324 McGraw-Hill Education: SAT

Skill 1: Working with Data

Lesson 1: Working with averages (arithmetic means)

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The average (arithmetic mean) of four numbers is sum of these numbers: 15 × 4 = 60. If one of these num-
15. If one of the numbers is 18, what is the average bers is 18, then the sum of the remaining three numbers is
(arithmetic mean) of the remaining three numbers? 60 − 18 = 42. Using the first formula above gives us an
average of 42/3 = 14.

Ms. Aguila’s class, which has 20 students, scored an

average of 90% on a test. Mr. Bowle’s class, which has
30 students, scored an average of 80% on the same
test. What was the combined average score for the
The average (arithmetic mean) of any set of two classes? (Disregard the % symbol when grid-
numbers is calculated with the formula ding. For instance, enter 74% as 74.)
sum
average =
# of numbers

But it is helpful to notice that this form can

take two other forms: (Medium) Can we just take the average of the scores
for the two classes, and say the overall average is
sum = average × # of numbers (90 + 80)/2 = 85? No, because there are more students in the
sum second class, so we can’t “weigh” the two classes equally.
#of numbers =
average Using the formula above we can calculate the sum of all
of the scores in both classes. In Ms. Aguila’s class, the sum
of the scores is 90 × 20 = 1,800, and the sum of the scores
in Mr. Bowe’s class is 80 × 30 = 2,400. Therefore, the sum
(Medium) In this problem, we are given the average of of all of the scores in the two classes combined is 1,800 +
the set and the number of numbers in the set. So we can 2,400 = 4,200. Since there are 50 students altogether in the
use the formula sum = average × # of numbers to find the two classes, the combined average is 4,200/50 = 84.
CHAPTER 8 / THE SAT MATH TEST: PROBLEM SOLVING AND DATA ANALYSIS 325

Lesson 2: Working with medians and modes

The median of 1, 6, 8, and k is 5. What is the average

Roll Frequency

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(arithmetic mean) of these four numbers?
1 10

2 a

3 b

The median of any set of numbers is the number 4 7

that divides the ordered set into two equal sets. 5 9
In other words, half of the numbers should be
less than or equal to the median, and half the 6 9
numbers should be greater than or equal to the
median. To find a median, The table above shows the results of 50 rolls of a die,
1. Put the numbers in increasing (or decreasing) with two missing values labeled a and b. If the mode
order. of these 50 rolls is 2, what is the greatest possible
2. If there are an odd number of numbers, the average (arithmetic mean) value of these rolls?
median is the middle number.
3. If there are an even number of numbers,
the median is the average of the two middle
numbers.

The mode of a set of numbers is the number that

(Medium) Using this definition we can find the value of
appears the most frequently. This means that not
k. The tricky part is step 1, since we don’t know where
every set of numbers has a mode. For instance, in
k should be when we put the numbers in order. Clearly,
the set 1, 1, 2, 3, 4, the mode is 1, but the set 1, 2,
however, there are only four possibilities to consider.
3, 4 does not have a mode, because every num-
bers occurs once.
k
?

1 6 8
(Hard) This data set has 50 numbers, each representing
If k is the least of these numbers, then the correct order- a roll of a die. If the mode is 2, then 2 is the most fre-
ing is k, 1, 6, 8. Since there are an even number of numbers, quent roll. Since the table above shows that the highest
the median is the average of the middle two: (1 + 6)/2 = 3.5. known frequency is 10 (for a roll of 1), then a (the number
But this contradicts the given fact that the median is 5, so of times a 2 was rolled) must be at least 11. We also know
that doesn’t work. Putting k in the next slot gives us an order that the total number of rolls is 50, so 10 + a + b + 7 + 9 +
of 1, k, 6, 8. In this case, the median would be (k + 6)/2. 9 = 50, and therefore a + b = 15. The question asks us
k +6 to find the greatest possible average of these rolls, so we
=5 want to maximize the sum of all of the rolls. This means
2
Multiply by 2: k + 6 = 10 that we want b (the number of times a 3 was rolled) to be
Subtract 6: k=4 as great as possible. Since b = 15 − a, then the greatest b
can be is 15 − 11 = 4. Therefore a = 11 and b = 4. Now we
Notice that this confirms our assumption that k is have to find the average of these 50 numbers: [(1)(10) +
between 1 and 6, so k must equal 4. Now we must find the (2)(11) + (3)(4) + (4)(7) + (5)(9) + (6)(9)]/50 = (10 + 22 +
average of these four numbers: (1 + 4 + 6 + 8)/2 = 19/2 = 9.5. 12 + 28 + 45 + 54)/50 = 3.42.
326 McGraw-Hill Education: SAT

Lesson 3: Understanding data spread

The SAT Math test may occasionally ask you about the “spread” of a set of data. You will NOT have to calculate

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technical statistics like variance, standard deviation, or margin of error, but you might be asked to answer
more basic questions about the “spread” of a set of data, as in the questions below.

