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MATHEMATICS FOR PLUMBERS – 8TH EDITION PRACTICE EXAM 50
SURE Questions with Detailed Rationales
Question 1
A plumber cuts a pipe into three pieces: 5¾ ft, 3⅝ ft, and 2⅜ ft.
What is the total length of the pipe used?
A. 11⅝ ft
B. 11¾ ft
C. 11⅞ ft
D. 12 ft
Answer: B
Rationale: Add whole numbers: 5 + 3 + 2 = 10. Add fractions: ¾
+ ⅝ + ⅜ = 6/8 + 5/8 + 3/8 = 14/8 = 1¾. Total = 10 + 1¾ = 11¾ ft.
Question 2
A piece of pipe is 8⅞ ft long. If a plumber cuts off 3⅜ ft, how
much pipe remains?
A. 5½ ft
B. 5⅝ ft
C. 5¼ ft
D. 5¾ ft
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Answer: A
Rationale: Convert to eighths: 8⅞ = 71/8; 3⅜ = 27/8. Subtract:
71/8 – 27/8 = 44/8 = 5½ ft.
Question 3
A plumber needs 18 pieces of pipe, each 2¼ ft long. What total
length of pipe is required?
A. 36 ft
B. 40½ ft
C. 42 ft
D. 45 ft
Answer: B
Rationale: 18 × 2¼ = 18 × 9/4 = 162/4 = 40½ ft.
Question 4
What is the decimal equivalent of ⅝?
A. 0.625
B. 0.58
C. 0.75
D. 0.875
Answer: A
Rationale: 5 ÷ 8 = 0.625.
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Question 5
Convert 0.375 to a fraction in lowest terms.
A. ⅜
B. 3/10
C. 3/8
D. 37/100
Answer: C
Rationale: 0.375 = 375/1000 = 3/8.
Question 6
A plumber is installing a pipe that runs 24 ft horizontally and 6 ft
vertically. What is the length of the diagonal pipe needed?
A. 24.7 ft
B. 25.0 ft
C. 25.5 ft
D. 26.0 ft
Answer: A
Rationale: Use Pythagorean theorem: diagonal = √(24² + 6²) =
√(576 + 36) = √612 ≈ 24.7 ft.
Question 7
MATHEMATICS FOR PLUMBERS – 8TH EDITION PRACTICE EXAM 50
SURE Questions with Detailed Rationales
Question 1
A plumber cuts a pipe into three pieces: 5¾ ft, 3⅝ ft, and 2⅜ ft.
What is the total length of the pipe used?
A. 11⅝ ft
B. 11¾ ft
C. 11⅞ ft
D. 12 ft
Answer: B
Rationale: Add whole numbers: 5 + 3 + 2 = 10. Add fractions: ¾
+ ⅝ + ⅜ = 6/8 + 5/8 + 3/8 = 14/8 = 1¾. Total = 10 + 1¾ = 11¾ ft.
Question 2
A piece of pipe is 8⅞ ft long. If a plumber cuts off 3⅜ ft, how
much pipe remains?
A. 5½ ft
B. 5⅝ ft
C. 5¼ ft
D. 5¾ ft
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Answer: A
Rationale: Convert to eighths: 8⅞ = 71/8; 3⅜ = 27/8. Subtract:
71/8 – 27/8 = 44/8 = 5½ ft.
Question 3
A plumber needs 18 pieces of pipe, each 2¼ ft long. What total
length of pipe is required?
A. 36 ft
B. 40½ ft
C. 42 ft
D. 45 ft
Answer: B
Rationale: 18 × 2¼ = 18 × 9/4 = 162/4 = 40½ ft.
Question 4
What is the decimal equivalent of ⅝?
A. 0.625
B. 0.58
C. 0.75
D. 0.875
Answer: A
Rationale: 5 ÷ 8 = 0.625.
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Question 5
Convert 0.375 to a fraction in lowest terms.
A. ⅜
B. 3/10
C. 3/8
D. 37/100
Answer: C
Rationale: 0.375 = 375/1000 = 3/8.
Question 6
A plumber is installing a pipe that runs 24 ft horizontally and 6 ft
vertically. What is the length of the diagonal pipe needed?
A. 24.7 ft
B. 25.0 ft
C. 25.5 ft
D. 26.0 ft
Answer: A
Rationale: Use Pythagorean theorem: diagonal = √(24² + 6²) =
√(576 + 36) = √612 ≈ 24.7 ft.
Question 7
