20 Random Questions

Hints will display for most wrong answers; explanations for most right answers. You can attempt a question multiple times; it will only be scored correct if you get it right the first time.

I used the official objectives and sample test to construct these questions, but cannot promise that they accurately reflect what’s on the real test. Some of the sample questions were more convoluted than I could bear to write. See terms of use. See the MTEL Practice Test main page to view questions on a particular topic or to download paper practice tests.

MTEL General Curriculum Mathematics Practice

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Question 1

Below are four inputs and outputs for a function machine representing the function A:

Which of the following equations could also represent A for the values shown?

A	$ \large A(n)=n+4$ Hint: For a question like this, you don't have to find the equation yourself, you can just try plugging the function machine inputs into the equation, and see if any values come out wrong. With this equation n= -1 would output 3, not 0 as the machine does.
B	$ \large A(n)=n+2$ Hint: For a question like this, you don't have to find the equation yourself, you can just try plugging the function machine inputs into the equation, and see if any values come out wrong. With this equation n= 2 would output 4, not 6 as the machine does.
C	$ \large A(n)=2n+2$ Hint: Simply plug in each of the four function machine input values, and see that the equation produces the correct output, e.g. A(2)=6, A(-1)=0, etc.
D	$ \large A(n)=2\left( n+2 \right)$ Hint: For a question like this, you don't have to find the equation yourself, you can just try plugging the function machine inputs into the equation, and see if any values come out wrong. With this equation n= 2 would output 8, not 6 as the machine does.

Question 1 Explanation:

Topics: Understand various representations of functions, and translate among different representations of functional relationships (Objective 0021).

Question 2

Use the graph below to answer the question that follows:

The graph above best matches which of the following scenarios:

A	George left home at 10:00 and drove to work on a crooked path. He was stopped in traffic at 10:30 and 10:45. He drove 30 miles total. Hint: Just because he ended up 30 miles from home doesn't mean he drove 30 miles total.
B	George drove to work. On the way to work there is a little hill and a big hill. He slowed down for them. He made it to work at 11:15. Hint: The graph is not a picture of the roads.
C	George left home at 10:15. He drove 10 miles, then realized he‘d forgotten something at home. He turned back and got what he‘d forgotten. Then he drove in a straight line, at many different speeds, until he got to work around 11:15. Hint: A straight line on a distance versus time graph means constant speed.
D	George left home at 10:15. He drove 10 miles, then realized he‘d forgotten something at home. He turned back and got what he‘d forgotten. Then he drove at a constant speed until he got to work around 11:15.

Question 2 Explanation:

Topic: Use qualitative graphs to represent functional relationships in the real world (Objective 0021).

Question 3

In each expression below N represents a negative integer. Which expression could have a negative value?

A	$ \large {{N}^{2}}$ Hint: Squaring always gives a non-negative value.
B	$ \large 6-N$ Hint: A story problem for this expression is, if it was 6 degrees out at noon and N degrees out at sunrise, by how many degrees did the temperature rise by noon? Since N is negative, the answer to this question has to be positive, and more than 6.
C	$ \large -N$ Hint: If N is negative, then -N is positive
D	$ \large 6+N$ Hint: For example, if $N=-10$, then $6+N = -4$

Question 3 Explanation:

If you are stuck on a question like this, try a few examples to eliminate some choices and to help you understand what the question means. Topic: Characteristics of integers (Objective 0016).

Question 4

In which table below is y a function of x?

A	Hint: If x=3, y can have two different values, so it's not a function.
B	Hint: If x=3, y can have two different values, so it's not a function.
C	Hint: If x=1, y can have different values, so it's not a function.
D	Hint: Each value of x always corresponds to the same value of y.

Question 4 Explanation:

Topic: Understand the definition of function and various representations of functions (e.g., input/output machines, tables, graphs, mapping diagrams, formulas) (Objective 0021).

Question 5

Which of the following is closest to the height of a college student in centimeters?

A	1.6 cm Hint: This is more the height of a Lego toy college student -- less than an inch!
B	16 cm Hint: Less than knee high on most college students.
C	160 cm Hint: Remember, a meter stick (a little bigger than a yard stick) is 100 cm. Also good to know is that 4 inches is approximately 10 cm.
D	1600 cm Hint: This college student might be taller than some campus buildings!

Question 5 Explanation:

Topic: Estimate and calculate measurements using customary, metric, and nonstandard units of measurement (Objective 0023).

