Arithmetic: Rates
Read the following SAT test
question and then click on a button to select your answer.
Use
the same method for every math problem on the SAT. Read the problem carefully, identify the
bottom line, and assess your options for solving the problem. Choose the most efficient method to attack
the problem. Often there will be
multiple steps to a single problem, so when you have an answer, be sure to loop
back and verify that it matches the bottom line.
A machine can insert letters in envelopes at the rate
of 120 per minute. Another
machine can stamp the envelopes at the rate of 3 per second. How many such stamping machines are needed to
keep up with 18 inserting machines of this kind?
Bottom Line: # stamping machines = ?
Assess your Options: You could try to work backwards from the
answers, but there is no need. It will
be faster just to solve the problem.
Attack the Problem: You have been given two different units of time:
minutes and seconds. There are 60
seconds in a minute. Changing the minutes
to seconds will be easiest, so the letter inserting machine works at a rate of
120 letters per 60 seconds. 120 divided
by 60 is 2 letters in envelopes per second.
If there are 18 letter inserting machines, then together they will
insert 36 letters in envelopes per second (2 × 18 = 36).
You don’t know how many
stamping machines you need, so use x to represent that number. Stamping machines have a rate of 3 envelopes
per second, so each machine will finish 3 envelopes in a second. You know that the stamping machines must keep
pace with the 18 letter inserting machines that finish 36 envelopes per second,
so the outcome must be 36. Write 3x =
36. When you solve for x, x = 12.
Loop Back: You used x to represent the number of
stamping machines, your bottom line, so you are ready to look at the answer
choices.
(A) 12
(B) 16
(C) 20
(D) 22
(E) 24
The correct answer is (A).
On sat.collegeboard.org, 58% of the
responses were correct.
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SAT math, visit www.myknowsys.com!
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