QR experts plz read!

[Sea of ASH]

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ok so i finished crack the dat pat and i was all happy about almost being ready for the dat. i looked at my friend and with a huge smile told him, bro i think im almost ready!!! i then started the crack math part. i couldnt have been more wrong. i scored at 14 i thought i was ganna handle the math part.
so i thought to myself ok ash go to the library and check out a precal book and do a buncha problems. so when i was confident enough i did the second practice test and this time i scored a 13!!!
that when i noticed that its not that i cant do them, i just dont have the time. i did alil over half the problems and time was up. for a min and 8 sec per question, its kinda impossible to sit down and solve each and every question. what is the best way to take the test. i feel like i have studied enough for it but actually taking the test is my weakness. what strategies would you recommend?

thank you in advance 🙂

 

[supraman]

I scored a 23 on QR Kaplan Diagnostic test, I'm just real good at math and the key is two things, working FAST and reading a problem within 10 seconds and knowing if you know how to solve it or not right away, with minimal thinking. If you have to think hard, skip (mark) and see if the next one is easier. Keep this up until end of test, therefore you know you at least got the ones you could have done right, then go back to ones you marked. When are you taking the DAT? I am taking mine in one week, are you applying this cycle?

 

[keliao]

lol ahaha.... i just found your post funny..(a recall from one of my friend that i used to study with)
...
its hard i know...i'v been scoring low too, 18 19 17 16 ..gosh!! keep going down idk why...!!
my weaknesses are in long word problems.(am pretty sure ya'll are too) ..so i figure i should work speeding up on basic calculations (PEMDAS) and stuff. know my equations well, triangles, unit circle, trig, few basic pre cal and guest my best on word problems...cause i know i wont have enough time for the long problems. well UNless, you got a lot of time left for studying, do more practice on word problems til you get the hang of it

 

[ruomengd2000]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=567814

 

[Sea of ASH]

I scored a 23 on QR Kaplan Diagnostic test, I'm just real good at math and the key is two things, working FAST and reading a problem within 10 seconds and knowing if you know how to solve it or not right away, with minimal thinking. If you have to think hard, skip (mark) and see if the next one is easier. Keep this up until end of test, therefore you know you at least got the ones you could have done right, then go back to ones you marked. When are you taking the DAT? I am taking mine in one week, are you applying this cycle?

lol well it was supposed to be today but when i realized i wasnt ready, i rescheduled it for the 20th...

i have this habit of writing down things when i do math, which is good for math exams but horrible for DAT. so im trying to do most of them in my mind. plus last time i took math was calc2 in 2003. so im kinda rusty.

how bout the ones (mostly word problems) that you have to set up two equations and equate them to each other? what can you do for that?

thanx for your help guys

 

[waystinthyme]

lol well it was supposed to be today but

how bout the ones (mostly word problems) that you have to set up two equations and equate them to each other? what can you do for that?

thanx for your help guys

1) solve one variable in terms of the other variable

for example: 2x + y = 8 and 2x + 4y = 20

solve for y in terms of x: y = -2x + 8, then plug into the other equation.

2x + 4 (-2x + 8) = 20
2x + -8x + 32 = 20
-6x = -12
x = 2

then plug x into the other equation to solve for y:

2x + 4y = 20
2(2) + 4y = 20
4 + 4y = 20
4y = 16
y = 4

2) alternatively, you can add/subtract the equations to get rid of one of the variables. this only works in certain cases though, if you are able to manipulate the equations easily.

say your equations are: 3x + 4y = 25 and 6x + 4y = 34

subtract the first equation from the second (this will get rid of one of your variables, and cut out one of the steps in the previous method):

6x + 4y = 34
-
3x + 4y = 25
=
3x = 9

so here, x = 3.

now plug your value for x into either equation:

3x + 4y = 25
3(3) + 4y = 25
9 + 4y = 25
4y = 16
y = 4

3) also remember that you can manipulate equations by multiplying/dividing both sides by the SAME number. so if you start off with say:

2x + 4y = 28 and 6x + 6y = 48

you could start out by multiplying both sides of the first equation by 3, with the goal of subtracting the second equation from the first, eliminating x to solve for y, and then plugging in your value for y to solve for x.

(2x + 4y = 28) x 3 -------> 6x + 12y = 84

now you can use method #2 to solve

6x + 12y = 84
-
6x + 6y = 48
=
6y = 36
y = 6

now plug your value for y into either equation

6x + 6y = 48
6x + 6(6) = 48
6x + 36 = 48
6x = 12
x = 2

hope that helps a bit...let me know if something didn't make sense (i probably made a few mistakes )

if you have the kaplan online resources, i think the online workshops and practice tests were really good preparation tools. be prepared though, because there are A TON of them, so you may want to skip the subjects you already feel comfortable with. since i only used kaplan blue book and online resources to study, i can't really comment on other tools...

-waystinthyme

man, i just realized that i read your post wrong...wow! i'll leave this up for anyone that needs it, and try to work on another reply for your actual question, lol...

