accuplacer arithmetic full length practice test

Commonly used by colleges and universities to place students into appropriate courses.

Linda has borrowed 8 more books than Susan from the school library. Richard has borrowed half as many books as Linda has. If Richard has borrowed 17 books from the library, how many books has Susan borrowed?
  • A. 25
  • B. 26
  • C. 34
  • D. 42
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B

To determine how many books Susan has borrowed, start with Richard's 17 books. Since Richard has borrowed half as many books as Linda, Linda must have borrowed 34 books (17 x 2). Given that Linda has borrowed 8 more books than Susan, we can set up the equation: Linda's books = Susan's books + 8. Therefore, if Linda has 34 books, we find Susan's total by subtracting 8: 34 - 8 = 26. Option A (25) is incorrect as it underestimates Susan's total. Option C (34) mistakenly suggests Susan borrowed the same amount as Linda. Option D (42) overestimates Susan's total by not accounting for the difference of 8 books. Thus, the only valid option is 26.

Other Related Questions

Which of the following integers, when rounded to the nearest thousand, results in 2,000?
  • A. 2,567
  • B. 1,499
  • C. 1,097
  • D. 1,601
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: d

When rounding to the nearest thousand, we look at the hundreds digit. If it is 5 or higher, we round up; if it is 4 or lower, we round down. Option D (1,601) rounds to 2,000 because the hundreds digit (6) is greater than 5, leading to an increase in the thousands place. Option A (2,567) rounds to 3,000, as the hundreds digit (5) prompts rounding up. Option B (1,499) rounds to 1,000 since the hundreds digit (4) indicates rounding down. Option C (1,097) also rounds to 1,000 for the same reason as B. Thus, only D rounds to 2,000.
The large square above has sides of length 1. It is divided into smaller squares by dividing each side into 10 equal parts. In the figure, 3 full rows and 4 smaller squares in the next row are shaded. What is the area of the shaded region?
Question image
  • A. 0.34
  • B. 0.37
  • C. 0.43
  • D. 0.7
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A

To determine the area of the shaded region, first note that the large square has a side length of 1, resulting in a total area of 1 square unit. Each side is divided into 10 equal parts, creating a grid of 100 smaller squares, each with an area of 0.01 (1/100). In the figure, 3 full rows of squares are shaded, which accounts for 30 squares (3 rows x 10 squares per row). Additionally, 4 squares are shaded in the fourth row, bringing the total shaded squares to 34. Thus, the area of the shaded region is 34 squares x 0.01 = 0.34. Option B (0.37) incorrectly suggests 37 squares shaded. Option C (0.43) implies 43 squares, which is not possible given the shading described. Option D (0.7) overestimates the shaded area, miscounting the total squares shaded.
Harriet took 48 minutes to ride her bike the distance from her house to the town library. If she rode at a constant rate, what fraction of the total distance did she ride in the first 12 minutes?
  • A. 1/4
  • B. 1/3
  • C. 1/2
  • D. 3/4
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A

To determine the fraction of the total distance Harriet rode in the first 12 minutes, we start by recognizing that she took 48 minutes for the entire trip. Riding at a constant rate means that her distance covered is proportional to the time spent riding. In 12 minutes, which is one-fourth of the total 48 minutes, she would have covered one-fourth of the total distance. Thus, the fraction of the total distance she rode in the first 12 minutes is 1/4. Options B (1/3), C (1/2), and D (3/4) misrepresent the proportion of time to total time. Each suggests a greater fraction than what corresponds to 12 minutes relative to 48 minutes, leading to incorrect conclusions about the distance covered.
Alexia bought a book that is 252 pages long. She read the book in 3 days. The first day, she read 1/2 of the book's pages, the second day, she read 1/3 of the book's pages, and the third day she read all the remaining pages. How many pages did Alexia read the third day?
  • A. 3200%
  • B. 3600%
  • C. 4000%
  • D. 4200%
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D

To determine how many pages Alexia read on the third day, we first calculate the pages read on the first two days. On the first day, she read half of 252 pages, which is 126 pages. On the second day, she read one-third, totaling 84 pages. Adding these gives 210 pages read over the first two days. Thus, the remaining pages for the third day are 252 - 210 = 42 pages. Options A, B, and C do not relate to the total pages read, as they present percentages rather than the actual number of pages. The correct choice reflects the accurate calculation of pages read on the final day.