Virtual Praxis Review Workshop :

Core Mathematics Exam

Part II

Jonathan D. Watkins, Ph.D.

REACH Math Resources
 Agenda

• Exam Overview
• Algebra/Functions
• Geometry
• Formulas to Know
• “Homework”
• Closing Thoughts

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 Exam Overview – “Old” (5732)
• Core Academic Skills for Educators: Mathematics
• 85 minutes to complete 56 questions (about 1.5
minutes per question!)
• Multiple-choice, selected-response
(with one or more answers), and
short-answer questions
• On-screen calculator

3
 Exam Overview – “Old” (5732)
CONTENT AREAS
• Number & Quantity Statistics/
Probability
(17 questions) 20%
Number/
Quantity
• Algebra & Functions 30%

(17 questions)
Geometry
• Geometry 20%

(11 questions) Algebra/Functions

• Statistics & Probability 30%

(11 questions)
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 Exam Overview – “New” (5733)
• Core Academic Skills for Educators: Mathematics
• 90 minutes to complete 56 questions (about 1.6
minutes per question!)
• Multiple-choice, selected-response
(with one or more answers), and
short-answer questions
• On-screen calculator

5
 Exam Overview – “New” (5733)
CONTENT AREAS
I. Number & Quantity: +3
(20 questions)

II. Data, Statistics, & Probability: +7

(18 questions)

III. Algebra & Geometry: –10

(18 questions)

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 Exam Overview
LAST WEEK (Recording available)
• Number & Quantity
• Statistics & Probability (& Data)

THIS WEEK
• Algebra & Functions
• Geometry

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 Exam Overview
• Questions so far?
• Now, let’s get started! =)

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 Algebra & Functions

Algebra & Functions

Major Topics
(Not an Exhaustive List!)

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 Algebra & Functions
• Simplifying expressions (using the distributive
property)
• Working with expressions/equations (e.g., evaluating
and manipulating them)
• Solving linear equations and inequalities
• Working with functions (including tables of values)
• Solving problems involving ratios/proportions
• Understanding linear equations and their graphs
• Interpreting graphs of equations/functions
• Understanding and solving word problems
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 Algebra & Functions

Algebra & Functions

Questions

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 Algebra & Functions
1. Solve the following linear equation: 3x – 9 = 12.

A. x=1
B. x=7 Follow-Up Exercise:
C. x=9
Solve the following: .
D. x = 21
E. x = 63

Tip: Work Backwards 12

 Algebra & Functions
2. Marcus purchases a video game with a price tag of d dollars.
If the sales tax on the item is 6%, which expression
represents the final cost of the game?

A. 0.06d
B. d + 0.06 Test Tip 12:
C. d – 0.06
If necessary, make an educated guess.
D. d + 0.06d
E. d – 0.06d

13
 Algebra & Functions
3. Which of these functions will produce the table of values
shown below.
x f(x)
A. f(x) = x 1 1
B. f(x) = x + 2 2 3
C. f(x) = x – 2 3 5
D. f(x) = 2x + 1 4 7
E. f(x) = 2x – 1 5 9

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 Algebra & Functions
4. Which of the following expressions is equivalent to
–3(x – 5) – (2 – x)?

A. –4x – 17
B. –4x + 13
C. –2x – 17
D. –2x + 13
E. –3x2 + 21x – 30

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 Algebra & Functions
5. If , b = –1, and c = 20, find a.

A. a = 8/3
B. a=4
C. a=6 Test Tip 13:
D. a=9
Whenever possible, check your answers!
E. a = 12

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 Algebra & Functions
6. Which of the following is the graph of the linear equation ?

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 Algebra & Functions
7. Translate the following phrase into an algebraic expression:
Five less than twice a number.

A. 5 – 2n
B. 2n – 5 Test Tip 14:
C. 5 – (2 + n) Be skeptical of answers that are “too
D. (2 + n) – 5 good to be true.” Don’t fall into a trap!
E. 5–

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 Algebra & Functions
8. The relationship between x and y is given by the following
equation: 3x + y = 7. If x increases by 2, then y…

A. Increases by 3.
B. Increases by 6.
Test Tip 15:
C. Increases by 7.
If a problem is too abstract, try plugging
D. Decreases by 3. in some numbers to make it more
E. Decreases by 6. concrete.

