Question ID beca03de

Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: beca03de

A rectangle has a length that is times its width. The function represents this situation, where is the
area, in square feet, of the rectangle and . Which of the following is the best interpretation of in this context?

A. The length of the rectangle, in feet

B. The area of the rectangle, in square feet

C. The difference between the length and the width of the rectangle, in feet

D. The width of the rectangle, in feet

ID: beca03de Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is correct. It's given that a rectangle has a length that is 15 times its width. It's also given that the function
𝑦 = 15𝑤𝑤 represents this situation, where 𝑦 is the area, in square feet, of the rectangle and 𝑦 > 0. The area of a rectangle
can be calculated by multiplying the rectangle's length by its width. Since the rectangle has a length that is 15 times its
width, it follows that 𝑤 represents the width of the rectangle, in feet, and 15𝑤 represents the length of the rectangle, in
feet. Therefore, the best interpretation of 15𝑤 in this context is that it's the length of the rectangle, in feet.

Choice B is incorrect. This is the best interpretation of 𝑦, not 15𝑤, in the given function.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual errors.

Choice D is incorrect. This is the best interpretation of 𝑤, not 15𝑤, in the given function.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 39714777
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 39714777

The given equation relates the value of and its corresponding value of for the function . What is the minimum
value of the function ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 39714777 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is correct. For a quadratic function defined by an equation of the form 𝑝𝑥 = 𝑎𝑥 - ℎ2 + 𝑘, where 𝑎, ℎ, and 𝑘 are
constants and 𝑎 > 0, the minimum value of the function is 𝑘. Subtracting 57 from both sides of the given equation yields
𝑝𝑥 = 𝑥2 - 57. This function is in the form 𝑝𝑥 = 𝑎𝑥 - ℎ2 + 𝑘, where 𝑎 = 1, ℎ = 0, and 𝑘 = -57. Therefore, the minimum value of
the function 𝑝 is -57.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 52b1700c
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 52b1700c

Time (years) Total amount (dollars)

Rosa opened a savings account at a bank. The table shows the exponential relationship between the time , in years,
since Rosa opened the account and the total amount , in dollars, in the account. If Rosa made no additional deposits or
withdrawals, which of the following equations best represents the relationship between and ?

A. msup

B. msup

C. msup

D. msup

ID: 52b1700c Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is correct. It’s given that the relationship between 𝑡 and 𝑛 is exponential. The table shows that the value of 𝑛
increases as the value of 𝑡 increases. Therefore, the relationship between 𝑡 and 𝑛 can be represented by an increasing
𝑡
exponential equation of the form 𝑛 = 𝑎1 + 𝑏 , where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are positive constants. The table shows that when 𝑡 = 0,
𝑛 = 604. Substituting 0 for 𝑡 and 604 for 𝑛 in the equation 𝑛 = 𝑎1 + 𝑏𝑡 yields 604 = 𝑎1 + 𝑏0 , which is equivalent to 604 = 𝑎1,
𝑡 𝑡
or 604 = 𝑎. Substituting 604 for 𝑎 in the equation 𝑛 = 𝑎1 + 𝑏 yields 𝑛 = 6041 + 𝑏 . The table also shows that when 𝑡 = 1,
𝑛 = 606.42. Substituting 1 for 𝑡 and 606.42 for 𝑛 in the equation 𝑛 = 6041 + 𝑏𝑡 yields 606.42 = 6041 + 𝑏1 , or
606.42 = 6041 + 𝑏. Dividing both sides of this equation by 604 yields approximately 1.004 = 1 + 𝑏. Subtracting 1 from both
sides of this equation yields that the value of 𝑏 is approximately 0.004. Substituting 0.004 for 𝑏 in the equation
𝑛 = 6041 + 𝑏𝑡 yields 𝑛 = 6041 + 0.004𝑡 . Therefore, of the choices, choice C best represents the relationship between 𝑡 and
𝑛.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 02add2d2
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 02add2d2

A company has a newsletter. In January , there were customers subscribed to the newsletter. For the next
months after January , the total number of customers subscribed to the newsletter each month was greater
than the total number subscribed the previous month. Which equation gives the total number of customers, , subscribed
to the company's newsletter months after January , where ?

A. msup

B. msup

C. msup

D. msup

ID: 02add2d2 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is correct. It's given that in January 2018, there were 1,300 customers subscribed to a company's newsletter and
for the next 24 months after January 2018, the total number of customers subscribed to the newsletter each month was
7% greater than the total number subscribed the previous month. It follows that this situation can be represented by the
𝑟 𝑚
equation 𝑐 = 𝑎1 + , where 𝑐 is the total number of customers subscribed to the company's newsletter 𝑚 months after
100
January 2018, 𝑎 is the number of customers subscribed to the newsletter in January 2018, and the total number of
customers subscribed to the newsletter each month was 𝑟% greater than the total number subscribed the previous
7 𝑚
month. Substituting 1,300 for 𝑎 and 7 for 𝑟 in this equation yields 𝑐 = 1,3001 +
100
, or 𝑐 = 1,3001.07𝑚 .

Choice A is incorrect. This equation represents a situation where the total number of customers subscribed each month
was 93% less, not 7% greater, than the total number subscribed the previous month.

Choice C is incorrect. This equation represents a situation where the total number of customers subscribed each month
was 70%, not 7%, greater than the total number subscribed the previous month.

Choice D is incorrect. This equation represents a situation where the total number of customers subscribed each month
was 600%, not 7%, greater than the total number subscribed the previous month.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID f89af023
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: f89af023

A rectangular volleyball court has an area of 162 square meters. If the length of
the court is twice the width, what is the width of the court, in meters?

A. 9

B. 18

C. 27

D. 54

ID: f89af023 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is correct. It’s given that the volleyball court is rectangular and has an area of 162 square meters. The formula
for the area of a rectangle is , where A is the area, is the length, and w is the width of the rectangle. It’s also
given that the length of the volleyball court is twice the width, thus . Substituting the given value into the formula
for the area of a rectangle and using the relationship between length and width for this rectangle yields .

This equation can be rewritten as . Dividing both sides of this equation by 2 yields . Taking the
square root of both sides of this equation yields . Since the width of a rectangle is a positive number, the width of
the volleyball court is 9 meters.

Choice B is incorrect because this is the length of the rectangle. Choice C is incorrect because this is the result of using
162 as the perimeter rather than the area. Choice D is incorrect because this is the result of calculating w in the equation
instead of .

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID e53add44
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: e53add44

The function S above models the annual salary, in dollars, of an employee n

years after starting a job, where a is a constant. If the employee’s salary
increases by 4% each year, what is the value of a ?

A. 0.04

B. 0.4

C. 1.04

D. 1.4

ID: e53add44 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is correct. A model for a quantity S that increases by a certain percentage per time period n is an exponential

function in the form , where I is the initial value at time for r% annual increase. It’s given that
the annual increase in an employee’s salary is 4%, so . The initial value can be found by substituting 0 for n in the
given function, which yields . Therefore, . Substituting these values for r and I into the form of

the exponential function yields , or .

Therefore, the value of a in the given function is 1.04.

Choices A, B, and D are incorrect and may result from incorrectly representing the annual increase in the exponential
function.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 926c246b
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 926c246b

The equation above estimates the global data traffic D, in terabytes, for the year
that is t years after 2010. What is the best interpretation of the number 5,640 in
this context?

A. The estimated amount of increase of data traffic, in terabytes, each year

B. The estimated percent increase in the data traffic, in terabytes, each year

C. The estimated data traffic, in terabytes, for the year that is t years after 2010

D. The estimated data traffic, in terabytes, in 2010

ID: 926c246b Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is correct. Since t represents the number of years after 2010, the estimated data traffic, in terabytes, in 2010
can be calculated using the given equation when . Substituting 0 for t in the given equation yields ,
or . Thus, 5,640 represents the estimated data traffic, in terabytes, in 2010.

Choice A is incorrect. Since the equation is exponential, the amount of increase of data traffic each year isn’t constant.
Choice B is incorrect. According to the equation, the percent increase in data traffic each year is 90%. Choice C is
incorrect. The estimated data traffic, in terabytes, for the year that is t years after 2010 is represented by D, not the
number 5,640.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 252a3b3a
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 252a3b3a

Which of the following could be the equation of the graph shown in the xy-plane?

A.

B.

C.

D. msup

ID: 252a3b3a Answer

Correct Answer: B
Rationale
Choice B is correct. Each of the given choices is an equation of the form 𝑦 = - 101 𝑥𝑥 - 𝑎𝑚 𝑥 + 𝑏𝑛 , where 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑚, and 𝑛 are
positive constants. In the xy-plane, the graph of an equation of this form has x-intercepts at 𝑥 = 0, 𝑥 = 𝑎, and 𝑥 = -𝑏. The
graph shown has x-intercepts at 𝑥 = 0, 𝑥 = 4, and 𝑥 = - 5. Therefore, 𝑎 = 4 and 𝑏 = 5. Of the given choices, only choices A
1
and B have 𝑎 = 4 and 𝑏 = 5. For an equation in the form 𝑦 = - 𝑥𝑥 - 𝑎𝑚 𝑥 + 𝑏𝑛 , if all values of 𝑥 that are less than -𝑏 or
10
greater than 𝑎 correspond to negative y-values, then the sum of all the exponents of the factors on the right-hand side of
the equation is even. In the graph shown, all values of 𝑥 less than -5 or greater than 4 correspond to negative y-values.
1
Therefore, the sum of all the exponents of the factors on the right-hand side of the equation 𝑦 = - 𝑥𝑥 - 4𝑚 𝑥 + 5𝑛 must be
10
even. For choice A, the sum of these exponents is 1 + 1 + 1, or 3, which is odd. For choice B, the sum of these exponents
1
is 1 + 1 + 2, or 4, which is even. Therefore, 𝑦 = - 𝑥𝑥 - 4𝑥 + 52 could be the equation of the graph shown.
10

Choice A is incorrect. For the graph of this equation, all values of 𝑥 less than -5 correspond to positive, not negative, y-
values.

