Comparison Math Problems

  1. Consider the following expressions, then compare the two quantities:
\(x+y=15\)
\(x-y=24\)
Quantity A: \(y\)
Quantity B: –5
  1. Quantity A is greater
  2. Quantity B is greater
  3. The two quantities are equal
  4. It is impossible to determine which quantity is greater
Show Answer
The correct answer is A!

Solving the system of equations gives \(y = -4.5\). Since -4.5 is greater than -5, Quantity A is greater.

 

  1. Consider the following figure, then compare the two quantities:

Quantity A: The arithmetic mean of \(v\), \(w\), \(y\), \(x\), and \(z\)
Quantity B: 70°
  1. Quantity A is greater
  2. Quantity B is greater
  3. The two quantities are equal
  4. It is impossible to determine which quantity is greater
Show Answer
The correct answer is A!

First, we need to determine the sum of the angles shown in the figure. These are all central angles of a circle, and in this case, they together form a complete circle. A full circle contains 360°, so we can say:

\(v+w+x+y+z=360°\)

The average of five values is the sum divided by 5:

\(\dfrac{360°}{5}=72°\)

This tells us that Quantity A is 72°, which means it is larger than Quantity B.

 

  1. Given that the shaded area of the figure below is 65% of the circle’s area, compare the two quantities:

Quantity A: \(d\)
Quantity B: 126°
  1. Quantity A is greater
  2. Quantity B is greater
  3. The two quantities are equal
  4. It is impossible to determine which quantity is greater
Show Answer
The correct answer is C!

The shaded area comprises a total angle measure that may be represented as:

\(0.65 \times 360° = 234°\)

Thus, the non-shaded area, which represents the value of \(d\), is equal to the difference of 360° and 234°, which is 126°. This value is the same value given for Quantity B.

 

  1. Compare the two quantities below:
Quantity A: The area of a circle with a radius of 3
Quantity B: The area of a semi-circle with a radius of 4
  1. Quantity A is greater
  2. Quantity B is greater
  3. The two quantities are equal
  4. It is impossible to determine which quantity is greater
Show Answer
The correct answer is A!

The area of a circle with a radius of 3 is equal to 9\(\pi\). The area of a semi-circle with a radius of 4 is equal to half of 16\(\pi\), which is 8\(\pi\). Thus, Quantity A is greater.

 

  1. Given that 34% of 360 equals 7.5% of \(h\), compare the two quantities below:
Quantity A: \(h\)
Quantity B: 1,634
  1. Quantity A is greater
  2. Quantity B is greater
  3. The two quantities are equal
  4. It is impossible to determine which quantity is greater
Show Answer
The correct answer is B!

The problem may be modeled as follows:

\(0.34 \times 360 = 0.075h\)

Solving for \(h\) gives \(h = 1,632\), which is less than 1,634. Thus, Quantity B is greater.

 

  1. Compare the two quantities below:

Quantity A: \(\tfrac{76\text{ hours}}{\text{week}}\)

Quantity B: \(\tfrac{10\text{ hours}}{\text{day}}\)

  1. Quantity A is greater
  2. Quantity B is greater
  3. The two quantities are equal
  4. It is impossible to determine which quantity is greater
Show Answer
The correct answer is A!

The fraction of 76 hours in a week may be represented by the ratio \(\tfrac{76}{168}\), which is approximately 45%.

The fraction of 10 hours in a day may be represented by the ratio \(\tfrac{10}{24}\), which is approximately 42%.

Thus, Quantity A is greater.

 

  1. Consider the following figure, then compare the two quantities:

Quantity A: \(x-y\)
Quantity B: \(0\)
  1. Quantity A is greater
  2. Quantity B is greater
  3. The two quantities are equal
  4. It is impossible to determine which quantity is greater
Show Answer
The correct answer is C!

Since the values of \(x\) and \(y\) are the same, the difference will equal 0. Thus, Quantities A and B are equal.

 

  1. Compare the two quantities below:
Quantity A: 500% of 6
Quantity B: 600% of 5
  1. Quantity A is greater
  2. Quantity B is greater
  3. The two quantities are equal
  4. It is impossible to determine which quantity is greater
Show Answer
The correct answer is C!

The value for Quantity A may be written as \(5\times 6\). The value for Quantity B may be written as \(6\times 5\). Both expressions equal 30, thus both Quantities A and B are equal.

 

  1. Given that \(n=0\), compare the two quantities below:

Quantity A: \(\tfrac{24}{25}\) of \(n\)

Quantity B: 95% of \(n\)

  1. Quantity A is greater
  2. Quantity B is greater
  3. The two quantities are equal
  4. It is impossible to determine which quantity is greater
Show Answer
The correct answer is A!

The value of Quantity A may be written as 0.96\(n\), which is greater than 0.95\(n\). Thus, Quantity A is greater.

 

  1. Given that 5 is 66% of \(n\), compare the two quantities below:
Quantity A: \(n\)
Quantity B: 15
  1. Quantity A is greater
  2. Quantity B is greater
  3. The two quantities are equal
  4. It is impossible to determine which quantity is greater
Show Answer
The correct answer is B!

The problem may be modeled as \(5 = 0.667n\), where \(n \approx 7.5\).

Since 15 is greater than 7.5, Quantity B is greater.