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McGraw Hill
500
ACT Math Questions
to know by test day
500
ACT Math Questions
to know by test day
Third Edition
Anaxos, Inc.
ISBN: 978-1-26-427772-8
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CONTENTS
Introduction vii
Diagnostic Quiz 1
Questions 1–20
Answers 181
‹ v
‹ vii
500
ACT Math Questions
to know by test day
‹ 1
The following questions refer to different units in this book. These questions will
help you test your understanding of the concepts tested on the ACT exam by
giving you an idea of where you need to focus your attention as you prepare. For
each question, simply circle the letter of your choice. Once you are done with the
exam, check your work against the given answers, which also indicate where you
can find the corresponding material in the book.
Good luck!
‹ 3
x +2 x +6
1. If = , then what is the value of x?
3 6
(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 4
(D) 5
(E) 6
2. The value of three consecutive odd integers is 567. What is the value of the
second of these three consecutive integers?
(A) 175
(B) 181
(C) 187
(D) 189
(E) 193
4. If a six-sided die is thrown, what is the probability that the result of two
consecutive throws will be two sixes?
1
(A)
72
1
(B)
36
(C) 1
24
(D) 1
3
(E) 1
2
‹ 5
5. Tim has a box with a set of 8 green, 5 blue, 6 yellow, and 7 black toys. What
is the probability that a random selection would yield a blue or black toy?
5
(A)
26
1
(B)
4
6
(C)
13
1
(D)
2
15
(E)
26
8. The ratio of x to y is 7 to 18. If the value of x is 49, then what is the value of y ?
(A) 25
(B) 56
(C) 90
(D) 96
(E) 126
D C
6
A 6 B I x J
(A) 9
(B) 12
(C) 15
(D) 18
(E) 24
10. Mitch became school council president by winning 64% of the vote. If his
opponent won 396 votes and all of the votes cast were valid, what was the
total number of votes cast?
(A) 618
(B) 694
(C) 791
(D) 1,025
(E) 1,100
4
11. Given the visual shown below, the ratio of x to y is 1 : . What is the value
3
of y?
C
5
x
A y B
(A) 2
(B) 3
(C) 4
(D) 5
(E) 6
12. Which of the following lines has a negative slope with a positive
x-intercept?
(A) 4
–6 –4 –2 0 2 4 6
–2
–4
(B) 4
–4 –2 0 2 4 6 8
–2
–4
(C) 6
–6 –4 –2 0 2 4 6
–2
4
(D)
–4 –2 0 2 4 6 8
–2
–4
(E) 4
–4 –2 0 2 4 6
–2
–4
13. If the point (-3, y) lies on f (x) = -3x + 4, then what is the correct value
of y?
(A) -13
(B) -5
(C) 4
(D) 9
(E) 13
14. The length of a diagonal of a rectangle is 5 cm, and its width is 3 cm.
What is the area of the rectangle?
(A) 8
(B) 12
(C) 15
(D) 20
(E) 24
15. What is the greatest common factor of 16, 28, and 32?
(A) 2
(B) 3
(C) 4
(D) 6
(E) 8
16. The sum of 41 numbers is 1025. What is the average of these numbers?
(A) 23
(B) 25
(C) 31
(D) 41
(E) 50
18. The sum of the values -2x, x + 2, and 3x - 4 is 12. What is the value of x?
(A) 4
(B) 5
(C) 6
(D) 7
(E) 12
19. Jennifer’s parents are saving for retirement. The value of their investment
can be represented with the function FV(X ) = 12,500 (1 + 0.09)t, where
FV is the future value of the investment while t is the time in years that
has passed. Rounded to two decibels, what will be the value of their
investment in 25 years?
(A) 75,259.41
(B) 93.321.56
(C) 101,214.24
(D) 107,788.51
(E) 131,199.24
20. Which of the following could be a slope of a line perpendicular to one that
passes through (0, 2) and (4, 8)?
(A) -3
3
(B) −
2
2
(C) −
3
(D) 1
(E) 3
‹ 13
12. (D) Both (A) and (B) have positive slopes. While answers (C) and (D), and (E) all have
negative slopes, only (D) has a negative x-intercept.
We can solve the equation by determining that as x2 = 16 and the side of a rectan-
gle has to be a positive number. This means that the only possible option is that x = 4.
As the area is calculated by multiplying the length with the width, the correct answer is
4 * 3 = 12.
18. (D) If the sum of these values is 12, this can be mathematically written as -2x + x +
2 + 3x - 4 = 12.
