Math 1

Plugging in Numbers

When Shrugging, Try Plugging

Today’s Lesson

Today you will learn how to…

Apply Knewton’s math philosophy
Plug in numbers to find a goal number
Plug in answer choices to the question
Obey variable rules provided in the question

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SAT Math

A math teacher wants you to solve equations with algebra.

5x + 15 = 30 Subtract 15 from both sides.

5x = 15 Divide both sides by 5.
x =3

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Knewton’s SAT Math Rules

1. SAT Teachers are different from Math Teachers.

2. The way you get to your answer does not have

to be “pretty.”

3. You have a calculator – use it!

4. Never get stuck – doing something is better

than doing nothing.
When you get stuck, you can almost always
Plug In Numbers (PIN)!

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Why Plug in Numbers?
Why Plug in Numbers?

You know you can handle arithmetic on the SAT.

3(2 + 5) = 3(7) = 21

Setting up word problems with arithmetic is natural as well.

Matt has 2 CDs, and Elana has 5. If Jeremy has 3 times as many
as both of them combined, how many CDs does he have?
3(2 + 5) = 3(7) = 21

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Why Plug in Numbers?

Algebra is often a little trickier than arithmetic.

3(2x + 4) – x = 22 5x = 10
(6x + 12) – x = 22 x=2
5x + 12 = 22

Setting up word problems with algebra can be even trickier.

There are 6 serving utensils in the center of the table, and 4 eating
utensils at each place-setting. If half of the utensils on the table are
silver, and there are x place-settings, how many silver utensils are
there, in terms of x?
(6 + 4) ÷ 2? (6 + 4x) ÷ 2? (6 + 4) ÷ 2x?

But notice what happens when we PIN!

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Multiple-Choice

There are 6 serving utensils in the center of the table, and 4 eating
utensils at each place-setting. If half of the utensils on the table are
silver, and there are x place-settings, how many silver utensils are
there, in terms of x?
(A) x + 6
(B) 2x + 3
(C) 2x + 6
(D) 4x + 3
(E) 4x + 6

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Multiple-Choice

There are 6 serving utensils in the center of the table, and 4 eating
utensils at each place-setting. If half of the utensils on the table are
silver, and there are x place-settings, how many silver utensils are
there, in terms of x?
(A) x + 6 Pick any number for x...
(B) 2x + 3
(C) 2x + 6
(D) 4x + 3
(E) 4x + 6

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Multiple-Choice

There are 6 serving utensils in the center of the table, and 4 eating
utensils at each place-setting. If half of the utensils on the table are
silver, and there are 5 place-settings, how many silver utensils are
there, in terms of 5?
(A) x + 6 Pick any number for x... x=5
(B) 2x + 3 (5 places) × (4 eating utensils) + (6 serving utensils) =
(C) 2x + 6
20 + 6 = 26
(D) 4x + 3
Half of the utensils are silver...
(E) 4x + 6
1 (26) = 13 silver utensils
2

So, when we plug in x = 5, the result is 13.

This result is our “Goal Number.”

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Multiple-Choice
13 is our “Goal Number.”
There are 6 serving utensils in the center of the table, and 4 eating
utensils at each place-setting. If half of the utensils on the table are
silver, and there are 5 place-settings, how many silver utensils are
there, in terms of 5?
(A) 5 + 6 Plug 5 in for x in the answer choices
(B) 2(5) + 3 to see which one yields 13.
(C) 2(5) + 6
(D) 4(5) + 3
(E) 4(5) + 6

ALWAYS When Plugging in Numbers to find a Goal Number, you must test all five
REMEMBER answer choices. It’s possible more than one will yield the Goal Number.

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Multiple-Choice
13 is our “Goal Number.”
There are 6 serving utensils in the center of the table, and 4 eating
utensils at each place-setting. If half of the utensils on the table are
silver, and there are 5 place-settings, how many silver utensils are
there, in terms of 5?
(A) x + 6
(B) 2x + 3
(C) 2x + 6
(D) 4x + 3
(E) 4x + 6

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The Goal Number
The Goal Number

There are 6 serving utensils in the center of the table, and 4 eating
utensils at each place-setting. If half of the utensils on the table are
silver, and there are 3 place-settings, how many silver utensils are
there, in terms of 3?
(A) x + 6 What if we had picked a different number?
(B) 2x + 3 x=3
(C) 2x + 6
(3 places) × (4 eating utensils) + (6 serving utensils) =
(D) 4x + 3
12 + 6 = 18
(E) 4x + 6
Half of the utensils are silver...
1 (18) = 9 silver utensils
2

So, when we plug in x = 3, 9 is our “Goal Number.”

