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Quads Hard With Answers

The document contains a series of SAT math questions focused on advanced topics such as nonlinear functions and equations. Each question includes a correct answer and rationale explaining the reasoning behind it. The difficulty level of all questions is categorized as hard.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
13 views28 pages

Quads Hard With Answers

The document contains a series of SAT math questions focused on advanced topics such as nonlinear functions and equations. Each question includes a correct answer and rationale explaining the reasoning behind it. The difficulty level of all questions is categorized as hard.

Uploaded by

raaga745
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 28

3/5/25, 8:28 PM

Question ID 91e7ea5e
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 91e7ea5e

The quadratic function h is defined as shown. In the xy-plane, the graph of


intersects the x-axis at the points and , where t is a constant.
What is the value of t ?

A. 1

B. 2

C. 4

D. 8

ID: 91e7ea5e Answer


Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is correct. It’s given that the graph of intersects the x-axis at and , where t is a constant.
Since this graph intersects the x-axis when or when , it follows that and . If ,

then . Adding 32 to both sides of this equation yields . Dividing both sides of this

equation by 2 yields . Taking the square root of both sides of this equation yields . Adding 4 to
both sides of this equation yields . Therefore, the value of t is 8.

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

Question Difficulty: Hard

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Question ID a9084ca4
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: a9084ca4

The given function models the number of advertisements a company sent to its clients each year, where represents
the number of years since , and . If is graphed in the xy-plane, which of the following is the
best interpretation of the y-intercept of the graph in this context?

A. The minimum estimated number of advertisements the company sent to its clients during the years was .

B. The minimum estimated number of advertisements the company sent to its clients during the years was .

C. The estimated number of advertisements the company sent to its clients in was .

D. The estimated number of advertisements the company sent to its clients in was .

ID: a9084ca4 Answer


Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is correct. The y-intercept of a graph in the xy-plane is the point where 𝑥 = 0. For the given function 𝑓, the y-
intercept of the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) in the xy-plane can be found by substituting 0 for 𝑥 in the equation 𝑦 = 9,000(0.66) ,
𝑥

which gives 𝑦 = 9,000(0.66) . This is equivalent to 𝑦 = 9,000(1), or 𝑦 = 9,000. Therefore, the y-intercept of the graph of
0

𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) is (0, 9,000). It’s given that the function 𝑓 models the number of advertisements a company sent to its clients
each year. Therefore, 𝑓(𝑥) represents the estimated number of advertisements the company sent to its clients each
year. It's also given that 𝑥 represents the number of years since 1997. Therefore, 𝑥 = 0 represents 0 years since 1997, or
1997. Thus, the best interpretation of the y-intercept of the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) is that the estimated number of
advertisements the company sent to its clients in 1997 was 9,000.

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

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Question ID b8f13a3a
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: b8f13a3a

Function is defined by , where and are constants. In the xy-plane, the graph of
has a y-intercept at . The product of and is . What is the value of ?

ID: b8f13a3a Answer


Correct Answer: 20

Rationale
The correct answer is 20. It’s given that 𝑓(𝑥) = − 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏. Substituting −𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏 for 𝑓(𝑥) in the equation 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) − 12
75
yields 𝑦 = − 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏 − 12. It’s given that the y-intercept of the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) − 12 is (0, − ). Substituting 0 for 𝑥 and
7
75 75 75
− for 𝑦 in the equation 𝑦 = − 𝑎 + 𝑏 − 12 yields − = − 𝑎 + 𝑏 − 12, which is equivalent to − = − 1 + 𝑏 − 12, or
𝑥 0
7 7 7
75 16 320
− = 𝑏 − 13. Adding 13 to both sides of this equation yields = 𝑏. It’s given that the product of 𝑎 and 𝑏 is
7 7 7
320 16 16 320 16
, or

𝑎𝑏 = . Substituting for 𝑏 in this equation yields (𝑎)( ) =


7 7 7 7 7
. Dividing both sides of this equation by yields
𝑎 = 20.

Question Difficulty: Hard

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Question ID f2f3fa00
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear equations


in one variable and
systems of
equations in two
variables

ID: f2f3fa00

During a 5-second time interval, the average acceleration a, in meters per


second squared, of an object with an initial velocity of 12 meters per second is

defined by the equation , where vf is the final velocity of the


object in meters per second. If the equation is rewritten in the form vf = xa + y,
where x and y are constants, what is the value of x ?

