{"id":908,"date":"2025-06-17T16:30:25","date_gmt":"2025-06-17T16:30:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/prep\/?p=908"},"modified":"2025-06-17T22:55:32","modified_gmt":"2025-06-17T22:55:32","slug":"sat-math-topics-what-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/sat\/sat-math-topics-what-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"SAT Math Topics: What to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Are you ready to tackle SAT math? The SAT math section consists of two 35-minute modules with 22 questions each. Questions across the math section will consist of both multiple-choice and student-produced response questions. About a third of the questions in the SAT math section will be word problems that are situated in a real-world context; the rest will be straightforward math questions. Keep reading to learn what\u2019s tested on the SAT math section, then test your knowledge with realistic SAT math practice questions in our short quiz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>[ RELATED: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/study\/sat\/5-must-know-sat-math-tips\/\">5 Must-Know SAT Math Tips<\/a> <strong>]<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>TABLE OF CONTENTS:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><a href=\"#math\"><strong>What math is on the SAT?<\/strong><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#algebra\"><strong>SAT Math Topics: Algebra<\/strong><\/a><\/li><li><strong><a href=\"#advanced-math\">SAT Math Topics: Advanced Math<\/a><\/strong><\/li><li><a href=\"#problem-solving-data-analysis\"><strong>SAT Math Topics: Problem-Solving and Data Analysis<\/strong><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#geometry-trigonometry\"><strong>SAT Math Topics: Geometry and Trigonometry<\/strong><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#quiz\"><strong>SAT Math Quiz<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"math\">What math is on the SAT?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The SAT math test can be broken down into four main content areas:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>Algebra<\/li><li>Advanced Math<\/li><li>Problem-Solving and Data Analysis<\/li><li>Geometry and Trigonometry<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Some questions on the SAT math test may include concepts that seem unfamiliar to you, but don\u2019t worry\u2013all the topics tested on the SAT math test are taught in your typical high school Pre-algebra, Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, and Trigonometry classes. SAT math does not include Precalculus topics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"algebra\">SAT Math Topics: Algebra<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The SAT math section includes 13\u201315 algebra questions. You will be asked to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Solve, create, and use linear equations, linear functions, linear inequalities, and systems of linear equations<\/li><li>Make connections between different representations of linear relationships<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_toggle_container  avia-builder-el-first  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >SAT Math: Algebra Practice Question<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>If 4<em>b<\/em> \u2212 3 &gt; 7, what is the greatest possible integer value of \u22122<em>b<\/em> + 4?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A) \u22122<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>B) \u22121<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>C) 0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>D) 1<\/p>\n\n\n<div  class=\"togglecontainer   toggle_close_all  avia-builder-el-1  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_hr \" ><section class=\"av_toggle_section\"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\"  >    <div role=\"tablist\" class=\"single_toggle\" data-tags=\"{All} \"  >        <p data-fake-id=\"#toggle-id-1\" class=\"toggler \"  itemprop=\"headline\"    role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"toggle-id-1\">Answer Explanation<span class=\"toggle_icon\" >        <span class=\"vert_icon\"><\/span><span class=\"hor_icon\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>        <div id=\"toggle-id-1\" class=\"toggle_wrap \"  >            <div class=\"toggle_content invers-color \"  itemprop=\"text\"   ><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>The correct answer is (A).<\/strong> Instead of solving for <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">b<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, see if you can solve for \u22122<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">b<\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> + 4 directly. Start by adding 3 to both sides of the inequality to obtain 4<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">b<\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &gt; 10. Next, divide both sides by \u22122. Remember that when you divide by a negative, you must flip the inequality sign. You get \u22122<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">b<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &lt; \u22125. Now simply add 4 to both sides to obtain the desired expression: \u22122<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">b<\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> + 4 &lt; \u22121. The greatest possible integer value less than \u22121 is \u22122, so (A) is correct.