accuplacer arithmetic diagnostic practice test

Commonly used by colleges and universities to place students into appropriate courses.

Choose the best answer. If necessary, use the paper you were given.
2(1/2 + 1/3) =
  • A. 1(2/3)
  • B. 1(5/6)
  • C. 2(1/6)
  • D. 2(5/6)
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A

To solve 2(1/2 + 1/3), first find a common denominator for the fractions 1/2 and 1/3, which is 6. Rewrite the fractions: 1/2 becomes 3/6 and 1/3 becomes 2/6. Adding these gives 5/6. Now, multiply by 2: 2 * 5/6 equals 10/6, which simplifies to 1(2/3). Option B, 1(5/6), results from miscalculating the addition. Option C, 2(1/6), misinterprets the multiplication step. Option D, 2(5/6), incorrectly applies the multiplication to the wrong sum. Each incorrect option reflects a misunderstanding of the operations involved.

Other Related Questions

Of the following, which is closest to (2(12/15) - 1/10) / (16/6)?
  • B. 1
  • C. 2
  • D. 3
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B

To evaluate the expression (2(12/15) - 1/10) / (16/6), we first simplify the numerator. Calculating 2(12/15) gives us 16/15. Next, we convert 1/10 to a common denominator of 30, resulting in 3/30. Thus, the numerator becomes (16/15 - 3/30). Converting 16/15 to a denominator of 30 yields 32/30, leading to (32/30 - 3/30) = 29/30. Now, simplifying the denominator, 16/6 reduces to 8/3. Dividing (29/30) by (8/3) is equivalent to multiplying by its reciprocal: (29/30) * (3/8) = 87/240, which approximates to 0.36, closest to 1. Options C (2) and D (3) are incorrect as they overshoot the calculated value, while option B (1) accurately reflects the result.
Marisol has 5 times as many books as Jerry. Jerry has 15 books. How many books does Marisol have?
  • A. 10
  • B. 20
  • C. 75
  • D. 225
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C

To determine how many books Marisol has, multiply the number of books Jerry has (15) by 5, since Marisol has 5 times as many. This calculation yields 15 x 5 = 75. Option A (10) is incorrect as it underestimates the multiplication factor. Option B (20) also miscalculates, suggesting a much lower total. Option D (225) overestimates the number of books, resulting from an incorrect multiplication. Thus, the only accurate answer is 75, reflecting Marisol's total based on Jerry's count.
Of the following, which is greatest?
  • A. -0.75
  • B. 5/-2
  • C. -3
  • D. -2
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A

Option A, -0.75, is the greatest value among the choices since it is the least negative number. Option B, 5/-2, simplifies to -2.5, which is less than -0.75. Option C, -3, is clearly more negative than both -0.75 and -2. Option D, -2, is greater than -3 but still less than -0.75. In summary, -0.75 is the highest value among negative numbers, making it the greatest option in this comparison.
1,500 / (15 + 5) =
  • A. 75
  • B. 130
  • C. 315
  • D. 400
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A

To solve the expression 1,500 / (15 + 5), first calculate the sum in the parentheses: 15 + 5 equals 20. Next, divide 1,500 by 20. Performing the division gives 1,500 รท 20 = 75, confirming option A as the correct answer. Option B (130) results from an incorrect division or miscalculation. Option C (315) likely stems from misunderstanding the order of operations, possibly miscalculating the sum before division. Option D (400) may arise from mistakenly multiplying instead of dividing. Understanding the correct order of operations is crucial for accurate calculations.