DSST Math for Liberal Arts study guide
DSST Math for Liberal Arts · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The DSST Math for Liberal Arts exam is a credit-by-examination option for students who need to satisfy a general-education mathematics requirement without sitting through a full course. It is aimed at liberal arts and non-STEM students-including adult learners, homeschooled students, and service members-who want to demonstrate college-level quantitative reasoning. The DSST Math for Liberal Arts study guide has 8 sections and about 3,700 words.
01Real Number Systems
The exam tests how well you classify numbers, place them in order on the number line, evaluate expressions with signed values, and use the field properties that justify each manipulation. Natural (counting): 1, 2, 3, … Whole: naturals plus 0.
502 words, about 3 min02Sets and Logic
This domain tests set notation, Venn-diagram counting, and the truth conditions of compound statements, including the conditional and its relatives. Roster form {2, 4, 6}; set-builder {x x is even and 0 < x < 8}.
488 words, about 2 min03Metric System, Conversions, and Geometry
Questions here test unit conversion within the metric system and between metric and US customary units, temperature conversion, and perimeter, area, and volume of standard figures including circles and cylinders. kilo 10³, hecto 10², deka 10¹, base unit 10⁰, deci 10⁻¹, centi 10⁻², milli 10⁻³, micro 10⁻⁶.
440 words, about 2 min04Algebra, Graphs, and Functions in Real-Life Applications
Expect to translate a word situation into an expression, equation, function, or graph, then interpret the slope, intercepts, and domain in context. A variable names an unknown quantity.
457 words, about 2 min05Linear Systems and Inequalities
The exam tests solving two-equation systems, recognizing when a system has no solution or infinitely many, and solving and graphing linear, compound, and absolute-value inequalities. Substitution: solve one equation for a variable, substitute into the other, solve, then back-substitute.
476 words, about 2 min06Exponents, Logarithms, and Financial Literacy
This domain combines exponent rules, logarithm laws, and the finance formulas for simple interest, compound interest, continuous growth, and doubling time. aᵐ · aⁿ = aᵐ⁺ⁿ; aᵐ / aⁿ = aᵐ⁻ⁿ; (aᵐ)ⁿ = aᵐⁿ; (ab)ⁿ = aⁿbⁿ.
430 words, about 2 min07Counting
Counting questions test whether you can decide if order matters, then apply the fundamental counting principle, factorials, permutations, and combinations correctly. If one decision has m options and an independent second decision has n options, the pair can be made in m · n ways.
425 words, about 2 min08Probability Theory and Statistics
This domain tests basic probability rules for single and combined events, plus the interpretation of mean, median, mode, spread, and the normal distribution. P(E) = favorable outcomes ÷ total outcomes, and 0 ≤ P(E) ≤ 1.
482 words, about 2 min