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.

What is the product of the two polynomials: (x - 5)(x² - 3x + 6)?
  • A. x³ - 8x² + 21x - 30
  • B. x³ - 8x² - 21x - 30
  • C. x³ - 8x² - 9x - 30
  • D. x³ + 8x² + 21x + 30
  • E. x³ + 8x² - 9x + 30
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A

To find the product of the polynomials (x - 5)(x² - 3x + 6), we apply the distributive property (FOIL method). 1. Multiply x by each term in the second polynomial: - x * x² = x³ - x * (-3x) = -3x² - x * 6 = 6x 2. Multiply -5 by each term in the second polynomial: - -5 * x² = -5x² - -5 * (-3x) = 15x - -5 * 6 = -30 Combining these results yields: x³ + (-3x² - 5x²) + (6x + 15x) - 30 = x³ - 8x² + 21x - 30. Option A matches this result. Options B and C have incorrect signs for the x terms. Option D has incorrect signs for all terms, and option E has incorrect signs for the x² and x terms. Thus, only option A accurately represents the product of the polynomials.

Other Related Questions

Connor sprinted 55 yards in 6.25 seconds. What was Connor's average speed in miles per hour?
  • A. 6
  • B. 9
  • C. 15
  • D. 18
  • E. 26
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D

To find Connor's average speed in miles per hour, we first convert 55 yards to miles. There are 1,760 yards in a mile, so 55 yards is approximately 0.0312 miles. Next, we convert 6.25 seconds to hours by dividing by 3,600 (the number of seconds in an hour), resulting in about 0.001736 hours. Average speed is calculated by dividing distance by time: 0.0312 miles / 0.001736 hours ≈ 18 mph. Option A (6 mph) and B (9 mph) underestimate Connor's speed, while C (15 mph) is also too low. E (26 mph) overestimates it. Thus, 18 mph is the accurate average speed.
The following is a list of triangles: I. Right triangles, II. Isosceles triangles, III. Equilateral triangles. A pair of triangles from which of these groups must be similar to each other?
  • A. I only
  • B. II only
  • C. III only
  • D. I and III only
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C

Triangles from group III, equilateral triangles, are always similar to each other because they all have equal angles of 60 degrees, regardless of their size. Group I, right triangles, can vary significantly in angle measures beyond the right angle, so not all right triangles are similar. Similarly, group II, isosceles triangles, can have different base angles, leading to non-similar triangles. Thus, while right and isosceles triangles can share properties, only equilateral triangles guarantee similarity across the group. Therefore, option C accurately identifies the group with universally similar triangles.
Each month, the charge for a lawn care service consists of a flat fee of $25, plus $5 each time the lawn is mowed. Which of the following equations represents the total monthly charge, A(m), in dollars, as a function of the number of times the lawn is mowed, m?
  • A. A(m) = 5(25)m
  • B. A(m) = 5 + 25m
  • C. A(m) = 5m + 25
  • D. A(m) = 25m + 5
  • E. A(m) = m + 5 + 25
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C

The equation A(m) = 5m + 25 accurately represents the total monthly charge for the lawn care service. Here, the term 5m accounts for the $5 charge per mowing, and the flat fee of $25 is added to this total. Option A incorrectly multiplies the flat fee by the number of mowings, which misrepresents the structure of the charges. Option B misplaces the flat fee, summing it with the number of mowings instead of adding it as a fixed cost. Option D incorrectly places the flat fee as a coefficient of m, which distorts the relationship. Option E combines the charges incorrectly, failing to clearly separate the flat fee from the per-mow charge.
The distance from Earth to the sun is approximately 9×10⁷ miles. The diameter of Earth is approximately 8,000 miles. The distance from Earth to the sun is approximately how many times the diameter of Earth?
  • A. 1000
  • B. 9000
  • C. 11000
  • D. 90000
  • E. 9000000
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C

To determine how many times the diameter of Earth fits into the distance from Earth to the sun, we divide the distance (9×10^7 miles) by Earth's diameter (8,000 miles). Calculating: 9×10^7 miles ÷ 8,000 miles = 11,250. This rounds down to approximately 11,000, making option C the closest answer. Option A (1000) significantly underestimates the distance. Option B (9000) is also too low, while option D (90000) and option E (9000000) greatly overestimate the number of times the diameter fits into the distance. Thus, C is the most accurate choice.