4
tosses left for the first ten outcomes.

414. b. If the series is examined carefully, it can be noted that the first
41 terms will total zero since every nonzero number in the
series, up until 22, can be paired with its opposite. Therefore,
the sum of the series is simply the sum of the last two numbers,
22 and 24; 22 + 24 = 46. 50 > 46.

415. b. The sums do not need to be found. The first three terms are
smaller numbers than than the following three terms; therefore,
their sum will automatically be smaller than the sum of terms 4,
5, and 6.

416. a. The 18th, 19th, and 20th terms are 14, 16 and 18; 14 + 16 + 18
= 48. The last two terms are 22 and 24; 22 + 24 = 46. 48 > 46.

417. b. This is the Fibonacci sequence in which each term after the first
two is found by adding the previous two terms. There are nine
terms provided in the sequence. The tenth term is found be
adding the eighth and ninth terms: 21 + 34 = 55, so the tenth
term is 55. The eleventh term is found by adding the ninth and
tenth terms: 34 + 55 = 89. Since 90 > 89, column B is greater.

418. c. Since each term is found by adding the previous two terms, the
43rd term is the sum of the 41st and 42nd terms.

419. a. The answer can be found with minimal calculations: Since

William bought 4 pairs of pants for $80, each pair of pants cost
an average of $20. The fifth pair of pants managed to bring his
average cost per pair up to $22.50, so it must have cost more
than $20.

420. b. If the five pairs of pants averaged $22.50 per pair, William’s
total cost must be $22.50 × 5 = $112.50. This cost, minus
the $80 he paid for the first four pairs, leaves $112.50 − $80
= $32.50.

421. b. $967 was spent on Housing. $695 + $325 = $1,020 was spent on
Food and Clothing. Since more money was spent on Food and
Clothing, this accounts for a higher percent of the budget.

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

422. a. The total monthly budget is $775 + $695 + $325 + $967 + $439
$439
+ $261 = $3462. The percent spent on Savings is ᎏ 62 = about
$3,4ᎏ
12%. Therefore, the amount not spent on Savings is 100% −
12% = 88%. 88% > 86%.

423. c. The amount of money spent on Food, Auto Expenses, and

Other Costs is $695 + $261 + $775 = $1,731, which is exactly
half, or 50% of the total amount of the budget, $3,462.

424. c. Since there are 8 toppings available, a one-topping pie would

consist of any one of these 8 toppings. There are 8 possibilities.

425. c. One 1-topping pizza would contain pepperoni. In addition, any

of the remaining seven toppings could be paired with pepperoni
to make seven more possible pies. Therefore, there are a total
of eight possible pies with pepperoni as a topping.

426. a. Papa’s offers one plain pizza, 8 one-topping pizzas, and 28 two-
topping pizzas. Call the available toppings A, B, C, D, E, F, G,
and H. Then A can be paired with any of the remaining 7
toppings. B can be paired with any of the remaining 6 toppings
starting with C because it’s already been paired with A. C can be
paired with D, E, F, G, or H since it’s already been paired with
A and B. And so on. In other words, there are 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 +
2 + 1 = 28 possible 2-topping pies. The total number of pies
Papa’s offers is 1 + 8 + 28 = 37; 37 > 12.

427. b. If the mean of five distinct (meaning different) positive integers

is 10, the sum of these integers must be 5 × 10 = 50. For one of
these integers to be as large as it can be, the remaining integers
must be as small as they can be, namely, 1, 2, 3, and 4. These
integers total 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 = 10. So, the largest one of the
integers can be is 40.

428. b. Since the sum of the five elements of set H is 25, the mean is
25
ᎏᎏ
5 = 5. Since the mean, median, mode, and range are all equal,
they are all equal to 5. Therefore, 6 must be larger than the
smallest element in set H.

429. a. If 10 is the largest possible number in set H, then, since the

range of the numbers in the set is also 5, the smallest number
would have to be 5. Even if the set consisted of four 5’s and just
the one 10, the sum of the numbers would still be too high. To

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

get a sum of 25 with a mode and a median of 5, at least 2 of the

numbers in the set must be 5 and the remainder must add up to
15 while not violating the range requirement, which is also 5.
One possibility is {2, 5, 5, 6, 7}. Another is {3, 4, 5, 5, 8}.

430. c. If the range of the elements in set J is 0, then all of the elements
must be the same since the range is derived by subtracting the
smallest element from the largest element. Therefore the
highest element in set J is equal to the lowest element in set J.

