MSCE Mathematics study materials
MSCE Mathematics study resources

MSCE Mathematics practice questions

One question at a time. Build your MSCE Mathematics understanding.

First 50 of 200 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.

Continue in the practice tool above to load more questions, 50 at a time.

Question 1Number

A number is written as 4.70 × 10⁻³ in standard form. What is its value as an ordinary decimal?

  1. 0.0047 Correct answer.
  2. 0.0470
  3. 4700
  4. 0.00047

Explanation

A negative power of ten shifts the decimal point to the left, and the exponent −3 moves it three places from 4.70. Moving the point three places left in 4.70 gives 0.00470, which equals 0.0047. The trailing zero in 4.70 does not change the place value.

Question 2Number

Which of these is the prime factorisation of 360?

  1. 2³ × 3² × 5 Correct answer.
  2. 2⁴ × 3 × 5
  3. 2² × 3² × 10
  4. 2³ × 3 × 15

Explanation

Repeated division by the smallest primes gives 360 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 3 × 3 × 5. Collecting gives 2³ × 3² × 5, and every factor here is prime, as a prime factorisation requires.

Question 3Number

What is the highest common factor of 84 and 126?

  1. 6
  2. 21
  3. 14
  4. 42 Correct answer.

Explanation

Writing 84 = 2² × 3 × 7 and 126 = 2 × 3² × 7, the HCF takes the lowest power of each shared prime: 2 × 3 × 7 = 42. Checking, 84 ÷ 42 = 2 and 126 ÷ 42 = 3, both whole numbers.

Question 4Number

Two buses leave a depot together. One returns every 18 minutes and the other every 24 minutes. After how many minutes will they next return at the same time?

  1. 48
  2. 72 Correct answer.
  3. 144
  4. 6

Explanation

The next simultaneous return occurs after the lowest common multiple of 18 and 24. Since 18 = 2 × 3² and 24 = 2³ × 3, the LCM is 2³ × 3² = 72 minutes.

Question 5Number

Evaluate 5 + 3 × (8 − 2)² ÷ 4.

  1. 72
  2. 14
  3. 17
  4. 32 Correct answer.

Explanation

Brackets come first: 8 − 2 = 6. The index gives 6² = 36, then multiplication and division run left to right: 3 × 36 = 108 and 108 ÷ 4 = 27. Adding 5 gives 32.

Question 6Number

A jacket priced at $80 is reduced by 15%, and then a further 10% is taken off the reduced price. What is the final price?

  1. $60.00
  2. $68.00
  3. $62.00
  4. $61.20 Correct answer.

Explanation

After the first reduction the price is 80 × 0.85 = 68. The second reduction applies to 68, giving 68 × 0.90 = 61.20. Successive percentage changes multiply, so the overall reduction is 23.5%, not 25%.

Question 7Number

A sum of $5000 is invested at 4% simple interest per year. What is the total value of the investment after 3 years?

  1. $5600 Correct answer.
  2. $5200
  3. $5400
  4. $5624.32

Explanation

Simple interest is calculated on the original principal only: I = 5000 × 0.04 × 3 = 600. Adding this to the principal gives 5000 + 600 = $5600.

Question 8Number

Which of these numbers is irrational?

  1. 22/7
  2. 0.333… (recurring)
  3. √2 Correct answer.
  4. √49

Explanation

An irrational number cannot be written as a fraction of two integers. The square root of 2 is non-recurring and non-terminating, so it is irrational, whereas the other three are rational.

Question 9Number

Express 0.45 as a fraction in its simplest form.

  1. 45/100
  2. 5/11
  3. 4/5
  4. 9/20 Correct answer.

Explanation

The decimal 0.45 means 45 hundredths, so it equals 45/100. Dividing numerator and denominator by their highest common factor, 5, gives 9/20, which cannot be simplified further.

Question 10Number

Calculate 3/4 ÷ 2/5, giving your answer as a fraction in its simplest form.

  1. 15/8 Correct answer.
  2. 3/10
  3. 6/20
  4. 8/15

Explanation

To divide by a fraction, multiply by its reciprocal: 3/4 × 5/2 = 15/8. The numerator and denominator share no common factor, so the fraction is already in its simplest form.

