Sample Math Placement Test

1. Divide [(-18) – (6)(-2)+34 – 15] by (1-11) and 25. Which of the following are true?
simplify. a) -(x – 1) = -x + 1
a −b a
3 x b) = −1 +
2. Find the missing numerator for = . b b
7 42 m
7 5 6 c) =0
3. Arrange , , from smallest to largest. 0
19 13 17
2 1
d) x2 − 9 = x −3
+
e) (q + 2) 2 = q 2 + 4
4. Simplify and reduce to lowest terms: 3 2
1 2
3 −
2 3 26. State the values(s) of t for which the expression
5. Change 0.4825 to a fraction in lowest terms. t 2 − 7t + 12
is undefined.
6. Divide 36.174 by 52.19 and round to two t2 −9
−3
decimal places. ⎛ 2 p 2 q − 2 ⎞
27. Evaluate ⎜ ⎟ for p=2 , q=-2 and r=1.
⎜ r −3 ⎟
7. Convert 6.73 kL to L. ⎝ ⎠

8. Multiply: (3a – 2b)(2a + b) 28. Write –7x2y0 z-5 without zero or negative
7 exponents.
9. Write 16 % as a fraction in lowest terms.
8
10. Given T = 3 (T2 – T1), solve for T1. 3r − 2t 1 / 2
29. Evaluate for r=8 and t=4.
11. Write 0.00934 in scientific notation. t − 3r 1 / 3

3
12. Simplify: 128x − 5 2x ⎛ y 1 / 3 r 2 / 3 ⎞
30. Simplify: ⎜ ⎟
⎜ m 3 r 4 / 3 ⎟
( 3 xy ) 6 ⎝ ⎠
13. Simplify:
x
m2 − 9 5m − 15
31. Simplify: ÷ 2
10 2m − 12 m − 2m − 24
14. Simplify: x2 − a2
a+ x
x 3 4
15. Change log b x = y to exponential form. 32. Simplify: 2
− 3
+
x − 4x + 3 2x x − 3x 2
3

2 33. Solve for k: -3 (k – 1) = -2 (k – 4)

16.Write [log t − 5 log n + 2 log y] as a single logarithm.
3
2 5 5
17. Solve 3 log (2x – 3) = 0 for x. 34. Solve for x: − =
x − 2 x 2x
18. Find α if cot α = -4.5247 and 0° ≤ α ≤ 360°.
E R+r
35. Solve for r: =
19. Find the value of α if the terminal side of angle α e r
(an angle in standard position) passes through the 36. An employer gave an employee a raise of 15%.
point (1.41, 3.51). The new salary is $36,000 per year. What was the
employee's salary before the raise?
20. Given the right triangle ABC, find side b if
∠C = 90.0°, ∠B = 76.0°, and side a = 14.5 cm. 37. A rectangle has a perimeter of 300 cm. The length is 10
π more than 1 1/3 times the width. Find the length and
21. Change radians to degrees. width.
3
5π
22. Evaluate csc and round to 4 decimal places. 38. How much water must be added to a litre of 90%
4 pure alcohol to reduce it to 80% pure alcohol?
23. Indicate the slope (m) and y-intercept (b) for the
39. For the right triangle ABC, ∠C = 90.0°,
equation 4x – 3y = 12.
c = 8.20 mm, and a = 6.50 mm. Find ∠B.
24. Solve the following system of equations:
2x – y + 2z = 6 40. A guy wire whose grounded end is 11.5 m from the
x+y+z=6 pole it supports makes an angle of 64.3° with the ground.
3x + 2y – z = 4 Find the length of the guy wire.
 Sample MPT solutions  
 
!!" ! ! !! !!! !!" !!"!!"!!"!!" !"
1.
!!!!
= !!"
= !!" = −6    
 
! !
2. =        ⇒       3 42 = 7𝑥        ⇒      𝑥 = 18  
! !"
 
! ! ! !"#$ !"!# !"#$ ! ! !
3. , ,     ⇒     , ,     ⇒     , ,    
!" !" !" !"## !"## !"## !" !" !"
 
! ! !
! 7 6 7
! ! !
4. ! ! = !" = × =  
! ! 6 17 17
! ! !
 
4825 193
5. 0.4825 = = 10000 400
 
 
6. 36.174 ÷ 52.19 = 0.693121288 = 0.69  
 
1000  L
7. 6.73  kL  × 1  kL = 6370  L  
 
8. 3a − 2b 2a + b = 6a! + 3ab − 4ab − 2 = 6a! − ab − 2b!  
 
