Elementary Algebra problems you can use for practice.

Remember, you may not use a calculator

when you take the assessment test. Use these problems to help you get up to speed.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Perform the indicated operation. Write in lowest terms if
necessary.
4
1
1) - 5
4

A) C)

2)

9
20

B)

21
20

9
100

D) -

21
20

1
42

B) 1

5
C)
14

3) 26 -

C) 6

B) 1040

C) 35

D) -280

A) -87

B) 17,576

C) -24,389

D) -6859

11) 4(9a + 10b) - (10a - 7b)

3
D)
14

B) -6

A) 80

Simplify the algebraic expression.

5
14

13
3

A) -7

9) 8 5 - 5(4)3 (-8)

10) Evaluate (x - 4y)3 for x = -5 and y = 6.

15 1

7 6

A) 2

Evaluate the expression.

D) -5

4) 19 - (-19) + 14 + (-14)

A) 26a + 33b

B) 26a + 47b

C) 26a + 17b

D) 46a + 47b

Solve the inequality and express the solution set in

interval notation. Graph the solution set on the real
number line. NOTE: A square bracket, i.e. [, is the same
as a filled in circle. A curved bracket, i.e. (, is the same as
an open circle.

12) 42x + 54 > 6(6x + 5)

A) -28

B) 28

C) 38

D) -10

A) (-4, )

A) 5.3

B) 31.5

B) (- , -4]

C) -31.5

D) -5.3

5) -18.4 + 13.1

6) (-1)(-3)(-7)

C) (- , -4)

A) -11

B) -42

C) -21

D) 21
D) [-4, )

7) 87 0
A) 0

B) 1

C) 87

D) undefined

8) -86 divided by - 2
A) 2

B) -43

C) 43

D) -2

13) -4(3x + 10)

-16x - 32

17) 40.3 is 155% of a number. Find the number.

A) (2, )

A) 6246.5

B) 0.26

C) 26

D) 62.465

Solve the equation. Check your solution.

B) [2, )

18) 6x + 1.6 = -33.2

A) {-4.8}

B) {-7.2}

C) {-5}

D) {-5.8}

C) (- , 2]
19)

3 1
19
- x=
4 3
12

A) -

D) (- , 2)

C)
Solve the problem.
14) After a 17% price reduction, a boat sold for $
21,580. What was the boat's price before the
reduction? (Round to the nearest cent, if
necessary.)
A) $126,941.18

B) $25,248.60

C) $3668.60

D) $26,000

5
2

B)

10
3

D) -

20) 7(9p + 2) = 8p
7
A)
4
C) -

21)

15) A 12-ft. board is cut into 2 pieces so that one

piece is 8 feet longer than 3 times the shorter
piece. If the shorter piece is x feet long, find the
lengths of both pieces.

5
2
10
3

B)

14
55

14
55

D)

55
14

15
14

B)

14
15

D)

15
14

4
6
t=
5
7

A) C)

30
7

A) shorter piece: 1 ft.; longer piece: 11 ft.

B) shorter piece: 24 ft; longer piece: 44 ft.

22) x - 19 = 12

C) shorter piece: 6 ft; longer piece: 36 ft.

A) {-31}

B) {7}

D) shorter piece: 28 ft; longer piece: 36 ft.

C) {31}

D) {-7}

16) A rectangular carpet has a perimeter of 264

inches. The length of the carpet is 96 inches
more than the width. What are the dimensions
of the carpet?
A) 114 by 18 inches
B) 123 by 132 inches

Evaluate the expression for the given value of the variable.