Question 11Number

A recipe uses flour and sugar in the ratio 5 : 2. If 350 g of flour is used, how much sugar is needed?

  1. 140 g Correct answer.
  2. 100 g
  3. 245 g
  4. 875 g

Explanation

The flour share of 5 parts corresponds to 350 g, so one part is 350 ÷ 5 = 70 g. Sugar is 2 parts, giving 2 × 70 = 140 g.

Question 12Number

A quantity is shared between three people in the ratio 2 : 3 : 5. If the largest share is 45, what is the total quantity?

  1. 135
  2. 90 Correct answer.
  3. 100
  4. 45

Explanation

The largest share is 5 parts and equals 45, so one part is 9. The total is 2 + 3 + 5 = 10 parts, giving 10 × 9 = 90.

Question 13Number

Which of these is the set of prime numbers between 20 and 40?

  1. 23, 29, 33, 37
  2. 23, 27, 29, 37
  3. 23, 29, 31, 37 Correct answer.
  4. 21, 23, 29, 31

Explanation

A prime has exactly two factors, 1 and itself. Checking the candidates between 20 and 40, only 23, 29, 31 and 37 have no divisor other than 1 and themselves.

Question 14Number

How many factors does 72 have?

  1. 8
  2. 9
  3. 10
  4. 12 Correct answer.

Explanation

Writing 72 = 2³ × 3², the number of factors is found by adding one to each exponent and multiplying: (3 + 1)(2 + 1) = 12. Listing them confirms 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36 and 72.

Question 15Number

What is the value of the digit 7 in the number 3.472?

  1. 7 hundredths Correct answer.
  2. 7 tenths
  3. 7 units
  4. 7 thousandths

Explanation

In 3.472 the digits after the decimal point are tenths, hundredths and thousandths in order. The 7 sits in the second decimal place, so it represents 7 hundredths, that is 0.07.

Question 16Number

Round 0.04738 to 3 significant figures.

  1. 0.05
  2. 0.0474 Correct answer.
  3. 0.0473
  4. 0.047

Explanation

The first significant figure is 4 (the leading zeros are not significant). The first three significant figures are 4, 7 and 3, and the next digit is 8, so the 3 rounds up to 4, giving 0.0474.

Question 17Number

A number is 4.8 × 10⁵ and another is 6.0 × 10³. What is the first number divided by the second, in standard form?

  1. 8 × 10²
  2. 8 × 10⁰
  3. 0.8 × 10²
  4. 8 × 10¹ Correct answer.

Explanation

Divide the coefficients and subtract the indices: 4.8 ÷ 6.0 = 0.8 and 10⁵ ÷ 10³ = 10². Since 0.8 × 10² is not in standard form, adjust to 8 × 10¹.

Question 18Number

What is the lowest common multiple of 12, 18 and 30?

  1. 90
  2. 360
  3. 6
  4. 180 Correct answer.

Explanation

Writing 12 = 2² × 3, 18 = 2 × 3² and 30 = 2 × 3 × 5, the LCM takes the highest power of each prime: 2² × 3² × 5 = 180. This is the smallest number divisible by all three.

Question 19Number

A car travels 150 km in 2 hours 30 minutes. What is its average speed in km/h?

  1. 75
  2. 62.5
  3. 50
  4. 60 Correct answer.

Explanation

Convert the time to hours: 2 hours 30 minutes is 2.5 hours. Average speed equals distance divided by time, so 150 ÷ 2.5 = 60 km/h.

Question 20Number

The population of a town increases from 25 000 to 27 500. What is the percentage increase?

  1. 9.1%
  2. 10% Correct answer.
  3. 110%
  4. 2.5%

Explanation

The increase is 27 500 − 25 000 = 2500. Percentage increase equals increase divided by original, so 2500 ÷ 25 000 = 0.1, which is 10%.

Question 21Number

Which expression is equivalent to 2³ × 2⁵ ÷ 2⁴?

  1. 2²
  2. 2³²
  3. 2¹²
  4. 2⁴ Correct answer.

