NFST Firefighter Math Reasoning 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A water tank holds 5,000 gallons. If 3 pumps each drain 85 gallons per minute, how many minutes until the tank is empty?
- 18 minutes
- 19 minutes (Correct answer)
- 20 minutes
- 21 minutes
Correct answer: 19 minutes
Total drain rate = 3 × 85 = 255 gpm; 5,000 ÷ 255 ≈ 19.6, so approximately 19 minutes to drain.
Question 2: A firefighter's air tank lasts 30 minutes at normal activity. At heavy exertion, it lasts 40% less time. How long does it last at heavy exertion?
- 12 minutes
- 16 minutes
- 18 minutes (Correct answer)
- 20 minutes
Correct answer: 18 minutes
40% of 30 = 12; 30 − 12 = 18 minutes.
Question 3: A hose with a 2.5-inch diameter flows water at 250 gallons per minute. If a second identical hose is added, what is the total flow rate?
- 375 gpm
- 400 gpm
- 450 gpm
- 500 gpm (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 500 gpm
Two identical hoses: 250 × 2 = 500 gpm.
Question 4: The distance from the fire station to a fire scene is 4.5 miles. A fire truck travels at 45 mph. How many minutes does it take to arrive?
- 5 minutes
- 6 minutes (Correct answer)
- 7 minutes
- 8 minutes
Correct answer: 6 minutes
Time = 4.5 ÷ 45 = 0.1 hours = 0.1 × 60 = 6 minutes.
Question 5: A rescue team needs to move 540 pounds of equipment using carts that hold 90 pounds each. How many cart loads are required?
- 4
- 5
- 6 (Correct answer)
- 7
Correct answer: 6
540 ÷ 90 = 6 cart loads.
Question 6: A fire department received 1,440 emergency calls last year. What was the average number of calls per day?
- 3.5
- 4 (Correct answer)
- 4.5
- 5
Correct answer: 4
1,440 ÷ 365 ≈ 3.95, which rounds to approximately 4 calls per day.
Question 7: A sprinkler system covers an area of 2,400 square feet. If each sprinkler head covers 120 square feet, how many heads are in the system?
- 15
- 18
- 20 (Correct answer)
- 24
Correct answer: 20
2,400 ÷ 120 = 20 sprinkler heads.
NFST Firefighter Math Reasoning 3
A water tank holds 5,000 gallons.
If 3 pumps each drain 85 gallons per minute, how many minutes until the tank is empty?