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WorkKeys Applied Math study materials
WorkKeys Applied Math study resources

WorkKeys Applied Math practice questions

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First 50 of 195 questions. Each one lists the choices, the correct answer, and an explanation. The checker at the top of this page saves progress in this browser when it is available.

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Question 1Level 3

A delivery driver records 148 miles on Monday, 96 miles on Tuesday, and 213 miles on Wednesday. What is the total distance driven over the three days?

  1. 467 miles
  2. 457 miles Correct answer.
  3. 447 miles
  4. 437 miles

Explanation

Add the three daily totals: 148 + 96 = 244, and 244 + 213 = 457. Regrouping is needed in both the ones and tens columns.

Question 2Level 3

A warehouse has 8 shelves, and each shelf holds 24 boxes. How many boxes can the shelves hold in total?

  1. 204
  2. 192 Correct answer.
  3. 184
  4. 168

Explanation

Multiply the number of shelves by boxes per shelf: 8 × 24 = 192. This can be checked by 8 × 20 = 160 plus 8 × 4 = 32, giving 192.

Question 3Level 3

A cashier counts a drawer containing 36 quarters. Each quarter is worth $0.25. What is the total value of the quarters?

  1. $8.00
  2. $7.20
  3. $9.00 Correct answer.
  4. $10.25

Explanation

Multiply 36 by 0.25, which is the same as dividing 36 by 4, giving $9.00. Counting four quarters per dollar confirms nine dollars.

Question 4Level 3

A recipe calls for 3/4 cup of milk. If a cook makes half of the recipe, how much milk is needed?

  1. 3/8 cup Correct answer.
  2. 1/4 cup
  3. 1/2 cup
  4. 3/2 cups

Explanation

Halving a fraction means multiplying it by 1/2: 3/4 × 1/2 = 3/8. The numerator stays and the denominator doubles.

Question 5Level 3

A job posting lists a start time of 7:45 a.m. and an end time of 4:15 p.m., with a 30-minute unpaid lunch. How many paid hours does the shift include?

  1. 7.5 hours
  2. 8.5 hours
  3. 8 hours Correct answer.
  4. 9 hours

Explanation

From 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. is 8 hours and 30 minutes of clock time. Subtracting the 30-minute lunch leaves 8 paid hours.

Question 6Level 3

A box of 12 pens costs $4.80. What is the cost per pen?

  1. $0.48
  2. $0.45
  3. $0.40 Correct answer.
  4. $0.35

Explanation

Divide the total cost by the number of pens: 4.80 ÷ 12 = 0.40. Checking by multiplication, 12 × $0.40 = $4.80.

Question 7Level 3

A worker earns $14.50 per hour and works 38 hours in a week. What is the gross pay for the week?

  1. $541.00
  2. $551.00 Correct answer.
  3. $515.00
  4. $561.00

Explanation

Multiply the hourly rate by hours worked: 14.50 × 38 = 551.00. Breaking it into 14.50 × 40 = 580 minus 14.50 × 2 = 29 confirms the result.

Question 8Level 3

A rectangular storage room measures 18 feet by 25 feet. What is the area of the floor?

  1. 225 square feet
  2. 450 square feet Correct answer.
  3. 86 square feet
  4. 475 square feet

Explanation

The area of a rectangle is length times width: 18 × 25 = 450 square feet. The units are square feet because two lengths are multiplied.

Question 9Level 3

A shipment weighs 2,750 grams. How many kilograms is that?

  1. 27.5 kilograms
  2. 275 kilograms
  3. 2.75 kilograms Correct answer.
  4. 0.275 kilograms

Explanation

There are 1,000 grams in a kilogram, so divide by 1,000 by moving the decimal three places left: 2,750 g = 2.75 kg.

Question 10Level 3

A pipe is 12 feet long. How many inches long is the pipe?

  1. 144 inches Correct answer.
  2. 156 inches
  3. 132 inches
  4. 120 inches

Explanation

Each foot contains 12 inches, so multiply 12 feet by 12 inches per foot to get 144 inches.

