FTCE Middle Grades Math 5-9 (025) study materials
FTCE Middle Grades Math 5-9 (025) study resources

FTCE Middle Grades Math 5-9 (025) practice questions

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Question 1Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

In the number 4,706,382, what is the value of the digit 7?

  1. 70,000
  2. 700,000 Correct answer.
  3. 7,000,000
  4. 7,000

Explanation

The digit 7 sits in the hundred-thousands place, so its value is 7 × 100,000 = 700,000. Place value is determined by counting positions outward from the decimal point, not by the digit's face value. The 4 in the millions place contributes 4,000,000, which is a different position entirely.

Question 2Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

What is 5,847 rounded to the nearest hundred?

  1. 5,000
  2. 5,900
  3. 6,000
  4. 5,800 Correct answer.

Explanation

The hundreds digit is 8, and the digit to its right in the tens place is 4. Because 4 is less than 5, the hundreds digit stays the same and the tens and ones digits become zeros, giving 5,800. Rounding to a place keeps all digits to the left of that place unchanged unless the next digit is 5 or greater.

Question 3Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

Evaluate: 12 − 3 × 2 + 4

  1. 10 Correct answer.
  2. 6
  3. 18
  4. 22

Explanation

Order of operations requires multiplication before addition and subtraction, so compute 3 × 2 = 6 first. The expression becomes 12 − 6 + 4, and addition and subtraction are then performed left to right: 12 − 6 = 6, then 6 + 4 = 10. Working strictly left to right without honoring the multiplication is the common error.

Question 4Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

What is −7 + 12?

  1. −19
  2. 19
  3. 5 Correct answer.
  4. −5

Explanation

Adding a positive number to a negative number moves rightward on the number line. Start at −7 and move 12 units right, which lands on 5. Equivalently, 12 − 7 = 5, and the result takes the sign of the addend with the larger absolute value, which is positive.

Question 5Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

Which of these numbers is the greatest?

  1. 0.605
  2. 0.06
  3. 0.65 Correct answer.
  4. 0.6

Explanation

Line up the decimals and compare place by place. Writing the numbers as 0.650, 0.605, 0.600, and 0.060 shows that 0.650 has the largest hundredths digit among those with 6 in the tenths place, while 0.060 is smallest. Therefore 0.65 is the greatest of the four.

Question 6Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

Which percent is equivalent to the decimal 0.6?

  1. 0.6%
  2. 60% Correct answer.
  3. 6%
  4. 600%

Explanation

To convert a decimal to a percent, multiply by 100 and attach the percent symbol, which moves the decimal point two places to the right. So 0.6 × 100 = 60, giving 60%. Dividing by 100 instead would produce 0.006, a common reversal error.

Question 7Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

Which fraction is equivalent to the decimal 0.375?

  1. 5/8
  2. 3/8 Correct answer.
  3. 1/3
  4. 3/4

Explanation

Write 0.375 as 375/1000 and simplify by dividing numerator and denominator by 125, which gives 3/8. Checking by division confirms that 3 ÷ 8 = 0.375. A denominator of 8 fits a terminating decimal because 8 has only 2 as a prime factor.

Question 8Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

What is the value of |−9|?

  1. 81
  2. −9
  3. 9 Correct answer.
  4. 0

Explanation

Absolute value gives the distance of a number from zero on the number line, so it is never negative. The number −9 is 9 units from 0, so |−9| = 9. The negative sign is removed rather than squared away.

Question 9Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

What is the least common multiple of 12 and 18?

  1. 6
  2. 216
  3. 72
  4. 36 Correct answer.

Explanation

Multiples of 12 are 12, 24, 36, 48, ... and multiples of 18 are 18, 36, 54, ..., so the smallest shared multiple is 36. Using prime factorizations, 12 = 2² × 3 and 18 = 2 × 3², so the LCM is 2² × 3² = 36. The LCM is always at least as large as the greater of the two numbers.

Question 10Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

What is the greatest common factor of 24 and 36?

