Practice Problems for

Mathematics Placement Examination (MPE)

Revised November, 2020

When you come to New Mexico State University, you may be asked to take the Mathematics
Placement Examination (MPE). Your initial placement level is based on your Math ACT (or SAT)
score and your high school grade point average. The MPE will help to determine in which
mathematics course you will be placed. If you are dissatisfied with your initial placement, you may
choose to take the MPE and achieve a qualifying score. If you wish to enroll in Math 1511G (Calculus
I), you must take the MPE and achieve a qualifying score.

The problems on this practice exam will help you review your mathematical skills and give you an
idea of what is on the test. The actual test is multiple-choice and has 40 problems broken down as
follows:

Part I 1-10 Algebra I

Part II 11-20 Algebra II
Part III 21-30 Precalculus Algebra
Part IV 31-40 Trigonometry

These sample problems are grouped in a similar manner. There are more problems here than there
are on the actual exam.

Placement Based on the Mathematics Placement Exam

Placement Exam Score Placement Level Math Course Placement
0, 1, 2 or 3 on Part I 0 CCDM 103N
4 or 5 on Part I 1 CCDM 114N
at least 6 on Part I 2 Math 1215, 1130G
a total of at least 12 on Parts 1 and 2 3 Math 1134, 1220G, 1350G, 2350G
a total of at least 19 on Parts 1, 2 and 3 4 Math 1430G, 1250G
at least 6 on each of the 4 parts 5 Math 1511G, 1435

Note: A calculator is neither required nor necessary. However, a basic calculator will be made
available to you in Respondus LockDown Browser in the online exam. You may not use your own
calculator.

PRACTICE PROBLEMS-Review of Basic Skills

The first 15 problems given here are a review of basic arithmetic skills. While not directly tested on
the MPE, the knowledge of these skills is essential for the concepts that are tested.

1. Simplify 52 − 9 × 9
2. Simplify −5& + 10 − 4 ÷ 2
3. Find all the positive factors of 24
 3 3
4. Add 4 + 6
5 5
2 6
5. Subtract 8 − 2
3 7
1 1
6. Multiply 2 × 8
3 4
1 1
7. Divide 2 ÷ 5
3 4
3
8. A carpenter is dividing a board that is yd long into 9 equal pieces. What is the length of each
4
piece in yards?
1 2
9. If 4 yd of paper are cut from a roll that is 18 yd long, how many yards of paper are left?
3 5
5 7
10. True or False: < .
12 15
! "2 ! "
3 3 3
11. Simplify: ÷ + .
8 7 14
12. Simplify 7.3 − 2.1 × 0.8

13. What is 7% of 42?

14. What percent of 64 is 72?

15. A store sells 12 oz of Brand A for $1.20 and 16 oz of Brand B for $1.50. Which is the more
economical buy?

PRACTICE PROBLEMS FOR PART I - Algebra I

8 36
16. Solve for x: =
17 x
17. Solve for y : 4y − 17 = −2 (5 − y)
2
18. If z = (x − 12) and x = 39, then what is z?
3
5
19. Simplify
1
5+
4
20. Simplify |−3 + 4 × −2|
p
2
21. Rationalize the denominator: p .
3
22. Translate the following statement into an equation: S equals the quotient of r and the sum of r
and 8.

23. Collect like terms: 5a2 bc − 4ab2 c + 3ab2 c3 + 6a2 bc − ab2 c3

2
 2
(−6x5 y −2 )
24. Simplify and write with positive exponents:
18y 5 x4
5 7
25. Combine into a single fraction: − .
x y+1
26. Find the equation of the line through the points (−1, 3) and (4, −7) . Write your answer in
slope-intercept form.
−4
27. Find the equation of the line that has slope and that goes through the point (5, −2) .
3
28. Simplify 10x + 7 (x − z) − z
14x3 − 6x4
29. Simplify
2x2
30. Factor x2 − 9x + 20.

31. Factor −x2 + 3x + 28

32. For the function f (x) = −2x2 + 3x − 5, find f (2) and f (−4) .

33. The formula for converting Centigrade (C) into Fahrenheit (F ) is given by the formula F =
9
C + 32. Solve for C in terms of F.
5
34. Thirteen more than eight times a number is the same as two less than eleven times the number.
Set up an appropriate equation and solve for the number.

35. A T-shirt company has $5000 per day in fixed costs and $4 per T-shirt in production costs. Find
the cost function C (x) that gives the cost of producing x T-shirts in 3 days.

PRACTICE PROBLEMS FOR PART II - Algebra II

36. Solve for x and y : x + y = 10

y =x+8

37. Solve for a and b : 2a − 3b = 5

−3a + b = 3

3y 2 + 12y − 36 y − 4
38. Simplify ·
y 2 − 16 y+6
4 2 1
39. Simplify + −
x2 − 36 x + 6 x − 6
x 3
40. Solve for x: − =1
x−2 x−1
1 1 1
41. Solve for a in terms of the other variables: = + .
A a b
2
(−5x−2 y −2 z)
42. Simplify −3
(10−1/3 x2/3 yz −2/3 )
3
 p p
43. Simplify 2x 12xy 2 − y 75x3
p
44. Simplify 3 64x5 y 4 z 6
p
3
54a7 d5
45. Write under a single radical and simplify: p
3
2ad
46. Graph the line and label the x and y-intercepts: 3x − 2y = −6

47. Find the equation of the line that contains the point (−2, −3) and that is parallel to the line
3x + 2y = 6. Write your answer in slope-intercept form.

48. Find the equation of the line that contains the point (−2, −3) and that is perpendicular to the
line 3x + 2y = 6. Write your answer in slope-intercept form.

49. Find the vertex and the y and x-intercepts of the function f (x) = −x2 + 4x − 3. Graph the
function, labelling the vertex and intercepts.

50. The height above ground (in feet) of a toy rocket launched upward from the top of a building
is given by S (t) = −16t2 + 96t + 256. a) What is the height of the building? b) What is the
maximum height attained by the rocket? c) Find the time when the rocket strikes the ground.
x+2
51. Find the domain of f (x) =
x2 − 4x − 5
p
52. Find the domain of g (x) = 3 − 4x
1
53. Solve for x: 4x−5 =
64
54. A colony of 100 termites invades a house. Assuming that the colony doubles in number every 3
weeks and grows continuously, the appropriate mathematical model for the population P (t) of
termites t weeks in the future is P (t) = P0 ekt . a) Find the constants P0 and k. b) How many
termites will there be in 10 weeks? c) When will there be a billion termites?

55. The amount remaining (in grams) of a radioactive substance after t hours is given by A (t) =
100ekt . After 12 hours the initial amount has decreased by 7%. a) Solve for the decay constant k.
b) How much of the substance remains after 48 hours? c) What is the half-life of the substance?

PRACTICE PROBLEMS FOR PART III - Precalculus Algebra

4
56. The volume of a sphere of radius r is given by V = πr3 . Solve for r in terms of V.
3
57. Find the distance d between the points (−3, 1) and (1, 6) in the rectangular coordinate system.

58. Solve the inequality −5x + 3 ≥ 3x − 8.

59. Solve the inequalities a) |x − 5| ≥ 4 and b) |x − 5| < 4.

4x + 3
60. If f (x) = and g (x) = −2x − 1, find f (g (x)) .
x+2
61. Factor the following, if possible, over the real numbers:
a) a2 − b2 b) a2 + b2 c) a3 − b3 d) a3 + b3
4
62. Express the surface area of a cylinder with a closed bottom and open top in terms of the radius
r and the height h.

63. Express the surface area of a cube in terms of its side length x.

64. Graph the parabola f (x) = 4x2 − 3. For which values of x do we have a) f (x) < 0, b) f (x) = 0,
and c) f (x) > 0?

65. x2 − 4x + y 2 + 6y = 3 is the equation of a circle. Put the equation in standard form and state
the center and radius of the circle.

66. Graph the function f (x) = 3x.

67. Graph the function f (x) =

68. The length L of a certain rectangle is 4 ft more than three times the width, W. The perimeter
of the rectangle is 300 ft. Set up a system of equations that will allow you to solve for the length
and the width, and then find those dimensions.

