Bluebook SAT Test Ratios, Rates, Proportional Relationships, and Units 9

Question 1

A swimming pool holds 54,000 liters of water. A pump drains it at 150 liters per minute. How many hours will it take to drain the pool completely?

Accepted Answer

6 hours

Answer

54,000 ÷ 150 = 360 minutes = 6 hours.

Question 2

In a bag of mixed nuts, the ratio of almonds to cashews is 5:3 and the ratio of cashews to walnuts is 3:4. What is the ratio of almonds to walnuts?

Accepted Answer

5:4

Answer

Almonds:cashews = 5:3 and cashews:walnuts = 3:4, so almonds:walnuts = 5:4.

Question 3

Using the formula °C = (°F − 32) × 5/9, what is 95°F in Celsius?

Accepted Answer

35°C

Answer

(95 − 32) × 5/9 = 63 × 5/9 = 35°C.

Question 4

A train covers 480 km in 4 hours and a bus covers the same distance in 6 hours. How much faster, in km/h, is the train than the bus?

Accepted Answer

40 km/h

Answer

Train speed = 480/4 = 120 km/h; bus speed = 480/6 = 80 km/h; difference = 40 km/h.

Question 5

A chemical solution requires alcohol and water in a ratio of 2:7 by volume. How many mL of alcohol are needed to prepare 630 mL of the solution?

Accepted Answer

140 mL

Answer

Alcohol fraction = 2/(2+7) = 2/9; 2/9 × 630 = 140 mL.

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