ACT Math

SAT Question of the Day

The SAT question of the day is a Sentence Completion Question that has already been addressed on this blog: click here to see an explanation.

ACT Math Question of the Day

Many ACT math questions are exactly like SAT questions.  Use the same process as you would to answer an SAT question.  Read the question carefully, and identify the bottom line.  Assess your options and use the most efficient method to attack the problem.  When you have an answer, loop back to verify that it matches the bottom line.

There are n students in a class. If, among those students, p% play at least 1 musical instrument, which of the following general expressions represents the number of students who play NO musical instrument?

Bottom Line:  #kids no musical instrument = ?

Assess your Options:  You could write an equation using the variables that you are given, but many students make mistakes using this method.  Instead, use the strategy of plugging in numbers to make sure that you arrive at the correct answer.

Attack the problem:  When you have a percent problem, use the number 100 for any total that you do not know.  This makes the problem easier because a percent is just a number out of one hundred.  If you start with the number of 100, your answer will automatically be out of 100!

Look up at the problem.  There are n students in the class, so let n = 100.  You still have another variable, p.  Pick a number for p as well.  It must be less than 100, but not too difficult for this problem, so let’s pick p = 30. 

Answer the question using the numbers you have chosen.  If you have 100 students and 30 play at least one musical instrument, how many do not play any musical instrument?  70!  100 – 30 = 70.

Now you need to look down at your answer choices and see which choice equals 70 when you plug in n = 100 and p = 30.

A. np

B. .01np

C. 

D. 

E. 100(1 – p)n

Loop Back: You are just looking for a matching number.

A. np = 100(30) = 3,000, not 70

B. .01 np = .01(100)(30) = 30, not 70

C. : Plug in n = 100 and cancel the 100 on the top and bottom of the fraction.  You are left with 100 – 30 = 70.  On the actual test, there would be no reason to check any of the other answers, but you can practice working the remaining answer choices now.

D.  =  = –290,000, not 70

E. 100(1 – p)n = 100(1 - 30)(100) = –290,000, not 70

The correct answer is (C).

For the ACT Question of the Day, visit http://www.act.org/qotd/.

To get help preparing for the SAT, PSAT, or ACT Exam, visit www.myknowsys.com!