Civil Service Exam Numerical Word Problem Solving 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A city department mails 4,800 notices. If 12.5% are returned as undeliverable, how many were successfully delivered?
- 4,000
- 4,200 (Correct answer)
- 4,400
- 4,600
Correct answer: 4,200
Returned: 12.5% of 4,800 = 600. Delivered: 4,800 - 600 = 4,200.
Undeliverable: 12.5% x 4,800 = 600. Delivered: 4,800 - 600 = 4,200. Tip: 12.5% = 1/8, so 4,800/8 = 600.
Question 2: A public works crew paves 0.3 miles of road per day. A project requires 7.2 miles, and the crew works 5 days per week. How many complete weeks will it take?
- 4 weeks
- 5 weeks (Correct answer)
- 6 weeks
- 7 weeks
Correct answer: 5 weeks
Days needed: 7.2 / 0.3 = 24 days. Weeks: 24 / 5 = 4.8, rounded up to 5 weeks.
Daily rate: 0.3 miles. Total: 7.2 miles. Days: 7.2 / 0.3 = 24 working days. Weeks: 24 / 5 = 4.8. Since partial weeks count, it takes 5 complete weeks.
Question 3: A department has $18,750 for office supplies. They spent $6,340 on paper and $4,215 on technology. What percentage of the budget remains?
- 43.7% (Correct answer)
- 46.2%
- 56.3%
- 53.8%
Correct answer: 43.7%
Spent: $10,555. Remaining: $8,195. Percentage: ($8,195 / $18,750) x 100 = 43.7%.
Total spent: $6,340 + $4,215 = $10,555. Remaining: $18,750 - $10,555 = $8,195. Percentage: $8,195 / $18,750 x 100 = 43.7%.
Question 4: Two water plants serve a city. Plant A processes 2.4 million gallons/day and Plant B 1.8 million. How many days to meet 150 million gallon demand?
- 32 days
- 34 days
- 36 days (Correct answer)
- 38 days
Correct answer: 36 days
Combined: 4.2 million/day. Days: 150 / 4.2 = 35.71, rounded up to 36 days.
Combined rate: 2.4 + 1.8 = 4.2 million gallons/day. Days: 150 / 4.2 = 35.714. Round up to 36. After 35 days: 147M gallons (3M short).
Question 5: A government agency hires 24 seasonal workers at $16.75/hour for 35 hours/week over a 13-week project. What is the total labor cost?
- $182,910 (Correct answer)
- $181,545
- $183,750
- $188,370
Correct answer: $182,910
Weekly per worker: $16.75 x 35 = $586.25. Weekly total: $586.25 x 24 = $14,070. Project total: $14,070 x 13 = $182,910.
Per worker per week: $16.75 x 35 = $586.25. All workers per week: $586.25 x 24 = $14,070. Total project: $14,070 x 13 = $182,910.
Question 6: A filing cabinet holds 450 folders. It is currently 3/5 full and 30 more folders are added. What fraction of capacity is now used?
- 2/3 (Correct answer)
- 7/10
- 11/15
- 3/4
Correct answer: 2/3
Current: 3/5 x 450 = 270. After adding 30: 300. Fraction: 300/450 = 2/3.
Current: 270 folders. After adding 30: 300 folders. Fraction: 300/450 = 2/3 (about 66.7%). Room for 150 more.
A city department mails 4,800 notices.
If 12.5% are returned as undeliverable, how many were successfully delivered?