Sample Questions for Incoming Freshman Mathematics Assessment

General Comments on the Examination

The mathematics assessment is designed to cover a range of topics from basic arithmetic to more advanced
algebra. While the typical incoming student will be familiar with the majority of the topics, it is likely
that some questions will be unfamiliar. We do not expect for a student to answer every question.
Based on this assessment, students will be placed in one of the following three courses:

(a) Algebra 1
(b) Algebra 1 Honors
(c) Algebra 2 Honors

A calculator is not permitted on this assessment.

Pre-Algebra Content:
• Students seeking to test directly into Algebra 1 Honors should be able to answer at least 35 of the
following questions correctly.
1. Simplify each of the following rational expressions (without a calculator).
⎛ 6 ⎞ ⎛ 11 ⎞ ⎛ 13 ⎞ ⎛ 1 ⎞ ⎛ 3 ⎞ ⎛ 35 ⎞
102 b. ⎜⎜ − ⎟⎟ ⎜⎜ − ⎟⎟ c. ⎜⎜ − ⎟⎟ ÷ 6 d. ⎜⎜ − ⎟⎟ ÷ ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ ⋅ ⎜⎜ − ⎟⎟
a.
70 ⎝ 5 ⎠⎝ 8 ⎠ ⎝ 9⎠ ⎝ 10 ⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ 9 ⎠
⎛ 5 ⎞ 15
1 3 8 g. ⎜⎜ − ⎟⎟ −
3 9 1
e. + f. 6 − h. + −
5 4 7 ⎝ 7⎠ 8 2 7 4
3 0.03
i. 0.02 + 0.13497 j. − 0.02 k. (0.1)(0.001) l.
8 0.0039
2. Simplify each of the following using order of operations (without a calculator).
a. −42 and (−4)2 b. (−6 ÷ 6)3 c. 8 − 4 ⋅ 23 + 10 ÷ 5
5 + 32 − 24 ÷ 6 ⋅ 2
d. 4 − 2 | 3 − 16 |
2
e. (−7 − 5) ÷ [−2 − 2 − (−6)] f.
[5 + 3(22 − 5)]+ | 22 − 5 |2

3. Answer each of the following percentage / proportion questions (without a calculator).

a. What is 10% of 765?
b. What is 31% of 250?
c. If 200 is increased by 130 percent, what is the resulting number?
7
d. What number is of 143?
13
e. What percentage of 300 is 15?
f. Originally there were only 13 states, but now there are 50 states. What percentage of the states
are the original states?
g. If a is 11% of 80 and b is double 10% of a, find b.
4. Simplify each of the following expressions.
a. n + n + 6 − 4n + 11 b. 1 − r − 6 c. 1 + 8m(5 − m)
d. 2y(5 − 6y) e. −4k 2 − 8k(8k + 1) f. −2r(1 + 4r) + 8r(−r + 4)
 have at the end of 2 years?
have at the end of 2 years?
0 is increased by 130
15.Simplify:
What percent,
decimal what
part of 560isis the
70? resulting number?
age of 4.2, 2.61, and42. 3.6?Simplify:1 − 1−3 − [−(−2 23)] + 3 −27
25. 42.
 5.
3
+ Õ¢ [ (–23− –3−34)3
−8Simplify: −3–[−(−2 7] +
(–1)2 )] −27 26. 1 ⎛2 1 ⋅ 1 − 3⎞ + 5
in 4 hours. He then Basic Geometry:
increased

 the speedYouby 8may omit
miles per units.
hour. If Give answers6 ⎝in 3terms
2 of 4π⎠ when
24 appropriate.
2
uare
es, is 64
how long cm
did . itWhat
a.take is finish
Find
to
43.
 the
the
Useperimeter
(i)
the
a area
trip?andof to
protractor thedraw
(ii) square?
perimeter
an 80° of the
angle. Then useb. a Find the (i)
straightedge surface
and area to
a compass and (ii)the
copy volume
angle.of
x. X
27. 43. Graph:
 ≥ 2
Use axprotractor to draw an 80° angle. Then use a straightedge and a compass to copy the angle.
 figure. the figure below.
M

28. What number is M 160 percent of 90? Draw a diagram3 of the 3 problem.
10
 
thethis
of surface
polygon?area ofM this right solid. 2Dimensions are in centimeters.
44. Find 2x:   
44. FindM x:
t is the volumeFind
29. in cubic
The the meters
number of ofand
leaves the(b)right
on the ground increased 240 percent during the wind storm. If 2700 leaves were
= 49.25 19. Find w.c.on(a) Find the (i) area
perimeter and (ii)area
the perimeter
5 of this of the d. Find the (i)x volume and (ii) surface area of
whose base is the the
figure. figureground
Dimensions shown before onthethestorm,
5 how many were on the ground afterx the storm?


