ACT Math
A comprehensive course covering the essential math concepts and strategies needed to excel on the ACT.
Study Strategies
Plug-In and Backsolving
Smart Shortcuts
Some ACT problems can be solved faster by plugging in numbers or working backwards from the answer choices.
Plugging In
- Choose easy numbers for variables to test the problem.
- Helps when variables make a question confusing.
Backsolving
- Start with the answer choices and see which one fits.
- Saves time and reduces errors on certain problems.
When to Use
Try these strategies when you see variables in the answer choices or word problems with unknowns.
Examples
If a question says 'x is an even number,' try plugging in 2 or 4 for x.
Work backwards from answer B to see if it satisfies the equation.