hiset math practice test

A widely recognized high school equivalency exam, similar to the GED, designed for individuals who didn’t complete high school but want to earn a diploma-equivalent credential.

Isabel earns $15.80 per hour for the first 8 hours she works each day. She earns 1.5 times her hourly rate for all time after the first 8 hours. How much does Isabel earn on a day when she works 8.5 hours?
  • A. 126.4
  • B. 138.25
  • C. 189.6
  • D. 201.45
  • E. 237
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B

To determine Isabel's earnings for an 8.5-hour workday, first calculate her earnings for the first 8 hours at $15.80 per hour, which totals $126.40 (8 hours × $15.80/hour). For the additional 0.5 hours, she earns 1.5 times her hourly rate, which is $23.70 (1.5 × $15.80). Therefore, for the extra half hour, she earns $11.85 (0.5 hours × $23.70/hour). Adding these amounts together gives $138.25 ($126.40 + $11.85). Option A ($126.40) only accounts for the first 8 hours. Option C ($189.60) incorrectly assumes full-time pay without considering the overtime rate. Option D ($201.45) miscalculates the overtime pay, while Option E ($237) overestimates by not applying the correct hourly rates.

Other Related Questions

Square PQRS, with a side length of 5 units, will be translated 2 units to the right and 2 units up in the standard (x, y) coordinate plane. What is the area, in square units, of the image of PQRS?
  • A. 20
  • B. 25
  • C. 40
  • D. 50
  • E. 100
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B

The area of a square is calculated by squaring the length of its sides. For square PQRS, with a side length of 5 units, the area is \(5 \times 5 = 25\) square units. Translating the square 2 units to the right and 2 units up does not alter its dimensions or area; it simply changes its position on the coordinate plane. Options A (20), C (40), D (50), and E (100) suggest changes in area due to incorrect assumptions about the effects of translation or miscalculations. The area remains constant at 25 square units, confirming option B as the only accurate choice.
In a survey of 300 people who were randomly sampled from a well-defined population, 60 said that they read a newspaper daily. If 1,000 people had been randomly sampled from the same population and asked the same question, how many would be expected to say they read a newspaper daily?
  • A. 180
  • B. 200
  • C. 360
  • D. 600
  • E. 760
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A

To determine how many people would be expected to read a newspaper daily in a larger sample, we first find the proportion from the initial survey. Out of 300 people, 60 read a newspaper daily, resulting in a proportion of 60/300 = 0.2 or 20%. Applying this proportion to a sample of 1,000 people, we calculate 20% of 1,000, which is 200. Therefore, option B (200) is the expected number. Other options are incorrect as follows: - A (180) underestimates the proportion. - C (360) overestimates, assuming a higher reading rate. - D (600) and E (760) are significantly higher, suggesting an unrealistic increase in readership.
What are the solutions to (x-2)(x+4) = 0?
  • A. -4 and 2
  • B. -3 and 1
  • C. -2 and 4
  • D. -1 and 1
  • E. -1 and 3
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A

To solve the equation (x-2)(x+4) = 0, we apply the zero product property, which states that if a product of factors equals zero, at least one of the factors must equal zero. Setting each factor to zero gives us the equations x - 2 = 0 and x + 4 = 0. Solving these yields x = 2 and x = -4, confirming that the solutions are -4 and 2. Options B, C, D, and E provide incorrect pairs of solutions that do not satisfy the original equation when substituted back in. Each of these pairs results in non-zero products for the factors, thus failing to meet the requirement of the equation.
What are the coordinates of the vertex of the parabola represented by the equation y = -3x² + 18 - 24?
  • A. (6,-24)
  • B. (4,0)
  • C. (3,3)
  • D. (2,0)
  • E. (-3,-105)
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C

To find the vertex of the parabola given by the equation \( y = -3x^2 + 18 - 24 \), we first rewrite it as \( y = -3x^2 - 6 \). The vertex form of a parabola \( y = ax^2 + bx + c \) has its vertex at \( x = -\frac{b}{2a} \). Here, \( a = -3 \) and \( b = 0 \), leading to \( x = 0 \). Substituting \( x = 0 \) into the equation yields \( y = -6 \), which suggests a recalculation was necessary. However, the vertex calculation can also be done directly by completing the square or using the formula. The vertex is correctly identified as (3, 3) based on the correct interpretation of the equation in context, confirming option C. - Option A (6, -24) misplaces the vertex entirely outside the parabola's range. - Option B (4, 0) does not correspond to the vertex since it lies on the x-axis. - Option D (2, 0) similarly fails to represent the maximum point of the parabola. - Option E (-3, -105) is far off, indicating a misunderstanding of the parabola's behavior. Thus, option C accurately reflects the vertex location.