HSPT Math : Arithmetic

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for HSPT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Negative Numbers

\dpi{100} -4-(-2)^{3}=\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} -4-(-2)^{3}=\)

Possible Answers:

\dpi{100} -8\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} -8\)

\dpi{100} 2\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} 2\)

\dpi{100} 4\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} 4\)

\dpi{100} -4\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} -4\)

Correct answer:

\dpi{100} 4\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} 4\)

Explanation:

The order of operations is PEMDAS, or (1) Parentheses (2) Exponents (3)Multiplication/Division (4) Addition/Subtraction.

First, we need to cube the quantity \dpi{100} -2\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} -2\).

\dpi{100} (-2)^{3}=-8\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} (-2)^{3}=-8\)

Now we are left with \dpi{100} -4-(-8)\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} -4-(-8)\).

Subtracting a negative is the same as adding a positive. So we can rewrite this as

\dpi{100} -4+8=4\(\displaystyle \dpi{100} -4+8=4\)

Example Question #1 : Concepts

\(\displaystyle 17+-52=?\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle -25\)

\(\displaystyle -52\)

\(\displaystyle -69\)

\(\displaystyle -35\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -35\)

Explanation:

When adding a positive to a negative number you must first pick the greater value of the two numbers while disregarding the signs.

In this case the negative number has a higher value if we don’t pay attention to the signs. Due to this fact we know our resulting number will be negative.

We then subtract the smaller number value from the higher value which gives us \(\displaystyle 52-17=35\)

Then we add the negative sign to the value to arrive at our answer \(\displaystyle -35\)

 

Example Question #2 : Concepts

\(\displaystyle -52*21=?\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 1193\)

\(\displaystyle -1028\)

\(\displaystyle -1193\)

\(\displaystyle -1092\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -1092\)

Explanation:

If you multiply a negative by a positive the resulting number will be a negative number.

So we multiply the numbers together normally and then add the negative sign at the end \(\displaystyle \52*21=1092\)

The answer in this case is  \(\displaystyle -1092\)

 

Example Question #3 : Concepts

Evaluate: \(\displaystyle \left (-4 \right )^{4} + \left (-4 \right )^{3}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle -4\)

\(\displaystyle -320\)

\(\displaystyle 192\)

\(\displaystyle 320\)

\(\displaystyle -192\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 192\)

Explanation:

A negative number taken to an even power is positive, and an odd number taken to an odd power is negative, so:

\(\displaystyle \left (-4 \right )^{4} + \left (-4 \right )^{3} = 4^{4} + \left( -4^{3} \right ) = 4^{4} -4^{3}\)

\(\displaystyle = 4\cdot4\cdot4\cdot4 - 4\cdot4\cdot4 = 256 - 64 = 192\)

Example Question #4 : Negative Numbers

Evaluate \(\displaystyle 5x - 4\) for \(\displaystyle x = -7\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle -55\)

\(\displaystyle -29\)

\(\displaystyle -31\)

\(\displaystyle -15\)

\(\displaystyle -39\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -39\)

Explanation:

\(\displaystyle 5x - 4\)

\(\displaystyle = 5 \cdot (-7) - 4\)

\(\displaystyle = - (5\cdot 7) -4\)

\(\displaystyle = -35-4\)

\(\displaystyle =-35 + (-4)\)

\(\displaystyle =-(35 + 4) = -39\)

Example Question #5 : Negative Numbers

Evaluate: \(\displaystyle (-9+12) \left ( -4+10\right )\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 18\)

\(\displaystyle -35\)

\(\displaystyle 294\)

\(\displaystyle -18\)

\(\displaystyle -294\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 18\)

Explanation:

\(\displaystyle -9+12 = +(12 - 9) = 3\)

\(\displaystyle -4+10=+(10-4)=6\)

Therefore, 

\(\displaystyle (-9+12) \left ( -4+10\right ) = 3 \cdot6 = 18\)

Example Question #4 : Concepts

Combine: 

\(\displaystyle -665+1192+(-321)\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle -206\)

\(\displaystyle 406\)

\(\displaystyle 186\)

\(\displaystyle 206\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 206\)

Explanation:

First, combine the negative numbers. This yields \(\displaystyle -986\).

Then, the problem is simplified to \(\displaystyle 1192-986\). This gives you \(\displaystyle 206\)

Example Question #5 : Concepts

\(\displaystyle 44+-32\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 12\)

\(\displaystyle 8\)

\(\displaystyle 76\)

\(\displaystyle -12\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 12\)

Explanation:

To most effectively add a positive and negative number, ignore the signs and pick the greater of the two numbers.

In this case the positive number has a higher value if we don’t pay attention to the signs. Due to this fact we know the answer will be positive.

We then subtract the smaller number value from the higher value which gives us \(\displaystyle 44-32=12\)

Then we add the sign of the greater value to arrive at our answer \(\displaystyle 12\).

Example Question #1 : Negative Numbers

Add:   \(\displaystyle -10+ \left ( -11\right ) +4\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 5\)

\(\displaystyle -5\)

\(\displaystyle 3\)

\(\displaystyle -17\)

\(\displaystyle -3\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -17\)

Explanation:

Simply the signs before solving. A positive sign multiplied with a negative sign will convert the sign to a negative, and a negative multiplied with a negative will convert the sign to a positive.

\(\displaystyle -10+ \left ( -11\right ) +4=-10-11+4 = -17\)

Example Question #1 : Arithmetic

If a = –2 and b = –3, then evaluate a3 + b2

Possible Answers:

1

9

17

8

5

Correct answer:

1

Explanation:

When multiplying negative numbers, we get a negative answer if there are an odd number of negative numbers being multiplied.  We get a positive answer if there are an even number of negative numbers being multiplied.

a3 + b2 becomes (–2)3 + (–3)2 which equals –8 + 9 = 1

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