Identifying Relevant Information - SSAT Upper Level: Quantitative
Card 1 of 25
Identify the relevant percent information: “A price increases from $80$ to $100$. Find percent increase.”
Identify the relevant percent information: “A price increases from $80$ to $100$. Find percent increase.”
Tap to reveal answer
Use original $80$ and change $100-80$. Percent increase divides the difference by the original price, using these specific values.
Use original $80$ and change $100-80$. Percent increase divides the difference by the original price, using these specific values.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
Identify the relevant information: “A triangle has base $10$ and height $6$. Its perimeter is $24$. What is its area?”
Identify the relevant information: “A triangle has base $10$ and height $6$. Its perimeter is $24$. What is its area?”
Tap to reveal answer
Use base $10$ and height $6$; ignore $24$. Area uses half the product of base and height, while perimeter does not factor into this formula.
Use base $10$ and height $6$; ignore $24$. Area uses half the product of base and height, while perimeter does not factor into this formula.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
Identify the needed formula information: “Find the average of $7$, $9$, and $14$.” What must you use?
Identify the needed formula information: “Find the average of $7$, $9$, and $14$.” What must you use?
Tap to reveal answer
Use the sum and divide by the count $3$. The average formula involves summing the values and dividing by their quantity.
Use the sum and divide by the count $3$. The average formula involves summing the values and dividing by their quantity.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
Which quantities are relevant: “The mean of $5$ numbers is $12$. What is their sum?”
Which quantities are relevant: “The mean of $5$ numbers is $12$. What is their sum?”
Tap to reveal answer
Use mean $12$ and count $5$. The sum is the product of the mean and the number of values, focusing on these quantities.
Use mean $12$ and count $5$. The sum is the product of the mean and the number of values, focusing on these quantities.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
Identify the relevant information: “You buy $3$ notebooks at $2$ dollars each and a pen for $5$. What is notebook cost?”
Identify the relevant information: “You buy $3$ notebooks at $2$ dollars each and a pen for $5$. What is notebook cost?”
Tap to reveal answer
Use $3$ and $2$; ignore $5$. Total notebook cost is the product of quantity and price per notebook, excluding the pen's cost.
Use $3$ and $2$; ignore $5$. Total notebook cost is the product of quantity and price per notebook, excluding the pen's cost.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
Identify the relevant information: “A class has $18$ boys and $12$ girls. $5$ students are absent. How many students in class?”
Identify the relevant information: “A class has $18$ boys and $12$ girls. $5$ students are absent. How many students in class?”
Tap to reveal answer
Use $18$ and $12$; ignore $5$. Total students is the sum of boys and girls, independent of absences for class size.
Use $18$ and $12$; ignore $5$. Total students is the sum of boys and girls, independent of absences for class size.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
What does “at least $x$” mean when deciding relevant inequality information?
What does “at least $x$” mean when deciding relevant inequality information?
Tap to reveal answer
It means $\ge x$. This phrase establishes a lower bound, including $x$ and all greater values in inequalities.
It means $\ge x$. This phrase establishes a lower bound, including $x$ and all greater values in inequalities.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
What does “no more than $x$” mean when deciding relevant inequality information?
What does “no more than $x$” mean when deciding relevant inequality information?
Tap to reveal answer
It means $\le x$. This phrase sets an upper bound, including $x$ and all lesser values in inequalities.
It means $\le x$. This phrase sets an upper bound, including $x$ and all lesser values in inequalities.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
Identify the relevant inequality: “A number is at most $20$.” Which symbol is relevant?
Identify the relevant inequality: “A number is at most $20$.” Which symbol is relevant?
Tap to reveal answer
$\le$. ‘At most’ implies the value is less than or equal to 20, selecting the appropriate inequality symbol.
$\le$. ‘At most’ implies the value is less than or equal to 20, selecting the appropriate inequality symbol.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
Identify the relevant inequality: “A number is greater than $-3$.” Which symbol is relevant?
Identify the relevant inequality: “A number is greater than $-3$.” Which symbol is relevant?
Tap to reveal answer
$>$. ‘Greater than’ excludes the value itself, requiring the strict inequality symbol.
$>$. ‘Greater than’ excludes the value itself, requiring the strict inequality symbol.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
Identify the relevant quantities: “A recipe uses $\frac{3}{4}$ cup sugar per batch. How much for $6$ batches?”
Identify the relevant quantities: “A recipe uses $\frac{3}{4}$ cup sugar per batch. How much for $6$ batches?”
Tap to reveal answer
Use $\frac{3}{4}$ and $6$. Total sugar scales the per-batch amount by the number of batches via multiplication.
Use $\frac{3}{4}$ and $6$. Total sugar scales the per-batch amount by the number of batches via multiplication.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
What should you do with numbers or facts that do not affect the question asked?
What should you do with numbers or facts that do not affect the question asked?
Tap to reveal answer
Treat them as extraneous and ignore them. Extraneous details can distract from the core problem, so focusing only on essential information improves efficiency and accuracy.
Treat them as extraneous and ignore them. Extraneous details can distract from the core problem, so focusing only on essential information improves efficiency and accuracy.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
What is the first step for identifying relevant information in a word problem?
What is the first step for identifying relevant information in a word problem?
