PSAT Math Multiple-Choice Question 832: Answer and Explanation

Question: 832

Pam is going to watch a movie on her television at home. She is going to watch the movie as it was shown in movie theaters in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1 length:height. Her television has an aspect ratio of 4:3 and a length of 48 inches. If the movie takes up the entire length of her television screen, how many inches of screen height, to the nearest whole inch, will NOT be used on her tv screen to show the movie?

• A. 10
• B. 16
• C. 22
• D. 44

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

(A) The height of Pam's television is 36 inches since 48:36 reduces to her screen ratio of 4:3. You can determine how many inches of height the movie image will take up on Pam's tv by setting up a ratio: . Now subtract the height of the movie from the height of the tv screen to determine how many inches of screen height will NOT be used: 36 - 26 = 10.