ISEE Upper Level Quantitative : How to subtract variables

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ISEE Upper Level Quantitative

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Example Questions

Example Question #27 : Operations

Simplify:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Example Question #871 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Quantitative Reasoning

Simplify:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Example Question #872 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Quantitative Reasoning

 is negative. Which of these quantities is the greater?

(A) 

(B) 

Possible Answers:

It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given

(A) is greater

(A) and (B) are equal

(B) is greater

Correct answer:

(B) is greater

Explanation:

,

So by the multiplication property of inequality, when each is multiplied by the negative number ,

.

Also, 

,

so by the addition property of inequality,

or 

This makes (B) greater.

Example Question #32 : Operations

Assume you know the values of all four variables in the expression

In which order do you perform the operations in order to evaluate the expression?

Possible Answers:

Subtract, multiply, divide

Multiply, divide, subtract

Subtract, divide, multiply

Divide, multiply, subtract

Multiply, divide, subtract

Correct answer:

Divide, multiply, subtract

Explanation:

Multiplication and division take precedence over subtraction in the order of operations, so these two operations are performed first. The two must be performed from left to right, so the division is worked first, followed by the multiplication. The subtraction is last.

Example Question #1 : How To Subtract Variables

Consider the expression:

Which of the following expressions must be equal in value to the above expression?

I) 

II) 

III) 

Possible Answers:

I only

III only

I and III only

I and II only

I, II, and III

Correct answer:

I and III only

Explanation:

The order of operations is as follows:

Exponents

Multiplication and division (left to right)

Addition and subtraction (left to right)

The expression

is therefore evaluated by multiplying, then dividing, then adding. The net result is that the product  is added to the quotient .

If we examine (I), we see that, since the multiplication is in parentheses, it is worked first. The division is worked second, then the addition. The order of operations has not changed, so the expressions are equivalent.

If we examine (II), we see that the order of operations has changed so that the addition is worked first. We see through example that the expressions can have different values:

If we examine (III), we see that, since the division is in parentheses, it is worked first. The multiplication is worked second, then the addition. The upshot is the same as in the main expression, however - the product  is added to the quotient . Therefore, the expressions are equivalent.

The correct response is (I) and (III)

 

Example Question #1 : How To Subtract Variables

When evaluating the expression

,

assuming you know the values of all five variables, what is the third operation that must be performed?

Possible Answers:

The leftmost addition

The middle subtraction

The leftmost subtraction

The rightmost addition

The rightmost subtraction

Correct answer:

The leftmost subtraction

Explanation:

In the order of operations, any operations in parentheses must be performed first - there are two, the leftmost addition and the middle subtraction. What remains are the leftmost subtraction, the rightmost subtraction, and the rightmost addition. Since additions and subtractions are performed from left to right, the next, or third, operation performed is the leftmost subtraction.

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