There are several ways to answer most algebra problems. You could try to solve a problem by using standard algebra and setting up and solving an equation. Alternatively, you could try to avoid algebra and simply plug the answer choices back into the question until one of them works out. Or you can pick numbers to substitute into the various expressions given as answer choices.
None of these methods is necessarily better than the others. Remain flexible in your approach to each question and choose the method that best suits the problem. For a problem you know how to solve, using algebra is probably the quickest method. In contrast, a tough problem that you are unsure how to solve might become easy if you try to plug in some answers. When you study your practice tests and look over the algebra questions you got wrong, you should think about the method you employed. Did you plug in answers when you should have used algebra? Did you use algebra when you should have plugged in answers?
We’ll lay out for you the different problem-solving approaches and tell you all you need to know about them. Then you can decide for yourself which method to choose.
Let’s use a sample algebra problem to illustrate these separate approaches:
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Using Algebra
This question is a simple rate problem that can be solved with a few basic equations. Since traveling time = distance 
speed, it took him:
speed, it took him:
to drive to Giambia City. To find the duration of his flight, we use the same rate formula:
It took the player:
longer to drive. D is the correct answer.
Plugging In Answers
Sometimes you might not be sure how to approach a problem or don’t have the time to think out the proper equations. In such instances, plugging in might be the best method for you, especially as you come across the more difficult questions at the end of the test. All you have to do is substitute the answer choices back into the problem, and see whether the given information holds true.
The process of plugging in is simple. First, you should make full use of the fact that the answer choices on Math IC are always presented in ascending value. So start by plugging in answer choice C, since if it doesn’t turn out to be the answer, you can usually tell whether to try a smaller or larger answer choice. Now, to solve the question: it takes the baseball player 250
50 = 5 hours to drive to Giambia City. So, if it takes him C 4 hours more to drive, than it takes him 5 – 4 = 1 hour to fly back to Jasonville. But the question tells us that in 1 hour, he could fly 500 miles. Therefore, it must take him longer than 4 hours more to drive than to fly. Next, we try D 4.5. It takes him 5 – 4.5 = .5 hours to fly, which means that he travels 500 
.5 = 250 miles on his flight. D is the answer.
50 = 5 hours to drive to Giambia City. So, if it takes him C 4 hours more to drive, than it takes him 5 – 4 = 1 hour to fly back to Jasonville. But the question tells us that in 1 hour, he could fly 500 miles. Therefore, it must take him longer than 4 hours more to drive than to fly. Next, we try D 4.5. It takes him 5 – 4.5 = .5 hours to fly, which means that he travels 500 .5 = 250 miles on his flight. D is the answer.
Picking Numbers
Picking numbers is a variation of plugging in and should only be used when the answer choices contain variables. A modified version of our original sample question shows what kind of problems might lend themselves to picking numbers.
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This question asks you to figure out which set of variables in the answer choices is the right one. But thinking in terms of variables can be confusing to some people. Picking numbers allows you to transform variables into concrete numbers.
To use the picking numbers method, you need to select numbers and plug them into the answer choices. You’re essentially testing the relationships between the variables in each given answer and ensuring they remain true. It doesn’t matter what specific numbers you plug into a problem. The same answer choice will always surface as long as you plug in consistently and follow all guidelines given by the problem.