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

Use the expression below to answer the question that follows.

$\large \dfrac{\left( 155 \right)\times \left( 6,124 \right)}{977}$

Which of the following is the best estimate of the expression above?

A	100 Hint: 6124/977 is approximately 6.
B	200 Hint: 6124/977 is approximately 6.
C	1,000 Hint: 6124/977 is approximately 6. 155 is approximately 150, and $ 6 \times 150 = 3 \times 300 = 900$, so this answer is closest.
D	2,000 Hint: 6124/977 is approximately 6.

Question 1 Explanation:

Topics: Estimation, simplifying fractions (Objective 0016).

Question 2

There are 15 students for every teacher. Let t represent the number of teachers and let s represent the number of students. Which of the following equations is correct?

A	$ \large t=s+15$ Hint: When there are 2 teachers, how many students should there be? Do those values satisfy this equation?
B	$ \large s=t+15$ Hint: When there are 2 teachers, how many students should there be? Do those values satisfy this equation?
C	$ \large t=15s$ Hint: This is a really easy mistake to make, which comes from transcribing directly from English, "1 teachers equals 15 students." To see that it's wrong, plug in s=2; do you really need 30 teachers for 2 students? To avoid this mistake, insert the word "number," "Number of teachers equals 15 times number of students" is more clearly problematic.
D	$ \large s=15t$

Question 2 Explanation:

Topic: Select the linear equation that best models a real-world situation (Objective 0022).

Question 3

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 3 Explanation:

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

Question 4

Use the graph below to answer the question that follows:

The graph above represents the equation $ \large 3x+Ay=B$, where A and B are integers. What are the values of A and B?

A	$ \large A = -2, B= 6$ Hint: Plug in (2,0) to get B=6, then plug in (0,-3) to get A=-2.
B	$ \large A = 2, B = 6$ Hint: Try plugging (0,-3) into this equation.
C	$ \large A = -1.5, B=-3$ Hint: The problem said that A and B were integers and -1.5 is not an integer. Don't try to use slope-intercept form.
D	$ \large A = 2, B = -3$ Hint: Try plugging (2,0) into this equation.

Question 4 Explanation:

Topic: Find a linear equation that represents a graph (Objective 0022).

Question 5

Each individual cube that makes up the rectangular solid depicted below has 6 inch sides. What is the surface area of the solid in square feet?

A	$ \large 11\text{ f}{{\text{t}}^{2}}$ Hint: Check your units and make sure you're using feet and inches consistently.
B	$ \large 16.5\text{ f}{{\text{t}}^{2}}$ Hint: Each square has surface area $\dfrac{1}{2} \times \dfrac {1}{2}=\dfrac {1}{4}$ sq feet. There are 9 squares on the top and bottom, and 12 on each of 4 sides, for a total of 66 squares. 66 squares $\times \dfrac {1}{4}$ sq feet/square =16.5 sq feet.
C	$ \large 66\text{ f}{{\text{t}}^{2}}$ Hint: The area of each square is not 1.
D	$ \large 2376\text{ f}{{\text{t}}^{2}}$ Hint: Read the question more carefully -- the answer is supposed to be in sq feet, not sq inches.

Question 5 Explanation:

Topics: Use unit conversions to solve measurement problems, and derive and use formulas for calculating surface areas of geometric shapes and figures (Objective 0023).

Question 6

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 6 Explanation:

Topic: Using Number Lines (Objective 0017)

Question 7

The equation $ \large F=\frac{9}{5}C+32$ is used to convert a temperature measured in Celsius to the equivalent Farentheit temperature.

A patient's temperature increased by 1.5° Celcius. By how many degrees Fahrenheit did her temperature increase?

A	1.5° Hint: Celsius and Fahrenheit don't increase at the same rate.
B	1.8° Hint: That's how much the Fahrenheit temp increases when the Celsius temp goes up by 1 degree.
C	2.7° Hint: Each degree increase in Celsius corresponds to a $\dfrac{9}{5}=1.8$ degree increase in Fahrenheit. Thus the increase is 1.8+0.9=2.7.
D	Not enough information. Hint: A linear equation has constant slope, which means that every increase of the same amount in one variable, gives a constant increase in the other variable. It doesn't matter what temperature the patient started out at.

Question 7 Explanation:

Topic: Interpret the meaning of the slope and the intercepts of a linear equation that models a real-world situation (Objective 0022).

