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
Question 1 |
In which table below is y a function of x?
![]() Hint: If x=3, y can have two different values, so it's not a function. | |
![]() Hint: If x=3, y can have two different values, so it's not a function. | |
![]() Hint: If x=1, y can have different values, so it's not a function. | |
![]() Hint: Each value of x always corresponds to the same value of y. |
Question 2 |
The least common multiple of 60 and N is 1260. Which of the following could be the prime factorization of N?
\( \large2\cdot 5\cdot 7\) Hint: 1260 is divisible by 9 and 60 is not, so N must be divisible by 9 for 1260 to be the LCM. | |
\( \large{{2}^{3}}\cdot {{3}^{2}}\cdot 5 \cdot 7\) Hint: 1260 is not divisible by 8, so it isn't a multiple of this N. | |
\( \large3 \cdot 5 \cdot 7\) Hint: 1260 is divisible by 9 and 60 is not, so N must be divisible by 9 for 1260 to be the LCM. | |
\( \large{{3}^{2}}\cdot 5\cdot 7\) Hint: \(1260=2^2 \cdot 3^2 \cdot 5 \cdot 7\) and \(60=2^2 \cdot 3 \cdot 5\). In order for 1260 to be the LCM, N has to be a multiple of \(3^2\) and of 7 (because 60 is not a multiple of either of these). N also cannot introduce a factor that would require the LCM to be larger (as in choice b). |
Question 3 |
What is the probability that two randomly selected people were born on the same day of the week? Assume that all days are equally probable.
\( \large \dfrac{1}{7}\) Hint: It doesn't matter what day the first person was born on. The probability that the second person will match is 1/7 (just designate one person the first and the other the second). Another way to look at it is that if you list the sample space of all possible pairs, e.g. (Wed, Sun), there are 49 such pairs, and 7 of them are repeats of the same day, and 7/49=1/7. | |
\( \large \dfrac{1}{14}\) Hint: What would be the sample space here? Ie, how would you list 14 things that you pick one from? | |
\( \large \dfrac{1}{42}\) Hint: If you wrote the seven days of the week on pieces of paper and put the papers in a jar, this would be the probability that the first person picked Sunday and the second picked Monday from the jar -- not the same situation. | |
\( \large \dfrac{1}{49}\) Hint: This is the probability that they are both born on a particular day, e.g. Sunday. |
Question 4 |
The window glass below has the shape of a semi-circle on top of a square, where the side of the square has length x. It was cut from one piece of glass.

What is the perimeter of the window glass?
\( \large 3x+\dfrac{\pi x}{2}\) Hint: By definition, \(\pi\) is the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter; thus the circumference is \(\pi d\). Since we have a semi-circle, its perimeter is \( \dfrac{1}{2} \pi x\). Only 3 sides of the square contribute to the perimeter. | |
\( \large 3x+2\pi x\) Hint: Make sure you know how to find the circumference of a circle. | |
\( \large 3x+\pi x\) Hint: Remember it's a semi-circle, not a circle. | |
\( \large 4x+2\pi x\) Hint: Only 3 sides of the square contribute to the perimeter. |
Question 5 |
Which of the lists below is in order from least to greatest value?
\( \large -0.044,\quad -0.04,\quad 0.04,\quad 0.044\) Hint: These are easier to compare if you add trailing zeroes (this is finding a common denominator) -- all in thousandths, -0.044, -0.040,0 .040, 0.044. The middle two numbers, -0.040 and 0.040 can be modeled as owing 4 cents and having 4 cents. The outer two numbers are owing or having a bit more. | |
\( \large -0.04,\quad -0.044,\quad 0.044,\quad 0.04\) Hint: 0.04=0.040, which is less than 0.044. | |
\( \large -0.04,\quad -0.044,\quad 0.04,\quad 0.044\) Hint: -0.04=-0.040, which is greater than \(-0.044\). | |
\( \large -0.044,\quad -0.04,\quad 0.044,\quad 0.04\) Hint: 0.04=0.040, which is less than 0.044. |
Question 6 |
Which of the following is closest to the height of a college student in centimeters?