<\/span><\/p>\n            <\/div>        <\/div>    <\/div><\/section><br><\/div>\n<div   class='hr hr-default   avia-builder-el-2  el_after_av_toggle_container  el_before_av_heading '><span class='hr-inner ' ><span class='hr-inner-style'><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 id=\"advanced-math\">SAT Math Topics: Advanced Math<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The SAT math section includes 13\u201315 advanced math questions. You will be asked to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Interpret, solve, create, and use equations with absolute value, equations with radicals, quadratic equations, exponential equations, polynomial equations, rational equations, and other nonlinear equations<\/li><li>Make connections between different representations of nonlinear relationships between two variables<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-3  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_toggle_container  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >SAT Math: Advanced Math Practice Question<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2025-05-19-143207.png\" alt=\"SAT Advanced Math practice question\" class=\"wp-image-48551\" width=\"407\" height=\"464\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n<div  class=\"togglecontainer   toggle_close_all  avia-builder-el-4  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_hr \" ><section class=\"av_toggle_section\"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\"  >    <div role=\"tablist\" class=\"single_toggle\" data-tags=\"{All} \"  >        <p data-fake-id=\"#toggle-id-2\" class=\"toggler \"  itemprop=\"headline\"    role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"toggle-id-2\">Answer Explanation<span class=\"toggle_icon\" >        <span class=\"vert_icon\"><\/span><span class=\"hor_icon\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>        <div id=\"toggle-id-2\" class=\"toggle_wrap \"  >            <div class=\"toggle_content invers-color \"  itemprop=\"text\"   ><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>The correct answer is \u22121.<\/strong> Recall that division by 0 is undefined. Therefore, a value of <\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">x<\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that makes the denominator <\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">g<\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">x<\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) equal to 0 would make the function <\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">h<\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">x<\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) undefined. According to the table, <\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">g<\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">x<\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) = 0 when <\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">x<\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> = \u22121. Enter \u22121.<\/span><\/p>\n            <\/div>        <\/div>    <\/div><\/section><br><\/div>\n<div   class='hr hr-default   avia-builder-el-5  el_after_av_toggle_container  el_before_av_heading '><span class='hr-inner ' ><span class='hr-inner-style'><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 id=\"problem-solving-data-analysis\">SAT Math Topics: Problem-Solving and Data Analysis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The SAT math section includes 5\u20137 problem-solving and data analysis questions. You will be asked to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Solve questions involving: ratios, rates, proportions, units, percentages<\/li><li>Analyze and interpret data, including distributions and scatterplots<\/li><li>Calculate and interpret probability and conditional probability<\/li><li>Calculate and\/or interpret statistical measures, including mean, median, range, standard deviation, and margin of error<\/li><li>Evaluate statistical claims<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-6  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_toggle_container  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >SAT Math: Problem-Solving and Data Analysis Practice Question<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2025-05-19-143818.png\" alt=\"SAT Problem-Solving and Data Analysis question\" class=\"wp-image-48552\" width=\"417\" height=\"316\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The scatterplot shows the relationship between the body mass index and the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) for 12 people, along with the line of best fit for the data. How many of the 12 people have an actual LDL that differs by 10 or more milligrams per deciliter from the LDL predicted by the line of best fit?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A) 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>B) 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>C) 3<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>D) 4<\/p>\n\n\n<div  class=\"togglecontainer   toggle_close_all  avia-builder-el-7  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_hr \" ><section class=\"av_toggle_section\"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\"  >    <div role=\"tablist\" class=\"single_toggle\" data-tags=\"{All} \"  >        <p data-fake-id=\"#toggle-id-3\" class=\"toggler \"  itemprop=\"headline\"    role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"toggle-id-3\">Answer Explanation<span class=\"toggle_icon\" >        <span class=\"vert_icon\"><\/span><span class=\"hor_icon\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>        <div id=\"toggle-id-3\" class=\"toggle_wrap \"  >            <div class=\"toggle_content invers-color \"  itemprop=\"text\"   ><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>The correct answer is (C).<\/strong> Each grid line along the vertical axis represents 5 units, so look for points that are at least two grid lines away from the line of best fit. The people who have BMIs of 20, 25, and 28 have LDLs that are 10 or more milligrams per deciliter greater than the LDLs predicted by the line of best fit. This represents 3 people. (C) is correct.