Choice C is incorrect. The graph of this equation has x-intercepts at 𝑥 = - 4, 𝑥 = 0, and 𝑥 = 5, rather than x-intercepts at
𝑥 = - 5, 𝑥 = 0, and 𝑥 = 4.

Choice D is incorrect. The graph of this equation has x-intercepts at 𝑥 = - 4, 𝑥 = 0, and 𝑥 = 5, rather than x-intercepts at
𝑥 = - 5, 𝑥 = 0, and 𝑥 = 4.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID cc6ccd71
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: cc6ccd71

The graph of is shown, where the function is defined by and , , , and are
constants. For how many values of does ?

A. One

B. Two

C. Three

D. Four

ID: cc6ccd71 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is correct. If a value of 𝑥 satisfies 𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) = 0, the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓𝑥 will contain a point 𝑥, 0 and thus touch the x-
axis. Since there are 3 points at which this graph touches the x-axis, there are 3 values of 𝑥 for which 𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) = 0.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Medium
Question ID 95d1c344
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 95d1c344

The graph models the number of active projects a company was working on months after the end of November ,
where . According to the model, what is the predicted number of active projects the company was working on
at the end of November ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 95d1c344 Answer

Correct Answer: B
Rationale
Choice B is correct. It's given that the graph models the number of active projects a company was working on 𝑥 months
after the end of November 2012. Therefore, the value of 𝑥 that corresponds to the end of November 2012 is 0. The point at
which 𝑥 = 0 is the y-intercept of the graph. It follows that the y-intercept of the graph shown is the point 0, 5. Therefore,
according to the model, the predicted number of active projects the company was working on at the end of November
2012 is 5.

Choice A is incorrect. This is the value of 𝑥 that corresponds to the end of November 2012, not the predicted number of
active projects the company was working on at the end of November 2012.

Choice C is incorrect. This is the predicted number of active projects the company was working on 2 months after the
end of November 2012.

Choice D is incorrect. This is the predicted number of active projects the company was working on 4 months after the
end of November 2012.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID d4950429
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: d4950429

A rectangle has a length of units and a width of units. If the rectangle has an area of square units, what is
the value of ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: d4950429 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is correct. The area of a rectangle is equal to its length multiplied by its width. Multiplying the given length, 𝑥
units, by the given width, 𝑥 - 15 units, yields 𝑥𝑥 - 15 square units. If the rectangle has an area of 76 square units, it follows
that 𝑥𝑥 - 15 = 76, or 𝑥2 - 15𝑥 = 76. Subtracting 76 from both sides of this equation yields 𝑥2 - 15𝑥 - 76 = 0. Factoring the
left-hand side of this equation yields 𝑥 - 19𝑥 + 4 = 0. Applying the zero product property to this equation yields two
solutions: 𝑥 = 19 and 𝑥 = - 4. Since 𝑥 is the rectangle’s length, in units, which must be positive, the value of 𝑥 is 19.

Choice A is incorrect. This is the width, in units, of the rectangle, not the value of 𝑥.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice D is incorrect. This is the area, in square units, of the rectangle, not the value of 𝑥.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 752055d1
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 752055d1

A scientist initially measures bacteria in a growth medium. hours later, the scientist measures bacteria.
Assuming exponential growth, the formula gives the number of bacteria in the growth medium, where and
are constants and is the number of bacteria hours after the initial measurement. What is the value of ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 752055d1 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is correct. It’s given that the formula 𝑃 = 𝐶2𝑟𝑡 gives the number of bacteria in a growth medium, where 𝑟 and 𝐶
are constants and 𝑃 is the number of bacteria 𝑡 hours after the initial measurement. It’s also given that a scientist initially
measures 12,000 bacteria in the growth medium. Since the initial measurement is 0 hours after the initial measurement, it
follows that when 𝑡 = 0, 𝑃 = 12,000. Substituting 0 for 𝑡 and 12,000 for 𝑃 in the given equation yields 12,000 = 𝐶2𝑟0 , or
12,000 = 𝐶20 , which is equivalent to 12,000 = 𝐶. It’s given that 4 hours later, the scientist measures 24,000 bacteria, or
when 𝑡 = 4, 𝑃 = 24,000. Substituting 4 for 𝑡, 24,000 for 𝑃, and 12,000 for 𝐶 in the given equation yields 24,000 = 12,00024𝑟 .
Dividing each side of this equation by 12,000 yields 2 = 24𝑟 , or 21 = 24𝑟 , which is equivalent to 1 = 4𝑟. Dividing both sides of
1 1
this equation by 4 yields = 𝑟. Therefore, the value of 𝑟 is .
4 4

Choice A is incorrect. This is the value of the reciprocal of 𝐶. Choice C is incorrect. This is the value of the reciprocal of 𝑟.

Choice D is incorrect. This is the value of 𝐶.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 341ba5db
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 341ba5db

What is the minimum value of the given function?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 341ba5db Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
2
Choice B is correct. For a quadratic function defined by an equation of the form 𝑔𝑥 = 𝑎𝑥 - ℎ + 𝑘, where 𝑎, ℎ, and 𝑘 are
constants and 𝑎 > 0, the minimum value of the function is 𝑘. In the given function, 𝑎 = 1, ℎ = 0, and 𝑘 = 55. Therefore, the
minimum value of the given function is 55.

Choice A is incorrect. This is the value of 𝑥 for which the given function reaches its minimum value, not the minimum
value of the function.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 15c364bf
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 15c364bf

A sample of a certain isotope takes years to decay to half its original mass. The function gives
the approximate mass of this isotope, in grams, that remains years after a -gram sample starts to decay. Which
statement is the best interpretation of in this context?

A. Approximately grams of the sample remains years after the sample starts to decay.

B. The mass of the sample has decreased by approximately grams years after the sample starts to decay.

C. The mass of the sample has decreased by approximately grams years after the sample starts to decay.

D. Approximately grams of the sample remains years after the sample starts to decay.

ID: 15c364bf Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is correct. In the given function, 𝑠𝑡 represents the approximate mass, in grams, of the sample that remains 𝑡
years after the sample starts to decay. It follows that the best interpretation of 𝑠87 = 23 is that approximately 23 grams of
the sample remains 87 years after the sample starts to decay.

Choice B is incorrect. The mass of the sample has decreased by approximately 184 - 23, or 161, grams, not 23 grams, 87
years after the sample starts to decay.

Choice C is incorrect. The mass of the sample has decreased by approximately 78 grams, not 87 grams, 23 years after the
sample starts to decay.

Choice D is incorrect. This would be the best interpretation of 𝑠23 = 87, not 𝑠87 = 23.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID f28944ff
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: f28944ff

Which table gives three values of and their corresponding values of for function ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: f28944ff Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
1
Choice D is correct. Substituting -1 for 𝑥 in the given function yields 𝑞-1 = 322-1 , which is equivalent to 𝑞-1 = 32 , or
2
𝑞-1 = 16. Therefore, when 𝑥 = - 1, the corresponding value of 𝑞𝑥 for function 𝑞 is 16. Substituting 0 for 𝑥 in the given
function yields 𝑞0 = 3220 , which is equivalent to 𝑞0 = 321, or 𝑞0 = 32. Therefore, when 𝑥 = 0, the corresponding value of
𝑞𝑥 for function 𝑞 is 32. Substituting 1 for 𝑥 in the given function yields 𝑞1 = 3221 , which is equivalent to 𝑞1 = 322, or
𝑞1 = 64. Therefore, when 𝑥 = 1, the corresponding value of 𝑞𝑥 for function 𝑞 is 64. Of the choices given, only the table in
choice D gives these three values of 𝑥 and their corresponding values of 𝑞𝑥 for function 𝑞.

Choice A is incorrect. This table gives three values of 𝑥 and their corresponding values of 𝑞𝑥 for the function 𝑞𝑥 = 322𝑥.

Choice B is incorrect. This table gives three values of 𝑥 and their corresponding values of 𝑞𝑥 for the function 𝑞𝑥 = 232𝑥 .

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 50e40f08
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 50e40f08

If the given function is graphed in the xy-plane, where , what is the x-coordinate of an x-intercept of the
graph?

