Algebraic Concepts - ISEE Upper Level Quantitative Reasoning
Card 1 of 2392


Which is the greater quantity?
(a) 
(b) 
Which is the greater quantity?
(a)
(b)
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Either




,
in which case
,
or




,
in which case
.
It is therefore unclear which is the greater,
or 
Either
,
in which case ,
or
,
in which case .
It is therefore unclear which is the greater, or
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Which is the greater quantity?
(a) 
(b) 
Which is the greater quantity?
(a)
(b)
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, so either:


, which is false, or






, so either


, which is false, or






and
, so 
, so either:
, which is false, or
, so either
, which is false, or
and
, so
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Sally sells cars for a living. She has a monthly salary of $1,000 and a commission of $500 for each car sold. How much money would she make if she sold seven cars in a month?
Sally sells cars for a living. She has a monthly salary of $1,000 and a commission of $500 for each car sold. How much money would she make if she sold seven cars in a month?
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The commission she gets for selling seven cars is $500 * 7 = $3,500 and added to the salary of $1,000 yields $4,500 for the month.
The commission she gets for selling seven cars is $500 * 7 = $3,500 and added to the salary of $1,000 yields $4,500 for the month.
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Solve the following system of equations: x – y = 5 and 2_x_ + y = 4.
What is the sum of x and y?
Solve the following system of equations: x – y = 5 and 2_x_ + y = 4.
What is the sum of x and y?
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Add the two equations to get 3_x_ = 9, so x = 3. Substitute the value of x into one of the equations to find the value of y; therefore x = 3 and y = –2, so their sum is 1.
Add the two equations to get 3_x_ = 9, so x = 3. Substitute the value of x into one of the equations to find the value of y; therefore x = 3 and y = –2, so their sum is 1.
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If x = 1/3 and y = 1/2, find the value of 2_x_ + 3_y_.
If x = 1/3 and y = 1/2, find the value of 2_x_ + 3_y_.
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Substitute the values of x and y into the given expression:
2(1/3) + 3(1/2)
= 2/3 + 3/2
= 4/6 + 9/6
= 13/6
Substitute the values of x and y into the given expression:
2(1/3) + 3(1/2)
= 2/3 + 3/2
= 4/6 + 9/6
= 13/6
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Which is the greater quantity?
(a) 
(b) 0
Which is the greater quantity?
(a)
(b) 0
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can be rewritten as a compound statement:
or 
Solve both:




or




Either way,
, so (a) is the greater quantity
can be rewritten as a compound statement:
or
Solve both:
or
Either way, , so (a) is the greater quantity
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Find
:

Find :
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First we simplify the equation:



Now we need to rewrite the absolute value equation as two separate equations, one positive and the other negative, then solve each equation separately:


First we simplify the equation:
Now we need to rewrite the absolute value equation as two separate equations, one positive and the other negative, then solve each equation separately:
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A company makes toy boats. Their monthly fixed costs are $1500. The variable costs are $50 per boat. They sell boats for $75 a piece. How many boats must be sold each month to break even?
A company makes toy boats. Their monthly fixed costs are $1500. The variable costs are $50 per boat. They sell boats for $75 a piece. How many boats must be sold each month to break even?
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The break-even point is where the costs equal the revenues
Fixed Costs + Variable Costs = Revenues
1500 + 50_x_ = 75_x_
Solving for x results in x = 60 boats sold each month to break even.
The break-even point is where the costs equal the revenues
Fixed Costs + Variable Costs = Revenues
1500 + 50_x_ = 75_x_
Solving for x results in x = 60 boats sold each month to break even.
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Albert has thirteen bills in his wallet, each one a five-dollar bill or a ten-dollar bill. What is the fewest number of ten-dollar bills that he can have and have more than $100.
Albert has thirteen bills in his wallet, each one a five-dollar bill or a ten-dollar bill. What is the fewest number of ten-dollar bills that he can have and have more than $100.
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Let
be the number of ten-dollar bills Albert has; then he has
five-dollar bills.
He then has
dollars in his wallet, which must be greater than $100. Set up and solve an inequality:




Therefore, the lowest whole number of ten-dollar bills that Albert can have is eight.
Let be the number of ten-dollar bills Albert has; then he has
five-dollar bills.
He then has dollars in his wallet, which must be greater than $100. Set up and solve an inequality:
Therefore, the lowest whole number of ten-dollar bills that Albert can have is eight.
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For what value(s) of
is the expression
undefined?
For what value(s) of is the expression
undefined?
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The expression is undefined for exactly those values of
which yield a denominator of 0 - that is, for which

