10 Random Questions

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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 questions on a particular topic or to download paper practice tests.

MTEL General Curriculum Mathematics Practice

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Question 1

Which of the following values of x satisfies the inequality $ \large \left| {{(x+2)}^{3}} \right|<3?$

A	$ \large x=-3$ Hint: $ \left\| {{(-3+2)}^{3}} \right\|$=$ \left \| {(-1)}^3 \right \| $=$ \left \| -1 \right \|=1 $ .
B	$ \large x=0$ Hint: $ \left\| {{(0+2)}^{3}} \right\|$=$ \left \| {2}^3 \right \| $=$ \left \| 8 \right \| $ =$ 8$
C	$ \large x=-4$ Hint: $ \left\| {{(-4+2)}^{3}} \right\|$=$ \left \| {(-2)}^3 \right \| $=$ \left \| -8 \right \| $ =$ 8$
D	$ \large x=1$ Hint: $ \left\| {{(1+2)}^{3}} \right\|$=$ \left \| {3}^3 \right \| $=$ \left \| 27 \right \| $ = $27$

Question 1 Explanation:

Topics: Laws of exponents, order of operations, interpret absolute value (Objective 0019).

Question 2

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?

A	$ \large \dfrac{3}{5}p-2$ Hint: The company gets 3/5=60% of the price, minus the $2 per item.
B	$ \large \dfrac{3}{5}\left( p-2 \right)$ Hint: This is sensible, but not what the problem states.
C	$ \large \dfrac{2}{5}p+2$ Hint: The company pays the extra $2; it doesn't collect it.
D	$ \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 2 Explanation:

Topic: Use algebra to solve word problems involving fractions, ratios, proportions, and percents (Objective 0020).

Question 3

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 3 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 4

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 4 Explanation:

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

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

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

Which of the following points is closest to $ \dfrac{34}{135} \times \dfrac{53}{86}$?

A	A Hint: $\frac{34}{135} \approx \frac{1}{4}$ and $ \frac{53}{86} \approx \frac {2}{3}$. $\frac {1}{4}$ of $\frac {2}{3}$ is small and closest to A.
B	B Hint: Estimate with simpler fractions.
C	C Hint: Estimate with simpler fractions.
D	D Hint: Estimate with simpler fractions.

Question 7 Explanation:

Topic: Understand meaning and models of operations on fractions (Objective 0019).

Question 8

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 8 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 9

Which of the following nets will not fold into a cube?

A	Hint: If you have trouble visualizing, cut them out and fold (during the test, you can tear paper to approximate).
B
C	Hint: If you have trouble visualizing, cut them out and fold (during the test, you can tear paper to approximate).
D	Hint: If you have trouble visualizing, cut them out and fold (during the test, you can tear paper to approximate).

Question 9 Explanation:

Topic: Match three-dimensional figures and their two-dimensional representations (e.g., nets, projections, perspective drawings) (Objective 0024).

Question 10

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?

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 10 Explanation:

Topic: Translate among different representations (e.g., tables, graphs, algebraic expressions, verbal descriptions) of functional relationships (Objective 0021).

There are 10 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	\( \large x=-3\) Hint: \( \left\| {{(-3+2)}^{3}} \right\|\)=\( \left \| {(-1)}^3 \right \| \)=\( \left \| -1 \right \|=1 \) .
B	\( \large x=0\) Hint: \( \left\| {{(0+2)}^{3}} \right\|\)=\( \left \| {2}^3 \right \| \)=\( \left \| 8 \right \| \) =\( 8\)
C	\( \large x=-4\) Hint: \( \left\| {{(-4+2)}^{3}} \right\|\)=\( \left \| {(-2)}^3 \right \| \)=\( \left \| -8 \right \| \) =\( 8\)
D	\( \large x=1\) Hint: \( \left\| {{(1+2)}^{3}} \right\|\)=\( \left \| {3}^3 \right \| \)=\( \left \| 27 \right \| \) = \(27\)

A	\( \large \dfrac{3}{5}p-2\) Hint: The company gets 3/5=60% of the price, minus the $2 per item.
B	\( \large \dfrac{3}{5}\left( p-2 \right)\) Hint: This is sensible, but not what the problem states.
C	\( \large \dfrac{2}{5}p+2\) Hint: The company pays the extra $2; it doesn't collect it.
D	\( \large \dfrac{2}{5}p-2\) Hint: This has the company getting 2/5 = 40% of the price of each item, but that's what the representative gets.

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	\( \large \dfrac{1}{3}\) 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	\( \large 11,400,000\) 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