ID: 50e40f08 Answer

Correct Answer: -6, 4

Rationale
The correct answer is either -6 or 4. The x-intercepts of a graph in the xy-plane are the points where 𝑦 = 0. Thus, for an x-
intercept of the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓𝑥, 0 = 𝑓𝑥. Substituting 0 for 𝑓𝑥 in the equation 𝑓𝑥 = 𝑥 + 6𝑥 - 4 yields 0 = 𝑥 + 6𝑥 - 4. By the
zero product property, 𝑥 + 6 = 0 and 𝑥 - 4 = 0. Subtracting 6 from both sides of the equation 𝑥 + 6 = 0 yields 𝑥 = - 6.
Adding 4 to both sides of the equation 𝑥 - 4 = 0 yields 𝑥 = 4. Therefore, the x-coordinates of the x-intercepts of the graph
of 𝑦 = 𝑓𝑥 are -6 and 4. Note that -6 and 4 are examples of ways to enter a correct answer.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID c4259674
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: c4259674

The function is defined by . What is the value of ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: c4259674 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is correct. It’s given that function 𝑓 is defined by the equation 𝑓𝑥 = 4𝑥-1 . The value of 𝑓21 is the value of 𝑓𝑥
1 4
when 𝑥 = 21. Substituting 21 for 𝑥 in the given equation yields 𝑓21 = 421-1 , which is equivalent to 𝑓21 = 4 , or 𝑓21 = .
21 21

Choice A is incorrect. This is the value of 𝑓21 when 𝑓𝑥 = - 4𝑥, rather than 𝑓𝑥 = 4𝑥-1 .

Choice B is incorrect. This is the value of 𝑓21 when 𝑓𝑥 = 4𝑥-1 , rather than 𝑓𝑥 = 4𝑥-1 .

Choice D is incorrect. This is the value of 𝑓21 when 𝑓𝑥 = 4-1 𝑥, rather than 𝑓𝑥 = 4𝑥-1 .

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID be0c419e
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: be0c419e

Immanuel purchased a certain rare coin on January 1. The function , where , gives the
predicted value, in dollars, of the rare coin years after Immanuel purchased it. What is the best interpretation of the
statement “ is approximately equal to ” in this context?

When the rare coin's predicted value is approximately dollars, it is greater than the predicted value, in dollars,
A. on January 1 of the previous year.

When the rare coin’s predicted value is approximately dollars, it is times the predicted value, in dollars, on
B. January 1 of the previous year.

From the day Immanuel purchased the rare coin to years after Immanuel purchased the coin, its predicted value
C. increased by a total of approximately dollars.

D. years after Immanuel purchased the rare coin, its predicted value is approximately dollars.

ID: be0c419e Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is correct. It’s given that the function 𝑓𝑥 = 651.03𝑥 gives the predicted value, in dollars, of a certain rare coin 𝑥
years after Immanuel purchased it. It follows that 𝑓𝑥 represents the predicted value, in dollars, of the coin 𝑥 years after
Immanuel purchased it. Since the value of 𝑓8 is the value of 𝑓𝑥 when 𝑥 = 8, it follows that “𝑓8 is approximately equal to
82” means that 𝑓𝑥 is approximately equal to 82 when 𝑥 = 8. Therefore, the best interpretation of the statement “𝑓8 is
approximately equal to 82” in this context is 8 years after Immanuel purchased the rare coin, its predicted value is
approximately 82 dollars.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual errors. Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual errors.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID a31417d1
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: a31417d1

From 2005 through 2014, the number of music CDs sold in the United States
declined each year by approximately 15% of the number sold the preceding year.
In 2005, approximately 600 million CDs were sold in the United States. Of the
following, which best models C, the number of millions of CDs sold in the United
States, t years after 2005?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: a31417d1 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is correct. A model for a quantity C that decreases by a certain percentage per time period t is an exponential

equation in the form , where I is the initial value at time for r% annual decline. It’s given that C is
the number of millions of CDs sold in the United States and that t is the number of years after 2005. It’s also given that
600 million CDs were sold at time , so . This number declines by 15% per year, so . Substituting these

values into the equation produces , or .

Choice A is incorrect and may result from errors made when representing the percent decline. Choices C and D are
incorrect. These equations model exponential increases in CD sales, not exponential decreases.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 197bed38
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 197bed38

An object was launched upward from a platform. The graph shown models the height above ground, , in meters, of the
object seconds after it was launched. For which of the following intervals of time was the height of the object
increasing for the entire interval?

A. From to

B. From to

C. From to

D. From to

ID: 197bed38 Answer

Correct Answer: A
Rationale
Choice A is correct. It's given that the variable 𝑦 represents the height, in meters, of the object above the ground. The
graph shows that the height of the object was increasing from 𝑥 = 0 to 𝑥 = 2, and decreasing from 𝑥 = 2 to 𝑥 = 4.
Therefore, the height of the object was increasing for the entire interval of time from 𝑥 = 0 to 𝑥 = 2.

Choice B is incorrect. The height of the object wasn't increasing for this entire interval of time, as it was decreasing from
𝑥 = 2 to 𝑥 = 4.

Choice C is incorrect. The height of the object was decreasing, not increasing, for this entire interval of time.

Choice D is incorrect. The height of the object was decreasing, not increasing, for this entire interval of time.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID db888cd6
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: db888cd6

The graph gives the estimated number of catalogs , in thousands, a company sent to its customers at the end of each
year, where represents the number of years since the end of , where . Which statement is the best
interpretation of the y-intercept in this context?

A. The estimated total number of catalogs the company sent to its customers during the first years was .

The estimated total number of catalogs the company sent to its customers from the end of to the end of
B. was .

C. The estimated number of catalogs the company sent to its customers at the end of was .

D. The estimated number of catalogs the company sent to its customers at the end of was .

ID: db888cd6 Answer

Correct Answer: D
Rationale
Choice D is correct. The y-intercept of the graph is the point at which the graph crosses the y-axis, or the point for which
the value of 𝑥 is 0. Therefore, the y-intercept of the given graph is the point 0, 9. It's given that 𝑥 represents the number of
years since the end of 1992. Therefore, 𝑥 = 0 represents 0 years since the end of 1992, which is the same as the end of
1992. It's also given that 𝑦 represents the estimated number of catalogs, in thousands, that the company sent to its
customers at the end of the year. Therefore, 𝑦 = 9 represents 9,000 catalogs. It follows that the y-intercept 0, 9 means that
the estimated number of catalogs the company sent to its customers at the end of 1992 was 9,000.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 6ecdbcb4
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 6ecdbcb4

The function is given. Which table of values represents ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 6ecdbcb4 Answer

Correct Answer: B
Rationale
Choice B is correct. It’s given that 𝑓𝑥 = ( 𝑥 + 6 ) ( 𝑥 + 5 ) ( 𝑥 - 4 ) and 𝑦 = 𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) - 3. Substituting ( 𝑥 + 6 ) ( 𝑥 + 5 ) ( 𝑥 - 4 ) for
𝑓𝑥 in the equation 𝑦 = 𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) - 3 yields 𝑦 = ( 𝑥 + 6 ) ( 𝑥 + 5 ) ( 𝑥 - 4 ) - 3. Substituting -6 for 𝑥 in this equation yields
𝑦 = ( - 6 + 6 ) ( - 6 + 5 ) ( - 6 - 4 ) - 3, or 𝑦 = - 3. Substituting -5 for 𝑥 in the equation 𝑦 = ( 𝑥 + 6 ) ( 𝑥 + 5 ) ( 𝑥 - 4 ) - 3 yields
𝑦 = ( - 5 + 6 ) ( - 5 + 5 ) ( - 5 - 4 ) - 3, or 𝑦 = - 3. Substituting 4 for 𝑥 in the equation 𝑦 = ( 𝑥 + 6 ) ( 𝑥 + 5 ) ( 𝑥 - 4 ) - 3 yields
𝑦 = ( 4 + 6 ) ( 4 + 5 ) ( 4 - 4 ) - 3, or 𝑦 = - 3. Therefore, when 𝑥 = - 6 then 𝑦 = - 3, when 𝑥 = - 5 then 𝑦 = - 3, and when 𝑥 = 4
then 𝑦 = - 3. Thus, the table of values in choice B represents 𝑦 = 𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) - 3.

Choice A is incorrect. This table represents 𝑦 = 𝑥 - 3 rather than 𝑦 = 𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) - 3.

Choice C is incorrect. This table represents 𝑦 = 𝑥 + 3 rather than 𝑦 = 𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) - 3.

Choice D is incorrect. This table represents 𝑦 = 𝑓𝑥 + 3 rather than 𝑦 = 𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) - 3.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 203774bc
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 203774bc

The product of two positive integers is . If the first integer is greater than twice the second integer, what is the
smaller of the two integers?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 203774bc Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is correct. Let 𝑥 be the first integer and let 𝑦 be the second integer. If the first integer is 11 greater than twice the
second integer, then 𝑥 = 2𝑦 + 11. If the product of the two integers is 546, then 𝑥𝑦 = 546. Substituting 2𝑦 + 11 for 𝑥 in this
equation results in 2𝑦 + 11𝑦 = 546. Distributing the 𝑦 to both terms in the parentheses results in 2𝑦2 + 11𝑦 = 546.
Subtracting 546 from both sides of this equation results in 2𝑦2 + 11𝑦 - 546 = 0. The left-hand side of this equation can be
factored by finding two values whose product is 2-546, or -1,092, and whose sum is 11. The two values whose product is
-1,092 and whose sum is 11 are 39 and -28. Thus, the equation 2𝑦2 + 11𝑦 - 546 = 0 can be rewritten as
2𝑦2 + 28𝑦 - 39𝑦 - 546 = 0, which is equivalent to 2𝑦𝑦 - 14 + 39𝑦 - 14 = 0, or 2𝑦 + 39𝑦 - 14 = 0. By the zero product property, it
follows that 2𝑦 + 39 = 0 and 𝑦 - 14 = 0. Subtracting 39 from both sides of the equation 2𝑦 + 39 = 0 yields 2𝑦 = - 39.
39 39
Dividing both sides of this equation by 2 yields 𝑦 = - . Since 𝑦 is a positive integer, the value of 𝑦 is not - . Adding 14 to
2 2
both sides of the equation 𝑦 - 14 = 0 yields 𝑦 = 14. Substituting 14 for 𝑦 in the equation 𝑥𝑦 = 546 yields 𝑥14 = 546. Dividing
both sides of this equation by 14 results in 𝑥 = 39. Therefore, the two integers are 14 and 39, so the smaller of the two
integers is 14.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect. This is the larger of the two integers.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID c4cd5bcc
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: c4cd5bcc

In the xy-plane, the y-coordinate of the y-intercept of the graph of the function f is
c. Which of the following must be equal to c ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: c4cd5bcc Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is correct. A y-intercept is the point in the xy-plane where the graph of the function crosses the y-axis, which is
where . It’s given that the y-coordinate of the y-intercept of the graph of function f is c. It follows that the coordinate
pair representing the y-intercept must be . Therefore, c must equal .

Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because , , and would represent the y-value of the coordinate where
, , and , respectively.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID dc77e0dc
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: dc77e0dc

The function models the intensity of an X-ray beam, in number of particles in the X-ray beam, millimeters below the
surface of a sample of iron. According to the model, what is the estimated number of particles in the X-ray beam when it
is at the surface of the sample of iron?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: dc77e0dc Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is correct. It's given that the function 𝑓 models the intensity of an X-ray beam, in number of particles in the X-ray
beam, 𝑡 millimeters below the surface of a sample of iron. When the X-ray beam is at the surface of the sample of iron, it
𝑡
is 0 millimeters below the surface, so the value of 𝑡 is 0. Substituting 0 for 𝑡 in the function 𝑓𝑡 = 5000.5 12 yields
0
𝑓0 = 5000.5 12 . Since any positive number raised to the power of 0 is equal to 1, it follows that 𝑓0 = 5001, or 𝑓0 = 500.
Therefore, the estimated number of particles in the X-ray beam at the surface of the sample of iron is 500.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 735a0a00
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 735a0a00

The equation gives the estimated stock price , in dollars, for a certain company days after a new product launched,
where . Which statement is the best interpretation of in this context?

A. The company's estimated stock price increased every day after the new product launched.

B. The company's estimated stock price increased every days after the new product launched.

C. day after the new product launched, the company's estimated stock price is .

D. days after the new product launched, the company's estimated stock price is .

ID: 735a0a00 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is correct. In the given equation, 𝑥 represents the number of days after a new product launched, where
0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 20, and 𝑦 represents the estimated stock price, in dollars, for a certain company. Therefore, the best
interpretation of 𝑥, 𝑦 = 1, 83 in this context is that 1 day after the new product launched, the company's estimated stock
price is $ 83.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual errors. Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual errors.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 78d5f91a
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 78d5f91a

For the function f defined above, what is

the value of ?

A.

B.

C. 7

D. 11

ID: 78d5f91a Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale

Choice C is correct. Substituting for x in the given function f gives , which

simplifies to . This further simplifies to , or .

Choice A is incorrect and may result from correctly substituting for x in the function but incorrectly simplifying the

resulting expression to , or . Choice B is incorrect and may result from arithmetic errors.
Choice D is incorrect and may result from correctly substituting for x in the function but incorrectly simplifying the

expression to , or 11.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID d675744f
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: d675744f

Which of the following is the graph in the xy-

plane of the given equation?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: d675744f Answer

Correct Answer: D
Rationale
Choice D is correct. The y-intercept of the graph of an equation is the point , where b is the value of y when .
For the given equation, when . It follows that the y-intercept of the graph of the given equation is .
Additionally, for the given equation, the value of y doubles for each increase of 1 in the value of x. Therefore, the graph
contains the points , , , and . Only the graph shown in choice D passes through these points.

Choices A and B are incorrect because these are graphs of decreasing, not increasing, exponential functions. Choice C is
incorrect because the value of y increases by a growth factor greater than 2 for each increase of 1 in the value of x.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 67f4b449
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 67f4b449

The function gives the area of a rectangle, , if its width is and its length is
times its width. Which of the following is the best interpretation of ?

A. If the width of the rectangle is , then the area of the rectangle is .

B. If the width of the rectangle is , then the length of the rectangle is .

C. If the width of the rectangle is , then the length of the rectangle is .

D. If the width of the rectangle is , then the area of the rectangle is .

ID: 67f4b449 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is correct. The function 𝑓 gives the area of the rectangle, in ft2 , if its width is 𝑤 ft. Since the value of 𝑓14 is the
value of 𝑓𝑤 if 𝑤 = 14, it follows that 𝑓14 = 1,176 means that 𝑓𝑤 is 1,176 if 𝑤 = 14. In the given context, this means that if
the width of the rectangle is 14 ft, then the area of the rectangle is 1,176 ft2 .

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual errors. Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from interpreting 𝑓𝑤 as the width, in ft, of the rectangle if its area is 𝑤 ft2 , rather
than as the area, in ft2 , of the rectangle if its width is 𝑤 ft.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 44076c7d
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 44076c7d

For the quadratic function , the table shows three values of and their corresponding values of . Which equation
defines ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 44076c7d Answer

Correct Answer: D
Rationale
2
Choice D is correct. The equation of a quadratic function can be written in the form 𝑓𝑥 = 𝑎𝑥 - ℎ + 𝑘, where 𝑎, ℎ, and 𝑘 are
constants. It’s given in the table that when 𝑥 = - 1, the corresponding value of 𝑓𝑥 is 10. Substituting -1 for 𝑥 and 10 for 𝑓𝑥
2 2 2
in the equation 𝑓𝑥 = 𝑎𝑥 - ℎ + 𝑘 gives 10 = 𝑎-1 - ℎ + 𝑘, which is equivalent to 10 = 𝑎1 + 2ℎ + ℎ + 𝑘, or
10 = 𝑎 + 2𝑎ℎ + 𝑎ℎ2 + 𝑘. It’s given in the table that when 𝑥 = 0, the corresponding value of 𝑓𝑥 is 14. Substituting 0 for 𝑥 and
14 for 𝑓𝑥 in the equation 𝑓𝑥 = 𝑎𝑥 - ℎ2 + 𝑘 gives 14 = 𝑎0 - ℎ2 + 𝑘, or 14 = 𝑎ℎ2 + 𝑘. It’s given in the table that when 𝑥 = 1, the
2 2
corresponding value of 𝑓𝑥 is 20. Substituting 1 for 𝑥 and 20 for 𝑓𝑥 in the equation 𝑓𝑥 = 𝑎𝑥 - ℎ + 𝑘 gives 20 = 𝑎1 - ℎ + 𝑘,
which is equivalent to 20 = 𝑎1 - 2ℎ + ℎ2 + 𝑘, or 20 = 𝑎 - 2𝑎ℎ + 𝑎ℎ2 + 𝑘. Adding 20 = 𝑎 - 2𝑎ℎ + 𝑎ℎ2 + 𝑘 to the equation
10 = 𝑎 + 2𝑎ℎ + 𝑎ℎ2 + 𝑘 gives 30 = 2𝑎 + 2𝑎ℎ2 + 2𝑘. Dividing both sides of this equation by 2 gives 15 = 𝑎 + 𝑎ℎ2 + 𝑘. Since
14 = 𝑎ℎ2 + 𝑘, substituting 14 for 𝑎ℎ2 + 𝑘 into the equation 15 = 𝑎 + 𝑎ℎ2 + 𝑘 gives 15 = 𝑎 + 14. Subtracting 14 from both
sides of this equation gives 𝑎 = 1. Substituting 1 for 𝑎 in the equations 14 = 𝑎ℎ2 + 𝑘 and 20 = 𝑎ℎ2 - 2𝑎ℎ + 𝑎 + 𝑘 gives
14 = ℎ2 + 𝑘 and 20 = 1 - 2ℎ + ℎ2 + 𝑘, respectively. Since 14 = ℎ2 + 𝑘, substituting 14 for ℎ2 + 𝑘 in the equation
20 = 1 - 2ℎ + ℎ2 + 𝑘 gives 20 = 1 - 2ℎ + 14, or 20 = 15 - 2ℎ. Subtracting 15 from both sides of this equation gives 5 = - 2ℎ.
5 5 52
Dividing both sides of this equation by -2 gives - = ℎ. Substituting - for ℎ into the equation 14 = ℎ2 + 𝑘 gives 14 = - + 𝑘
2 2 2
25 25 31 5 31
, or 14 = + 𝑘. Subtracting from both sides of this equation gives = 𝑘. Substituting 1 for 𝑎, - for ℎ, and for 𝑘 in
4 4 4 2 4
52 31 25 31
the equation 𝑓𝑥 = 𝑎𝑥 - ℎ2 + 𝑘 gives 𝑓𝑥 = 𝑥 + + , which is equivalent to 𝑓𝑥 = 𝑥2 + 5𝑥 + + , or 𝑓𝑥 = 𝑥2 + 5𝑥 + 14.
2 4 4 4
Therefore, 𝑓𝑥 = 𝑥2 + 5𝑥 + 14 defines 𝑓.

Choice A is incorrect. If 𝑓𝑥 = 3𝑥2 + 3𝑥 + 14, then when 𝑥 = - 1, the corresponding value of 𝑓𝑥 is 14, not 10.

