0016 Number System and Place Value

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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 random questions on a variety of topics or to download paper practice tests.

MTEL General Curriculum Mathematics Practice

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Question 1

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 1 Explanation:

Topic: Place Value (Objective 0016)

Question 2

Which of the following is equal to one million three hundred thousand?

A	$\large1.3\times {{10}^{6}}$
B	$\large1.3\times {{10}^{9}}$ Hint: That's one billion three hundred million.
C	$\large1.03\times {{10}^{6}}$ Hint: That's one million thirty thousand.
D	$\large1.03\times {{10}^{9}}$ Hint: That's one billion thirty million

Question 2 Explanation:

Topic: Scientific Notation (Objective 0016)

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

A class is using base-ten block to represent numbers. A large cube represents 1000, a flat represents 100, a rod represents 10, and a little cube represents 1. Which of these is not a correct representation for 2,347?

A	23 flats, 4 rods, 7 little cubes Hint: Be sure you read the question carefully: 2300+40+7=2347
B	2 large cubes, 3 flats, 47 rods Hint: 2000+300+470 $ \neq$ 2347
C	2 large cubes, 34 rods, 7 little cubes Hint: Be sure you read the question carefully: 2000+340+7=2347
D	2 large cubes, 3 flats, 4 rods, 7 little cubes Hint: Be sure you read the question carefully: 2000+300+40+7=2347

Question 4 Explanation:

Topic: Place Value (Objective 0016)

Question 5

Which of the following is an irrational number?

A	$ \large \sqrt[3]{8}$ Hint: This answer is the cube root of 8. Since 2 x 2 x 2 =8, this is equal to 2, which is rational because 2 = 2/1.
B	$ \large \sqrt{8}$ Hint: It is not trivial to prove that this is irrational, but you can get this answer by eliminating the other choices.
C	$ \large \dfrac{1}{8}$ Hint: 1/8 is the RATIO of two integers, so it is rational.
D	$ \large -8$ Hint: Negative integers are also rational, -8 = -8/1, a ratio of integers.

Question 5 Explanation:

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

Question 6

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 6 Explanation:

Topic: Characteristics of Integers (Objective 0016)

Question 7

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 7 Explanation:

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

Question 8

If x is an integer, which of the following must also be an integer?

A	$ \large \dfrac{x}{2}$ Hint: If x is odd, then $ \dfrac{x}{2} $ is not an integer, e.g. 3/2 = 1.5.
B	$ \large \dfrac{2}{x}$ Hint: Only an integer if x = -2, -1, 1, or 2.
C	$ \large-x$ Hint: -1 times any integer is still an integer.
D	$\large\sqrt{x}$ Hint: Usually not an integer, e.g. $ \sqrt{2} \approx 1.414 $.

Question 8 Explanation:

Topic: Integers (Objective 0016)

Question 9

In January 2011, the national debt was about 14 trillion dollars and the US population was about 300 million people. Someone reading these figures estimated that the national debt was about $5,000 per person. Which of these statements best describes the reasonableness of this estimate?

A	It is too low by a factor of 10 Hint: 14 trillion $ \approx 15 \times {{10}^{12}} $ and 300 million $ \approx 3 \times {{10}^{8}}$, so the true answer is about $ 5 \times {{10}^{4}} $ or $50,000.
B	It is too low by a factor of 100
C	It is too high by a factor of 10
D	It is too high by a factor of 100

Question 9 Explanation:

Topics: Estimation, Scientific Notation in the real world (Objective 0016).

Question 10

Use the expression below to answer the question that follows.

$ \large \dfrac{\left( 4\times {{10}^{3}} \right)\times \left( 3\times {{10}^{4}} \right)}{6\times {{10}^{6}}}$

Which of the following is equivalent to the expression above?

A	2 Hint: $10^3 \times 10^4=10^7$, and note that if you're guessing when the answers are so closely related, you're generally better off guessing one of the middle numbers.
B	20 Hint: $ \dfrac{\left( 4\times {{10}^{3}} \right)\times \left( 3\times {{10}^{4}} \right)}{6\times {{10}^{6}}}=\dfrac {12 \times {{10}^{7}}}{6\times {{10}^{6}}}=$$2 \times {{10}^{1}}=20 $
C	200 Hint: $10^3 \times 10^4=10^7$
D	2000 Hint: $10^3 \times 10^4=10^7$, and note that if you're guessing when the answers are so closely related, you're generally better off guessing one of the middle numbers.

Question 10 Explanation:

Topics: Scientific notation, exponents, simplifying fractions (Objective 0016, although overlaps with other objectives too).

Question 11

Use the expression below to answer the question that follows:

$ \large \dfrac{\left( 7,154 \right)\times \left( 896 \right)}{216}$

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

A	2,000 Hint: The answer is bigger than 7,000.
B	20,000 Hint: Estimate 896/216 first.
C	3,000 Hint: The answer is bigger than 7,000.
D	30,000 Hint: $ \dfrac{896}{216} \approx 4$ and $7154 \times 4$ is over 28,000, so this answer is closest.