1.6 cmHint: This is more the height of a Lego toy college student -- less than an inch! | |
16 cmHint: Less than knee high on most college students. | |
160 cmHint: 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 cmHint: This college student might be taller than some campus buildings! |
Question 7 |
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 22Hint: This problem involves regrouping, which the student does not do correctly. | |
16 x 24Hint: This problem involves regrouping, which the student does not do correctly. | |
31 x 23Hint: There is no regrouping with this problem. | |
141 x 32Hint: This problem involves regrouping, which the student does not do correctly. |
Question 8 |
A sales companies pays its representatives $2 for each item sold, plus 40% of the price of the item. The rest of the money that the representatives collect goes to the company. All transactions are in cash, and all items cost $4 or more. If the price of an item in dollars is p, which expression represents the amount of money the company collects when the item is sold?
\( \large \dfrac{3}{5}p-2\) Hint: The company gets 3/5=60% of the price, minus the $2 per item. | |
\( \large \dfrac{3}{5}\left( p-2 \right)\) Hint: This is sensible, but not what the problem states. | |
\( \large \dfrac{2}{5}p+2\) Hint: The company pays the extra $2; it doesn't collect it. | |
\( \large \dfrac{2}{5}p-2\) Hint: This has the company getting 2/5 = 40% of the price of each item, but that's what the representative gets. |
Question 9 |
Here is a number trick:
1) Pick a whole number
2) Double your number.
3) Add 20 to the above result.
4) Multiply the above by 5
5) Subtract 100
6) Divide by 10
The result is always the number that you started with! Suppose you start by picking N. Which of the equations below best demonstrates that the result after Step 6 is also N?
\( \large N*2+20*5-100\div 10=N\) Hint: Use parentheses or else order of operations is off. | |
\( \large \left( \left( 2*N+20 \right)*5-100 \right)\div 10=N\) | |
\( \large \left( N+N+20 \right)*5-100\div 10=N\) Hint: With this answer you would subtract 10, instead of subtracting 100 and then dividing by 10. | |
\( \large \left( \left( \left( N\div 10 \right)-100 \right)*5+20 \right)*2=N\) Hint: This answer is quite backwards. |
Question 10 |
Four children randomly line up, single file. What is the probability that they are in height order, with the shortest child in front? All of the children are different heights.
\( \large \dfrac{1}{4}\) Hint: Try a simpler question with 3 children -- call them big, medium, and small -- and list all the ways they could line up. Then see how to extend your logic to the problem with 4 children. | |
\( \large \dfrac{1}{256}
\) Hint: Try a simpler question with 3 children -- call them big, medium, and small -- and list all the ways they could line up. Then see how to extend your logic to the problem with 4 children. | |
\( \large \dfrac{1}{16}\) Hint: Try a simpler question with 3 children -- call them big, medium, and small -- and list all the ways they could line up. Then see how to extend your logic to the problem with 4 children. | |
\( \large \dfrac{1}{24}\) Hint: The number of ways for the children to line up is \(4!=4 \times 3 \times 2 \times 1 =24\) -- there are 4 choices for who is first in line, then 3 for who is second, etc. Only one of these lines has the children in the order specified. |
Question 11 |
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?
\( \large 350\times \left( \dfrac{10}{4} \right)\) Hint: The final result should be smaller than 350, and this answer is bigger. | |
\( \large 350\times \left( \dfrac{4}{10} \right)\) 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. | |
\( \large (10-4) \times 350
\) 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. | |
\( \large (350-10) \times 4\) 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 12 |
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?
\( \large 11\text{ f}{{\text{t}}^{2}}\) Hint: Check your units and make sure you're using feet and inches consistently. | |
\( \large 16.5\text{ f}{{\text{t}}^{2}}\) 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. | |
\( \large 66\text{ f}{{\text{t}}^{2}}\) Hint: The area of each square is not 1. | |
\( \large 2376\text{ f}{{\text{t}}^{2}}\) Hint: Read the question more carefully -- the answer is supposed to be in sq feet, not sq inches.
|
Question 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?
100Hint: 6124/977 is approximately 6. | |
200Hint: 6124/977 is approximately 6. | |
1,000Hint: 6124/977 is approximately 6. 155 is approximately 150, and \( 6 \times 150 = 3 \times 300 = 900\), so this answer is closest. | |
2,000Hint: 6124/977 is approximately 6. |
Question 14 |
Which of the following nets will not fold into a cube?
![]() Hint: If you have trouble visualizing, cut them out and fold (during the test, you can tear paper to approximate). | |
![]() | |
![]() Hint: If you have trouble visualizing, cut them out and fold (during the test, you can tear paper to approximate). | |
![]() Hint: If you have trouble visualizing, cut them out and fold (during the test, you can tear paper to approximate). |
Question 15 |
M is a multiple of 26. Which of the following cannot be true?
