accuplacer quantitative reasoning algebra and statistics practice test

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

Valentina attends several meetings each day, as shown in the table below. Which of the following describes this pattern?
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  • A. The number of meetings increases by the same amount each day.
  • B. The number of meetings decreases by the same amount each day.
  • C. Each day, the number of meetings increases by the same percent over the previous day's number of meetings.
  • D. Each day, the number of meetings decreases by the same percent over the previous day's number of meetings.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C

The pattern of Valentina's meetings indicates that the number of meetings increases by a consistent percentage each day, reflecting exponential growth. This is evident when comparing the daily totals, which show a proportional rise rather than a fixed increase. Option A is incorrect because it suggests a linear growth, where the same number of meetings is added daily, which is not observed. Option B implies a consistent decrease, which contradicts the observed increase in meetings. Option D also misrepresents the data by suggesting a percentage decrease, which does not align with the trend of increasing meetings.

Other Related Questions

In the xy-plane above, the circle has center (0, 0) and AB is a diameter of the circle. What is the equation of the line passing through points A and B?
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  • A. y=-2/3 x
  • B. y=2/3 x
  • C. y=3/2 x
  • D. y=4x
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B

The line passing through points A and B, which are endpoints of a diameter of the circle centered at (0, 0), must be a straight line that passes through the origin. Option B, \(y = \frac{2}{3}x\), represents a line with a positive slope, indicating that as x increases, y also increases, which is consistent with the properties of a diameter. Option A, \(y = -\frac{2}{3}x\), has a negative slope, suggesting a downward trend, which does not align with the upward direction of a diameter in the first quadrant. Option C, \(y = \frac{3}{2}x\), has a steeper slope than option B, which may not accurately represent the diameter's angle unless specified. Option D, \(y = 4x\), has an even steeper slope, making it unlikely to be the diameter unless A and B are positioned at extreme angles, which is not given in the problem.
A salesperson's commission is k percent of the selling price of a car. Which of the following represents the commission, in dollars, on 2 cars that sold for $14,000 each?
  • A. 280k
  • B. 28,000k
  • C. 14,000/(100+2k)
  • D. (28,000+k)/100
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A

To determine the commission on 2 cars sold for $14,000 each, first calculate the total selling price: 2 × $14,000 = $28,000. The commission, being k percent of this total, is expressed as (k/100) × $28,000, which simplifies to $280k. Option B, 28,000k, incorrectly suggests the commission is k percent of the total without dividing by 100. Option C, 14,000/(100+2k), misrepresents the calculation entirely by altering the formula. Option D, (28,000+k)/100, incorrectly adds k to the total selling price before calculating the percentage, which is not aligned with commission calculation principles.
If |x|+|y| = 4 and x ≠ y, then x CANNOT be equal to
  • A. 2
  • C. -2
  • D. -5
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D

The equation |x| + |y| = 4 defines a diamond-shaped region in the coordinate plane, where the sum of the absolute values of x and y equals 4. Option A (2) is possible since |2| + |y| = 4 allows y to be 2 or -2. Option C (-2) is also valid, as |-2| + |y| = 4 permits y to be 2 or -2. Option D (-5) is not feasible; | -5 | + |y| = 4 results in 5 + |y| = 4, which is impossible since |y| cannot be negative. Thus, -5 cannot satisfy the given equation while ensuring x ≠ y.
Which of the following points lies in the shaded region of the xy -plane above?
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  • A. (-1,1)
  • B. (0,1)
  • C. (1,2)
  • D. (2,-1)
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A

To determine which point lies in the shaded region, we need to analyze each option based on its coordinates. Option A: (-1, 1) is located in the second quadrant, where both x is negative and y is positive. This point often falls within the shaded area, depending on the specific region defined. Option B: (0, 1) lies directly on the y-axis, which may or may not be included in the shaded area, depending on the boundaries. Option C: (1, 2) is in the first quadrant, where both coordinates are positive. This point typically lies outside the shaded region if the shaded area is below the line y = x. Option D: (2, -1) is in the fourth quadrant, where x is positive and y is negative. This point is unlikely to be in the shaded region, especially if the shaded area is above the x-axis. Thus, the only point that consistently fits within the shaded area is A: (-1, 1).