Question 8

Here are some statements:

I) 5 is an integer II)$ -5 $ is an integer III) $0$ is an integer

Which of the statements are true?

A	I only
B	I and II only
C	I and III only
D	I, II, and III Hint: The integers are ...-3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, ....

Question 8 Explanation:

Topic: Characteristics of Integers (Objective 0016)

Question 9

Here is a student's work on several multiplication problems:

For which of the following problems is this student most likely to get the correct solution, even though he is using an incorrect algorithm?

A	58 x 22 Hint: This problem involves regrouping, which the student does not do correctly.
B	16 x 24 Hint: This problem involves regrouping, which the student does not do correctly.
C	31 x 23 Hint: There is no regrouping with this problem.
D	141 x 32 Hint: This problem involves regrouping, which the student does not do correctly.

Question 9 Explanation:

Topic: Analyze computational algorithms (Objective 0019).

Question 10

Which of the lines depicted below is a graph of $ \large y=2x-5$?

A	a Hint: The slope of line a is negative.
B	b Hint: Wrong slope and wrong intercept.
C	c Hint: The intercept of line c is positive.
D	d Hint: Slope is 2 -- for every increase of 1 in x, y increases by 2. Intercept is -5 -- the point (0,-5) is on the line.

Question 10 Explanation:

Topic: Find a linear equation that represents a graph (Objective 0022).

Question 11

In the triangle below, $\overline{AC}\cong \overline{AD}\cong \overline{DE}$ and $m\angle CAD=100{}^\circ $. What is $m\angle DAE$?

A	$ \large 20{}^\circ $ Hint: Angles ACD and ADC are congruent since they are base angles of an isosceles triangle. Since the angles of a triangle sum to 180, they sum to 80, and they are 40 deg each. Thus angle ADE is 140 deg, since it makes a straight line with angle ADC. Angles DAE and DEA are base angles of an isosceles triangle and thus congruent-- they sum to 40 deg, so are 20 deg each.
B	$ \large 25{}^\circ $ Hint: If two sides of a triangle are congruent, then it's isosceles, and the base angles of an isosceles triangle are equal.
C	$ \large 30{}^\circ $ Hint: If two sides of a triangle are congruent, then it's isosceles, and the base angles of an isosceles triangle are equal.
D	$ \large 40{}^\circ $ Hint: Make sure you're calculating the correct angle.

Question 11 Explanation:

Topic: Classify and analyze polygons using attributes of sides and angles, including real-world applications. (Objective 0024).

Question 12

What is the length of side $\overline{BD}$ in the triangle below, where $\angle DBA$ is a right angle?

A	$ \large 1$ Hint: Use the Pythagorean Theorem.
B	$ \large \sqrt{5}$ Hint: $2^2+e^2=3^2$ or $4+e^2=9;e^2=5; e=\sqrt{5}$.
C	$ \large \sqrt{13}$ Hint: e is not the hypotenuse.
D	$ \large 5$ Hint: Use the Pythagorean Theorem.

Question 12 Explanation:

Topic: Derive and use formulas for calculating the lengths, perimeters, areas, volumes, and surface areas of geometric shapes and figures (Objective 0023), and recognize and apply connections between algebra and geometry (e.g., the use of coordinate systems, the Pythagorean theorem) (Objective 0024).

Question 13

There are six gumballs in a bag — two red and four green. Six children take turns picking a gumball out of the bag without looking. They do not return any gumballs to the bag. What is the probability that the first two children to pick from the bag pick the red gumballs?

A	$ \large \dfrac{1}{3}$ Hint: This is the probability that the first child picks a red gumball, but not that the first two children pick red gumballs.
B	$ \large \dfrac{1}{8}$ Hint: Are you adding things that you should be multiplying?
C	$ \large \dfrac{1}{9}$ Hint: This would be the probability if the gumballs were returned to the bag.
D	$ \large \dfrac{1}{15}$ Hint: The probability that the first child picks red is 2/6 = 1/3. Then there are 5 gumballs in the bag, one red, so the probability that the second child picks red is 1/5. Thus 1/5 of the time, after the first child picks red, the second does too, so the probability is 1/5 x 1/3 = 1/15.

Question 13 Explanation:

Topic: Calculate the probabilities of simple and compound events and of independent and dependent events (Objective 0026).

Question 14

The histogram below shows the frequency of a class's scores on a 4 question quiz.

What was the mean score on the quiz?

A	$ \large 2.75$ Hint: There were 20 students who took the quiz. Total points earned: $2 \times 1+6 \times 2+ 7\times 3+5 \times 4=55$, and 55/20 = 2.75.
B	$ \large 2$ Hint: How many students are there total? Did you count them all?
C	$ \large 3$ Hint: How many students are there total? Did you count them all? Be sure you're finding the mean, not the median or the mode.
D	$ \large 2.5$ Hint: How many students are there total? Did you count them all? Don't just take the mean of 1, 2, 3, 4 -- you have to weight them properly.

Question 14 Explanation:

Topics: Analyze and interpret various graphic representations, and use measures of central tendency (e.g., mean, median, mode) and spread to describe and interpret real-world data (Objective 0025).

Question 15

Use the table below to answer the question that follows:

Gordon wants to buy three pounds of nuts. Each of the stores above ordinarily sells the nuts for $4.99 a pound, but is offering a discount this week. At which store can he buy the nuts for the least amount of money?

A	Store A Hint: This would save about $2.50. You can quickly see that D saves more.
B	Store B Hint: This saves 15% and C saves 25%.
C	Store C
D	Store D Hint: This is about 20% off, which is less of a discount than C.

Question 15 Explanation:

Topic: Understand the meanings and models of integers, fractions, decimals,percents, and mixed numbers and apply them to the solution of word problems (Objective 0017).

Question 16

The pattern below consists of a row of black squares surrounded by white squares.

How many white squares would surround a row of 157 black squares?

A	314 Hint: Try your procedure on a smaller number that you can count to see where you made a mistake.
B	317 Hint: Are there ever an odd number of white squares?
C	320 Hint: One way to see this is that there are 6 tiles on the left and right ends, and the rest of the white tiles are twice the number of black tiles (there are many other ways to look at it too).
D	322 Hint: Try your procedure on a smaller number that you can count to see where you made a mistake.

Question 16 Explanation:

Topic: Recognize and extend patterns using a variety of representations (e.g., verbal, numeric, pictorial, algebraic) (Objective 0021).

Question 17

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 17 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 18

Given that 10 cm is approximately equal to 4 inches, which of the following expressions models a way to find out approximately how many inches are equivalent to 350 cm?

A	$ \large 350\times \left( \dfrac{10}{4} \right)$ Hint: The final result should be smaller than 350, and this answer is bigger.
B	$ \large 350\times \left( \dfrac{4}{10} \right)$ Hint: Dimensional analysis can help here: $350 \text{cm} \times \dfrac{4 \text{in}}{10 \text{cm}}$. The cm's cancel and the answer is in inches.
C	$ \large (10-4) \times 350 $ Hint: This answer doesn't make much sense. Try with a simpler example (e.g. 20 cm not 350 cm) to make sure that your logic makes sense.
D	$ \large (350-10) \times 4$ Hint: This answer doesn't make much sense. Try with a simpler example (e.g. 20 cm not 350 cm) to make sure that your logic makes sense.

Question 18 Explanation:

Topic: Applying fractions to word problems (Objective 0017) This problem is similar to one on the official sample test for that objective, but it might fit better into unit conversion and dimensional analysis (Objective 0023: Measurement)

Question 19

Here is a student's work solving an equation:

$ x-4=-2x+6$

$ x-4+4=-2x+6+4$

$ x=-2x+10$

$ x-2x=10$

$ x=10$

Which of the following statements is true?

A	The student‘s solution is correct. Hint: Try plugging into the original solution.
B	The student did not correctly use properties of equality. Hint: After $ x=-2x+10$, the student subtracted 2x on the left and added 2x on the right.
C	The student did not correctly use the distributive property. Hint: Distributive property is $a(b+c)=ab+ac$.
D	The student did not correctly use the commutative property. Hint: Commutative property is $a+b=b+a$ or $ab=ba$.

Question 19 Explanation:

Topic: Justify algebraic manipulations by application of the properties of equality, the order of operations, the number properties, and the order properties (Objective 0020).

Question 20

At a school fundraising event, people can buy a ticket to spin a spinner like the one below. The region that the spinner lands in tells which, if any, prize the person wins.

If 240 people buy tickets to spin the spinner, what is the best estimate of the number of keychains that will be given away?

A	40 Hint: "Keychain" appears on the spinner twice.
B	80 Hint: The probability of getting a keychain is 1/3, and so about 1/3 of the time the spinner will win.
C	100 Hint: What is the probability of winning a keychain?
D	120 Hint: That would be the answer for getting any prize, not a keychain specifically.

Question 20 Explanation:

Topic: I would call this topic expected value, which is not listed on the objectives. This question is very similar to one on the sample test. It's not a good question in that it's oversimplified (a more difficult and interesting question would be something like, "The school bought 100 keychains for prizes, what is the probability that they will run out before 240 people play?"). In any case, I believe the objective this is meant for is, "Recognize the difference between experimentally and theoretically determined probabilities in real-world situations. (Objective 0026)." This is not something easily assessed with multiple choice .

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A	\( \large t=s+15\) Hint: When there are 2 teachers, how many students should there be? Do those values satisfy this equation?
B	\( \large s=t+15\) Hint: When there are 2 teachers, how many students should there be? Do those values satisfy this equation?
C	\( \large t=15s\) Hint: This is a really easy mistake to make, which comes from transcribing directly from English, "1 teachers equals 15 students." To see that it's wrong, plug in s=2; do you really need 30 teachers for 2 students? To avoid this mistake, insert the word "number," "Number of teachers equals 15 times number of students" is more clearly problematic.
D	\( \large s=15t\)

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

A	\( \large A = -2, B= 6\) Hint: Plug in (2,0) to get B=6, then plug in (0,-3) to get A=-2.
B	\( \large A = 2, B = 6\) Hint: Try plugging (0,-3) into this equation.
C	\( \large A = -1.5, B=-3\) Hint: The problem said that A and B were integers and -1.5 is not an integer. Don't try to use slope-intercept form.
D	\( \large A = 2, B = -3\) Hint: Try plugging (2,0) into this equation.

A	\( \large 11\text{ f}{{\text{t}}^{2}}\) Hint: Check your units and make sure you're using feet and inches consistently.
B	\( \large 16.5\text{ f}{{\text{t}}^{2}}\) Hint: Each square has surface area \(\dfrac{1}{2} \times \dfrac {1}{2}=\dfrac {1}{4}\) sq feet. There are 9 squares on the top and bottom, and 12 on each of 4 sides, for a total of 66 squares. 66 squares \(\times \dfrac {1}{4}\) sq feet/square =16.5 sq feet.
C	\( \large 66\text{ f}{{\text{t}}^{2}}\) Hint: The area of each square is not 1.
D	\( \large 2376\text{ f}{{\text{t}}^{2}}\) Hint: Read the question more carefully -- the answer is supposed to be in sq feet, not sq inches.

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	\( \large 20{}^\circ \) Hint: Angles ACD and ADC are congruent since they are base angles of an isosceles triangle. Since the angles of a triangle sum to 180, they sum to 80, and they are 40 deg each. Thus angle ADE is 140 deg, since it makes a straight line with angle ADC. Angles DAE and DEA are base angles of an isosceles triangle and thus congruent-- they sum to 40 deg, so are 20 deg each.
B	\( \large 25{}^\circ \) Hint: If two sides of a triangle are congruent, then it's isosceles, and the base angles of an isosceles triangle are equal.
C	\( \large 30{}^\circ \) Hint: If two sides of a triangle are congruent, then it's isosceles, and the base angles of an isosceles triangle are equal.
D	\( \large 40{}^\circ \) Hint: Make sure you're calculating the correct angle.

A	\( \large 1\) Hint: Use the Pythagorean Theorem.
B	\( \large \sqrt{5}\) Hint: \(2^2+e^2=3^2\) or \(4+e^2=9;e^2=5; e=\sqrt{5}\).
C	\( \large \sqrt{13}\) Hint: e is not the hypotenuse.
D	\( \large 5\) Hint: Use the Pythagorean Theorem.

A	\( \large \dfrac{1}{3}\) Hint: This is the probability that the first child picks a red gumball, but not that the first two children pick red gumballs.
B	\( \large \dfrac{1}{8}\) Hint: Are you adding things that you should be multiplying?
C	\( \large \dfrac{1}{9}\) Hint: This would be the probability if the gumballs were returned to the bag.
D	\( \large \dfrac{1}{15}\) Hint: The probability that the first child picks red is 2/6 = 1/3. Then there are 5 gumballs in the bag, one red, so the probability that the second child picks red is 1/5. Thus 1/5 of the time, after the first child picks red, the second does too, so the probability is 1/5 x 1/3 = 1/15.