135
9.
7
16 8 % =
135
8
% = 100 8 = 135
800
27
= 160  
 
3T2 −T
10. T = 3 T! − T! ⇒  T = 3T! − 3T!     ⇒  3T! = 3T! − T     ⇒  T! = 3
 
 
9.34 1
11. 0.00934 = 1000 = 9.34× 1000 = 9.34×10!!  
 
12. 128𝑥 − 5 2𝑥 = 64 2𝑥 − 5 2𝑥 = 8 2𝑥 − 5 2𝑥 = 3 2𝑥  
 
!
( ! !"  )! ( ! !"  )! !" ! !!!!
13. = = = = 𝑥𝑦 !  
! ! ! !
 
10 10
14. 𝑥 ! − 𝑎! 𝑎+𝑥 ⇒ 𝑥 + 𝑎 (𝑥 − 𝑎) 𝑎+𝑥 ⇒ (𝑥 − 𝑎) 10 ⇒ 10(𝑥 − 𝑎)  
 
15. log ! 𝑥 = 𝑦      ⇒      𝑏 ! = 𝑥    
 
2 2 10 4 t 2 3y4 3
16. [ logt − 5log n + 2 log y ] = logt − log n + log y = logt 23
− log n10 3
+ log y 43
= log  
3 3 3 3 n10 3
 
0
17. 3 log(2 x − 3) = 0 ⇒ log(2 x − 3) = ⇒ log(2 x − 3) = 0 ⇒ 10 0 = 2 x − 3  
3
⇒ 1 = 2x − 3 ⇒ 4 = 2x ⇒ x=2
   
18. cot α = −4.5247            First  find  the  reference  angle,   α ref
1 1 ⎛ 1 ⎞
= − 4.5247 ⇒ tan α ref = ⇒ α ref = tan −1 ⎜ ⎟ ⇒ α ref = 12.46  
tan α ref 4.5247 ⎝ 4.5247 ⎠
Since  cot  α  is  negative,  then  α  lies  in  the  second  and  fourth  quadrants.  
 
Solution 1: α = 180° − α ref ⇒ α = 167.54° ; Solution 2 : α = 360° − α ref ⇒ α = 347.54°  
3.51 ⎛ 3.51 ⎞
19. The  right  triangle  setup  yields   tan α = ⇒ α = tan −1 ⎜ ⎟ ⇒ α = 68.1°  
1.41 ⎝ 1.41 ⎠
b
20. tan 76° = ⇒ b = 14.5 tan 76° ⇒ b = 52.8cm  
14.5
 
! ! !"#° !"#°
21. radians = × = = 60°  
! ! ! !
 
 
!! ! !
22. csc = 5𝜋 = = −1.4142  
! !"# !!.!"!#
4
 
!
23. 4𝑥 − 3𝑦 = 12      ⇒    𝑦 = ! 𝑥 − 4                  This  is  𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏  form.    
 
!
Slope  (𝑚) = !      and  y-­‐intercept    (b) = −4  
 
24. Equation  1:     2x  –  y  +  2z  =  6  
Equation  2:     x  +  y  +  z  =  6      
Equation  3:     3x  +  2y  –  z  =  4  
 
Step  1:  Add  equation  1  to  equation  2  
  2x  –  y  +  2z  =  6  
(+)   x  +  y  +  z  =  6      
  3x  +  3z  =  12         Equation  4  
 
Step  2:  Multiply  equation  1  by  2  and  add  to  equation  3  
 
2x  –  y  +  2z  =  6              ⇒                4x  –  2y  +  4z  =  12      
    (+)  3x  +  2y  –    z    =    4    
  7x    +        3z      =  16   Equation  5  
     
Step  3:  Subtract  equation  4  from  equation  5  
           3x  +  3z  =  12        
  (-­‐)7x  +  3z  =  16  
             -­‐4x    =  -­‐4  
                         x=1  
Step  4:  Substitute  x=1  into  equation  4;    z=3  
Step  5:  Substitute  x=1  and  z=3  into  equation  2;      y=2  
 
25. (a)  True.    
(b)  True.  
(c)  False.  Division  by  zero  is  undefined.    
(d)  False.   x ! − 9 = (x − 3)(x + 3) ≠ x − 3.    
(e)  False.  (q + 2)! = q + 2 q + 2 ≠ q! + 4  
 
 ! ! !!!!!" ! ! !!!!!"
26. =    is  undefined  when  the  denominator  is  zero.    
! ! !! !!! !!!
 
