1. SAT Strategy Workshop 2: Plugging In

2. Plugging In The MOST powerful SAT strategy
Use on questions with variables in the answer choices.

3. How It Works… Determine if you should plug in. Select numbers
Plug in selected numbers into question to find “target”
Plug in selected numbers to answer choices. The correct answer is the one that the “target” is the solution.

4. Step 1: Determine if You Should Plug In

5. Step 2: Select Numbers

6. Step 3: Plug Selected Numbers into Question to Find “Target”

7. Step 4: Plug selected numbers into Answer Choices
Step 4: Plug selected numbers into Answer Choices. Correct Answer Choice is the one where “target” is the solution.

8. Hints for Picking Numbers
Avoid: -1, 0, 1
Great Choices: 2, 3, 5 and 10
Pick multiples of numbers in the questions
Percents: Pick 100
If the calculations are too messy, start over with new numbers

9. Let’s Practice…
Tommy is t years old and is 6 years younger than Allen. In terms of t, how many years old will Allen be in 3 years.
T – 6
T -3
T + 3
T + 5
T + 9

10. Let’s Practice…
Ana, Juan and Michelle buy a television. Ana pays half as much as Juan and twice as much as Michelle. If Juan pays x dollars, in terms of x, how much does the television cost. A. 3𝑥 2 B. 7𝑥 4 C. 2x D. 3x E. 7x

11. Let’s Practice…
If d apples cost 5 cents, what is the cost, in cents, of n apples at the same rate. A. 5𝑛 𝑑 B. 5n C. 5𝑑 𝑛 D. 5d E. 𝑛𝑑 5

12. Picking Your Own Number
We can use the “plugging in” strategy on some questions that do not have variables in the answer choices.
Especially helpful on fraction and percent questions.

13. Let’s Practice…
If m and n are positive integers such that 2/3 of m is equal to ½ of n, the m is what fractional part of n?
1/3
3/5
4/3
5/3

14. Let’s Practice…
On Wednesday, Ryan ate half of a pizza pie. On Thursday, he are one quarter of what was left of the pizza. What fraction of the entire pie did Ryan eat on Wednesday and Thursday?
1/4
3/8
1/2
5/8
3/4