SAT Math Practice: Solving Linear Equations for Time

This step-by-step solution walks you through a common type of linear equation problem you might encounter on the SAT Math section.

Question

The equation h(t) = 20 - 4t represents the height h, in meters, of a drone t seconds after it begins descending. At what time t will the drone reach a height of 8 meters?

  1. 2 seconds
  2. 3 seconds
  3. 5 seconds
  4. 20 seconds

Detailed Solution

To solve this free SAT practice question, we need to follow these steps:

  1. Identify what we're looking for:

    We need to find the time t when the drone's height equals 8 meters.

  2. Set up the equation:

    We know that h(t) = 20 - 4t represents the height.
    When the height equals 8 meters, we can write: h(t) = 8

  3. Substitute and solve:
    • 20 - 4t = 8
    • Subtract 20 from both sides: -4t = -12
    • Divide both sides by -4: t = 3
  4. Verify the answer: When t = 3 seconds, the height should be 8 meters.

    h(3) = 20 - 4(3) = 20 - 12 = 8 meters ✓

  5. Select the correct option: The answer is B) 3 seconds.

Key Takeaways for SAT Test Prep

This free SAT practice question illustrates several important concepts that frequently appear on the SAT Math section:

  • Linear equations and their real-world applications
  • Solving for a variable in a function
  • Understanding rate of change (the drone descends at 4 meters per second)

When preparing for the SAT, practice solving similar problems to build confidence with these concepts. Our SAT Question bank offers many more free SAT practice questions covering all sections of the test.

For comprehensive SAT prep resources, continue exploring our SAT Question Bank and SAT study help blog.

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