<\/span><\/p>\n            <\/div>        <\/div>    <\/div><\/section><br><\/div>\n<div   class='hr hr-default   avia-builder-el-8  el_after_av_toggle_container  el_before_av_heading '><span class='hr-inner ' ><span class='hr-inner-style'><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container\">\n<h2 id=\"geometry-trigonometry\">SAT Math Topics: Geometry and Trigonometry<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The SAT math section includes 5\u20137 geometry and trigonometry questions. You will be asked to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Solve questions involving:<ul><li> Area<\/li><li>Volume<\/li><li>Lines<\/li><li>Angles<\/li><li>Triangles<\/li><li>Right triangles<\/li><li>Trigonometry<\/li><li>Circles<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-9  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_toggle_container  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >SAT Math: Geometry and Trigonometry Practice Question<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>A rectangle has a width of 2<em>a<\/em>. If the length of the rectangle is 3.5 times its width, what is the perimeter of the rectangle, in terms of <em>a<\/em>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A) 5.5<em>a<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>B) 9<em>a<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>C) 11<em>a<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>D) 18<em>a<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div  class=\"togglecontainer   toggle_close_all  avia-builder-el-10  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_hr \" ><section class=\"av_toggle_section\"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\"  >    <div role=\"tablist\" class=\"single_toggle\" data-tags=\"{All} \"  >        <p data-fake-id=\"#toggle-id-4\" class=\"toggler \"  itemprop=\"headline\"    role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"toggle-id-4\">Answer Explanation<span class=\"toggle_icon\" >        <span class=\"vert_icon\"><\/span><span class=\"hor_icon\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>        <div id=\"toggle-id-4\" class=\"toggle_wrap \"  >            <div class=\"toggle_content invers-color \"  itemprop=\"text\"   ><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>The correct answer is (D).<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The perimeter of a rectangle is 2(length) + 2(width). In this case, the rectangle\u2019s width <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is 2<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a<\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The question states that the length is 3.5 times the width, so that\u2019s 3.5 \u00d7 2<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a<\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> = 7<\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a<\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plugging these values into the perimeter formula yields 2(7<em>a<\/em>) + 2(2<em>a<\/em>) = 14<em>a<\/em> + 4<em>a<\/em> = 18<em>a<\/em>. Choice (D) is correct.<\/span><\/p>\n            <\/div>        <\/div>    <\/div><\/section><\/div>\n<div   class='hr hr-default   avia-builder-el-11  el_after_av_toggle_container  el_before_av_sidebar '><span class='hr-inner ' ><span class='hr-inner-style'><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"quiz\">SAT Math Quiz<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Test your readiness for the SAT math section with our practice quiz.<\/p>\n\n\n<div  class='avia-builder-widget-area clearfix  avia-builder-el-12  el_after_av_hr  avia-builder-el-last '><div id=\"custom_html-69\" class=\"widget_text widget clearfix widget_custom_html\"><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><div><div class='op-interactive' id='64120e84deb0467b6b2f8d57' data-title='Digital SAT Math Quiz' data-url='https:\/\/kaplannorthamerica.outgrow.us\/64120e84deb0467b6b2f8d57?vHeight=1' data-width='100%'><\/div><script>var og_temp=document.createElement('script');og_temp.async=true;og_temp.defer=true;og_temp.src='\/\/dyv6f9ner1ir9.cloudfront.net\/assets\/js\/nloader.js',og_temp.onload=function(){initIframe('64120e84deb0467b6b2f8d57')},document.querySelector('head').appendChild(og_temp)<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Written by Kaplan experts, reviewed by Melissa McLaughlin, Pre-College Content Developer and Heather Waite, Director of Content and Curriculum, Pre-College<\/em>&nbsp;<em>at Kaplan North America.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Are you ready to tackle SAT math? The SAT math section consists of two 35-minute modules with 22 questions each. Questions across the math section will consist of both multiple-choice and student-produced response questions. About a third of the questions in the SAT math section will be word problems that are situated in a real-world [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":45221,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[5,271],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/908"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=908"}],"version-history":[{"count":38,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/908\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":48554,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/908\/revisions\/48554"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/45221"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=908"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=908"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=908"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}