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

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 1 Explanation:

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

Question 2

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 2 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 3

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 3 Explanation:

Topic: Characteristics of Integers (Objective 0016)

Question 4

The speed of sound in dry air at 68 degrees F is 343.2 meters per second. Which of the expressions below could be used to compute the number of kilometers that a sound wave travels in 10 minutes (in dry air at 68 degrees F)?

A	$ \large 343.2\times 60\times 10$ Hint: In kilometers, not meters.
B	$ \large 343.2\times 60\times 10\times \dfrac{1}{1000}$ Hint: Units are meters/sec $\times$ seconds/minute $\times$ minutes $\times$ kilometers/meter, and the answer is in kilometers.
C	$ \large 343.2\times \dfrac{1}{60}\times 10$ Hint: Include units and make sure answer is in kilometers.
D	$ \large 343.2\times \dfrac{1}{60}\times 10\times \dfrac{1}{1000}$ Hint: Include units and make sure answer is in kilometers.

Question 4 Explanation:

Topic: Use unit conversions and dimensional analysis to solve measurement problems (Objective 0023).

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 is the greatest common factor of 540 and 216?

A	$ \large{{2}^{2}}\cdot {{3}^{3}}$ Hint: One way to solve this is to factor both numbers: $540=2^2 \cdot 3^3 \cdot 5$ and $216=2^3 \cdot 3^3$. Then take the smaller power for each prime that is a factor of both numbers.
B	$ \large2\cdot 3$ Hint: This is a common factor of both numbers, but it's not the greatest common factor.
C	$ \large{{2}^{3}}\cdot {{3}^{3}}$ Hint: $2^3 = 8$ is not a factor of 540.
D	$ \large{{2}^{2}}\cdot {{3}^{2}}$ Hint: This is a common factor of both numbers, but it's not the greatest common factor.

Question 6 Explanation:

Topic: Find the greatest common factor of a set of numbers (Objective 0018).

Question 7

Which of the following inequalities describes all values of x with $\large \dfrac{x}{2}\le \dfrac{x}{3}$?

A	$ \large x < 0$ Hint: If x =0, then x/2 = x/3, so this answer can't be correct.
B	$ \large x \le 0$
C	$ \large x > 0$ Hint: If x =0, then x/2 = x/3, so this answer can't be correct.
D	$ \large x \ge 0$ Hint: Try plugging in x = 6.

Question 7 Explanation:

Topics: Inequalities, operations (Objective 0019) (not exactly sure how to classify, but this is like one of the problems on the official sample test).

Question 8

The function d(x) gives the result when 12 is divided by x. Which of the following is a graph of d(x)?

A	Hint: d(x) is 12 divided by x, not x divided by 12.
B	Hint: When x=2, what should d(x) be?
C	Hint: When x=2, what should d(x) be?
D

Question 8 Explanation:

Topic: Identify and analyze direct and inverse relationships in tables, graphs, algebraic expressions and real-world situations (Objective 0021)

Question 9

What fraction of the area of the picture below is shaded?

$q21 fraction area$

A	$ \large \dfrac{17}{24}$ Hint: You might try adding segments so each quadrant is divided into 6 pieces with equal area -- there will be 24 regions, not all the same shape, but all the same area, with 17 of them shaded (for the top left quarter, you could also first change the diagonal line to a horizontal or vertical line that divides the square in two equal pieces and shade one) .
B	$ \large \dfrac{3}{4}$ Hint: Be sure you're taking into account the different sizes of the pieces.
C	$ \large \dfrac{2}{3}$ Hint: The bottom half of the picture is 2/3 shaded, and the top half is more than 2/3 shaded, so this answer is too small.
D	$ \large \dfrac{17}{6} $ Hint: This answer is bigger than 1, so doesn't make any sense. Be sure you are using the whole picture, not one quadrant, as the unit.

Question 9 Explanation:

Topic: Models of Fractions (Objective 0017)

Question 10

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 10 Explanation:

Topic: Venn Diagrams (Objective 0025)

Question 11

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 11 Explanation:

Topic: Converting between fractions and decimals (Objective 0017)

Question 12

Which of the numbers below is not equivalent to 4%?

A	$ \large \dfrac{1}{25}$ Hint: 1/25=4/100, so this is equal to 4% (be sure you read the question correctly).
B	$ \large \dfrac{4}{100}$ Hint: 4/100=4% (be sure you read the question correctly).
C	$ \large 0.4$ Hint: 0.4=40% so this is not equal to 4%
D	$ \large 0.04$ Hint: 0.04=4/100, so this is equal to 4% (be sure you read the question correctly).

Question 12 Explanation:

Converting between fractions, decimals, and percents (Objective 0017).