M is odd.Hint: All multiples of 26 are also multiples of 2, so they must be even. | |
M is a multiple of 3.Hint: 3 x 26 is a multiple of both 3 and 26. | |
M is 26.Hint: 1 x 26 is a multiple of 26. | |
M is 0.Hint: 0 x 26 is a multiple of 26. |
Question 16 |
The prime factorization of n can be written as n=pqr, where p, q, and r are distinct prime numbers. How many factors does n have, including 1 and itself?
\( \large3\) Hint: 1, p, q, r, and pqr are already 5, so this isn't enough. You might try plugging in p=2, q=3, and r=5 to help with this problem. | |
\( \large5\) Hint: Don't forget pq, etc. You might try plugging in p=2, q=3, and r=5 to help with this problem. | |
\( \large6\) Hint: You might try plugging in p=2, q=3, and r=5 to help with this problem. | |
\( \large8\) Hint: 1, p, q, r, pq, pr, qr, pqr. |
Question 17 |
A family has four children. What is the probability that two children are girls and two are boys? Assume the the probability of having a boy (or a girl) is 50%.
\( \large \dfrac{1}{2}\) Hint: How many different configurations are there from oldest to youngest, e.g. BGGG? How many of them have 2 boys and 2 girls? | |
\( \large \dfrac{1}{4}\) Hint: How many different configurations are there from oldest to youngest, e.g. BGGG? How many of them have 2 boys and 2 girls? | |
\( \large \dfrac{1}{5}\) Hint: Some configurations are more probable than others -- i.e. it's more likely to have two boys and two girls than all boys. Be sure you are weighting properly. | |
\( \large \dfrac{3}{8}\) Hint: There are two possibilities for each child, so there are \(2 \times 2 \times 2 \times 2 =16\) different configurations, e.g. from oldest to youngest BBBG, BGGB, GBBB, etc. Of these configurations, there are 6 with two boys and two girls (this is the combination \(_{4}C_{2}\) or "4 choose 2"): BBGG, BGBG, BGGB, GGBB, GBGB, and GBBG. Thus the probability is 6/16=3/8. |
Question 18 |
The chart below gives percentiles for the number of sit-ups that boys of various ages can do in 60 seconds (source , June 24, 2011)
Which of the following statements can be inferred from the above chart?
95% of 12 year old boys can do 56 sit-ups in 60 seconds.Hint: The 95th percentile means that 95% of scores are less than or equal to 56, and 5% are greater than or equal to 56. | |
At most 25% of 7 year old boys can do 19 or more sit-ups in 60 seconds.Hint: The 25th percentile means that 25% of scores are less than or equal to 19, and 75% are greater than or equal to 19. | |
Half of all 13 year old boys can do less than 41 sit-ups in 60 seconds and half can do more than 41 sit-ups in 60 seconds.Hint: Close, but not quite. There's no accounting for boys who can do exactly 41 sit ups. Look at these data: 10, 20, 41, 41, 41, 41, 50, 60, 90. The median is 41, but more than half can do 41 or more. | |
At least 75% of 16 year old boys can only do 51 or fewer sit-ups in 60 seconds.Hint: The "at least" is necessary due to duplicates. Suppose the data were 10, 20, 51, 51. The 75th percentile is 51, but 100% of the boys can only do 51 or fewer situps. |
Question 19 |
Which property is not shared by all rhombi?
4 congruent sidesHint: The most common definition of a rhombus is a quadrilateral with 4 congruent sides. | |
A center of rotational symmetryHint: The diagonal of a rhombus separates it into two congruent isosceles triangles. The center of this line is a center of 180 degree rotational symmetry that switches the triangles. | |
4 congruent anglesHint: Unless the rhombus is a square, it does not have 4 congruent angles. | |
2 sets of parallel sidesHint: All rhombi are parallelograms. |
Question 20 |
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?
314Hint: Try your procedure on a smaller number that you can count to see where you made a mistake. | |
317Hint: Are there ever an odd number of white squares? | |
320Hint: 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). | |
322Hint: Try your procedure on a smaller number that you can count to see where you made a mistake. |
Question 21 |
Which of the lists below is in order from least to greatest value?