The “range” of a set of data is defined as the absolute (Medium) When a question introduces a new term, read
difference between the least value and the greatest its definition carefully—several times, if necessary. This
value in the set. If five positive integers have an aver- question gives us two new terms. To understand these
age (arithmetic mean) of 10, what is the greatest pos- terms, let’s apply them to a simple set of numbers, such
sible “range” of this set? as the set in choice (A). The average of this set is 2; there-
fore, the “absolute deviation” of each of these numbers is
its “absolute difference” from 2, which is 0 for each num-
ber. The “average absolute deviation” of the entire set is
defined as the average of these “absolute deviations,”
(Medium-hard) If five numbers have an average of 10, which is, of course, (0 + 0 + 0 + 0)/4 = 0.
then their sum must be 5 × 10 = 50. If we want the great- Notice that the “average absolute deviation” of a
est possible “range,” then we must maximize one of these number set is a measure of “spread.” Since the numbers
numbers by minimizing the sum of the other numbers. in (A) are bunched up as tightly as possible, their “aver-
Since the smallest positive integer is 1, we can minimize age absolute deviation” is 0. Now let’s look at the remain-
the sum of the other four numbers by setting them all ing choices. Which seems to have the greatest “spread?”
equal to 1. This gives us 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + x = 50, so x = 46. Once you’ve made your guess, do the calculations and
This gives us a maximum “range” of 46 − 1 = 45. see if you’re right. For confirmation, you should find that
the “average absolute deviations” are (A) 0, (B) 1, (C) 0.5,
The “absolute deviation” of a number in a set is the and (D) 0.375. Therefore, the correct answer is (B).
absolute difference between that number and the
average (arithmetic mean) of the set. The “average
absolute deviation” of a set is the average (arithme-
tic mean) of all of the absolute deviations in the set.
Which of the following sets has the greatest “aver-
age absolute deviation?”
A) 2, 2, 2, 2
B) 2, 3, 4, 5
C) 4, 4, 5, 5
D) 4, 4, 4, 5
CHAPTER 8 / THE SAT MATH TEST: PROBLEM SOLVING AND DATA ANALYSIS 327

Lesson 4: Variations and drawing inferences from data

The variables x and y vary directly if they have a constant ratio, that is,

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y
= k or y = kx ( where k is a constant )
x

The variables x and y vary inversely if they have a constant product, that is,

k
xy = k or y = ( where k is a constant )
x

x y If y varies inversely as x, then the graph of their

1 5 relation in the xy-plane is a hyperbola that
approaches, but does not touch, the x- and
2 20 y-axes:

Given the ordered pairs in the table above, which of y

the following could be true?
A) y varies directly as x
B) y varies inversely as x
C) y varies directly as the square of x 9
y=
D) y varies inversely as the square of x 3 x
2 4
(Medium-hard) Using the definitions above, we can see y=
whether y and x vary directly or inversely. Do they have x
a constant ratio? No: 5/1 ≠ 20/2. Therefore, they do not x
vary directly and (A) is incorrect. Do they have a constant 2 3
product? No: 1 × 5 ≠ 2 × 20. Therefore, they do not vary
inversely, and (B) is incorrect. To check (C), we must ask:
do y and x2 have a constant ratio? Yes: 5/(1)2 = 20/(2)2 = 5, x y
therefore the correct answer is (C).
2 12

If y varies directly as x, then the graph of their 4 96

relation in the xy-plane is a line through the
origin: The variables x and y are related by an equation of
the form y = Axn where A and n are both positive
y real numbers. Based on the data in the table above,
y = 4x what is the value of y when x = 3?
y = 2x A) 40.5
y=x B) 46.0
C) 54.0
y = 0.5x
D) 64.0
(Medium) In order to find the value of y when x = 3, we
x must find the specific equation relating x and y. We can
find the values of A and n in the equation y = Axn by first
328 McGraw-Hill Education: SAT

plugging in the values from the table. Plugging in the first (Notice that this means that y varies directly as x3.)
ordered pair gives us 12 = A(2)n and plugging in the sec-
ond ordered pair gives us 96 = A(4)n . Substitute n = 3 into either
equation: 12 = A(2)3
96 = A(4)n
12 = A(2)n Simplify: 12 = 8A

