Test Your Numeracy Skill

1. You get a wage increase of 4% plus an extra £5 per week. Your present wages are £250 per week. What will your new wage be?

£235

£220

£265

£300

Present wage = 250
4% of 250 = 4 x 2.5 = £10
Therefore new wage = 250 + 10 + 5 = £265

Explanation

Present wage = 250
4% of 250 = 4 x 2.5 = £10
Therefore new wage = 250 + 10 + 5 = £265

2. A cube has a volume of 8 cubic metres. If each side is doubled in length what will its new volume be in cubic metres?

52 cubic metres

81 cubic metres

66 cubic metres

64 cubic metres

Volume = length x width x height
8 = l x w x h but l, w and h are all equal as it is a cube
Therefore l = w = h = 2m
If each side is doubled in length l = w = h = 4m
Therefore new volume = 4 x 4 x 4 = 64 cubic metres
Or if you prefer the quicker method. If each side is doubled in length then the new volume must be 2 to the power 3 bigger = 8 x 8 = 64

Explanation

Volume = length x width x height
8 = l x w x h but l, w and h are all equal as it is a cube
Therefore l = w = h = 2m
If each side is doubled in length l = w = h = 4m
Therefore new volume = 4 x 4 x 4 = 64 cubic metres
Or if you prefer the quicker method. If each side is doubled in length then the new volume must be 2 to the power 3 bigger = 8 x 8 = 64

3. 9) What is the missing number? 56 / 7 = ? - 5

4

12

13

10

56/7 = 8
Therefore 8 = ? - 5
8 = 13 - 5

Explanation

56/7 = 8
Therefore 8 = ? - 5
8 = 13 - 5

4. The entrance fee for an exhibition is three pounds seventy five.What will be the total entrance fee for a school party of 50 pupils?

£170.50

£187.50

£150

£275.50

3.75*50=187.50 therefore the answer is £187.50

Explanation

3.75*50=187.50 therefore the answer is £187.50

5. If oranges cost 5 for 75p how many can you buy for £2.70? (Assuming they can be bought singly)

18 oranges

21 oranges

10 oranges

15 oranges

oranges cost 75p, therefore one orange costs 75/5 = 15p
£2.70 = 270p.
Therefore amount of oranges for 270p = 270/cost of one orange = 270/15 = 18 oranges

Explanation

oranges cost 75p, therefore one orange costs 75/5 = 15p
£2.70 = 270p.
Therefore amount of oranges for 270p = 270/cost of one orange = 270/15 = 18 oranges

6. A car left Canterbury at 7.12 am and arrived in Birmingham, 180 miles distant at 10.57 am. What was its average speed in miles per hour?

55mph

48mph

35mph

60mph

Time taken = 3 hours 45m = 3.75 hours (15/4 hours if you prefer fractions).
Speed = distance / time taken = 180 / 3.75 = 48 mph

Explanation

Time taken = 3 hours 45m = 3.75 hours (15/4 hours if you prefer fractions).
Speed = distance / time taken = 180 / 3.75 = 48 mph

7. The English department in a school required that all 140 pupils taking English in Year 11 had a copy of each book A to D

Book	Percent stock	Cost per book
A	44	£3.95
B	80	£4.75
C	133	£7.95
D	30	£5.99

A 10% discount was given for any book where 10 or more copies were ordered. What was the total cost of the order to the nearest penny?

140 – 44 = 96
Use the on-screen calculator to find the cost before discount
96 x £3.95 = £379.20
Then take off the 10% discount (£37.92)
Use the on-screen calculator to find the cost after discount
£379.20 - £37.92 = £341.28
Follow the same procedure for Books B, C and D.
Book B
140 – 80 = 60
60 x £4.75 = £285
10% discount is £28.50
£285.00 - £28.50 = £256.50
Book C
140 – 133 = 7
7 x £7.95 = £55.65
(no discount as less than 10 copies ordered)
Book D
140 – 30 = 110
110 x £5.99 = £658.90
You could work out this stage mentally by multiplying 110 by £6 (£660) and subtracting
110 x 1p (£1.10).
10% discount is £65.89
£658.90 - £65.89 = £593.01
To find the total cost, add up the costs of the four titles.
£341.28 + £256.50 + £55.65 + £593.01 = £1246.44

Explanation

140 – 44 = 96
Use the on-screen calculator to find the cost before discount
96 x £3.95 = £379.20
Then take off the 10% discount (£37.92)
Use the on-screen calculator to find the cost after discount
£379.20 - £37.92 = £341.28
Follow the same procedure for Books B, C and D.
Book B
140 – 80 = 60
60 x £4.75 = £285
10% discount is £28.50
£285.00 - £28.50 = £256.50
Book C
140 – 133 = 7
7 x £7.95 = £55.65
(no discount as less than 10 copies ordered)
Book D
140 – 30 = 110
110 x £5.99 = £658.90
You could work out this stage mentally by multiplying 110 by £6 (£660) and subtracting
110 x 1p (£1.10).
10% discount is £65.89
£658.90 - £65.89 = £593.01
To find the total cost, add up the costs of the four titles.
£341.28 + £256.50 + £55.65 + £593.01 = £1246.44

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