Variables - ISEE Upper Level Quantitative Reasoning
Card 1 of 976
N is a positive integer;
. Which is greater?
(a) 
(b) 0
N is a positive integer; . Which is greater?
(a)
(b) 0
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. Since
,
, and
. This makes (a) greater.
. Since
,
, and
. This makes (a) greater.
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The ratio of 10 to 14 is closest to what value?
The ratio of 10 to 14 is closest to what value?
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Another way to express ratios is through division. 10 divided by 14 is approximate 0.71.
Another way to express ratios is through division. 10 divided by 14 is approximate 0.71.
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Simplify:

Simplify:
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Group and collect like terms:




Group and collect like terms:
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Simplify the expression:

Simplify the expression:
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There are no like terms among these three; one has only
as a variable, one has only
, one has both. Therefore, no terms can be collected, and the expression cannot be simplified further.
There are no like terms among these three; one has only as a variable, one has only
, one has both. Therefore, no terms can be collected, and the expression cannot be simplified further.
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Which is the greater quantity?
(a) The sum of the integers from 1 to 1,000
(b) The sum of the integers from 1,001 to 1,500
Which is the greater quantity?
(a) The sum of the integers from 1 to 1,000
(b) The sum of the integers from 1,001 to 1,500
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(a) The sum of the integers from 1 to 1,000 is 
(b) The sum of the integers from 1,001 to 1,500 is

(b) is greater
(a) The sum of the integers from 1 to 1,000 is
(b) The sum of the integers from 1,001 to 1,500 is
(b) is greater
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Which of the following is the greater quantity?
(A) 
(B) 
Which of the following is the greater quantity?
(A)
(B)
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(A) Substitute and evaluate, remembering that by order of operations, squaring precedes addition:

(B) Substitute and evaluate

(B) is greater
(A) Substitute and evaluate, remembering that by order of operations, squaring precedes addition:
(B) Substitute and evaluate
(B) is greater
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Evaluate for
:

Evaluate for :
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Substitute and evaluate, remembering that in order of operations, squaring comes before adding:




Substitute and evaluate, remembering that in order of operations, squaring comes before adding:
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Which is the greater quantity?
(A) 
(B) 
Which is the greater quantity?
(A)
(B)
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Which quantity is the greater depends on the value of
.
Case 1: 
Then

and

Subsequently, (A) is greater
Case 2: 
Then

and

Subsequently, (B) is greater
Which quantity is the greater depends on the value of .
Case 1:
Then
and
Subsequently, (A) is greater
Case 2:
Then
and
Subsequently, (B) is greater
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is negative. Which of these quantities is the greater?
(A) 
(B) 
is negative. Which of these quantities is the greater?
(A)
(B)
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Since
and
is negative, then by the multiplication property of inequality,

Also,
, so by the addition property of inequality,

making (B) greater.
Since and
is negative, then by the multiplication property of inequality,
Also, , so by the addition property of inequality,
making (B) greater.
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is positive. Which of these quantities is greater?
(A) 
(B) 
is positive. Which of these quantities is greater?
(A)
(B)
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The values of both terms depend on the value of
.
Case 1: 


, making (B) greater.
Case 2: 


, making (A) greater.
Therefore, the information given is insufficient.
The values of both terms depend on the value of .
Case 1:
, making (B) greater.
Case 2:
, making (A) greater.
Therefore, the information given is insufficient.
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The Fibonacci sequence is defined as follows:

For integers
,
.
Which is the greater quantity?
(a) The sum of
and 
(b) 
The Fibonacci sequence is defined as follows:
For integers ,
.
Which is the greater quantity?
(a) The sum of and
(b)
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Using the definition of the sequence for all terms beginning with the third, substitute 778 for
:


