1.  ACT PREP MATH Educational Talent Search and Upward Bound
Forward Service Corporation

2. Content 14 questions dealing with Pre-Algebra
 10 questions from Elementary Algebra
 9 questions based on Intermediate Algebra
 9 questions from Coordinate Geometry
 14 questions from Plane Geometry
 4 Trigonometry questions
The questions assume knowledge of basic formulas and computational skills but do not require memorization of complex formulas or extensive computation

3. Pace Yourself 60 questions 60 minutes
Don’t waste time on any one problem, spend your dftime doing as many problems as you can
The questions are arranged in order of difficulty
RELAX: answering only half of the questions right onwill give you a score of 20 on the Math Section

4. Go Through The Test Twice
Pace Yourself
Go Through The Test Twice
Take 45 minutes to go through the test
Answer the questions that you know how to do
Guess on the questions you know you’ll never get
Mark the harder questions that you’ll come back to later
Spend the last 15 minutes going over the test again
Answer the questions you skipped
Make sure you have answered every question
Spend any remaining time checking your work

5. ALL PROBLEMS ON THE ACT CAN BE SOLVED WITHOUT USING A CALCULATOR
Calculators
ALL PROBLEMS ON THE ACT CAN BE SOLVED WITHOUT USING A CALCULATOR
You may use a four-function, scientific, or graphing calculator on the Math test
Calculators, such as TI-89 and TI-92 are NOT permitted (see page 4 in the ACT prep booklet)
Bring a calculator that you know how to use – bringing a more powerful calculator that you do not know how to use isn’t going to help you

6. Understand the Problem
Read the problem carefully
Pay attention to what the question asks you to find
Watch for unnecessary information
Label the figures with numbers or letters
Draw a picture

7. Solving the Problem There’s more than one way to solve these problems
It’s a timed test – find a quick and reliable way to solve the problem
Do your work in your test booklet
Be careful using your calculator – it’s easy to push the wrong button
Don’t get involved in long, complicated, or tricky calculations

8. Check Your Answer Make sure you answered the question that was asked
Each of the wrong answers represents a common mistake that you might have made
If your answer isn’t one of the choices, reread the question and check your work

9. When You
Get Stuck

10. BACKSOLVE CORRECT ANSWER: A
Take advantage of the multiple-choice format and try each answer until you find the one that works.
WARNING: Doing it this way will take more time.
The greatest common divisor of 84, 90, and 66 (that is, the largest exact divisor of all three numbers) is: 6 12 18 36 90
84 = 2٠2٠3٠ = 2٠3٠3٠ = 2٠3٠11
2٠3 = 6
90 does not go into 84 – eliminate answer E
36 does not go into 84 – eliminate answer D
18 does not go into 84 – eliminate answer C
12 does not go into 90 – eliminate answer B
6 must be the correct answer and it checks
CORRECT ANSWER: A

11. BACKSOLVE (cont)
F. 0
G. 2 4
J. 8
K. 10

12. BACKSOLVE (cont)
F. 0
G. 2 4
J. 8
K. 10
Correct Answer:J

13. GUESSTIMATE 60 x 0.02 = 1.2 CORRECT ANSWER: C
If you can estimate the correct answer, then you should be able to eliminate at least one or two answer choices.
What is 2% of 60?
60 x 0.02 = 1.2
120 12
1.2
0.12
0.012
120 is greater than 60 – eliminate answer A
12 is too large – eliminate answer B
CORRECT ANSWER: C
0.012 is too small – eliminate answer E

14. GUESSTIMATE (cont.) A
? meters
B meters C
12, 7, and 5 are longer than the hypotenuse – eliminate answers F, G, and H

15. GUESSTIMATE (cont.) A
? meters
B meters C
CORRECT ANSWER: K

16. EYEBALL By looking at the figure:
X looks too big to be 5°- eliminate answer A
X looks too small to be either 60° or 55° - eliminate answers E and D
One the ACT, the diagrams are “not necessarily” drawn to scale, but usually they’re quite accurate, so you could eliminate certain answer choices by sizing things up with your eyes
In the figure below, what is the value of x? 5°
30°
40°
55°
60° x
125° °

17. CORRECT ANSWER: B EYEBALL (cont.)
In the figure below, what is the value of x? x 5°
30°
40°
55°
60°
125° °
55°
95°
180 –125 = 55
= 95
180 – 55 – 95 = 30
CORRECT ANSWER: B

18. By looking at the figure: A looks larger than 99°– eliminate answer F
EYEBALL (cont.)
By looking at the figure:
A looks larger than 99°– eliminate answer F
A looks smaller than 240° – eliminate answer K
Lola is making the circle graph below showing the number of students at each grade level in her high school. What should be the measure of A?
F °
G. 120°
H. 133°
J °
K °
240 freshmen A
200 sophomores
130 seniors
150 juniors

