Day 5 e-course
Funky-symbol problems made easy
Precautionary note: Don’t believe a word I say! Try out my suggestions on real SAT problems and prove to yourself they work. Hopefully you own The Official SAT Study Guide. If not, go buy it at your local bookstore or online right away. Now it’s time to crack it and learn how to master those problems you’ve been dreading.
Back to the problem at hand . . .
———-
If $ and # are defined as follows:
x $ y = x + 3y
x # y = 2x - y
And:
8 $ (5a) = (10a) # 12
What is the value of a ?
What if I told you the above problem is nothing more than the below problem in disguise?
8 + 15a = 20a - 12
Can you solve the above problem for a? Do it now before you read any further!
Congratulations if you got four — you have the math skills required to do this "difficult" SAT question. (Even if you had a brain cramp on test day and couldn’t solve for the variable, just try making up numbers to make the equation true. You could get it right in a couple tries as the SAT writers love integers!)
To see how to turn the confusing original question into the simple equation above, watch this video solution.
Now that you have a method to strip away the confusing information, try these problems from The Official SAT Study Guide:
pg. 412 (N/A in 2nd edition), #16
pg. 463 (pg. 585 in 2nd edition), #17
pg. 550 (pg. 670 in 2nd edition), #11
I have every bit of certainty that you have the ability to raise your SAT score. I can provide you with everything you need to know and do to make that happen. You just need to apply and practice what I recommend on real SAT questions! Remember what I said in the beginning; don’t believe a word I say. Try my strategies and prove to yourself they work.
My greatest hope is that you’ve not simply read through these emails, but have taken time to watch the videos and try the recommended real SAT problems. If you’ve done so,
- You have discovered the quickest and easiest way to see your math score improve.
- You have learned a new shortcut that can save you if you’re stumped on a "hard" geometry problem.
- You know how to spot and avoid a trap the test writers set again and again.
- You know one of the four ESSENTIAL ingredients to cranking out a perfect 12 on the SAT essay.
- You can apply a couple new strategies that can make "hard" problems a breeze.
These are just a few of the strategies and lessons I can provide you. If you’d like to learn how I can help you continue to study smarter, not harder, visit premium member forum.
To your ever expanding abilities,
Jason McDonald
Study smarter, not harder.
Comments»
Thank you Salient for all of your comments and feedback. It is my pleasure to provide these tips for students that put them to use!
I never could have imagined these symbols and all the other math to be so easy! Thank you very much.
Thank you for the feedback — it makes my night. These improvements are exactly why I created this material. Much appreciated and congratulations to you and your daughter.
Jason,
We followed you Math pacing technique, read and tried all your free e-tips, and read about everything on your website. Our daughters 3rd SAT attempt saw an increase combined score raise from 1010 to 1190. Her verbal went up 100 and her math went up 80. I know the pacing technique is just for the math score so I’m not sure why her verbal jumped up so much as well but we don’t need to understand it. We are just thankful. Prior to taking the test, we tried the technique on a practice test and her score went up 50 pts exactly. We are so grateful for you help and have recommended you website to everyone we know.
I updated all my page numbers to the 2nd edition in the member area but haven’t done them in this free area yet. Here’s a list I made with all of the page equivalents for the meantime…
http://increaseyoursatscore.com/OSSG-page-equivalents.pdf
I have the SAT Study Guide 2nd Edition, and the problems you posted don’t match up with the page #’s in my book. Do you know the page #’s for the second edition SAT Study Guide?
Thanks for all the info, I know it will help improve my scores.
u seriously ROCK