23) z2 - 4z - 5 for z = -4
A) 37

B) 27

C) -5

Combine.
24) (4x3 + 10x2 + 11) - (9x3 - 7x + 6)

C) 75 by 93 inches

A) -5x3 + 10x2 - 7x + 5

D) 114 by 132 inches

B) -5x3 + 10x2 + 7x + 5
C) -5x3 + 10x2 + 7x + 17
D) -5x3 + 17x2 + 5

D) 5

Perform the indicated computations. Write the answer in

scientific notation.
7 10 -7
31)
14 103

Multiply.
25) 11x5(12x3 + 2x2 + 3)
A) 132x8 + 2x2 + 3
B) 132x8 + 22x7
C) 132x3 + 22x2 + 33
D) 132x8 + 22x7 + 33x5

A) -1.2

B) 1.4 x 103

C) 3.5 x 104

D) 5.0 x 10-11

Factor the polynomial completely. If the polynomial

cannot be factored, say it is prime.

Find the product.

26) (5x - 8)2

32) x4 - 81

A) 5x2 - 80x + 64

B) 5x2 + 64

C) 25x2 - 80x + 64

D) 25x2 + 64

A) (x2 - 9)2
B) (x2 + 9)2
C) (x2 + 9)(x + 3)(x - 3)

Multiply.

D) prime

27) (4y + x)(4y - x)

A) 16y2 + 8xy - x2

B) 16y2 - 8xy - x2

C) 16y2 - x2

D) 8y2 - x2

33) xy + 10x - 6y - 60

Perform the division.

35x2 + 30x - 11
28)
5x
B) 7x + 6 -

A) 7x - 5
C) 35x + 30 -

11
5x

11
5

Simplify the expression. All exponents should be positive

integers.
29) (8x2 y3)-1 (2x2 y)3

A) 1x0

B) 2x0

C) 2x4

D) 1x4

Perform the indicated computation. Write the answer in

scientific notation.

30) (6.9 109 )(2 10-1 )

A) 1.38 108

B) 1.38 109

C) 1.38 107

D) 13.8 108

B) (y - 10)(x + 6)

C) (x - 10)(y + 6)

D) (y + 10)(x - 6)

34) x2 + 4x - 45

11
5x

D) 7x2 + 6x -

A) (x + 10)(y - 6)

A) (x - 9)(x + 1)

B) (x - 9)(x - 5)

C) (x + 9)(x - 5)

D) prime

35) 4 - m2
A) (2 - m)(2 + m)

B) (2 - m)2

C) (2 + m)2

D) prime

36) 25x2 + 64
A) (5x - 8)2

B) prime

C) (5x + 8)(5x - 8)

D) (5x + 8)2

37) 15(a + 12) - y(a + 12)

A) (a - 12)(y - 15)

B) (a + 12)(15 - y)

C) (a + 12)(15 + y)

D) prime

38) 5x2 y - 10xy - 400y

A) 5y(x - 10)(x + 8)
B) 5y(x - 10)(x - 8)
C) y(5x - 50)(x + 8)
D) 5y(x + 10)(x - 8)

39) x2 - x - 63

45)

A) (x - 7)(x + 9)

B) (x + 7)(x - 9)

C) (x - 63)(x + 1)

D) prime

3y - 24 3y + 24

5y + 40 5y - 40

A) 0
C)

40) 8x2 + 18x + 9

A) (8x + 3)(x + 3)

B) (2x + 3)(4x + 3)

C) (2x - 3)(4x - 3)

D) prime

46)

3
5

D)

9
25

x2
6x
+
x+6 x+6

A)

41) 10m - 25mn + 10n

B) 15

1
x

B)

x
2

C) x

D) 2

A) 5(2m - 5mn + 2n)

B) 5(-3m + 2n)

47)

C) 5(2m + 5mn - 2n)

A) 0

D) prime

C)

Evaluate the expression for the given values.

4m - 2n 2
when m = 2, n = -4, and p = -1
42)
8p
A) 1

B) 5

C) 3

D) 4

48)

Simplify the rational expression.

m 2 - 5m - 50
43)
40 - 4m
m+5
4

B)

m 2 - 55
36

D)

A) C)

x2
10x - 16
2
x - 64
x2 - 64

m - 55
36
m+5
4

Perform the indicated operation. Simplify if possible.