69. The area of a right triangle is 266.5 in2 . The height h of the triangle is 2 in greater than three
times the base b. Set up a system of equations that will allow you to solve for the base and
height, and then find those dimensions.

70. The length L of a rectangle is twice as much as the width W. The area of the rectangle is 30 ft2 .
Set up a system of equations that will allow you to solve for the length and the width, and then
find those dimensions.
f (x + h) − f (x)
71. For the function f (x) = 2x2 − 7, simplify the expression .
h
2 g (x + h) − g (x)
72. For the function g (x) = , simplify the expression .
3x − 1 h
73. Solve the equation log2 (2x − 3) = 3.

74. Solve the equation log3 y + 3 log3 y 2 = 14

PRACTICE PROBLEMS FOR PART IV - Trigonometry

1 π
75. Given sin θ = and 0 ≤ θ ≤ , find the other five trigonometric functions.
x 2
4π
76. a) Convert 315◦ to radians. b) Convert to degrees.
3
77. Find the following ranges for the value of θ in radians:
a) 0◦ ≤ θ ≤ 90◦ b) 90◦ ≤ θ ≤ 180◦ c) 180◦ ≤ θ ≤ 270◦ d) 270◦ ≤ θ ≤ 360◦

a) What is the amplitude of f (x) = 4 sin (2x) ? c) What is the period of h (x) = 5 sin (4πx) ?
78.
b) What is the amplitude of g (x) = −3 cos (4x) ? d) What is the period of k (x) = 6 tan (2x) ?

79. Simplify the expression sin3 θ cot θ sec2 θ.

80. Graph two periods of y = cos (2x) where x is in radians.

5
81. Find the amplitude period of f (x) = 3 cos graph the
function for two periods.

82. Complete the following identities:

a) sin2$θ + cos%2 θ = b) tan$2
θ+1= % c) 1 + $cot2 θ =%
π π π
d) sin −θ = e) cos −θ = f) sec −θ =
2 2 2
g) sin 2θ = h) cos 2θ =
p ! ! "
−1 3 −1 1
a) Find the exact value of cos . b) Find the exact value of sin − .
83. 2 2
c) Find the exact value of tan−1 (1) .
! ! ""
2 ( )
84. a) Simplify tan arccos b) Express cos sin−1 x in terms of x without trig. functions.
3
85. Find all the solutions of 2 sin (x) = 1 for 0 ≤ x ≤ 4π.
1
86. Find all the solutions of cos (3x) = − for 0 ≤ x ≤ 2π.
2
87. Solve the following for θ, with 0 ≤ θ < 2π: cos (2θ) − sin θ = 0.

. An observer is standing 2 mi from a very steep mountain. She measures the angle between the
ground and the top of the mountain and finds it to be 45◦ . How high above her ground level is
the mountain?

The diameter of the base of a cone is 10 ft. Its height is 15 ft Find the angle of inclination of the
side of the cone. Leave your answer in terms of an inverse trig. function.

Practice Problem Answers

1 17
1) 16 2) −17 3) 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24 4) 11 5) 5
5 21
1 4 1 1
6) 19 7) 8) yd 9) 14 yd 10) True
4 9 12 15
7
11) 12.) 5.62 13.) 2.94 14.) 112.5% 15.) Brand B
32
7 20
16) 76.5 17) y = 18) z = 18 19) 20) 11
p 2 21
6 r 2x6 −7x + 5y + 5
21) 22) S = 23) 11a2 bc − 4ab2 c + 2ab2 c3 24) 9 25)
3 r+8 y xy + x
4 14
26) y = −2x + 1 27) y = − x + 28) 17x − 8z 29) 7x − 3x2 30) (x − 5) (x − 4)
3 3