  1. 72
  2. 12 Correct answer.
  3. 4
  4. 6

Explanation

The prime factorizations are 24 = 2³ × 3 and 36 = 2² × 3². The greatest common factor uses the lower power of each shared prime, giving 2² × 3 = 12. Every common factor of 24 and 36 divides 12 evenly.

Question 11Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

How is 0.00042 written in scientific notation?

  1. 4.2 × 10^−4 Correct answer.
  2. 4.2 × 10^−3
  3. 4.2 × 10^4
  4. 4.2 × 10^3

Explanation

Scientific notation writes a number as a × 10^n with 1 ≤ a < 10. Moving the decimal point in 0.00042 four places right produces 4.2, and because the point moved right the exponent is −4, giving 4.2 × 10^−4. Checking: 4.2 × 10^−4 = 0.00042.

Question 12Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

What is 15% of 240?

  1. 54
  2. 24
  3. 36 Correct answer.
  4. 16

Explanation

Convert the percent to a decimal, 0.15, and multiply: 0.15 × 240 = 36. A mental check is that 10% of 240 is 24 and 5% is 12, and 24 + 12 = 36. The answer must be less than 240 because the percent is below 100.

Question 13Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

A recipe uses 3 cups of flour to make 12 cookies. At this rate, how many cups of flour are needed for 30 cookies?

  1. 9
  2. 6
  3. 7.5 Correct answer.
  4. 10

Explanation

Set up the proportion 3/12 = x/30 because the ratio of cups to cookies stays constant. Cross-multiplying gives 12x = 90, so x = 7.5. Equivalently, 30 cookies is 2.5 times 12 cookies, and 2.5 × 3 = 7.5.

Question 14Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

A jacket's price rises from $40 to $50. What is the percent increase?

  1. 20%
  2. 125%
  3. 25% Correct answer.
  4. 10%

Explanation

Percent change equals the amount of change divided by the original amount, times 100. The change is 50 − 40 = 10, and 10 ÷ 40 = 0.25, which is a 25% increase. Dividing by the new amount instead of the original is the common mistake that produces 20%.

Question 15Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

What is −5 − (−8)?

  1. −3
  2. −13
  3. 13
  4. 3 Correct answer.

Explanation

Subtracting a negative number is the same as adding its opposite, so −5 − (−8) = −5 + 8. Starting at −5 and moving 8 units right gives 3. Ignoring the double negative and adding absolute values would give the wrong sign.

Question 16Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

What is 2^5 × 2^3 written as a single power?

  1. 2^15
  2. 2^2
  3. 4^8
  4. 2^8 Correct answer.

Explanation

When multiplying powers with the same base, add the exponents: 2^5 × 2^3 = 2^(5+3) = 2^8, which equals 256. Multiplying the exponents is the rule for a power raised to a power, not for a product of powers.

Question 17Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

The value of √50 lies between which pair of consecutive integers?

  1. 24 and 26
  2. 7 and 8 Correct answer.
  3. 8 and 9
  4. 6 and 7

Explanation

Since 7² = 49 and 8² = 64, and 49 < 50 < 64, the square root of 50 lies between 7 and 8. It is only slightly greater than 7 because 50 is just above 49. The value is irrational, so it is not a whole number.

Question 18Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

Which expression is equivalent to 6(2x + 5)?

  1. 12x + 30 Correct answer.
  2. 12x + 11
  3. 12x + 5
  4. 8x + 11

Explanation

The distributive property multiplies the factor outside the parentheses by each term inside: 6 × 2x = 12x and 6 × 5 = 30. The simplified expression is therefore 12x + 30. Multiplying only the first term is a frequent error.

Question 19Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

A 5-pound bag of rice costs $12.50. What is the unit price per pound?

  1. $3.50
  2. $2.00
  3. $0.40
  4. $2.50 Correct answer.

Explanation

A unit rate compares the cost to one pound, so divide $12.50 by 5 pounds: 12.50 ÷ 5 = 2.50. The unit price is $2.50 per pound. Multiplying instead of dividing would just return the cost of five pounds.

Question 20Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

What is 2/3 ÷ 4/9?

