PSAT Math Multiple-Choice Question 301: Answer and Explanation

Question: 301

What was the initial amount of water in a barrel, in liters, if x liters remain after y liters were spilled and 6 liters were added?

• A. x - y + 6
• B. y - x + 6
• C. x + y + 6
• D. y + x - 6

Correct Answer: D

Explanation:

D

Difficulty: Medium

Category: Word Problems

Getting to the Answer: Write an equation in words first, then translate from English to math. Finally, rearrange your equation to find what you're interested in, which is the initial amount. Call the initial amount A. After you've written your equation, solve for A.

Amount now (x) = initial amount (A) minus y plus 6:

This is the same as y + x - 6, so (D) is correct.

You could also pick numbers to answer this question.