ID: f2f3fa00 Answer

Rationale

The correct answer is 5. The given equation can be rewritten in the form , like so:

It follows that the value of x is 5 and the value of y is 12.

Question Difficulty: Hard

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Question ID 263f9937
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 263f9937
Growth of a Culture of Bacteria
Number of bacteria per
Day
milliliter at end of day

A culture of bacteria is growing at an exponential rate, as shown in the table


above. At this rate, on which day would the number of bacteria per milliliter
reach ?

A. Day 5

B. Day 9

C. Day 11

D. Day 12

ID: 263f9937 Answer


Correct Answer: D

Rationale

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Choice D is correct. The number of bacteria per milliliter is doubling each day. For example, from day 1 to day 2, the
number of bacteria increased from 2.5 × 105 to 5.0 × 105. At the end of day 3 there are 106 bacteria per milliliter. At the
end of day 4, there will be 106 × 2 bacteria per milliliter. At the end of day 5, there will be (106 × 2) × 2, or 106 × (22)
bacteria per milliliter, and so on. At the end of day d, the number of bacteria will be 106 × (2d – 3). If the number of
bacteria per milliliter will reach 5.12 × 108 at the end of day d, then the equation must hold.

Since 5.12 × 108 can be rewritten as 512 × 106, the equation is equivalent to . Rewriting 512 as 29 gives d
– 3 = 9, so d = 12. The number of bacteria per milliliter would reach 5.12 × 108 at the end of day 12.

Choices A, B, and C are incorrect. Given the growth rate of the bacteria, the number of bacteria will not reach 5.12 × 108
per milliliter by the end of any of these days.

Question Difficulty: Hard

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Question ID 18e35375
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 18e35375

The function is defined by the given equation. For what value of does reach its minimum?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 18e35375 Answer


Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is correct. It's given that 𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥 − 14)(𝑥 + 19), which can be rewritten as 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥2 + 5𝑥 − 266. Since the
coefficient of the 𝑥2 -term is positive, the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) in the xy-plane opens upward and reaches its minimum value
at its vertex. The x-coordinate of the vertex is the value of 𝑥 such that 𝑓(𝑥) reaches its minimum. For an equation in the
𝑏
form 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑥2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐, where 𝑎, 𝑏, and 𝑐 are constants, the x-coordinate of the vertex is − . For the equation
2𝑎
5 5
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥2 + 5𝑥 − 266, 𝑎 = 1, 𝑏 = 5, and 𝑐 = − 266. It follows that the x-coordinate of the vertex is − , or − . Therefore,
2(1) 2
5
𝑓(𝑥) reaches its minimum when the value of 𝑥 is − .
2

Alternate approach: The value of 𝑥 for the vertex of a parabola is the x-value of the midpoint between the two x-
intercepts of the parabola. Since it’s given that 𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥 − 14)(𝑥 + 19), it follows that the two x-intercepts of the graph
of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) in the xy-plane occur when 𝑥 = 14 and 𝑥 = − 19, or at the points (14, 0) and (−19, 0). The midpoint between
𝑥 + 𝑥2 𝑦1 + 𝑦2
two points, (𝑥1 , 𝑦1 ) and (𝑥2 , 𝑦2 ), is ( 1 , ). Therefore, the midpoint between (14, 0) and (−19, 0) is
2 2
14 + (−19) 0 + 0 5 5
( , ), or (− , 0). It follows that 𝑓(𝑥) reaches its minimum when the value of 𝑥 is − .
2 2 2 2

Choice A is incorrect. This is the y-coordinate of the y-intercept of the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) in the xy-plane.

Choice B is incorrect. This is one of the x-coordinates of the x-intercepts of the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) in the xy-plane.

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

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Question Difficulty: Hard

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Question ID 66bce0c1
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear equations


in one variable and
systems of
equations in two
variables

ID: 66bce0c1

What is the solution set of the


equation above?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 66bce0c1 Answer


Correct Answer: B

Rationale

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Choice B is correct. Subtracting 4 from both sides of isolates the radical expression on the left

side of the equation as follows: . Squaring both sides of yields

. This equation can be rewritten as a quadratic equation in standard form: . One way to solve this

quadratic equation is to factor the expression by identifying two numbers with a sum of and a product

of . These numbers are and 1. So the quadratic equation can be factored as . It follows that 5
and are the solutions to the quadratic equation. However, the solutions must be verified by checking whether 5 and

satisfy the original equation, . When , the original equation gives

, or , which is false. Therefore, does not satisfy the original equation. When ,

the original equation gives , or , which is true. Therefore, is the only solution to the
original equation, and so the solution set is .

Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because each of these sets contains at least one value that results in a false
statement when substituted into the given equation. For instance, in choice D, when 0 is substituted for x into the given
equation, the result is , or . This is not a true statement, so 0 is not a solution to the
given equation.

Question Difficulty: Hard

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Question ID 9afe2370
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 9afe2370
The population P of a certain city y years after the last census is modeled by the equation below, where r is a
constant and is the population when .

If during this time the population of the city decreases by a fixed percent each
year, which of the following must be true?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 9afe2370 Answer


Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is correct. The term (1 + r) represents a percent change. Since the population is decreasing, the percent
change must be between 0% and 100%. When the percent change is expressed as a decimal rather than as a percent,
the percentage change must be between 0 and 1. Because (1 + r) represents percent change, this can be expressed as
0 < 1 + r < 1. Subtracting 1 from all three terms of this compound inequality results in –1 < r < 0.

Choice A is incorrect. If r < –1, then after 1 year, the population P would be a negative value, which is not possible.
Choices C and D are incorrect. For any value of r > 0, 1 + r > 1, and the exponential function models growth for positive
values of the exponent. This contradicts the given information that the population is decreasing.

Question Difficulty: Hard

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Question ID 71014fb1
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear equations


in one variable and
systems of
equations in two
variables

ID: 71014fb1

How many distinct real solutions does the given equation have?

A. Exactly one

B. Exactly two

C. Infinitely many

D. Zero

ID: 71014fb1 Answer


Correct Answer: D

Rationale

left-hand side of the given equation is either positive or zero for any value of 𝑥. Since the right-hand side of the given
Choice D is correct. Any quantity that is positive or negative in value has a positive value when squared. Therefore, the

equation is negative, there is no value of 𝑥 for which the given equation is true. Thus, the number of distinct real
solutions for the given equation is zero.

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

Question Difficulty: Hard

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Question ID b03adde3
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear equations


in one variable and
systems of
equations in two
variables

ID: b03adde3

If , what is t
in terms of u ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: b03adde3 Answer


Correct Answer: D

Rationale

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Choice D is correct. Multiplying both sides of the given equation by yields . Dividing both sides of

this equation by yields . Adding 2 to both sides of this equation yields , which can be

rewritten as . Since the fractions on the right-hand side of this equation have a common

denominator, adding the fractions yields . Applying the distributive property to the numerator on the

right-hand side of this equation yields , which is equivalent to .

Choices A, B, and C are incorrect and may result from various misconceptions or miscalculations.

Question Difficulty: Hard

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Question ID 70753f99
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 70753f99

The function f is defined by . The graph of f in the xy-


plane is a parabola. Which of the following intervals contains the x-coordinate
of the vertex of the graph of f ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 70753f99 Answer


Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is correct. The graph of a quadratic function in the xy-plane is a parabola. The axis of symmetry of the
parabola passes through the vertex of the parabola. Therefore, the vertex of the parabola and the midpoint of the
segment between the two x-intercepts of the graph have the same x-coordinate. Since , the x-

coordinate of the vertex is . Of the shown intervals, only the interval in choice B contains –2.
Choices A, C, and D are incorrect and may result from either calculation errors or misidentification of the graph’s x-
intercepts.

Question Difficulty: Hard

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Question ID 30281058
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear equations


in one variable and
systems of
equations in two
variables

ID: 30281058

In the xy-plane, the graph of intersects line p at and ,


where a and b are constants. What is the slope of line p ?

A. 6

B. 2

C.

D.

ID: 30281058 Answer


Correct Answer: A

Rationale

Choice A is correct. It’s given that the graph of and line p intersect at and . Therefore, the value of
y when is the value of a, and the value of y when is the value of b. Substituting 1 for x in the given equation

yields , or . Similarly, substituting 5 for x in the given equation yields , or .

Therefore, the intersection points are and . The slope of line p is the ratio of the change in y to the change

in x between these two points: , or 6.

Choices B, C, and D are incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors in determining the values of a, b,
or the slope of line p.

Question Difficulty: Hard

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Question ID 59d1f4b5
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 59d1f4b5

The equation above models the number of members, M, of a gym t years after
the gym opens. Of the following, which equation models the number of
members of the gym q quarter years after the gym opens?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 59d1f4b5 Answer


Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is correct. In 1 year, there are 4 quarter years, so the number of quarter years, q, is 4 times the number of

years, t ; that is, . This is equivalent to , and substituting this into the expression for M in terms of t gives

Choices B and D are incorrect and may be the result of incorrectly using instead of . (Choices B and D are

nearly the same since is equivalent to , which is approximately .) Choice C is incorrect and may
be the result of incorrectly using and unnecessarily dividing 0.02 by 4.

