Question 145977
1. An instrument store gives a 10% discount to all students off the original cost of an instrument. During a back to school sale an additional 15% is taken off the discounted price. Julie, a student at the local high school, purchases a flute for $306. How much did it originally cost?

Let x = original cost
from:"gives a 10% discount to all students off the original cost" we get:
.90x
then from:"an additional 15% is taken off the discounted price" we get:
.85(.90x)
and finally from "Julie purchases a flute for $306" we get our equation:
.85(.90x)=306
dividing both sides by .85:
.90x=360
dividing both sides by .90:
.90x=360
x = $400

Ans: C

2. If y(x-1)=z then x=
In this one, simply isolate the variable x to one side of the equation.  
y(x-1)=z
first divide both sides by y:
x-1 = z/y
next add 1 to both sides:
x = z/y + 1

Ans: B

3. Which of the following values is NOT equal to 34(58+9)?
This one, you do by elimination...
Ans: B

4. Two angles of a triangle measure 15° and 85 °. What is the measure for the third angle?
The sum of the 3 interior angles of any triangle is 180.
The idea is to add up the two given angles and subtract from 180.
180-(15+85)
=180-(100)
= 80

Ans: D

5. If 5 ounces is equal to 140 grams, then 2 pounds of ground meat is equal to how many grams?
1 pound is 16 ounces
therefore 2 pounds is 32 ounces
32 ounces times 140 grams per 5 ounces:
32(140/5)
= 896 grams

Ans: C

6. Which year did the most children take swimming lessons?
Can't see your graph -- can't answer

7. Between which year did the largest decrease in children taking swimming lessons occur?
Can't see your graph -- can't answer

8. What was the average number of children taking swim lessons from 1990 to 1995?
Can't see your graph -- can't answer

9. Which of the following is equal to 5.93 x 10-2?
10^(-2) is equivalent to .01
therefore
5.93 x .01 = 0.0593
 
Ans: A

10. On a Map, 1 inch represents 20 miles. The distance between 2 towns is 6 1/5 inches. How many miles are actually between the two towns?
we need to convert 6 1/5 into decimal inches:
1/5 = 0.2 therefore 6 1/5 is 6.2 inches.
Since there is 20 miles per inch:
6.2 x 20 = 124 miles

Ans: C

11. Which of the following is a correct graph of x>1, x <4?
Can't see your figure -- can't answer

12. How many cubed pieces of fudge that are 3 inches on an edge can be packed into a Christmas tin that is 9 inches deep by 12 inches wide by 8 inches high with the lid still being able to be closed?
The volume of the fudge is 3*3*3 = 27 cubic inches
The volume of the pan is 9*12*8 = 864 cubic inches
864/27 = 32

Ans: C

13. Sarah is twice as old as her youngest brother. If the difference between their ages is 15 years. How old is her youngest brother?
Let x = age of youngest brother
then
Sarah age = 2x
from:"difference between their ages is 15 years" we get:
2x - x = 15
x = 15

Ans: B

14. Which of the following fractions is equal to 5/6?
Through elimination -- and because we can multiply numerator and denominator by 5 to get the answer.
Ans: C 


15. What will it cost to tile a kitchen floor that is 12 feet wide by 20 feet long if the tile cost $8.91 per square yard?
Convert the 12x20 feet into units of yards:
Area (in yards) = 4(20/3) = 80/3 sq yards
80/3 * 8.91 = $237.60
Ans: B

16. In a writing competition, the first place winner receives ½ of the prize money. The second runner up receives ¼ of what the winner won. What was the total amount of prize money distributed if the winner receives $6,000?
Looks as though this problem gave you MORE information than necessary.  From the first sentence alone you can get your answer of 12000.
Ans: C