Question 6

What set of transformations will transform the leftmost image into the rightmost image?

A	A 90 degree clockwise rotation about (2,1) followed by a translation of two units to the right. Hint: Part of the figure would move below the x-axis with these transformations.
B	A translation 3 units up, followed by a reflection about the line y=x. Hint: See what happens to the point (5,1) under this set of transformations.
C	A 90 degree clockwise rotation about (5,1), followed by a translation of 2 units up.
D	A 90 degree clockwise rotation about (2,1) followed by a translation of 2 units to the right. Hint: See what happens to the point (3,3) under this set of transformations.

Question 6 Explanation:

Topic:Analyze and apply geometric transformations (e.g., translations, rotations, reflections, dilations) (Objective 0024).

Question 7

The Venn Diagram below gives data on the number of seniors, athletes, and vegetarians in the student body at a college:

How many students at the college are seniors who are not vegetarians?

A	$ \large 137$ Hint: Doesn't include the senior athletes who are not vegetarians.
B	$ \large 167$
C	$ \large 197$ Hint: That's all seniors, including vegetarians.
D	$ \large 279$ Hint: Includes all athletes who are not vegetarians, some of whom are not seniors.

Question 7 Explanation:

Topic: Venn Diagrams (Objective 0025)

Question 8

Which of the numbers below is the decimal equivalent of $ \dfrac{3}{8}?$

A	0.38 Hint: If you are just writing the numerator next to the denominator then your technique is way off, but by coincidence your answer is close; try with 2/3 and 0.23 is nowhere near correct.
B	0.125 Hint: This is 1/8, not 3/8.
C	0.375
D	0.83 Hint: 3/8 is less than a half, and 0.83 is more than a half, so they can't be equal.

Question 8 Explanation:

Topic: Converting between fractions and decimals (Objective 0017)

Question 9

Which of the lists below contains only irrational numbers?

A	$ \large\pi , \quad \sqrt{6},\quad \sqrt{\dfrac{1}{2}}$
B	$ \large\pi , \quad \sqrt{9}, \quad \pi +1$ Hint: $ \sqrt{9}=3$
C	$ \large\dfrac{1}{3},\quad \dfrac{5}{4},\quad \dfrac{2}{9}$ Hint: These are all rational.
D	$ \large-3,\quad 14,\quad 0$ Hint: These are all rational.

Question 9 Explanation:

Topic: Identifying rational and irrational numbers (Objective 0016).

Question 10

Below is a portion of a number line:

Point B is halfway between two tick marks. What number is represented by Point B?

A	$ \large 0.645$ Hint: That point is marked on the line, to the right.
B	$ \large 0.6421$ Hint: That point is to the left of point B.
C	$ \large 0.6422$ Hint: That point is to the left of point B.
D	$ \large 0.6425$

Question 10 Explanation:

Topic: Using Number Lines (Objective 0017)

Question 11

Which of the following is equal to eleven billion four hundred thousand?

A	$ \large 11,400,000$ Hint: That's eleven million four hundred thousand.
B	$\large11,000,400,000$
C	$ \large11,000,000,400,000$ Hint: That's eleven trillion four hundred thousand (although with British conventions; this answer is correct, but in the US, it isn't).
D	$ \large 11,400,000,000$ Hint: That's eleven billion four hundred million

Question 11 Explanation:

Topic: Place Value (Objective 0016)

Question 12

The expression $ \large{{8}^{3}}\cdot {{2}^{-10}}$ is equal to which of the following?

A	$ \large 2$ Hint: Write $8^3$ as a power of 2.
B	$ \large \dfrac{1}{2}$ Hint: $8^3 \cdot {2}^{-10}={(2^3)}^3 \cdot {2}^{-10}$ =$2^9 \cdot {2}^{-10} =2^{-1}$
C	$ \large 16$ Hint: Write $8^3$ as a power of 2.
D	$ \large \dfrac{1}{16}$ Hint: Write $8^3$ as a power of 2.

Question 12 Explanation:

Topic: Laws of Exponents (Objective 0019).

Question 13

A homeowner is planning to tile the kitchen floor with tiles that measure 6 inches by 8 inches. The kitchen floor is a rectangle that measures 10 ft by 12 ft, and there are no gaps between the tiles. How many tiles does the homeowner need?

