SAT Word Problems Practice Flashcards

A $1,200 investment earns 5% simple interest per year. How many years will it take for the investment to reach $1,500?

Answer: 5

Interest needed = $300. Using I = Prt: 300 = 1200 × 0.05 × t → t = 5 years.

An airplane flies 1,800 miles with a tailwind in 3 hours and returns into a headwind in 4.5 hours. What is the speed of the wind in mph?

Answer: 100

Tailwind speed = 600 mph; headwind speed = 400 mph. Wind = (600 − 400)/2 = 100 mph.

A 30-foot ladder leans against a wall with its base 18 feet from the wall. How high up the wall does it reach?

Answer: 24

h² + 18² = 30² → h² = 576 → h = 24 feet.

A company's revenue grew from $4 million to $5.2 million. What was the percent increase?

Answer: 30%

Percent increase = (5.2 − 4)/4 × 100 = 1.2/4 × 100 = 30%.

A box contains red, blue, and green marbles in the ratio 2:3:5. If there are 20 green marbles, how many total marbles are in the box?

Answer: 40

Green = 5 parts = 20 marbles → 1 part = 4. Total = 10 parts × 4 = 40 marbles.

Two friends start from the same point and walk in opposite directions at 4 mph and 5 mph. How far apart are they after 3 hours?

Answer: 27 miles

They separate at 4 + 5 = 9 mph. Distance = 9 × 3 = 27 miles.

A gym membership costs $50 to join plus $30/month. A competing gym has no joining fee but costs $80/month. After how many months are the total costs equal?

Answer: 1

50 + 30m = 80m → 50 = 50m → m = 1 month.