SATs Problem Solving & Data Interpretation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A scatterplot shows a strong positive correlation between hours studied and test scores. Which statement best describes this relationship?
- As hours studied increase, test scores decrease
- As hours studied increase, test scores increase (Correct answer)
- Hours studied and test scores are unrelated
- Test scores cause increased hours of studying
Correct answer: As hours studied increase, test scores increase
A positive correlation means that as the x-variable (hours studied) increases, the y-variable (test scores) also increases.
Question 2: A recipe requires 2.5 cups of milk. If 1 cup equals 237 mL, approximately how many milliliters of milk are needed?
- 474 mL
- 500 mL
- 593 mL (Correct answer)
- 650 mL
Correct answer: 593 mL
2.5 × 237 = 592.5 mL, which rounds to approximately 593 mL.
Question 3: In a class of 30 students, 18 are female and 12 are male. If 6 females and 4 males received A grades, what fraction of students who received A grades are female?
- 1/2
- 2/5
- 3/5 (Correct answer)
- 2/3
Correct answer: 3/5
A total of 6 + 4 = 10 students received A grades, and 6 of them are female, so the fraction is 6/10 = 3/5.
Question 4: A pie chart shows that 35% of students prefer math, 25% prefer science, and 20% prefer English. What percentage prefer history?
- 15%
- 20% (Correct answer)
- 25%
- 30%
Correct answer: 20%
All percentages must sum to 100%, so history = 100% − 35% − 25% − 20% = 20%.
Question 5: A town's population grows at 10% per year. If the current population is 5,000, what will it be after 2 years?
- 5,500
- 5,900
- 6,050 (Correct answer)
- 6,100
Correct answer: 6,050
After year 1: 5,000 × 1.10 = 5,500; after year 2: 5,500 × 1.10 = 6,050.
Question 6: A researcher surveys 50 students from a school of 400. If 30 of the surveyed students have part-time jobs, what is the best estimate of the number of students in the entire school with part-time jobs?
- 150
- 200
- 240 (Correct answer)
- 300
Correct answer: 240
30/50 = 60% of the sample has jobs; 60% of 400 = 240 students.
Question 7: A line of best fit for a data set has the equation y = 2x + 5. What does the slope of 2 represent?
- The y-intercept of the data
- The x-value when y equals zero
- The predicted increase in y for each one-unit increase in x (Correct answer)
- The predicted decrease in y for each one-unit increase in x
Correct answer: The predicted increase in y for each one-unit increase in x
The slope represents the rate of change — for every 1-unit increase in x, y is predicted to increase by 2.
SATs Problem Solving & Data Interpretation 3
A scatterplot shows a strong positive correlation between hours studied and test scores.
Which statement best describes this relationship?