However, for all real
,
,
and, subsequently,

meaning the denominator is always positive. Therefore, the expression is defined for all real values of
.
The expression is undefined for exactly those values of which yield a denominator of 0 - that is, for which
However, for all real ,
,
and, subsequently,
meaning the denominator is always positive. Therefore, the expression is defined for all real values of .
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Consider the line of the equation 
Which is the greater quantity?
(a) The
-coordinate of the
-intercept
(b) The
-coordinate of the
-intercept
Consider the line of the equation
Which is the greater quantity?
(a) The -coordinate of the
-intercept
(b) The -coordinate of the
-intercept
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(a) To find the
-coordinate of the
-intercept, substitute
:






(b) To find the
-coordinate of the
-intercept, substitute
:






(b) is the greater quantity.
(a) To find the -coordinate of the
-intercept, substitute
:
(b) To find the -coordinate of the
-intercept, substitute
:
(b) is the greater quantity.
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Solve for
:

Solve for :
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Expand both products, the left using distribution, the right using the binomial square pattern:





Note that the quadratic terms can be eliminated, yielding a linear equation.


Expand both products, the left using distribution, the right using the binomial square pattern:
Note that the quadratic terms can be eliminated, yielding a linear equation.
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Solve for
:

Solve for :
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This identically false statement alerts us to the fact that the original equation has no solution.
This identically false statement alerts us to the fact that the original equation has no solution.
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Which is the greater quantity?
(a) 
(b) 
Which is the greater quantity?
(a)
(b)
Tap to reveal answer
If
, then either
or
. Solve for
in both equations:



or



Therefore, either (a) and (b) are equal or (b) is the greater quantity, but it cannot be determined with certainty.
If , then either
or
. Solve for
in both equations:
or
Therefore, either (a) and (b) are equal or (b) is the greater quantity, but it cannot be determined with certainty.
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Consider the line of the equation
.
Which is the greater quantity?
(a) The
-coordinate of the
-intercept
(b) The
-coordinate of the
-intercept
Consider the line of the equation .
Which is the greater quantity?
(a) The -coordinate of the
-intercept
(b) The -coordinate of the
-intercept
Tap to reveal answer
(a) To find the
-coordinate of the
-intercept, substitute
:






(b) To find the
-coordinate of the
-intercept, substitute
:





(a) is the greater quantity.
(a) To find the -coordinate of the
-intercept, substitute
:
(b) To find the -coordinate of the
-intercept, substitute
:
(a) is the greater quantity.
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Consider the line of the equation
.
Which is the greater quantity?
(a) The
-coordinate of the
-intercept.
(b) The
-coordinate of the
-intercept.
Consider the line of the equation .
Which is the greater quantity?
(a) The -coordinate of the
-intercept.
(b) The -coordinate of the
-intercept.
Tap to reveal answer
(a) To find the
-coordinate of the
-intercept, substitute
:






(b) To find the
-coordinate of the
-intercept, substitute
:






Therefore (a) is the greater quantity.
(a) To find the -coordinate of the
-intercept, substitute
:
(b) To find the -coordinate of the
-intercept, substitute
:
Therefore (a) is the greater quantity.
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Which is the greater quantity?
(a) 
(b) 
Which is the greater quantity?
(a)
(b)
Tap to reveal answer
Each can be rewritten as a compound statement. Solve separately:






or




Similarly:










Therefore, it cannot be determined with certainty which of
and
is the greater.
Each can be rewritten as a compound statement. Solve separately:
or
Similarly:
Therefore, it cannot be determined with certainty which of and
is the greater.
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Which is the greater quantity?
(a) 
(b) 
Which is the greater quantity?
(a)
(b)
Tap to reveal answer
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Consider the line of the equation 
Which is the greater quantity?
(a) The
-coordinate of the
-intercept
(b) The
-coordinate of the
-intercept
Consider the line of the equation
Which is the greater quantity?
(a) The -coordinate of the
-intercept
(b) The -coordinate of the
-intercept
Tap to reveal answer
(a) To find the
-coordinate of the
-intercept, substitute
:






(b) To find the
-coordinate of the
-intercept, substitute
:






This makes (b) the greater quantity
(a) To find the -coordinate of the
-intercept, substitute
:
(b) To find the -coordinate of the
-intercept, substitute
:
This makes (b) the greater quantity
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refers to the greatest integer less than or equal to
.
and
are integers. Which is greater?
(a) 
(b) 
refers to the greatest integer less than or equal to
.
and
are integers. Which is greater?
(a)
(b)
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If
is an integer, then
by definition.
Since
, and, by closure,
are all integers,
and
, making (a) and (b) equal.
If is an integer, then
by definition.
Since , and, by closure,
are all integers,
and
, making (a) and (b) equal.
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