Mastering ACT Math

Mastering ACT Math

Introduction

Section Overview

The ACT Mathematics section is divided into three sections: Pre-­algebra/Elementary Algebra,

Intermediate Algebra/Coordinate Geometry and Plane Geometry/Trigonometry. This section is to

enhance your math skills and is not intended to teach you the subjects at hand. It is intended to

teach you tricks and shortcuts in order for you to complete each problem with speed and

accuracy. We will not explain the fundamentals of the formulas provided. You should be

comfortable with basic algebra such as addition, subtraction, multiplication etc., up to periodic

functions, for instance, you should know how to solve for n in the equation n + 3 = 5, n = 2 .

However, please feel free to ask your tutor to review any concepts you are uncomfortable with.

You should approach these problems in a test-­like manner;; that is, time yourself and remove all

distractions. At the end of each sub-­category there will be a set of exercises and checkpoint

quizzes. The questions will range from low to medium in difficulty and are designed to pinpoint

your weaknesses. This will help your tutor to more accurately know your weak areas and he/she

will be able to design more difficult problems to suit your needs. This section should provide you

with the groundwork for preparing for the ACT.

Test Logistics

The mathematics portion of the ACT is about speed and accuracy. Our goal is to familiarize you

with the concepts and teach you problem solving skills. You will have 60 minutes to do 60

multiple-­choice questions, which means one minute per question! However, questions will vary

in difficulty so some questions will take you less than a minute and others more. All questions

are worth the same amount of points and there is no penalty for an incorrect answer. If you are

having a hard time with a question, don’t spend too much time on it, skip it and return to it later if

you have time. If you do not know an answer to a question, it doesn’t hurt to guess. First try to

use the process of elimination and if that fails just pick an answer, this way you have a 20%

chance of getting the right answer.

Important Things to Remember

• Never leave a question unanswered. If you know you will run out of time before attempting

all problems, just fill in an answer -­ guessing only increases your chances to 20% but

leaving it blank gives you no opportunity to get the answer correct.

• It is important to be comfortable using your calculator. You should know all the functions

and shortcuts necessary for the ACT. If you have any questions about your calculator

functions, please ask your tutor. Please visit

http://www.actstudent.org/faq/calculator.html, to ensure that your calculator is permitted

before continuing.

• Read all questions carefully, check your work and make sure your answer makes sense.

Here is a breakdown of how

Here is a breakdown of how the questions on ACT math section are divided up:

Pre-­Algebra/Elementary Algebra

Pre-­Algebra (23%)

• Basic mathematics functions
• Linear equations with one variable
• Simple probability data collection, representation, and interpretation
• Simple descriptive statistics

Elementary Algebra (17%)

• Systems of linear equations
• Using variables to express functional relationships
• Algebraic operations
• Binomials

Intermediate Algebra/Coordinate Geometry

Intermediate Algebra (15%)

• The quadratic equation
• Roots and exponents
• Absolute value equations and inequalities
• Sequences and patterns
• Systems of equations
• Quadratic Functions
• Polynomials
• Complex numbers

Coordinate Geometry (15%)

• Graphing Functions
• Slope
• Parallel and perpendicular lines
• Distance
• Midpoints
• Conics

Plane Geometry/Trigonometry

Plane Geometry (23%)

• Properties of circles, triangles, rectangles, parallelograms, and trapezoids
• Transformations
• Proof and proof techniques
• Volume

Trigonometry (7%)

• Pythagorean Theorem
• Properties of trigonometric functions
• Graphing trigonometric functions
• Trigonometric identities
• Solving trigonometric equations.