figure below.are in yards. the figure below:

nd whose sides45. 45.
are Solve: Solve: 8x – tall?
200 centimeters 2 – x – 4x = –3x + 14 
10
= 60Final
ensions and aret=
Exam,
in 4,
page
30. 3what
meters.
Find the does
Allvolumed8xequal?
angles
– 2 – x – 4x = –3x + 14
aresurface
SHOW
and right WORK
YOUR angles.
area of the right Name: ___________________ 2

circular 5
41. If Shirley put $4000 46.
in
11.2thecylinder
Draw
bank ashown.
at 6 percent Dimensions
lineinterest
segment compounded are in feet.
6 centimeters
annually, long.
how Construct
much a perpendicular
money would she 1 at a point 2 centimeters from
to the line
e9–60. 46. Draw
0.000387 in scientific notation.
have at the end of 2 years? a line segment
the right endpoint. 6 centimeters long. Construct a perpendicular to the line at a point 2 centimeters from
the right endpoint. ⎛ 20 ⎞
5_ 42. Simplify: − [−(−2 2 )] +43 −
31. − 1Simplify: −273(5) − 7(−6) − 42⎝ −4⎠ 15
Decimal 3 −3
Percent
47. A single die is rolled93. __
9 14
twice. What– 3is__ the probability that the first roll will be a 6 and the second roll will be a 2?
15 21
47. A single die is rolled twice. What is the probability that the first roll will be a 6 and the second roll will be a 2?
0.62532. e.Find Find(a) the value ofand x. (b) the surface area of a rectangular f. Find solidthe values of (i)width,
p andand
(ii)height
B.
43. Use a protractor to draw an 80° angle. Then use a straightedge and a compass to copy the angle.
the volume whose length,
1
__ 1
__ 1
__ 1
__
.5 – 643.99 measure 12 inches, 10 inches,
48. Find (a) side p and (b) angle 95.
and 33 × 6
inches
2 B: 3
÷ 2 ×
respectively.
(a)
3
1 3 (b)
1.25 2 48. Find 125%(a) side p and 3(b) angle
Saxon B: Homeschool
Math (a) 3 (b)
B
44. ___
Find x: Algebra 1/2 by Saxon 102 p
___
3√ 2 2Use the
3[2 ( 49 – 2 )(3 – 2 ) – 2 ]
33. 3 method 2 of cut and try 97.
to find Õ™º
Reduce to to lowest
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place.
p Show
170 your work. B
5 x 4
45. Solve: 8x – 2 – x – 4x = –3x + 14
vert 250.02534.
to aAmixed number.
number 5was multiplied by – 4 ©
and decreased
Harcourt by Inc.
Achieve 6. IfAllthe final
rights result was –34, what was the number? 42°
reserved.
42°
46. Draw a line segment 6 centimeters long. Construct a perpendicular to the line at a point 2 centimeters from 5
Saxon Math5Homeschool 5
two unit
the multipliers 49.convert
right endpoint. to Write 14475 (base
square 10) using
feet tobase 2 numerals.
square miles. Round any decimal
35. 49. FiveWrite
times a75number
(base 10) is 49using
greaterbase than2 the product of 2 and the opposite of the number. What is the number?
numerals.
wer to two places.
47. A single 6.
die is Solve theWhat
rolled twice. following equations
is the probability (without
that the first roll will be a a calculator).
6 and the second roll will be a 2?
50. Graph: (a) (4, –3) (b) (–3, 0)
__ 36.
x__ 50.a.If 4x4Graph:
− +x =2 8= (a)11, what
(4, –3) is the value
(b) of b. 2x0)
(–3, 3x– −1?5x + 2 = 8 c. 5y − 6 = 4 − 10(y − 3)
uate: m
p +(a)___
48. √Find side
p andp(b)
p if = 16,
angle B:m = 4, (a) and x = 3 (b)
√ a x −4 3
37. d.Simplify −8b = by 120adding like terms:p yx2 e. +
−15 = B 2
xyx + 3y x + 2yxy
f. =
4 7 ©9 7
Harcourt Achieve Inc. All rights reserved. 5
m x x + 17
Saxon Math Homeschool
g. 1 h. 2(x 5) 5(x 2) i.
42°
− = −2
38. Use the distributive property to
5 multiply:
− 2 = −
3mn (m + mny + 3m ) 2 =
49. 4 base 2 numerals.
Write 75 (base 10) using 2 4
2 2 3 3
50. Graph: 39.
(a) Simplify:
(4, –3) (b) m
(–3,p0)pm p p

Algebra One Content:

40. Write the Roman numeral for 29.
• Students seeking to test directly into Algebra 1 Honors should be able to answer at least 8 of the
following questions correctly.
• Students seeking to test directly into Algebra 2 Honors should be able to answer at least 20 of the
following questions correctly. Saxon Math Homeschool 4
Copyright © 1991 by Saxon Publishers, Inc. Algebra 1/2 by Saxon