Question 13

The letters A, B, and C represent digits (possibly equal) in the twelve digit number x=111,111,111,ABC. For which values of A, B, and C is x divisible by 40?

A	$ \large A = 3, B = 2, C=0$ Hint: Note that it doesn't matter what the first 9 digits are, since 1000 is divisible by 40, so DEF,GHI,JKL,000 is divisible by 40 - we need to check the last 3.
B	$ \large A = 0, B = 0, C=4$ Hint: Not divisible by 10, since it doesn't end in 0.
C	$ \large A = 4, B = 2, C=0$ Hint: Divisible by 10 and by 4, but not by 40, as it's not divisible by 8. Look at 40 as the product of powers of primes -- 8 x 5, and check each. To check 8, either check whether 420 is divisible by 8, or take ones place + twice tens place + 4 * hundreds place = 18, which is not divisible by 8.
D	$ \large A =1, B=0, C=0$ Hint: Divisible by 10 and by 4, but not by 40, as it's not divisible by 8. Look at 40 as the product of powers of primes -- 8 x 5, and check each. To check 8, either check whether 100 is divisible by 8, or take ones place + twice tens place + 4 * hundreds place = 4, which is not divisible by 8.

Question 13 Explanation:

Topic: Understand divisibility rules and why they work (Objective 018).

Question 14

Which of the graphs below represent functions?

II.

III.

IV.

A	I and IV only. Hint: There are vertical lines that go through 2 points in IV .
B	I and III only. Hint: Even though III is not continuous, it's still a function (assuming that vertical lines between the "steps" do not go through 2 points).
C	II and III only. Hint: Learn about the vertical line test.
D	I, II, and IV only. Hint: There are vertical lines that go through 2 points in II.

Question 14 Explanation:

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

Question 15

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 15 Explanation:

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

Question 16

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 16 Explanation:

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

Question 17

P is a prime number that divides 240. Which of the following must be true?

A	P divides 30 Hint: 2, 3, and 5 are the prime factors of 240, and all divide 30.
B	P divides 48 Hint: P=5 doesn't work.
C	P divides 75 Hint: P=2 doesn't work.
D	P divides 80 Hint: P=3 doesn't work.

Question 17 Explanation:

Topic: Find the prime factorization of a number and recognize its uses (Objective 0018).

Question 18

Here is a method that a student used for subtraction:

Which of the following is correct?

A	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).
B	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.
C	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.
D	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 18 Explanation:

Topic: Analyze and justify standard and non-standard computational techniques (Objective 0019).

Question 19

Which of the following is not possible?

A	An equiangular triangle that is not equilateral. Hint: The AAA property of triangles states that all triangles with corresponding angles congruent are similar. Thus all triangles with three equal angles are similar, and are equilateral.
B	An equiangular quadrilateral that is not equilateral. Hint: A rectangle is equiangular (all angles the same measure), but if it's not a square, it's not equilateral (all sides the same length).
C	An equilateral quadrilateral that is not equiangular. Hint: This rhombus has equal sides, but it doesn't have equal angles:
D	An equiangular hexagon that is not equilateral. Hint: This hexagon has equal angles, but it doesn't have equal sides:

Question 19 Explanation:

Topic: Classify and analyze polygons using attributes of sides and angles (Objective 0024).

Question 20

A family went on a long car trip. Below is a graph of how far they had driven at each hour.

Which of the following is closest to their average speed driving on the trip?

A	$ \large d=20t$ Hint: Try plugging t=7 into the equation, and see how it matches the graph.
B	$ \large d=30t$ Hint: Try plugging t=7 into the equation, and see how it matches the graph.
C	$ \large d=40t$
D	$ \large d=50t$ Hint: Try plugging t=7 into the equation, and see how it matches the graph.

Question 20 Explanation:

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

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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 \(ab=ba\).

A	\( \large 343.2\times 60\times 10\) Hint: In kilometers, not meters.
B	\( \large 343.2\times 60\times 10\times \dfrac{1}{1000}\) Hint: Units are meters/sec \(\times\) seconds/minute \(\times\) minutes \(\times\) kilometers/meter, and the answer is in kilometers.
C	\( \large 343.2\times \dfrac{1}{60}\times 10\) Hint: Include units and make sure answer is in kilometers.
D	\( \large 343.2\times \dfrac{1}{60}\times 10\times \dfrac{1}{1000}\) Hint: Include units and make sure answer is in kilometers.

A	\( \large{{2}^{2}}\cdot {{3}^{3}}\) Hint: One way to solve this is to factor both numbers: \(540=2^2 \cdot 3^3 \cdot 5\) and \(216=2^3 \cdot 3^3\). Then take the smaller power for each prime that is a factor of both numbers.
B	\( \large2\cdot 3\) Hint: This is a common factor of both numbers, but it's not the greatest common factor.
C	\( \large{{2}^{3}}\cdot {{3}^{3}}\) Hint: \(2^3 = 8\) is not a factor of 540.
D	\( \large{{2}^{2}}\cdot {{3}^{2}}\) Hint: This is a common factor of both numbers, but it's not the greatest common factor.