Tap to reveal answer
Identify the question being asked (the target unknown). Determining the specific unknown guides the selection of pertinent data and operations required to solve the problem.
Identify the question being asked (the target unknown). Determining the specific unknown guides the selection of pertinent data and operations required to solve the problem.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
Which words usually signal that you must add quantities in a word problem?
Which words usually signal that you must add quantities in a word problem?
Tap to reveal answer
Words like “total,” “sum,” “combined,” and “in all.”. These terms indicate the need to combine quantities to find an overall amount in the context of the problem.
Words like “total,” “sum,” “combined,” and “in all.”. These terms indicate the need to combine quantities to find an overall amount in the context of the problem.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
Which words usually signal that you must subtract quantities in a word problem?
Which words usually signal that you must subtract quantities in a word problem?
Tap to reveal answer
Words like “difference,” “less,” “remain,” and “decrease.”. These terms suggest removing one quantity from another to determine the resulting difference.
Words like “difference,” “less,” “remain,” and “decrease.”. These terms suggest removing one quantity from another to determine the resulting difference.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
Which words usually signal multiplication in a word problem?
Which words usually signal multiplication in a word problem?
Tap to reveal answer
Words like “each,” “per,” “times,” and “product.”. These terms imply repeated addition or scaling of quantities to compute a product.
Words like “each,” “per,” “times,” and “product.”. These terms imply repeated addition or scaling of quantities to compute a product.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
Which words usually signal division in a word problem?
Which words usually signal division in a word problem?
Tap to reveal answer
Words like “per,” “rate,” “quotient,” and “shared equally.”. These terms indicate partitioning a total into equal parts or finding a rate.
Words like “per,” “rate,” “quotient,” and “shared equally.”. These terms indicate partitioning a total into equal parts or finding a rate.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
What does the word “of” usually indicate in expressions such as “$ rac{1}{3}$ of $x$”?
What does the word “of” usually indicate in expressions such as “$ rac{1}{3}$ of $x$”?
Tap to reveal answer
Multiplication. The word 'of' in fractional contexts represents multiplying the fraction by the variable or quantity.
Multiplication. The word 'of' in fractional contexts represents multiplying the fraction by the variable or quantity.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
Identify the relevant quantities: “A box has $12$ red and $8$ blue marbles. How many marbles total?”
Identify the relevant quantities: “A box has $12$ red and $8$ blue marbles. How many marbles total?”
Tap to reveal answer
Use $12$ and $8$. The total requires adding the quantities of red and blue marbles, as they are the components of the whole.
Use $12$ and $8$. The total requires adding the quantities of red and blue marbles, as they are the components of the whole.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
Identify the relevant quantities: “A tank holds $50$ L and currently has $18$ L. How many liters to fill?”
Identify the relevant quantities: “A tank holds $50$ L and currently has $18$ L. How many liters to fill?”
Tap to reveal answer
Use $50$ and $18$. Filling the tank involves subtracting the current amount from the capacity to find the needed volume.
Use $50$ and $18$. Filling the tank involves subtracting the current amount from the capacity to find the needed volume.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
Identify the relevant rate information: “A car travels $120$ miles in $3$ hours. What is the speed?”
Identify the relevant rate information: “A car travels $120$ miles in $3$ hours. What is the speed?”
Tap to reveal answer
Use $120$ miles and $3$ hours. Speed is calculated by dividing distance by time, making these the essential values for the rate.
Use $120$ miles and $3$ hours. Speed is calculated by dividing distance by time, making these the essential values for the rate.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
Identify the relevant information: “A shirt costs $20$ plus $6$ tax. You pay with $50$. What is the change?”
Identify the relevant information: “A shirt costs $20$ plus $6$ tax. You pay with $50$. What is the change?”
Tap to reveal answer
Use $20$, $6$, and $50$. Change is found by adding cost and tax, then subtracting from payment, requiring all three values.
Use $20$, $6$, and $50$. Change is found by adding cost and tax, then subtracting from payment, requiring all three values.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
Identify the extraneous number: “A book has $300$ pages. You read $45$ pages Monday and $30$ Tuesday. What is $45+30$?”
Identify the extraneous number: “A book has $300$ pages. You read $45$ pages Monday and $30$ Tuesday. What is $45+30$?”
Tap to reveal answer
$300$ is extraneous. The total pages read is simply the sum asked, unrelated to the book's total pages.
$300$ is extraneous. The total pages read is simply the sum asked, unrelated to the book's total pages.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
Identify the extraneous number: “A rectangle has length $10$ and width $4$. Its perimeter is $28$. What is its area?”
Identify the extraneous number: “A rectangle has length $10$ and width $4$. Its perimeter is $28$. What is its area?”
Tap to reveal answer
$28$ is extraneous. Area uses length times width, while perimeter is irrelevant for this calculation.
$28$ is extraneous. Area uses length times width, while perimeter is irrelevant for this calculation.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
Which information is relevant for area of a rectangle: length $9$, width $5$, and diagonal $ ,\sqrt{106}$?
Which information is relevant for area of a rectangle: length $9$, width $5$, and diagonal $ ,\sqrt{106}$?
Tap to reveal answer
Length $9$ and width $5$ only. Area formula requires only length and width; diagonal is unnecessary for this computation.
Length $9$ and width $5$ only. Area formula requires only length and width; diagonal is unnecessary for this computation.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →