HSPT Math : Arithmetic

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for HSPT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : How To Multiply Negative Numbers

Evaluate:

–3 * –7

Possible Answers:

21

–21

4

10

–10

Correct answer:

21

Explanation:

Multiplying a negative number and another negative number makes the product positive. 

Example Question #1 : How To Multiply Negative Numbers

Evaluate.    

\dpi{100} \small (-8\times 6) - (5\times -3)

Possible Answers:

\dpi{100} \small 62

\dpi{100} \small 32

\dpi{100} \small 33

\dpi{100} \small -33

\dpi{100} \small -63

Correct answer:

\dpi{100} \small -33

Explanation:

\dpi{100} \small (-8\times 6) - (5\times -3) 

Multiplying a negative and a positive number creates a negative product:

\dpi{100} \small (-48)-(-15)      

\dpi{100} \small -48+15

\dpi{100} \small -33

Example Question #11 : Concepts

Solve.

(6-8)\times 11=

Possible Answers:

5

-13

-22

13

22

Correct answer:

-22

Explanation:

(6-8)=-2

-2\times 11=-22

A negative number multiplied by a positive number will always be negative. 

Example Question #2 : How To Multiply Negative Numbers

Evaluate 3x3 + x2 if x = 2

 

Possible Answers:

14

28

20

22

Correct answer:

20

Explanation:

When multiplying a negative number an odd number of times, the answer is negative.  When multiplying a negative number an even number of times, the answer is positive.  Order of operations also applies:  Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, Addition and Subtraction, from left to right.  A mnemonic to remember the order of operations is “Please excuse my dear Aunt Sally.”

3(2)3 + (2)2

= 3(8) + (4)

= 24 + 4

= 20 

 

Example Question #1 : How To Multiply Negative Numbers

Simplify the following expression: (–4)(2)(–1)(–3)

Possible Answers:

–24

24

12

–16

Correct answer:

–24

Explanation:

First, we multiply –4 and 2. A negative and a positive number multiplied together give us a negative number, so (–4)(2) = –8. A negative times a negative is a positive so (–8)(–1) = 8. (8)(–3) = –24. 

Example Question #11 : Concepts

What is 1 + (–1) – (–3) + 4 ?

Possible Answers:

6

1

9

3

7

Correct answer:

7

Explanation:

You simplify the expression to be 1 – 1 + 3 + 4 = 7

Example Question #3 : Negative Numbers

Multiply the following negative numbers: .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

When two negative numbers are multiplied by each other, the result is a positive number.

When a negative and a nonnegative number are multiplied with each other, the result is a negative number.

Therefore, since  and  are negative numbers, the product must be positive.

Therefore, the answer is positive .

Example Question #12 : Concepts

Evaluate:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The product of two numbers of unlike sign is the (negative) opposite of the product of their absolute values.

There are a total of two digits to the right of the two decimal points. Therefore, the product can be calculated by multiplying 201 by 203, then placing the decimal point so that there are three digits at right. 

Since we need to affix a negative symbol in front, the answer is 

Example Question #13 : Concepts

Solve:  

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Evaluate by order of operations, or PEMDAS. Start with multiplication of . Because two negatives make a positive,  the answer for this part is .

Now we have  and can solve from right to left. Remembering that two negatives make a positive, we now have 

 

The correct answer is .

Example Question #14 : Concepts

Evaluate:  

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Solve by order of operations.   Evaluate the fraction first.

Subtract the terms.

In order to subrtract  we need to make common denominators. 

 

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