ACCUPLACER

Arithmetic & Elementary

Algebra
Study Guide

Acknowledgments
We would like to thank Aims Community College for allowing us to use
their ACCUPLACER Study Guides as well as Aims Community College
English Faculty for creating the Sentence Skills Study Guide.

Table of Contents
Assessment Rules and Regulations ... . 1-2
Arithmetic ..... .. 3-11
Elementary Algebra .. 12-26
Math Sequence back page

Merced Campus
Lesher Student Services Center, Room #102
Los Banos Campus
Building A, Room A119
The goal of the ACCUPLACER assessment test is to provide you and Merced
College with useful information about your academic skills in English and math. Your
assessment results, along with your educational background and interests will be
used by counselors to determine your course options.
ACCUPLACER is an adaptive test. Questions are selected for you on the basis of
your answers to previous questions. This means the right questions are selected for
you based on your ability level. Each test is untimed so that you can give each
question as much thought as you need.
You can change your answer to a particular question before moving on to the next
question, but you cannot skip a question, or come back to it later to change your
answer.
Upon completion of your test, a score report will be generated and your results will be
printed and given to you.
Take this test seriously. Remember, your scores plus other educational experiences
or performance will determine the course level at which you begin your higher
education at Merced College. Retakes are not permitted unless approved by a
counselor.
NOTE: If English is NOT your primary language and you normally speak in your
primary language and one of your goals at Merced College is to learn English, call
(209) 384-6323 for more information about testing.

Before you take the Merced College assessment test:

> You must have your Merced College ID card
> You should refresh your math skills

MERCED COLLEGE ASSESSMENT RULES

Merced College strives to provide each student an appropriate environment in which
to take the assessment test. Each student should have the opportunity to thoughtfully
answer all questions to demonstrate his/her current knowledge and skill levels in
English and math.
In order to provide an environment that is free from distractions, the following rules are
necessary:

> Turn all electronic devices completely OFF (not on silent or vibration mode, i.e.,
cell phones) and place them off the desk.
If we see or hear your cell phone, you will be removed from testing, no
questions asked.

> Family, friends, children and other companions are not allowed.
> Personal calculators, dictionaries, translators, or other electronic devices cannot be
used during assessment.

> Raise your hand or motion to the assessment technician to signal the need to ask a
question.

> Talking to your seatmate or other students taking the test is not permitted.
> Food and/or drinks are not permitted in the testing area.
Important to Know
Assessment or placement testing is on a first-come, first-served basis during
scheduled testing times. Refer to the assessment calendar for dates and times.
Allow at least 2 or more hours to complete your assessment. Your results for
English and Math will determine how you will register yourself. Counselors are
available if you need assistance.
ACCUPLACER sample questions

Arithmetic
Fractions
Terms
Numerator:
which tells how many parts you have (the number on top)

Denominator:
which tells how many parts in the whole (the number on the bottom)
Example:

= 3/4 is 3 parts have a dot out of 4

Ex: Proper fraction: the top number is less than the bottom number.

Ex: Improper fraction: the top number is equal to or is larger than the
bottom number.

Ex: Mixed Number: a whole number is written next to a proper fraction.

Common Denominator: is a number that can be divided evenly by all of the

denominators in the problem

The common denominator for these fractions will be 12. It

also happens to be least common denominator.

Reducing Fractions to Lowest Terms

Example:

Step 1: Find a number that goes evenly into the numerator

and the denominator of the fraction. With the fraction to the
left, the number that will go in evenly is 8.

Step 2: Check to see whether another number goes evenly

into both the numerator and denominator. Stop when there
are no more numbers that can go into the fraction. In the
example, the fraction can be reduced further by dividing it
by 2.
Changing Mixed Numbers to Improper Fractions
Example: Change

to an improper fraction.

Step 1: Multiply the denominator by the whole number.

2X4=8
Step 2: Add the result to the numerator.
8 + 3 = 11
Step 3: Place the total over the denominator.

Adding and Subtracting Fractions With Different Bottom Numbers

*Remember to change improper fractions to a mixed number.

