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Subject Test Math 1

Question 12 of 32

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SAT Subject Test

Ralph was on his way from home to work when he remembered that he left his briefcase at home. He drove home and then drove back to work. Which of the following graphs could represent his distance from home as a function of time?

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Each option presents a graph in a coordinate plane. The horizontal axis is labeled “Time,” and the vertical axis is labeled “Distance from Home.” The graph starts at the intersection of the axes and consists of three line segments. The first segment moves diagonally upward and to the right and ends where the second segment begins. The second segment moves horizontally to the right and ends where the third segment begins. The third segment moves upward and to the right, ending high above the horizontal axis.

Correct Answer: 
No

The graph is a curve starting high above the horizontal axis, on the vertical axis. It curves slightly upward and to the right, reaching a maximum, and then moves sharply downward, reaching a minimum on the horizontal axis. The graph then curves upward and to the right, ending at a second maximum at the same height above the horizontal axis as the first maximum.

Correct Answer: 
No

The graph is a curve that starts at the intersection of the axes. It moves upward and to the right, almost in a straight line. The curve then gradually flattens out, reaches a maximum, and curves down, ending slightly below and to the right of the maximum.

Correct Answer: 
No

The graph is a curve that starts at the intersection of the axes. It moves diagonally upward and to the right, then gradually flattens out and reaches a maximum. The curve moves downward and to the right until reaching a minimum above the horizontal axis. The curve then moves upward and to the right and ends at a point higher than the first maximum.

Correct Answer: 
No

The graph is a curve that starts at the intersection of the axes. It curves upward and to the right, then gradually flattens out until reaching a maximum. The curve then moves downward and to the right, until reaching a minimum point on the horizontal axis. It then curves back upward and to the right, ending at a point higher than the first maximum.

Correct Answer: 
Yes

It is important to keep in mind that the text y end text-values of the graph are showing Ralph's distance from home. When Ralph starts out in the morning his distance from home is zero. This distance from home increases until he turns around to go back home for his briefcase. The distance decreases as he travels back home. When he gets back home, his distance from home is again zero for a short time while he gets the briefcase. The distance from home then increases again.

Question Difficulty: 
medium