431. b. Since the sum of the elements in set J is 40, and there are 5
elements, the mean of the set is 8. Also, since the range of the
numbers in the set is zero, each of the numbers in the set must
be 8, making 8 the mode of the set; 16 > 8.

432. a. Since the mean of set K is 12, the sum of the 4 elements in the
set must be 4 × 12 = 48. The two given elements, 8 and 10 total
18. Therefore, the difference between the total and the given
elements is 48 − 18 = 30. The two remaining elements, x and y
must total 30, which is greater than 24.

433. a. The total of x and y must be 30, and x > y, therefore, x must
be > 15 and y must be < 15. Therefore, 2x > 30.

434. b. Quartile 1 is 17 and Quartile 3 is 18. Therefore, Quartile 1 <

Quartile 3.

435. d. The answer cannot be determined. The median may be 17 or

18, which would make it less than, or equal to, Quartile 3.

436. b. Since each pair of pants matches each shirt, Susan has 4 × 3 = 12
outfits; 12 > 7.

437. b. There are 4 queens in a deck, so the probability of drawing a

4
queen is ᎏ52ᎏ. There are 13 clubs in a deck, so the probability of
13 13 4
drawing a club is ᎏ52ᎏ; ᎏ52ᎏ > ᎏ52ᎏ.

438. b. There are 4 jacks and 13 spades, but one of these is the jack of
spades which cannot be counted twice. Therefore, there are
4 + 13 − 1 = 16 cards that are jacks or spades (or both). The
16 16 17
probability of drawing one of these cards is ᎏ52ᎏ; ᎏ52ᎏ < ᎏ52ᎏ.

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439. a. There are 26 black cards (13 spades and 13 clubs) so the
26
probability of drawing one of these cards is ᎏ52ᎏ. There are 13
hearts and 12 face cards, but three of these face cards are hearts:
the jack, queen and king of hearts. These cards cannot be
counted twice, therefore, there are 13 + 12 − 3 = 22 cards that
are hearts or face cards (or both). The probability of drawing
22 26 22
one of these cards is ᎏ52ᎏ; ᎏ52ᎏ > ᎏ52ᎏ.

440. a. There are 10 red cards with even numbers on them: the 2, 4, 6,
8, and 10 of hearts and of diamonds. The probability of drawing
10
one of these cards is ᎏ52ᎏ. There are 4 eights and 4 nines, so a
total of 8 cards that are eights or nines, and the probability of
8 10 8
drawing one of these cards is ᎏ52ᎏ; ᎏ52ᎏ > ᎏ52ᎏ.

441. a. The probability of drawing 2 blue marbles comes from

multiplying the probability of drawing the first blue marble by
the probability of drawing the second. The probability of
6
drawing the first blue marble is ᎏ10ᎏ because there are 6 blue
marbles out of the 10 total marbles in the bag. The probability
5
of drawing the second blue marble is ᎏ9ᎏ because having drawn
the first blue marble, there are 5 blue marbles left out of a total
of 9 marbles remaining in the bag (since the experiment is
conducted without replacing the first selected marble in the
6 5 30
bag); ᎏ10ᎏ × ᎏ9ᎏ = ᎏ90ᎏ.

The probability of drawing 2 red marbles comes from

multiplying the probability of drawing the first red marble by
the probability of drawing the second. The probability of
4
drawing the first red marble is ᎏ10ᎏ because there are 4 red
marbles out of the 10 total marbles in the bag. The probability
3
of drawing the second red marble is ᎏ9ᎏ because having drawn the
first red marble, there are 3 red marbles left out of a total of 9
4 3 12 30 12
marbles remaining in the bag; ᎏ10ᎏ × ᎏ9ᎏ = ᎏ90ᎏ; ᎏ90ᎏ > ᎏ90ᎏ.

442. c. The probability of drawing a red followed by a blue marble is

4 6 24
ᎏ
10× ᎏ9ᎏ = ᎏ90ᎏ. The probability of drawing a blue followed by a red
ᎏ
6 4 24
marble is ᎏ10ᎏ × ᎏ9ᎏ = ᎏ90ᎏ.