This can then be simplified as 2x = 14 meaning that the value of x = 7.
8 = 4a + b
Use the following table to answer questions 1 and 2. It shows the class
level of the 500 students at Greenville High School.
MODELING
2. If the fraction of students who are freshmen is represented using a
circle graph (pie chart), what should be the measure (in degrees) of the
central angle of that portion of the graph?
(A) 12
(B) 25
(C) 40
(D) 65
(E) 90
‹ 17
3. The following chart represents the final course grades for students in two
math classes. What fraction of students in the courses received a final
course grade of A or B?
20
20
15
15
Number of students
10
5
5
3
2
A B C D F
Final grade
1
(A)
9
2
(B)
9
3
(C)
9
4
(D)
9
5
(E)
9
MODELING 4. The following circle graph represents the distribution of students in a local
high school. If there are 1000 total students in the high school, how many
more are 9th graders than 11th graders?
Distribution of students by grade level
24%
9th grade
45% 10th grade
11th grade
10%
12th grade
21%
(A) 500
(B) 450
(C) 350
(D) 120
(E) 100
MODELING 5. A factory can produce 100 bracelets every 15 minutes. How many
bracelets can the factory produce in three and a half hours?
(A) 300
(B) 350
(C) 550
(D) 1400
(E) 5250
11. If the length of one side of a square is increased by 20%, then the
perimeter will increase by
(A) 5%
(B) 10%
(C) 20%
(D) 40%
(E) 80%
MODELING 13. A special garden design requires that the garden have three distinct square
sections whose areas follow the ratio 2:3:5. If such a garden is designed to
have a total area of 1550 square feet, then what would be the area of the
smallest section in square feet?
(A) 155
(B) 250
(C) 300
(D) 500
(E) 750
14. In the following figure, triangles ABC and DEF are similar. What is the
value of x ?
C
20
x
30 E
B
2
8
D
(A) 5.0
(B) 7.5
(C) 15.0
(D) 24.0
(E) 36.5
b
15. If a is directly proportional to and a = 1 when b = 10, then what is the
value of a when b = 35? 2
1
(A)
7
1
(B)
5
2
(C)
9
9
(D)
4
7
(E)
2
MODELING 17. Greg can read w words a minute. How many minutes will it take Greg to
read an n-page document if each page contains 500 words?
500n
(A)
w
500w
(B)
n
(C) 500nw
(D) 500(n + w)
(E) 500n + w
1 1
18. Which of the following represents of ?
2 20
(A) 0.000025
(B) 0.00025
(C) 0.0025
(D) 0.025
(E) 0.25
19. In an election with two parties, Party A won 54% of the votes. If Party B
received 874 votes, how many votes were cast in total?
(A) 400
(B) 472
(C) 1619
(D) 1900
(E) 2102
20. Each side of square A has a length of 3 meters, while each side of square B
has a length of 9 meters. What is the ratio of the area of square A to the
area of square B?
(A) 1:1
(B) 1:3
(C) 1:6
(D) 1:9
(E) 1:12
21. The ratio of the lengths of each of the sides of a triangle is 4:12:14. If the
shortest side has a length of 2 feet, what is the perimeter of the triangle in
feet?
(A) 15
(B) 24
(C) 34
(D) 57
(E) 68
22. In a college with 14,000 students, 490 are majoring in mathematics. What
percentage of the student body does the number of math majors represent?
(A) 0.0035%
(B) 0.035%
(C) 0.35%
(D) 3.5%
(E) 35%
B 18 C
A F E
(A) 12
(B) 28
(C) 54
(D) 108
(E) 216
24. In the following figure, rectangles ABCD and EFGD are similar. What is
the perimeter of EFGD?
B 30 C
F 3
10 G
A E D
(A) 4
(B) 8
(C) 26
(D) 30
(E) 40
25. If 3x + 6xy + 9y = 15, then what is the value of x + 2xy + 3y equal to?
(A) 2
(B) 5
(C) 6
(D) 7.5
(E) 10
28. If the ratio of A to B is 3:8 and the ratio of B to C is 1:6, what is the ratio
of A to C ?
(A) 1:2
(B) 1:14
(C) 1:16
(D) 1:24
(E) 1:48
29. A $154.99 graphing calculator can be purchased with a coupon that gives
a 15% discount. What is the price of the calculator if it is purchased with
the coupon?