\( \large \dfrac{1}{2},\quad \dfrac{1}{3},\quad \dfrac{1}{4},\quad \dfrac{1}{5}\) Hint: This is ordered from greatest to least. | |
\( \large \dfrac{1}{3},\quad \dfrac{2}{7},\quad \dfrac{3}{8},\quad \dfrac{4}{11}\) Hint: 1/3 = 2/6 is bigger than 2/7. | |
\( \large \dfrac{1}{4},\quad \dfrac{2}{5},\quad \dfrac{2}{3},\quad \dfrac{4}{5}\) Hint: One way to look at this: 1/4 and 2/5 are both less than 1/2, and 2/3 and 4/5 are both greater than 1/2. 1/4 is 25% and 2/5 is 40%, so 2/5 is greater. The distance from 2/3 to 1 is 1/3 and from 4/5 to 1 is 1/5, and 1/5 is less than 1/3, so 4/5 is bigger. | |
\( \large \dfrac{7}{8},\quad \dfrac{6}{7},\quad \dfrac{5}{6},\quad \dfrac{4}{5}\) Hint: This is in order from greatest to least. |
Question 22 |
Which of the following values of x satisfies the inequality \( \large \left| {{(x+2)}^{3}} \right|<3?\)
\( \large x=-3\) Hint: \( \left| {{(-3+2)}^{3}} \right|\)=\( \left | {(-1)}^3 \right | \)=\( \left | -1 \right |=1 \) . | |
\( \large x=0\) Hint: \( \left| {{(0+2)}^{3}} \right|\)=\( \left | {2}^3 \right | \)=\( \left | 8 \right | \) =\( 8\) | |
\( \large x=-4\) Hint: \( \left| {{(-4+2)}^{3}} \right|\)=\( \left | {(-2)}^3 \right | \)=\( \left | -8 \right | \) =\( 8\) | |
\( \large x=1\) Hint: \( \left| {{(1+2)}^{3}} \right|\)=\( \left | {3}^3 \right | \)=\( \left | 27 \right | \) = \(27\) |
Question 23 |
Which of the following is equal to one million three hundred thousand?
\(\large1.3\times {{10}^{6}}\)
| |
\(\large1.3\times {{10}^{9}}\)
Hint: That's one billion three hundred million. | |
\(\large1.03\times {{10}^{6}}\)
Hint: That's one million thirty thousand. | |
\(\large1.03\times {{10}^{9}}\) Hint: That's one billion thirty million |
Question 24 |
\( \large \dfrac{17}{24}\) 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) . | |
\( \large \dfrac{3}{4}\) Hint: Be sure you're taking into account the different sizes of the pieces. | |
\( \large \dfrac{2}{3}\) 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. | |
\( \large \dfrac{17}{6} \) 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 25 |
Which of the numbers below is a fraction equivalent to \( 0.\bar{6}\)?
\( \large \dfrac{4}{6}\) Hint: \( 0.\bar{6}=\dfrac{2}{3}=\dfrac{4}{6}\) | |
\( \large \dfrac{3}{5}\) Hint: This is equal to 0.6, without the repeating decimal. Answer is equivalent to choice c, which is another way to tell that it's wrong. | |
\( \large \dfrac{6}{10}\) Hint: This is equal to 0.6, without the repeating decimal. Answer is equivalent to choice b, which is another way to tell that it's wrong. | |
\( \large \dfrac{1}{6}\) Hint: This is less than a half, and \( 0.\bar{6}\) is greater than a half. |
Question 26 |
Use the samples of a student's work below to answer the question that follows:
\( \large \dfrac{2}{3}\times \dfrac{3}{4}=\dfrac{4\times 2}{3\times 3}=\dfrac{8}{9}\) \( \large \dfrac{2}{5}\times \dfrac{7}{7}=\dfrac{7\times 2}{5\times 7}=\dfrac{2}{5}\) \( \large \dfrac{7}{6}\times \dfrac{3}{4}=\dfrac{4\times 7}{6\times 3}=\dfrac{28}{18}=\dfrac{14}{9}\)Which of the following best describes the mathematical validity of the algorithm the student is using?
It is not valid. It never produces the correct answer.Hint: In the middle example,the answer is correct. | |
It is not valid. It produces the correct answer in a few special cases, but it‘s still not a valid algorithm.Hint: Note that this algorithm gives a/b divided by c/d, not a/b x c/d, but some students confuse multiplication and cross-multiplication. If a=0 or if c/d =1, division and multiplication give the same answer. | |
It is valid if the rational numbers in the multiplication problem are in lowest terms.Hint: Lowest terms is irrelevant. | |
It is valid for all rational numbers.Hint: Can't be correct as the first and last examples have the wrong answers. |
Question 27 |
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?
