College Math Placement Test College Math Placement Basic Math 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Evaluate: (−3)³
- 9
- −9
- 27
- −27 (Correct answer)
Correct answer: −27
(−3)³ = (−3)(−3)(−3) = 9 × (−3) = −27.
Question 2: A car travels 240 miles on 8 gallons of gas. How many miles per gallon does it get?
- 28 mpg
- 30 mpg (Correct answer)
- 32 mpg
- 35 mpg
Correct answer: 30 mpg
240 miles ÷ 8 gallons = 30 miles per gallon.
Question 3: What is 5/6 + 7/9?
- 12/15
- 29/18 (Correct answer)
- 12/18
- 31/18
Correct answer: 29/18
The LCD of 6 and 9 is 18; 5/6 = 15/18 and 7/9 = 14/18, so 15/18 + 14/18 = 29/18.
Question 4: What percent of 60 is 45?
- 65%
- 70%
- 75% (Correct answer)
- 80%
Correct answer: 75%
45/60 = 0.75 = 75%.
Question 5: Order from least to greatest: −2, 0.5, −3/4, 1/4
- −2, −3/4, 1/4, 0.5 (Correct answer)
- −3/4, −2, 1/4, 0.5
- −2, 1/4, −3/4, 0.5
- 0.5, 1/4, −3/4, −2
Correct answer: −2, −3/4, 1/4, 0.5
Converting all to decimals: −2, −0.75, 0.25, 0.5 — ordered from least to greatest.
Question 6: A worker earns $14.50 per hour and works 37.5 hours per week. What is the weekly gross pay?
- $537.50
- $543.75 (Correct answer)
- $550.00
- $543.00
Correct answer: $543.75
$14.50 × 37.5 = $543.75.
Question 7: What is the prime factorization of 72?
- 2² × 3³
- 2³ × 3² (Correct answer)
- 2² × 3 × 6
- 4 × 18
Correct answer: 2³ × 3²
72 = 8 × 9 = 2³ × 3².
