IBEW Aptitude Test Fractions, Decimals, and Percentages Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Simplify the fraction 36/48 to its lowest terms.
- 3/4 (Correct answer)
- 2/3
- 4/5
- 5/6
Correct answer: 3/4
GCF of 36 and 48 is 12. 36÷12=3, 48÷12=4. Simplified: 3/4.
To simplify 36/48, find the GCF: factors of 36 are 1,2,3,4,6,9,12,18,36; factors of 48 include 12. GCF=12. 36÷12=3, 48÷12=4. Result: 3/4. Simplifying fractions is fundamental to fraction arithmetic and appears consistently on IBEW aptitude tests.
Question 2: What is 2/5 + 3/4?
- 5/9
- 23/20 (Correct answer)
- 13/10
- 11/20
Correct answer: 23/20
LCD of 5 and 4 is 20. 2/5 = 8/20, 3/4 = 15/20. 8/20 + 15/20 = 23/20.
LCD(5,4)=20. Convert: 2/5 = 8/20, 3/4 = 15/20. Add: 8+15=23, giving 23/20. This improper fraction = 1 3/20. Adding fractions with unlike denominators using LCD is a core skill on the IBEW NJATC aptitude test.
Question 3: Convert 0.625 to a fraction in lowest terms.
- 5/8 (Correct answer)
- 3/5
- 7/11
- 6/10
Correct answer: 5/8
0.625 = 625/1000. GCF of 625 and 1000 is 125. 625÷125=5, 1000÷125=8. Result: 5/8.
0.625 = 625/1000. To simplify: GCF(625, 1000) = 125. 625÷125 = 5, 1000÷125 = 8. Simplified fraction: 5/8. Converting decimals to fractions and simplifying is a tested skill on IBEW aptitude exams.
Question 4: What is 35% of 240?
- 72
- 78
- 84 (Correct answer)
- 96
Correct answer: 84
35% of 240 = 0.35 × 240 = 84.
35% = 0.35. 0.35 × 240: 0.30 × 240 = 72, 0.05 × 240 = 12. Total = 72 + 12 = 84. Calculating percentages of quantities is used in electrical work for efficiency, derating, and material estimating.
Question 5: Multiply: 3/4 × 8/9
- 11/13
- 2/3 (Correct answer)
- 3/5
- 24/36
Correct answer: 2/3
3/4 × 8/9 = 24/36. GCF(24,36)=12. 24÷12=2, 36÷12=3. Result: 2/3.
3 × 8 = 24 (numerator), 4 × 9 = 36 (denominator): 24/36. Simplify using GCF=12: 2/3. You can also cross-cancel before multiplying: 3/4 × 8/9 → cancel 3 and 9 (÷3), cancel 4 and 8 (÷4) → 1/1 × 2/3 = 2/3.
Question 6: A wire is cut to 0.875 of its original 64-foot length. How long is the cut piece?
- 52 ft
- 54 ft
- 56 ft (Correct answer)
- 58 ft
Correct answer: 56 ft
0.875 × 64 = 56 ft. Note: 0.875 = 7/8, so 7/8 × 64 = 56.
0.875 = 7/8. 7/8 × 64 = 7 × 8 = 56 ft. Alternatively: 0.875 × 64 = 0.875 × 60 + 0.875 × 4 = 52.5 + 3.5 = 56 ft. Recognizing common decimal-fraction equivalents speeds up calculation on timed aptitude tests.
IBEW Aptitude Test Fractions, Decimals, and Percentages Questions and Answers 2
Simplify the fraction 36/48 to its lowest terms.