Work Strategically

As you’ll see throughout this book, there is often more than one way to solve a
problem. Be on the lookout for the quicker route to the answer. Making such
choices requires awareness of the options and lots of practice.

Locate quick points. Some questions can be done more quickly than others
because they require less work or because choices can be eliminated more

You can set up  and solve   an  equation    with    or  without the aid of  a

calculator  (the    subject of  chapter 3 ).

You can Pick    Numbers,    for example,    when    answer  choices are algebraic

expressions.    We’ll   look    at  several examples    of  this    approach    in  the

“Mathematics    Level   1   Review” chapters.

You can Backsolve,  which   is  often   the quickest    route   to  an  answer  when

the question    describes   an  equation    and the answer  choices are simple

numbers.    To  Backsolve,  generally   start   with    choice  (B) or  (D).    That    gives

you a   2-in-5  chance  that    a   single  calculation will    give    you the answer  (as

long    as  you can tell    whether a   larger  or  smaller number  is  desirable). If

you try (B),    you’ll  know    the right   answer  (1) if  (B) is  correct or  (2) if  it’s    too

high—making (A) correct.    If  that    calculation isn’t   enough, only    one more

is  needed. Try the middle  number  of  the remaining   three,  (D).    If  it’s    right,

it’s    your    answer. If  it’s    too high,   (C) is  correct,    and if  it’s    too low,    (E) is.

You may be  able    to  “eyeball”   for the answer. Look    at  the figure  provided;

mark    it  up  if  that    helps.  Often,  when    no  figure  is  provided,   just    drawing

one will    make    the answer  apparent.