Math: 59d1f4b5

ID: 59d1f4b5

(SAT Suite Question Bank > Find Questions > Assessment: SAT + Test: Math + Domain: Advanced Math)

Comment: Apply the KISS principle (Keep It Simple, Stupid).

Method 1: There are 4 quarters in a year, so when q = 4, the result of the function should be identical to when t = 1. Eyeball the answer choices. If 1 year proves too simple, as in multiple answers would work, try 2 years (8 quarters).

M = 1,800(1.02)^t

M = 1,800(1.02)^1

M = 1,800(1.02)

A. M = 1,800(1.02)^((4)/4) --> M = 1,800(1.02)^1 --> M = 1,800(1.02)

B. M = 1,800(1.02)^(4(4)) --> M = 1,800(1.02)^16 X

C. M = 1,800(1.005)^(4(4)) --> M = 1,800(1.005)^16 X

D. M = 1,800(1.082)^(4) --> M = 1,800(1.082)^4 X

With three answers that do not work and one that does, it is clear that the correct answer is (A).

Method 2: Apart from possibly using the calculator to work through any arithmetic you would choose to do, there is no need to use one. A graph would not really be helpful without understanding the relationship between 4 quarters of a year and 1 year.

Method 3: Conceptually, there is a 2 percent growth in membership per year, so the correct answer would have to model the same growth per year, just broken down into quarters.

A. This would represent a 2 percent growth in membership over 4 quarters, or 1 year.

B. This would represent a 2 percent growth, but not per quarter. The variable q would have to be 1/4 to align the two models, and 1/4 of a quarter is not the same as 1 year. X

C. This would represent a 0.5 percent growth, and again, not per quarter, but per 1/4 of a quarter. This is a complete mess. X

D. This would represent an 8.2 percent growth per quarter, clearly overshooting the target. X

The correct answer is (A).

Comments