College Math Placement Test Elementary Algebra 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the solution set of x² − 5x + 6 = 0?
- {1, 6}
- {2, 3} (Correct answer)
- {−2, −3}
- {−1, 6}
Correct answer: {2, 3}
Factor as (x−2)(x−3) = 0, giving x = 2 or x = 3.
Question 2: Maria earns $12 per hour and $18 per hour for overtime (over 40 hours). If she worked 46 hours, what were her total earnings?
- $552
- $588 (Correct answer)
- $648
- $696
Correct answer: $588
Regular: 40 × $12 = $480; overtime: 6 × $18 = $108; total = $588.
Question 3: Which inequality is represented by the graph of a shaded region to the LEFT of x = −2 on a number line with an open circle at −2?
- x ≥ −2
- x > −2
- x < −2 (Correct answer)
- x ≤ −2
Correct answer: x < −2
An open circle means the endpoint is excluded, and shading to the left means values less than −2: x < −2.
Question 4: Simplify the expression: (4a²b)(−2ab³)
- −8a³b⁴ (Correct answer)
- 8a³b⁴
- −8a²b³
- 2a³b⁴
Correct answer: −8a³b⁴
Multiply coefficients: 4·(−2) = −8; add exponents: a²⁺¹ = a³, b¹⁺³ = b⁴; result is −8a³b⁴.
Question 5: If 5 less than three times a number equals 22, what is the number?
- 7
- 9 (Correct answer)
- 11
- 17
Correct answer: 9
3n − 5 = 22; 3n = 27; n = 9.
Question 6: What is the x-intercept of the line y = −2x + 8?
- (0, 8)
- (4, 0) (Correct answer)
- (−4, 0)
- (8, 0)
Correct answer: (4, 0)
Set y = 0: 0 = −2x + 8, so 2x = 8, x = 4; the x-intercept is (4, 0).
Question 7: Which expression is equivalent to 4(x − 2) − 3(x + 1)?
- x − 11 (Correct answer)
- 7x − 11
- x + 11
- 7x + 11
Correct answer: x − 11
Distribute: 4x − 8 − 3x − 3 = x − 11.
College Math Placement Test Elementary Algebra 5
What is the solution set of x² − 5x + 6 = 0?