Police Math Test Police Math Algebra and Number Sequences 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Solve for x: 3x + 7 = 22
- x = 3
- x = 5 (Correct answer)
- x = 7
- x = 9
Correct answer: x = 5
Subtract 7 from both sides to get 3x = 15, then divide by 3 to get x = 5.
Question 2: A police officer earns a fixed hourly rate. If she works 40 hours and earns $1,200, which equation correctly represents her hourly rate (y)?
- y = 1200 + 40
- y = 1200 - 40
- y = 1200 / 40 (Correct answer)
- y = 1200 × 40
Correct answer: y = 1200 / 40
Total earnings equals hourly rate times hours worked, so y = 1200 ÷ 40 = $30 per hour.
Question 3: What is the next number in the sequence: 2, 5, 8, 11, ___?
- 12
- 13
- 14 (Correct answer)
- 15
Correct answer: 14
Each term increases by 3, so 11 + 3 = 14.
Question 4: Solve for n: 4n − 8 = 20
- n = 5
- n = 6
- n = 7 (Correct answer)
- n = 8
Correct answer: n = 7
Add 8 to both sides to get 4n = 28, then divide by 4 to get n = 7.
Question 5: If 2x + 3 = x + 9, what is the value of x?
- x = 4
- x = 5
- x = 6 (Correct answer)
- x = 7
Correct answer: x = 6
Subtract x from both sides to get x + 3 = 9, then subtract 3 to get x = 6.
Question 6: What is the missing number in this sequence: 1, 4, 9, 16, ___, 36?
- 20
- 22
- 25 (Correct answer)
- 28
Correct answer: 25
The sequence consists of perfect squares (1², 2², 3², 4², 5², 6²), so the missing number is 5² = 25.
Question 7: A patrol car travels n miles per hour. If it covers 80 miles in 2 hours, what is n?
- 30
- 35
- 40 (Correct answer)
- 45
Correct answer: 40
Speed equals distance divided by time, so n = 80 ÷ 2 = 40 miles per hour.
Solve for x: 3x + 7 = 22