Question ID 3cdbf026

Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Algebra Linear equations in

two variables

ID: 3cdbf026

The graph of the equation is a line in the xy-plane, where a and k are
constants. If the line contains the points and , what is the value of
k?

A.

B.

C. 2

D. 3

ID: 3cdbf026 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale

Choice A is correct. The value of k can be found using the slope-intercept form of a linear equation, , where m is

the slope and b is the y-coordinate of the y-intercept. The equation can be rewritten in the form

. One of the given points, , is the y-intercept. Thus, the y-coordinate of the y-intercept must be equal to .
Multiplying both sides by k gives . Dividing both sides by gives .

Choices B, C, and D are incorrect and may result from errors made rewriting the given equation.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 9bbce683
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Algebra Linear equations in

two variables

ID: 9bbce683

For line , the table shows three values of and their corresponding values of . Line is the result of translating line
down units in the xy-plane. What is the x-intercept of line ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 9bbce683 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is correct. The equation of line ℎ can be written in slope-intercept form 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏, where 𝑚 is the slope of the line
and 0, 𝑏 is the y-intercept of the line. It’s given that line ℎ contains the points 18, 130, 23, 160, and 26, 178. Therefore, its slope
160 - 130
𝑚 can be found as 23 - 18 , or 6. Substituting 6 for 𝑚 in the equation 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏 yields 𝑦 = 6𝑥 + 𝑏. Substituting 130 for 𝑦 and
18 for 𝑥 in this equation yields 130 = 6 ( 18 ) + 𝑏, or 130 = 108 + 𝑏. Subtracting 108 from both sides of this equation yields
22 = 𝑏. Substituting 22 for 𝑏 in 𝑦 = 6𝑥 + 𝑏 yields 𝑦 = 6𝑥 + 22. Since line 𝑘 is the result of translating line ℎ down 5 units, an
equation of line 𝑘 is 𝑦 = 6𝑥 + 22 - 5, or 𝑦 = 6𝑥 + 17. Substituting 0 for 𝑦 in this equation yields 0 = 6𝑥 + 17. Solving this
17 17
equation for 𝑥 yields 𝑥 = - 6 . Therefore, the x-intercept of line 𝑘 is - 6 , 0.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID fdee0fbf
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Algebra Linear equations in

two variables

ID: fdee0fbf

In the xy-plane, line k intersects the y-axis at the point and passes through
the point . If the point lies on line k, what is the value of w ?

ID: fdee0fbf Answer

Rationale

The correct answer is 74. The y-intercept of a line in the xy-plane is the ordered pair of the point of intersection of the

line with the y-axis. Since line k intersects the y-axis at the point , it follows that is the y-intercept of this line.
An equation of any line in the xy-plane can be written in the form , where m is the slope of the line and b is the y-
coordinate of the y-intercept. Therefore, the equation of line k can be written as , or . The value of
m can be found by substituting the x- and y-coordinates from a point on the line, such as , for x and y, respectively. This
results in . Solving this equation for m gives . Therefore, an equation of line k is . The value of w
can be found by substituting the x-coordinate, 20, for x in the equation of line k and solving this equation for y. This gives
, or . Since w is the y-coordinate of this point, .

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 0b46bad5
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Algebra Linear equations in

two variables

ID: 0b46bad5

In the equation above, a and b are constants and . Which of the following
could represent the graph of the equation in the xy-plane?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 0b46bad5 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is correct. The given equation can be rewritten in slope-intercept form, , where m
represents the slope of the line represented by the equation, and k represents the y-coordinate of the y-intercept of the line.
Subtracting ax from both sides of the equation yields , and dividing both sides of this equation by b yields

, or . With the equation now in slope-intercept form, it shows that , which means the y-

coordinate of the y-intercept is 1. It’s given that a and b are both greater than 0 (positive) and that . Since ,
the slope of the line must be a value between and 0. Choice C is the only graph of a line that has a y-value of the y-
intercept that is 1 and a slope that is between and 0.

Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because the slopes of the lines in these graphs aren’t between and 0.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID c362c210
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Algebra Linear equations in

two variables

ID: c362c210

The points plotted in the coordinate plane above represent the possible numbers
of wallflowers and cornflowers that someone can buy at the Garden Store in order
to spend exactly $24.00 total on the two types of flowers. The price of each
wallflower is the same and the price of each cornflower is the same. What is the
price, in dollars, of 1 cornflower?

ID: c362c210 Answer

Rationale

The correct answer is 1.5. The point corresponds to the situation where 16 cornflowers and 0 wallflowers are
purchased. Since the total spent on the two types of flowers is $24.00, it follows that the price of 16 cornflowers is $24.00,
and the price of one cornflower is $1.50. Note that 1.5 and 3/2 are examples of ways to enter a correct answer.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 98d3393a
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Algebra Linear equations in

two variables

ID: 98d3393a

Line in the xy-plane is perpendicular to the line with equation

. What is the slope of line ?

