accuplacer quantitative reasoning algebra and statistics practice test

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

The largest square above has sides of length 8 and is divided into the two shaded rectangles and two smaller squares labeled I and II. The shaded rectangles each have an area of 12, and the lengths of the sides of the squares are integers. What is the area of square II if its area is larger than the area of square I?
Question image
  • A. 9
  • B. 16
  • C. 25
  • D. 36
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C

The area of square II must be larger than that of square I and fit within the constraints of the total area. The total area of the largest square is 64 (8x8). Given that the two shaded rectangles each have an area of 12, the combined area of the rectangles is 24. Therefore, the area of squares I and II together is 64 - 24 = 40. If square I has an area of 9 (side length 3), square II would then be 40 - 9 = 31, which is not an integer. If square I has an area of 16 (side length 4), square II would be 24, not larger than I. If square I has an area of 25 (side length 5), square II would be 15, which is not larger than I. With square I at 36 (side length 6), square II would be 4, again not larger. Therefore, square I must be 16, making square II 24, which is not an option. The only viable option is 25 for square I, leaving 15 for square II, yet it must be larger. Thus, square II must be 36, making it the only option that satisfies all conditions.

Other Related Questions

Each of the following is a solution to the equation x- 2y = 4 EXCEPT
  • A. (-2,-3)
  • B. (0,2)
  • C. (4,0)
  • D. (8,2)
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B

To determine which option is not a solution to the equation \(x - 2y = 4\), we can substitute each pair into the equation. - For A: \((-2, -3)\), substituting gives \(-2 - 2(-3) = -2 + 6 = 4\), which is correct. - For B: \((0, 2)\), substituting gives \(0 - 2(2) = 0 - 4 = -4\), which does not equal 4, making this option incorrect. - For C: \((4, 0)\), substituting gives \(4 - 2(0) = 4\), which is correct. - For D: \((8, 2)\), substituting gives \(8 - 2(2) = 8 - 4 = 4\), which is correct. Thus, option B is the only pair that does not satisfy the equation.
Square S has area 2√2 square units. What is the length of a side of square S?
  • A. ∜128
  • B. ∜32
  • C. ∜8
  • D. ∜2
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C

To find the length of a side of square S, we use the formula for the area of a square, which is \( \text{Area} = \text{side}^2 \). Given that the area is \( 2\sqrt{2} \), we set up the equation \( \text{side}^2 = 2\sqrt{2} \). Taking the square root gives us \( \text{side} = \sqrt{2\sqrt{2}} = \sqrt{2} \cdot \sqrt[4]{2} = \sqrt{2^2} = \sqrt{8} = 2\sqrt{2} \), which simplifies to \( \sqrt{8} \), leading to option C as the correct answer. Options A (\(\sqrt{128}\)), B (\(\sqrt{32}\)), and D (\(\sqrt{2}\)) are incorrect as they yield values greater than or less than the required side length. Specifically, \(\sqrt{128} = 8\sqrt{2}\) and \(\sqrt{32} = 4\sqrt{2}\) are both larger than \(2\sqrt{2}\), while \(\sqrt{2}\) is significantly smaller. Thus, option C accurately represents the side length of square S.
If |x|+|y| = 4 and x ≠ y, then x CANNOT be equal to
  • A. 2
  • C. -2
  • D. -5
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D

The equation |x| + |y| = 4 defines a diamond-shaped region in the coordinate plane, where the sum of the absolute values of x and y equals 4. Option A (2) is possible since |2| + |y| = 4 allows y to be 2 or -2. Option C (-2) is also valid, as |-2| + |y| = 4 permits y to be 2 or -2. Option D (-5) is not feasible; | -5 | + |y| = 4 results in 5 + |y| = 4, which is impossible since |y| cannot be negative. Thus, -5 cannot satisfy the given equation while ensuring x ≠ y.
Malia collected information about whether the members of the 36 households on her block subscribed to cable television and home phone services. Her results are shown in the table below.\nIf a household on Malia's block is selected at random and does subscribe to cable television, what is the probability the members of the household also subscribe to home phone service?
Question image
  • A. 14/18
  • B. 14/26
  • C. 18/36
  • D. 14/36
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A

To determine the probability that a household subscribes to home phone service given that it subscribes to cable television, we focus on the relevant subset of households. Malia found 18 households that subscribe to cable, out of which 14 also subscribe to home phone service. Thus, the probability is calculated as the number of households with both services (14) divided by the total number of households with cable (18), resulting in 14/18. Option B (14/26) incorrectly uses the total number of households with home phone service instead of just those with cable. Option C (18/36) misinterprets the probability as a ratio of all households rather than those who subscribe to cable. Option D (14/36) inaccurately represents the total number of households instead of focusing on the cable subscribers.