SAT Math Question that makes no sense? (from BB)

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

<p>Here is the math question:</p>

<p>Blue book page 672 #13
Kyles lock combination consists of 3 two-digit numbers. The combination satisfies the three conditions below</p>

<p>One number is odd.
One nu mber is a multiple of 5.
One number is the day of the month of Kyle's birthday</p>

<p>If each number satisfies exactly one of the conditions, which of the following could be the combination to the lock?</p>

<p>(A) 14-20-13
(B) 14-25-23
(C) 15-18-16
(D) 20-15-20
(E) 34-30-21</p>

<p>I dont understand this question at all, if each number satisfies EXACTLY one of the conditions then wouldent both A and B be possible answers, because 14 = number that is kyles birthday, 20 or 25 = multiple of 5, 13 or 23 = odd number. </p>

<p>Any help appreciated, thanks.</p>

2

<p>No no no. You are misunderstanding the question.
The problem with answer choice B is that 25 satisfies two conditions. But the question says “IF EACH NUMBER SATISFIES EXACTLY ONE OF THE CONDITIonS…” so B can’t be the right answer; 25 satisfies the odd number condition AND the multiple of 5 condition.</p>

3

<p>^Couldn’t all 3 numbers be the day of the month?
@OP - what practice test and what section is this question in?</p>

4

<p>This is a poor question, but in any case you should pick the best answer and that would be A.</p>

5

<p>^Poor questions can’t exist with ETS, or they’d be sued and done for. I’m starting to think that the copied question is wrong. Unless I’m missing something.</p>

6

<p>^Sure but you’re missing the point. The point is to find one condition and ONLY ONE condition and match that up with one and only one number.</p>

7

<p>The answer is A.</p>

<p>Choice B may seem correct but 23 would satisfy two conditions: it is both odd and the day of Kyle’s birthday.</p>

8

<p>You know guys, saying that a poor question is easier said; maybe you have an alternative choice of phrasing in mind?
If you don’t</p>

9

<p>^Yeah, that’s what I’m saying.
In (A) - 2 of the numbers have 2 conditions satisfied.
14 - day.
20 - multiple of 5 [even], day
13 - odd number, day</p>

<p>If each number is supposed to value exactly one - and only one - condition, then this doesn’t work.</p>

<p>I still want to know what test and section it was in, as I don’t currently have the BB to see the page.</p>

10

<p>This doesnt make any sense because then more than 1 number in all of the choices satisfies the last condition.</p>

<p>@Jimmy797 The question is not copied incorrectly I double checked. It is in practice test number 5, section 7 Question number 13</p>

11

<p>^Might I ask for the test # again?</p>

12

<p>Kyle’s birthday, while unknown initially, isn’t flexible. Therefore you use the other 2 numbers to isolate his birthday…</p>

13

<p>^ But it clearly says that each number can satisfy EXACTLY one condition, and all 3 numbers in almost all of the choices satisfy the last condition.</p>

14

<p>@OP - Found it in test #7, I believe you have edition 1 of the BB.
At any rate, dreamseason got it right. If 14 is the birthday then the other 2 can’t be, so they don’t satisfy the condition. They said it is is his birthday, not it could be, which is sort of the trick.
It’s not poorly worded, really, it’s fine, but meh, still not precise enough.</p>

15

<p>Logically, the question is as precise as it could be. It asks which of the answer choices could be the combination of the lock, so if Kyle’s birthday falls on the 14th of some month then 14-20-13 could be the combination. If it falls on the 20th or the 13th, the aforementioned possibility is not undermined and still stands.</p>

16

<p>

Let’s say you know for sure that the day of the month of Kyle’s birthday is the 14th. This means that 14 only satisfies the birthday condition, as it is not odd or a multiple of 5. The second number, 20, satisfies the multiple of 5 condition, but is not odd or the day of month of his birthday. The third number, 13, satisfies the odd condition, but is not a multiple of 5 or the day of month of his birthday.</p>

<p>Therefore this might be Kyle’s combination, given that Kyle’s birthday is on the 14th of some month, 20 is the correct multiple of 5, and 13 is the correct odd number.</p>

17

<p>This is actually a very good SAT question. You have to use ALL the information and do multiple POE.</p>

<p>One number is odd =============> means ONLY ONE number is odd
One number is a multiple of 5. =============> means ONLY ONE number is a M5
**One **number is the day of the month of Kyle’s birthday =======> cannot be higher than 31</p>

<p>If each number satisfies **exactly one **of the conditions, which of the following could be the combination to the lock?</p>

<p>Unallowable numbers shown in bold and reasons:</p>

<p>(A) 14-20-13 = 20 is M5, 13 odd number, and 14 can be b’day
(B) 14-**25-23 **= NO, no two odd numbers allowed
(C) 15-18-16 = NO, 15 cannot be M5 and odd number at the same time
(D) 20-15-20 = NO, no repeated numbers and three M5
(E) 34-30-21 = NO, 30 has to be the M5. 21 has to be odd number. B’day cannot be 34. Also, the mere fact of having a number higher than 31 that is not odd is sufficient reason to eliminate.</p>

18

<p>You could translate this problem into:
1 number must be even less than or equal to 31, and not divisible by 5.
The other number must be odd, and not divisible by 5.
The remaining number must be even and divisible by 5.</p>

19

<p>Only one number is odd, so choice B is eliminated because both 23 and 25 are odd.
Only one number is a multiple of 5, so choice D is eliminated. 20-15-20.
In choice C, 15 fills two of the conditons, odd and a multiple of 5, but it can’t be used twice.
30 is a multiple of 5, 21 is odd, but 34 can’t be Kyle’s birthday, so choice E is gone.
Only the three numbers of choice A each satisfy one and only one condition.</p>

20

<p>Basically xiggi owned this one.</p>