SAT Math Test 3 Question 4

In this problem, we are given two different year-time periods, the first one, ranging from 1776–1849, and the second one, ranging between 1850–1900.

We are also told two statements about the number of states that joined the united state for each of those two time periods.

The first statement informs us that during the first time period, there were twice as many states that joined the united state relative to the second time period.

• # states in time period 1= (2) # state in time period 2

In other words, the number of states that joined during the second time period is half that of the first

• # states in time period 2 = (1/2) # state in time period 1

In the second statement were are told that there are “30” states that joined the united states in the first time period and “x” number of states that joined the united state in the second time period. This can be represented as such:

• # states in time period 1 = 30
• # state in time period 2 = x

We are asked to find an expression that accurately describes all those statements mathematically. In summary, we have:

• Equation 1: # states in time period 1= (2) # state in time period 2
• Equation 2: # states in time period 1 = 30
• Equation 3: # state in time period 2 = x

Plugging equations 2 and 3 in equation 1 gives us:

• 30 = 2x

This is the same as answer B) 2x = 30