A	30 Hint: The floor is 120 sq feet, and the tiles are smaller than 1 sq foot. Also, remember that 1 sq foot is 12 $\times$ 12=144 sq inches.
B	120 Hint: The floor is 120 sq feet, and the tiles are smaller than 1 sq foot.
C	300 Hint: Recheck your calculations.
D	360 Hint: One way to do this is to note that 6 inches = 1/2 foot and 8 inches = 2/3 foot, so the area of each tile is 1/2 $\times$ 2/3=1/3 sq foot, or each square foot of floor requires 3 tiles. The area of the floor is 120 square feet. Note that the tiles would fit evenly oriented in either direction, parallel to the walls.

Question 13 Explanation:

Topic: Estimate and calculate measurements, use unit conversions to solve measurement problems, solve measurement problems in real-world situations (Objective 0023).

Question 14

The picture below shows identical circles drawn on a piece of paper. The rectangle represents an index card that is blocking your view of $ \dfrac{3}{5}$ of the circles on the paper. How many circles are covered by the rectangle?

$q22 fraction dots covered$

A	4 Hint: The card blocks more than half of the circles, so this number is too small.
B	5 Hint: The card blocks more than half of the circles, so this number is too small.
C	8 Hint: The card blocks more than half of the circles, so this number is too small.
D	12 Hint: 2/5 of the circles or 8 circles are showing. Thus 4 circles represent 1/5 of the circles, and $4 \times 5=20$ circles represent 5/5 or all the circles. Thus 12 circles are hidden.

Question 14 Explanation:

Topic: Models of Fractions (Objective 0017)

Question 15

Exactly one of the numbers below is a prime number. Which one is it?

A	$ \large511 $ Hint: Divisible by 7.
B	$ \large517$ Hint: Divisible by 11.
C	$ \large519$ Hint: Divisible by 3.
D	$ \large521$

Question 15 Explanation:

Topics: Identify prime and composite numbers and demonstrate knowledge of divisibility rules (Objective 0018).

Question 16

Use the graph below to answer the question that follows.

If the polygon shown above is reflected about the y axis and then rotated 90 degrees clockwise about the origin, which of the following graphs is the result?

A	Hint: Try following the point (1,4) to see where it goes after each transformation.
B
C	Hint: Make sure you're reflecting in the correct axis.
D	Hint: Make sure you're rotating the correct direction.

Question 16 Explanation:

Topic: Analyze and apply geometric transformations (e.g., translations, rotations, reflections, dilations); relate them to concepts of symmetry, similarity, and congruence; and use these concepts to solve problems (Objective 0024).

Question 17

Below are front, side, and top views of a three-dimensional solid.

Which of the following could be the solid shown above?

A	A sphere Hint: All views would be circles.
B	A cylinder
C	A cone Hint: Two views would be triangles, not rectangles.
D	A pyramid Hint: How would one view be a circle?

Question 17 Explanation:

Topic: Match three-dimensional figures and their two-dimensional representations (e.g., nets, projections, perspective drawings) (Objective 0024).

Question 18

Solve for x: $\large 4-\dfrac{2}{3}x=2x$

A	$ \large x=3$ Hint: Try plugging x=3 into the equation.
B	$ \large x=-3$ Hint: Left side is positive, right side is negative when you plug this in for x.
C	$ \large x=\dfrac{3}{2}$ Hint: One way to solve: $4=\dfrac{2}{3}x+2x$ $=\dfrac{8}{3}x$.$x=\dfrac{3 \times 4}{8}=\dfrac{3}{2}$. Another way is to just plug x=3/2 into the equation and see that each side equals 3 -- on a multiple choice test, you almost never have to actually solve for x.
D	$ \large x=-\dfrac{3}{2}$ Hint: Left side is positive, right side is negative when you plug this in for x.

Question 18 Explanation:

Topic: Solve linear equations (Objective 0020).

Question 19

Which of the following is the equation of a linear function?

A	$ \large y={{x}^{2}}+2x+7$ Hint: This is a quadratic function.
B	$ \large y={{2}^{x}}$ Hint: This is an exponential function.
C	$ \large y=\dfrac{15}{x}$ Hint: This is an inverse function.
D	$ \large y=x+(x+4)$ Hint: This is a linear function, y=2x+4, it's graph is a straight line with slope 2 and y-intercept 4.

Question 19 Explanation:

Topic: Distinguish between linear and nonlinear functions (Objective 0022).

Question 20

The table below gives data from various years on how many young girls drank milk.

