Question ID d1b66ae6

Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Algebra Systems of two linear

equations in two
variables

ID: d1b66ae6

If satisfies the system of equations

above, what is the value of y ?

ID: d1b66ae6 Answer

Rationale

The correct answer is . One method for solving the system of equations for y is to add corresponding sides of the two
equations. Adding the left-hand sides gives , or 4y. Adding the right-hand sides yields . It

follows that . Finally, dividing both sides of by 4 yields or . Note that 3/2 and 1.5 are examples of
ways to enter a correct answer.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID ff501705
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Algebra Systems of two linear

equations in two
variables

ID: ff501705

In the given system of equations, is a constant. If the system has no solution, what is the value of ?

ID: ff501705 Answer

Correct Answer: 6

Rationale

The correct answer is 6. A system of two linear equations in two variables, 𝑥 and 𝑦, has no solution if the lines represented
by the equations in the xy-plane are parallel and distinct. Lines represented by equations in standard form, 𝐴𝑥 + 𝐵𝑦 = 𝐶 and
𝐷𝑥 + 𝐸𝑦 = 𝐹, are parallel if the coefficients for 𝑥 and 𝑦 in one equation are proportional to the corresponding coefficients in
𝐷 𝐸 𝐹
the other equation, meaning 𝐴 = 𝐵 ; and the lines are distinct if the constants are not proportional, meaning 𝐶 is not equal to
𝐷 𝐸 3 1 2 3
𝐴
or 𝐵 . The first equation in the given system is 2 𝑦 - 4 𝑥 = 3
- 2 𝑦. Multiplying each side of this equation by 12 yields
18𝑦 - 3𝑥 = 8 - 18𝑦. Adding 18𝑦 to each side of this equation yields 36𝑦 - 3𝑥 = 8, or -3𝑥 + 36𝑦 = 8. The second equation in the
1 3 9
given system is 𝑥 + = 𝑝𝑦 + . Multiplying each side of this equation by 2 yields 𝑥 + 3 = 2𝑝𝑦 + 9. Subtracting 2𝑝𝑦 from
2 2 2
each side of this equation yields 𝑥 + 3 - 2𝑝𝑦 = 9. Subtracting 3 from each side of this equation yields 𝑥 - 2𝑝𝑦 = 6. Therefore,
the two equations in the given system, written in standard form, are -3𝑥 + 36𝑦 = 8 and 𝑥 - 2𝑝𝑦 = 6. As previously stated, if
this system has no solution, the lines represented by the equations in the xy-plane are parallel and distinct, meaning the
1 -2𝑝 1 𝑝 6 1 6 1
proportion -3 = 36 , or - 3 = - 18 , is true and the proportion 8 = -3 is not true. The proportion 8 = -3 is not true. Multiplying
1 𝑝
each side of the true proportion, - 3 = - 18 , by -18 yields 6 = 𝑝. Therefore, if the system has no solution, then the value of 𝑝 is
6.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 70feb725
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Algebra Systems of two linear

equations in two
variables

ID: 70feb725

During a month, Morgan ran r miles at 5 miles per hour and biked b miles at
10 miles per hour. She ran and biked a total of 200 miles that month, and she biked
for twice as many hours as she ran. What is the total number of miles that Morgan
biked during the month?

A. 80

B. 100

C. 120

D. 160

ID: 70feb725 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is correct. The number of hours Morgan spent running or biking can be calculated by dividing the distance she
traveled during that activity by her speed, in miles per hour, for that activity. So the number of hours she ran can be

represented by the expression , and the number of hours she biked can be represented by the expression . It’s given

that she biked for twice as many hours as she ran, so this can be represented by the equation , which can be
rewritten as . It’s also given that she ran r miles and biked b miles, and that she ran and biked a total of 200 miles.
This can be represented by the equation . Substituting for b in this equation yields , or .
Solving for r yields . Determining the number of miles she biked, b, can be found by substituting 40 for r in
, which yields . Solving for b yields .

Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because they don’t satisfy that Morgan biked for twice as many hours as she ran. In choice
A, if she biked 80 miles, then she ran 120 miles, which means she biked for 8 hours and ran for 24 hours. In choice B, if she
biked 100 miles, then she ran 100 miles, which means she biked for 10 hours and ran for 20 hours. In choice C, if she biked
120 miles, then she ran for 80 miles, which means she biked for 12 hours and ran for 16 hours.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID e1248a5c
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Algebra Systems of two linear

equations in two
variables

ID: e1248a5c

In the system of equations below, a and c are constants.