𝑡 + 3 𝑡 − 3 = 0   ⇒  𝑡 = 3  𝑜𝑟  𝑡 = −3    
 
!!
!!! ! !! !!! !!! ! ! !! (!!)! !" !
27.   = = = = =  
! !! !! !! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! (!)! (!)(!")(!) !
 
1 −7𝑥2
28. −7𝑥 ! 𝑦 ! 𝑧 !! = −7𝑥 ! 1 𝑧5
= 𝑧5
 
 
!!!!! ! ! !!!! ! !(!)!! ! !"!! !"
29. = ! = ! = = = −10  
!!!! ! ! !!! ! !!! ! !!! !!
 
!
!! !!! ! !! !!! ! !! ! !
30. = = =  
!! ! ! ! ! ! ! !" ! !! ! ! !! ! !
 
 
! ! !! !!!!" ! ! !! ! ! !!!!!"
31.
!!!!"
÷
! ! !!!!!"
=  
!!!!"
𝑥
!!!!"
=        
 
𝑚 − 3 (𝑚 + 3) (𝑚 − 6)(𝑚 + 4) (𝑚 + 3)(𝑚 + 4)
𝑥   =          
2(𝑚 − 6) 5(𝑚 − 3) 10
 
! ! ! ! ! !
32. −   +   ⇒   −   + ⇒  
𝑥2 !!!!! ! 𝑥3 𝑥3 !!𝑥2 !!! !!! ! 𝑥3 𝑥2 !!!
 
𝑥 2𝑥3 −  3 𝑥 − 3 𝑥 − 1 + 4 2𝑥 𝑥 − 1 2𝑥4 −  3 𝑥2 − 4𝑥 + 3 + 8𝑥 𝑥 − 1
    ⇒          
2𝑥3 𝑥 − 3 𝑥 − 1 2𝑥3 𝑥 − 3 𝑥 − 1
 
2𝑥4 −  3𝑥2 + 12𝑥 − 9 + 8𝑥2 − 8𝑥 2𝑥4 +  5𝑥2 + 4𝑥 − 9
⇒   ⇒  
2𝑥3 𝑥 − 3 𝑥 − 1 2𝑥3 𝑥 − 3 𝑥 − 1
 
33. −3 𝑘 − 1 =   −2 𝑘 − 4 ⇒ −3𝑘 + 3 =   −2𝑘 + 8 ⇒ −1𝑘 = 5 ⇒ 𝑘 = −5  
 
! ! ! !!!(!)(!!!) ! !!!!!!!" !
34.   −   =     ⇒   =     ⇒ =      
!!! ! !! (!!!)(!) !! (!!!)(!) !!
 
−3𝑥 + 10 2𝑥 =   5 𝑥 − 2 𝑥 ⇒   −3𝑥 + 10 2 =   5 𝑥 − 2  
 
30 8
⇒   −6𝑥 + 20 =  5𝑥 − 10   ⇒   −11𝑥 =   −30   ⇒    𝑥 =     = 2  
11 11
 
! !!!
35. =     ⇒   𝐸 𝑟 = 𝑒 𝑅+𝑟 ⇒ 𝐸𝑟 = 𝑒𝑅 + 𝑒𝑟   ⇒ 𝐸𝑟 − 𝑒𝑟 = 𝑒𝑅    
! !
 
𝑒𝑅
⇒    𝑟 𝐸 − 𝑒 = 𝑒𝑅   ⇒      𝑟 =   𝐸−𝑒    
 
36  000
36. (1.15)(x)  =  36  000        ⇒      𝑥 =   1.15       ⇒    𝑥 = $31  304.45 = original  salary    
37. Equation  1:     2  L  +  2  W  =  300  
!
Equation  2:       L =   !  W + 10  
  

Substitute  equation  2  into  equation  1:  

4 8
2    W + 10 +  2  𝑊 = 300     ⇒    W + 20 +  2  𝑊 = 300    
3 3
 
8 6
⇒    W +  W = 280       ⇒    14  W = 840       ⇒    W = 60  cm      
3 3
Substituting  W=60  back  into  equation  1:  
 

2  L  +  2  (60)  =  300      ⇒      2L  =  180      ⇒    L  =  90  cm  

 
38. (x)(0%)  +  (1)(90%)  =  (x  +  1)(80%)    ⇒      0  +  .90  =  0.80x  +  0.8    ⇒  0.1  =  0.80x      
⇒        0.125  L  =  x  
 
6.50
39. cos 𝐵 =  
8.20
    ⇒    𝐵 =   cos−1 6.50
8.20
    ⇒    ∠𝐵 = 37.6o  
 
11.5
40. cos 64.3! =  
𝑥
    ⇒    𝑥 =  26.5  𝑚