Explanation

When multiplying powers with the same base, add the indices: 2³ × 2⁵ = 2⁸. When dividing, subtract: 2⁸ ÷ 2⁴ = 2⁴, which equals 16.

Question 22Number

Simplify (3 × 10⁴) × (2 × 10⁻⁶), giving your answer in standard form.

  1. 6 × 10²
  2. 6 × 10⁻¹⁰
  3. 6 × 10⁻² Correct answer.
  4. 5 × 10⁻²

Explanation

Multiply the coefficients: 3 × 2 = 6. Add the indices: 4 + (−6) = −2. The result 6 × 10⁻² already has a coefficient between 1 and 10, so it is in standard form.

Question 23Number

A sum of money is invested at 5% compound interest per year. After 2 years the investment is worth $1102.50. What was the original sum?

  1. $1050
  2. $992.25
  3. $1000 Correct answer.
  4. $1002.50

Explanation

Compound growth multiplies the principal by 1.05 each year, so after two years the multiplier is 1.05² = 1.1025. Dividing 1102.50 by 1.1025 gives $1000.

Question 24Number

Which of these numbers is a multiple of both 6 and 8?

  1. 18
  2. 24
  3. 36
  4. 48 Correct answer.

Explanation

A common multiple must be divisible by both 6 and 8, so it must be a multiple of their LCM, which is 24. Among the options, 48 = 24 × 2 is a multiple of 24 and hence of both 6 and 8.

Question 25Number

Estimate the value of 498 × 21 by rounding each number to one significant figure.

  1. 10 000 Correct answer.
  2. 10 500
  3. 9 000
  4. 12 000

Explanation

Rounding 498 to one significant figure gives 500, and 21 gives 20. Their product is 500 × 20 = 10 000, which is a sensible estimate of the exact value 10 458.

Question 26Number

A number is written as 2⁴ × 3² × 5. What is the number?

  1. 540
  2. 1080
  3. 720 Correct answer.
  4. 360

Explanation

Evaluate the prime factorisation directly: 2⁴ = 16, 3² = 9, so 16 × 9 = 144 and 144 × 5 = 720. The prime factor form gives the unique factorisation of the number, so no other value can match it.

Question 27Number

What is the value of √144 − ∛27?

  1. 9 Correct answer.
  2. 15
  3. 21
  4. 12

Explanation

√144 = 12 because 12 × 12 = 144, and ∛27 = 3 because 3 × 3 × 3 = 27. Subtracting gives 12 − 3 = 9.

Question 28Number

Which list shows the numbers 3/5, 0.58 and 7/12 in ascending order?

  1. 0.58, 3/5, 7/12 Correct answer.
  2. 7/12, 0.58, 3/5
  3. 0.58, 7/12, 3/5
  4. 3/5, 7/12, 0.58

Explanation

Convert to decimals: 3/5 = 0.6 and 7/12 ≈ 0.5833, while the middle value is 0.58. Comparing 0.58 < 0.5833 < 0.6 gives the order 0.58, 3/5, 7/12.

Question 29Number

A positive integer n satisfies 1 < n < 20 and n has exactly three factors. What is n?

  1. 8
  2. 16
  3. 9 Correct answer.
  4. 15

Explanation

A number has exactly three factors only when it is the square of a prime, because the factors are 1, p and p². The only such numbers below 20 are 4 and 9, and 4 is excluded by 1 < n, so n = 9.

Question 30Number

The number 84 is written in the form 2^a × 3^b × 7^c. What is the value of a + b + c?

  1. 4 Correct answer.
  2. 5
  3. 3
  4. 6

Explanation

Dividing 84 by primes gives 84 = 2 × 42 = 2 × 2 × 21 = 2² × 3 × 7, so a = 2, b = 1 and c = 1. Therefore a + b + c = 2 + 1 + 1 = 4.

Question 31Number

A shirt is priced at $64 and is sold in a sale with 25% off. Sales tax of 10% is then added to the sale price. What is the total paid?

