CSLB General Building (B) — All Questions

What is 3/4 + 1/6?

• a.11/12✓
• b.4/10
• c.1/2
• d.7/12

Find a common denominator of 12: 3/4 = 9/12 and 1/6 = 2/12. Adding gives 9/12 + 2/12 = 11/12, which cannot be reduced.

Subtract: 5/6 - 1/4.

• a.4/2
• b.2/3
• c.1/2
• d.7/12✓

The least common denominator is 12. Convert 5/6 to 10/12 and 1/4 to 3/12. Then 10/12 - 3/12 = 7/12.

Multiply: 2/3 x 3/5.

• a.2/5✓
• b.5/8
• c.6/15
• d.1/5

Multiply numerators and denominators: (2x3)/(3x5) = 6/15. Reducing by dividing top and bottom by 3 gives 2/5.

Divide: 3/8 divided by 1/2.

• a.3/16
• b.3/10
• c.6/8
• d.3/4✓

Dividing by a fraction means multiplying by its reciprocal: 3/8 x 2/1 = 6/8. Reducing 6/8 by 2 gives 3/4.

Convert the mixed number 2 1/4 to an improper fraction.

• a.9/4✓
• b.6/4
• c.8/4
• d.7/4

Multiply the whole number by the denominator and add the numerator: 2 x 4 + 1 = 9. Place that over the original denominator to get 9/4.

What is 0.6 written as a fraction in lowest terms?

• a.6/100
• b.1/6
• c.2/3
• d.3/5✓

The digit 6 is in the tenths place, so 0.6 equals 6/10. Dividing numerator and denominator by 2 reduces it to 3/5.

Add the decimals: 4.25 + 3.7.

• a.7.95✓
• b.8.05
• c.7.32
• d.7.92

Align the decimal points and add: 4.25 + 3.70. The sum of the columns is 7.95.

Multiply: 0.4 x 0.05.

• a.0.02✓
• b.0.2
• c.0.45
• d.0.002

Multiply as whole numbers: 4 x 5 = 20. The two factors have a total of three decimal places, so the product is 0.020, which is 0.02.

What is 12.6 divided by 3?

• a.4.02
• b.3.6
• c.4.2✓
• d.42

Divide 12.6 by 3 by treating it as 126 divided by 3, which is 42, then place the decimal: 4.2. You can check by multiplying 4.2 x 3 = 12.6.

Round 7.348 to the nearest hundredth.

• a.7.34
• b.7.4
• c.7.348
• d.7.35✓

The hundredths digit is 4 and the digit to its right is 8. Because 8 is 5 or greater, round the 4 up to 5, giving 7.35.

Solve the proportion: 3/4 = x/20.

• a.15✓
• b.12
• c.16
• d.10

Cross multiply to get 4x = 3 x 20 = 60. Dividing both sides by 4 gives x = 15.

A recipe uses a ratio of 2 cups flour to 3 cups water. How much water is needed for 8 cups of flour?

• a.10 cups
• b.16 cups
• c.6 cups
• d.12 cups✓

Set up the proportion 2/3 = 8/x. Cross multiplying gives 2x = 24, so x = 12 cups of water.

If a car travels 150 miles on 5 gallons of gas, what is the rate in miles per gallon?

• a.25 mpg
• b.35 mpg
• c.30 mpg✓
• d.20 mpg

Divide total miles by total gallons: 150 / 5 = 30. The car travels 30 miles per gallon.

The ratio of nurses to patients is 1:8. How many nurses are needed for 56 patients?

• a.6
• b.8
• c.5
• d.7✓

Set up 1/8 = x/56. Cross multiplying gives 8x = 56, so x = 7 nurses.

What is 25% of 80?

• a.20✓
• b.25
• c.15
• d.32

Convert 25% to the decimal 0.25 and multiply: 0.25 x 80 = 20. Alternatively, 25% is one quarter, and 80 / 4 = 20.

15 is what percent of 60?

• a.30%
• b.15%
• c.20%
• d.25%✓

Divide the part by the whole: 15 / 60 = 0.25. Multiplying by 100 converts it to 25%.

A shirt costs $40 and is discounted 15%. What is the sale price?

• a.$36
• b.$25
• c.$34✓
• d.$38

The discount is 0.15 x 40 = $6. Subtracting from the original price gives 40 - 6 = $34.

A population grows from 200 to 250. What is the percent increase?

• a.50%
• b.20%
• c.30%
• d.25%✓

The increase is 250 - 200 = 50. Divide the change by the original amount: 50 / 200 = 0.25, or 25%.

Convert 0.35 to a percent.

• a.35%✓
• b.3.5%
• c.0.35%
• d.350%

To convert a decimal to a percent, multiply by 100, which moves the decimal two places right. So 0.35 becomes 35%.

How many milliliters are in 2.5 liters?

• a.25 mL
• b.0.0025 mL
• c.250 mL
• d.2500 mL✓

One liter equals 1000 milliliters. Multiplying 2.5 x 1000 gives 2500 mL.

Convert 5000 grams to kilograms.

• a.50 kg
• b.0.5 kg
• c.5 kg✓
• d.500 kg

One kilogram equals 1000 grams. Dividing 5000 by 1000 gives 5 kilograms.

A patient weighs 154 pounds. About how many kilograms is that? (1 kg = 2.2 lb)

• a.77 kg
• b.338.8 kg
• c.154 kg
• d.70 kg✓

Divide pounds by 2.2 to get kilograms: 154 / 2.2 = 70. The patient weighs about 70 kilograms.

How many milligrams are in 0.75 grams?

• a.750 mg✓
• b.7.5 mg
• c.75 mg
• d.7500 mg

One gram equals 1000 milligrams. Multiplying 0.75 x 1000 gives 750 mg.

A doctor orders 500 mg of medication. The tablets are 250 mg each. How many tablets are needed?

• a.4 tablets
• b.3 tablets
• c.1 tablet
• d.2 tablets✓

Divide the ordered dose by the dose per tablet: 500 / 250 = 2. The patient needs 2 tablets.

A solution contains 20 mg per 5 mL. How many milliliters provide 60 mg?

• a.10 mL
• b.20 mL
• c.15 mL✓
• d.12 mL

Use the unit rate of 20 mg in every 5 mL. Because 60 mg is 3 times 20 mg, you need 3 x 5 = 15 mL.

Convert the temperature 37 degrees Celsius to Fahrenheit. (F = 9/5 C + 32)

• a.98.6 F✓
• b.99.5 F
• c.100.4 F
• d.96.8 F

Multiply 37 by 9/5 to get 66.6, then add 32. The result is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, normal body temperature.

What is the average (mean) of 12, 18, 15, and 15?

• a.14
• b.13
• c.16
• d.15✓

Add the values: 12 + 18 + 15 + 15 = 60. Divide by the count of four numbers: 60 / 4 = 15.

Solve for x: 4x - 3 = 21.

• a.4
• b.5
• c.7
• d.6✓

Add 3 to both sides to get 4x = 24. Dividing both sides by 4 gives x = 6.