Search this site:

GED Information Bulletin

FCIC: GED Information Bulletin
  Return to Savvy Consumer Information Center - Home Page   

Questions You May Have - Language Arts, Writing - Social Studies - Science
Lanuage Arts, Reading - Mathematics - Sample Score Report - General Hints

Mathematics

The Mathematics Test is divided into two equally weighted parts, each containing 25 questions. On Part I of the test, you may use the Casio fx-260 calculator to compute answers. A calculator will be provided for your use at the official GED Testing Center. Because estimation and mental math are critical skills, you are not permitted to use the calculator on Part II of the test. (See calculator directions.) A math formulas page is provided for your reference during the test. (See formulas.)

The Mathematics Test assesses your understanding of mathematical concepts and the application of those concepts to various realworld situations. The following four major areas are tested on the Mathematics Test:

  • Number operation's and number sense (20%-30%)
  • Measurement and geometry (20%-30%)
  • Data analysis, statistics, and probability (20%-30%)
  • Algebra, functions, and patterns (20%30%)

Alternate-format questions

Although 80% of the mathematics questions are multiple choice, 20% of the questions require you to construct your own answer. Rather than select from five choices, you must record answers on either standard or coordi nate plane grids. Both Parts I and II of the Mathematics Test have multiple-choice, standard grid, and coordinate plane grid questions. (See directions for standard grid and coordinate plane grid.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Directions: Choose the one best answer to each question.

1. A painter mixes gallons of paint in large cylindrical bucket so that there will be no difference in color among individual gallons.

" "

If one gallon of paint has a volume of approximately 8000cm³, what is the maximum number of whole gallons of paint that can be poured into the bucket?

(1) 3
(2) 7
(3) 9
(4) 11
(5) 37

Answer: 3

The Math formulas page will be helpful for this question. You must use the appropriate formula for the volume of a cylinder and recognize that its radius, is half of the diameter shown Once the volume is computed, that answer is divided by 8000. Since only whole gallons are to be poured into the bucket, the quotient is rounded DOWN. The concept of rounding up or down (as appropriate to a particular situation) to produce a whole-number answer is an important one for you to understand.

Volume of bucket: (3.14) x (20)² x (60) = 75,360cm³

75,360 divided by 8000 = 942 gallons

Answer is rounded DOWN because 10 whole gallons would not fit. Final answer: 9 gallons

2. A surveyor made the measurements shown in the diagram below

" "

What is the measure, in feet, of AB, the straight-line distance across the stream?

(1) 50
(2) 75
(3) 80
(4) 100
(5) 150

Answer: 4

You must recognize similar triangles in the diagram and set up the correct proportion, which could be expressed as:
AC/EC = AB/ED.

Letting AB be represented by x and substituting the other measures from the diagram, the proportion is then solved for the unknown measure.

AC/EC = AB/ED becomes 40/10 = x/25

Cross-multiplying: 10x = 1000
Dividing by 10: 100
The final answer is 100 feet.

3. Shane is working with a. spreadsheet on his computer. The spreadsheet will calculate the cost of the wood trim around rectangular windows based on the dimensions of the window and the price of the wood. The following entries have been made.

Length of window in feet Width of window in feet Price per foot of wood trim Cost of trim per window
A7 B7 C7  

 

Shane wants to enter a formula in the last column so that the spreadsheet will calculate the final cost of the job.

Which of following formulas should he enter?

(1) A7 x B7 x C7
(2) (2 x A7 + 2 x B7) x C7
(3) A7 + B7 + C7
(4) (A7 + B7) x C7
(5) A7 x B7 + C7

Answer: 2

You must recognize that the perimeter of the rectangle must be found and multiplied by the cost per foot of the trim used. The cell locations become the variables in the formula.

(perimeter of rectangular window) times (price per foot of wood trim)

(2 x length + 2 x width) x price per foot
(2 x A7 + 2 X B7) x C7

Note: The following question is a specific example of questions likely to be found on the Mathematics Test, Part I, which allows the use of a calculator.

4. Last month, the balance in Tisha's checkbook was $1219.17. Since then she has deposited her latest paycheck of $2425.66 and written checks for $850.00 (rent), $235.89 (car payment), and $418.37 (credit card payment).

What is the current balance in Tisha's checking account?