  1. 3/2 Correct answer.
  2. 8/27
  3. 1/2
  4. 6/13

Explanation

Dividing by a fraction is the same as multiplying by its reciprocal, so 2/3 ÷ 4/9 = 2/3 × 9/4. Multiplying numerators and denominators gives 18/12, which simplifies to 3/2. The quotient is greater than 1, as expected because 2/3 is larger than 4/9.

Question 21Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

Which fraction equals the repeating decimal 0.444...?

  1. 44/100
  2. 1/2
  3. 4/10
  4. 4/9 Correct answer.

Explanation

Let x = 0.444... Then 10x = 4.444..., and subtracting gives 9x = 4, so x = 4/9. The repeating block has one digit, which is why multiplying by 10 isolates it. Checking, 4 ÷ 9 = 0.444....

Question 22Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

Which of these numbers is irrational?

  1. −3
  2. 22/7
  3. √2 Correct answer.
  4. 0.75

Explanation

A rational number can be written as a ratio of two integers: 0.75 = 3/4, −3 = −3/1, and 22/7 is already such a ratio. The square root of 2 cannot be written that way because 2 is not a perfect square, so its decimal neither terminates nor repeats.

Question 23Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

What is the value of (2/3)^−2?

  1. 9/4 Correct answer.
  2. −9/4
  3. 4/9
  4. −4/9

Explanation

A negative exponent indicates the reciprocal of the base raised to the positive exponent: (2/3)^−2 = (3/2)². Squaring gives 9/4. The result is positive because the exponent is even and the base is positive.

Question 24Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

After a 20% discount, a shirt sells for $48. What was the original price?

  1. $57.60
  2. $52
  3. $68
  4. $60 Correct answer.

Explanation

After a 20% discount, the sale price is 80% of the original, so 0.80x = 48. Dividing both sides by 0.80 gives x = 60. Adding 20% of the sale price instead of 20% of the original is the common error that produces $57.60.

Question 25Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

What is (6 × 10^7) ÷ (2 × 10^3)?

  1. 4 × 10^4
  2. 3 × 10^4 Correct answer.
  3. 3 × 10^21
  4. 3 × 10^10

Explanation

Divide the coefficients and subtract the exponents: 6 ÷ 2 = 3 and 10^7 ÷ 10^3 = 10^4. The result is 3 × 10^4, or 30,000. The quotient should be far smaller than 6 × 10^7, which confirms that the exponents were subtracted.

Question 26Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

Which statement about the integers −6 and −8 is true?

  1. |−6| > |−8|
  2. −8 > −6
  3. −6 = −8
  4. −6 > −8 Correct answer.

Explanation

On a horizontal number line, values increase from left to right, and −6 lies to the right of −8, so −6 is greater than −8. Absolute value measures distance from zero, and the distance for −8 is larger than the distance for −6.

Question 27Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

In the number 4,728,915, the digit 7 occupies which place-value position?

  1. ten-thousands
  2. millions
  3. thousands
  4. hundred-thousands Correct answer.

Explanation

Reading the place values from the right, the digits are 5 in the ones place, 1 in the tens, 9 in the hundreds, 8 in the thousands, 2 in the ten-thousands, 7 in the hundred-thousands, and 4 in the millions. The digit 7 therefore names a count of hundred-thousands.

Question 28Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

What is the sum of 1/4 and 5/6?

  1. 7/12
  2. 5/24
  3. 6/10
  4. 13/12 Correct answer.

Explanation

Rewrite both fractions with the least common denominator 12: 1/4 = 3/12 and 5/6 = 10/12. Adding the numerators gives 13/12, which equals 1 1/12.

Question 29Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

What is the product (−4)(−6)(−2)?

  1. 48
  2. −48 Correct answer.
  3. −24
  4. 24

Explanation

Multiplying the first two factors gives (−4)(−6) = 24, because the product of two negatives is positive. Then 24 × (−2) = −48, because a positive times a negative is negative.

Question 30Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

Which value is equivalent to (5^7 × 5^(−3)) ÷ 5^2?