19. CORRECT ANSWER: G EYEBALL (cont.) Total number of students = 720
Total number of freshmen = 240
Total number of degrees in a circle = 360°
CORRECT ANSWER: G

20. PICK NUMBERS
Some problems are hard because they’re general or abstract, so replace variables with specific numbers
If kx + k = 0, and k>1, then x = ?
Pick a value for k that is greater than 1 -1 1 -k k
Let k = 2
kx + k = 0
2x + 2 = 0
2x = -2
x = -1
Let k = 5
kx + x = 0
5x + 5 = 0
5x = -5
x = -1

21. CORRECT ANSWER:B PICK NUMBERS (cont.)
If kx + k = 0, and k>1, then x = ? -1 1 -k k
kx + k = 0
k(x+1) = 0
k= 0 OR x+1 = 0
k= 0 OR x = -1
CORRECT ANSWER:B

22. PICK NUMBERS (cont.)
For all a  0, what is the slope of the line segment connecting (a,b) and (-a,b) in the usual (x,y) coordinate plane?

23. CORRECT ANSWER: F PICK NUMBERS (cont.)
For all a  0, what is the slope of the line segment connecting (a,b) and (-a,b) in the usual (x,y) coordinate plane?
CORRECT ANSWER: F

24. Practice
Questions

25. Question 1 D C 13 17 19 24 25 4 12 A 3 B

26. ABC is a 3-4-5 right triangle and BCD is a 5-12-13 right triangle
CORRECT ANSWER: A 13 D C 5 4 12 A 3 B
ABC is a right triangle and BCD is a right triangle

27. CORRECT ANSWER: A Question 2
In the figure below, line m is parallel to line n, and line t is a transversal crossing both m and n. Which of the following lists has 3 angles that are all equal in measure?
a,b,d
a,c,d
a,c,e
b,c,d
b,c,e a m n
b c d e t
CORRECT ANSWER: A

28. CORRECT ANSWER: D Question 3
A shirt that originally cost $35 is on sale at 20% off. If the sales tax on shirts is 5% of the purchase price, how much would it cost to buy the shirt at its sale price?
35 (.20) = 7
CORRECT ANSWER: D
35 – 7 = 28
$ 7.35
$20.00
$26.60
$29.40
$29.75
28 (.05) = 1.40
= 29.40
35 (.80) = 28
28 (1.05) = 29.40

29. y = mx + b CORRECT ANSWER: A What is the slope of the line x = 2y +3?
Question 4
What is the slope of the line x = 2y +3?
CORRECT ANSWER: A
y = mx + b

30. Question 5
In the figure below, A, C, and D are collinear. If the measure of A is 30 and the measure ofBCD is 120, what is the measure of B?
30
60
90
120
150 B A
C D

31. In the figure below, A, C, and D are collinear
In the figure below, A, C, and D are collinear. If the measure of A is 30 and the measure of BCD is 120, what is the measure of B?
CORRECT ANSWER: C B
180 – 30 – 60 = 90 90 30 60
120 A
C D
180 – 120 = 60

32. CORRECT ANSWER: D Areacircle = r2 Circumference = 2r Question 6
If the area of a circle is , what is the length of its circumference? 1 2  2 3
Areacircle = r2 Circumference = 2r
 = r2
1 = r2
1 = r
C = 2(1)
C = 2
CORRECT ANSWER: D

33. Question 7
What is the value of x in the solution for the system of equations below?
2x + 5y = 20
6x – ½ y = 29 4 5 6 15 20

34. What is the value of x in the solution for the system of equations below?
2x + 5y = 20
6x – ½ y = 29
2x + 5y = 20
6x – ½ y = 29
2x + 5y = 20
60x - 5y = 290
multiply by 10
add equations together x = 310
solve for x x = 5

35. What is the value of x in the solution for the system of equations below?
CORRECT ANSWER: B
2x + 5y = 20
6x – ½ y = 29
solve for y
12x – y = 58
-y = 58 – 12x
substitute into 1st equation
y = x
2x + 5(-58+12x) = 20
solve for x
2x x = 20
62x = 20
62x = 310
x = 5

36. Question 8
CORRECT ANSWER: C

37. For all y, 26y – (-10y) – 3y(-y+3) = ?
Question 9
For all y, 26y – (-10y) – 3y(-y+3) = ?
10y
-3y2 + 25y
3y2 + 7y
3y2 + 25y
3y2 + 27y
26y – (-10y) – 3y(-y+3)
26y +10y +3y2 – 9y
3y2 +27y
CORRECT ANSWER: E

38. Question 10 C
65
70
75
80
85 D
100
30
A B

39. CORRECT ANSWER: D C D 65 70 75 80 85 80° 100 50 50 30 A B
180 – 30 – 50 = 100
180 – 100= 80
m BDC = 80
CORRECT ANSWER: D

40. Question 11
In the figure below, S is a right angle, RS is 3 units long, and ST is 4 units long. If the measure of R is x, then sin x = ? T 4 x
R S