Question 11Level 3

A shirt originally priced at $48 is marked down 25%. What is the sale price?

  1. $36 Correct answer.
  2. $24
  3. $40
  4. $12

Explanation

A 25% markdown removes one quarter of the price: 0.25 × 48 = 12, and 48 − 12 = 36. The sale price is $36.

Question 12Level 3

A crew packs 240 items into crates that each hold 15 items. How many crates are filled?

  1. 16 Correct answer.
  2. 18
  3. 24
  4. 15

Explanation

Divide the total items by items per crate: 240 ÷ 15 = 16. Checking by multiplication, 16 × 15 = 240.

Question 13Level 3

A worker's timesheet shows 6.75 hours on Monday, 8.25 hours on Tuesday, and 7.5 hours on Wednesday. What is the total for the three days?

  1. 22.0 hours
  2. 23.5 hours
  3. 22.5 hours Correct answer.
  4. 21.5 hours

Explanation

Add the decimal hours: 6.75 + 8.25 = 15.00, then 15.00 + 7.50 = 22.5 hours. Aligning decimal points keeps the quarters accurate.

Question 14Level 3

A machine produces 45 parts per hour. At that rate, how many parts does it produce in a 7.5-hour shift?

  1. 315 parts
  2. 352.5 parts
  3. 337 parts
  4. 337.5 parts Correct answer.

Explanation

Multiply the rate by the time: 45 × 7.5 = 337.5. This equals 45 × 7 = 315 plus 45 × 0.5 = 22.5.

Question 15Level 3

A floor plan uses a scale of 1 inch to 4 feet. A wall on the plan measures 3.5 inches. What is the actual length of the wall?

  1. 12 feet
  2. 16 feet
  3. 14 feet Correct answer.
  4. 7.5 feet

Explanation

Each inch represents 4 feet, so multiply 3.5 inches by 4 feet per inch: 3.5 × 4 = 14 feet.

Question 16Level 3

A tank holds 60 gallons when full. It is currently 40% full. How many gallons are in the tank?

  1. 40 gallons
  2. 36 gallons
  3. 24 gallons Correct answer.
  4. 20 gallons

Explanation

Forty percent of 60 is 0.40 × 60 = 24 gallons. The remaining 36 gallons would be needed to fill it.

Question 17Level 3

A package is 14 inches long, 9 inches wide, and 6 inches tall. What is its volume?

  1. 756 cubic inches Correct answer.
  2. 504 cubic inches
  3. 252 cubic inches
  4. 29 cubic inches

Explanation

Volume of a rectangular box is length × width × height: 14 × 9 = 126, and 126 × 6 = 756 cubic inches.

Question 18Level 3

A worker needs 3 lengths of cable, each 2.6 meters long. If cable is sold only in whole meters, what is the minimum number of meters to buy?

  1. 8 meters Correct answer.
  2. 7 meters
  3. 9 meters
  4. 7.8 meters

Explanation

The total needed is 3 × 2.6 = 7.8 meters. Since cable is sold in whole meters, round up to the next whole meter, which is 8.

Question 19Level 3

A store sells apples at 3 pounds for $4.50. At the same rate, what is the cost of 5 pounds of apples?

  1. $9.00
  2. $7.50 Correct answer.
  3. $6.75
  4. $7.00

Explanation

First find the unit price: 4.50 ÷ 3 = 1.50 per pound. Then multiply 5 × 1.50 = 7.50.

Question 20Level 3

A worker's gross pay is $640. After deductions of 18%, what is the net pay?

  1. $561.20
  2. $505.60
  3. $115.20
  4. $524.80 Correct answer.

Explanation

Deductions are 0.18 × 640 = 115.20, and net pay is 640 − 115.20 = 524.80. Alternatively, 82% of 640 is 524.80.

Question 21Level 3

A crew can assemble 5 units in 40 minutes. At this rate, how long will it take to assemble 12 units?