Choice B is incorrect. If 𝑓𝑥 = 5𝑥2 + 𝑥 + 14, then when 𝑥 = - 1, the corresponding value of 𝑓𝑥 is 18, not 10.

Choice C is incorrect. If 𝑓𝑥 = 9𝑥2 - 𝑥 + 14, then when 𝑥 = - 1, the corresponding value of 𝑓𝑥 is 24, not 10, and when 𝑥 = 1,
the corresponding value of 𝑓𝑥 is 22, not 20.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID f44a29a8
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: f44a29a8

An object’s kinetic energy, in joules, is equal to the product of one-half the

object’s mass, in kilograms, and the square of the object’s speed, in meters per
second. What is the speed, in meters per second, of an object with a mass of 4
kilograms and kinetic energy of 18 joules?

A. 3

B. 6

C. 9

D. 36

ID: f44a29a8 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is correct. It’s given that an object’s kinetic energy, in joules, is equal to the product of one-half the object’s
mass, in kilograms, and the square of the object’s speed, in meters per second. This relationship can be represented by

the equation , where K is the kinetic energy, m is the mass, and v is the speed. Substituting a mass of 4

kilograms for m and a kinetic energy of 18 joules for K results in the equation , or . Dividing

both sides of this equation by 2 yields . Taking the square root of both sides yields and . Since
speed can’t be expressed as a negative number, the speed of the object is 3 meters per second.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from computation errors. Choice C is incorrect. This is the value of rather than v.

Choice D is incorrect. This is the value of rather than v.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID d71f6dbf
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: d71f6dbf

The height, in feet, of an object x seconds after it is thrown straight up in the air
can be modeled by the function . Based on the model,

which of the following statements best interprets the equation ?

A. The height of the object 1.4 seconds after being thrown straight up in the air is 1.64 feet.

B. The height of the object 1.64 seconds after being thrown straight up in the air is 1.4 feet.

The height of the object 1.64 seconds after being thrown straight up in the air is approximately 1.4 times as great as
C. its initial height.

D. The speed of the object 1.4 seconds after being thrown straight up in the air is approximately 1.64 feet per second.

ID: d71f6dbf Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is correct. The value 1.4 is the value of x, which represents the number of seconds after the object was thrown
straight up in the air. When the function h is evaluated for x = 1.4, the function has a value of 1.64, which is the height, in
feet, of the object.

Choices B and C are incorrect and may result from misidentifying seconds as feet and feet as seconds. Additionally,
choice C may result from incorrectly including the initial height of the object as the input x. Choice D is incorrect and may
result from misidentifying height as speed.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 6676f055
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 6676f055

An engineer wanted to identify the best angle for a cooling fan in an engine in
order to get the greatest airflow. The engineer discovered that the function
above models the airflow , in cubic feet per minute, as a function of the
angle of the fan , in degrees. According to the model, what angle, in degrees,
gives the greatest airflow?

A. –0.28

B. 0.28

C. 27

D. 880

ID: 6676f055 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is correct. The function f is quadratic, so it will have either a maximum or a minimum at the vertex of the graph.
Since the coefficient of the quadratic term (–0.28) is negative, the vertex will be at a maximum. The equation f( ) = –
0.28( – 27)2 + 880 is given in vertex form, so the vertex is at = 27. Therefore, an angle of 27 degrees gives the
greatest airflow.

Choices A and B are incorrect and may be the result of misidentifying which value in a quadratic equation in vertex form
represents the vertex. Choice D is incorrect. This choice identifies the maximum value of f( ) rather than the value of
for which f( ) is maximized.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 90bcaa61
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 90bcaa61

The function gives the number of bacteria in a population minutes after an initial observation.
How much time, in minutes, does it take for the number of bacteria in the population to double?

ID: 90bcaa61 Answer

Correct Answer: 410

Rationale
The correct answer is 410. It's given that 𝑡 minutes after an initial observation, the number of bacteria in a population is
𝑡 𝑡
60,0002 410 . This expression consists of the initial number of bacteria, 60,000, multiplied by the expression 2 410 . The time it
𝑡
takes for the number of bacteria to double is the increase in the value of 𝑡 that causes the expression 2 410 to double.
𝑡 𝑡
Since the base of the expression 2 410 is 2, the expression 2 410 will double when the exponent increases by 1. Since the
𝑡
𝑡
exponent of the expression 2 410 is , the exponent will increase by 1 when 𝑡 increases by 410. Therefore the time, in
410
minutes, it takes for the number of bacteria in the population to double is 410.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID dd8ac009
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: dd8ac009

Time (years) Total amount (dollars)

Sara opened a savings account at a bank. The table shows the exponential relationship between the time , in years,
since Sara opened the account and the total amount , in dollars, in the account. If Sara made no additional deposits or
withdrawals, which of the following equations best represents the relationship between and ?

A. msup

B. msup

C. msup

D. msup

ID: dd8ac009 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is correct. It’s given that the relationship between 𝑡 and 𝑑 is exponential. The table shows that the value of 𝑑
increases as the value of 𝑡 increases. Therefore, the relationship between 𝑡 and 𝑑 can be represented by an increasing
exponential equation of the form 𝑑 = 𝑎1 + 𝑏𝑡 , where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are positive constants. The table shows that when 𝑡 = 0,
𝑑 = 670. Substituting 0 for 𝑡 and 670 for 𝑑 in the equation 𝑑 = 𝑎1 + 𝑏𝑡 yields 670 = 𝑎1 + 𝑏0 , which is equivalent to 670 = 𝑎1,
or 670 = 𝑎. Substituting 670 for 𝑎 in the equation 𝑑 = 𝑎1 + 𝑏𝑡 yields 𝑑 = 6701 + 𝑏𝑡 . The table also shows that when 𝑡 = 1,
𝑑 = 674.02. Substituting 1 for 𝑡 and 674.02 for 𝑑 in the equation 𝑑 = 6701 + 𝑏𝑡 yields 674.02 = 6701 + 𝑏1 , or
674.02 = 6701 + 𝑏. Dividing both sides of this equation by 670 yields 1.006 = 1 + 𝑏. Subtracting 1 from both sides of this
equation yields 𝑏 = 0.006. Substituting 0.006 for 𝑏 in the equation 𝑑 = 6701 + 𝑏𝑡 yields 𝑑 = 6701 + 0.006𝑡 . Therefore, of the
choices, choice B best represents the relationship between 𝑡 and 𝑑.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 9ff88bb5
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 9ff88bb5

A competitive diver dives from a platform into the water. The graph shown gives the height above the water , in meters,
of the diver seconds after diving from the platform. What is the best interpretation of the x-intercept of the graph?

A. The diver reaches a maximum height above the water at seconds.

B. The diver hits the water at seconds.

C. The diver reaches a maximum height above the water at seconds.

D. The diver hits the water at seconds.

ID: 9ff88bb5 Answer

Correct Answer: B
Rationale
Choice B is correct. It’s given that the graph shows the height above the water 𝑦, in meters, of a diver 𝑥 seconds after
diving from a platform. The x-intercept of a graph is the point at which the graph intersects the x-axis, or when the value
of 𝑦 is 0. The graph shown intersects the x-axis between 𝑥 = 1 and 𝑥 = 2. In other words, the diver is 0 meters above the
water, or hits the water, between 1 and 2 seconds after diving from the platform. Of the given choices, only choice B
includes an interpretation where the diver hits the water between 1 and 2 seconds. Therefore, the best interpretation of
the x-intercept of the graph is the diver hits the water at 1.6 seconds.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual errors.

Choice C is incorrect. This is the best interpretation of the maximum value, not the x-intercept, of the graph.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual errors.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 281a4f3b
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 281a4f3b

A certain college had 3,000 students enrolled in 2015. The college predicts that
after 2015, the number of students enrolled each year will be 2% less than the
number of students enrolled the year before. Which of the following functions
models the relationship between the number of students enrolled, , and the
number of years after 2015, x ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 281a4f3b Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is correct. Because the change in the number of students decreases by the same percentage each year, the
relationship between the number of students and the number of years can be modeled with a decreasing exponential
function in the form , where is the number of students, a is the number of students in 2015, r is the
rate of decrease each year, and x is the number of years since 2015. It’s given that 3,000 students were enrolled in 2015
and that the rate of decrease is predicted to be 2%, or 0.02. Substituting these values into the decreasing exponential
function yields , which is equivalent to .

Choices A, B, and C are incorrect and may result from conceptual errors when translating the given information into a
decreasing exponential function.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 100030d9
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 100030d9

A rubber ball bounces upward one-half the height that it falls each time it hits the
ground. If the ball was originally dropped from a distance of 20.0 feet above the
ground, what was its maximum height above the ground, in feet, between the
third and fourth time it hit the ground?

ID: 100030d9 Answer

Rationale
The correct answer is 2.5. After hitting the ground once, the ball bounces to feet. After hitting the
ground a second time, the ball bounces to feet. After hitting the ground for the third time, the ball
bounces to feet. Note that 2.5 and 5/2 are examples of ways to enter a correct answer.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 7ba694f3
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 7ba694f3

The number of bacteria in a liquid medium doubles every day. There are bacteria in the liquid medium at the start
of an observation. Which represents the number of bacteria, , in the liquid medium days after the start of the
observation?