30Hint: 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. | |
120Hint: The floor is 120 sq feet, and the tiles are smaller than 1 sq foot. | |
300Hint: Recheck your calculations. | |
360Hint: 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 28 |
The "houses" below are made of toothpicks and gum drops.
Which of the following does not represent the number of gumdrops in a row of h houses?
\( \large 2+3h\) Hint: Think of this as start with 2 gumdrops on the left wall, and then add 3 gumdrops for each house. | |
\( \large 5+3(h-1)\) Hint: Think of this as start with one house, and then add 3 gumdrops for each of the other h-1 houses. | |
\( \large h+(h+1)+(h+1)\) 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. | |
\( \large 5+3h\) 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 29 |
Below is a pictorial representation of \(2\dfrac{1}{2}\div \dfrac{2}{3}\):
Which of the following is the best description of how to find the quotient from the picture?
The quotient is \(3\dfrac{3}{4}\). There are 3 whole blocks each representing \(\dfrac{2}{3}\) and a partial block composed of 3 small rectangles. The 3 small rectangles represent \(\dfrac{3}{4}\) of \(\dfrac{2}{3}\). | |
The quotient is \(3\dfrac{1}{2}\). There are 3 whole blocks each representing \(\dfrac{2}{3}\) and a partial block composed of 3 small rectangles. The 3 small rectangles represent \(\dfrac{3}{6}\) of a whole, or \(\dfrac{1}{2}\).Hint: We are counting how many 2/3's are in 2 1/2: the unit becomes 2/3, not 1. | |
The quotient is \(\dfrac{4}{15}\). There are four whole blocks separated into a total of 15 small rectangles.Hint: This explanation doesn't make much sense. Probably you are doing "invert and multiply," but inverting the wrong thing. | |
This picture cannot be used to find the quotient because it does not show how to separate \(2\dfrac{1}{2}\) into equal sized groups.Hint: Study the measurement/quotative model of division. It's often very useful with fractions. |
Question 30 |
Below are front, side, and top views of a three-dimensional solid.
Which of the following could be the solid shown above?
A sphereHint: All views would be circles. | |
A cylinder | |
A coneHint: Two views would be triangles, not rectangles. | |
A pyramidHint: How would one view be a circle? |
Question 31 |
Which of the following is equal to eleven billion four hundred thousand?
\( \large 11,400,000\) Hint: That's eleven million four hundred thousand. | |
\(\large11,000,400,000\) | |
\( \large11,000,000,400,000\) Hint: That's eleven trillion four hundred thousand (although with British conventions; this answer is correct, but in the US, it isn't). | |
\( \large 11,400,000,000\) Hint: That's eleven billion four hundred million |
Question 32 |
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?
\( \large d=20t\) Hint: Try plugging t=7 into the equation, and see how it matches the graph. | |
\( \large d=30t\) Hint: Try plugging t=7 into the equation, and see how it matches the graph. | |
\( \large d=40t\) | |
\( \large d=50t\) Hint: Try plugging t=7 into the equation, and see how it matches the graph. |
Question 33 |
The letters A, and B represent digits (possibly equal) in the ten digit number x=1,438,152,A3B. For which values of A and B is x divisible by 12, but not by 9?
\( \large A = 0, B = 4\) Hint: Digits add to 31, so not divisible by 3, so not divisible by 12. | |
\( \large A = 7, B = 2\) Hint: Digits add to 36, so divisible by 9. | |
\( \large A = 0, B = 6\) Hint: Digits add to 33, divisible by 3, not 9. Last digits are 36, so divisible by 4, and hence by 12. | |
\( \large A = 4, B = 8\) Hint: Digits add to 39, divisible by 3, not 9. Last digits are 38, so not divisible by 4, so not divisible by 12. |
Question 34 |
Taxicab fares in Boston (Spring 2012) are $2.60 for the first \(\dfrac{1}{7}\) of a mile or less and $0.40 for each \(\dfrac{1}{7}\) of a mile after that.
Let d represent the distance a passenger travels in miles (with \(d>\dfrac{1}{7}\)). Which of the following expressions represents the total fare?
