College Math Placement Test Pre-Algebra 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the least common multiple (LCM) of 8 and 12?
- 16
- 24 (Correct answer)
- 48
- 96
Correct answer: 24
The LCM of 8 and 12 is 24, since 24 is the smallest number divisible by both 8 and 12.
Question 2: Simplify: −3 × (−4) + (−6) ÷ 2
- 9 (Correct answer)
- 15
- −6
- 6
Correct answer: 9
−3 × (−4) = 12, and (−6) ÷ 2 = −3, so 12 + (−3) = 9.
Question 3: Which fraction is equivalent to 0.625?
- 3/4
- 5/8 (Correct answer)
- 2/3
- 7/10
Correct answer: 5/8
0.625 = 625/1000 = 5/8 after simplifying by dividing numerator and denominator by 125.
Question 4: A store discounts an item by 30%. If the original price is $80, what is the sale price?
- $24
- $50
- $56 (Correct answer)
- $62
Correct answer: $56
30% of $80 = $24 discount, so the sale price is $80 − $24 = $56.
Question 5: What is the greatest common factor (GCF) of 36 and 48?
- 6
- 9
- 12 (Correct answer)
- 18
Correct answer: 12
The factors of 36 include 1,2,3,4,6,9,12,18,36 and of 48 include 1,2,3,4,6,8,12,16,24,48; the greatest common factor is 12.
Question 6: Evaluate: |−15| − |−7|
- −22
- 8 (Correct answer)
- 22
- −8
Correct answer: 8
|−15| = 15 and |−7| = 7, so 15 − 7 = 8.
Question 7: If a car travels 240 miles in 4 hours, what is its average speed in miles per hour?
- 40 mph
- 50 mph
- 60 mph (Correct answer)
- 80 mph
Correct answer: 60 mph
Average speed = distance ÷ time = 240 ÷ 4 = 60 mph.
What is the least common multiple (LCM) of 8 and 12?