Based on the data given above, what was the probability that a randomly chosen girl in 1990 drank milk?

A	$ \large \dfrac{502}{1222}$ Hint: This is the probability that a randomly chosen girl who drinks milk was in the 1989-1991 food survey.
B	$ \large \dfrac{502}{2149}$ Hint: This is the probability that a randomly chosen girl from the whole survey drank milk and was also surveyed in 1989-1991.
C	$ \large \dfrac{502}{837}$
D	$ \large \dfrac{1222}{2149}$ Hint: This is the probability that a randomly chosen girl from any year of the survey drank milk.

Question 20 Explanation:

Topic: Recognize and apply the concept of conditional probability (Objective 0026).

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A	\( \large A(n)=n+4\) Hint: For a question like this, you don't have to find the equation yourself, you can just try plugging the function machine inputs into the equation, and see if any values come out wrong. With this equation n= -1 would output 3, not 0 as the machine does.
B	\( \large A(n)=n+2\) Hint: For a question like this, you don't have to find the equation yourself, you can just try plugging the function machine inputs into the equation, and see if any values come out wrong. With this equation n= 2 would output 4, not 6 as the machine does.
C	\( \large A(n)=2n+2\) Hint: Simply plug in each of the four function machine input values, and see that the equation produces the correct output, e.g. A(2)=6, A(-1)=0, etc.
D	\( \large A(n)=2\left( n+2 \right)\) Hint: For a question like this, you don't have to find the equation yourself, you can just try plugging the function machine inputs into the equation, and see if any values come out wrong. With this equation n= 2 would output 8, not 6 as the machine does.

A	\( \large {{N}^{2}}\) Hint: Squaring always gives a non-negative value.
B	\( \large 6-N\) Hint: A story problem for this expression is, if it was 6 degrees out at noon and N degrees out at sunrise, by how many degrees did the temperature rise by noon? Since N is negative, the answer to this question has to be positive, and more than 6.
C	\( \large -N\) Hint: If N is negative, then -N is positive
D	\( \large 6+N\) Hint: For example, if \(N=-10\), then \(6+N = -4\)

A	\( \large 137\) Hint: Doesn't include the senior athletes who are not vegetarians.
B	\( \large 167\)
C	\( \large 197\) Hint: That's all seniors, including vegetarians.
D	\( \large 279\) Hint: Includes all athletes who are not vegetarians, some of whom are not seniors.

A	\( \large\pi , \quad \sqrt{6},\quad \sqrt{\dfrac{1}{2}}\)
B	\( \large\pi , \quad \sqrt{9}, \quad \pi +1\) Hint: \( \sqrt{9}=3\)
C	\( \large\dfrac{1}{3},\quad \dfrac{5}{4},\quad \dfrac{2}{9}\) Hint: These are all rational.
D	\( \large-3,\quad 14,\quad 0\) Hint: These are all rational.

A	\( \large 0.645\) Hint: That point is marked on the line, to the right.
B	\( \large 0.6421\) Hint: That point is to the left of point B.
C	\( \large 0.6422\) Hint: That point is to the left of point B.
D	\( \large 0.6425\)

A	\( \large 11,400,000\) Hint: That's eleven million four hundred thousand.
B	\(\large11,000,400,000\)
C	\( \large11,000,000,400,000\) Hint: That's eleven trillion four hundred thousand (although with British conventions; this answer is correct, but in the US, it isn't).
D	\( \large 11,400,000,000\) Hint: That's eleven billion four hundred million

A	\( \large 2\) Hint: Write \(8^3\) as a power of 2.
B	\( \large \dfrac{1}{2}\) Hint: \(8^3 \cdot {2}^{-10}={(2^3)}^3 \cdot {2}^{-10}\) =\(2^9 \cdot {2}^{-10} =2^{-1}\)
C	\( \large 16\) Hint: Write \(8^3\) as a power of 2.
D	\( \large \dfrac{1}{16}\) Hint: Write \(8^3\) as a power of 2.

A	\( \large511 \) Hint: Divisible by 7.
B	\( \large517\) Hint: Divisible by 11.
C	\( \large519\) Hint: Divisible by 3.
D	\( \large521\)

A	\( \large x=3\) Hint: Try plugging x=3 into the equation.
B	\( \large x=-3\) Hint: Left side is positive, right side is negative when you plug this in for x.
C	\( \large x=\dfrac{3}{2}\) Hint: One way to solve: \(4=\dfrac{2}{3}x+2x\) \(=\dfrac{8}{3}x\).\(x=\dfrac{3 \times 4}{8}=\dfrac{3}{2}\). Another way is to just plug x=3/2 into the equation and see that each side equals 3 -- on a multiple choice test, you almost never have to actually solve for x.
D	\( \large x=-\dfrac{3}{2}\) Hint: Left side is positive, right side is negative when you plug this in for x.