1. Simplify: 7x − 3(5x + 2) − 6(7 + 2x)

2. Subtract (14x 2 − x + 3) from (3x 2 − 5x − 2) .

x +y
3. Subtract: 1 − Saxon Math Homeschool 5
x −byy Saxon Publishers, Inc.
Copyright © 1991 Algebra 1/2Homeschool
Saxon Math by Saxon 5
Copyright © 1991 by Saxon Publishers, Inc. Algebra 1/2 by Saxon
4. Solve for x: 3bx − 5c = 7bx + 4c
Copyright © 1991 by Saxon Publishers, Inc.
Saxon Math Homeschool 5
Algebra 1/2 by Saxon

5. Solve for x: −5 | 3x − 5 |= −10

6. Solve: 5(2 − 3x) ≥ 4 − 3(4x + 7)

 ⎧⎪4x + 3y = 1
7. Solve the system: ⎨
⎪⎩6x − 2y = 21

8. Find the slope, x-intercept, and y-intercept of the linear equation: 5x − 3y = 11 .

9. Write the equation of the line that passes through the points (6, -10) and (-3, 11) in slope-intercept
form.

10. What is the equation of the vertical line that passes through (5, 8)?
4x = 5y + 10
11. Are these two lines parallel, perpendicular, or neither?
15x − 36 = −12y

12. Multiply and simplify: (2x + 3)(4x 2 − 9x − 13)

13. Multiply and simplify: (3x − 10)(4x + 7) + (2x + 5)(6x + 8)

9x −6y 11
14. Simplify:
21x −4y −5

15. Find the missing factors: (3x 3y 2 )2 (?)(4xy 4 ) = (−180x 11y 13 )

16. Factor completely: 40x 3 + 34x 2 − 20x

17. Solve for x: 2x 2 + 7x = 15x

3 x −8
18. Solve for x: =
x +2 13

3x 2 − 19x − 14
19. Simplify:
6x 2 − 11x − 10
20. A school sold 300 tickets for a school play and collected a total of $1150. Student tickets cost $3.00
and adult tickets cost $5.00. How many students attended the play?
21. The difference between two numbers is 29. If five times the smaller is subtracted from twice the larger,
the result will be one. What is the larger number?

22. In the school election, votes were cast for Sam, Mary, and Bill in the ratio 4:3:2. If a total of 2178
votes were cast, how many votes did Mary receive?
23. A class has 24 boys and 16 girls. On a test the class mean was 75. The mean of the girls’ score was 72.
What was the mean of the boys’ scores?
24. The measure of the second angle of a triangle is seven more than twice the measure of the first. The
third angle is fifteen less than the first. Find the measures of all the angles.
Answers: Full worked solutions will be posted at https://sites.google.com/philasd.org/chsmath
Pre-Algebra Content: Pre-Algebra Content: Algebra One Content

1. Rational expressions 4. Simplify Expressions

a. 51/35 a. -2n + 17 9c
4. −
b. 33/20 b. –r – 5 4b

c. -13/54 c. 1 + 40m – 8m2 7

5. x1 = or x 2 = 1
d. 7/27 d. 10y – 12y 2 3

e. 19/20 e. –68k2 – 8k 6. x ≤9

f. 34/7 f. 30r – 16r2 5

7. x= or y = −3
2
g. -145/56 5. Basic Geometry
a. (i) 138; (ii) 50 5 ⎛⎜ 11 ⎞ ⎛ 11 ⎞
h. 71/28 8. m = , ⎜ 0,− ⎟⎟ , ⎜⎜ ,0 ⎟⎟
b. (i) 736; (ii) 960 3 ⎝ 3⎠ ⎝5 ⎠
i. 0.15497
c. (i) 125 + 12.5π ; 7
j. 0.355 9. y = − x + 4
(ii) 36.2 + 5π
3
k. 0.0001
d. (i) 4π ; (ii) 12π 10. x = 5
l. 100/13
e. 7.5 11. perpendicular
2. Order of operations
a. -16, 16 f. (i) 41 ≈ 6.403 ; 12. 8x 3 − 6x 2 − 53x − 39
(ii) 48°
b. -1 13. 24x 2 + 27x − 30
6. Solve the equations
c. -22
a. x = -4 3y 16
14.
d. -10 7x 2
b. x = -3
e. -6
c. y = 8/3 15. −5x 4y 5
f. 2
d. b = -15 16. 2x(4x + 5)(5x − 2)
3. Percentages
e. a = -135 17. x 1 = 0 or x 2 = 4
a. 76.5
f. x = 41/5
b. 77.5 18. x 1 = −5 or x 2 = 11
g. m = -4
c. 460
h. x = 0 x −7
d. 77 19.
2x − 5
i. x=1
e. 5%
20. 175
f. 26%
21. 48
g. 1.76 Algebra One Content
22. 726
1. −20x − 48
23. 77
2. −11x − 4x − 5
2
24. 47°, 101°, 32°
2y
3. −
x −y