If the system of equations has an infinite number of

solutions , what is the value of a ?

A.

B. 0

C.

D.

ID: e1248a5c Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is correct. A system of two linear equations has infinitely many solutions if one equation is equivalent to the other.
This means that when the two equations are written in the same form, each coefficient or constant in one equation is equal
to the corresponding coefficient or constant in the other equation multiplied by the same number. The equations in the given
system of equations are written in the same form, with x and y on the left-hand side and a constant on the right-hand side of
the equation. The coefficient of y in the second equation is equal to the coefficient of y in the first equation multiplied by 3.
Therefore, a, the coefficient of x in the second equation, must be equal to 3 times the coefficient of x in the first equation:

, or .

Choices A, B, and C are incorrect. When , , or , the given system of equations has one solution.
Question Difficulty: Hard
Question ID 1362ccde
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Algebra Systems of two linear

equations in two
variables

ID: 1362ccde

The solution to the given system of equations is . What is the value of ?

ID: 1362ccde Answer

Correct Answer: 35

Rationale

The correct answer is 35. The first equation in the given system of equations defines 𝑦 as 4𝑥 + 1. Substituting 4𝑥 + 1 for 𝑦 in
the second equation in the given system of equations yields 44𝑥 + 1 = 15𝑥 - 8. Applying the distributive property on the left-
hand side of this equation yields 16𝑥 + 4 = 15𝑥 - 8. Subtracting 15𝑥 from each side of this equation yields 𝑥 + 4 = - 8.
Subtracting 4 from each side of this equation yields 𝑥 = - 12. Substituting -12 for 𝑥 in the first equation of the given system
of equations yields 𝑦 = 4-12 + 1, or 𝑦 = - 47. Substituting -12 for 𝑥 and -47 for 𝑦 into the expression 𝑥 - 𝑦 yields -12 - -47, or
35.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 52cb8ea4
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Algebra Systems of two linear

equations in two
variables

ID: 52cb8ea4

If is the solution to the system of equations above,

what is the value of ?

A.

B.

C. 5

D. 13

ID: 52cb8ea4 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is correct. Subtracting the second equation, , from the first equation, , results in
, or . Combining like terms on the left-hand side of this equation yields
.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from miscalculating as . Choice C is incorrect and may result from
miscalculating as 5. Choice D is incorrect and may result from adding 9 to 4 instead of subtracting 9 from 4.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID d7bf55e1
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Algebra Systems of two linear

equations in two
variables

ID: d7bf55e1

A movie theater sells two types of tickets, adult tickets for $12 and child tickets for
$8. If the theater sold 30 tickets for a total of $300, how much, in dollars, was
spent on adult tickets? (Disregard the $ sign when gridding your answer.)

ID: d7bf55e1 Answer

Rationale

The correct answer is 180. Let a be the number of adult tickets sold and c be the number of child tickets sold. Since the
theater sold a total of 30 tickets, a + c = 30. The price per adult ticket is $12, and the price per child ticket is $8. Since the
theater received a total of $300 for the 30 tickets sold, it follows that 12a + 8c = 300. To eliminate c, the first equation can be
multiplied by 8 and then subtracted from the second equation:

Because the question asks for the amount spent on adult tickets, which is 12a dollars, the resulting equation can be
multiplied by 3 to give 3(4a) = 3(60) = 180. Therefore, $180 was spent on adult tickets.

Alternate approach: If all the 30 tickets sold were child tickets, their total price would be 30($8) = $240. Since the actual total
price of the 30 tickets was $300, the extra $60 indicates that a certain number of adult tickets, a, were sold. Since the price
of each adult ticket is $4 more than each child ticket, 4a = 60, and it follows that 12a = 180.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID f718c9cf
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Algebra Systems of two linear

equations in two
variables

ID: f718c9cf

The solution to the given system of equations is . What is the value of ?