A	\( \large x < 0\) Hint: If x =0, then x/2 = x/3, so this answer can't be correct.
B	\( \large x \le 0\)
C	\( \large x > 0\) Hint: If x =0, then x/2 = x/3, so this answer can't be correct.
D	\( \large x \ge 0\) Hint: Try plugging in x = 6.

A	\( \large \dfrac{17}{24}\) Hint: You might try adding segments so each quadrant is divided into 6 pieces with equal area -- there will be 24 regions, not all the same shape, but all the same area, with 17 of them shaded (for the top left quarter, you could also first change the diagonal line to a horizontal or vertical line that divides the square in two equal pieces and shade one) .
B	\( \large \dfrac{3}{4}\) Hint: Be sure you're taking into account the different sizes of the pieces.
C	\( \large \dfrac{2}{3}\) Hint: The bottom half of the picture is 2/3 shaded, and the top half is more than 2/3 shaded, so this answer is too small.
D	\( \large \dfrac{17}{6} \) Hint: This answer is bigger than 1, so doesn't make any sense. Be sure you are using the whole picture, not one quadrant, as the unit.

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	\( \large \dfrac{1}{25}\) Hint: 1/25=4/100, so this is equal to 4% (be sure you read the question correctly).
B	\( \large \dfrac{4}{100}\) Hint: 4/100=4% (be sure you read the question correctly).
C	\( \large 0.4\) Hint: 0.4=40% so this is not equal to 4%
D	\( \large 0.04\) Hint: 0.04=4/100, so this is equal to 4% (be sure you read the question correctly).

A	\( \large A = 3, B = 2, C=0\) Hint: Note that it doesn't matter what the first 9 digits are, since 1000 is divisible by 40, so DEF,GHI,JKL,000 is divisible by 40 - we need to check the last 3.
B	\( \large A = 0, B = 0, C=4\) Hint: Not divisible by 10, since it doesn't end in 0.
C	\( \large A = 4, B = 2, C=0\) Hint: Divisible by 10 and by 4, but not by 40, as it's not divisible by 8. Look at 40 as the product of powers of primes -- 8 x 5, and check each. To check 8, either check whether 420 is divisible by 8, or take ones place + twice tens place + 4 * hundreds place = 18, which is not divisible by 8.
D	\( \large A =1, B=0, C=0\) Hint: Divisible by 10 and by 4, but not by 40, as it's not divisible by 8. Look at 40 as the product of powers of primes -- 8 x 5, and check each. To check 8, either check whether 100 is divisible by 8, or take ones place + twice tens place + 4 * hundreds place = 4, which is not divisible by 8.

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	\( \large \dfrac{502}{1222}\) 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.

A	\( \large d=20t\) Hint: Try plugging t=7 into the equation, and see how it matches the graph.
B	\( \large d=30t\) Hint: Try plugging t=7 into the equation, and see how it matches the graph.
C	\( \large d=40t\)
D	\( \large d=50t\) Hint: Try plugging t=7 into the equation, and see how it matches the graph.

MTEL General Curriculum Mathematics Practice

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

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.

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

The speed of sound in dry air at 68 degrees F is 343.2 meters per second. Which of the expressions below could be used to compute the number of kilometers that a sound wave travels in 10 minutes (in dry air at 68 degrees F)?

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 is the greatest common factor of 540 and 216?

Which of the following inequalities describes all values of x with \(\large \dfrac{x}{2}\le \dfrac{x}{3}\)?

The function d(x) gives the result when 12 is divided by x. Which of the following is a graph of d(x)?

What fraction of the area of the picture below is shaded?

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 numbers below is not equivalent to 4%?

The letters A, B, and C represent digits (possibly equal) in the twelve digit number x=111,111,111,ABC. For which values of A, B, and C is x divisible by 40?

Which of the graphs below represent functions?

I and IV only.

I and III only.

II and III only.

I, II, and IV only.

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?

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?

P is a prime number that divides 240. Which of the following must be true?

P divides 30

P divides 48

P divides 75

P divides 80

Here is a method that a student used for subtraction:

Which of the following is correct?

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

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.

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.

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.

Which of the following is not possible?

An equiangular triangle that is not equilateral.

An equiangular quadrilateral that is not equilateral.

An equilateral quadrilateral that is not equiangular.

An equiangular hexagon that is not equilateral.

A family went on a long car trip. Below is a graph of how far they had driven at each hour.

Which of the following is closest to their average speed driving on the trip?