A. msup

B. msup

C. msup

D. msup

ID: 7ba694f3 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is correct. Since the number of bacteria doubles every day, the relationship between 𝑡 and 𝑦 can be represented
𝑡
by an exponential equation of the form 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑏 , where 𝑎 is the number of bacteria at the start of the observation and the
number of bacteria increases by a factor of 𝑏 every day. It’s given that there are 44,000 bacteria at the start of the
observation. Therefore, 𝑎 = 44,000. It’s also given that the number of bacteria doubles, or increases by a factor of 2, every
𝑡
day. Therefore, 𝑏 = 2. Substituting 44,000 for 𝑎 and 2 for 𝑏 in the equation 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑏 yields 𝑦 = 44,0002𝑡 .

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect. This equation represents a situation where the number of bacteria is decreasing by half, not
doubling, every day.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID c7a187a7
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: c7a187a7

If the given function is graphed in the xy-plane, where , what is an x-intercept of the graph?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: c7a187a7 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is correct. It's given that 𝑦 = 𝑓𝑥. The x-intercepts of a graph in the xy-plane are the points where 𝑦 = 0. Thus, for
an x-intercept of the graph of function 𝑓, 0 = 𝑓𝑥. Substituting 0 for 𝑓𝑥 in the equation 𝑓𝑥 = 𝑥2 - 18𝑥 - 360 yields
0 = 𝑥2 - 18𝑥 - 360. Factoring the right-hand side of this equation yields 0 = 𝑥 + 12𝑥 - 30. By the zero product property,
𝑥 + 12 = 0 and 𝑥 - 30 = 0. Subtracting 12 from both sides of the equation 𝑥 + 12 = 0 yields 𝑥 = - 12. Adding 30 to both
sides of the equation 𝑥 - 30 = 0 yields 𝑥 = 30. Therefore, the x-intercepts of the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓𝑥 are -12, 0 and 30, 0. Of
these two x-intercepts, only -12, 0 is given as a choice.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID a26c29f7
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: a26c29f7

The function is defined by . In the xy-plane, the graph of is the result of shifting the graph of
down units. Which equation defines function ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: a26c29f7 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is correct. If the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑔𝑥 is the result of shifting the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓𝑥 down 𝑘 units in the xy-plane, the
function 𝑔 can be defined by an equation of the form 𝑔𝑥 = 𝑓𝑥 - 𝑘. It’s given that 𝑓𝑥 = 7𝑥3 and the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑔𝑥 is the
result of shifting the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓𝑥 down 2 units. Substituting 7𝑥3 for 𝑓𝑥 and 2 for 𝑘 in the equation 𝑔𝑥 = 𝑓𝑥 - 𝑘 yields
𝑔𝑥 = 7𝑥3 - 2.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual errors. Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual errors.

Choice C is incorrect. This equation defines a function 𝑔 for which the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑔𝑥 is the result of shifting the graph
of 𝑦 = 𝑓𝑥 up, not down, 2 units.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID e1391dd6
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: e1391dd6

According to Moore’s law, the number of transistors included on

microprocessors doubles every 2 years. In 1985, a microprocessor was
introduced that had 275,000 transistors. Based on this information, in which of
the following years does Moore’s law estimate the number of transistors to
reach 1.1 million?

A. 1987

B. 1989

C. 1991

D. 1994

ID: e1391dd6 Answer

Rationale

Choice B is correct. Let x be the number of years after 1985. It follows that represents the number of 2-year periods
that will occur within an x-year period. According to Moore’s law, every 2 years, the number of transistors included on

microprocessors is estimated to double. Therefore, x years after 1985, the number of transistors will double times.
Since the number of transistors included on a microprocessor was 275,000, or .275 million, in 1985, the estimated

number of transistors, in millions, included x years after 1985 can be modeled as . The year in which the

number of transistors is estimated to be 1.1 million is represented by the value of x when . Dividing

both sides of this equation by .275 yields , which can be rewritten as . Since the exponential equation

has equal bases on each side, it follows that the exponents must also be equal: . Multiplying both sides of the

equation by 2 yields . Therefore, according to Moore’s law, 4 years after 1985, or in 1989, the number of
transistors included on microprocessors is estimated to reach 1.1 million.

Alternate approach: According to Moore’s law, 2 years after 1985 (in 1987), the number of transistors included on a
microprocessor is estimated to be , or 550,000, and 2 years after 1987 (in 1989), the number of transistors
included on microprocessors is estimated to be , or 1,100,000. Therefore, the year that Moore’s law estimates
the number of transistors on microprocessors to reach 1.1 million is 1989.

Choices A, C, and D are incorrect. According to Moore’s law, the number of transistors included on microprocessors is
estimated to reach 550,000 in 1987, 2.2 million in 1991, and about 6.2 million in 1994.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 3c600337
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 3c600337

The function is defined by . What is the value of ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 3c600337 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is correct. The value of 𝑓0 is the value of 𝑓𝑥 when 𝑥 = 0. Substituting 0 for 𝑥 in the given function yields
𝑓0 = 2700.10 , or 𝑓0 = 2701, which is equivalent to 𝑓0 = 270. Therefore, the value of 𝑓0 is 270.

Choice A is incorrect. This is the value of 𝑥, not 𝑓𝑥.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect. This is the value of 𝑓1, not 𝑓0.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 4209aefe
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 4209aefe

The function models the value, in dollars, of a certain bank account by the end of each year from
through , where is the number of years after . Which of the following is the best interpretation of “
is approximately equal to ” in this context?

A. The value of the bank account is estimated to be approximately dollars greater in than in .

B. The value of the bank account is estimated to be approximately dollars in .

C. The value, in dollars, of the bank account is estimated to be approximately times greater in than in .

The value of the bank account is estimated to increase by approximately dollars every years between and
D. .

ID: 4209aefe Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is correct. It’s given that the function 𝑓𝑥 = 2061.034𝑥 models the value, in dollars, of a certain bank account by
the end of each year from 1957 through 1972, where 𝑥 is the number of years after 1957. It follows that 𝑓𝑥 represents the
estimated value, in dollars, of the bank account 𝑥 years after 1957. Since the value of 𝑓5 is the value of 𝑓𝑥 when 𝑥 = 5, it
follows that “𝑓5 is approximately equal to 243” means that 𝑓𝑥 is approximately equal to 243 when 𝑥 = 5. In the given
context, this means that the value of the bank account is estimated to be approximately 243 dollars 5 years after 1957.
Therefore, the best interpretation of the statement “𝑓5 is approximately equal to 243” in this context is the value of the
bank account is estimated to be approximately 243 dollars in 1962.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual errors. Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual errors.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID f1fa0821
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: f1fa0821

The graph gives the estimated population , in thousands, of a town years since , where . Which of the
following best describes the increase in the estimated population from to ?

A. The estimated population at is times the estimated population at .

B. The estimated population at is times the estimated population at .

C. The estimated population at is times the estimated population at .

D. The estimated population at is times the estimated population at .

ID: f1fa0821 Answer

Correct Answer: B
Rationale
Choice B is correct. On the graph shown, the y-axis represents estimated population, in thousands. The graph shows that
when 𝑥 = 0, the y-coordinate is 6. Therefore, the estimated population at 𝑥 = 0 is 6 thousand. The graph also shows that
when 𝑥 = 1, the y-coordinate is 9. Therefore, the estimated population at 𝑥 = 1 is 9 thousand. Dividing 9 thousand by 6
thousand yields 1.5; therefore, 9 thousand is 1.5 times 6 thousand. It follows that the estimated population at 𝑥 = 1 is 1.5
times the estimated population at 𝑥 = 0.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 5bf0f84a
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 5bf0f84a

The function above models the height h, in feet, of an object above ground
t seconds after being launched straight up in the air. What does the number 72
represent in the function?

A. The initial height, in feet, of the object

B. The maximum height, in feet, of the object

C. The initial speed, in feet per second, of the object

D. The maximum speed, in feet per second, of the object

ID: 5bf0f84a Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is correct. The variable t represents the seconds after the object is launched. Since , this means that
the height, in feet, at 0 seconds, or the initial height, is 72 feet.

Choices B, C, and D are incorrect and may be the result of misinterpreting the function in context.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID c048055c
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: c048055c

A model predicts that the population of Springfield was in . The model also predicts that each year for the
next years, the population increased by of the previous year's population. Which equation best represents this
model, where is the number of years after , for ?

A. msup

B. msup

C. msup

D. msup

ID: c048055c Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is correct. It's given that a model predicts the population of Springfield in 2005 was 15,000. The model also
predicts that each year for the next 5 years, the population increased by 4% of the previous year's population. The
predicted population in one of these years can be found by multiplying the predicted population from the previous year by
1.04. Since the predicted population in 2005 was 15,000, the predicted population 1 year later is 15,000 ( 1.04 ) . The
predicted population 2 years later is this value times 1.04, which is 15,0001.041.04, or 15,0001.042 . The predicted population
3 years later is this value times 1.04, or 15,0001.043 . More generally, the predicted population, 𝑝, 𝑥 years after 2005 is
represented by the equation 𝑝 = 15,0001.04𝑥 .

Choice A is incorrect. Substituting 0 for 𝑥 in this equation indicates the predicted population in 2005 was 0.96 rather than
15,000.

Choice B is incorrect. Substituting 0 for 𝑥 in this equation indicates the predicted population in 2005 was 1.04 rather than
15,000.

Choice C is incorrect. This equation indicates the predicted population is decreasing, rather than increasing, by 4% each
year.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 70ebd3d0
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 70ebd3d0

The function N defined above can be used to model the number of species of
brachiopods at various ocean depths d, where d is in hundreds of meters. Which
of the following does the model predict?