\( \large \$2.60+\$0.40d\) Hint: It's 40 cents for 1/7 of a mile, not per mile. | |
\( \large \$2.60+\$0.40\dfrac{d}{7}\) Hint: According to this equation, going 7 miles would cost $3; does that make sense? | |
\( \large \$2.20+\$2.80d\) Hint: You can think of the fare as $2.20 to enter the cab, and then $0.40 for each 1/7 of a mile, including the first 1/7 of a mile (or $2.80 per mile).
Alternatively, you pay $2.60 for the first 1/7 of a mile, and then $2.80 per mile for d-1/7 miles. The total is 2.60+2.80(d-1/7) = 2.60+ 2.80d -.40 = 2.20+2.80d. | |
\( \large \$2.60+\$2.80d\) Hint: Don't count the first 1/7 of a mile twice. |
Question 35 |
The polygon depicted below is drawn on dot paper, with the dots spaced 1 unit apart. What is the perimeter of the polygon?

\( \large 18+\sqrt{2} \text{ units}\) Hint: Be careful with the Pythagorean Theorem. | |
\( \large 18+2\sqrt{2}\text{ units}\) Hint: There are 13 horizontal or vertical 1 unit segments. The longer diagonal is the hypotenuse of a 3-4-5 right triangle, so its length is 5 units. The shorter diagonal is the hypotenuse of a 45-45-90 right triangle with side 2, so its hypotenuse has length \(2 \sqrt{2}\). | |
\( \large 18 \text{ units}
\) Hint: Use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the lengths of the diagonal segments. | |
\( \large 20 \text{ units}\) Hint: Use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the lengths of the diagonal segments. |
Question 36 |
Some children explored the diagonals in 2 x 2 squares on pages of a calendar (where all four squares have numbers in them). They conjectured that the sum of the diagonals is always equal; in the example below, 8+16=9+15.
Which of the equations below could best be used to explain why the children's conjecture is correct?
\( \large 8x+16x=9x+15x\) Hint: What would x represent in this case? Make sure you can describe in words what x represents. | |
\( \large x+(x+2)=(x+1)+(x+1)\) Hint: What would x represent in this case? Make sure you can describe in words what x represents. | |
\( \large x+(x+8)=(x+1)+(x+7)\) Hint: x is the number in the top left square, x+8 is one below and to the right, x+1 is to the right of x, and x+7 is below x. | |
\( \large x+8+16=x+9+15\) Hint: What would x represent in this case? Make sure you can describe in words what x represents. |
Question 37 |
Use the samples of a student's work below to answer the question that follows:
This student divides fractions by first finding a common denominator, then dividing the numerators.
\( \large \dfrac{2}{3} \div \dfrac{3}{4} \longrightarrow \dfrac{8}{12} \div \dfrac{9}{12} \longrightarrow 8 \div 9 = \dfrac {8}{9}\) \( \large \dfrac{2}{5} \div \dfrac{7}{20} \longrightarrow \dfrac{8}{20} \div \dfrac{7}{20} \longrightarrow 8 \div 7 = \dfrac {8}{7}\) \( \large \dfrac{7}{6} \div \dfrac{3}{4} \longrightarrow \dfrac{14}{12} \div \dfrac{9}{12} \longrightarrow 14 \div 9 = \dfrac {14}{9}\)Which of the following best describes the mathematical validity of the algorithm the student is using?
It is not valid. Common denominators are for adding and subtracting fractions, not for dividing them.Hint: Don't be so rigid! Usually there's more than one way to do something in math. | |
It got the right answer in these three cases, but it isn‘t valid for all rational numbers.Hint: Did you try some other examples? What makes you say it's not valid? | |
It is valid if the rational numbers in the division problem are in lowest terms and the divisor is not zero.Hint: Lowest terms doesn't affect this problem at all. | |
It is valid for all rational numbers, as long as the divisor is not zero.Hint: When we have common denominators, the problem is in the form a/b divided by c/b, and the answer is a/c, as the student's algorithm predicts. |
Question 38 |
Use the four figures below to answer the question that follows:
How many of the figures pictured above have at least one line of reflective symmetry?
\( \large 1\) | |
\( \large 2\) Hint: The ellipse has 2 lines of reflective symmetry (horizontal and vertical, through the center) and the triangle has 3. The other two figures have rotational symmetry, but not reflective symmetry. | |
\( \large 3\) | |
\( \large 4\) Hint: All four have rotational symmetry, but not reflective symmetry. |
Question 39 |
Use the table below to answer the question that follows:
Each number in the table above represents a value W that is determined by the values of x and y. For example, when x=3 and y=1, W=5. What is the value of W when x=9 and y=14? Assume that the patterns in the table continue as shown.