Question 11 Explanation:

Topics: Estimation, simplifying fractions (Objective 0016, overlaps with other objectives).

Question 12

Use the expression below to answer the question that follows.

$ \large 3\times {{10}^{4}}+2.2\times {{10}^{2}}$

Which of the following is closest to the expression above?

A	Five million Hint: Pay attention to the exponents. Adding 3 and 2 doesn't work because they have different place values.
B	Fifty thousand Hint: Pay attention to the exponents. Adding 3 and 2 doesn't work because they have different place values.
C	Three million Hint: Don't add the exponents.
D	Thirty thousand Hint: $ 3\times {{10}^{4}} = 30,000;$ the other term is much smaller and doesn't change the estimate.

Question 12 Explanation:

Topics: Place value, scientific notation, estimation (Objective 0016)

Question 13

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 13 Explanation:

Topics: Estimation, simplifying fractions (Objective 0016).

There are 13 questions to complete.

If you found a mistake or have comments on a particular question, please contact me (please copy and paste at least part of the question into the form, as the numbers change depending on how quizzes are displayed). General comments can be left here.

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	\(\large1.3\times {{10}^{6}}\)
B	\(\large1.3\times {{10}^{9}}\) Hint: That's one billion three hundred million.
C	\(\large1.03\times {{10}^{6}}\) Hint: That's one million thirty thousand.
D	\(\large1.03\times {{10}^{9}}\) Hint: That's one billion thirty million

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	\( \large \sqrt[3]{8}\) Hint: This answer is the cube root of 8. Since 2 x 2 x 2 =8, this is equal to 2, which is rational because 2 = 2/1.
B	\( \large \sqrt{8}\) Hint: It is not trivial to prove that this is irrational, but you can get this answer by eliminating the other choices.
C	\( \large \dfrac{1}{8}\) Hint: 1/8 is the RATIO of two integers, so it is rational.
D	\( \large -8\) Hint: Negative integers are also rational, -8 = -8/1, a ratio of integers.

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	\( \large \dfrac{x}{2}\) Hint: If x is odd, then \( \dfrac{x}{2} \) is not an integer, e.g. 3/2 = 1.5.
B	\( \large \dfrac{2}{x}\) Hint: Only an integer if x = -2, -1, 1, or 2.
C	\( \large-x\) Hint: -1 times any integer is still an integer.
D	\(\large\sqrt{x}\) Hint: Usually not an integer, e.g. \( \sqrt{2} \approx 1.414 \).

A	2 Hint: \(10^3 \times 10^4=10^7\), and note that if you're guessing when the answers are so closely related, you're generally better off guessing one of the middle numbers.
B	20 Hint: \( \dfrac{\left( 4\times {{10}^{3}} \right)\times \left( 3\times {{10}^{4}} \right)}{6\times {{10}^{6}}}=\dfrac {12 \times {{10}^{7}}}{6\times {{10}^{6}}}=\)\(2 \times {{10}^{1}}=20 \)
C	200 Hint: \(10^3 \times 10^4=10^7\)
D	2000 Hint: \(10^3 \times 10^4=10^7\), and note that if you're guessing when the answers are so closely related, you're generally better off guessing one of the middle numbers.

MTEL General Curriculum Mathematics Practice

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

Which of the following is equal to one million three hundred thousand?

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

A class is using base-ten block to represent numbers. A large cube represents 1000, a flat represents 100, a rod represents 10, and a little cube represents 1. Which of these is not a correct representation for 2,347?

23 flats, 4 rods, 7 little cubes

2 large cubes, 3 flats, 47 rods

2 large cubes, 34 rods, 7 little cubes

2 large cubes, 3 flats, 4 rods, 7 little cubes

Which of the following is an irrational number?

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

Which of the lists below contains only irrational numbers?

If x is an integer, which of the following must also be an integer?

In January 2011, the national debt was about 14 trillion dollars and the US population was about 300 million people. Someone reading these figures estimated that the national debt was about $5,000 per person. Which of these statements best describes the reasonableness of this estimate?

It is too low by a factor of 10

It is too low by a factor of 100

It is too high by a factor of 10

It is too high by a factor of 100

Use the expression below to answer the question that follows.

\( \large \dfrac{\left( 4\times {{10}^{3}} \right)\times \left( 3\times {{10}^{4}} \right)}{6\times {{10}^{6}}}\)

Which of the following is equivalent to the expression above?

2

20

200

2000

Use the expression below to answer the question that follows:

\( \large \dfrac{\left( 7,154 \right)\times \left( 896 \right)}{216}\)

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

2,000

20,000

3,000

30,000

Use the expression below to answer the question that follows.

\( \large 3\times {{10}^{4}}+2.2\times {{10}^{2}}\)

Which of the following is closest to the expression above?

Five million

Fifty thousand

Three million

Thirty thousand

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