Mathematics Placement Test - Answer Key

Practice Problems
Section I

The following questions are a sample of the types of problems you might see
on the Mathematics Placement Test. Calculators are not permitted for the
test.

 
5 1 1 45
1. Express × − as a single fraction. ANSWER −
2 11 2 44

3 2 8
2. Is < < true? ANSWER No
5 3 14

3. Factor the expression 3x2 + 5x − 2. ANSWER (3x − 1)(x + 2)

r
18x5 3x2 √
4. Simplify the expresssion . ANSWER 2x
z2 z

5. Expand 4(s + 2). ANSWER 4s + 8

6. If x − 1 = 2, then what is x + 1? ANSWER 4

7. If x = 3, then what is x2 + 3? ANSWER 12

8. Simplify the expression 13a − 15b − a + 2b. ANSWER 12a − 13b

9. If x = −4 and y = −7, then what is x − y ? ANSWER 3

1
 (−2)(−6)
10. Simplify −4
. ANSWER −3

11. Simplify 4 − (−2 + 5). ANSWER 1

 
1
12. Simplify (10) (−2)(3). ANSWER −12
5

13. Solve for p in the following inequality: 3p > p + 12. ANSWER p > 6

14. Simplify the following expression (2x + 3) − (x − 2). ANSWER x + 5

1 1
15. If of a number is 8, then what is of the number? ANSWER 6
3 4

3−b
16. Given that ax + b = 3 and a 6= 0, solve for x. ANSWER x =
a

2x 9y 3
17. Simplify · . ANSWER
3y 4x2 2x

18. Determine the slope of the line that passes through the points (1, 1) and
3
(−3, −2). ANSWER
4

19. Factor the expression 2x2 − 7x + 6. ANSWER (2x − 3)(x − 2)

20. Factor the expression x2 − 81. ANSWER (x + 9)(x − 9)

21. Simplify (−2x2 )(3x2 y)(−y). ANSWER 6x4 y 2

2
 2
22. Simplify (2x5 y 2) . ANSWER 4x10 y 4

y y3 1
23. Simplify ÷ . ANSWER
x3 x x2 y 2

24. If the sum of three numbers is 65 and one of the numbers is x, what is the
sum of the other two? ANSWER 65 − x

25. Factor the expression x2 + x − 12. ANSWER (x − 3)(x + 4)

26. Factor the expression xy 4 + yx4. ANSWER xy(y 3 + x3 )

27. Determine all the x-vlaues

√ that are solutions to x2 + x − 1 = 0.
−1 ± 5
ANSWER
2

4
28. If 5(2x + 3) − (x + 3) = 0, then what is x? ANSWER x = −
3

29. Expand (2m + 3)2 . ANSWER 4m2 + 12m + 9

30. The average of x, y and z is 80. If two of the numbers are 74 and 78, then
what is the other number? ANSWER 88

31. Simplify the expression 42 + 40 . ANSWER 17

√
32. Simplify 64x16 . ANSWER 8x8
6 1 11
33. Simplify − . ANSWER
7 3 21

3
  
5 5 1 45
34. Simplify ÷ + . ANSWER
7 9 7 44

35. Simplify 19.27 − 14.539. ANSWER 4.731

36. Simplify (6.38)(0.542). ANSWER 3.458

15M 2 + 5M
37. Simplify . ANSWER 3M + 1
5M

7 1 7
38. Simplify × . ANSWER
3 2 6

39. Evaluate x2y − 2xy − y 2 when x = −3 and y = −4. ANSWER −76

12
40. Solve for x in the equation 5x − 10 = 2 − 2x. ANSWER x =
7

41. Solve for x in the equation x2 − 1 = 0. ANSWER x = ±1

1
42. Solve for x in the inequality 1 − 5x < 3 + x. ANSWER x > −
3

5 15
43. Solve for x in the equation = . ANSWER x = 30
10 x

44. Perform the indicated operation and simplify the expression 3x − (5x − 4).
ANSWER −2x + 4

45. Perform the indicated operation and simplify the expression (x2 − 2x +
2) − (4x2 − 8x − 3). ANSWER −3x2 + 6x + 5

4
46. Expand the expression (4x − 5)(3x + 2). ANSWER 12x2 − 7x − 10

√
3± 5
47. Solve for x in the equation x2 − 3x +1 = 0. ANSWER x =
2

48. Solve for a and b in the linear system

3a + b = 3,
a − 2b = 1.

ANSWER a = 1; b = 0

49. Shade the region of the xy-plane described by {(x, y) | x + 2y ≥ 1} .

ANSWER Shaded region below

–3 –2 –1 1 2 3

–1

–2

–3

50. Determine the equation for the line with slope 1/3 that passes through the
1
point (3, −2). ANSWER x − 3
3