  1. $52.80 Correct answer.
  2. $48.00
  3. $54.40
  4. $56.00

Explanation

A 25% discount leaves 75% of $64, which is $48. Adding 10% tax multiplies by 1.10, giving 48 × 1.10 = $52.80. The two percentage changes act on different amounts, so they do not cancel.

Question 32Number

A bank account earns 3% interest per year, compounded annually. If $2000 is deposited and no money is withdrawn, what is the balance after 2 years, to the nearest cent?

  1. $2121.80 Correct answer.
  2. $2118.00
  3. $2124.50
  4. $2120.00

Explanation

Compound interest multiplies the balance by 1.03 each year: 2000 × 1.03² = 2000 × 1.0609 = $2121.80. The second year's interest is earned on the first year's interest as well as the original deposit.

Question 33Number

The number 0.000 000 000 000 000 000 000 001 6 is written in standard form as a × 10^n. What are the values of a and n?

  1. a = 1.6, n = −24 Correct answer.
  2. a = 1.6, n = −25
  3. a = 16, n = −25
  4. a = 1.6, n = 24

Explanation

Moving the decimal point 24 places to the right gives 1.6, so the power of ten is 10⁻²⁴. In standard form a must satisfy 1 ≤ a < 10, so a = 1.6 and n = −24.

Question 34Number

A map has a scale of 1 : 25 000. A straight path on the map measures 6 cm. What is the actual length of the path in kilometres?

  1. 15 km
  2. 1.5 km Correct answer.
  3. 0.15 km
  4. 150 km

Explanation

Each centimetre on the map represents 25 000 cm in reality, so 6 cm represents 150 000 cm. Dividing by 100 000 to convert centimetres to kilometres gives 1.5 km.

Question 35Number

A number is rounded to 2 significant figures and the result is 0.040. What is the smallest possible value of the original number?

  1. 0.0399
  2. 0.04
  3. 0.035
  4. 0.0395 Correct answer.

Explanation

Rounding to 2 significant figures gives a half-unit interval of 0.0005 around 0.040, so the lower bound is 0.040 − 0.0005 = 0.0395. Any smaller value would round down to 0.039.

Question 36Number

The prime factorisations 2⁴ × 3² × 5 and 2² × 3³ × 7 are given. What is the highest common factor of the two numbers?

  1. 108
  2. 252
  3. 36 Correct answer.
  4. 12

Explanation

For the highest common factor, take the lower power of each shared prime: 2² × 3² = 4 × 9 = 36. The prime 5 and the prime 7 appear in only one number each, so they are not included.

Question 37Number

A quantity is shared between A, B and C in the ratio 3 : 4 : 5. B receives $28 more than A. What is the total quantity shared?

  1. $112
  2. $168 Correct answer.
  3. $140
  4. $196

Explanation

The difference between B's and A's shares is 4 − 3 = 1 part, and this equals $28, so one part is $28. The total is 3 + 4 + 5 = 12 parts, giving 12 × 28 = $168.

Question 38Number

A rectangle has length 3.2 × 10² cm and width 4.5 × 10¹ cm. What is its area in square centimetres, in standard form?

  1. 1.44 × 10⁵
  2. 1.44 × 10⁴ Correct answer.
  3. 1.44 × 10³
  4. 14.4 × 10³

Explanation

Multiply the numerical parts and add the indices: 3.2 × 4.5 = 14.4 and 10² × 10¹ = 10³, giving 14.4 × 10³. Converting to standard form gives 1.44 × 10⁴.

Question 39Number

A number n is a multiple of 4 and also a multiple of 6. Which statement about n must be true?

  1. n is a multiple of 24
  2. n is a multiple of 10
  3. n is a multiple of 12 Correct answer.
  4. n is even but not a multiple of 3

Explanation

Any common multiple of 4 and 6 must be a multiple of their lowest common multiple, which is 12. So n is always a multiple of 12, but not necessarily of 24.

Question 40Number

A number is written in prime factorised form as 2² × 3 × 5³. What is the total number of positive factors of this number?

  1. 20
  2. 30
  3. 12
  4. 24 Correct answer.

