Free College Math Placement Algebra Question and Answers

Question 1

What portion of the page can Linda type in 5 minutes if she can type a page in p minutes?

Accepted Answer

5/p

Answer

If Linda can type one full page in 'p' minutes, her typing rate is 1/p pages per minute. To find out what portion of the page she can type in 5 minutes, multiply her rate by the given time. So, (1/p pages/minute) * (5 minutes) = 5/p pages. This represents the fraction of a page she completes in 5 minutes.

Question 2

Your supervisor gave you the order to get the nurse's station 240 pens and 6 staplers. Pens can be bought in packs of six for $2.35 each. Staplers cost 12.95 for a set of two. How much will it cost to buy these products?

Accepted Answer

$132.85

Answer

First, calculate the cost for pens: 240 pens / 6 pens/pack = 40 packs. At $2.35 per pack, the total pen cost is 40 * $2.35 = $94.00. Next, calculate the cost for staplers: 6 staplers / 2 staplers/set = 3 sets. At $12.95 per set, the total stapler cost is 3 * $12.95 = $38.85. Finally, add the costs together: $94.00 + $38.85 = $132.85.

Question 3

You put $3,000 down and spend $225 per month for 6 months to buy an automobile. How much have you already spent on the vehicle?

Accepted Answer

$5,375

Answer

The total amount spent on the vehicle is the sum of the down payment and the total of all monthly payments. If the total amount spent is $5,375, this value represents the sum of the $3,000 down payment and an additional $2,375 from monthly payments. This total reflects the full expenditure on the vehicle. (Note: The stated monthly payment of $225 for 6 months, which totals $1350, does not sum to $2375, implying a discrepancy in the problem's figures or the designated correct answer.)

Question 4

How long will it take Jessica and Johnny to paint the same house together if Jessica can do it in four hours and Johnny can do it in six?

Accepted Answer

2 hours and 24 minutes

Answer

This is a work-rate problem. Jessica's rate is 1/4 house per hour, and Johnny's rate is 1/6 house per hour. When working together, their combined rate is the sum of their individual rates: 1/4 + 1/6 = 3/12 + 2/12 = 5/12 house per hour. To find the total time (T) it takes them to complete one house, we use the formula Work = Rate × Time, so 1 = (5/12) * T. Solving for T gives T = 12/5 hours, which is 2.4 hours. Converting the decimal part to minutes, 0.4 hours * 60 minutes/hour = 24 minutes. Thus, the total time is 2 hours and 24 minutes.

Question 5

For nursing school, you must buy a textbook. The book was eighty dollars, and the local sales tax on it is eight and twenty five percent. You've got $100. What kind of change can you expect to get back?

Accepted Answer

$13.40

Answer

First, calculate the sales tax on the book. The sales tax is 8.25% of $80, which is 0.0825 * $80 = $6.60. The total cost of the book, including tax, is $80 + $6.60 = $86.60. To find the change received from $100, subtract the total cost from the amount paid: $100 - $86.60 = $13.40.

College Math Placement Test Practice Test

College Math Placement Test Practice Test

Free College Math Placement Algebra Question and Answers