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443. b. In this case, the original selected marble is replaced in the bag
before the second marble is drawn, keeping the denominators
of the multiplied fractions the same. The probability of drawing
6 6 36
2 blue marbles is ᎏ14ᎏ × ᎏ14ᎏ = ᎏ 6 . The probability of drawing 2
19ᎏ
8 8 64 64 36
red marbles is ᎏ14ᎏ × ᎏ14ᎏ = ᎏ 6; ᎏ
19ᎏ 6 >ᎏ
19ᎏ 6.
19ᎏ

444. c. The probability of drawing a red, followed by a blue marble is

8 6 48
ᎏ
14ᎏ× ᎏ14ᎏ = ᎏ 6 . The probability of drawing a blue, followed by a
19ᎏ
6 8 48
red marble is ᎏ14ᎏ × ᎏ14ᎏ = ᎏ 6.
19ᎏ

445. a. The probability of selecting 2 blue marbles if the first selected

3 3 9
marble is replaced is ᎏ5ᎏ × ᎏ5ᎏ = ᎏ25ᎏ (or .36). The probability of
selecting 2 blue marbles if the first selected marble is not
3 2 6
replaced is ᎏ5ᎏ × ᎏ4ᎏ = ᎏ20ᎏ (or .30); .36 > .30.

446. b. The probability of selecting a blue, then a red marble if the first
3 2 6
selected marble is replaced is ᎏ5ᎏ × ᎏ5ᎏ = ᎏ25ᎏ (or .24). The
probability of selecting a blue, then a red marble if the first
3 2 6
selected marble is not replaced is ᎏ5ᎏ × ᎏ4ᎏ = ᎏ20ᎏ (or .30); .30 > .24.

447. b. The probability of selecting 2 red marbles if the first selected

2 2 4
marble is replaced is ᎏ5ᎏ × ᎏ5ᎏ = ᎏ25ᎏ (or .16). The probability of
selecting 2 blue marbles if the first selected marble is not
3 2 6
replaced is ᎏ5ᎏ × ᎏ4ᎏ = ᎏ20ᎏ (or .30); .30 > .16.

448. a. Each spin of the spinner has 4 possible outcomes, and the
number cube has 6 possible outcomes. Therefore the
experiment has 4 × 4 × 6 = 96 possible outcomes; 96 > 14.

449. b. There is only one outcome (blue, red, 4) out of the possible 96
1
outcomes. The probability of obtaining this outcome is ᎏ96ᎏ;
1 1 1
.1 = ᎏ10ᎏ; ᎏ10ᎏ > ᎏ96ᎏ

450. c. There are 6 outcomes that meet the condition (blue or red, red,
even number): (blue, red, 2), (blue, red, 4), (blue, red, 6), (red,
red, 2), (red, red, 4), (red, red, 6). The probability of obtaining
6
one of these outcomes is ᎏ96ᎏ. Similarly, there are 6 outcomes
that meet the condition (green, green or yellow, odd): (green,
green, 1), (green, green, 3), (green, green, 5), (green, yellow, 1),
(green, yellow, 3), (green, yellow, 5). The probability of
6
obtaining one of these outcomes is also ᎏ96ᎏ.

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451. b. There are 6 outcomes that meet the condition (not green, red,
factor of 2). This number can also be found by multiplying the
number of ways to achieve this outcome: There are 3 outcomes
that meet the condition “not green,” 1 outcome that meets the
condition “red,” and 2 outcomes (1 and 2) that meet the
condition “factor of 2.” 3 × 1 × 2 = 6. The probability of
6
obtaining one of these 6 outcomes is ᎏ96ᎏ. Likewise, for the
outcome (not blue, not blue, multiple of 3) there are 3
outcomes that meet the condition “not blue” and 2 (3 and 6)
that meet the condition “multiple of 3.” 3 × 3 × 2 = 18. The
18 18 6
probability of obtaining one of these outcomes is ᎏ96ᎏ; ᎏ96ᎏ > ᎏ96ᎏ.

452. b. To find the mean of a set of data displayed in a frequency table,

the sum of the data must be found by multiplying each data
value by its frequency (the number of times it occurs) and
adding the products: 0 occurs 3 times (3 × 0 = 0), 1 occurs 6
times (6 × 1 = 6), 2 occurs 2 times (2 × 2 = 4), 3 occurs 1 time
(1 × 3 = 3), and 4 occurs 2 times (2 × 4 = 8). The sum is:
0 + 6 + 4 + 3 + 8 = 21. There are 3 + 6 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 14 pieces of
data displayed in the table (the sum of the frequencies).
21
ᎏᎏ = 1.5; 2.5 > 1.5.
14

453. b. Since there are 14 data items (an even number) in the frequency
table, the median will be the average of the middle two, namely
the seventh and the eighth pieces. The table contains the data
in numerical order, so the first three elements are zeros and the
next six are ones. Therefore, the seventh and eighth pieces of
data will both be 1 and the median will be 1.

