All ISEE Middle Level Quantitative Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #8 : How To Subtract Variables
Which is the greater quantity?
(a)
(b) 9
(a) is the greater quantity
(b) is the greater quantity
(a) and (b) are equal
It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given
(b) is the greater quantity
also, since , it follows that
, and by the inequality properties,
making 9 the greater quantity.
Example Question #1 : How To Divide Variables
What is the value of ?
(The numerator and the denominator are both multiplied by 10 in order to convert the fraction to whole numbers.)
Therefore, 90 is the correct answer.
Example Question #2 : How To Divide Variables
What is the value of ?
(The numerator and the denominator are both multiplied by 10 in order to convert the fraction to whole numbers.)
Therefore, 30 is the correct answer.
Example Question #3 : How To Divide Variables
Simplify:
Since all of the variables are positive powers, this is easy. Start by reducing the numeric coefficient:
Next, cancel out the variables. Subtract the smaller power from the larger one. Remember that if there is no power listed, it is 1:
Example Question #3 : How To Divide Variables
Simplify:
Since all of the variables are positive powers, this is easy. Start by reducing the numeric coefficient:
Next, cancel out the variables. Subtract the smaller power from the larger one. Remember that if there is no power listed, it is 1:
Example Question #4 : How To Divide Variables
Simplify:
The easiest way to begin with questions like this one is to "flip" the negative exponents to the top or bottom of the fraction. When you do this, you make the exponent's sign positive:
Now, since all of the variables are positive powers, this is easy. Normally, you would begin by reducing the numeric coefficient. This is not necessary since there is only a 5 in the numerator. Therefore, combine the like variables first:
Next, cancel out the variables. Subtract the smaller power from the larger one. Remember that if there is no power listed, it is 1:
Example Question #6 : How To Divide Variables
Simplify:
The easiest way to begin with questions like this one is to "flip" the negative exponents to the top or bottom of the fraction. When you do this, you make the exponent's sign positive:
Next, go ahead and reduce the numeric coefficient:
Then, combine the like variables first:
Finally, cancel out the variables. Subtract the smaller power from the larger one. Remember that if there is no power listed, it is 1:
Example Question #1 : How To Divide Variables
Solve for :
To start, notice that the left side of the equation has a common factor of . You can factor this out:
becomes
Next, you can divide both sides by since you know that it does not equal :
Simplifying the right side, you get:
Finally, subtract from both sides:
Example Question #5 : How To Divide Variables
Solve for :
No possible answer
To start, notice that the left side of the equation has common factors of and . You can factor these out:
becomes...
Next, you can divide both sides by since you know that it does not equal :
Simplify the right side by canceling the and reducing the :
Finally, add to both sides:
Example Question #8 : How To Divide Variables
is the multiplicative inverse of . Which is the greater quantity?
(a)
(b)
(b) is the greater quantity
(a) is the greater quantity
(a) and (b) are equal
It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given
It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given
is the multiplicative inverse of , so, by definition, . We show that this is insufficient information, however, with two cases.
Case 1:
Case 2:
Therefore,it is not clear which, if either, is the greater, or 1.