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.
3(1/2) * 2(1/3) =
  • A. 8(1/6)
  • B. 7(5/6)
  • C. 6(1/6)
  • D. 5(5/6)
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A

To solve 3(1/2) * 2(1/3), first convert the mixed numbers to improper fractions: 3(1/2) becomes 7/2 and 2(1/3) becomes 7/3. Multiplying these fractions yields (7/2) * (7/3) = 49/6. Converting 49/6 back to a mixed number gives 8(1/6). Option B, 7(5/6), results from incorrect multiplication. Option C, 6(1/6), miscalculates the product as well. Option D, 5(5/6), reflects a misunderstanding of fraction multiplication. The proper method confirms that 8(1/6) is indeed the accurate result.

Other Related Questions

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.
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.
If 40 is 20 percent of a number, then the number is what percent of 40?
  • A. 500%
  • B. 200%
  • C. 80%
  • D. 20%
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A

To determine what percent a number (let's call it X) is of 40, we first establish that 40 is 20% of X. This can be represented as the equation: 40 = 0.2X. Solving for X gives us X = 200. Now, to find out what percent 200 is of 40, we use the formula (part/whole) × 100, which results in (200/40) × 100 = 500%. Option B (200%) is incorrect as it mistakenly uses X instead of calculating the percentage of 40. Option C (80%) and Option D (20%) are also incorrect for similar reasons; they do not accurately reflect the relationship between 200 and 40.
Maria worked 2 weeks, earning $435.50 the first week and $278.38 the second week. If she paid one-half of her two-week earnings for tuition, how much did she pay for tuition?
  • A. $713.88
  • B. $356.94
  • C. $217.75
  • D. $139.19
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B

To find the amount Maria paid for tuition, first calculate her total earnings for the two weeks. Adding her earnings from both weeks: $435.50 + $278.38 = $713.88. Since she paid one-half of her total earnings for tuition, divide this amount by 2: $713.88 / 2 = $356.94. Option A ($713.88) represents her total earnings, not the tuition amount. Option C ($217.75) and Option D ($139.19) do not correctly reflect half of her total earnings. Therefore, $356.94 accurately represents the amount she paid for tuition.