Algebra A Pretest
Algebra A Pretest
Algebra A
This diagnostic test consists of two parts, Fundamentals and Problem Solving. If your student can solve
nearly all of the Fundamentals problems and at least half of the Problem Solving problems, then the
student is ready for the Art of Problem Solving Online Class Introduction to Algebra A.
If the student cannot solve more than 80% of the Fundamentals section, then the student should
consider our Prealgebra 1 course. If the student solves nearly all of the Fundamentals but has a great
deal of difficulty with the Problem Solving problems, then the student should consider our Prealgebra 2
course, which will help the student develop the maturity and problem-solving skills needed for our
Introduction to Algebra A course.
We recommend using the following process in administering this diagnostic:
Step 1: The student should attempt all of the questions below without a calculator
and without any help. There is no time limit.
Step 2: Check the student’s responses using the answer key at the end of this docu-
ment.
Step 3: The student should be given a second chance on the problems that they an-
swered incorrectly.
Fundamentals
1. Working with Variables.
(a) Expand the product 9(3x + 7).
(b) Simplify 7a − 5b + 3(6a + b).
(c) Simplify a − (−7a − 3).
(d) Simplify 3(5 − 2r) − 2(−3r + 1).
2. Fractions, Decimals, and Basic Percents.
(a) Convert 0.6144 to a fraction in simplest form.
(b) Convert 17/40 to a decimal.
(c) 17 is what percent of 20?
(d) What is 9
5 − 43 ?
3/6
(e) What is 2/5 in simplest form?
Problem Solving
7. What is the value of the sum 5 + 10 + 15 + · · · + 95 + 100?
8. Two-fifths of the students at Central Middle School play soccer. One-third of the non-soccer-players
play the piano and one-quarter of the soccer-players play the piano. What fraction of the students in
Central Middle School play the piano?
9. Kayla adds the same number to both the numerator and denominator of the fraction 10 1
. Her
resulting fraction equals 3 . What number did she add to both the numerator and denominator of her
2
original fraction?
10. Five workers together can build a road in 20 days. Suppose every worker works at the same rate.
Three workers work on the road for 10 days before eleven more workers join them. How much
longer will it take the fourteen workers to finish the road?
11. In rectangle ABCD, point X is the midpoint of AD and Y is the midpoint of CD. What fraction of
the area of the rectangle is enclosed by 4AXY ?
12. At Annville Junior High School, 30% of the students in the Math Club are in the Science Club, and
80% of the students in the Science Club are in the Math Club. There are 15 students in the Science
Club. How many students are in the Math Club?
Don’t look at the next page until you’ve attempted all the problems!
The answers to Are You Ready for Introduction to Algebra A are below. (The answers to problem sets and
challenges given in the class will include full detailed solutions as opposed to the mere answers provided
below.)
1. (a) 27x + 63
(b) 25a − 2b
(c) 8a + 3
(d) 13
2. (a) 384/625
(b) 0.425
(c) 85%
(d) 7/15
(e) 5/4
3. (a) r = 2
41
(b) x =
29
(c) t = 52
4. (a) 213
(b) 28
(c) 212
(d) 218
5. (a) 48 dogs
(b) 81 teachers
(c) 96 miles
6. (a) 9
(b) 12
(c) or 1 13
4
3
√
(d) 6 5
7. 1050
3
8.
10
9. 17
10. 5 days
11. 1
8
12. 40