Elementary Quantitative Methods (Unisa 2026) Questions With Verified Answers Detailed Rationales Graded A+

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ELEMENTARY QUANTITATIVE METHODS (UNISA 2026)
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS DETAILED
RATIONALES GRADED A+




Elementary Quantitative Methods (UNISA 2026)

Questions 1–25: Basic Arithmetic & Algebra

1. A student is evaluating the expression 18 − 6 × 2 + 4and must apply the correct order of
operations, so which value is correct?

A. 28
B. 10
C. 16
D. 8
Answer: B. Rationale: Multiplication is performed before subtraction and addition: 6 × 2 = 12,
then 18 − 12 + 4 = 10.

2. A student is simplifying the algebraic expression 3(2𝑥 + 5) − 4𝑥and must collect like
terms, so which expression is correct?

A. 2𝑥 + 15
B. 6𝑥 + 15
C. 2𝑥 + 5
D. 10𝑥 + 15
Answer: A. Rationale: Distribute: 6𝑥 + 15 − 4𝑥 = 2𝑥 + 15.

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4
3. A student is finding the reciprocal of the fraction 7and must apply the correct rule, so which

value is correct?

7
A. 4
4
B. − 7
4
C. 7
7
D. − 4

Answer: A. Rationale: The reciprocal of a fraction is found by flipping the numerator and
denominator.

2 6
4. A student is multiplying the fractions 3 × 5and must simplify the result, so which value is

correct?

4
A. 5
12
B. 15
5
C. 4
3
D. 5
2×6 12 4
Answer: A. Rationale: 3×5 = 15, which simplifies to 5.

5. A student is calculating 25% of 200 and must apply the percentage formula, so which value
is correct?

A. 25
B. 50
C. 75
D. 100
Answer: B. Rationale: 200 × 0.25 = 50.

6. A student is solving the equation 3𝑥 + 7 = 22for 𝑥and must isolate the variable, so which
value is correct?


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A. 𝑥 = 5
B. 𝑥 = 6
C. 𝑥 = 7
D. 𝑥 = 4
Answer: A. Rationale: 3𝑥 = 15, so 𝑥 = 5.

7. A student is simplifying the expression √64 + √36and must evaluate each square root, so
which value is correct?

A. 10
B. 14
C. 12
D. 16
Answer: B. Rationale: √64 = 8and √36 = 6, so 8 + 6 = 14.

8. A student is finding the lowest common multiple (LCM) of 6 and 8 and must list multiples,
so which value is correct?

A. 12
B. 24
C. 48
D. 16
Answer: B. Rationale: Multiples of 6: 6, 12, 18, 24; multiples of 8: 8, 16, 24. The LCM is 24.

𝑎3 𝑏 2
9. A student is simplifying the expression and must apply the laws of exponents, so which
𝑎2 𝑏

expression is correct?

A. 𝑎𝑏
B. 𝑎5 𝑏 3
C. 𝑎6 𝑏 2
D. 𝑎3 𝑏
Answer: A. Rationale: Subtract exponents: 𝑎3−2 𝑏 2−1 = 𝑎1 𝑏1 = 𝑎𝑏.


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10. A student is simplifying the expression 6 + 4(3 − 1)and must apply the order of
operations, so which value is correct?

A. 8
B. 10
C. 14
D. 20
Answer: C. Rationale: Brackets first: 3 − 1 = 2; then multiplication: 4 × 2 = 8; then addition:
6 + 8 = 14.

11. A student is identifying which law states that changing the order of addition does not
change the answer, so which law is correct?

A. Associative law
B. Distributive law
C. Commutative law
D. Exponential law
Answer: C. Rationale: The commutative law states that 𝑎 + 𝑏 = 𝑏 + 𝑎.

18
12. A student is reducing the fraction 24to its lowest terms and must divide by the greatest

common divisor, so which fraction is correct?

2
A. 3
3
B. 4
6
C. 8
9
D. 12
18÷6 3
Answer: B. Rationale: The GCD of 18 and 24 is 6, so 24÷6 = 4.

13. A student is converting the decimal 0.48 into a percentage and must multiply by 100, so
which value is correct?




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