  1. 84 minutes
  2. 100 minutes
  3. 96 minutes Correct answer.
  4. 72 minutes

Explanation

Each unit takes 40 ÷ 5 = 8 minutes. For 12 units, 12 × 8 = 96 minutes.

Question 22Level 3

A rectangular lot is 40 feet wide and 90 feet long. A fence is built around the entire perimeter. How many feet of fencing are needed?

  1. 130 feet
  2. 260 feet Correct answer.
  3. 180 feet
  4. 360 feet

Explanation

Perimeter of a rectangle is 2 × (length + width) = 2 × (90 + 40) = 2 × 130 = 260 feet.

Question 23Level 3

A worker is paid time-and-a-half for hours over 40 in a week. The base rate is $16 per hour, and the worker logs 46 hours. What is the gross pay?

  1. $760
  2. $736
  3. $784 Correct answer.
  4. $808

Explanation

Regular pay is 40 × 16 = 640. Overtime is 6 hours at 16 × 1.5 = 24 per hour, or 144. Adding gives 640 + 144 = 784.

Question 24Level 3

A mixture contains 3 parts sand to 5 parts gravel. If a worker uses 24 pounds of sand, how many pounds of gravel are needed to keep the same ratio?

  1. 40 pounds Correct answer.
  2. 45 pounds
  3. 72 pounds
  4. 14.4 pounds

Explanation

The ratio 3:5 means gravel is 5/3 of the sand. Multiplying 24 × 5/3 = 40 pounds. Checking, 24:40 reduces to 3:5.

Question 25Level 3

A worker measures a board as 6 feet 9 inches long. How many total inches is the board?

  1. 87 inches
  2. 81 inches Correct answer.
  3. 69 inches
  4. 75 inches

Explanation

Convert the feet to inches: 6 × 12 = 72 inches. Adding the extra 9 inches gives 81 inches.

Question 26Level 3

A delivery van starts a route with 48 packages. The driver delivers 19 packages on the first stop and 14 on the second stop. How many packages remain on the van?

  1. 19
  2. 33
  3. 29
  4. 15 Correct answer.

Explanation

Subtract both deliveries from the starting total: 48 − 19 − 14 = 15. Working step by step, 48 − 19 = 29, then 29 − 14 = 15.

Question 27Level 3

A worker's timesheet shows 7.25 hours on Monday, 6.5 hours on Tuesday, and 8 hours on Wednesday. What is the total number of hours worked over the three days?

  1. 20.75 hours
  2. 22.25 hours
  3. 21.25 hours
  4. 21.75 hours Correct answer.

Explanation

Add the three daily totals: 7.25 + 6.5 = 13.75, and 13.75 + 8 = 21.75. Aligning the decimal points keeps the quarter hours from being lost.

Question 28Level 3

A box contains 36 identical parts and weighs 9 pounds when full. If each part weighs the same amount, what is the weight of one part?

  1. 0.75 pound
  2. 4 pounds
  3. 0.5 pound
  4. 0.25 pound Correct answer.

Explanation

Divide the total weight by the number of parts: 9 ÷ 36 = 0.25. Each part therefore weighs one quarter of a pound.

Question 29Level 3

A worker reads a digital scale that shows 3.6 kilograms. How many grams is that?

  1. 36 grams
  2. 3,600 grams Correct answer.
  3. 360 grams
  4. 36,000 grams

Explanation

One kilogram equals 1,000 grams, so multiply by 1,000. Moving the decimal point three places to the right gives 3,600 grams.

Question 30Level 3

A worker needs to cut four pieces of wire, each 1.75 meters long, from a spool that holds 8 meters. After the cuts, how much wire is left on the spool?

  1. 0.5 meter
  2. 1 meter Correct answer.
  3. 7 meters
  4. 1.5 meters

Explanation

Four pieces at 1.75 meters use 4 × 1.75 = 7 meters. Subtracting from the 8-meter spool leaves 8 − 7 = 1 meter.

