Gridding in 0.90 on the SAT bubbling math free-response

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

Do I exclude the 0?

Should I do 9/10.

If the decimal is not rational, do I include the 0 before the decimal point, and what about the one after it?

Thank you.

2

Pretty sure you can grid in anything that is numerically correct. I suggest omitting the 0’s and simply gridding “.9”.

If the decimal is irrational, then you messed up. All grid-ins can correctly be answered with a decimal or fraction that fits the grid-in chart.

3

All the grid-in answers are rational numbers (either finite decimals or infinite repeating decimals - or “normal” fractions).

Old SAT.
Nothing about leading zeros in grid-ins (unless the answer is a repeating decimal) in [Grid-In Directions](SAT Practice and Preparation – SAT Suite | College Board) and [More grid-in guidelines.](SAT Practice and Preparation – SAT Suite | College Board)
Blue Book says pretty much the same (p.344-346).
But - on p.22 of [Getting Ready for the SAT 2014-2016](https://sat.collegeboard.org/SAT/public/pdf/getting-ready-for-the-sat.pdf):

New SAT.
Nothing about leading zeros in grid-ins in either [Math Test/url or [url=https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/pdf/getting-ready-redesigned-sat.pdf]Getting Ready for the Redesigned SAT/url.
But - on p.316 of the new Blue Book ([url=Home – SAT Suite of Assessments | College Board]Student Produced Response](The SAT Math Test – SAT Suite | College Board)):

4

Just noticed that I cross-posted with @MITer94 - was too busy with much ado about nothing: Treatise on a Leading Zero. :smiley:

5

@gcf101 @MITer94 Thank you that makes much more sense, I will grid it as a fraction.

And thank you both, had a bit of a lapse, irrational numbers would not appear on the SAT.

6

@gcf101 @MITer94 Sorry to keep bothering you guys, but I need to get this sorted out.

If the answer is 0, am I not supposed to put it in the first column? Page 345 say put it in column 2,3,4.
And in general is it more eloquent to leave answers in fractional form where possible.

7

@NearMello Correct. Look at a grid-in example. There is no zero in the 1st column.

As I said, anything numerically equal (or to the closest precision) is correct. If the answer is 2/3, you can grid 2/3, .666, .667, 4/6, or 6/9. The decimals .66 and 0.67 are less precise and hence, incorrect.

You seem to be worrying about a trivial detail. Note that you can write your answer above the grid-in circles to make it easier for you to grid the answer.

8

@MITer94 Thank you very much,