A. For every increase in depth by 1 meter, the number of brachiopod species decreases by 115.

B. For every increase in depth by 1 meter, the number of brachiopod species decreases by 10%.

C. For every increase in depth by 100 meters, the number of brachiopod species decreases by 115.

D. For every increase in depth by 100 meters, the number of brachiopod species decreases by 10%.

ID: 70ebd3d0 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is correct. The function N is exponential, so it follows that changes by a fixed percentage for each
increase in d by 1. Since d is measured in hundreds of meters, it also follows that the number of brachiopod species
changes by a fixed percentage for each increase in ocean depth by 100 meters. Since the base of the exponent in the
model is 0.90, which is less than 1, the number of brachiopod species decreases as the ocean depth increases.
Specifically, the number of brachiopod species at a depth of meters is 90% of the number of brachiopod species
at a depth of d meters. This means that for each increase in ocean depth by 100 meters, the number of brachiopod
species decreases by 10%.

Choices A and C are incorrect. These describe situations where the number of brachiopod species are decreasing linearly
rather than exponentially. Choice B is incorrect and results from interpreting the decrease in the number of brachiopod
species as 10% for every 1-meter increase in ocean depth rather than for every 100-meter increase in ocean depth.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 45df91ee
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 45df91ee

If the given function is graphed in the xy-plane, where , what is the y-intercept of the graph?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 45df91ee Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is correct. The x-coordinate of any y-intercept of a graph is 0. Substituting 0 for 𝑥 in the given equation yields
0
𝑔0 = 11 1 . Since any nonzero number raised to the 0th power is 1, this gives 𝑔 ( 0 ) = 11 · 1, or 𝑔 ( 0 ) = 11. The y-intercept
12
of the graph is, therefore, the point 0, 11.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 97158b3a
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 97158b3a

The area A, in square centimeters, of a rectangular painting can be represented by the expression , where
is the width, in centimeters, of the painting. Which expression represents the length, in centimeters, of the painting?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 97158b3a Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is correct. It's given that the expression 𝑤𝑤 + 29 represents the area, in square centimeters, of a rectangular
painting, where 𝑤 is the width, in centimeters, of the painting. The area of a rectangle can be calculated by multiplying its
length by its width. It follows that the length, in centimeters, of the painting is represented by the expression 𝑤 + 29.

Choice A is incorrect. This expression represents the width, in centimeters, of the painting, not its length, in centimeters.

Choice B is incorrect. This is the difference between the length, in centimeters, and the width, in centimeters, of the
painting, not its length, in centimeters.

Choice D is incorrect. This expression represents the area, in square centimeters, of the painting, not its length, in
centimeters.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID d8ace155
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: d8ace155

A company opens an account with an initial balance of . The account earns interest, and no additional
deposits or withdrawals are made. The account balance is given by an exponential function , where is the account
balance, in dollars, years after the account is opened. The account balance after years is . Which
equation could define ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: d8ace155 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is correct. Since it's given that the account balance, 𝐴𝑡, in dollars, after 𝑡 years can be modeled by an
exponential function, it follows that function 𝐴 can be written in the form 𝐴𝑡 = 𝑁𝑟𝑡 , where 𝑁 is the initial value of the
function and 𝑟 is a constant related to the growth of the function. It's given that the initial balance of the account is
$ 36,100.00, so it follows that the initial value of the function, or 𝑁, must be 36,100.00. Substituting 36,100.00 for 𝑁 in the
equation 𝐴𝑡 = 𝑁𝑟𝑡 yields 𝐴𝑡 = 36,100.00𝑟𝑡 . It's given that the account balance after 13 years, or when 𝑡 = 13, is $ 68,071.93.
It follows that 𝐴13 = 68,071.93, or 36,100.00𝑟13 = 68,071.93. Dividing each side of the equation 36,100.00𝑟13 = 68,071.93 by
68,071.93 68,071.93
36,100.00 yields 𝑟13 = 36,100.00
. Taking the 13th root of both sides of this equation yields 𝑟
= 13 36,100.00 , or 𝑟 is approximately
√
equal to 1.05. Substituting 1.05 for 𝑟 in the equation 𝐴𝑡 = 36,100.00𝑟𝑡 yields 𝐴𝑡 = 36,100.001.05𝑡 , so the equation
𝐴𝑡 = 36,100.001.05𝑡 could define 𝐴.

Choice B is incorrect. Substituting 0 for 𝑡 in this function indicates an initial balance of $ 31,971.93, rather than
$ 36,100.00.

Choice C is incorrect. Substituting 0 for 𝑡 in this function indicates an initial balance of $ 31,971.93, rather than
$ 36,100.00. Additionally, this function indicates the account balance is decreasing, rather than increasing, over time.

Choice D is incorrect. This function indicates the account balance is decreasing, rather than increasing, over time.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID dba7432e
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: dba7432e

x f(x)

0 5

The table above gives the values of the function f for some values of x. Which
of the following equations could define f ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: dba7432e Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is correct. Each choice has a function with coefficient 5 and base 2, so the exponents must be analyzed. When
the input value of x increases, the output value of f(x) decreases, so the exponent must be negative. An exponent of –x

yields the values in the table: , , , and .

Choices A and B are incorrect and may result from choosing equations that yield an increasing, rather than decreasing,
output value of f(x) when the input value of x increases. Choice C is incorrect and may result from choosing an equation
that doesn’t yield the values in the table.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID f1c81b3b
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: f1c81b3b

The exponential function is defined by , where is a positive constant. If , what is the

value of ?

ID: f1c81b3b Answer

Correct Answer: 11875

Rationale
The correct answer is 11,875. It's given that the exponential function 𝑔 is defined by 𝑔𝑥 = 19 · 𝑎𝑥 , where 𝑎 is a positive
constant, and 𝑔3 = 2,375. It follows that when 𝑥 = 3, 𝑔𝑥 = 2,375. Substituting 3 for 𝑥 and 2,375 for 𝑔𝑥 in the given equation
yields 2,375 = 19 · 𝑎3 . Dividing each side of this equation by 19 yields 125 = 𝑎3 . Taking the cube root of both sides of this
equation gives 𝑎 = 5. Substituting 4 for 𝑥 and 5 for 𝑎 in the equation 𝑔𝑥 = 19 · 𝑎𝑥 yields 𝑔4 = 19 · 54 , or 𝑔4 = 11, 875.
Therefore, the value of 𝑔4 is 11,875.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID c19d1fb0
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: c19d1fb0

An egg is thrown from a rooftop. The equation represents this situation, where is the height of
the egg above the ground, in meters, seconds after it is thrown. According to the equation, what is the height, in meters,
from which the egg was thrown?

ID: c19d1fb0 Answer

Correct Answer: 18

Rationale
The correct answer is 18. It's given that an egg is thrown from a rooftop and that the equation ℎ = - 4.9𝑡2 + 9𝑡 + 18
represents this situation, where ℎ is the height of the egg above the ground, in meters, 𝑡 seconds after it is thrown. If
follows that the height, in meters, from which the egg was thrown is the value of ℎ when 𝑡 = 0. Substituting 0 for 𝑡 in the
equation ℎ = - 4.9𝑡2 + 9𝑡 + 18 yields ℎ0 = - 4.902 + 90 + 18, or ℎ = 18. Therefore, according to the equation, the height, in
meters, from which the egg was thrown is 18.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 0aaef7aa
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 0aaef7aa

The function is defined by . What is the value of when is equal to ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 0aaef7aa Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is correct. It's given that 𝑝𝑛 = 7𝑛3 . Substituting 56 for 𝑝𝑛 in this equation yields 56 = 7𝑛3 . Dividing each side of
this equation by 7 yields 8 = 𝑛3 . Taking the cube root of each side of this equation yields 2 = 𝑛. Therefore, when 𝑝𝑛 is
equal to 56, the value of 𝑛 is 2.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID b7cd6ca6
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: b7cd6ca6

The equation gives the estimated number of employees at a restaurant, where is the number of years
since the restaurant opened. Which of the following is the best interpretation of the number in this context?

A. The estimated number of employees when the restaurant opened

B. The increase in the estimated number of employees each year

C. The number of years the restaurant has been open

D. The percent increase in the estimated number of employees each year

ID: b7cd6ca6 Answer

Correct Answer: A

Rationale
Choice A is correct. For an exponential function of the form 𝐸𝑡 = 𝑎𝑏𝑡 , where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are constants, the initial value of the
function—that is, the value of the function when 𝑡 = 0—is 𝑎 and the value of the function increases by a factor of 𝑏 each
time 𝑡 increases by 1. Since the function 𝐸𝑡 = 51.8𝑡 gives the estimated number of employees at a restaurant and 𝑡 is the
number of years since the restaurant opened, the best interpretation of the number 5 in this context is the estimated
number of employees when 𝑡 = 0, or when the restaurant opened.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual errors. Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual errors.

Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual errors.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID f5e8ccf1
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: f5e8ccf1

The function f is defined above. Which of the following is NOT an x-intercept of

the graph of the function in the xy-plane?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: f5e8ccf1 Answer

Correct Answer: B
Rationale
Choice B is correct. The graph of the function f in the xy-plane has x-intercepts at the points , where .

