CLERICAL Basic Math — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An office needs to order staples for its 62 employees. Each employee is estimated to use 4 boxes of staples per year. If staples come in cases of 24 boxes, how many cases must be ordered for the year?
- 9 cases
- 10 cases
- 11 cases (Correct answer)
- 12 cases
Correct answer: 11 cases
First, calculate the total number of boxes needed: 62 employees * 4 boxes/employee = 248 boxes. Then, divide the total boxes by the number of boxes per case: 248 / 24 = 10.33. Since you cannot order a fraction of a case, you must round up to the next whole number, which is 11.
Question 2: A temp worker is paid $22 per hour. They work from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, with a 30-minute unpaid lunch break. How much did they earn for the day?
- $165
- $176 (Correct answer)
- $187
- $198
Correct answer: $176
The total time from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM is 8.5 hours. Subtract the 30-minute (0.5 hour) unpaid lunch break: 8.5 - 0.5 = 8 hours worked. Calculate the earnings: 8 hours * $22/hour = $176.
Question 3: A supply order totals $480. The company receives a 15% discount. What is the final cost of the order?
- $72
- $408 (Correct answer)
- $465
- $552
Correct answer: $408
First, calculate the discount amount: $480 * 0.15 = $72. Then, subtract the discount from the original price: $480 - $72 = $408. Alternatively, calculate the remaining percentage: 100% - 15% = 85%. Then, $480 * 0.85 = $408.
Question 4: A clerk can file 150 documents in a 6-hour shift. At this rate, how many documents can the clerk file in 4 hours?
- 75 documents
- 90 documents
- 100 documents (Correct answer)
- 125 documents
Correct answer: 100 documents
First, find the filing rate per hour: 150 documents / 6 hours = 25 documents per hour. Then, multiply the hourly rate by the new number of hours: 25 documents/hour * 4 hours = 100 documents.
Question 5: A department's weekly postage costs were: Monday $35, Tuesday $42, Wednesday $28, Thursday $50, and Friday $35. What was the average daily postage cost for that week?
- $35
- $38 (Correct answer)
- $40
- $42
Correct answer: $38
To find the average, first sum the costs: $35 + $42 + $28 + $50 + $35 = $190. Then, divide the total by the number of days (5): $190 / 5 = $38.
Question 6: A printer can produce 2,400 pages per hour. How many pages can it produce in 75 minutes?
- 2,400 pages
- 2,700 pages
- 3,000 pages (Correct answer)
- 3,200 pages
Correct answer: 3,000 pages
First, find the per-minute rate: 2,400 pages / 60 minutes = 40 pages per minute. Then, multiply by the given time: 40 pages/minute * 75 minutes = 3,000 pages.
Question 7: An office has 1,800 square feet of floor space. 1/3 is used for cubicles, 1/4 is used for offices, and 1/6 is used for the kitchen. How much space is left for hallways and reception?
- 300 sq ft
- 450 sq ft (Correct answer)
- 500 sq ft
- 1350 sq ft
Correct answer: 450 sq ft
Calculate the space for each area: Cubicles = 1800 * (1/3) = 600 sq ft. Offices = 1800 * (1/4) = 450 sq ft. Kitchen = 1800 * (1/6) = 300 sq ft. Total used space = 600 + 450 + 300 = 1350 sq ft. Remaining space = 1800 - 1350 = 450 sq ft.
CLERICAL Basic Math
An office needs to order staples for its 62 employees.
Each employee is estimated to use 4 boxes of staples per year.
If staples come in cases of 24 boxes, how many cases must be ordered for the year?