PSAT Math - How to find the missing number in a set

Which number completes the following series: 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, _?

128

Not enough information

Explanation

All of the numbers in this series are 2n-1. The number that we are looking for is the eighth number. So 28–1 = 27 = 128.

If four different integers are selected, one from each of the following sets, what is the greater sum that these four integers could have?

W = {4, 6, 9, 10}

X = {4, 5, 8, 10}

Y = {3, 6, 7, 11}

Z = {5, 8, 10, 11}

Explanation

By observing each of these sets, we can easily determine the largest number in each; however, the problem is asking for us to find the greatest possible sum if we select four different integers, one from each set. The largest number is 11. We will either select this number from set Y or set Z.

We will select set

Y for the 11

because the next larger number in set

Z is 10, which is greater than the next largest number is set Y, 7.

We can use set Z for 10.

Because the 10 has already been selected, choosing the integer from W and X should be easy because 9 is the next largest integer from set W

and

8 is the next largest integer from set X.

11 + 10 + 9 + 8 = 38

If the average of Set is , what is the average of Set ?

Explanation

We know the average of Set A is 5. Therefore:

$\frac{(x+5+8)}{3}=5$

Now let's solve for :

$\frac{(x+5+8)}{3}=5$

$\frac{(x+5+8)}{3}\cdot3=5\cdot3$

We can now plug this value of into Set B and solve for the average:

Set B = {0, 2, 4}

$Average = \frac{(0+2+4)}{3}$

$=\frac{6}{3}$

The average of Set B is 2.

Which of the following is not a rational number?

1.75

.001

0.111...

√2

Explanation

A rational number is a number that can be written in the form of a/b, where a and b are integers, aka a real number that can be written as a simple fraction or ratio. 4 of the 5 answer choices can be written as fractions and are thus rational.

5 = 5/1, 1.75 = 7/4, .001 = 1/1000, 0.111... = 1/9

√2 cannot be written as a fraction because it is irrational. The two most famous irrational numbers are √2 and pi.

A team has a win-loss ratio of $4:1$ . If the team wins six games in a row, the win-loss ratio will now be $6:1$ . How many losses did the team have initially?

$3$

$4$

$5$

$2$

$1$

Explanation

If a team's ratio of wins to losses increases from $4:1$ to $6:1$ by winning six games, they must have 12 wins initially and 3 losses.

Find the missing number in the following set:

$1,\ 6,\ 16,\ x,\ 76,\ 156$

Explanation

The rule is as follows: add 2 to the previous number then multiply times 2.

The answer is (16 + 2) * 2 = 36.

Alhough Danielle’s favorite flowers are tulips, she wants at least one each of three different kinds of flowers in her bouquet. Roses are twice as expensive as lilies and lilies are 25% of the price of tulips. If a rose costs $20 and Danielle only has $130, how many tulips can she buy?

Explanation

She can only buy 2 tulips at $80, because if she bought 3 she wouldn’t have enough to afford the other 2 kinds of flowers. She has to spend at least 30 dollars (20 + 10) on 1 rose and 1 lily.

Which set represents all the single-digits integers (0-9) that are either prime, a perfect square, or found in the number 68?

$\dpi{100} \small \left { 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 \right }$