  1. 5
  2. 125
  3. 25 Correct answer.
  4. 625

Explanation

When multiplying powers with the same base, add the exponents, and when dividing, subtract them: 7 + (−3) − 2 = 2. The expression therefore simplifies to 5^2, which equals 25.

Question 31Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

18 is what percent of 45?

  1. 45%
  2. 25%
  3. 40% Correct answer.
  4. 250%

Explanation

Set up the proportion 18/45 = p/100, since a percent compares a part with 100. Dividing gives 18 ÷ 45 = 0.4, which is 40%.

Question 32Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

On a map, 1 inch represents 25 miles. A road measures 3.5 inches on the map. What is the actual length of the road?

  1. 100 miles
  2. 75 miles
  3. 62.5 miles
  4. 87.5 miles Correct answer.

Explanation

Set up the proportion 1 inch / 25 miles = 3.5 inches / d miles and multiply across: d = 3.5 × 25 = 87.5. The road is 87.5 miles long.

Question 33Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

What is the product 0.6 × 0.45?

  1. 2.7
  2. 0.27 Correct answer.
  3. 0.027
  4. 27

Explanation

Multiply as if the numbers were whole numbers: 6 × 45 = 270. The factors have one and two decimal places, three in total, so place the decimal point three places from the right to get 0.270 = 0.27.

Question 34Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

One bus arrives at a stop every 9 minutes and another arrives every 15 minutes. Both buses arrive together at 8:00 a.m. When will they next arrive together?

  1. 9:30 a.m.
  2. 10:15 a.m.
  3. 8:45 a.m. Correct answer.
  4. 8:24 a.m.

Explanation

The next simultaneous arrival happens after the least common multiple of 9 and 15 minutes. Since 9 = 3² and 15 = 3 × 5, the LCM is 3² × 5 = 45 minutes, which gives 8:45 a.m.

Question 35Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

What is the distance on a number line between the points −7 and 4?

  1. 7
  2. 11 Correct answer.
  3. 3
  4. −11

Explanation

Distance is the absolute value of the difference of the coordinates: |4 − (−7)| = |11| = 11. Computing |−7 − 4| gives the same result, since distance is never negative.

Question 36Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

What is the prime factorization of 84?

  1. 2 · 3 · 7
  2. 4 · 3 · 7
  3. 2² · 3 · 7 Correct answer.
  4. 2³ · 3 · 7

Explanation

Factor 84 as 4 × 21, then write each factor in prime form: 4 = 2² and 21 = 3 × 7. The prime factorization is 2² · 3 · 7, which checks because 4 × 3 × 7 = 84.

Question 37Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

What is the value of 3 + 2 × 4²?

  1. 35 Correct answer.
  2. 67
  3. 80
  4. 19

Explanation

Following the order of operations, evaluate the exponent first: 4² = 16. Then multiply: 2 × 16 = 32, and finally add: 3 + 32 = 35.

Question 38Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

What is the value of (2/5 − 1/2) ÷ 3/10?

  1. −3
  2. −1/6
  3. −1/3 Correct answer.
  4. 1/3

Explanation

Subtract inside the parentheses using the common denominator 10: 2/5 = 4/10 and 1/2 = 5/10, so the difference is −1/10. Dividing by 3/10 means multiplying by its reciprocal 10/3, so (−1/10) × (10/3) = −1/3.

Question 39Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

A store raises the price of an item by 25%, and later lowers the new price by 20%. Which best describes the final price compared with the original price?

  1. a 20% decrease
  2. no change Correct answer.
  3. a 5% increase
  4. a 5% decrease

Explanation

Represent each change with a multiplier: a 25% increase gives 1.25, and a 20% decrease gives 0.8. Since 1.25 × 0.8 = 1.00, the final price equals the original price, so there is no net change.

Question 40Knowledge of number sense, concepts, and operations

What is the sum (4.2 × 10^5) + (3.0 × 10^4) written in scientific notation?

  1. 4.5 × 10^9
  2. 7.2 × 10^5
  3. 7.2 × 10^9
  4. 4.5 × 10^5 Correct answer.

