Cracking The SAT Premium

Next, figure out what else you know. Because there are 180° in a triangle, BAC = 180 – 90 – 60 = 30°.
This is a 30°-60°-90° special right triangle, information about which is given in the box of information at
the start of the section. Based on the figure given in the box, the hypotenuse is equal to 2x. (Note that this
is a different x than what you plugged in for, because the test writers are trying to confuse you.) So, if the

hypotenuse is 4, then x = = 2; this is the side opposite the 30° angle, BC. The remaining side, AC, is x

,   which   is  2 . Label   this    information in  your    diagram:

Now write down the formula you need. The question is asking for the area, so use the area of a triangle

formula from the box: A = bh. Fill in what you know; because this is a right triangle, you can use the two

legs of the triangle as the base and the height. Make b = 2 and h = 2 in the equation and solve: A = (2

)(2)    =   2 . This    is  your    target; circle  it. Now,    plug    in  x   =   4   (that’s the x   from    the problem,    NOT the x

from the information in the box!) into each answer choice and eliminate what doesn’t equal 2 . The only

choice that works is (A).

Now that we’ve covered the approach to geometry questions, let’s look more closely at some of the
geometry concepts you’ll need for these problems.

Lines and Angles

Here are the basic rules you need to know for questions about lines and angles on the SAT.