Mathematics Knowledge ASVAB questions with verified correct answers

Mathematics Knowledge - ASVAB (full) test 1: If a = 5/2 then 1/a = A. 2 B. 5 C. 2/5 D. 5/2 C. 2/5 C. Substitute 5/2 for a, giving you 1/a = 1/(5/2) = 1 x 2/5 = 2/5. Mathematics Knowledge - ASVAB (full) test 2: 12 is 15% of what number? A. 0.0125 B. 1.8 C. 18 D. 80 D. 80 D. Let n represent the number. If 12 is 15% of n, then 12 = 0.15n. Divide both sides by 0.15. Therefore, n = 80. Mathematics Knowledge - ASVAB (full) test 3: Evaluate 3x + 7 when x = -3. A. -2 B. 10 C. 16 D. 30 A. -2 A. Substitute -3 for x. Then 3(-3) + 7 = -9 + 7 = -2. Mathematics Knowledge - ASVAB (full) test 4: Find the diagonal of a square whose area is 36. A. 6 B. 6√2 C. 9 D. 9 √2 B. 6√2 B. The area of a square is s2 where s is a side of the square. If s2 = 36, then s = 6. The diagonal of a square forms two right triangles; d is the hypotenuse and the two legs are 6 units long. Using the Pythagorean theorem, d2 = 62 + 62 = 36 + 36 = 72. Therefore, d = √72 = 6√2. Mathematics Knowledge - ASVAB (full) test 5: If a + b = 6, what is the value of 3a + 3b? A. 9 B. 12 C. 18 D. 24 C. 18 C. 3a + 3b = 3(a + b). Since a + b = 6, 3a + 3b = 3(6) = 18. Mathematics Knowledge - ASVAB (full) test 6: Find the length of the radius in the following figure. A. 3 B. 4 C. 5 D. 10 C. 5 C. The hypotenuse of the triangle is the diameter of the circle. By the Pythagorean theorem, d2 = 62 + 82= 36 + 64 = 100. So d = √100 = 10 and the radius is 10/2=5. Mathematics Knowledge - ASVAB (full) test 7: (3 - 1)×7 - 12 ÷ 2 = A. 1 B. -2 C. 4 D. 8 D. 8 D. Following the correct order of operations produces: (3 - 1) × 7 - 12÷2 = 2 × 7 - (12÷2) = 14 - 6 = 8. Mathematics Knowledge - ASVAB (full) test 8: The greatest common factor of 24 and 36 is A. 6 B. 12 C. 36 D. 72 B. 12 B. Factors of 24 are 2 × 2 × 2 × 3. Factors of 36 are 2 × 2 × 3 × 3. The greatest common factor is 2 × 2 × 3 = 12. Mathematics Knowledge - ASVAB (full) test 9: Solve for m: 3m - 12 = -6 A. -6 B. 0 C. 2 D. 6 C. 2 C. 3m - 12 + 12 = -6 + 12; 3m = 6; Dividing both sides by 3 results in m = 2. Mathematics Knowledge - ASVAB (full) test 10: If 7p + 5q = -3, find q when p = 1. A. -1 B. -2 C. -1. D. -0. B. -2 B. Substitute 1 for p and solve for q. 7(1) + 5q = -3 and 7 + 5q = -3. 7 + 5q - 7 = -3 - 7 and 5q = -10. Dividing both sides by 5 results in q = -2. Mathematics Knowledge - ASVAB (full) test 11: The slope of the line shown is A. -2/5 B. -5/2 C. 2/5 D. 5/2 C. 2/5 C. Slope is found by identifying two points on the line and finding the (change in y)/(change in x). The points (0, 0) and (5, 2) form the slope (2 - 0)/(5 - 0) = 2/5. Mathematics Knowledge - ASVAB (full) test 12: Simplify (9x2y3z-12xy2z2)/3yz A. 3xy2z2 - 4xyz B. 3xy2z - 12xyz C. 3x2y2 - 4xyz D. 3y2 - 4xy2z2 C. 3x2y2 - 4xyz C. (9x2y3z - 12xy2z2)/3yz = 9x2y3z/3yz - 12xy2z2/3yz = 3x2y2 - 4xyz Mathematics Knowledge - ASVAB (full) test 13: The value of x is A. 70° B. 110° C. 140° D. 210° B. 110° B. The angle adjacent to the 140° angle is 40° since supplementary angles add to 180°. The angles of a triangle add to 180° so the angle adjacent to angle x is 180° - 70° - 40° = 70°. Angle x and 70° are supplementary, so x = 180° - 70° = 110°. Mathematics Knowledge - ASVAB (full) test 14: In a standard deck of playing cards, a king of hearts is drawn and not replaced. What is the probability of drawing another king from the deck? A. 1/4 B. 1/13 C. 1/17 D. 3/52 C. 1/17 C Probability is ?. Since one king was drawn and not replaced, three kings remain in the deck of 51 cards. So the probability of drawing another king is ?. Mathematics Knowledge - ASVAB (full) test 15: How many minutes are there in 1 week? A. 10,080 B. 1,440 C. 420 D. 168 A. 10,080 A. There are 60 minutes in 1 hour, 24 hours in 1 day, and 7 days in 1 week. So 1 week = ? = 7 × 24 × 60 = 10,080 minutes. Mathematics Knowledge - ASVAB (full) test 16: If 2b+3=1/8, b= A. -6 B. -3 C. 0 D. 2 A. -6 A. 1/8=1/23=2-3 so 2b+3=2-3 and b + 3 = -3. Therefore, b + 3 - 3 = -3 - 3 = -6. Mathematics Knowledge - ASVAB (full) test 17: The angles of a triangle are in the ratio 3:4:5. What is the measure of the smallest angle? A. 15° B. 30° C. 45° D. 75° C. 45° C. Angles in a triangle add to 180°. So 3x + 4x + 5x = 180° and 12x = 180°. Dividing both sides by 12 results in x = 15°. The smallest angle is represented by 3x = 3(15°) = 45°. Mathematics Knowledge - ASVAB (full) test 18: Subtract (2x3-3x+1)-(x2-3x-2) A. 2x3-x2+3 B. 2x3-x2-6x-1 C. x3-6x-1 D. x2+3 A. 2x3-x2+3 A. Subtraction can be changed to addition by changing the signs in the entire term being subtracted. (2x3 -3x +1) - (x2-3x-2)=(2x3-3x+1) + (-x2+3x+2).. Combine like terms: 2x3-x2-3x+3x+1+2=2x3-x2+3. Mathematics Knowledge - ASVAB (full) test 19: If the area of a square is 400, what is the length of its side? A. 20 B. 40 C. 100 D. 200 A. 20 A. The area of a square is s2 where s is a side of the square. If s2 = 400, then s = √400 = 20.