A	\( \large 2.75\) Hint: There were 20 students who took the quiz. Total points earned: \(2 \times 1+6 \times 2+ 7\times 3+5 \times 4=55\), and 55/20 = 2.75.
B	\( \large 2\) Hint: How many students are there total? Did you count them all?
C	\( \large 3\) Hint: How many students are there total? Did you count them all? Be sure you're finding the mean, not the median or the mode.
D	\( \large 2.5\) Hint: How many students are there total? Did you count them all? Don't just take the mean of 1, 2, 3, 4 -- you have to weight them properly.

A	\( \large 350\times \left( \dfrac{10}{4} \right)\) Hint: The final result should be smaller than 350, and this answer is bigger.
B	\( \large 350\times \left( \dfrac{4}{10} \right)\) Hint: Dimensional analysis can help here: \(350 \text{cm} \times \dfrac{4 \text{in}}{10 \text{cm}}\). The cm's cancel and the answer is in inches.
C	\( \large (10-4) \times 350 \) Hint: This answer doesn't make much sense. Try with a simpler example (e.g. 20 cm not 350 cm) to make sure that your logic makes sense.
D	\( \large (350-10) \times 4\) Hint: This answer doesn't make much sense. Try with a simpler example (e.g. 20 cm not 350 cm) to make sure that your logic makes sense.

MTEL General Curriculum Mathematics Practice

Use the expression below to answer the question that follows.

\(\large \dfrac{\left( 155 \right)\times \left( 6,124 \right)}{977}\)

Which of the following is the best estimate of the expression above?

100

200

1,000

2,000

There are 15 students for every teacher. Let t represent the number of teachers and let s represent the number of students. Which of the following equations is correct?

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

Use the graph below to answer the question that follows:

The graph above represents the equation \( \large 3x+Ay=B\), where A and B are integers. What are the values of A and B?

Each individual cube that makes up the rectangular solid depicted below has 6 inch sides. What is the surface area of the solid in square feet?

Below is a portion of a number line:

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

The equation \( \large F=\frac{9}{5}C+32\) is used to convert a temperature measured in Celsius to the equivalent Farentheit temperature.

A patient's temperature increased by 1.5° Celcius. By how many degrees Fahrenheit did her temperature increase?

1.5°

1.8°

2.7°

Not enough information.

Here are some statements:

I) 5 is an integer II)\( -5 \) is an integer III) \(0\) is an integer

Which of the statements are true?

I only

I and II only

I and III only

I, II, and III

Here is a student's work on several multiplication problems:

For which of the following problems is this student most likely to get the correct solution, even though he is using an incorrect algorithm?

58 x 22

16 x 24

31 x 23

141 x 32

Which of the lines depicted below is a graph of \( \large y=2x-5\)?

a

b

c

d

In the triangle below, \(\overline{AC}\cong \overline{AD}\cong \overline{DE}\) and \(m\angle CAD=100{}^\circ \). What is \(m\angle DAE\)?

What is the length of side \(\overline{BD}\) in the triangle below, where \(\angle DBA\) is a right angle?

There are six gumballs in a bag — two red and four green. Six children take turns picking a gumball out of the bag without looking. They do not return any gumballs to the bag. What is the probability that the first two children to pick from the bag pick the red gumballs?

The histogram below shows the frequency of a class's scores on a 4 question quiz.

What was the mean score on the quiz?

Use the table below to answer the question that follows:

Gordon wants to buy three pounds of nuts. Each of the stores above ordinarily sells the nuts for $4.99 a pound, but is offering a discount this week. At which store can he buy the nuts for the least amount of money?

Store A

Store B

Store C

Store D

The pattern below consists of a row of black squares surrounded by white squares.

How many white squares would surround a row of 157 black squares?

314

317

320

322

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?

Given that 10 cm is approximately equal to 4 inches, which of the following expressions models a way to find out approximately how many inches are equivalent to 350 cm?

Here is a student's work solving an equation:

\( x-4=-2x+6\)

\( x-4+4=-2x+6+4\)

\( x=-2x+10\)

\( x-2x=10\)

\( x=10\)

Which of the following statements is true?

The student‘s solution is correct.

The student did not correctly use properties of equality.

The student did not correctly use the distributive property.

The student did not correctly use the commutative property.

At a school fundraising event, people can buy a ticket to spin a spinner like the one below. The region that the spinner lands in tells which, if any, prize the person wins.

If 240 people buy tickets to spin the spinner, what is the best estimate of the number of keychains that will be given away?

40

80

100

120