A	\( \large y={{x}^{2}}+2x+7\) Hint: This is a quadratic function.
B	\( \large y={{2}^{x}}\) Hint: This is an exponential function.
C	\( \large y=\dfrac{15}{x}\) Hint: This is an inverse function.
D	\( \large y=x+(x+4)\) Hint: This is a linear function, y=2x+4, it's graph is a straight line with slope 2 and y-intercept 4.

A	\( \large \dfrac{502}{1222}\) Hint: This is the probability that a randomly chosen girl who drinks milk was in the 1989-1991 food survey.
B	\( \large \dfrac{502}{2149}\) Hint: This is the probability that a randomly chosen girl from the whole survey drank milk and was also surveyed in 1989-1991.
C	\( \large \dfrac{502}{837}\)
D	\( \large \dfrac{1222}{2149}\) Hint: This is the probability that a randomly chosen girl from any year of the survey drank milk.

MTEL General Curriculum Mathematics Practice

Below are four inputs and outputs for a function machine representing the function A:

Which of the following equations could also represent A for the values shown?

Use the graph below to answer the question that follows:

The graph above best matches which of the following scenarios:

George left home at 10:00 and drove to work on a crooked path. He was stopped in traffic at 10:30 and 10:45. He drove 30 miles total.

George drove to work. On the way to work there is a little hill and a big hill. He slowed down for them. He made it to work at 11:15.

George left home at 10:15. He drove 10 miles, then realized he‘d forgotten something at home. He turned back and got what he‘d forgotten. Then he drove in a straight line, at many different speeds, until he got to work around 11:15.

George left home at 10:15. He drove 10 miles, then realized he‘d forgotten something at home. He turned back and got what he‘d forgotten. Then he drove at a constant speed until he got to work around 11:15.

In each expression below N represents a negative integer. Which expression could have a negative value?

In which table below is y a function of x?

Which of the following is closest to the height of a college student in centimeters?

1.6 cm

16 cm

160 cm

1600 cm

What set of transformations will transform the leftmost image into the rightmost image?

A 90 degree clockwise rotation about (2,1) followed by a translation of two units to the right.

A translation 3 units up, followed by a reflection about the line y=x.

A 90 degree clockwise rotation about (5,1), followed by a translation of 2 units up.

A 90 degree clockwise rotation about (2,1) followed by a translation of 2 units to the right.

The Venn Diagram below gives data on the number of seniors, athletes, and vegetarians in the student body at a college:

How many students at the college are seniors who are not vegetarians?

Which of the numbers below is the decimal equivalent of \( \dfrac{3}{8}?\)

0.38

0.125

0.375

0.83

Which of the lists below contains only irrational numbers?

Below is a portion of a number line:

Point B is halfway between two tick marks. What number is represented by Point B?

Which of the following is equal to eleven billion four hundred thousand?

The expression \( \large{{8}^{3}}\cdot {{2}^{-10}}\) is equal to which of the following?

A homeowner is planning to tile the kitchen floor with tiles that measure 6 inches by 8 inches. The kitchen floor is a rectangle that measures 10 ft by 12 ft, and there are no gaps between the tiles. How many tiles does the homeowner need?

30

120

300

360

The picture below shows identical circles drawn on a piece of paper. The rectangle represents an index card that is blocking your view of \( \dfrac{3}{5}\) of the circles on the paper. How many circles are covered by the rectangle?

4

5

8

12

Exactly one of the numbers below is a prime number. Which one is it?

Use the graph below to answer the question that follows.

If the polygon shown above is reflected about the y axis and then rotated 90 degrees clockwise about the origin, which of the following graphs is the result?

Below are front, side, and top views of a three-dimensional solid.

Which of the following could be the solid shown above?

A sphere

A cylinder

A cone

A pyramid

Solve for x: \(\large 4-\dfrac{2}{3}x=2x\)

Which of the following is the equation of a linear function?

The table below gives data from various years on how many young girls drank milk.

Based on the data given above, what was the probability that a randomly chosen girl in 1990 drank milk?