 

[waystinthyme]

how bout the ones (mostly word problems) that you have to set up two equations and equate them to each other? what can you do for that?

thanx for your help guys

let's try this again...i'll use a problem adapted from kaplan. most of these problems deal with rates, so we'll try a rate problem. here is some preliminary info:

rate = distance / time

for example: miles per hour (rate) = miles (distance) / hour (time)

you can manipulate this equation a few ways...

distance = rate x time OR time = distance / rate


now let's work through a practice problem from kaplan:

Starting at the same moment, Jim and Bill drove different cars along the same route from Alabama to Florida. Jim traveled an average rate of 30 miles per hour. Bill traveled an average rate of 40 miles per hour, and took a half-hour rest stop during the trip. If Jim and Bill arrived in Florida at the same time, what is the distance between Alabama and Florida.

ok, so really the first thing to point out here (even though it may seem obvious) is that you need to know how to convert word problems to equations...this should be second nature to you by test day.

since Jim/Bill arrive in Florida at the same time, we know that their DISTANCE will be equal, which is also our unknown. so we should set up both equations to solve for distance.

for Jim:

1) we are given that his rate is 30 mph, but are not given the amount of time for the trip. therefore we have to set our own variable for time in this equation...we'll choose t for Jim's time.

2) set up the equation

Distance = Rate x Time

Distance = 30t

for Bill:

1) we are given that his rate is 40 mph

2) we know that bill took a half-hour break, so to standardize his time with Jim, his total driving time should be t (Jim's driving time) - 1/2 (his break time in HOURS).

why did we convert his break to hours? because the rate is in hours, so we have to make sure that we keep the same units.

3) set up the equation

distance = rate x time
distance = 40(t-0.5)

now that we have the two equations, we can set them equal to each other and solve for time, then use our number for time in EITHER equation to solve for the distance (which is what the question actually asks for)...

so since their distances are equal, Jim (distance) = Bill (distance)

30t = 40(t-0.5)
30t = 40t - 20
-10t = -20
t = 2

now plug your value for t into either equation to find your distance:

we'll choose the Jim's equation, since it is easier to solve

Jim (distance) = 30t = 30(2) = 60 miles

remember since our rate is in mph, our distance must be in miles.

note: had we chose the other equation, we would get the same answer...

Bill (distance) = 40 (t-0.5) = 40 (2-0.5) = 40 (1.5) = 60

Hopefully this helped a bit...and i didn't misinterpret your question twice! 😳

-waystinthyme

 

[supraman]

let's try this again...i'll use a problem adapted from kaplan. most of these problems deal with rates, so we'll try a rate problem. here is some preliminary info:

rate = distance / time

for example: miles per hour (rate) = miles (distance) / hour (time)

you can manipulate this equation a few ways...

distance = rate x time OR time = distance / rate


now let's work through a practice problem from kaplan:

Starting at the same moment, Jim and Bill drove different cars along the same route from Alabama to Florida. Jim traveled an average rate of 30 miles per hour. Bill traveled an average rate of 40 miles per hour, and took a half-hour rest stop during the trip. If Jim and Bill arrived in Florida at the same time, what is the distance between Alabama and Florida.

ok, so really the first thing to point out here (even though it may seem obvious) is that you need to know how to convert word problems to equations...this should be second nature to you by test day.

since Jim/Bill arrive in Florida at the same time, we know that their DISTANCE will be equal, which is also our unknown. so we should set up both equations to solve for distance.

for Jim:

1) we are given that his rate is 30 mph, but are not given the amount of time for the trip. therefore we have to set our own variable for time in this equation...we'll choose t for Jim's time.

2) set up the equation

Distance = Rate x Time

Distance = 30t

for Bill:

1) we are given that his rate is 40 mph

2) we know that bill took a half-hour break, so to standardize his time with Jim, his total driving time should be t (Jim's driving time) - 1/2 (his break time in HOURS).

why did we convert his break to hours? because the rate is in hours, so we have to make sure that we keep the same units.

3) set up the equation

distance = rate x time
distance = 40(t-0.5)

now that we have the two equations, we can set them equal to each other and solve for time, then use our number for time in EITHER equation to solve for the distance (which is what the question actually asks for)...

so since their distances are equal, Jim (distance) = Bill (distance)

30t = 40(t-0.5)
30t = 40t - 20
-10t = -20
t = 2

now plug your value for t into either equation to find your distance:

we'll choose the Jim's equation, since it is easier to solve

Jim (distance) = 30t = 30(2) = 60 miles

remember since our rate is in mph, our distance must be in miles.

note: had we chose the other equation, we would get the same answer...

Bill (distance) = 40 (t-0.5) = 40 (2-0.5) = 40 (1.5) = 60

Hopefully this helped a bit...and i didn't misinterpret your question twice! 😳

-waystinthyme

Although you display great math skills, this is not necessary all the time especially if answers are given to you. Therefore picking and choosing may be better on some than others.

Picking 60 right off of the bat for example, you can check immediately the answer if its right.

Guy A travels 30mph. 60 miles / 30 mph = 2 hours
Guy B travels 40mph. 60 miles / 40 mph = 1.5 hours.

Guy B also chills for 1/2 hour (had to #2 at a gas station bathroom), so therefore add 0.5 to his total time. We end up with 2 hours for each.

I think I could get the answer in less than a min this way but to each his own. 👍

 

[Sea of ASH]

Although you display great math skills, this is not necessary all the time especially if answers are given to you. Therefore picking and choosing may be better on some than others.

Picking 60 right off of the bat for example, you can check immediately the answer if its right.

Guy A travels 30mph. 60 miles / 30 mph = 2 hours
Guy B travels 40mph. 60 miles / 40 mph = 1.5 hours.

Guy B also chills for 1/2 hour (had to #2 at a gas station bathroom), so therefore add 0.5 to his total time. We end up with 2 hours for each.

I think I could get the answer in less than a min this way but to each his own. 👍

thats a good trick!!!

waystinthyme, i appreciate your help, but i didnt mean that i dont know how to do them, its just time consuming if you do them with traditional math. so are there tricks like the above to finish get to all of the 40 problems