Numeric Entry Sample Questions

One pen costs $0.25 and one marker costs $0.35. At those prices, what is the total cost of 18 pens and 100 markers?

$

Explanation

Multiplying $0.25 by 18 yields $4.50, which is the cost of the 18 pens; and multiplying $0.35 by 100 yields $35.00, which is the cost of the 100 markers. The total cost is therefore  Equivalent decimals, such as $39.5 or $39.500, are considered correct. Thus the correct answer is $39.50 (or equivalent).

Note that the dollar symbol is in front of the answer box, so the symbol $ does not need to be entered in the box. In fact, only numbers, a decimal point and a negative sign can be entered in the answer box.

Rectangle R has length 30 and width 10, and square S has length 5. The perimeter of S is what fraction of the perimeter of R ?

Explanation

The perimeter of R is  and the perimeter of S is  Therefore, the perimeter of S is  of the perimeter of R. To enter the answer  you should enter the numerator 20 in the top box and the denominator 80 in the bottom box. Because the fraction does not need to be reduced to lowest terms, any fraction that is equivalent to  is also considered correct, as long as it fits in the boxes. For example, both of the fractions  and  are considered correct. Thus the correct answer is  (or any equivalent fraction).

Figure 7

Results of a Used-Car Auction

For the large cars sold at an auction that is summarized in the table above, what was the average sale price per car?

$

Explanation

From Figure 7, you see that the number of large cars sold was 20 and the sales total for large cars was $120,000 (not $120). Thus the average sale price per car was The correct answer is $6,000 (or equivalent).

(In numbers that are 1,000 or greater, you do not need to enter commas in the answer box.)

A merchant made a profit of $5 on the sale of a sweater that cost the merchant $15. What is the profit expressed as a percent of the merchant's cost?

Give your answer to the nearest whole percent.

%

Explanation

The percent profit is  percent, which is 33%, to the nearest whole percent. Thus the correct answer is 33% (or equivalent).

If you use the calculator and the Transfer Display button, the number that will be transferred to the answer box is 33.333333, which is incorrect since it is not given to the nearest whole percent. You will need to adjust the number in the answer box by deleting all of the digits to the right of the decimal point.

Also, since you are asked to give the answer as a percent, the decimal equivalent of 33 percent, which is 0.33, is incorrect. The percent symbol next to the answer box indicates that the form of the answer must be a percent. Entering 0.33 in the box would give the erroneous answer 0.33%.

Working alone at its constant rate, machine A produces k liters of a chemical in 10 minutes. Working alone at its constant rate, machine B produces k liters of the chemical in 15 minutes. How many minutes does it take machines A and B, working simultaneously at their respective constant rates, to produce k liters of the chemical?

 minutes

Explanation

Machine A produces  liters per minute, and machine B produces  liters per minute. So when the machines work simultaneously, the rate at which the chemical is produced is the sum of these two rates, which is  liters per minute. To compute the time required to produce k liters at this rate, divide the amount k by the rate  to get Therefore, the correct answer is 6 minutes (or equivalent).

One way to check that the answer of 6 minutes is reasonable is to observe that if the slower rate of machine B were the same as machine A's faster rate of k liters in 10 minutes, then the two machines, working simultaneously, would take half the time, or 5 minutes, to produce the k liters. So the answer has to be greater than 5 minutes. Similarly, if the faster rate of machine A were the same as machine B's slower rate of k liters in 15 minutes, then the two machines, would take half the time, or 7.5 minutes, to produce the k liters. So the answer has to be less than 7.5 minutes. Thus the answer of 6 minutes is reasonable compared to the lower estimate of 5 minutes and the upper estimate of 7.5 minutes.