(A) $23.25
(B) $68.47
(C) $131.74
(D) $139.99
(E) $152.67
30. The length of a rectangle is 40% larger than its width. If the area of the
rectangle is 140 square feet, what is the width of the rectangle in feet?
(A) 10
(B) 22
(C) 35
(D) 56
(E) 64
3
31. For x > 0, which of the following represents x % of ?
4
3x
(A)
40
3x
(B)
400
3
(C)
400 x
1
(D)
28
30 x
(E)
4
1 1
32. What is % of ?
4 4
(A) 0.000250
(B) 0.000625
(C) 0.0025
(D) 0.0050
(E) 1
MODELING 33. The following table represents the percentages of employees in each of four
possible classifications at a certain company. If there are no other possible
classifications, what is the value of x ?
Classification Percentage
Part-time 35%
Full-time, hourly 20%
Full-time, salary 24%
Full-time, salary and bonus x%
(A) 1
(B) 21
(C) 44
(D) 79
(E) 65
34. If the ratio of x to y is 1:6, what is the difference between y and x when
x = 12?
(A) 5
(B) 12
(C) 17
(D) 60
(E) 72
35. In the following figure, the ratio of x to y is 1:4. What is the ratio of the
area of the triangle with base x to the area of the triangle with base x + y ?
B
A x y C
(A) 1:2
(B) 1:4
(C) 1:5
(D) 1:7
(E) Cannot be determined
36. Rectangles ABCD and PQRS in the following figure are similar. What is
the value of x ?
Q R
B C
16
4
A 13 D P x – 13 S
(A) 13
(B) 25
(C) 38
(D) 52
(E) 65
38. The circles in the following figure are centered at points O and P,
AB
respectively. If = 3, what is the ratio of the area of the circle centered
CD
at point O to the area of the circle centered at point P ?
A B C D
O P
(A) 3:1
(B) 3:2
(C) 6:1
(D) 9:1
(E) 9:2
39. The number representing the length of one side of a square is 20% as large
as the number representing its area. What is the perimeter of this square?
(A) 5
(B) 15
(C) 20
(D) 34
(E) 60
40. If the ratio of x to y is 2:5, and y is always 30% of z, then for all possible
x
nonzero values of x, y, and z, =
z
1
(A) .
12
3
(B) .
25
2
(C) .
3
5
(D) .
6
3
(E) .
4
x
41. If × 280 = 112, then x % of 280 is
50
(A) 23.
(B) 56.
(C) 102.
(D) 188.
(E) 224.
42. The triangles in the following figure are similar. In terms of x, what is the
perimeter of triangle DEF ?
B
x E
x
(A) +6
6
x
(B) +6
3
2x
(C) +6
3
(D) 2 x + 6
(E) 6 x + 6
43. A weather station reported that 90% of the days in a 30-day period
had measurable snowfall. How many of these days received measurable
snowfall?
(A) 3
(B) 12
(C) 18
(D) 27
(E) 29
44. Triangle A and triangle B are equilateral triangles such that the ratio of the
length of one side of triangle A to the length of one side of triangle B is 6
to 7. If the perimeter of triangle A is 9, what is the length of a single side
of triangle B ?
2
(A)
3
7
(B)
2
(C) 12
(D) 18
(E) 21
x 1
45. In the following figure, ABCD is a rectangle such that = . If the area of
ABPQ is 12, what is the area of ABCD ? y 5
B P C
A x Q y D
(A) 32
(B) 56
(C) 60
(D) 72
(E) 112
46. The ratio of x to y is 2 to 3. If the sum of x and y is 125, what is the value
of x ?
(A) 15
(B) 25
(C) 50
(D) 75
(E) 100
1
47. Which of the following represents 0.2% of ?
5
1
(A)
25,000
1
(B)
2500
1
(C)
250
1
(D)
25
1
(E)
10
48. For any circle with radius r > 0, what is the ratio of the length of its radius
to its area?
(A) 1:p
(B) 1:2p
(C) 1:pr
(D) 1:2pr
(E) 1:pr2
MODELING 49. Every student enrolled in a science course is either a physics major or a
biology major. If the ratio of physics majors to biology majors is 3 to 1
and there are 21 physics majors enrolled, how many biology majors are
enrolled in the course?
(A) 7
(B) 15
(C) 23
(D) 45
(E) 63
1
50. Suppose that m is inversely proportional to n and that m = when n = 6.
2 2
If n = , what is the value of m?