A. 0

B.

C.

D. The slope of line is undefined.

ID: 98d3393a Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale

Choice A is correct. It is given that line is perpendicular to a line whose equation is x = 2. A line whose equation is a
constant value of x is vertical, so must therefore be horizontal. Horizontal lines have a slope of 0, so has a slope of 0.

Choice B is incorrect. A line with slope is perpendicular to a line with slope 2. However, the line with equation x = 2 is
vertical and has undefined slope (not slope of 2). Choice C is incorrect. A line with slope –2 is perpendicular to a line with

slope . However, the line with equation x = 2 has undefined slope (not slope of ). Choice D is incorrect; this is the
slope of the line x = 2 itself, not the slope of a line perpendicular to it.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID cc3e9528
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Algebra Linear equations in

two variables

ID: cc3e9528

The graph of is translated down units in the xy-plane. What is the x-coordinate of the x-intercept of the
resulting graph?

ID: cc3e9528 Answer

Correct Answer: 59/9, 6.555, 6.556

Rationale

59
The correct answer is 9
. When the graph of an equation in the form 𝐴𝑥 + 𝐵𝑦 = 𝐶, where 𝐴, 𝐵, and 𝐶 are constants, is
translated down 𝑘 units in the xy-plane, the resulting graph can be represented by the equation 𝐴𝑥 + 𝐵𝑦 + 𝑘 = 𝐶. It’s given
that the graph of 9𝑥 - 10𝑦 = 19 is translated down 4 units in the xy-plane. Therefore, the resulting graph can be represented
by the equation 9𝑥 - 10𝑦 + 4 = 19, or 9𝑥 - 10𝑦 - 40 = 19. Adding 40 to both sides of this equation yields 9𝑥 - 10𝑦 = 59. The x-
coordinate of the x-intercept of the graph of an equation in the xy-plane is the value of 𝑥 in the equation when 𝑦 = 0.
Substituting 0 for 𝑦 in the equation 9𝑥 - 10𝑦 = 59 yields 9𝑥 - 100 = 59, or 9𝑥 = 59. Dividing both sides of this equation by 9
59 59
yields 𝑥 = . Therefore, the x-coordinate of the x-intercept of the resulting graph is . Note that 59/9, 6.555, and 6.556 are
9 9
examples of ways to enter a correct answer.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 0366d965
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Algebra Linear equations in

two variables

ID: 0366d965

x y

3 7

k 11

12 n

The table above shows the coordinates of three points on a line in the xy-plane,
where k and n are constants. If the slope of the line is 2, what is the value of
?

ID: 0366d965 Answer

Rationale

The correct answer is 30. The slope of a line can be found by using the slope formula, . It’s given that the slope of

the line is 2; therefore, . According to the table, the points and lie on the line. Substituting the

coordinates of these points into the equation gives . Multiplying both sides of this equation by gives

, or . Solving for k gives . According to the table, the points and also lie

on the line. Substituting the coordinates of these points into gives . Solving for n gives .
Therefore, , or 30.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID a35c7164
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Algebra Linear equations in

two variables

ID: a35c7164

In the given pair of equations, and are constants. The graph of this pair of equations in the xy-plane is a pair of
perpendicular lines. Which of the following pairs of equations also represents a pair of perpendicular lines?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: a35c7164 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is correct. Two lines are perpendicular if their slopes are negative reciprocals, meaning that the slope of the first
line is equal to -1 divided by the slope of the second line. Each equation in the given pair of equations can be written in slope-
intercept form, 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏, where 𝑚 is the slope of the graph of the equation in the xy-plane and 0, 𝑏 is the y-intercept. For
the first equation, 5𝑥 + 7𝑦 = 1, subtracting 5𝑥 from both sides gives 7𝑦 = - 5𝑥 + 1, and dividing both sides of this equation
5 1 5
by 7 gives 𝑦 = - 7 𝑥 + 7 . Therefore, the slope of the graph of this equation is - 7 . For the second equation, 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑦 = 1,
𝑎 1
subtracting 𝑎𝑥 from both sides gives 𝑏𝑦 = -𝑎𝑥 + 1, and dividing both sides of this equation by 𝑏 gives 𝑦 = - 𝑏 𝑥 + 𝑏 .
𝑎
Therefore, the slope of the graph of this equation is - . Since the graph of the given pair of equations is a pair of
𝑏
𝑎
perpendicular lines, the slope of the graph of the second equation, - , must be the negative reciprocal of the slope of the
𝑏
5 5 -1 7 𝑎 7 𝑎 7
graph of the first equation, - . The negative reciprocal of - is 5 , or 5 . Therefore, - 𝑏 = 5 , or 𝑏 = - 5 . Similarly, rewriting the
7 7 -
7
10 1 𝑎 1
equations in choice B in slope-intercept form yields 𝑦 = - 7 𝑥 + 7 and 𝑦 = - 2𝑏 𝑥 + 2𝑏 . It follows that the slope of the graph of
10 𝑎 𝑎 7 𝑎
the first equation in choice B is - 7 and the slope of the graph of the second equation in choice B is - 2𝑏 . Since 𝑏 = - 5 , - 2𝑏 is
1 7 7 7 10
equal to - 2 - 5 , or 10 . Since 10 is the negative reciprocal of - 7 , the pair of equations in choice B represents a pair of
perpendicular lines.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID c4ea43ef
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Algebra Linear equations in