454. c. The mode of a data set is the element that occurs most
frequently, which is easy to spot in a frequency table. In this
case, there are 6 occurrences of the data value 1, making it the
mode.

455. b. The range of the distribution is the difference between the

largest and the smallest piece of data. In this case, the smallest
data value is zero and the largest is 4; 4 − 0 = 4; 5 > 4.

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456. c. To answer any of questions 456–458, set K must be determined

by substituting the corresponding values for x into each of the
expressions given for set K:

when x = 0, 2x = 2 × 0 = 0, x2 = 02 = 0, x + 2 = 0 + 2 = 2;
when x = 1, 2x = 2 × 1 = 2, x2 = 12 = 1, x + 2 = 1 + 2 = 3;
when x = 2, 2x = 2 × 2 = 4, x2 = 22 = 4, x + 2 = 2 + 2 = 4;
when x = 3, 2x = 2 × 3 = 6, x2 = 32 = 9, x + 2 = 3 + 2 = 5.

Set K, therefore, is 0, 0, 2, 2, 1, 3, 4, 4, 4, 6, 9, 5. The mode is

the value that occurs the most, 4.

457. b. The range of set K is the difference between the largest and
smallest values in set K. The largest value in set K is 9, the
smallest is 0. 9 − 0 = 9; 10 > 9.

458. a. The median of set K is the middle number when the set is put
in numerical order: 0, 0, 1, 2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 6, 9. The median is
the average (arithmetic mean) of the sixth and seventh data
(3 + 4)
values, namely 3 and 4; ᎏ2ᎏ = 3.5. The mean is the sum of the
data divided by 12: 0 + 0 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 9
40
= 40; ᎏ12ᎏ = 3.33; 3.5 > 3.33.

459. c. Each term of the sequence is a power of 2. The first term is 21,
the second term is 22, the third term is 23, etc. Therefore, the
10th term of the sequence would be 210.

460. a. The 20th term of the sequence is 220. The 10th term of the
sequence is 210. Twice the tenth term is 2 × 210, which equals 211.
Since 220 > 211, 220 > twice the tenth term.

461. a. Each term in this sequence is also a power of 2, beginning with

64 which equals 26. Since the first term = 26, the second = 25, the
third = 24, the fourth = 23 and so on, each term is equal to 2
raised to the 7−n power, where n = the term number (in other
words, the power of 2, plus the term number = 7). Therefore,
the seventh term of the sequence is 27−7 = 20 = 1; 1 > 0.

462. b. The thirtieth term of the sequence is 27−30 = 2−23; 2−20 > 2−23.

463. b. If 29% of seniors neither play an instrument, nor participate in

sports, this leaves 71% who must participate in one or both of
the activities; 78% > 71%.

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501 Quantitative Comparison Questions

464. b. 71% of seniors must participate in one or both of the activities.

43% participate in sports and 35% play an instrument, but 43%
+ 35% = 78% which is too high because those seniors who
participate in both activities have been counted twice.
78% − 71% = 7%. Therefore, 7% of students participate in
both activities; 10% > 7%.

465. a. The sum of the elements given in set M is 4 + 6 + 3 + 7 = 20.

20
ᎏᎏ
4 = 5 meaning that the four given elements have an average of
5 before the value of 2x is added to the sum. The sum of the
14
elements in set N is 1 + 5 + 8 = 14; ᎏ3ᎏ = 4.667 meaning that the
three given elements have an average of 4.667 before the value
of y is added to the sum. Since x > y, 2 larger numbers will be
added to the sum of set M than will be added to the sum of set
N. This will keep the mean of set M > the mean of set N.

466. c. Since both x and y are > 10, the elements of set M can be
ordered as follows: M = {3, 4, 6, 7, x, x} which makes the median
13
the average of the third and fourth terms; 6 + 7 = 13; ᎏ2ᎏ = 6.5.
Likewise, set N in order = 1, 5, 8, y which makes the median the
13
average of the second and third terms; 5 + 8 = 13; ᎏ2ᎏ = 6.5.