3
1
(A)
6
(B) 2
(C) 3
9
(D)
2
(E) 6
x+4 x −3
51. If = , then what is the value of x?
y − 2 2y − 4
(A) –14
(B) –11
(C) –3
(D) 5
(E) 8
1
52. If y is directly proportional to x and if y = 6 when x = , then which of the
4
following equations describes the relationship between x and y ?
1
(A) y = x
4
3
(B) y = x
2
23
(C) y = x
4
(D) y = 6 x
(E) y = 24 x
54. If the length of one side of a square is 28% of 50, then the area of the
square is equal to
(A) 70
(B) 84
(C) 140
(D) 196
(E) 289
MODELING 56. This week, the price of a plane ticket is $436.00. Over the next three
weeks, suppose the price of the ticket rises 5% in the first week, falls 10%
the next week, and then rises 20% in the third week. To the nearest cent,
what is the cost of the plane ticket in three weeks?
(A) $412.02
(B) $457.80
(C) $494.42
(D) $501.40
(E) $523.20
57. Of 600 items in a storage closet, 40% are pens or pencils, 10% are first-aid
items, and 5% are notebooks. How many items in the storage closet have
not been described?
(A) 45
(B) 60
(C) 240
(D) 270
(E) 300
The wine was excellent, and the glass circulated freely. Who
thought I, would not travel in a voiture, to live thus cheerily, and at so
trifling an expense, for it will scarcely appear credible, that the
proprietor had engaged to convey me to Toulouse, a distance of one
hundred and twenty-five miles, occupying five days on the journey,
and providing me with every necessary, beds included, for thirty-five
francs, equal to about five shillings and ten pence English money per
day!
I cannot but express myself grateful, for the interest this kind-
hearted woman evinced in my favour, on the present occasion; but
this is not the only time, that I have been indebted for support and
success, to a fair advocate.
In the present case, in order to put this surly fellow into good
humour, I thought well to advance him a couple of five franc pieces,
but without producing the effect I had anticipated; for finding myself
suffering from headach, which I attributed to want of due exercise, I
made signs for him to halt, while I might get out of the coach, with
the intention of walking for a time; he only, however, replied, with
much coolness, “toute a l’heure;” and notwithstanding my repeated
request, was quite indisposed to accommodate me, until I
manifested my intention of jumping out: he now thought well to stop
his horses, and proffer his assistance; however, I refused it, and
succeeded in finding the back part of the coach, where I secured my
hold by means of a piece of cord (which when travelling I make a
rule to carry always in my pocket), and which, in the present
instance, served me as a leading string; I then followed, in this way,
on foot for several miles, to the no small amusement of the villagers,
who laughed heartily, and even shouted after me. I had, however,
the satisfaction of getting rid of my headach, and succeeded in
completely tiring myself. We did not reach our breakfast point before
two o’clock, and proceeding again at four, arrived proportionately late
at the end of the day’s journey.
While our supper was getting ready, I went, under protection of the
soldier’s wife, to call upon Mrs. W⸺, a lady who had kindly offered
to assist in procuring me a reception, for the winter, in some
respectable French family. I was fortunate enough to find her at
home; when she expressed much surprise at the manner in which I
had travelled so far, and informed me, that preparatory
arrangements had been made for my residence in the family of
Colonel du B⸺. In returning to the inn we experienced some
embarrassment; for my conductress had been so long absent from
her native city, that we had much difficulty, in consequence of the
narrowness and intricacy of the streets, in finding our way back to
the inn.
But perhaps the more interesting feature of the family group, was
Mademoiselle la Sœur. This lady, somewhat advanced beyond the
noontide of life, was a diminutive woman, with one eye, and largely
attached to the charms of tabac, which contributed to give her voice
a strong nasal tone; but in addition to this penchant for snuff, she
enjoyed also the pleasures of the table; was fond of high-seasoned
dishes, onions, garlic, and wine; her converse was of the merry kind;
she was fond of whispering into one’s private ear; and with these
talents, seemed also wonderfully adapted for sociality, as she
cultivated a large circle of acquaintance in the town, and made it a
rule to return with a whole budget full of news for our amusement.
There are in this city some good squares, particularly the Place
Royal, in which are situated the town-house and theatre; the Place
St. George; the Place St. Stephen, containing the cathedral; and
also the Place de Bourbon, which with its neighbourhood is the more
eligible point for the residence of a stranger.
Some of the walks around the town are very fine, but the access to
them unpleasant, in consequence of the offensive smells proceeding
from the narrow streets in their vicinity; this is particularly the case as
you approach the fine bridge over the Garonne.
