PSSA Open Ended Practice
Write your answer on scrap paper and then click on the link to check
The average number of fish caught monthly in a local pond varies with the water temperature according to the following chart:
| Water Temp (F) | Average # of Fish |
| 30 | 50 |
| 35 | 60 |
| 40 | 70 |
| 45 | 80 |
| 50 | 90 |
a) Develop a mathematical rule that gives the average number of fish caught as a function of the water temperature.
b) Use your rule to predict the average number of fish that would be caught at 72 degrees Fahrenheit.
Mr. Smith has just received 200 gallons of home heating oil. If he pays his bill within 10 days, the oil will cost $.59 per gallon. If he pays after 10 days, he will pay $.69 per gallon. What percent savings will Mr. Smith experience if he pays his bill within 10 days? Assume that all taxes have been included in the above prices.
The current salaries of 8 employees of the Delta Detergent Co. are:
| $45,000 |
| $46,800 |
| $49,000 |
| $52,100 |
| $54,000 |
| $55,500 |
| $60,000 |
| $85,000 |
Management is proposing two options for a salary raise for the upcoming year. Option A will give each employee a 10% raise on their current salary. Option B will consist of a flat $5000 raise for each employee.
a) What is the current mean, median, and range of the salaries?
b) What will the new mean, median, and range be under each new option?
c) What recommendation would you make to the employees in regards to which option is the best? Defend your answer in complete sentences.
A right circular cylinder of radius 2 feet and height 5 feet is filled to capacity with water. The water is then dumped into a rectangular prism of length 6 feet, width 3 feet, and height 4 feet. The water is dumped at a rate of 2 cubic feet per second.
a) How long will it take to empty the cylinder?
b) If all the water is dumped into the prism, how deep will it be?
c) What percentage of the prism will the water occupy?
An 18 ft. by 15 ft. swimming pool is to be surrounded by a 3 ft. wide walkway made of concrete. A) Find the area of the walkway and B) What is the cost to make the walkway if the price of concrete is $2.18 per square foot?
I want to buy an SUV that costs $37,500. It depreciates 15% per year. What is the value of the SUV in five years? Fill in the table below and make a scatter plot of the information. Write the equation that represents the depreciation.
| Depreciation years | Price of SUV |
| 1 | $31875 |
| 2 | |
| 3 | |
| 4 | |
| 5 |
John wants to start his own business. He needs an initial investment of $12,250. It costs him $350 to make each of his products that he will sell for $525. A) How many products must John sell just to break even? B) How many products must John sell to make $13,300 profit? Write an equation or expression to represent John's total cost.
For exercise Sandy walks around the inner perimeter of the Nittany Mall. In one trip around the inner perimeter she takes 1330 steps. Each step is 2 1/2 feet long. After three trips around the inner perimeter, approximately how many miles has she walked? (5280 ft. = 1 mile)
A square with side length 5 feet is inscribed in a circle. A) You are to find the area of the regions within the circumference of the circle but outside the area of the square; and B) If a fence is placed around the perimeter of the square with four fence posts per side of the square, how many fence posts must be purchased?