Transcript ACT Math
ACT MATH Test Prep Feb. 2015 WHAT THE ACT MATH PORTION CONSIST OF: 60 Questions in 60 Minutes Scored on a scale of 1 to 36 Consist of pre-algebra, elementary algebra, intermediate algebra, coordinate geometry, plane geometry, and trigonometry Do not count against you for wrong answers so watch time and make sure to fill in all 60 answers! WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE ACT FOR MATH ACCORDING TO ACT MATH FOR DUMMIES Sharpen your basic math skills Get comfortable using your calculator Solidify your ACT-Math-Specifics skills Take practice tests under timed conditions SHARPENING YOUR BASIC MATH SKILLS Multiplication tables up to 9x9 Adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing fractions Converting percents to decimals and vice versa CONT’D Converting common percents, such as 10%,20%, 25%, 50%, and 75%, to fractions and visa versa Working with negative numbers Knowing the order of operations CALCULATORS Must have some type of calculator You need to use it consistently between now and test Needs to be able to do sin, cos, and tan Would be nice if it could do fractions and radicals too DOESN’T HAVE TO BE EXPENSIVE!!! $18.19 $14.22 Walmart.com as of 3/1/15 5 QUESTIONS IN 5 MINUTES A BETTER METHOD TO TAKING MATH TEST Do a twice over…1st time answer questions that you know or are simple to work out. Save the more wordy questions for the 2nd time. This will help you manage time. Understand that you do not know the answer to all the questions and that is okay!!! Also think about purchasing a watch to wear. Make sure it isn’t noisy! LET’S TRY 5 MORE QUESTIONS USING THE FOLLOWING: Remember go through twice…answering the ones you know and that don’t involve long calculations or too wordy first. Watch the time on the board to help you judge your time. And remember to use your calculator whenever possible to help with faster calculations. Time for a little mental break! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdxEAt91D7k# FIRST 6 ACT MATH MANTRA’S ACCORDING TO MCGRAW HILL When you see variables or unknowns in the questions and numbers in the answer choices, “use the answer.” Convert fractions, pi, or radicals to decimals. When you see “then x = ?” complete the algebra or just “use the answers.” “What is y in terms of x and z” is just a fancy way of saying “solve for y” or “use algebra to get y alone.” FIRST 6 ACT MATH MANTRA’S ACCORDING TO MCGRAW HILL When you see the word “mean” or “average” on the ACT, use Average = sum/number of items. When you see vertical angles, a linear pair, or a triangle, calculate the measures of all angles. When you see two parallel lines that are crossed by another line, eight angles are formed, and all the bigger-looking angles are equal, and all the smaller looking angles are equal. Handout #1 Now use these skills to complete these 10 problems in 10 minutes. Handout #2 NEXT 6 ACT MATH MANTRA’S ACCORDING TO MCGRAW HILL When you see a triangle with two equal sides, mark the two opposite angles as equal, and when all sides of a triangle are equal, mark all the angles 60 degrees. When you see an expression like (2x-5)(5x-4), use distributive property. You may know it as foil. Anytime you see a math vocab term, underline it. NEXT 6 ACT MATH MANTRA’S ACCORDING TO MCGRAW HILL Don’t be intimidated by fancy vocabulary terms. To find the “least common multiple” or “lowest common denominator,” “Use the answer”. Don’t be intimidated by fancy graphing terms. Handout #3 Now try these 10 problems in 10 minutes Handout # 5 2 QUESTIONS What can you take from today? What would you like to see in this ACT prep before the end of the week?