Explanation

For a number expressed as a product of prime powers, the number of positive factors is found by adding 1 to each exponent and multiplying these results. Here the exponents are 2, 1, and 3, so the number of factors is (2+1)(1+1)(3+1) = 3 × 2 × 4 = 24.

Question 41Algebra

Solve the linear equation 5x - 7 = 3x + 9 for x.

  1. x = 16
  2. x = 2
  3. x = 8 Correct answer.
  4. x = 1

Explanation

Subtract 3x from both sides to get 2x - 7 = 9, then add 7 to both sides to get 2x = 16. Dividing both sides by 2 gives x = 8. Substituting back confirms 33 = 33.

Question 42Algebra

Expand and simplify (2x - 3)(x + 5).

  1. 2x^2 - 7x - 15
  2. 2x^2 + 13x - 15
  3. 2x^2 + 7x - 15 Correct answer.
  4. 2x^2 + 7x + 15

Explanation

Multiply each term of the first bracket by each term of the second: 2x·x = 2x^2, 2x·5 = 10x, -3·x = -3x, -3·5 = -15. Combining 10x and -3x gives 7x, so the result is 2x^2 + 7x - 15.

Question 43Algebra

Factorise the quadratic expression x^2 - 7x + 12.

  1. (x - 2)(x - 6)
  2. (x - 3)(x - 4) Correct answer.
  3. (x - 1)(x - 12)
  4. (x + 3)(x + 4)

Explanation

We need two numbers whose product is +12 and whose sum is -7. The pair -3 and -4 satisfies both conditions, so the factorisation is (x - 3)(x - 4). Expanding confirms the middle term is -7x.

Question 44Algebra

What is the gradient of the straight line passing through the points (2, 3) and (6, 11)?

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

Explanation

Gradient equals the change in y divided by the change in x: (11 - 3)/(6 - 2) = 8/4 = 2. The line rises 2 units for every 1 unit to the right.

Question 45Algebra

Simplify the expression (3a^2b)(4ab^3).

  1. 12a^2b^3
  2. 12a^3b^4 Correct answer.
  3. 12a^3b^3
  4. 7a^3b^4

Explanation

Multiply the coefficients: 3 × 4 = 12. For the powers, add exponents of like bases: a^2·a = a^3 and b·b^3 = b^4. The simplified product is therefore 12a^3b^4.

Question 46Algebra

Make x the subject of the formula y = (x - 4)/3.

  1. x = (y + 4)/3
  2. x = 3y - 4
  3. x = y/3 + 4
  4. x = 3y + 4 Correct answer.

Explanation

Multiply both sides by 3 to obtain 3y = x - 4, then add 4 to both sides to isolate x. This gives x = 3y + 4.

Question 47Algebra

Evaluate the expression 2^3 × 2^4 ÷ 2^5.

  1. 8
  2. 16
  3. 4 Correct answer.
  4. 2

Explanation

Using the laws of indices, add exponents for multiplication and subtract for division: 2^(3+4-5) = 2^2. Since 2^2 = 4, the expression equals 4.

Question 48Algebra

Solve the inequality 4 - 2x > 10.

  1. x < -3 Correct answer.
  2. x > 3
  3. x > -3
  4. x < 3

Explanation

Subtract 4 from both sides to get -2x > 6. Dividing both sides by -2 reverses the inequality sign, giving x < -3.

Question 49Algebra

The quadratic equation x^2 - 5x + 6 = 0 has roots r and s. What is the value of r + s?

  1. -6
  2. -5
  3. 6
  4. 5 Correct answer.

Explanation

For ax^2 + bx + c = 0, the sum of the roots equals -b/a. Here a = 1 and b = -5, so the sum is -(-5)/1 = 5. The roots are 2 and 3, whose sum is indeed 5.

Question 50Algebra

Solve the simultaneous equations 2x + y = 11 and x - y = 1.

  1. x = 3, y = 4
  2. x = 4, y = 3 Correct answer.
  3. x = 2, y = 7
  4. x = 5, y = 1

Explanation

Adding the two equations eliminates y and gives 3x = 12, so x = 4. Substituting into x - y = 1 gives 4 - y = 1, hence y = 3. Checking the first equation: 8 + 3 = 11.