Question Difficulty: Hard

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Question ID 635f54ee
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 635f54ee

The surface area of a cube is , where a is a positive constant. Which of


the following gives the perimeter of one face of the cube?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 635f54ee Answer


Correct Answer: B

Rationale

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Choice B is correct. A cube has 6 faces of equal area, so if the total surface area of a cube is , then the area of

one face is . Likewise, the area of one face of a cube is the square of one of its edges; therefore, if the area of one

face is , then the length of one edge of the cube is . Since the perimeter of one face of a cube is four times the

length of one edge, the perimeter is .

Choice A is incorrect because if the perimeter of one face of the cube is , then the total surface area of the cube is

, which is not . Choice C is incorrect because if the perimeter of one face of the cube is 4a,

then the total surface area of the cube is , which is not . Choice D is incorrect because if the

perimeter of one face of the cube is 6a, then the total surface area of the cube is , which is not

Question Difficulty: Hard

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Question ID de39858a
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: de39858a

The function is defined by , where and are positive constants. The graph of in the -
plane passes through the points ( , ) and ( , ). What is the value of ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: de39858a Answer


Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is correct. It’s given that the function ℎ is defined by ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏 and that the graph of 𝑦 = ℎ(𝑥) in the xy-
325
plane passes through the points (0, 10) and (−2, ). Substituting 0 for 𝑥 and 10 for ℎ(𝑥) in the equation ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏
36
yields 10 = 𝑎0 + 𝑏, or 10 = 1 + 𝑏. Subtracting 1 from both sides of this equation yields 9 = 𝑏. Substituting −2 for 𝑥 and
325 325
for ℎ(𝑥) in the equation ℎ(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑥 + 9 yields = 𝑎−2 + 9. Subtracting 9 from both sides of this equation yields
36 36
1
= 𝑎−2 , which can be rewritten as 𝑎2 = 36. Taking the square root of both sides of this equation yields 𝑎 = 6 and
36
𝑎 = − 6, but because it’s given that 𝑎 is a positive constant, 𝑎 must equal 6. Because the value of 𝑎 is 6 and the value of
𝑏 is 9, the value of 𝑎𝑏 is (6)(9), or 54.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from finding the value of 𝑎−2 𝑏 rather than the value of 𝑎𝑏.

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

Choice D is incorrect and may result from correctly finding the value of 𝑎 as 6, but multiplying it by the y-value in the first
ordered pair rather than by the value of 𝑏.

Question Difficulty: Hard

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Question ID 84e8cc72
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 84e8cc72

A quadratic function models the height, in feet, of an object above the ground in terms of the time, in seconds, after the
object is launched off an elevated surface. The model indicates the object has an initial height of feet above the
ground and reaches its maximum height of feet above the ground seconds after being launched. Based on the
model, what is the height, in feet, of the object above the ground seconds after being launched?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 84e8cc72 Answer


Correct Answer: C

Rationale

Choice C is correct. It's given that a quadratic function models the height, in feet, of an object above the ground in terms

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an equation of the form 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎(𝑥 − ℎ) + 𝑘, where 𝑓(𝑥) is the height of the object 𝑥 seconds after it was launched, and
2
of the time, in seconds, after the object is launched off an elevated surface. This quadratic function can be defined by

𝑎, ℎ, and 𝑘 are constants such that the function reaches its maximum value, 𝑘, when 𝑥 = ℎ. Since the model indicates
the object reaches its maximum height of 1,034 feet above the ground 8 seconds after being launched, 𝑓(𝑥) reaches its
maximum value, 1,034, when 𝑥 = 8. Therefore, 𝑘 = 1,034 and ℎ = 8. Substituting 8 for ℎ and 1,034 for 𝑘 in the function
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎(𝑥 − ℎ) + 𝑘 yields 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎(𝑥 − 8) + 1,034. Since the model indicates the object has an initial height of 10 feet
2 2

above the ground, the value of 𝑓(𝑥) is 10 when 𝑥 = 0. Substituting 0 for 𝑥 and 10 for 𝑓(𝑥) in the equation
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎(𝑥 − 8) + 1,034 yields 10 = 𝑎(0 − 8) + 1,034, or 10 = 64𝑎 + 1,034. Subtracting 1,034 from both sides of this
2 2

equation yields 64𝑎 = − 1,024. Dividing both sides of this equation by 64 yields 𝑎 = − 16. Therefore, the model can be
represented by the equation 𝑓(𝑥) = − 16(𝑥 − 8) + 1,034. Substituting 10 for 𝑥 in this equation yields
2

𝑓(10) = − 16(10 − 8) + 1,034, or 𝑓(10) = 970. Therefore, based on the model, 10 seconds after being launched, the
2

height of the object above the ground is 970 feet.