21x4
7x3
44)
9x2
28x5

A)

3x4
28

B)

28x4
3

C)

28x8
3

D)

189x2
196

49)

x-2
x+8

B)

x+8
x-2

D) undefined

4
12
+
s-t t- s

A)

-8
s-t

B) 0

C)

-16
s-t

D)

8
s-t

3
6
+
x x-7

A)

3(3x - 7)
x(x - 7)

B)

3(3x + 7)
x(x - 7)

C)

9
x(x - 7)

D)

9
2x - 7

Simplify the complex rational expression.

1
1
4 x2
50)
1 1
+
2 x
A)

x-2
2x

B)

x+2
2x

C)

2x
x+2

D)

2x
x-2

Solve the equation.

1 20
51) 1 + =
x x2

Solve.
56) If 5 apples cost $2.50, how much would 20
apples cost?

A) 5, -4

B) -5, 4

C) 5, 4

D) -

1 1
,
5 4

Solve the rational equation. Check your answer.

7
3
3x + 21
+
=
52)
x + 21 x - 7 x2 + 14x - 147
A) {1}

B) { }

C) {0}

D) {-1}

a-c
ac

B) b =

a+c
C) b =
ac

B) $40.00

C) $0.50

D) $10.00

Solve the problem.

57) Determine whether the ordered pair (-4, 3)
satisfies the equation 4x - 6y = -34.
A) Yes

B) No

58) If m varies directly as p, and m = 15 when p =

3, find m when p is 9.

Solve the equation for the indicated variable.

1 1 1
53) + = for b
a b c
A) b =

A) $0.03

ac
a-c

ac
D) b =
a+c

A) m = 3

B) m = 81

C) m = 25

D) m = 45

Solve the equation.

59) 5x2 = 4x + 9
5
,0
A)
9
C)

Solve the proportion.

5
4
=
54)
x+2 x-4
A) {-6}

B) {6}

C) {28}

D) {-28}

9
, -1
5

B)

5
, -1
9

D)

5
,1
9

60) 8x3 + 64x2 + 120x = 0

Given that the pair of triangles is similar, find the missing

length.

A) {0, 5, 3}

B) {-5, -3}

C) {0, -5, -3}

D) -

1
, -3
5

Simplify the square root. Assume all variables represent

positive real numbers.

55)
12

61) -2 75

62)

8
16

A) x = 16

B) x = 30

C) x = 23

D) x = 24

63)

A) -10 3

B) 3 10

C) -3 10

D) 10 3

150x2 y

A) 5xy2 6

B) 5x2 6y

C) 5xy 6

D) 5x 6y

150x11
6x

A) 5x10

B) 5x5 6

C) 5x5

D) 5 x11

Simplify the expression. If necessary, express the result

that is not a rational number as a decimal rounded to two
decimal places.

64)

C)

4 2 - 4(3)(-15)
5
A)
3

B) 15
C) 14
D) not a real number
Perform the indicated operation and simplify. Assume all
variables represent positive real numbers.

65)

D)

42

A) 6

B) 42

C) 6 7

D)

252

Graph the inequality.

66) y 3x + 4
A)

Perform the indicated operation and simplify. Assume all

variables represent positive real numbers.

67) 6 2(3 6 - 7)

B)

A) 18 12 - 42 2

B) 36 3 - 42 2

C) 36 3 - 7

D) 18 12 - 7

68) (8 11 + 8)2

69)

A) 768 - 128 11

B) 768 + 128 11

C) 712 + 128 11

D) 640 + 128 11

2750x9
10x7

A) x 275

B) 5x 11

C) 5x 110

D) 5x8 11

Simplify the square root, if possible.

