NEDP Mathematics Skills 2 — Questions and Answers

Question 1: A store sells a jacket for $85.00 after applying a 15% discount. What was the original price?

$97.75
$100.00 (Correct answer)
$102.50
$72.25

Correct answer: $100.00

If $85 is 85% of the original price, then the original price = $85 ÷ 0.85 = $100.00.

A 15% discount means you pay 85% of the original price. To find the original, divide the sale price by 0.85: $85 ÷ 0.85 = $100.00. Always divide by the decimal form of the remaining percentage to reverse a discount.

Question 2: What is the value of 3² + 4² ?

25 (Correct answer)
14
49
7

Correct answer: 25

3² = 9 and 4² = 16; 9 + 16 = 25.

Squaring a number means multiplying it by itself. 3² = 3 × 3 = 9 and 4² = 4 × 4 = 16. Adding them gives 9 + 16 = 25. This is also the basis of the Pythagorean theorem for a 3-4-5 right triangle.

Question 3: Simplify: 5(2x − 3) + 4x

14x − 15 (Correct answer)
10x − 3
9x − 15
14x − 3

Correct answer: 14x − 15

Distribute: 10x − 15 + 4x = 14x − 15.

Apply the distributive property: 5 × 2x = 10x and 5 × (−3) = −15, giving 10x − 15 + 4x. Combine the x terms: 10x + 4x = 14x. The final answer is 14x − 15.

Question 4: A recipe calls for 2¾ cups of flour. If you want to make 1½ times the recipe, how many cups of flour do you need?

4 1/8 cups (Correct answer)
4 cups
3 3/4 cups
3 1/2 cups

Correct answer: 4 1/8 cups

2¾ × 1½ = 11/4 × 3/2 = 33/8 = 4 1/8 cups.

Convert 2¾ to 11/4 and 1½ to 3/2. Multiply: (11/4) × (3/2) = 33/8. Convert back: 33 ÷ 8 = 4 remainder 1, so 4 1/8 cups.

Question 5: A car travels 240 miles using 8 gallons of gas. At the same rate, how many gallons are needed to travel 360 miles?

12 gallons (Correct answer)
10 gallons
15 gallons
9 gallons

Correct answer: 12 gallons

Rate = 240/8 = 30 mpg. Gallons needed = 360 ÷ 30 = 12 gallons.

First find the fuel efficiency: 240 miles ÷ 8 gallons = 30 miles per gallon. Then calculate gallons needed for 360 miles: 360 ÷ 30 = 12 gallons. You can also set up a proportion: 240/8 = 360/x, solve for x = 12.

Question 6: What is the median of the following set of numbers: 7, 12, 3, 9, 5, 15, 8?

8 (Correct answer)
9
7
12

Correct answer: 8

Arranged in order: 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 12, 15. The middle value (4th of 7) is 8.

To find the median, sort the numbers from least to greatest: 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 12, 15. With 7 values, the median is the 4th value = 8. The median is not affected by extreme values (unlike the mean).

NEDP Mathematics Skills 2

A store sells a jacket for $85.00 after applying a 15% discount.
What was the original price?

Select your answer