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The Goal Number
9 is our “Goal Number.”
There are 6 serving utensils in the center of the table, and 4 eating
utensils at each place-setting. If half of the utensils on the table are
silver, and there are 3x place-settings, how many silver utensils are
there, in terms of 3x?
(A) 3 + 6 9
(B) 2(3) + 3 9
(C) 2(3) + 6 12
(D) 4(3) + 3 15
(E) 4(3) + 6 18

ALWAYS
When 2 answer choices yield the “Goal Number,” you need to Re-PIN.
REMEMBER

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The Goal Number

There are 6 serving utensils in the center of the table, and 4 eating
utensils at each place-setting. If half of the utensils on the table are
silver, and there are x place-settings, how many silver utensils are
there, in terms of x?
(A) x + 6 9 11 Only Re-Pin for answers that
(B) 2x + 3 9 13 gave you the Goal Number!

(C) 2x + 6 12
(D) 4x + 3 15
(E) 4x + 6 18

x= 3 x= 5
Goal Number : 9 Goal Number : 13

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The Goal Number

When should you plug in?

If you see variables in the answer choices.

If you see “in terms of” in the question.

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The Goal Number

When should you plug in?

If you see variables in the answer choices.

If you see “in terms of” in the question.
Avoid choosing 0 and 1. They act differently than most other numbers.

There are 6 serving utensils in the center of the table, and 4 eating utensils at each place-
setting. If half of the utensils on the table are silver, and there are x place-settings, how many
silver utensils are there, in terms of x?

(A) x+6 “In terms of” in the question

(B) 2x + 3
(C) 2x + 6
Variables in the answer choices
(D) 4x + 3
(E) 4x + 6

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 Multiple-Choice

If 2b = a, what does (b/4) equal in terms of a?

(A) 2a

(B) 8a

(C) 8
a

(D) a
8

(E) a
4

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 Multiple-Choice

If 2b = a, what does (b/4) equal in terms of a?

(A) 2a

(B) 8a

(C) 8
a

(D) a
8

(E) a
4

ALWAYS When you see the phrase “in terms of” you can always
REMEMBER plug in for that variable.

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 Multiple-Choice

If 2b = a, what does (b/4) equal in terms of a?

(A) 2a PIN for the variable after the words “in terms of”.

(B) 8a a=8
2b = 8
(C) 8
a b=4
(b/4) = 1
(D) a
8
1 is our “Goal Number.”
(E) a
4

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 Multiple-Choice

If 2b = a, what does (b/4) equal in terms of a?

(A) 2a

(B) 8a

(C) 8 When more than one answer choice gives you the “Goal Number”, Re-PIN.
a

(D) a When you Re-PIN, you only need to check the remaining answer choices.
8

(E) a
4

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 Multiple-Choice

If 2b = a, what does (b/4) equal in terms of a?

a=6
(A) 2a

(B) 8a a=6
2b = 6
(C) 8
a b=3
(b/4) = 0.75
(D) a
8
0.75 is our “Goal Number.”
(E) a
4

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 Multiple-Choice
0.75 is our “Goal Number.”
If 2b = a, what does (b/4) equal in terms of a?
a=6
(A) 2a

(B) 8a

(C) 8
a

(D) a
8

(E) a
4

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Multiple-Choice

If 12 percent of k equals 30 percent of j, which of the following expresses

j in terms of k?

(A) 3.6% of k
(B) 18% of k
(C) 40% of k
(D) 42% of k
(E) 250% of k

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Multiple-Choice

If 12 percent of k equals 30 percent of j, which of the following expresses

j in terms of k?
When plugging in numbers for percentages, use 100.
(A) 3.6% of k
(B) 18% of k k = 100
(C) 40% of k 12% of 100 = 12
(D) 42% of k
(E) 250% of k

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Multiple-Choice

If 12 percent of k equals 30 percent of j, which of the following expresses

j in terms of k?
When plugging in numbers for percentages, use 100.
(A) 3.6% of k
(B) 18% of k 12 = 0.3j
(Divide both sides by 0.3)
(C) 40% of k 40 = j
(D) 42% of k
40 is our “Goal Number.”
(E) 250% of k

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Multiple-Choice
40 is our “Goal Number.”
If 12 percent of k equals 30 percent of j, which of the following expresses
j in terms of k? k = 100
(A) 3.6% of k 3.6
(B) 18% of k 18
(C) 40% of k 40
(D) 42% of k 42
(E) 250% of k 250

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More Applications
of PIN
Plugging In Numbers

On the SAT, you can choose to work with numbers rather than
with variables.
Given that x is a positive integer...

If 5 < y, then what is the…

If the product ab is odd...

When the SAT gives you “Variable Rules,” you can PIN.

Just remember to PIN with a number that obeys the rules!

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Multiple-Choice

If -1 < a < 0, which of the following gives the correct ordering of a, a2, and a3
from least to greatest?

(A) a < a2 < a3

(B) a < a3 < a2
(C) a2 < a < a3
(D) a2 < a3 < a
(E) a3 < a < a2

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Multiple-Choice

If -1 < a < 0, which of the following gives the correct ordering of a, a2, and a3
from least to greatest?