467. c. Because quartiles divide the data into four quarters such that
there are the same number of pieces of data in each quarter, the
quantity of data between the first quartile and the median, and
the quantity of data between the third quartile and the max
must be equal.

468. a. The interquartile range is the difference between the first and
the third quartiles; in this case 6 and 10; 10 − 6 = 4; 4 > 3.

469. a. The data in the third quarter are spread between the values 7
and 10. The data in the second quarter are spread between the
values 6 and 7. Therefore the data in the third quarter have a
larger spread than the data in the second quarter.

470. c. Kelly’s offers 3 types of bread, 5 types of meat, and 4 types of

cheese. Therefore, Kelly’s can make any of 3 × 5 × 4 = 60 types
of sandwiches.

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471. c. Fixing the type of bread means Kelly’s can use 1 type of bread,
any of the 5 meats and any of the 4 cheeses on the sandwich.
5 × 4 = 20 types of sandwiches that can be made on wheat or rye
bread.

472. b. If a sandwich must contain roast beef, it can be made on any of

3 types of bread and with any of 4 types of cheese; 3 × 4 = 12
types of roast beef sandwich. If a sandwich must contain
provolone cheese, it can be made on any of 3 types of bread
with any of 5 types of meat; 3 × 5 = 15 types of provolone
cheese sandwich; 15 > 12.

473. a. This sequence contains all the perfect squares of the positive
integers. The first term = 1 × 1. The second term = 2 × 2. The
third term = 3 × 3 and so on. The seventh term, therefore, is
7 × 7 = 49; 49 > 36.

474. c. The twentieth term of the sequence is 20 × 20 = 400.

475. c. The 34th term is 34 × 34 = 1,156. The 35th term is 35 × 35 =

1,225; 1,225 − 1,156 = 69. The 10th term is 10 × 10 = 100. The
13th term is 13 × 13 = 169; 169 − 100 = 69.

476. b. The 1,000th term is 1,000 × 1,000 = 1,000,000 = 1 × 106.

1 × 109 > 1 × 106 since 109 > 106.

477. d. The answer cannot be determined. The fiftieth percentile of a

data set is the same as the median of the set. The median of a
set of data may be greater than, less than, or equal to the mean
of the set. For example, in the data set 2, 3, 4, the median, or
fiftieth percentile, is 3. The mean is also 3. In the data set 1, 5,
8, 9, the median, or fiftieth percentile is the average of 5 and 8.
13
5 + 8 = 13; ᎏ2ᎏ = 6.5. The mean is the sum, 23, divided by 4;
23
ᎏᎏ = 5.75, so the median is greater.
4

478. c. The median of a data set is always equal to the fiftieth

percentile.

479. c. The 25th percentile is, by definition, the same as the first
quartile.

480. b. The standard deviation of set P can be found be finding the

mean of set P, then finding the square of the distance each
element of the set is from the mean. Finding the sum of these

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squares, dividing by the number of elements in the set, then

finding the square root of this quantity. For set P: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4
15
+ 5 = 15; ᎏ5ᎏ = 3, which is the mean; 1 − 3 = −2; −2 × −2 = 4;
2 − 3 = −1; −1 × −1 = 1; 3 − 3 = 0; 0 × 0 = 0; 4 − 3 = 1; 1 × 1 = 1;
5 − 3 = 2; 2 × 2 = 4. The sum of these square differences is
10
4 + 1 + 0 + 1 + 4 = 10; ᎏ5ᎏ = 2. The standard deviation is 兹2 苶.
16
For set Q: 2 + 3 + 6 + 5 = 16; ᎏ4ᎏ = 4, which is the mean;
2 − 4 = −2; −2 × −2 = 4; 3 − 4 = −1; −1 × −1 = 1; 6 − 4 = 2;
2 × 2 = 4; 5 − 4 = 1; 1 × 1 = 1. The sum of these square
10
differences is 1 + 4 + 4 + 1 = 10; ᎏ4ᎏ = 2.5. The standard
deviation is 兹2.5
苶; 兹2.5苶 > 兹2 苶.

481. b. The mean of set P is 3. The median of set Q is the average of

8
the second and third elements, 3 and 5; 3 + 5 = 8; ᎏ4ᎏ = 2; 4 > 3.

482. b. 1 kilometer is equal to 1,000 meters.