ID: f718c9cf Answer

Correct Answer: 1.8, 9/5

Rationale

9
The correct answer is 5 . Multiplying the first equation in the given system by 2 yields 10𝑥 + 28𝑦 = 90. Subtracting the second
equation in the given system, 10𝑥 + 7𝑦 = 27, from 10𝑥 + 28𝑦 = 90 yields 10𝑥 + 28𝑦 - 10𝑥 + 7𝑦 = 90 - 27, which is equivalent
to 10𝑥 + 28𝑦 - 10𝑥 - 7𝑦 = 63, or 21𝑦 = 63. Dividing both sides of this equation by 21 yields 𝑦 = 3. The value of 𝑥 can be found
by substituting 3 for 𝑦 in either of the two given equations. Substituting 3 for 𝑦 in the equation 10𝑥 + 7𝑦 = 27 yields
10𝑥 + 73 = 27, or 10𝑥 + 21 = 27. Subtracting 21 from both sides of this equation yields 10𝑥 = 6. Dividing both sides of this
6 3 3 9
equation by 10 yields 𝑥 = 10
, or 𝑥 = 5 . Therefore, the value of 𝑥𝑦 is 5 3, or 5 . Note that 9/5 and 1.8 are examples of ways to
enter a correct answer.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 466b87e3
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Algebra Systems of two linear

equations in two
variables

ID: 466b87e3

In the system of equations above, c is a constant. If the system has

no solution, what is the value of c ?

ID: 466b87e3 Answer

Rationale

The correct answer is . A system of two linear equations has no solution when the graphs of the equations have the
same slope and different y-intercepts. Each of the given linear equations is written in the slope-intercept form, ,
where m is the slope and b is the y-coordinate of the y-intercept of the graph of the equation. For these two linear equations,
the y-intercepts are and . Thus, if the system of equations has no solution, the slopes of the graphs of the two

linear equations must be the same. The slope of the graph of the first linear equation is . Therefore, for the system of

equations to have no solution, the value of c must be . Note that 1/2 and .5 are examples of ways to enter a correct
answer.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID e2e3942f
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Algebra Systems of two linear

equations in two
variables

ID: e2e3942f

In the system of equations above, a is a constant. If the system of equations

has no solution, what is the value of a ?

A.

B. 0

C. 1

D. 2

ID: e2e3942f Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale

Choice D is correct. A system of two linear equations has no solution when the graphs of the equations have the same slope
and different y-coordinates of the y-intercepts. Each of the given equations is written in the slope-intercept form of a linear
equation, , where m is the slope and b is the y-coordinate of the y-intercept of the graph of the equation. For
these two linear equations, the y-coordinates of the y-intercepts are different: and . Thus, if the system of equations
has no solution, the slopes of the two linear equations must be the same. The slope of the first linear equation is 2.
Therefore, for the system of equations to have no solution, the value of a must be 2.

Choices A, B, and C are incorrect and may result from conceptual and computational errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID f03465dc
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Algebra Systems of two linear

equations in two
variables

ID: f03465dc

For each real number , which of the following points lies on the graph of each equation in the xy-plane for the given system?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: f03465dc Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale

Choice A is correct. Dividing both sides of the second equation in the given system by 3 yields 8𝑥 + 7𝑦 = 9, which is the first
equation in the given system. Therefore, the first and second equations represent the same line in the xy-plane. If the x- and
y-coordinates of a point satisfy an equation, the point lies on the graph of the equation in the xy-plane. Choice A is a point
8𝑟 9 8𝑟 9
with x-coordinate 𝑟 and y-coordinate - + . Substituting 𝑟 for 𝑥 and - + for 𝑦 in the equation 8𝑥 + 7𝑦 = 9 yields
7 7 7 7
8 9
8𝑟 + 7- 𝑟 + = 9. Applying the distributive property to the left-hand side of this equation yields 8𝑟 - 8𝑟 + 9 = 9. Combining
7 7
8 9
like terms on the left-hand side of this equation yields 9 = 9, so the coordinates of the point 𝑟, - 𝑟 + satisfy both equations
7 7
8 9
in the given system. Therefore, for each real number 𝑟, the point 𝑟, - 7
𝑟 +
7
lies on the graph of each equation in the xy-plane
for the given system.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 1e11190a
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Algebra Systems of two linear

