Basic Math Skills
What this section tests
Basic Math covers arithmetic with fractions, decimals, and percents, ratios and proportions, unit conversions, order of operations, averages, solving for an unknown, and single- and multi-step word problems. No calculator, so estimation and clean setup matter.
Core skills
- Fractions: find a common denominator to add or subtract; multiply straight across; divide by multiplying by the reciprocal.
- Converting: percent to decimal by dividing by 100; decimal to percent by multiplying by 100.
- Percent problems: part = percent × whole. The word of signals multiplication, is signals equals.
- Proportions: set up matching units across the equals sign, then cross-multiply.
- Order of operations: parentheses, exponents, multiply/divide left to right, add/subtract left to right.
- Averages: sum ÷ count; to find a missing value, use the required total.
Traps to expect
- Mixing units (minutes with hours, centimeters with meters) inside one problem.
- Percent increase versus percent of.
- Misdividing in long division when the decimal is placed wrongly.
- Choosing the wrong whole in of problems - the whole follows the word of.
Rule of thumb
Convert everything to one unit and one number form (all fractions or all decimals) before computing, then ask whether the answer is reasonable in size.
Worked example
A jacket costs $80 and is discounted 15%. What is the sale price? Discount = 0.15 × 80 = 12. Sale price = 80 − 12 = $68. Alternatively, pay 85% of the price: 0.85 × 80 = $68. Both routes should agree; if they do not, recheck the decimal placement.