Explanation

To add numbers in scientific notation, first express both with the same power of ten: 3.0 × 10^4 = 0.30 × 10^5. Then add the coefficients: (4.2 + 0.30) × 10^5 = 4.5 × 10^5.

Question 41Knowledge of algebraic thinking and the coordinate plane

Evaluate 3 + 4 × 2² − 6 ÷ 3.

  1. 9
  2. 21
  3. 5
  4. 17 Correct answer.

Explanation

Order of operations requires exponents first, then multiplication and division from left to right, then addition and subtraction. Here 2² = 4, so the expression becomes 3 + 16 − 2 = 17.

Question 42Knowledge of algebraic thinking and the coordinate plane

Simplify 5x + 3y − 2x + 7y.

  1. 3x + 4y
  2. 7x + 10y
  3. 3x + 10y Correct answer.
  4. 13xy

Explanation

Combine like terms by adding the coefficients of terms with the same variable: (5x − 2x) + (3y + 7y) = 3x + 10y. Terms with different variables cannot be merged into one term.

Question 43Knowledge of algebraic thinking and the coordinate plane

Which expression represents "seven less than three times a number n"?

  1. 3n − 7 Correct answer.
  2. 3(n − 7)
  3. 3n + 7
  4. 7 − 3n

Explanation

"Three times a number" is 3n, and "seven less than" that quantity means subtracting 7 from 3n. The correct translation is therefore 3n − 7.

Question 44Knowledge of algebraic thinking and the coordinate plane

Solve 4x − 9 = 23.

  1. x = 6
  2. x = 8 Correct answer.
  3. x = 3.5
  4. x = 14

Explanation

Add 9 to both sides to isolate the variable term, giving 4x = 32. Dividing both sides by 4 gives x = 8.

Question 45Knowledge of algebraic thinking and the coordinate plane

In which quadrant does the point (−5, 3) lie?

  1. Quadrant I
  2. Quadrant II Correct answer.
  3. Quadrant IV
  4. Quadrant III

Explanation

In Quadrant II, x-coordinates are negative and y-coordinates are positive. The point (−5, 3) has a negative x-value and a positive y-value, so it lies in Quadrant II.

Question 46Knowledge of algebraic thinking and the coordinate plane

Simplify x⁹ ÷ x³ (x ≠ 0).

  1. x³
  2. x¹²
  3. x⁶ Correct answer.
  4. x²⁷

Explanation

When dividing powers with the same base, subtract the exponents: x⁹ ÷ x³ = x^(9−3) = x⁶.

Question 47Knowledge of algebraic thinking and the coordinate plane

Expand −3(2x − 5).

  1. 6x − 15
  2. −6x − 15
  3. −6x + 15 Correct answer.
  4. −6x − 5

Explanation

Distribute −3 to each term inside the parentheses: −3(2x) = −6x and −3(−5) = +15. The expanded form is −6x + 15.

Question 48Knowledge of algebraic thinking and the coordinate plane

What is the x-intercept of the line 2x + 3y = 12?

  1. (0, 6)
  2. (0, 4)
  3. (6, 0) Correct answer.
  4. (4, 0)

Explanation

The x-intercept occurs where y = 0. Substituting y = 0 into 2x + 3y = 12 gives 2x = 12, so x = 6 and the intercept is (6, 0).

Question 49Knowledge of algebraic thinking and the coordinate plane

What is the slope of the line through (−2, 5) and (4, −7)?

  1. −2 Correct answer.
  2. 1/2
  3. 2
  4. −1/2

Explanation

Slope equals the change in y divided by the change in x: (−7 − 5)/(4 − (−2)) = −12/6 = −2.

Question 50Knowledge of algebraic thinking and the coordinate plane

Which equation describes the line with slope −3 that passes through the point (2, 5)?

  1. y = 3x − 1
  2. y = −3x + 11 Correct answer.
  3. y = −3x − 1
  4. y = −3x + 5

Explanation

Using point-slope form, y − 5 = −3(x − 2). Distributing gives y − 5 = −3x + 6, so y = −3x + 11.