Montana State University Sample Mathematics Placement Level Exam ‘The Math Placement Level Exam (MPLEX) is an essential prt of your course schedule planning It s offered during Orientation and the beginning of each semester. The results are good for one year. [twill assist you in selecting the mathematics course which matches you academic preparation. if you enrol ina course that is inappropriate for your skill level it can be costly to you in time, money and frustration. In an effor to alleviate the problems caused by mismatching a course's demands with a student's mathematical skills, prerequisites are enforced, Statistics indicate that, when mathematics prerequisites are enforced, students are more successful in the mathematics courses they take Please work through he following example questions. They are representative both in format and content of the type of questions you will be presented with while taking the MPLEX at a computer ter- sminal. Answers are multiple choice or fill-in-the-blank ‘You will be placed in one of the levels (Level | through Level V) of courses we offer at MSU, ‘Your placement level is displayed on the sereen immediately after you complete the exam. A calculator is permitted but not necessary. ‘The correct answers for the sample problems below are given on the last exam page. If you require additional practice problems, the MSU bookstore sells the APCAW (Algebra, Pre Calculus: A Work- book) for approximately $10.00. Good luck with your preparation forthe Math Placement Level Exam. Questions 1-5 focus on basic arithmetic. If they present diffi ‘tempting the MPLEX if you hope to bypass M 065 (Prealzebra). ly, you should review a Prealgebra textbook before at- Lg+h-E ) ) £ os @ (e) none of these 2. 20 is what percent of 0.5? (a) 4000% (b) 25% (©) 40% (a) 25% (6) none of these 3 At gene (b) 18 ©) 6 @ 0 (©) none of these 49-21-35 -7)5] Evaluate ab®—be when (>) 24 (@ -101 (©) none of theseQuestions 6-11 focus on beginning algebra material. Ifthey present difficulty, you should review an Algebra textbook before attempting the MPLEX if you hope to bypass M 096 or M 097 (Survey of Algebra). 6, Solve: 8 Gw <7 1 7 © w5 (b) w> 7. Solve: -2(t-+6) = (b) it (t+ 1) -u (a) (©) none of these 8. Find an equation of the line passing through the points (~6,2) and (4, ~3) (a) y= 22410 oy 2rd @y (e) none of these 9. Solve the following system of equations. e+ 5y=-7 Phe y-coordinate of the solution is y = 10 (2076°)$(3ab5)? = (a) 720-5 ()12a-28 (72a (A) 1a"H——(@) none of these 11. Solve 6a? +a—35=0. The =1 -7 (b) a (©) none of these (a) aQuestions 12-17 focus on advanced algebra material. If they present difficulty, you should review a College Algebra textbook before attempting the MPLEX if you hope to bypass M 121 (College Algebra) 20-3 (a) (0) none of these T+ (a) r=30rr=1 13, Solve: () r= 1only (@) no solution (©) none of these 1M, Solve: Bay for 2 (o) 2 ©) © ae (©) none of these 15. The two roots of: 32? — 2 are and 16. Solve: p= (p-+20)? (@) p=borp=-4 (0) p=5only (© p=oony (@)_ ther is no solution (©) none ofthese 17, Jim’s speed for most of his 300 mile road trip was 65 mph, When traveling over icy mountain passes his speed. slowed to 40 mph. If the total time of the trip was 5 hours, how many miles were driven at 65 mph? (a) 260 miles (b) 220 miles (c) 90 miles. (4). 40 miles (@),_ nome of these18, 19, 20. nt 2, 23, Questions 18-23 focus on material from trigonometry and other advanced math topies. If your math background ‘exceeds the minimum entrance requirements and you hope to start wit calculus, you will also answer questions from this set. You may need to review appropriate textbooks before attempting the MPLEX if you hope to bypass M 151 (Precaleulus), What is the domain of f(x) = (x +2)-! (a) (2.2) (b) (20, 90) (©) (20,2)U 2,00) (@)_ (00-2) U(-2,00) (©) none of these We feyaa she and gle) 45, ten Ho) = 2450 1 beta © TH ©) Byes Gea 24504. (e) none of these @ Pesery (6) none oft Solve: log5-+ 2logr = 8 () c=vOH—) 203 ©) r= 2VD —(@) r= 10VF —(@)_ nome of thee we sing=2 ond Zeder then cand cos(s @ (0) _cos(90° —2) ot @a (6) none of these 1 1 1-sind 1+sin@ @) 0 (b) —2esea (0) 2sind sec? 6 (a) 2eosbrese? # (e) none of these KEY: 1b 2a 3d 4-H Se Ba Tb Sd G1 Wa Lad 12. Ind MMe 15.-1,2/8 16b Ia Id 16 Wd W-4/3 Wa We