483. c. Using scientific notation, 3.46 × 109 means the decimal point in
3.46 would be moved 9 places to the right (since the exponent
on 10 is a positive 9). This would yield 3,460,000,000. Likewise,
in 34.6 × 108, the decimal point in 34.6 would be moved 8
places to the right to yield 3,460,000,000 as well.

484. a. 1.5 × 10−6 means the decimal point would move 6 places to the
left (since the exponent on the 10 is a negative 6) to yield
.0000015; .0000015 > .00000015.

485. a. The profit in 2012 was approximately $4,100. In 2014, the

profit was approximately $4,800. The profit increase was,
therefore, about $700. The profit in 2011 was approximately
$3,250. In 2013, the profit was approximately $3,600. The
profit increase was, therefore, about $350. $700 > $350.

486. b. The profit in 2014 was approximately $4,800. In 2015, the

profit was approximately $4,600. The profit decrease was,
therefore, about $200. The profit in 2012 was approximately
$4,100. In 2013, the profit was approximately $3600. The profit
decrease was, therefore, about $500. $500 > $200.

487. a. The profit in 2011 was approximately $3,250. In 2017, the

profit was approximately $5,250. The profit increase was,
therefore, about $2,000. $2,000 > $1,500.

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488. b. Each term in the sequence, beginning with the second, is found
by multiplying the previous term by increasing integers. So, the
first term, 1, times 2 = 2, the second term. The second term, 2,
times 3 = 6, the third term. The third term, 6, times 4 = 24, the
fourth term. The fifth term is therefore, the fourth term, 24,
times 5 = 120. 150 > 120.

489. c. The sixth term is the fifth term, 120, times 6 = 720.

490. a. The number of each term in the sequence can be determined by

examining its tens and hundreds places. The first term is 2, so
there is a zero in the 10s place. The second term is 12 and there
is a 1 in the 10s place. The seventh term is 62 . . . there is a 6 in
the 10s place. In other words, the 10s place is always one less
than the term number. Note that the eleventh term should
therefore be 102 and the twelfth term should be 112. The last
term, 132, must be the fourteenth term.

491. b. Rewriting the series in backward order beneath the original

series, then adding vertically, gives 14 consistent sums of 134.
This is double the total desired since every term has been
1,876
written twice; 134 × 14 = 1,876; ᎏ2ᎏ = 938; 1,000 > 938.

492. c. 4.23 × 10−5 means the decimal point must move 5 decimal
places to the left yielding .0000423; .423 × 10−4 means the
decimal point must move 4 decimal places to the left yielding
.0000423 as well.

493. b. A milliliter is ᎏ
1
00 of a liter. Therefore, 234 milliliters, divided
1,0ᎏ
by 1,000, = .234 liters; 2.34 > .234

494. c. A centigram is ᎏ
1
ᎏ of a gram. 45 centigrams, divided by 100, is
100
.45 grams.

495. a. Each square yard measures 3 feet long by 3 feet wide and so, is
9 square feet. 12 square yards would be equal to 12 × 9 = 108
square feet; 108 > 36.

496. b. One square foot measures 12 inches long by 12 inches wide and
is equivalent to 144 square inches; 2 square feet is equal to
2 × 144 = 288 square inches; 288 square inches > 24 square
inches.

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497. c. 1 cubic foot measures 12 inches in height, width, and length

and is equivalent therefore to 123 cubic inches.

498. d. The answer cannot be determined. Since the data in this

frequency table is organized into classes of uniform width, the
original data values cannot be determined. In the class of 15–19
year olds, for example, there are 3 women who may be 15, 16,
and 19, or who may all be 17. There is no way to know. There
are more women in the 25–29 age range than in the 15–19 age
range, but there is no way to know whether any or all of them
are of any one specific age within the range.

499. a. The total number of entrants is the total of the frequency

column; 3 + 14 + 17 + 13 + 10 = 57; 57 > 55.

500. b. The median age of an entrant cannot be determined exactly;

however, since there are 57 entrants, the median age would be
the 29th age when the data were in numerical order, as they are
arranged, vertically, in the table. Adding frequencies vertically
until arriving at the class that would contain the 29th data value:
3 + 14 = 17; 17 + 17 = 34 which is > 29. This means that the
29th data value is in the third class, between 25 and 29; 30 is
larger than every number in this class so the answer is b.

501. a. To find the number of women under 30, add together the three
age groups that are listed first in the table (15–19, 20–24, and
25–29): 3 + 14 + 17 = 34; 34 is greater than 28, so a is correct.

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