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Mathematics > Standard Multiple Choice

Read the following SAT test question and then click on a button to select your answer.

In the figure above, which quadrants contain pairs (x comma y) that satisfy the condition x over y = 1 ?

Answer Choices

Right! (Applause.)

Explanation

In order for (x comma y) to satisfy x over y = 1 , it must be true that and are equal to each other and not equal to zero. An example of such a pair is (3 comma 3) , which is in quadrant roman numeral 1 .

In quadrant roman numeral 2 , all the values are negative and all the values are positive, so in quadrant , and cannot be equal. For example, the pair (minus 3 comma 3) does not satisfy the condition, since , not .

In quadrant roman numeral 3 , the values and the values are both negative, so it is possible for and to be equal. For example, the pair (minus 3 comma minus 3) is in quadrant and minus 3 over minus 3 = 1 .

In quadrant roman numeral 4 , and cannot be equal because the values are positive and the values are negative. For example, the pair (3 comma minus 3) does not satisfy the condition, since 3 over minus 3 = minus 1 .