PERT Math study guide
PERT Math · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT) is a computer-adaptive placement assessment used in Florida's public postsecondary system to gauge a student's readiness for college-level coursework. Its Mathematics section is designed for incoming college students, dual-enrollment high schoolers, and adult learners who need a placement decision before registering for credit-bearing math, and it is typically taken at a testing center or approved site before or during the first term of enrollment. The PERT Math study guide has 4 sections and about 1,797 words.
01Linear Equations and Inequalities
A linear equation states that two expressions are equal, and solving means isolating the variable. Work in reverse order of operations: clear parentheses with the distributive property, combine like terms on each side, collect variable terms on one side and constants on the other, then divide by the coefficient.
301 words, about 2 min02Algebraic Expressions, Functions, and Systems
An algebraic expression contains no equals sign, so the goal is rewriting rather than solving. Combine like terms only when the variable parts match exactly: 5x and −2x combine, but 5x and 5x² do not.
588 words, about 3 min03Quadratic Equations and Graphing
A quadratic in standard form is y = ax² + bx + c, and its graph is a parabola that opens upward when a is positive and downward when a is negative. The roots, zeros, or x-intercepts are the solutions of ax² + bx + c = 0 and can be found by factoring, completing the square, or the quadratic formula x = (−b ± √(b² − 4ac)) / (2a).
311 words, about 2 min04Geometry, Measurement, and Data Analysis
Angle relationships anchor many problems: a straight line measures 180°, a full circle 360°, vertical angles are equal, complementary angles sum to 90°, and supplementary angles sum to 180°. The angles of any triangle sum to 180°, and the longest side faces the largest angle.
597 words, about 3 min