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

Question Difficulty: Hard

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Question ID 2c5c22d0
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear equations


in one variable and
systems of
equations in two
variables

ID: 2c5c22d0

How many solutions are there to the


system of equations above?

A. There are exactly 4 solutions.

B. There are exactly 2 solutions.

C. There is exactly 1 solution.

D. There are no solutions.

ID: 2c5c22d0 Answer


Correct Answer: C

Rationale

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Choice C is correct. The second equation of the system can be rewritten as . Substituting for y in the

first equation gives . This equation can be solved as shown below:

Substituting 1 for x in the equation gives . Therefore, is the only solution to the system of
equations.

Choice A is incorrect. In the xy-plane, a parabola and a line can intersect at no more than two points. Since the graph of
the first equation is a parabola and the graph of the second equation is a line, the system cannot have more than 2
solutions. Choice B is incorrect. There is a single ordered pair that satisfies both equations of the system. Choice

D is incorrect because the ordered pair satisfies both equations of the system.

Question Difficulty: Hard

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Question ID 9f2ecade
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 9f2ecade

The function h is defined above, where a, b, and c are integer constants. If the
zeros of the function are 6, and 7, what is the value of c ?

ID: 9f2ecade Answer

Rationale
The correct answer is 210. Since , 6, and 7 are zeros of the function, the function can be rewritten as

. Expanding the function yields . Thus, , ,


and . Therefore, the value of c is 210.

Question Difficulty: Hard

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Question ID b73ee6cf
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: b73ee6cf

The population of a town is currently 50,000, and the population is estimated to


increase each year by 3% from the previous year. Which of the following
equations can be used to estimate the number of years, t, it will take for the
population of the town to reach 60,000 ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: b73ee6cf Answer


Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is correct. Stating that the population will increase each year by 3% from the previous year is equivalent to
saying that the population each year will be 103% of the population the year before. Since the initial population is
50,000, the population after t years is given by 50,000(1.03)t. It follows that the equation 60,000 = 50,000(1.03)t can be
used to estimate the number of years it will take for the population to reach 60,000.

Choice A is incorrect. This equation models how long it will take the population to decrease from 60,000 to 50,000,
which is impossible given the growth factor. Choice B is incorrect and may result from misinterpreting a 3% growth as
growth by a factor of 3. Additionally, this equation attempts to model how long it will take the population to decrease
from 60,000 to 50,000. Choice C is incorrect and may result from misunderstanding how to model percent growth by
multiplying the initial amount by a factor greater than 1.

Question Difficulty: Hard

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Question ID 43926bd9
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 43926bd9

For the exponential function f, the table above shows several values of x and their corresponding values of ,

where a is a constant greater than 1. If k is a constant and , what is the value of k ?

ID: 43926bd9 Answer

Rationale

The correct answer is 8. The values of for the exponential function f shown in the table increase by a factor of

for each increase of 1 in x. This relationship can be represented by the equation , where b is a constant.

It’s given that when , . Substituting 2 for x and for into yields .

Since , it follows that . Thus, an equation that defines the function f is . It follows

that the value of k such that can be found by solving the equation , which yields .

Question Difficulty: Hard

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Question ID 1a722d7d
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 1a722d7d

Let the function p be defined as , where c is a constant.


If , what is the value of ?

A. 10.00

B. 10.25

C. 10.75

D. 11.00

ID: 1a722d7d Answer


Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is correct. The value of p(12) depends on the value of the constant c, so the value of c must first be
determined. It is given that p(c) = 10. Based on the definition of p, it follows that:

This means that for all values of x. Therefore:

Choice A is incorrect. It is the value of p(8), not p(12). Choices B and C are incorrect. If one of these values were correct,
then x = 12 and the selected value of p(12) could be substituted into the equation to solve for c. However, the values of
c that result from choices B and C each result in p(c) < 10.

Question Difficulty: Hard

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