hiset math practice test

A widely recognized high school equivalency exam, similar to the GED, designed for individuals who didn’t complete high school but want to earn a diploma-equivalent credential.

Josh takes 6 hours to paint a room. Margaret can paint the same room in 4 hours. Assuming their individual rates do not change, how long will it take them to paint the room together?
  • A. 1.5 hours
  • B. 2.4 hours
  • C. 4.8 hours
  • D. 5 hours
  • E. 10 hours
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B

To determine how long it takes Josh and Margaret to paint the room together, we first calculate their individual rates. Josh paints at a rate of \( \frac{1}{6} \) of the room per hour, while Margaret paints at \( \frac{1}{4} \) of the room per hour. Combined, their rates are: \[ \frac{1}{6} + \frac{1}{4} = \frac{2}{12} + \frac{3}{12} = \frac{5}{12} \] This means together they paint \( \frac{5}{12} \) of the room per hour. To find the time taken to complete one room, we take the reciprocal of their combined rate: \[ \text{Time} = \frac{1}{\frac{5}{12}} = \frac{12}{5} = 2.4 \text{ hours} \] Option A (1.5 hours) is too short, as it implies a higher combined rate than possible. Option C (4.8 hours) suggests they are slower than working alone, which is incorrect. Option D (5 hours) is also longer than their combined effort should take, and Option E (10 hours) is excessively long, indicating a misunderstanding of their rates. Thus, 2.4 hours accurately reflects their collaborative efficiency.

Other Related Questions

A medium-sized grain of sand can be approximated as a cube with an edge length of 5×10⁻⁴ meters. Which expression best represents the number of medium-sized sand grains that could be lined up side by side to result in a total length of 1 meter?
  • A. 2×10³
  • B. 2×10⁴
  • C. 2×10⁵
  • D. 5×10³
  • E. 5×10⁴
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B

To determine how many medium-sized sand grains can be lined up to equal 1 meter, we first calculate the volume of one grain, approximated as a cube with an edge length of 5×10⁻⁴ meters. The length of one grain is 5×10⁻⁴ meters. To find the number of grains in 1 meter, divide 1 meter (1×10⁰) by the length of one grain: 1×10⁰ / 5×10⁻⁴ = 2×10³. Thus, option B (2×10³) accurately represents the number of grains. Options A (2×10³) and D (5×10³) are incorrect due to miscalculating the division. Option C (2×10⁻) and E (5×10⁵) misrepresent the scale entirely, either by underestimating or overestimating the number of grains.
Which of the following expressions is equivalent to: 6x³ + 7x² + 1/x?
  • A. 63 + 72 + 1/x
  • B. 63 + 72 + 1
  • C. 6x² + 7x + 1/x
  • D. 6x² + 7x + 1
  • E. 6x² + 7x² + 1
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C

The expression 6x³ + 7x² + 1/x can be simplified by factoring out the highest degree of x and rearranging the terms. Option C, 6x² + 7x + 1/x, contains the correct coefficients for the x terms, but with the degrees adjusted appropriately. Option A incorrectly suggests a constant sum of 63 and 72, which does not relate to the original expression. Option B also misrepresents the original expression by omitting the variable terms entirely. Option D fails to maintain the degree of x in the cubic term, while option E mistakenly combines the x² terms incorrectly, resulting in an inaccurate expression.
How many solutions does the equation 3x + 9 = 3x - 12 have?
  • B. 1
  • C. 2
  • D. 3
  • E. Infinitely many
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A

To determine the number of solutions for the equation 3x + 9 = 3x - 12, we can simplify both sides. Subtracting 3x from each side results in 9 = -12, which is a false statement. Since the equation leads to a contradiction, it indicates that there are no values of x that can satisfy it. Option B (1 solution) suggests a single value exists, which is incorrect. Option C (2 solutions) and D (3 solutions) imply multiple valid values, which is also false. Option E (infinitely many solutions) suggests that any x would satisfy the equation, which is not true given the contradiction. Thus, the equation has no solutions.
An irrigation pivot makes a circle with a radius of about 400 meters. Which of the following values is closest to the area, in square meters, of the circle?
  • A. 1300
  • B. 2500
  • C. 160000
  • D. 502700
  • E. 1579100
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D

To find the area of a circle, the formula \( A = \pi r^2 \) is used, where \( r \) is the radius. With a radius of 400 meters, the area calculates to approximately \( A = \pi \times (400)^2 \approx 502700 \) square meters, making option D the closest value. Option A (1300) is far too low, indicating a misunderstanding of the formula. Option B (2500) is also significantly underestimated for such a large radius. Option C (160000) is closer but still incorrect, as it neglects the multiplication by \( \pi \). Option E (1579100) overestimates the area, suggesting a miscalculation of the radius or the area formula.