Strategies for the ACT math Test

• memorize the directions to save time on test day
• with sixty questions to answer in one hour, you will have approximately one minute per question
• easier questions come first
• use the diagrams given in many of the questions. The diagram will invariably tell you what you need to know
• if you think that you know the answer, check to make sure the answer is one given. If it is not - then you have got the answer wrong
• ask yourself if any calculations are necessary. The answer may be obvious by what the answer is definitely not.

Question: Which if the following is equivalent to (x)(x)(x)(x), for all x?
Note: The ^ symbol is used to indicate power of.

(A) 4x
(B) x^4
(C) x + 4
(D) 4x
(E) 2x^2

Answer: B

Explanation: By definition, x4 means the product of 4 factors of x so x4 is equivalent to (x)(x)(x)(x).

Question: A sweater is sold for $68 while marked at $80. What is the rate of discount?
(A) 15%
(B) 12%
(C) 17 11/17%
(D) 20%
(E) 24%

Answer: A

Explanation: The amount of discount is $12. Rate of discount is figured on the original price.

12/80=3/20 3/20 * 100=15%

Question: A vendor has 14 helium balloons for sale: 9 are yellow, 3 are red, and 2 are green. A balloon is selected at random and sold. If the balloon sold is yellow, what is the probability that the next balloon, selected at random, is also yellow?
(A) 8/13
(B) 9/13
(C) 5/14
(D) 8/14
(E) 9/14

Answer: A

Explanation: There are 14 balloons, of which 9 are yellow. If a yellow balloon is sold, there are 13 balloons left, of which 8 are yellow. The probability of selecting a yellow balloon is 8/13.

Question: Six students in a class failed algebra. This represents 16 2/3% of the class. How many students passed the course?
(A) 48
(B) 36
(C) 42
(D) 30
(E) 32

Answer: D

Explanation:

16 2/3%=1/6
6=1/6x
36=x
36 students in a class. 6 failed. 30 passed.

Question: If one leg of a right angle triangle is 8 inches long, and the other leg is 12 inches long, how many inches long is the triangle’s hypotenuse?
Note: The ^ symbol is used to indicate power of.

(A) (13)^1/4
(B) (10)^1/4
(C) (10)^1/2
(D) (5)^1/4
(E) 4

Answer: A

Explanation: By the Pythagorean theorem, the length of the hypotenuse is

(8^2)^1/2 + 12^2 =
(64)^1/2 + 144=
(208)^1/2 =
(16)^1/2 * 13 =
(16)^1/2 * (13)^2 =
(13)^1/4

Question: A baseball team has won 40 games out of 60 played. It has 32 more games to play. How many of these must the team win to make its record 75% for the season?
(A) 26
(B) 29
(C) 28
(D) 30
(E) 32

Answer:B

Explanation: The team must win 75%, or 3/4, of the games played during the entire season. With 60 games played and 32 more to play, the team must win 3/4 of 92 games in all. 3/4 * 92=69. Since 40 games have already been won, the team must win 29 additional games.

Try our sample ACT science questions.

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