WGU C957 APPLIED ALGEBRA OA EXAM 2026
ACTUAL REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
WITH STUDY GUIDE actual!!!
QUESTION 1
The following graph shows the profits of a company for the last fiscal year. The
profit at the beginning of the year was $500,000 and at the end of the year was
$650,000. Approximately how much have the company's profits increased over
the last year?
A) 20%
B) 25%
C) 30%
D) 35%
Answer: C) 30%
Rationale:
A) 20% is incorrect because this would represent an increase of only $100,000
($500,000 × 0.20 = $100,000), resulting in $600,000, which is below the actual
ending profit of $650,000.
,B) 25% is incorrect because this would represent an increase of $125,000
($500,000 × 0.25 = $125,000), resulting in $625,000, which does not match the
actual ending profit.
C) 30% is correct because the profit increased by $150,000 ($650,000 - $500,000 =
$150,000), and $150,000 ÷ $500,000 = 0.30 = 30%.
D) 35% is incorrect because this would represent an increase of $175,000
($500,000 × 0.35 = $175,000), resulting in $675,000, which exceeds the actual
ending profit.
QUESTION 2
Black Monday occurred on October 19, 1987, and represents the single largest
decline of the Dow Jones average in history. The function f represents a seven-
month period during which Black Monday occurred. The function value f(1)
represents the Dow Jones average in June of 1987. Which function value
represents the Dow Jones average during the month when Black Monday
occurred?
A) f(3)
B) f(4)
C) f(5)
D) f(6)
Answer: C) f(5)
,Rationale:
A) f(3) is incorrect because if f(1) represents June, then f(2) would be July, f(3)
would be August, which is not October.
B) f(4) is incorrect because f(4) would represent September, which is not the
month of Black Monday.
C) f(5) is correct because if f(1) = June, then f(2) = July, f(3) = August, f(4) =
September, and f(5) = October, which is when Black Monday occurred.
D) f(6) is incorrect because f(6) would represent November, which is after Black
Monday occurred.
QUESTION 3
The unemployment rate in Poland for the time period from 1990 to 2012 is shown
in the graph using the function U(t) (measured as a percentage), where t is the
year. The unemployment rate in 1990 was 5%, in 1992 it was 15%, and in 1994 it
was 18%. What can be concluded based on this graph?
A) The largest two-year increase in unemployment was from 1992 to 1994.
B) The largest two-year increase in unemployment was from 1990 to 1992.
C) The unemployment rate steadily decreased from 1990 to 2012.
D) The unemployment rate remained constant from 1990 to 2012.
Answer: B) The largest two-year increase in unemployment was from 1990 to
1992.
, Rationale:
A) is incorrect because from 1992 to 1994, the unemployment rate increased
from 15% to 18%, which is a 3% increase, smaller than the 10% increase from
1990 to 1992.
B) is correct because from 1990 to 1992, the unemployment rate increased from
5% to 15%, which is a 10% increase, the largest two-year increase shown.
C) is incorrect because the data shows unemployment actually increased from
1990 to 1994, not decreased.
D) is incorrect because the data shows significant changes in the unemployment
rate over this period.
QUESTION 4
The graph of the function C below represents the number of coal miners in the
United States from 1985 to 2015. C(y) represents the number of coal miners in
the United States in the year y. According to the graph, C(1985) shows there were
170,000 coal miners in the United States in 1985 and C(2000) shows there were
70,000 coal miners. Which interpretation of the function C is accurate?
A) C(1990) represents 100,000 coal miners in 1990.
B) C(2000) represents 70,000 coal miners in 2000.
C) C(1985) represents 200,000 coal miners in 1985.
D) C(2010) represents 50,000 coal miners in 2010.
ACTUAL REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
WITH STUDY GUIDE actual!!!
QUESTION 1
The following graph shows the profits of a company for the last fiscal year. The
profit at the beginning of the year was $500,000 and at the end of the year was
$650,000. Approximately how much have the company's profits increased over
the last year?
A) 20%
B) 25%
C) 30%
D) 35%
Answer: C) 30%
Rationale:
A) 20% is incorrect because this would represent an increase of only $100,000
($500,000 × 0.20 = $100,000), resulting in $600,000, which is below the actual
ending profit of $650,000.
,B) 25% is incorrect because this would represent an increase of $125,000
($500,000 × 0.25 = $125,000), resulting in $625,000, which does not match the
actual ending profit.
C) 30% is correct because the profit increased by $150,000 ($650,000 - $500,000 =
$150,000), and $150,000 ÷ $500,000 = 0.30 = 30%.
D) 35% is incorrect because this would represent an increase of $175,000
($500,000 × 0.35 = $175,000), resulting in $675,000, which exceeds the actual
ending profit.
QUESTION 2
Black Monday occurred on October 19, 1987, and represents the single largest
decline of the Dow Jones average in history. The function f represents a seven-
month period during which Black Monday occurred. The function value f(1)
represents the Dow Jones average in June of 1987. Which function value
represents the Dow Jones average during the month when Black Monday
occurred?
A) f(3)
B) f(4)
C) f(5)
D) f(6)
Answer: C) f(5)
,Rationale:
A) f(3) is incorrect because if f(1) represents June, then f(2) would be July, f(3)
would be August, which is not October.
B) f(4) is incorrect because f(4) would represent September, which is not the
month of Black Monday.
C) f(5) is correct because if f(1) = June, then f(2) = July, f(3) = August, f(4) =
September, and f(5) = October, which is when Black Monday occurred.
D) f(6) is incorrect because f(6) would represent November, which is after Black
Monday occurred.
QUESTION 3
The unemployment rate in Poland for the time period from 1990 to 2012 is shown
in the graph using the function U(t) (measured as a percentage), where t is the
year. The unemployment rate in 1990 was 5%, in 1992 it was 15%, and in 1994 it
was 18%. What can be concluded based on this graph?
A) The largest two-year increase in unemployment was from 1992 to 1994.
B) The largest two-year increase in unemployment was from 1990 to 1992.
C) The unemployment rate steadily decreased from 1990 to 2012.
D) The unemployment rate remained constant from 1990 to 2012.
Answer: B) The largest two-year increase in unemployment was from 1990 to
1992.
, Rationale:
A) is incorrect because from 1992 to 1994, the unemployment rate increased
from 15% to 18%, which is a 3% increase, smaller than the 10% increase from
1990 to 1992.
B) is correct because from 1990 to 1992, the unemployment rate increased from
5% to 15%, which is a 10% increase, the largest two-year increase shown.
C) is incorrect because the data shows unemployment actually increased from
1990 to 1994, not decreased.
D) is incorrect because the data shows significant changes in the unemployment
rate over this period.
QUESTION 4
The graph of the function C below represents the number of coal miners in the
United States from 1985 to 2015. C(y) represents the number of coal miners in
the United States in the year y. According to the graph, C(1985) shows there were
170,000 coal miners in the United States in 1985 and C(2000) shows there were
70,000 coal miners. Which interpretation of the function C is accurate?
A) C(1990) represents 100,000 coal miners in 1990.
B) C(2000) represents 70,000 coal miners in 2000.
C) C(1985) represents 200,000 coal miners in 1985.
D) C(2010) represents 50,000 coal miners in 2010.