\( \large W=-5\) Hint: When y is even, W is even. | |
\( \large W=4\) Hint: Note that when x increases by 1, W increases by 2, and when y increases by 1, W decreases by 1. At x=y=0, W=0, so at x=9, y=14, W has increased by \(9 \times 2\) and decreased by 14, or W=18-14=4. | |
\( \large W=6\) Hint: Try fixing x or y at 0, and start by finding W for x=0 y=14 or x=9, y=0. | |
\( \large W=32\) Hint: Try fixing x or y at 0, and start by finding W for x=0 y=14 or x=9, y=0. |
Question 40 |
Aya and Kendra want to estimate the height of a tree. On a sunny day, Aya measures Kendra's shadow as 3 meters long, and Kendra measures the tree's shadow as 15 meters long. Kendra is 1.5 meters tall. How tall is the tree?
7.5 metersHint: Here is a picture, note that the large and small right triangles are similar: ![]() One way to do the problem is to note that there is a dilation (scale) factor of 5 on the shadows, so there must be that factor on the heights too. Another way is to note that the shadows are twice as long as the heights. | |
22.5 metersHint: Draw a picture. | |
30 metersHint: Draw a picture. | |
45 metersHint: Draw a picture. |
Question 41 |
Below is a portion of a number line.
Point A is one-quarter of the distance from 0.26 to 0.28. What number is represented by point A?
\( \large0.26\) Hint: Please reread the question. | |
\( \large0.2625\) Hint: This is one-quarter of the distance between 0.26 and 0.27, which is not what the question asked. | |
\( \large0.265\) | |
\( \large0.27\) Hint: Please read the question more carefully. This answer would be correct if Point A were halfway between the tick marks, but it's not. |
Question 42 |
Which of the lists below contains only irrational numbers?
\( \large\pi , \quad \sqrt{6},\quad \sqrt{\dfrac{1}{2}}\) | |
\( \large\pi , \quad \sqrt{9}, \quad \pi +1\) Hint: \( \sqrt{9}=3\) | |
\( \large\dfrac{1}{3},\quad \dfrac{5}{4},\quad \dfrac{2}{9}\) Hint: These are all rational. | |
\( \large-3,\quad 14,\quad 0\) Hint: These are all rational. |
Question 43 |
The expression \( \large {{7}^{-4}}\cdot {{8}^{-6}}\) is equal to which of the following?
\( \large \dfrac{8}{{{\left( 56 \right)}^{4}}}\) Hint: The bases are whole numbers, and the exponents are negative. How can the numerator be 8? | |
\( \large \dfrac{64}{{{\left( 56 \right)}^{4}}}\) Hint: The bases are whole numbers, and the exponents are negative. How can the numerator be 64? | |
\( \large \dfrac{1}{8\cdot {{\left( 56 \right)}^{4}}}\) Hint: \(8^{-6}=8^{-4} \times 8^{-2}\) | |
\( \large \dfrac{1}{64\cdot {{\left( 56 \right)}^{4}}}\) |
Question 44 |
If x is an integer, which of the following must also be an integer?
\( \large \dfrac{x}{2}\) Hint: If x is odd, then \( \dfrac{x}{2} \) is not an integer, e.g. 3/2 = 1.5. | |
\( \large \dfrac{2}{x}\) Hint: Only an integer if x = -2, -1, 1, or 2. | |
\( \large-x\) Hint: -1 times any integer is still an integer. | |
\(\large\sqrt{x}\) Hint: Usually not an integer, e.g. \( \sqrt{2} \approx 1.414 \). |
Question 45 |
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)?
\( \large 343.2\times 60\times 10\) Hint: In kilometers, not meters. | |
\( \large 343.2\times 60\times 10\times \dfrac{1}{1000}\) Hint: Units are meters/sec \(\times\) seconds/minute \(\times\) minutes \(\times\) kilometers/meter, and the answer is in kilometers. | |
\( \large 343.2\times \dfrac{1}{60}\times 10\) Hint: Include units and make sure answer is in kilometers. | |
\( \large 343.2\times \dfrac{1}{60}\times 10\times \dfrac{1}{1000}\) Hint: Include units and make sure answer is in kilometers. |
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List |
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