Substituting 0 for in the given equation yields . By the zero product property, if

, then , , or . Solving each of these linear equations for x, it

follows that , , and , respectively. This means that the graph of the function f in the xy-plane has

three x-intercepts: , , and . Therefore, isn’t an x-intercept of the graph of the function f.
Alternate approach: Substitution may be used. Since by definition an x-intercept of any graph is a point in the form
where k is a constant, and since all points in the options are in this form, it need only be checked whether the points in

the options lie on the graph of the function f. Substituting for x and 0 for in the given equation yields

, or . Therefore, the point doesn’t lie on the graph of the

function f and can’t be an x-intercept of the graph.

Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because each of these points is an x-intercept of the graph of the function f in the xy-
plane. By definition, an x-intercept is a point on the graph of the form , where k is a constant. Substituting for x

and 0 for in the given equation yields , or . Since this is a true statement, the

point lies on the graph of the function f and is an x-intercept of the graph. Performing similar substitution using

the points and also yields the true statement , illustrating that these points also lie on the graph of the
function f and are x-intercepts of the graph.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID aa95fb33
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: aa95fb33

The graph of the rational function is shown, where and . Which of the following is the graph of
, where ?

A.
B.

C.

D.
 ID: aa95fb33 Answer
Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is correct. It's given that the graph of the rational function 𝑓 is shown, where 𝑦 = 𝑓𝑥 and 𝑥 ≥ 0. The graph shown
passes through the point 3, 3. It follows that when the value of 𝑥 is 3, the value of 𝑓𝑥 is 3. When the value of 𝑓𝑥 is 3, the
value of 𝑓𝑥 + 5 is 3 + 5, or 8. Therefore, the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓𝑥 + 5 passes through the point 3, 8. Of the given choices, choice
D is the only graph that passes through the point 3, 8 and is therefore the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓𝑥 + 5.

Choice A is incorrect. This is the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓𝑥 - 5, rather than 𝑦 = 𝑓𝑥 + 5.

𝑓𝑥
Choice B is incorrect. This is the graph of 𝑦 = , rather than 𝑦 = 𝑓𝑥 + 5.
5

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 3918e8bc
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 3918e8bc

An object is kicked from a platform. The equation represents this situation, where is the height
of the object above the ground, in meters, seconds after it is kicked. Which number represents the height, in meters,
from which the object was kicked?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 3918e8bc Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is correct. It’s given that the equation ℎ = -4.9𝑡2 + 7𝑡 + 9 represents this situation, where ℎ is the height, in
meters, of the object 𝑡 seconds after it is kicked. It follows that the height, in meters, from which the object was kicked is
the value of ℎ when 𝑡 = 0. Substituting 0 for 𝑡 in the equation ℎ = -4.9𝑡2 + 7𝑡 + 9 yields ℎ = - 4.902 + 70 + 9, or ℎ = 9.
Therefore, the object was kicked from a height of 9 meters.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 7e5a3640
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 7e5a3640

Bacteria are growing in a liquid growth medium. There were cells per milliliter during an initial observation. The
number of cells per milliliter doubles every hours. How many cells per milliliter will there be hours after the initial
observation?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 7e5a3640 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is correct. Let 𝑦 represent the number of cells per milliliter 𝑥 hours after the initial observation. Since the
number of cells per milliliter doubles every 3 hours, the relationship between 𝑥 and 𝑦 can be represented by an
𝑥
exponential equation of the form 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑏 𝑘 , where 𝑎 is the number of cells per milliliter during the initial observation and
the number of cells per milliliter increases by a factor of 𝑏 every 𝑘 hours. It’s given that there were 300,000 cells per
milliliter during the initial observation. Therefore, 𝑎 = 300,000. It’s also given that the number of cells per milliliter doubles,
or increases by a factor of 2, every 3 hours. Therefore, 𝑏 = 2 and 𝑘 = 3. Substituting 300,000 for 𝑎, 2 for 𝑏, and 3 for 𝑘 in the
𝑥 𝑥
equation 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑏 𝑘 yields 𝑦 = 300,0002 3 . The number of cells per milliliter there will be 15 hours after the initial observation
𝑥 15
is the value of 𝑦 in this equation when 𝑥 = 15. Substituting 15 for 𝑥 in the equation 𝑦 = 300,0002 3 yields 𝑦 = 300,0002 3 , or
𝑦 = 300,00025 . This is equivalent to 𝑦 = 300,00032, or 𝑦 = 9,600,000. Therefore, 15 hours after the initial observation, there
will be 9,600,000 cells per milliliter.

Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice B is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 4993b828
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 4993b828

The area , in square centimeters, of a rectangular cutting board can be represented by the expression , where
is the width, in centimeters, of the cutting board. Which expression represents the length, in centimeters, of the cutting
board?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 4993b828 Answer

Correct Answer: D

Rationale
Choice D is correct. It's given that the expression 𝑤𝑤 + 9 represents the area, in square centimeters, of a rectangular
cutting board, where 𝑤 is the width, in centimeters, of the cutting board. The area of a rectangle can be calculated by
multiplying its length by its width. It follows that the length, in centimeters, of the cutting board is represented by the
expression 𝑤 + 9.

Choice A is incorrect. This expression represents the area, in square centimeters, of the cutting board, not its length, in
centimeters.

Choice B is incorrect. This expression represents the width, in centimeters, of the cutting board, not its length.

Choice C is incorrect. This is the difference between the length, in centimeters, and the width, in centimeters, of the
cutting board, not its length, in centimeters.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 981aca65
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 981aca65

In the given function , is a constant. The graph of function in the xy-plane, where , is translated units
down and units to the right to produce the graph of . Which equation defines function ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 981aca65 Answer

Correct Answer: B

Rationale
Choice B is correct. It's given that the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑔𝑥 is produced by translating the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓𝑥 3 units down and 4
units to the right in the xy-plane. Therefore, function 𝑔 can be defined by an equation in the form 𝑔𝑥 = 𝑓𝑥 - 4 - 3. Function 𝑓
𝑎 - 19
is defined by the equation 𝑓𝑥 =
𝑥
+ 5, where 𝑎 is a constant. Substituting 𝑥 - 4 for 𝑥 in the equation 𝑓𝑥 = 𝑎 -𝑥19 + 5 yields
𝑓𝑥 - 4 = 𝑎𝑥--194 + 5. Substituting 𝑎𝑥--194 + 5 for 𝑓𝑥 - 4 in the equation 𝑔𝑥 = 𝑓𝑥 - 4 - 3 yields 𝑔𝑥 = 𝑎𝑥--194 + 5 - 3, or 𝑔𝑥 = 𝑎𝑥--194 + 2.
𝑎 - 19
Therefore, the equation that defines function 𝑔 is 𝑔𝑥 = + 2.
𝑥-4

Choice A is incorrect. This equation defines a function whose graph is produced by translating the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓𝑥 3 units
down and 4 units to the left, not 3 units down and 4 units to the right.

Choice C is incorrect. This equation defines a function whose graph is produced by translating the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓𝑥 4
units to the left, not 3 units down and 4 units to the right.

Choice D is incorrect. This equation defines a function whose graph is produced by translating the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓𝑥 4 units
to the right, not 3 units down and 4 units to the right.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 7a4475df
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 7a4475df

A function estimates that there were animals in a population in . Each year from to , the function
estimates that the number of animals in this population increased by of the number of animals in the population the
previous year. Which equation defines this function, where is the estimated number of animals in the population
years after ?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 7a4475df Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale
Choice C is correct. It's given that a function 𝑝 estimates that there were 2,000 animals in a population in 1998 and that
each year from 1998 to 2010, the number of animals in this population increased by 3% of the number of animals in the
𝑟 𝑥
population the previous year. It follows that this situation can be represented by the function 𝑝𝑥 = 𝑎1 + , where 𝑝𝑥 is
100
the estimated number of animals in the population 𝑥 years after 1998, 𝑎 is the estimated number of animals in the
population in 1998, and each year the estimated number of animals increased by 𝑟%. Substituting 2,000 for 𝑎 and 3 for 𝑟 in
3 𝑥
this function yields 𝑝𝑥 = 2,0001 +
100
, or 𝑝𝑥 = 2,0001.03𝑥 .

Choice A is incorrect. This function represents a population in which each year the number of animals increased by 200%,
not 3%, of the number of animals in the population the previous year.

Choice B is incorrect. This function represents a population in which each year the number of animals increased by 97%,
not 3%, of the number of animals in the population the previous year.

Choice D is incorrect. This function represents a population in which each year the number of animals decreased, rather
than increased, by 3% of the number of animals in the population the previous year.

Question Difficulty: Medium

Question ID 5c00c2c1
Assessment Test Domain Skill Difficulty

SAT Math Advanced Math Nonlinear functions

ID: 5c00c2c1

There were no jackrabbits in Australia before 1788 when 24 jackrabbits were

introduced. By 1920 the population of jackrabbits had reached 10 billion. If the
population had grown exponentially, this would correspond to a 16.2% increase,
on average, in the population each year. Which of the following functions best
models the population of jackrabbits t years after 1788?

A.

B.

C.

D.

ID: 5c00c2c1 Answer

Correct Answer: C

Rationale

Choice C is correct. This exponential growth model can be written in the form , where is the
population t years after 1788, A is the initial population, and r is the yearly growth rate, expressed as a decimal. Since
there were 24 jackrabbits in Australia in 1788, . Since the number of jackrabbits increased by an average of 16.2%

each year, . Therefore, the equation that best models this situation is .

Choices A, B, and D are incorrect and may result from misinterpreting the form of an exponential growth model.

Question Difficulty: Medium