two variables

ID: c4ea43ef

To earn money for college, Avery works two part-time jobs: A and B. She earns $10
per hour working at job A and $20 per hour working at job B. In one week, Avery
earned a total of s dollars for working at the two part-time jobs. The graph above
represents all possible combinations of numbers of hours Avery could have
worked at the two jobs to earn s dollars. What is the value of s ?

A. 128

B. 160

C. 200

D. 320

ID: c4ea43ef Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is correct. Avery earns $10 per hour working at job A. Therefore, if she works a hours at job A, she will earn
dollars. Avery earns $20 per hour working at job B. Therefore, if she works b hours at job B, she will earn dollars. The
graph shown represents all possible combinations of the number of hours Avery could have worked at the two jobs to earn s
dollars. Therefore, if she worked a hours at job A, worked b hours at job B, and earned s dollars from both jobs, the following
equation represents the graph: , where s is a constant. Identifying any point from the graph and
substituting the values of the coordinates for a and b, respectively, in this equation yield the value of s. For example, the point
, where and , lies on the graph. Substituting 16 for a and 0 for b in the equation yields
, or . Similarly, the point , where and , lies on the graph. Substituting 0 for a and
8 for b in the equation yields , or .

Choices A, C, and D are incorrect. If the value of s is 128, 200, or 320, then no points on the graph will satisfy this
equation. For example, if the value of s is 128 (choice A), then the equation becomes .
The point , where and , lies on the graph. However, substituting 16 for a and 0 for b in
yields , or , which is false. Therefore, doesn’t satisfy the equation, and so the value
of s can’t be 128. Similarly, if (choice C) or (choice D), then substituting 16 for a and 0 for b yields
and , respectively, which are both false.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID cb58833c
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Algebra Linear equations in

two variables

ID: cb58833c

The line with the equation is graphed in the xy‑plane. What is the
x-coordinate of the x‑intercept of the line?

ID: cb58833c Answer

Rationale

The correct answer is 1.25. The y-coordinate of the x-intercept is 0, so 0 can be substituted for y, giving .

This simplifies to . Multiplying both sides of by 5 gives . Dividing both sides of by 4 gives

, which is equivalent to 1.25. Note that 1.25 and 5/4 are examples of ways to enter a correct answer.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID a7a14e87
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Algebra Linear equations in

two variables

ID: a7a14e87

In the xy-plane, line k is defined by . Line j is perpendicular to line k, and

the y-intercept of line j is . Which of the following is an equation of line j ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: a7a14e87 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is correct. It’s given that line j is perpendicular to line k and that line k is defined by the equation . This
equation can be rewritten in slope-intercept form, , where m represents the slope of the line and b represents
the y-coordinate of the y-intercept of the line, by subtracting x from both sides of the equation, which yields . Thus,
the slope of line k is . Since line j and line k are perpendicular, their slopes are opposite reciprocals of each other. Thus,
the slope of line j is 1. It’s given that the y-intercept of line j is . Therefore, the equation for line j in slope-intercept form
is , which can be rewritten as .

Choices A, B, and C are incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID a1fd2304
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Algebra Linear equations in

two variables

ID: a1fd2304

How many liters of a 25% saline solution must be added to 3 liters of a 10% saline
solution to obtain a 15% saline solution?

ID: a1fd2304 Answer

Rationale

The correct answer is 1.5. The total amount, in liters, of a saline solution can be expressed as the liters of each type of saline
solution multiplied by the percent concentration of the saline solution. This gives , , and ,
where x is the amount, in liters, of 25% saline solution and 10%, 15%, and 25% are represented as 0.10, 0.15, and 0.25,
respectively. Thus, the equation must be true. Multiplying 3 by 0.10 and distributing 0.15 to

yields . Subtracting 0.15x and 0.30 from each side of the equation gives
. Dividing each side of the equation by 0.10 yields . Note that 1.5 and 3/2 are examples of ways to
enter a correct answer.

Question Difficulty: Hard