41. RST is a 3-4-5 right triangle
In the figure below, S is a right angle, RS is 3 units long, and ST is 4 units long. If the measure of R is x, then sin x = ? T
a2 + b2 = c2
= c2
= c2
25 = c2
5 = c 5 4 x
CORRECT ANSWER: C
R S
RST is a right triangle

42. Question 12
In the figure below, the lengths of DE, EF, and FG are given, in units. What is the area, in square units, of triangle DEG? G 10
D E F

43. CORRECT ANSWER: C AreaTriangle = ½ base x height
In the figure below, the lengths of DE, EF, and FG are given, in units. What is the area, in square units, of triangle DEG? G 10
D E F
AreaTriangle = ½ base x height
= ½ (12) (10)
= 60
CORRECT ANSWER: C

44. Question 13 A 6  2 6
12
36 O
60 B

45. CORRECT ANSWER: B Circumference = 2r C = 26 C = 12 degrees = arc
60(12) = 360 x
720 = 360 x
2 = x A 6 O
60
CORRECT ANSWER: B B

46. Question 14 A 13
C B

47. CORRECT ANSWER: A a2 + b2 = c2 122 + b2 = 132 144 + b2 = 169 b2 = 25

48. Question 15
CORRECT ANSWER: E

49. CORRECT ANSWER: E Question 16
What is the cost in dollars to carpet a room x yards long and y yards wide if the carpet costs two dollars per square foot?
x yards = 3x feet
y yards = 3y feet xy
2xy
3xy
6xy
18xy
Arearectangle= length x width
= 3x(3y) = 9xy square feet
Total Cost = area x price
= 9xy (2) = 18xy
CORRECT ANSWER: E

50. Question 17
In the figure below, the largest possible circle is cut out of a square piece of tin. The area of the remaining piece of tin is approximately (in square inches)
2 inches
0.14
0.75
0.86
1.0
3.14

51. Areapiece = Areasquare - Areacircle
Question 17
In the figure below, the largest possible circle is cut out of a square piece of tin. The area of the remaining piece of tin is approximately (in square inches)
2 inches
Areacircle =  r2
0.14
0.75
0.86
1.0
3.14
 12 =  = 3.14 1
Areasquare = s2
22 = 4
Areapiece = Areasquare - Areacircle
4 – 3.14 = 0.86
CORRECT ANSWER: C

52. Question 18
Which of the following is equal to 3.14 x 106?
314
3140
31,400
314,000
3,140,000
CORRECT ANSWER: E

53. Question 19
Find the last number in the series: 8, 4, 12, 6, 18, 9,?
8 =4 or 82=4
4 =12 or 4x3=12
12 =6 or 122 = 6
6  =18 or 6x3=18
18 =9 or 182 = 9 19 20 22 24 27
9x3=27
CORRECT ANSWER: E

54. CORRECT ANSWER: A Question 20
Lyndsey receives grades of 91, 88, 86, and 78 on four tests. What grade must she receive on her fifth test to have an average test score of 85? 82 83 84 85 86
Let x = the fifth test score
( x )  5 = 85
343 + x = 425
x = 82
CORRECT ANSWER: A

55. CORRECT ANSWER: C Question 21
One angle, A, has 3 times the measure of its supplement, B. What is the degree measure of A?
Let x = the measure of B
then 3x = the measure of A
112 ½°
120°
135°
150°
157 ½°
x + 3x = 180°
4x = 180°
x = 45°
B = 45°
A = 135°
CORRECT ANSWER: C

56. CORRECT ANSWER: D Question 22
A bag contains 4 red jelly beans, 5 green jelly beans, and 3 white jelly beans. If a jelly bean is selected at random from the bag, what is the probability that the jelly bean selected is green?
Probability of drawing a green jelly bean
CORRECT ANSWER: D

57. CORRECT ANSWER: C c < a < b Question 23
For all positive values of a, b, and c with a<b and a>c, which of the following MUST be true?
I. a+b>c
II. 2a>c
III. a+c>b
c < a < b
a and b are both greater than c, so their sum will also be – TRUE
I only
II only
I and II only
II and III only
I, II, and III
II. a>c, so 2a>c – TRUE
III. If c=2, a=4, and b=10, then a+c<b - FALSE
CORRECT ANSWER: C

58. Question 24 B A 1 C
CORRECT ANSWER: C

59. Question 25 B E C D A

60. CORRECT ANSWER: E B
20-x E x C 20 4 D 6 A 10

61. Things to Remember on the Math ACT
Don’t read the directions
Bring a calculator that you know how to use
Read the question carefully
Pay attention to what the question asks you to find
Watch for unnecessary information
Draw a picture
Pace yourself (60 questions/60 minutes)

62. Things to Remember on the Math ACT
Do the easy questions first, then try the hard ones
Show some work and circle your answers in your test booklet
Don’t waste too much time on one problem
Eliminate wrong answers before guessing
Answer every question
Check your work
Work for the whole 60 minutes