Basic Operations
Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of whole numbers — excludes fractions (see fraction-operations) and decimals (see decimal-operations)
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Imagine you are building the ultimate epic LEGO castle. You wouldn't start without knowing how to snap the basic bricks together, right? 🏰 That is exactly what "Basic Operations" are in math! Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division are the four magic bricks you need to build any math answer on the SSAT.
Think of addition as gathering all your Halloween candy into one giant pile. 🍬 Subtraction is when your sneaky little brother takes some of that candy away! Multiplication is a super-fast shortcut for adding—like getting 5 packs of Pokémon cards, with 10 cards in each pack. And division? That is just sharing your pizza slices fairly with your best friends so nobody gets mad. 🍕
On the SSAT, these four basic moves pop up everywhere. Sometimes the test will ask you to just crunch the numbers straight up. Other times, they will hide the operations inside a word problem, like a mini mystery you have to solve! The secret to doing great is taking your time, writing your numbers neatly on your scratch paper, and double-checking your work. If you can master these four basic operations, you will be snapping together right answers faster than a master builder! Let's dive in and flex those math muscles! 💪
Practice Questions
3 practice questions for SSAT Upper Level
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- First, find the total amount of juice poured into the cups by multiplying the number of cups by the amount in each cup: ounces. Next, subtract this amount from the original amount of juice in the jug to find the remaining amount: ounces.
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- First, calculate the total cost of the paperback books: dollars. Next, calculate the total cost of the bookmarks: dollars. Add these amounts together to find the total cost of the purchase: dollars. Finally, subtract the total cost from the initial value of the gift card to find the remaining balance: dollars.
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- First, determine the total distance the family has already traveled by multiplying their speed by the time they drove: miles. Next, subtract the distance traveled from the total distance of the trip to find the remaining miles: miles.
Tips & Strategies
- Use scratch paper like a pro! On the SSAT, don't try to subtract or divide big numbers in your head. Stack them neatly on your scratch paper so your place values line up perfectly.
- Look for shortcuts with division! Dividing by 25 is the same as dividing by 100 and multiplying by 4. Dividing by 5 is the same as dividing by 10 and multiplying by 2.
- Work backwards! If a question asks 'what number divided by 4 equals 12?', just flip the operation and multiply the answer choices by 4 to see which one gives you 12.
Common Mistakes
- Watch out for sloppy borrowing in subtraction! When you borrow from the next column, always remember to cross out the old number and write the new, smaller number right away so you don't forget.
- Don't forget to read the vocabulary carefully. Sometimes 'difference' means subtraction, and 'product' means multiplication. Mixing up these vocabulary words is a super common trap!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I get to use a calculator on the SSAT?
Nope! Calculators are not allowed on the SSAT. That's why practicing your basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division by hand is so important! ✍️
What if I get stuck on a big long division problem?
Take a deep breath and use estimation! If you need to divide 412 by 4, you know 400 divided by 4 is 100. So your answer should be just a little bit bigger than 100. Look at the multiple-choice answers and pick the one that makes the most sense.
How do I know which operation to use in a word problem?
Look for clue words! Words like 'total' or 'sum' usually mean addition. 'Difference' or 'left over' mean subtraction. 'Each' or 'times' point to multiplication, and 'share' or 'per' mean division. 🕵️♂️
Are there negative numbers in basic operations on the lower level SSAT?
For the elementary and lower levels, you will mostly stick to positive whole numbers. But as you get older and take the middle or upper-level tests, negative numbers will join the party! For now, just focus on mastering your positive whole numbers.