NPOST Police Test Police Arithmetic Skills Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An officer drives 27 miles to a call. If the trip takes 30 minutes, what was the officer's average speed in miles per hour (MPH)?
- 27 MPH
- 45 MPH
- 54 MPH (Correct answer)
- 60 MPH
Correct answer: 54 MPH
To find the speed in miles per hour, you need to determine how many miles would be traveled in a full hour (60 minutes). Since the trip took 30 minutes (which is half an hour), you can multiply the distance traveled (27 miles) by 2. Calculation: 27 miles * 2 = 54 MPH.
Question 2: An officer begins a shift at 19:00 hours and ends at 03:30 hours the next day. A mandatory, unpaid 30-minute meal break was taken during the shift. For how many hours should the officer be paid?
- 7.5 hours
- 8.0 hours (Correct answer)
- 8.5 hours
- 9.0 hours
Correct answer: 8.0 hours
First, calculate the total duration of the shift. From 19:00 to 00:00 (midnight) is 5 hours. From 00:00 to 03:30 is 3.5 hours. The total shift duration is 5 + 3.5 = 8.5 hours. Then, subtract the 30-minute (0.5 hour) unpaid break. 8.5 hours - 0.5 hours = 8.0 hours.
Question 3: In a police department, the number of traffic citations issued over a 4-week period were 152, 168, 140, and 164. What was the average number of citations issued per week during this period?
- 152
- 156 (Correct answer)
- 160
- 162
Correct answer: 156
To find the average, first sum the total number of citations issued: 152 + 168 + 140 + 164 = 624. Then, divide the total sum by the number of weeks (4). 624 / 4 = 156. The average number of citations issued per week was 156.
Question 4: An officer needs to cordon off a rectangular area for an investigation. The area measures 45 feet by 75 feet. What is the total length of police tape, in yards, needed to enclose the perimeter of this area?
- 80 yards (Correct answer)
- 120 yards
- 240 yards
- 337.5 yards
Correct answer: 80 yards
First, calculate the perimeter of the rectangle in feet: P = 2 * (length + width) = 2 * (75 + 45) = 2 * 120 = 240 feet. Next, convert the perimeter from feet to yards. Since there are 3 feet in 1 yard, divide the total feet by 3. 240 feet / 3 = 80 yards.
Question 5: A police department's budget for new equipment is $120,000. They spend 35% of the budget on new vehicles. How much money is spent on vehicles?
- $35,000
- $42,000 (Correct answer)
- $48,000
- $78,000
Correct answer: $42,000
To find the amount spent, multiply the total budget by the percentage. Convert the percentage to a decimal by dividing by 100 (35% = 0.35). Then, multiply the budget by this decimal: $120,000 * 0.35 = $42,000.
Question 6: An officer inventories seized evidence. There are three packages of contraband. Package 1 weighs 1.8 kg, Package 2 weighs 600 g, and Package 3 weighs 1.1 kg. What is the total weight of all packages in kilograms?
- 2.5 kg
- 3.5 kg (Correct answer)
- 25 kg
- 602.9 kg
Correct answer: 3.5 kg
To find the total weight, all units must be the same. Convert the weight of Package 2 from grams to kilograms by dividing by 1000 (since 1 kg = 1000 g). 600 g / 1000 = 0.6 kg. Now, add the weights of all three packages: 1.8 kg + 0.6 kg + 1.1 kg = 3.5 kg.
NPOST Police Test Police Arithmetic Skills Questions and Answers 1
An officer drives 27 miles to a call.
If the trip takes 30 minutes, what was the officer's average speed in miles per hour (MPH)?