<p>The</a> Official SAT Question of the Day</p>
<p>The question was misleading. I believe the question implied that the 10 bags of apples were ALTOGETHER 2.75-3.15 pounds. So the variable w has to be less then 2.75, not greater then or equal to. Since w is weight of ONE bag. So it should have been w<2.75<3.15 not 2.75<w<3.15.</p>
<p>Is it me that is confusing the question?</p>
<p>Can someone explain how to do this problem?</p>
<p>I answered that question correctly from the first try, it’s B. I’m terrible at explaining things, but at least i’ll try to help you.</p>
<p>alright so the difference between 2.75 and 3.15 is 0.4. so 0.4 is the maximum range.
at first you’ll look for an answer containing 0.4, but SAT math is not that simple.
start eliminating the ones that are obviously wrong, and pay close attention to answer choice B. it seems to be similar to A but in fact it’s not. Because 2.95 is being subtracted from w, which is exactly 0.2 more than 2.75. so here comes your 0.4 range, the problem is much easier than it seems.</p>
<p>2.75 pounds to 3.15 pounds is the WEIGHT of EACH bag, not the WEIGHT of ALL the bags. Notice the plural in the question: “The weights of 10 bags of apples. . . .” If it were referring to the weight of all the bags combined then it would use the singular “weight of 10 bags of apples.” There is a range 2.75-3.15 because the individual bags vary in weight. One bag may weigh 2.75 and another bag may weigh 3.15.</p>
<p>For example: One bag has a weight of 2.75 pounds. Another bag has a weight of 3.15 pounds. The WEIGHTS of the two bags vary from 2.75 to 3.15. The WEIGHT of the two bags is 2.75+3.15=5.9 pounds. Get it?</p>
<p>The hint “2.75<w<3.15” OBVIOUSLY implies that w is the weight of one bag. In fact, it even says that in the question: “If w is the weight, in pounds, of one of these bags. . . .”</p>
<p>How to answer the problem: If you find the midpoint of the range 2.75-3.15, you find the point at which the distance to the endpoints is the same, 0.2. The midpoint is 2.95. The MAXIMUM distance between w and 2.95 is 0.2 (either left, from 2.95 to 2.75, or right, from 2.95 to 3.15). This is expressed as: The absolute distance of w-2.95 is less than or equal to 0.2. It’s a concept problem. You can try plugging in random numbers for w (remember 2.75<w<3.15) to see if the inequality fits. Try to get it to be GREATER than 0.2. It’s not possible. The highest you can go is 0.2.</p>
<p>^ <em>facepalm</em></p>
<p>How could I have missed the “Weight(s)”? Man, imagine if I took that on the test day and made this mistake :(</p>
<p>I don’t really look at the hints, because in the real day, there wouldn’t be any, so I try to simulate every question I take like the test day.</p>
<p>Thanks also, both of you.</p>
<p>I actually learned how to do this type of question in the beginning of precalculus…I feel that precalculus isn’t necessary, but having taken the class may help answer a few SAT questions.</p>