Mathematical Reasoning Flashcards

A department store room measures 15 feet by 12 feet. If one gallon of paint covers 350 square feet and the walls are 9 feet high, how many gallons are needed to paint all four walls (ignoring doors and windows)?

Answer: 2

Perimeter = 2(15 + 12) = 54 ft; wall area = 54 × 9 = 486 sq ft; gallons = 486 ÷ 350 ≈ 1.39, so 2 gallons needed.

On a map, 1 inch represents 5 miles. Two city facilities are 3.4 inches apart on the map. What is the actual distance between the facilities?

Answer: 17 miles

Actual distance = 3.4 × 5 = 17 miles.

A city employee's pension is calculated as 2% of average salary multiplied by years of service. If an employee retires after 25 years with an average salary of $58,000, what is the annual pension?

Answer: $29,000

Pension = 0.02 × $58,000 × 25 = $29,000 per year.

Of 360 applicants for a civil service exam, 5/9 passed the written test. Of those who passed, 2/5 were invited for an interview. How many applicants were invited for an interview?

Answer: 80

Passed written = (5/9) × 360 = 200; invited = (2/5) × 200 = 80 applicants.

A city project is budgeted at $2,400,000. After the first phase, $875,000 has been spent. If the second phase costs 1.5 times the first phase, how much of the budget remains after both phases?

Answer: $212,500

Phase 2 = 1.5 × $875,000 = $1,312,500; total spent = $875,000 + $1,312,500 = $2,187,500; remaining = $2,400,000 – $2,187,500 = $212,500.

A filing cabinet has 4 drawers, each holding 250 folders. Currently, the cabinet is 60% full. How many more folders can be added before it reaches capacity?

Answer: 400

Total capacity = 4 × 250 = 1,000 folders; currently has 60% = 600; remaining = 1,000 – 600 = 400 folders.

A city employee works Monday through Friday. She earns $180 per day. In January (which has 23 working days), she takes 2 unpaid sick days. What is her January pay?

Answer: $3,780

Paid days = 23 – 2 = 21 days; pay = 21 × $180 = $3,780.