ShmoopTube

Where Monty Python meets your 10th grade teacher.

Search Thousands of Shmoop Videos

SAT Math 4.6 Numbers and Operations 208 Views


Share It!


Description:

SAT Math 4.6 Numbers and Operations

Language:
English Language

Transcript

00:02

And here's an unshmoopy question you may find on an exams somewhere in life...

00:05

Both y and y to the one-third are negative integers.

00:09

Which of the following must also be a negative integer?

00:12

And here are the potential answers...

00:16

All right... we want to find the expression that gives us a negative integer given the

00:21

information provided in the problem.

00:30

In this case, choice A is the correct answer...

00:34

but let's first look at why the other options are incorrect.

00:37

Choice B is asking us to take the square root of a negative number, but that's impossible.

00:43

It's choice C's turn in the hot seat.

00:46

If y is negative, a negative number times a negative number will always be a positive number.

00:55

Choice D's up next.

00:57

y raised to the 2/3 power is the same thing as squaring y raised to the 1/3 power.

01:03

y raised to the 1/3 power is defined as being negative, so squaring it will make it positive.

01:09

Last up, choice E. It's important to know that taking the cubed

01:13

root of y is the same thing as raising y to the 1/3 power.

01:17

By multiplying y by y raised to the 1/3 power, we are multiplying 2 negatives, which gives

01:22

us a positive. Now back to the correct answer, choice A.

01:26

y raised to the 1/3 power is negative, and raising any negative number to an odd power

01:30

will yield another negative number. So bingo --

01:34

A it is.

Up Next

SAT Math 2.1 Geometry and Measurement
2779 Views

SAT Math 2.1 Geometry and Measurement. What is the measure of angle z in terms of x and y?

Related Videos

SAT Math 9.4 Algebra and Functions
1300 Views

SAT Math 9.4 Algebra and Functions

SAT Math 9.2 Algebra and Functions
377 Views

SAT Math 9.2 Algebra and Functions

SAT Math: Identifying an Equation for the Average of Two Percentages
23 Views

In 2014, the unemployment rate of one county in California was 7%. In another county, the unemployment rate was 11%. Which of the following express...

SAT Math: Which Equation Represents Profit?
13 Views

Angela is making cookies for a bake sale. She expects each batch of her cookies to sell for $40. It costs her $10 to make one batch of cookies, and...