Problem-Solving and Data AnalysisEasy–MediumEnlarging a photo in proportion
Problem-Solving and Data Analysis practice question
A photograph is 4 inches wide and 6 inches tall. It is enlarged so that its proportions stay the same and its width becomes 10 inches. What is the height, in inches, of the enlarged photograph?
Answer: 15
The width is multiplied by 10/4 = 2.5, so the height is too: 6 × 2.5 = 15. (Or set up 4/6 = 10/h and cross-multiply: 4h = 60, h = 15.)
Common wrong answers
- If you answered 9
- 9 is 6 + 3 — again adding rather than scaling. Scale factor: 10 / 4 = 2.5.
- If you answered 12
- 12 adds 6 to the width, as if the enlargement added the same amount to each side. Proportional enlargement multiplies each side by the same factor.
- If you answered 20
- 20 doubles the height, but the width was multiplied by 2.5, not 2.
More Problem-Solving and Data Analysis questions
- Easy–Medium
A jacket originally priced at $80 is discounted by 25%. What is the sale price? - Easy–Medium
A bag contains 3 red, 5 blue, and 2 green marbles. If one marble is drawn at random, what is the probability i… - Easy–Medium
A recipe uses 2 cups of flour to make 3 servings. How many cups of flour are needed for 12 servings? - Easy–Medium
What is the median of the data set 4, 7, 7, 9, 13? - Easy–Medium
The ratio of dogs to cats at a shelter is 5 to 3. If there are 40 dogs, how many cats are there? - Easy–Medium
A printer produces 8 pages every 5 seconds. At this rate, how many pages does it produce in 1 minute?
Not affiliated with the College Board. SAT is a trademark of the College Board.