(A) a < a2 < a3 Pick any number for a...

(B) a < a3 < a2 ...as long as it obeys the “Variable Rules.”
(C) a2 < a < a3
Let’s pick a = (-.5) (-.5)^2
(D) a2 < a3 <a .25
a2 = (.25)
(E) a3 < a < a2

ALWAYS Use parentheses when entering

REMEMBER negative numbers in a calculator.

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Multiple-Choice

If -1 < a < 0, which of the following gives the correct ordering of a, a2, and a3
from least to greatest?

(A) a < a2 < a3 Pick any number for a...

(B) a < a3 < a2 ...as long as it obeys the “Variable Rules.”
(C) a2 < a < a3
Let’s pick a = (-.5) (-.5)^3
(D) a2 < a3 <a -.125
a2 = (.25)
(E) a3 < a < a2 a3 = (-.125)

-.5 < -.125 < .25

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Plugging in
Answer Choices
Plugging In Answers

Often the SAT asks you to find the value of a variable.

If x2 + 7 = 88 then, x could be...

What is y when...

If you are asked to find the value of a variable and the SAT gives
you numbers for the answer choices, plug them in.

if x2 + 7 = 88, then x could be

(A) 8
(B) 9
(C) 10
(D) 11
(E) 12

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Multiple-Choice

If x is an integer and 2 is the remainder when 3x + 11 is divided by 5,

then x could be

(A) 4
(B) 5
(C) 6
(D) 7
(E) 8

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Multiple-Choice

If x is an integer and 2 is the remainder when 3x + 11 is divided by 5,

then x could be

(A) 4
(B) 5
(C) 6
(D) 7
(E) 8

ALWAYS If you’re looking for the value of a variable, you

REMEMBER can almost always plug in the answer choices!

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Multiple-Choice

If x is an integer and 2 is the remainder when 3x + 11 is divided by 5,

then x could be

(A) 4 Plug in x = 4
(B) 5 3(4) + 11 23
(C) 6 = = 4 R3
5 5
(D) 7
(E) 8

One of these answer choices must work for x.

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Multiple-Choice

If x is an integer and 2 is the remainder when 3x + 11 is divided by 5,

then x could be

(A) 4 Plug in x = 7
(B) 5 3(7) + 11 32
(C) 6 = = 6 R2
5 5
(D) 7
(E) 8

ALWAYS When Plugging in Answers, stop once you find a value

REMEMBER that works.

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Multiple-Choice

A ticket to a baseball game costs c dollars. Five friends buy tickets for the
game, and they each buy a hot dog for $3. If the total the five friends
spent was $55, then what is c ?

(A) $5
(B) $7
(C) $8
(D) $10
(E) $11

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Multiple-Choice

A ticket to a baseball game costs c dollars. Five friends buy tickets for the
game, and they each buy a hot dog for $3. If the total the five friends
spent was $55, then what is c ?

Plug in Answers when you are asked to find the value of a

(A) $5
variable and there are numbers in the answer choices.
(B) $7
(C) $8
(D) $10
(E) $11

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Multiple-Choice

A ticket to a baseball game costs c dollars. Five friends buy tickets for the
game, and they each buy a hot dog for $3. If the total the five friends
spent was $55, then what is c ?

(A) $5
(B) $7 (5 tickets × $8) + (5 hot dogs × $3) = $55
(C) $8
(D) $10
(E) $11

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Multiple-Choice

A ticket to a baseball game costs c dollars. Five friends buy tickets for the
game, and they each buy a hot dog for $3. If the total the five friends
spent was $55, then what is c ?

(A) $5 We also could have used algebra.

(B) $7 5c + 5(3) = 55
(C) $8
5c + 15= 55
(D) $10
(E) $11 5c = 40

c=8

ALWAYS Plugging in Answers is often safer than algebra,

REMEMBER especially when you aren’t sure how to begin.

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Recap
Recap

Plug in ANSWERS if you’re trying to find the value of a variable.

Plug in NUMBERS if you see variables in the answers.

Make sure to obey the variable rules!
Use a “Goal Number” when you can!

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Recap

ALWAYS When Plugging in Numbers to find a Goal Number, you must test all five
REMEMBER answer choices. It’s possible more than one will yield the Goal Number.

ALWAYS
When 2 answer choices yield the “Goal Number,” you need to Re-PIN.
REMEMBER

ALWAYS When you see the phrase “in terms of” you can always plug in for that
REMEMBER variable.

ALWAYS
Use parentheses when entering negative numbers in a calculator
REMEMBER

ALWAYS If you’re looking for the value of a variable, you can almost always plug
REMEMBER in the answer choices!

ALWAYS When Plugging in Answers, stop once you find a value that works.
REMEMBER

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What’s next?
Do your CORE WORK
From your homepage, click the links
under “Core Homework” to complete
your assignments.