70) (5 7 + 4)(8 7 + 5)

76) 16-3/2

A) 85 7

A) -64

B) 20 + 40 7 2 + 25 7
C) 60 7 + 25

C)

D) 300 + 57 7
71)

49 +

98

A) 7 -

C) 49 +

B) 7 +

A) (3, -12)
B) (-12, 3)
D) no solution
Find the length of the unknown side of the right triangle
with sides a, b, and c, where c is the hypotenuse.

B) (18, 9)

C) (2, 1)

D) (18, -9)

78) Two legs of a right triangle measure 14 inches

and 10 inches. Find the exact length of the
hypotenuse and then find the decimal
approximation to the nearest tenth of an inch.

Rationalize the denominator.

10
73)
90

C)

74)

A) 2 74

4 5+8
10

A) 4 5 + 8

B)

C) 4 5 - 8

D) 4 5 - 2

Simplify the expression.

3
75) 320x7

C) 4x

4x

23

5x

D) 48 in

A) {-4, 4}

B) {-8, 8}

C) {4}

D) {-4}

80) x2 - 14x + 45 = 0
A) {9, 5}

B) { 2, -1}

C) {40, 5}

D) {-9, -5}

81) x2 + 18x + 59 = 0
B) 4

11.8 in

79) 2x2 - 8 = 24

D) 3 10

B) 2 35

Solve.

4
5+2

A) x2

17.2 in

C) 148 in
B) 3

1
3

D) 4

C) infinitely many solutions

A) (-9, 18)

10
3

1
64

1
4

Solve the system of equations.

77) x - 4y = -24
4x + 16y = 0

D) 7 + 7 2

Solve the system of equations.

x
y=2
72)
x
y = - 18
2

A)

B) -

D) 4x

5x7

23

A) {-18 +
B) {9 +
C) {-9 +
D) {9 +

59, -18 59, 9 22, -9 22, 9 -

59}

59}
22}
22}

Solve the quadratic equation by any method.

D)

82) (x - 4)(x + 3) = 8
A) {-5, 4}

B) {-4, 5}

C) {5}

D) {-4}

Graph the solution set of the system of linear inequalities.

-3x + y -3
3
83) y < - x
4
A)
Solve the quadratic equation by any method.
6
84) 9p = 18 +
p
A) {1 - 15, 1 + 15}
3 - 15 3 + 15
,
B)
3
3
C) {1 - 5, 1 + 5}
-3 - 15 -3 + 15
,
D)
3
3
B)
85)

1 2 1 1
y = + y
2
4 2

A)

1- 3 1+ 3
,
2
2

B)

1- 5 1+ 5
,
2
2

C)

-1 - 3 -1 + 3
,
2
2

D) no real solution
C)

Solve the problem.

86) The sum of three consecutive integers is 387.
Find the numbers.
A) 127, 128, 129

B) 129, 130, 131

C) 128, 129, 130

D) 127, 129, 131

87) Twice the sum of a number and -34 equals 12.

Find the number.
A) 40

B) -11

C) -28

D) 23

88) The length of a rectangular room is 7 feet

longer than twice the width. If the room's
perimeter is 170 feet, what are the room's
dimensions?
A) Width = 26 ft; length = 59 ft
B) Width = 31 ft; length = 69 ft
C) Width = 52 ft; length = 118 ft
D) Width = 39 ft; length = 46 ft
89) The perimeter of a triangle is 48 centimeters.
Find the lengths of its sides, if the longest side
is 8 centimeters longer than the shorter side,
and the remaining side is 4 centimeters longer
than the shorter side.
A) 12 cm, 8 cm, 20 cm
B) 12 cm, 8 cm, 24 cm
C) 4 cm, 8 cm, 12 cm
D) 8 cm, 20 cm, 24 cm
Find the length of the unknown side of the right triangle
with sides a, b, and c, where c is the hypotenuse.

90) Two legs of a right triangle measure 35 inches

and 14 inches. Find the exact length of the
hypotenuse and then find the decimal
approximation to the nearest tenth of an inch.
A) 7 29
C) 203 in

37.7 in

B) 147 in
D) 7 10

22.1 in