Question 31Level 3

A crew of 6 workers can finish a job in 9 days. Assuming everyone works at the same rate, how many days would the same job take a crew of 9 workers?

  1. 3 days
  2. 6 days Correct answer.
  3. 13.5 days
  4. 4.5 days

Explanation

The job requires 6 × 9 = 54 worker-days of labor. Dividing that total by 9 workers gives 54 ÷ 9 = 6 days.

Question 32Level 3

A worker's paycheck shows gross pay of $820. Federal tax is $98, state tax is $41, and other deductions total $36. What is the net pay?

  1. $681
  2. $609
  3. $645 Correct answer.
  4. $721

Explanation

Add all deductions: 98 + 41 + 36 = 175. Subtract that total from gross pay: 820 − 175 = 645.

Question 33Level 3

A shelf is 2 meters long. A worker places 5 identical boxes side by side on the shelf and they exactly fill it. How wide is each box in centimeters?

  1. 40 centimeters Correct answer.
  2. 25 centimeters
  3. 50 centimeters
  4. 20 centimeters

Explanation

Two meters equals 200 centimeters. Dividing 200 by 5 boxes gives 40 centimeters per box.

Question 34Level 3

A worker is paid $13.20 per hour for a regular 40-hour week, plus time-and-a-half for overtime. If the worker logs 45 hours this week, what is the total pay?

  1. $561.00
  2. $640.20
  3. $594.00
  4. $627.00 Correct answer.

Explanation

Regular pay is 40 × 13.20 = 528.00. Overtime is 5 hours at 1.5 × 13.20 = 19.80 per hour, or 99.00. Adding gives 528.00 + 99.00 = 627.00.

Question 35Level 3

A recipe for floor cleaner calls for 2 parts concentrate to 7 parts water. A worker wants to mix 36 cups of cleaner in total. How many cups of concentrate are needed?

  1. 14 cups
  2. 8 cups Correct answer.
  3. 4 cups
  4. 7 cups

Explanation

The mixture has 2 + 7 = 9 total parts. Each part is 36 ÷ 9 = 4 cups, so concentrate is 2 × 4 = 8 cups.

Question 36Level 3

A worker needs to buy trim for the edges of a rectangular window that measures 30 inches wide and 48 inches tall. Trim is sold by the foot. How many feet of trim are needed?

  1. 39 feet
  2. 26 feet
  3. 13 feet Correct answer.
  4. 78 feet

Explanation

The perimeter is 2 × (30 + 48) = 156 inches. Dividing by 12 inches per foot gives 13 feet.

Question 37Level 3

A worker stacks 3 identical crates. Each crate is 1 foot 4 inches tall. What is the total height of the stack in inches?

  1. 48 inches Correct answer.
  2. 36 inches
  3. 16 inches
  4. 52 inches

Explanation

One foot 4 inches equals 16 inches. Three crates give 3 × 16 = 48 inches.

Question 38Level 3

A worker earns $15 per hour and works 32 hours in a week. The employer withholds 12% of gross pay for taxes. What is the worker's take-home pay for the week?

  1. $480.00
  2. $432.00
  3. $418.00
  4. $422.40 Correct answer.

Explanation

Gross pay is 32 × 15 = 480. Taxes are 12% of 480, or 57.60. Take-home pay is 480 − 57.60 = 422.40.

Question 39Level 3

A machine stamps 150 parts in 2.5 hours. At the same rate, how many parts will it stamp in a 6-hour run?

  1. 360 parts Correct answer.
  2. 375 parts
  3. 300 parts
  4. 450 parts

Explanation

The rate is 150 ÷ 2.5 = 60 parts per hour. Multiplying by 6 hours gives 60 × 6 = 360 parts.

Question 40Level 3

A worker compares two suppliers. Supplier A sells 8 pounds for $14.40. Supplier B sells 5 pounds for $9.25. How much less per pound does the cheaper supplier cost?