Multiplying Fractions

Dividing Fractions

DECIMALS

Place the decimal point directly above its position in the problem. Then
divide the same way as divide whole numbers.

Practice:

PERCENTS

Finding What Percent One Number Is of Another

Finding a Number When a Percent of It is Given

10

11

Elementary Algebra

Student Success Center

Elementary Algebra Study Guide for the
ACCUPLACER (CPT)

The following sample questions are similar to the format and content of
questions on the Accuplacer Elementary Algebra test. Reviewing these
samples will give you a good idea of how the test works and just what
mathematical topics you may wish to review before taking the test itself.
Our purposes in providing you with this information are to aid your
memory and to help you do your best.
I. Order
of
oper-

ations

Simplify. Write answers in scientific notation.

II.
Sci12

III. Substitution

IV. Linear equations in one variable

Solve the following for x.

V. Formulas

VI. Word Problems

1. One number is 5 more than twice another number. The sum of the
numbers is 35. Find the numbers.
2. Ms. Jones invested $18,000 in two accounts. One account pays 6%
simple interest and the other pays 8%. Her total interest for the year
was $1,290. How much did she have in each account?
3. How many liters of a 40% solution and an16% solution must be mixed
to obtain 20 liters of a 22% solution?
4. Sheila bought burgers and fries for her children and some friends. The
burgers cost $2.05 each and the fries are $.85 each. She bought a total
of 14 items, for a total cost of $19.10. How many of each did she buy?

13

VII. Inequalities
Solve and graph on the number line.

VIII. Exponents & polynomials

Simplify and write answers with positive exponents.

IX. Factoring

14

X. Quadratic Equations

XI. Rational Expressions

Perform the following operations and simplify where possible. If given an
equation, solve for the variable.

15

XII. Graphing
Graph each equation on the coordinate axis.

XIII. Systems of Equations

Solve the following systems of equations.

16

XIV. Radicals
Simplify the following using the rules of radicals (rationalize
denominators). All variables represent positive numbers.

Answers
I. Order of Operations

17

II. Scientific Notation

All numbers in scientific notation have the following form: non zero digit
rest of number 10 power.

III. Substitution

IV. Linear equations in one variable

18

V. Formula

VI. Word Problems

1. Let x = .another number. forcing 2x + 5 = .One number.. x + 2x + 5 =
35 and x = 10.One number = 25 and another number = 10.
2. Let x = the dollars in the account paying 6% interest
Then, 18,000 . x = the dollars in the account paying 8%.
The interest dollars are calculated by multiplying the total dollars in the
account by the interest rate.
Hence: .06 x = the interest earned by the first account
.08 (18,000 . x) = the interest earned by the second account.
Adding up all the interest,.06x + .08(18,000 . x) = 1,290. Solving,
x = 7,500. So, Ms. Jones has $7,500 in the account paying 6% interest
and $10,500 in the account paying 8% interest.

19

3. Use the following buckets:

From the diagram, we get the equation: .4x + .16 (20 . x) = 20(.22)
x = 5 and the answer is 5 liters at 40% and 15 liters at 16%.
4. Let x = the number of burgers and 14 . x = the number of fries. To get
the total amount of money spent, multiply the number of items by the
cost of the item. 2.05 x = the total dollars spent on burgers and .85
(14 . x) = the total dollars spent on fries. The equation is: 2.05x + .85
(14 . x) = 19.10. Solving the equation, x = 6. Hence, she bought 6
burgers and 8 fries.

VII. Inequalities
Solve inequalities the same as equations with one exception. When both
sides are multiplied or divided by a negative number, remember to switch
the direction of the inequality.

20

VIII. Exponents & Polynomials

IX. Factoring
Steps to factoring:
1. Always factor out the Greatest Common Factor (If possible).
2. Factor the first and third term.
3. Figure out the middle term.

21

X. Quadratic Equations

XI. Rational Expressions

1. Need to find a common denominator (factor denominators to see what
you need), add, and then reduce (if possible) at the very end.

22

23

XII. Graphing

24

25

XIII. Systems of Equations

XIV. Radicals

26