Care for Some PITA?
Note that the PITA
strategy is slightly
different from just
Plugging In. With PITA,
you’re specifically using
the answer choices.
PITA when
- the question asks for a specific amount. Look for “How many?” or “How much?” or “What
is the value of?”
- there are no variables in the answer choices
Question 45 is a Word Problem, so let’s go through the steps:
1. Know the question. We need to figure out how many additional free throws this player will need
to have a free-throw percentage of 70%. Also, when ACT italicizes or capitalizes a word, pay
special attention. In this case, they’ve italicized the word least. Keep this in mind, it tells you that a
number of the answer choices may work, but the correct will be the least of these. The phrase
“What is the least number?” is the kind of very specific question that usually makes for a good
PITA problem.
2. Let the answers help. There are no variables in these answer choices, and that coupled with the
fact that it asks for a specific value is a good indication that we’ll be using these answer choices to
PITA. Notice the answer choices are listed in ascending order, which means it might be smart to
start with the middle choice. That way we can eliminate answers that are too high or too low.
3. Break the problem into bite-sized pieces. With many PITA problems, it can help to create
columns, building on the information given in the answer choices and the problem. Start with the
question that’s being asked: You’ve already got five possible answers to that question.
- A high-school basketball player has shot 170 free throws and has made 100 of those free throws. Starting
now, if she makes each free throw she attempts, what is the least number of free throws she must attempt in
order to raise her free-throw percentage to at least 70% ?
Free-throws Total free-throws Total completed Percentage free-throws
A. 19
B. 20
C. 63 233 163 69.9%
D. 64
E. 70
