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## MTEL General Curriculum Mathematics Practice

 Question 1

#### Which of the following does not represent the number of gumdrops in a row of h houses?

 A $$\large 2+3h$$Hint: Think of this as start with 2 gumdrops on the left wall, and then add 3 gumdrops for each house. B $$\large 5+3(h-1)$$Hint: Think of this as start with one house, and then add 3 gumdrops for each of the other h-1 houses. C $$\large h+(h+1)+(h+1)$$Hint: Look at the gumdrops in 3 rows: h gumdrops for the "rooftops," h+1 for the tops of the vertical walls, and h+1 for the floors. D $$\large 5+3h$$Hint: This one is not a correct equation (which makes it the correct answer!). Compare to choice A. One of them has to be wrong, as they differ by 3.
Question 1 Explanation:
Topic: Translate among different representations (e.g., tables, graphs, algebraic expressions, verbal descriptions) of functional relationships (Objective 0021).
 Question 2

#### The student used a method that worked for this problem and can be generalized to any subtraction problem.

Hint:
Note that this algorithm is taught as the "standard" algorithm in much of Europe (it's where the term "borrowing" came from -- you borrow on top and "pay back" on the bottom).

#### The student used a method that worked for this problem and that will work for any subtraction problem that only requires one regrouping; it will not work if more regrouping is required.

Hint:
Try some more examples.

#### The student used a method that worked for this problem and will work for all three-digit subtraction problems, but will not work for larger problems.

Hint:
Try some more examples.

#### The student used a method that does not work. The student made two mistakes that cancelled each other out and was lucky to get the right answer for this problem.

Hint:
Remember, there are many ways to do subtraction; there is no one "right" algorithm.
Question 2 Explanation:
Topic: Analyze and justify standard and non-standard computational techniques (Objective 0019).
 Question 3

#### 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.

#### 20

Hint:
$$\dfrac{\left( 4\times {{10}^{3}} \right)\times \left( 3\times {{10}^{4}} \right)}{6\times {{10}^{6}}}=\dfrac {12 \times {{10}^{7}}}{6\times {{10}^{6}}}=$$$$2 \times {{10}^{1}}=20$$

#### 200

Hint:
$$10^3 \times 10^4=10^7$$

#### 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 3 Explanation:
Topics: Scientific notation, exponents, simplifying fractions (Objective 0016, although overlaps with other objectives too).
 Question 4

#### 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.

#### 0.125

Hint:
This is 1/8, not 3/8.

#### 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 4 Explanation:
Topic: Converting between fractions and decimals (Objective 0017)
 Question 5

#### 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 5 Explanation:
Topic: Place Value (Objective 0016)
 Question 6

#### 23 flats, 4 rods, 7 little cubes

Hint:
Be sure you read the question carefully: 2300+40+7=2347

#### 2 large cubes, 3 flats, 47 rods

Hint:
2000+300+470 $$\neq$$ 2347

#### 2 large cubes, 34 rods, 7 little cubes

Hint:
Be sure you read the question carefully: 2000+340+7=2347

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

Hint:
Be sure you read the question carefully: 2000+300+40+7=2347
Question 6 Explanation:
Topic: Place Value (Objective 0016)
 Question 7

#### Let p represent the regular price of these t-shirt. Which of the following equations is correct?

 A $$\large 0.8p=\8.73$$Hint: 80% of the regular price = $8.73. B $$\large \8.73+0.2*\8.73=p$$Hint: The 20% off was off of the ORIGINAL price, not off the$8.73 (a lot of people make this mistake). Plus this is the same equation as in choice c. C $$\large 1.2*\8.73=p$$Hint: The 20% off was off of the ORIGINAL price, not off the \$8.73 (a lot of people make this mistake). Plus this is the same equation as in choice b. D $$\large p-0.2*\8.73=p$$Hint: Subtract p from both sides of this equation, and you have -.2 x 8.73 =0.
Question 7 Explanation:
Topics: Use algebra to solve word problems involving percents and identify variables, and derive algebraic expressions that represent real-world situations (Objective 0020).
 Question 8

#### If two fair coins are flipped, what is the probability that one will come up heads and the other tails?

 A $$\large \dfrac{1}{4}$$Hint: Think of the coins as a penny and a dime, and list all possibilities. B $$\large \dfrac{1}{3}$$Hint: This is a very common misconception. There are three possible outcomes -- both heads, both tails, and one of each -- but they are not equally likely. Think of the coins as a penny and a dime, and list all possibilities. C $$\large \dfrac{1}{2}$$Hint: The possibilities are HH, HT, TH, TT, and all are equally likely. Two of the four have one of each coin, so the probability is 2/4=1/2. D $$\large \dfrac{3}{4}$$Hint: Think of the coins as a penny and a dime, and list all possibilities.
Question 8 Explanation:
Topic: Calculate the probabilities of simple and compound events and of independent and dependent events (Objective 0026).
 Question 9

#### 1.6 cm

Hint:
This is more the height of a Lego toy college student -- less than an inch!

#### 16 cm

Hint:
Less than knee high on most college students.

#### 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.

#### 1600 cm

Hint:
This college student might be taller than some campus buildings!
Question 9 Explanation:
Topic: Estimate and calculate measurements using customary, metric, and nonstandard units of measurement (Objective 0023).
 Question 10

#### 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 10 Explanation:
Topic: Distinguish between linear and nonlinear functions (Objective 0022).
There are 10 questions to complete.

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