The two quantities are equal.
Using the definition of the sequence for all terms beginning with the third, substitute 778 for :
The two quantities are equal.
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When evaluating the expression
,
assuming you know the values of all five variables, what is the third operation that must be performed?
When evaluating the expression
,
assuming you know the values of all five variables, what is the third operation that must be performed?
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The operation that must be performed first is the operation in parentheses, which is the division.
After this, the order of operations is:
Exponents
Multiplication and division (left to right)
Addition and subtraction (left to right)
The second thing that must be done is the exponentiation - the squaring. Of the three remaining operations, the multiplication takes precedence. The correct response is multiplication.
The operation that must be performed first is the operation in parentheses, which is the division.
After this, the order of operations is:
Exponents
Multiplication and division (left to right)
Addition and subtraction (left to right)
The second thing that must be done is the exponentiation - the squaring. Of the three remaining operations, the multiplication takes precedence. The correct response is multiplication.
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is a negative integer. Which is the greater quantity?
(a) 
(b) 
is a negative integer. Which is the greater quantity?
(a)
(b)
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Since
,
it follows that

and

regardless of the value of
.
Since
,
it follows that
and
regardless of the value of .
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is a negative integer. Which is the greater quantity?
(A) 
(B) 
is a negative integer. Which is the greater quantity?
(A)
(B)
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, so

and
is the greater quantity, regardless of
.
, so
and
is the greater quantity, regardless of
.
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is a negative integer. Which is the greater quantity?
(A) 
(B) 
is a negative integer. Which is the greater quantity?
(A)
(B)
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,
so

and
regardless of the value of
.
,
so
and
regardless of the value of
.
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Which is the greater quantity?
(a) 
(b) 
Which is the greater quantity?
(a)
(b)
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Suppose
is nonnegative.
Then
.
Consequently,
,
which must be positive,
and
,
which is the opposite of
and consequently must be negative. Therefore, (a) is greater.
Suppose
is negative.
Then
.
Consequently,
,
and
.
, so
,
and (a) is greater.
(a) is the greater quantity either way.
Suppose is nonnegative.
Then .
Consequently,
,
which must be positive,
and
,
which is the opposite of and consequently must be negative. Therefore, (a) is greater.
Suppose is negative.
Then .
Consequently,
,
and
.
, so
,
and (a) is greater.
(a) is the greater quantity either way.
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is a positive number.
Which is the greater quantity?
(a) 
(b) 
is a positive number.
Which is the greater quantity?
(a)
(b)
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By examining two scenarios, we see that we cannot determine which is the greater quantity.
Case 1: 
Then 
and 
This makes (a) the greater quantity.
Case 2: 
Then 
and 
This makes (b) the greater quantity.
By examining two scenarios, we see that we cannot determine which is the greater quantity.
Case 1:
Then
and
This makes (a) the greater quantity.
Case 2:
Then
and
This makes (b) the greater quantity.
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is a negative number.
Which is the greater quantity?
(a) 
(b) 
is a negative number.
Which is the greater quantity?
(a)
(b)
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The expressions
and
are each other's opposite, so they have the same absolute value. Therefore, regardless of the value of
,
.
The expressions and
are each other's opposite, so they have the same absolute value. Therefore, regardless of the value of
,
.
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;
and
are both positive.
Which is the greater quantity?
(a) 
(b) 
;
and
are both positive.
Which is the greater quantity?
(a)
(b)
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If
,
then
.
The absolute value of a negative number is its (positive) opposite, so

Also, if
and
are both positive, then
is positive; the absolute value of a positive number is the number itself, so
. Since
, it follows that
. Therefore,

Since
is given to be positive,
.
and

If ,
then
.
The absolute value of a negative number is its (positive) opposite, so
Also, if and
are both positive, then
is positive; the absolute value of a positive number is the number itself, so
. Since
, it follows that
. Therefore,
Since is given to be positive,
.
and
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Define
. The graph of
is a line with slope
.
.
Which is the greater quantity?
(a) 
(b) 
Define . The graph of
is a line with slope
.
.
Which is the greater quantity?
(a)
(b)
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, so
.
, so, by definition,
, or
.
The graph of
is a line through the point with coordinates
and with slope
. The equation of the line can be determined by setting
in the slope-intercept form:



.
The equation of the line is
, which makes this the definition of
. By setting
,
.
Therefore, 
, so
.
, so, by definition,
, or
.
The graph of is a line through the point with coordinates
and with slope
. The equation of the line can be determined by setting
in the slope-intercept form:
.
The equation of the line is , which makes this the definition of
. By setting
,
.
Therefore,
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