MAT 202 Midterm Exam College Algebra Questions And Answers
2026/2027 Jersey College
Q1. Evaluate 3 x−5when x=4.
A) 7
B) 9
C) 12
D) 17
Correct Answer: A) 7
Rationale: Substitute 4 for x : 3 ( 4 )−5=12−5=7.
Q2. Which algebraic expression represents “7 less than twice a
number n ”?
A) 7−2 n
B) 2 n−7
C) 2 ( n−7 )
D) 7 n−2
Correct Answer: B) 2 n−7
Rationale: Twice the number is 2 n, and 7 less than that quantity is 2 n−7 .
Q3. Simplify 4 a+3 a−5.
A) 12 a−5
B) 7 a+5
C) 7 a−5
D) a−5
Correct Answer: C) 7 a−5
Rationale: The like terms 4 aand 3 a combine to give 7 a , while the constant
remains −5.
Q4. Evaluate ∣−12 ∣.
A) −12
B) 0
C) 1
D) 12
Correct Answer: D) 12
Rationale: Absolute value represents distance from zero, so ∣−12 ∣=12.
,Q5. Evaluate −3+8 .
A) 5
B) −5
C) 11
D) −11
Correct Answer: A) 5
Rationale: Adding 8 to −3moves 8 units to the right on the number line,
giving 5.
Q6. Evaluate 5−2 ( 3−7 ) .
A) −3
B) 13
C) 3
D) 9
Correct Answer: B) 13
Rationale: First calculate 3−7=−4 . Then 2 (−4 )=−8, so 5−(−8 )=13 .
Q7. Simplify 6 x +2 x−9.
A) 8 x +9
B) 4 x−9
C) 8 x−9
D) 12 x−9
Correct Answer: C) 8 x−9
Rationale: Combine the like terms 6 x +2 x=8 x , leaving 8 x−9 .
Q8. Use the distributive property to simplify −4 ( 2 x−3 ).
A) −8 x−12
B) 8 x−12
C) 8 x +12
D) −8 x +12
Correct Answer: D) −8 x +12
Rationale: Multiply −4by both terms: −4 ( 2 x )=−8 xand −4 (−3 )=12 .
CHAPTER 2 — OPERATIONS WITH REAL NUMBERS AND EXPRESSIONS
, 2 5
Q9. Simplify + .
3 6
3
A)
2
7
B)
9
7
C)
6
5
D)
3
3
Correct Answer: A)
2
2 4 4 5 9 3
Rationale: Convert to . Then + = = .
3 6 6 6 6 2
−15
Q10. Evaluate .
3
A) 5
B) −5
C) −12
D) 12
Correct Answer: B) −5
Rationale: A negative number divided by a positive number is negative, and
15 ÷ 3=5.
Q11. Simplify 3 ( 2 x + 4 ) −5 x .
A) x +4
B) 11 x+ 12
C) x +12
D) 6 x−1
Correct Answer: C) x +12
Rationale: Distribute first: 6 x +12−5 x=x +12.
Q12. Evaluate 23 +4 ( 2 ).
A) 10
B) 12
2026/2027 Jersey College
Q1. Evaluate 3 x−5when x=4.
A) 7
B) 9
C) 12
D) 17
Correct Answer: A) 7
Rationale: Substitute 4 for x : 3 ( 4 )−5=12−5=7.
Q2. Which algebraic expression represents “7 less than twice a
number n ”?
A) 7−2 n
B) 2 n−7
C) 2 ( n−7 )
D) 7 n−2
Correct Answer: B) 2 n−7
Rationale: Twice the number is 2 n, and 7 less than that quantity is 2 n−7 .
Q3. Simplify 4 a+3 a−5.
A) 12 a−5
B) 7 a+5
C) 7 a−5
D) a−5
Correct Answer: C) 7 a−5
Rationale: The like terms 4 aand 3 a combine to give 7 a , while the constant
remains −5.
Q4. Evaluate ∣−12 ∣.
A) −12
B) 0
C) 1
D) 12
Correct Answer: D) 12
Rationale: Absolute value represents distance from zero, so ∣−12 ∣=12.
,Q5. Evaluate −3+8 .
A) 5
B) −5
C) 11
D) −11
Correct Answer: A) 5
Rationale: Adding 8 to −3moves 8 units to the right on the number line,
giving 5.
Q6. Evaluate 5−2 ( 3−7 ) .
A) −3
B) 13
C) 3
D) 9
Correct Answer: B) 13
Rationale: First calculate 3−7=−4 . Then 2 (−4 )=−8, so 5−(−8 )=13 .
Q7. Simplify 6 x +2 x−9.
A) 8 x +9
B) 4 x−9
C) 8 x−9
D) 12 x−9
Correct Answer: C) 8 x−9
Rationale: Combine the like terms 6 x +2 x=8 x , leaving 8 x−9 .
Q8. Use the distributive property to simplify −4 ( 2 x−3 ).
A) −8 x−12
B) 8 x−12
C) 8 x +12
D) −8 x +12
Correct Answer: D) −8 x +12
Rationale: Multiply −4by both terms: −4 ( 2 x )=−8 xand −4 (−3 )=12 .
CHAPTER 2 — OPERATIONS WITH REAL NUMBERS AND EXPRESSIONS
, 2 5
Q9. Simplify + .
3 6
3
A)
2
7
B)
9
7
C)
6
5
D)
3
3
Correct Answer: A)
2
2 4 4 5 9 3
Rationale: Convert to . Then + = = .
3 6 6 6 6 2
−15
Q10. Evaluate .
3
A) 5
B) −5
C) −12
D) 12
Correct Answer: B) −5
Rationale: A negative number divided by a positive number is negative, and
15 ÷ 3=5.
Q11. Simplify 3 ( 2 x + 4 ) −5 x .
A) x +4
B) 11 x+ 12
C) x +12
D) 6 x−1
Correct Answer: C) x +12
Rationale: Distribute first: 6 x +12−5 x=x +12.
Q12. Evaluate 23 +4 ( 2 ).
A) 10
B) 12