equations in two
variables

ID: 1e11190a

Store A sells raspberries for per pint and blackberries for per pint. Store B sells raspberries for per pint
and blackberries for per pint. A certain purchase of raspberries and blackberries would cost at Store A or
at Store B. How many pints of blackberries are in this purchase?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 1e11190a Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice C is correct. It’s given that store A sells raspberries for $ 5 . 50 per pint and blackberries for $ 3 . 00 per pint, and a
certain purchase of raspberries and blackberries at store A would cost $ 37 . 00. It’s also given that store B sells raspberries
for $ 6 . 50 per pint and blackberries for $ 8 . 00 per pint, and this purchase of raspberries and blackberries at store B would
cost $ 66 . 00. Let 𝑟 represent the number of pints of raspberries and 𝑏 represent the number of pints of blackberries in this
purchase. The equation 5 . 50𝑟 + 3 . 00𝑏 = 37 . 00 represents this purchase of raspberries and blackberries from store A and
the equation 6 . 50𝑟 + 8 . 00𝑏 = 66 . 00 represents this purchase of raspberries and blackberries from store B. Solving the
system of equations by elimination gives the value of 𝑟 and the value of 𝑏 that make the system of equations true.
Multiplying both sides of the equation for store A by 6.5 yields 5 . 50𝑟6 . 5 + 3 . 00𝑏6 . 5 = 37 . 006 . 5, or
35 . 75𝑟 + 19 . 5𝑏 = 240 . 5. Multiplying both sides of the equation for store B by 5.5 yields 6 . 50𝑟5 . 5 + 8 . 00𝑏5 . 5 = 66 . 005 . 5,
or 35 . 75𝑟 + 44𝑏 = 363. Subtracting both sides of the equation for store A, 35 . 75𝑟 + 19 . 5𝑏 = 240 . 5, from the corresponding
sides of the equation for store B, 35 . 75𝑟 + 44𝑏 = 363, yields 35 . 75𝑟 - 35 . 75𝑟 + 44𝑏 - 19 . 5𝑏 = 363 - 240 . 5, or
24 . 5𝑏 = 122 . 5. Dividing both sides of this equationby 24.5 yields 𝑏 = 5. Thus, 5 pints of blackberries are in
this purchase.

Choices A and B are incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors. Choice D is incorrect. This is the number
of pints of raspberries, not blackberries, in the purchase.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 567ac7ab
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Algebra Systems of two linear

equations in two
variables

ID: 567ac7ab

One of the two equations in a linear system is . The system has no

solution. Which of the following could be the other equation in the system?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 567ac7ab Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is correct. A system of two linear equations written in standard form has no solution when the equations are
distinct and the ratio of the x-coefficient to the y-coefficient for one equation is equivalent to the ratio of the x-coefficient to
the y-coefficient for the other equation. This ratio for the given equation is 2 to 6, or 1 to 3. Only choice B is an equation that
isn’t equivalent to the given equation and whose ratio of the x-coefficient to the y-coefficient is 1 to 3.

Choice A is incorrect. Multiplying each of the terms in this equation by 2 yields an equation that is equivalent to the given
equation. This system would have infinitely many solutions. Choices C and D are incorrect. The ratio of the x-coefficient to
the y-coefficient in (choice C) is to 2, or to 1. This ratio in (choice D) is 6 to 2, or 3 to 1.
Since neither of these ratios is equivalent to that for the given equation, these systems would have exactly one solution.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 75012ee7
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Algebra Systems of two linear

equations in two
variables

ID: 75012ee7

For each real number , which of the following points lies on the graph of each equation in the xy-plane for the given system?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 75012ee7 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is correct. The two given equations are equivalent because the second equation can be obtained from the first
equation by multiplying each side of the equation by 5. Thus, the graphs of the equations are coincident, so if a point lies on
the graph of one of the equations, it also lies on the graph of the other equation. A point 𝑥, 𝑦 lies on the graph of an equation
in the xy-plane if and only if this point represents a solution to the equation. It is sufficient, therefore, to find the point that
3𝑟 7
represents a solution to the first given equation. Substituting the x- and y-coordinates of choice B, - 2 + 2 and 𝑟, for 𝑥 and 𝑦,
3𝑟 7
respectively, in the first equation yields 2- 2 + 2 + 3𝑟 = 7, which is equivalent to -3𝑟 + 7 + 3𝑟 = 7, or 7 = 7. Therefore, the
3𝑟 7
point - + , 𝑟 represents a solution to the first equation and thus lies on the graph of each equation in the xy-plane for the
2 2
given system.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 5e08a055
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Algebra Systems of two linear

equations in two
variables

ID: 5e08a055

One of the equations in a system of two linear equations is given. The system has no solution. Which equation could be the
second equation in the system?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 5e08a055 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale

Choice B is correct. A system of two linear equations in two variables, 𝑥 and 𝑦, has no solution if the lines represented by the
equations in the xy-plane are parallel and distinct. Lines represented by equations in standard form, 𝐴𝑥 + 𝐵𝑦 = 𝐶 and
𝐷𝑥 + 𝐸𝑦 = 𝐹, are parallel if the coefficients for 𝑥 and 𝑦 in one equation are proportional to the corresponding coefficients in
𝐷 𝐸 𝐹
the other equation, meaning = ; and the lines are distinct if the constants are not proportional, meaning is not equal to
𝐴 𝐵 𝐶
𝐷 𝐸
𝐴
or 𝐵 . The given equation, 𝑦 = 6𝑥 + 18, can be written in standard form by subtracting 6𝑥 from both sides of the equation to
yield -6𝑥 + 𝑦 = 18. Therefore, the given equation can be written in the form 𝐴𝑥 + 𝐵𝑦 = 𝐶, where 𝐴 = - 6, 𝐵 = 1, and 𝐶 = 18.
The equation in choice B, -6𝑥 + 𝑦 = 22, is written in the form 𝐷𝑥 + 𝐸𝑦 = 𝐹, where 𝐷 = - 6, 𝐸 = 1, and 𝐹 = 22. Therefore,
𝐷 -6 𝐷 𝐸 1 𝐸 𝐹 22 𝐹 11
= , which can be rewritten as = 1; = , which can be rewritten as = 1; and = , which can be rewritten as = .
𝐴 -6 𝐴 𝐵 1 𝐵 𝐶 18 𝐶 9
𝐷 𝐸 𝐹
Since 𝐴
= 1,
𝐵
= 1, and
𝐶
is not equal to 1, it follows that the given equation and the equation -6𝑥 + 𝑦 = 22 are parallel and
distinct. Therefore, a system of two linear equations consisting of the given equation and the equation -6𝑥 + 𝑦 = 22 has no
solution. Thus, the equation in choice B could be the second equation in the system.

Choice A is incorrect. The equation -6𝑥 + 𝑦 = 18 and the given equation represent the same line in the xy-plane. Therefore, a
system of these linear equations would have infinitely many solutions, rather than no solution.

Choice C is incorrect. The equation -12𝑥 + 𝑦 = 36 and the given equation represent lines in the xy-plane that are distinct and
not parallel. Therefore, a system of these linear equations would have exactly one solution, rather than no solution.

Choice D is incorrect. The equation -12𝑥 + 𝑦 = 18 and the given equation represent lines in the xy-plane that are distinct and
not parallel. Therefore, a system of these linear equations would have exactly one solution, rather than no solution.

Question Difficulty: Hard

Question ID 27f5fff3
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Algebra Systems of two linear

equations in two
variables

ID: 27f5fff3

If a new graph of three linear equations is created using the system of equations shown and the equation ,
how many solutions will the resulting system of three equations have?

A. Zero

B. Exactly one

C. Exactly two

D. Infinitely many

ID: 27f5fff3 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale

Choice A is correct. A solution to a system of equations must satisfy each equation in the system. It follows that if an
ordered pair 𝑥, 𝑦 is a solution to the system, the point 𝑥, 𝑦 lies on the graph in the xy-plane of each equation in the system.
The only point that lies on each graph of the system of two linear equations shown is their intersection point 8, 2. It follows
that if a new graph of three linear equations is created using the system of equations shown and the graph of 𝑥 + 4𝑦 = - 16,
this system has either zero solutions or one solution, the point 8, 2. Substituting 8 for 𝑥 and 2 for 𝑦 in the equation
𝑥 + 4𝑦 = - 16 yields 8 + 42 = - 16, or 16 = - 16. Since this equation is not true, the point 8, 2 does not lie on the graph of
𝑥 + 4𝑦 = - 16. Therefore, 8, 2 is not a solution to the system of three equations. It follows that there are zero solutions to this
system.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Hard