6
 5 5 160
31) − (x − 7) (x + 4) 32) f (2) = −7, f (−4) = −49 33) C = (F − 32) = F −
9 9 9
34)8x + 13 = 11x − 2, x = 5 35) C (x) = 15000 + 4x 36) x = 1, y = 9
3 (y − 2) 3y − 6 x − 14 x − 14
37) a = −2, b = −3 38) = 39) = 2
y+4 y+4 (x − 6) (x + 6) x − 36
Ab 5
40) x = 4 41) a = 42)
p −A
bp 2x2 yp
43) −xy 3x 44) 4xyz 2 3 x2 y 45) 3a2 d 3 d

y 4
2

-3 -2 -1 1
-2
x
-4
46) Intercepts are (−2, 0) and (0, 3) ,
3 2 5
47) y = − x − 6 48) y = x −
2 3 3
2
y
x-intercepts: (1, 0) and (3, 0) -2 2
x
4
-2
y-intercept: (0, −3)
-4
49) vertex: (2, 1)
50) a) 256 ft, b) 400 ft c) ! t = 8 s *51) x 6= −1, x 6= 5. Equivalently, (−1, −1) [ (−1, 5) [ (5, 1)
3 3
52) x ≤ . Equivalently, −1, . 53) x = 2
4 4
ln 2
54) a) P0 = 100, k = = 0.23105
ln 2
3 10
b) P (10) = 100e 3 (10) = 100 · 2 3 = 1008 (rounding up).
21 ln 10
c) t = = 69.76 wks.
ln 2
ln (0.93)
55) a) k = = −0.00605
12
b) A (48) = 100e4 ln(0.93) = 100 (0.93)4 = 74.81 g
ln (0.5) 12 ln (0.5)
c) t = = = 114.62 h
r k ln (0.93)
! *
3 3V
p 11 11
56) r = 57) d = 41 58) x ≤ . Equivalently, −1, .
4π 8 8
59) a) x ≥ 9 or x ≤ 1. Equivalently, (−1, 1] [ [9, 1) b) 1 < x < 9. Equivalently, (1, 9) .
−8x − 1 8x + 1
60) =
−2x + 1 2x − 1
61) a) (a b) (a + b)
b) Not factorable over the reals.
c) (a − b) (a2 + ab + b2 )
d) (a + b) (a2 − ab + b2 )
62) S = πr2 + 2πrh 63) S = 6x2

7
 y 2

-2 -1 1 2
-2 p x p p p !
3 3 3 3
64) f (x) = 4x2 − 3 a) − <x< . Equivalently, − ,
2 2 2 2
p p p p p ! p !
3 3 3 3 3 3
b) x = ,x=− c) x < − or x > . Equivalently, −1, − [ ,1
2 2 2 2 2 2
65) (x − 2)2 + (y + 3)2 = 16, center is (2, −3) , radius is 4.

y 20
10

-2 -1 0 1 2 3
x
66)

67
227 73
68) L = 3W + 4, 2W + 2L = 300, L = ft, W = ft
2 2
1
69) bh = 266.5 h = 3b + 2 b = 13 in, h = 41 in
2 p p
70) L = 2W , LW = 30, L = 2 15 ft, W = 15 ft
−6 11 14
71) 4x + 2h 72) 73) x = 74) y = 3 7 = 9
p (3x − 1) (3x + 3h − 1) 2
2
x −1 1 x p
75)cos θ = , tan θ = p , csc θ = x, sec θ = p , cot θ = x2 − 1
x x2 − 1 x2 − 1
7π
76) a) b) 240◦
4
π π 3π 3π
77) a) 0 ≤ θ ≤ b) ≤ θ ≤ π c) π ≤ θ ≤ d) ≤ θ ≤ 2π
2 2 2 2
1 π sin2 θ
78) a) 4 b) 3 c) d) 79) = sin θ tan θ
2 2 cos θ
1
y
-4 -2 2 4
80) y = cos (2x) -1 x

82) a
c) csc2 θ g) 2 sin θ cos θ
d) cos θ h) cos2 θ − sin2 θ = 2 cos2 θ − 1 = 1 − 2 sin2 θ

8
 p
π π π 5 p π 5π 13π 17π
83) a) b) − c) 84) a) b) 1 − x2 85) x = , , ,
6 6 4 2 6 6 6 6
2π 4π 8π 10π 14π 16π π 5π 3π
86) x = , , , , , 87) θ = , , 88) b = 3
9 9! 9 9" 9 9 "
! 6 6 2
h = 2 mi
! " ! "
−1 −1 3 −1 1
) θ = tan (3) = sin p = cos p
10 10