  1. $0.25
  2. $0.35
  3. $0.05 Correct answer.
  4. $0.15

Explanation

Supplier A costs 14.40 ÷ 8 = $1.80 per pound. Supplier B costs 9.25 ÷ 5 = $1.85 per pound. The difference is 1.85 − 1.80 = $0.05.

Question 41Level 4

A shipping clerk earns $14.50 per hour and works 38 hours in a week. What is the clerk's gross pay for the week?

  1. $565.50
  2. $551.00 Correct answer.
  3. $608.00
  4. $523.00

Explanation

Gross pay equals the hourly rate multiplied by hours worked. Multiplying $14.50 by 38 hours gives $551.00.

Question 42Level 4

A recipe calls for 2.5 cups of flour to make 20 cookies. At the same rate, how many cups of flour are needed for 50 cookies?

  1. 6.25 cups Correct answer.
  2. 4.5 cups
  3. 5.0 cups
  4. 7.5 cups

Explanation

Set up the proportion 2.5 cups per 20 cookies, so each cookie needs 0.125 cup. Multiplying 0.125 by 50 cookies gives 6.25 cups.

Question 43Level 4

A worker starts a task at 8:45 a.m. and finishes at 11:20 a.m. How long did the task take?

  1. 2 hours 45 minutes
  2. 3 hours 35 minutes
  3. 2 hours 25 minutes
  4. 2 hours 35 minutes Correct answer.

Explanation

From 8:45 to 11:45 is 3 hours, but the finish is 25 minutes before 11:45. So the elapsed time is 3 hours minus 25 minutes, which is 2 hours 35 minutes.

Question 44Level 4

A box of 24 pens costs $7.20. What is the cost per pen?

  1. $0.42
  2. $0.24
  3. $0.36
  4. $0.30 Correct answer.

Explanation

Unit price is total cost divided by the number of items. Dividing $7.20 by 24 pens gives $0.30 per pen.

Question 45Level 4

A storage room measures 12 feet by 15 feet. What is its area in square feet?

  1. 90 square feet
  2. 27 square feet
  3. 180 square feet Correct answer.
  4. 54 square feet

Explanation

The area of a rectangle is length times width. Multiplying 12 feet by 15 feet gives 180 square feet.

Question 46Level 4

A crew completed 35 of the 140 units scheduled for the week. What percent of the scheduled units were completed?

  1. 25% Correct answer.
  2. 30%
  3. 35%
  4. 20%

Explanation

Percent completed is the part divided by the whole, then multiplied by 100. Dividing 35 by 140 gives 0.25, which is 25%.

Question 47Level 4

A delivery van travels 240 miles on 16 gallons of fuel. What is the van's fuel efficiency in miles per gallon?

  1. 18 miles per gallon
  2. 20 miles per gallon
  3. 12 miles per gallon
  4. 15 miles per gallon Correct answer.

Explanation

Fuel efficiency is distance divided by fuel used. Dividing 240 miles by 16 gallons gives 15 miles per gallon.

Question 48Level 4

A part must be cut to a length of 4.75 inches. Which measurement is within 0.02 inch of the required length?

  1. 4.78 inches
  2. 4.74 inches Correct answer.
  3. 4.73 inches
  4. 4.71 inches

Explanation

A tolerance of 0.02 inch allows lengths from 4.73 to 4.77 inches. Only 4.74 inches falls inside that range.

Question 49Level 4

A store marks a $60 item down by 15%. What is the sale price?

  1. $9.00
  2. $54.00
  3. $45.00
  4. $51.00 Correct answer.

Explanation

A 15% discount removes 0.15 times $60, which is $9. Subtracting $9 from $60 gives a sale price of $51.00.

Question 50Level 4

A tank holds 500 gallons when full. It currently contains 320 gallons. What percent of the tank is empty?

  1. 36% Correct answer.
  2. 32%
  3. 40%
  4. 64%

Explanation

The empty portion is 500 minus 320, which is 180 gallons. Dividing 180 by 500 gives 0.36, or 36% empty.