(1) $ 921.40
(2) $2140.57
(3) $3215.27
(4) $3929.92
(5) $5149.09

Answer: 2

The paycheck would be added to the existing balance, and the checks written would be subtracted. The realistic amounts in the question would require considerable time for the arithmetic to be done by hand, but the values can be entered into the calculator in one continuous string as they are presented in the expression.

New balance = Old balance + Paycheck deposited - Checks written

New balance = 1219.17 + 2425.66 - 850.00 - 235.89 - 418.37

New balance = $2140.57

5. Byron purchased a $5000 certificate of deposit (CD) at his local bank. The CD will pay him 7% simple interest at the end of 2 years.

How much INTEREST, in dollars, will Byron have earned from his CD at the e end of the 2-year period?

Mark your answer in the circles in the grid on your answer sheet.

Answer: 700

" "

The formula for simple interest is found on the formulas page in the front of the Mathematics Test,

simple interest = principal x rate x time
simple interest = $5000 x 0.07 x 2
simple interest = $700

Alternate-format responses can be right-left-, or center-justified, as shown in the examples below.

6. One ingredient in the sauce Kyle is preparing for tonight's dinner is a ½ teaspoon of red pepper. If the recipe he is using is designed to make enough sauce for 8
servings, but Kyle is making only 4 servings, what fraction of a teaspoon of red pepper should he use?

Mark your answer in the circles in the grid on your answer sheet.

Answer: ¼, 0.25, or .25

Since Kyle is serving four from a recipe designed for eight, he needs 4/8, or ½, the amount of each ingredient. One half of ½ teaspoon is found by multiplying:
(½) x (½) = ¼

This answer could also be gridded using the decimal equivalent of ¼, namely 0.25, or .25 but, in this example, the fraction is gridded to illustrate the use of the fraction bar.

" "

Note: In the last two examples, a. decimal answer and a fraction were gridded. Mixed numbers, such as 3½, CANNOT be gridded. They must be changed to decimal or fraction form. In the case of 3½, the answer could be gridded as 3.5 or 7/2 .

Answers for alternate-format questions using the standard grid shown in the previous two examples will NEVER be a negative number, such as -8, since the grid does not accommodate negative numbers.

Both of the points mentioned above are included in the directions for alternate-format questions found on the actual test

7. Show the location of the point whose coordinates are (3, -4).

Mark your answer on the coordinating plane grid on your answer sheet.

Answer: See coordinate plane grid

" "

The coordinates in the ordered pair are listed with the x-coordinate (horizontal) first and the y-coordinate (vertical) second. The point (3, - 4) is located in the lower-right, or fourth, quadrant of the graph.

 

Hints for Mathematics

The Mathematics Test is in two booklets. Each part has 25 questions. The total time for taking the Mathematics Test is 90 minutes.

For Part I, a calculator (the Casio fx-260) will be provided for your use. However, you are not required to use it. If you plan to use the calculator, become familiar with its operations before you take the test. Basic directions for the calculator are provided here and on the actual test.

Ten questions (seven on Part I and three on Part II) on the Mathematics Test are not multiple choice. These are not the most difficult questions on the test. You should become familiar with the methods of recording your answers for these alternate-format questions (standard grid and coordinate plane grid).

On the coordinate plane grid, make sure that you fill in only one circle to represent your answer. If you fill in more than one circle on your graph, your response will be marked as incorrect.

You will be provided with a page of formulas at the front of the Mathmatics Test booklets. Those formulas are also here for your convenience. Become familiar with what is included on this page in advance of the test so that you will be able to find information more quickly during the test. You do not have to memorize the formulas.

Some questions will provide you with more information than you need to answer them correctly. Use only the data that are relevant to the particular question.

Some multiple-choice questions may not contain enough information to answer the question, In that case, the correct response is "Not enough information is given."

When you obtain an answer, take a moment to determine whether your answer makes sense given the parameters of the problem. For example, if your calculation indicates that a 1-pound bag of carrots cost $25, you should check your work for errors because $25 is not a reasonable price for this item.

Use your personal experience to solve the problems. The settings used for the problems in the Mathematics Test are usually realistic. For example, in a test question that requires you to compute weekly earnings, ask yourself, "How would I calculate my weekly earnings?"

In diagrams, do not assume that lines are parallel or perpendicular unless the problem gives you that information in either words or symbols. This rule is true even when the lines look parallel or perpendicular.

  Return to Savvy Consumer Information Center - Home Page   
Search this site:


Get the Savvy Consumer Newsletter! (FREE)