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96 4n
Divide by 8: 1.5 = A
Divide the corresponding sides: =
12 2n Therefore, the equation that relates x and y is y =
Simplify: 8=2 n 1.5x3. Finally, we find y when x = 3 by substituting into
the equation: y = 1.5(3)3 = 1.5(27) = 40.5, so the correct
Substitute 8 = 2 3: 23 = 2n and so n = 3
answer is (A).
CHAPTER 8 / THE SAT MATH TEST: PROBLEM SOLVING AND DATA ANALYSIS 329

Exercise Set 1 (No Calculator)

1 7

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The “range” of a set of data is defined as the absolute If p varies inversely as q and p = 4 when q = 6, the
difference between the least value and the greatest which of the following is another solution for p and q?
value in the set. Four positive integers have an aver-
A) p = 8 and q = 12
age (arithmetic mean) of 7.5.
B) p = 8 and q = 10
a. What is the greatest possible range of this set?
C) p = 12 and q = 1
D) p = 12 and q = 2

b. What is the least possible range of this set?

8
A set of n numbers has an average (arithmetic mean)
of 3k and a sum of 12m, where k and m are both posi-
tive. Which of the following is equivalent to n?
2 4m 4k k
A) B) C)
If the median of 2, 4, 6, and b is 4.2, what is the aver- k m 4m
age (arithmetic mean) of these four numbers?
m
D)
4k

9
3 If y varies inversely as the square of x, then when x is
The average (arithmetic mean) of 2, 5, 8 and k is 0. multiplied by 4, y will be
What is the median of these numbers?
A) divided by 16
B) divided by 2
C) multiplied by 2
D) multiplied by 16
4
A set of numbers has a sum of 48 and an average of 6. 10
How many numbers are in the set?
Let f(x, y) = Ax2y 3 where A is a constant. If f(a, b) = 10,
what is the value of f(2a, 2b)?
A) 100
B) 260
5
C) 320
If the average (arithmetic mean) of 4 and x is equal
to the average (arithmetic mean) of 2, 8, and x, what D) 500
is the value of x?

11
A set of four integers has a mode of 7 and a median of
4. What is the greatest possible average (arithmetic
6 mean) of this set?
The median of a set of 22 consecutive even integers A) 3.50
is 25. What is the largest number in the set? B) 3.75
C) 4.00
D) 4.25
330 McGraw-Hill Education: SAT

Exercise Set 1 (Calculator)

12 18

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Four positive integers have a mode of 4 and a median If y varies inversely as x and the graph of their rela-
of 3. What is their sum? tion in the xy-plane passes through the point (2, 15),
what is the value of y when x = 4?

13
19
Five different integers have an average (arithmetic
mean) of 10. If none is less than 5, what is the great- Roll Frequency
est possible value of one of these integers?
1 4
2 5
3 4
4 6
14 5 5
6 6
If b varies inversely as a, and b = 0.5 when a = 32,
then for how many ordered pairs (a, b) are a and b
both positive integers? A six-sided die was rolled 30 times and the results
tabulated above. What is the difference between
the average (arithmetic mean) of the rolls and the
median of the rolls?
A) 0.1
15 B) 0.2
The median of 11 consecutive integers is 28. What is C) 0.3
the least of these integers? D) 0.4

20
If y varies inversely as the square of x, and y = 4
16 when x = 2, then what is the value of y when x = 3?
If y = Ax3 and y = 108 when x = 3, then for what value 16
of x does y = 62.5? A)
9
B) 8
3
C) 3
D) 9
17
A set of four positive integers has a median of 2 and
a mode of 2. If the average (arithmetic mean) of this
set is 3, what is the largest possible number in the
set?
CHAPTER 8 / THE SAT MATH TEST: PROBLEM SOLVING AND DATA ANALYSIS 331

21 22
At a fixed temperature, the volume of a sample of If the graph of y = f(x) in the xy-plane contains the
gas varies inversely as the pressure of the gas. If the points (4, 3) and (16, 6), which of the following could
pressure of a sample of gas at a fixed temperature be true?

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is increased by 50%, by what percent is the volume
A) y varies directly as the square of x
decreased?
B) y varies inversely as the square of x
A) 25%
C) y varies directly as the square root of x
1
B) 33 % D) y varies inversely as the square root of x
3
C) 50%
2
D) 66 %
3