Numeracy: Everyday Numbers, Money and Data
What the numeracy test asks of you
The numeracy standard tests the mathematics you meet in daily life, work and study: money and change, percentages and discounts, measurement, time and timetables, simple rates, averages, fractions and decimals, and reading tables, graphs and charts. Questions are usually set in a short real-world scenario, so part of the task is deciding which operation is needed.
Concepts to master
Place value and rounding. Line up decimal points when adding or subtracting money. Round only at the end of a calculation.
Percentages. "Per cent" means out of 100. To find 15% of an amount, multiply by 0.15. A discount is subtracted from the original price; a percentage increase is added.
Fractions, decimals and percentages are three ways of writing the same value: 1/4 = 0.25 = 25%.
Measurement and unit conversion. Know that 1 km = 1000 m, 1 kg = 1000 g, 1 L = 1000 mL, and 1 hour = 60 minutes. Convert to the same unit before calculating.
Time. Use the 24-hour clock for timetables, and remember that elapsed time is found by subtraction, borrowing 60 minutes when needed.
Averages and rates. Mean = total divided by how many. Speed or pay rate = amount divided by time or quantity.
Graphs and tables. Read the title, the axis labels and the units before reading any value.
Traps to watch for
- Answering the wrong question: finding the discount when the price after discount was asked for.
- Mixing units, such as minutes with hours or grams with kilograms.
- Ignoring the scale on a graph (each gridline may be 5, not 1).
- Forgetting to include a fixed charge, fee or deposit.
Rule of thumb
Write down what you are given, what you are asked for, and the units. Estimate the answer first; if your calculation is far from the estimate, check it.
Worked example. A shirt costs $80 and is reduced by 25%. Discount = 0.25 × 80 = $20, so the sale price is $80 − $20 = $60. A common error is answering $20, which is the saving, not the price.