A theatre was open during a part of the winter, and we had two or
three public concerts, as well as a variety of private ones by amateur
performers, particularly during the season of the carnival, which
finished on the 14th of February, and exhibited all its usual variety of
masks, grotesque characters, and buffoonery; these concerts were
only given on the Sunday afternoon.
“M⸺
Pax illi ⸺”
Soon afterward, the city of Toulouse was thrown into a high state
of consternation, in consequence of the assassination of the Duc de
Berri; the imaginations of the inhabitants recurred to the sanguinary
scenes of the French revolution, in which this town had no small
share, and anticipated a return of its horrors. After this event, the
following invitation was addressed to the various English residents:
“Eglise reformée de Toulouse. Nos tres chers frères en Jesus
Christ.
I must not, however, leave this city, without paying a due tribute of
respect to the worthy family with whom I have been resident, whose
innumerable acts of kindness, and attention to a whimsical invalid,
will ever claim his gratitude.
For the first three days, I lived with this gentleman at his lodgings,
having however my sleeping-room at the Hotel de Midi; after which
time, I had the good fortune to place myself in the family of Madame
the Countess de M⸺, who occupied a noble mansion, agreeably
situated near the town, replete with every convenience, and
comprising beautiful gardens, embellished with terrace walks,
fountains, and a bosquet, where, to my surprise, the nightingale
sang all day long. For some reason or other, Madame found it
convenient to dispose of a part of her house; one portion was
occupied by two French officers with their families, and another by a
Russian officer. The suites of apartments were, however, perfectly
distinct, and there was little intercourse between the above and her
own family, which inhabited the better part of the house, and
consisted of herself, two daughters, and a relative, M. de C⸺.
I was exceedingly happy in this family, and with the friend who
accompanied me from Toulouse, made various excursions into the
surrounding neighbourhood; we particularly enjoyed the walks on the
banks of the river and lake, where the air was much cooler and more
agreeable, than on the road, at this time becoming dusty and
troublesome. The scenery, about two or three miles from the city, is
said to be romantically beautiful. On our return, we used,
occasionally, to take a warm bath, which was peculiarly refreshing,
and with respect to which, I noticed a luxury, which I had never
before remarked,—namely, a clean sheet thrown over the surface of
the bath, which you descend into, and are enveloped in.
There are also some delightful public walks about the town, as the
Perût, whence is a view of the Mediterranean, and Cevennes
mountains; the esplanade; and the botanic gardens. The city is also
surrounded by boulevards, of which I was able to make the tour in
forty minutes. The markets at Montpellier are well supplied with
meats and fish of all kinds; with poultry, vegetables, and fruits in
abundance. The vin ordinaire of the country, is termed vin de St.
George, which is good, and full bodied, and sold from the cask as
low as five or six sous the full quart bottle, although, after bottling
and refining, the wine merchant charges twenty sous for a small
wine quart. There is, however, another sort, termed vin de Lednon,
which is lighter, but highly flavoured, and consequently more
estimated, selling at thirty sous the bottle. A variety of other wines
may also be procured.
Anxious for the benefit I expected to derive from the waters of Aix,
I hastened my departure from Nismes on the 11th of July. I had only
a single companion in the diligence, an interesting young student of
seventeen or eighteen years of age, on his way from college to meet
some friends at Beaucaire, and as highly delighted with his
emancipation from scholastic trammels, as a young midshipman at
going on shore after a long cruise. At one place we took a glass of
liqueur together, and on my offering to pay for it, he laughed at me,
and said I was joking. At eight o’clock we reached Beaucaire, where
he left me. At this place great preparations were making for the
annual fair, which lasts about three weeks, and is of much
importance, as merchants attend it from all parts of Europe.
It was not easy to find a family like that of the Countess de M⸺,
at Montpellier, particularly at this season, when every one who could
afford to support the smallest establishment in the country, was, on
account of the excessive heat, gone out of town. At length I fixed
myself with Madame R⸺, the widow of an officer of dragoons, with
three children, the eldest a girl of fourteen. A rich old gentleman, her
cousin, M. B⸺, also resided with her, and they kept, in conjunction,
two carriages and three horses, and occupied three different country
houses.
The commerce of this great mercantile city was at this time much
depressed, owing to the heavy duties imposed upon goods imported
by American vessels; which however they managed to evade, in
some degree, by unshipping their cargoes at Nice, or Genoa, into
French coasters.
At four o’clock we left the inn, but the town-gates were yet closed,
and some time elapsed before they were opened to us; at length an