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 Algebra & Functions
9. There are 25 animals (chickens and goats) on a farm. If these
farm animals have a total of 66 legs, how many goats are on
the farm?

A. 8 goats
Test Tip 16:
B. 9 goats
You probably want to skip the “textbook
C. 12 goats approach” on some problems. Ideally, you
D. 16 goats want to use the fastest approach that works!
E. 17 goats

Tip: Answer the Right Question 20

 Algebra & Functions
10. Solve the following inequality: 2x + 1 > 4x – 5.

A. x < –3
B. x > –3
C. x<3
D. x>3
E. All real numbers

Tip: Check Your Answer 21

 Algebra & Functions
11. The second angle of a triangle is twice as large as the first,
and the third angle is 20 less than the first angle. Given that
the sum of the measures of the interior angles of a triangle is
180, find the measure of the third angle.

A. 30
B. 50
C. 60
D. 80
E. 100

Tip: Answer the Right Question 22

 Algebra & Functions
12. The cost of movie tickets for adults at Showbiz Cinema is
shown in the graph below. Based on this information, what
is the cost of two movie tickets?

A. $8
B. $15
C. $16
D. $17
E. $18

Tip: Answer the Right Question 23

 Geometry

Geometry
Major Topics
(Not an Exhaustive List!)

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 Geometry
• Perimeter, area, and volume of various shapes
• Transformations in the xy-plane (e.g., translations,
rotations, reflections)
• Classifying triangles and quadrilaterals
• Triangle Inequality Theorem
• Pythagorean Theorem
• Parallel lines cut by a transversal (angle relationships)
• Circles (Circumference, arc length, area, and sector
area)

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 Geometry

Geometry
Questions

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 Geometry
1. The dimensions of five rectangles are given below. Which
rectangle has an area of 12 in2 and a perimeter of 16 in?

A. 1” × 12”
B. 2” × 6”
C. 3” × 4”
D. 4” × 8”
E. 6” × 6”

Tip: Formulas 27
 Geometry
2. Given that lines q and m are parallel, find the measure of
∠5.

A. 35°
B. 45°
C. 65°
D. 70°
E. 110°

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 Geometry

Parallel Lines Cut by a Transversal

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 Geometry
3. Which geometric transformation is illustrated in the figure
below?

A. Translation
B. Dilation
C. Rotation
D. Reflection
E. None of these

Tip: Terminology 30
 Geometry
4. Two sides of a triangle measure 5 cm and 7 cm. Which of the
following side lengths are possible for the third side?

i. 1 cm A. i, ii, and iii

ii. 3 cm B. ii, iii, and iv
iii. 7 cm C. iii, iv, and v
iv. 11 cm D. i, ii, iii and iv
v. 13 cm E. All of them

Test Tip 17:

It never hurts to draw a picture!
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 Geometry

Classifying Triangles

32
 Geometry
5. The volume of a package (in the shape of a rectangular
prism) is 4,692 in3. If the length of the package is 23 in and
the width is 17 in, what is the height of the package?

A. 12 in
Test Tip 18:
B. 17 in
Algebra is a powerful tool. Use it!
C. 23 in
D. 4,301 in
E. 4,652 in

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 Geometry
6. The second hand of a clock is 5 inches long. Approximately
how far does the tip of the hand travel in 45 seconds?

A. 3.9 in
B. 7.5 in Test Tip 19:
C. 11.8 in
Sometimes, you can use estimation to
D. 23.6 in eliminate answer choices.
E. 31.4 in

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 Geometry
7. A 26-foot ladder is leaned against a wall in such a way that
the base of the ladder is 10 feet from the wall. At what
height does the top of the latter touch the wall? (If
necessary, round your answer to the nearest foot.)

A. 16 ft
B. 20 ft
C. 24 ft
D. 28 ft
E. 36 ft

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 Geometry
8. A circle with a radius of 5 cm is inscribed in a square. What is
the area of the shaded region (in cm)?

A. 10π – 25
B. 25 – 10π
C. 25π – 25
D. 100 – 25π
E. 100 – 10π

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 Some Formulas to Know

• Percent increase/decrease
• Slope-intercept form of a linear equation
• Pythagorean Theorem
• Area of a triangle and rectangle
• Circumference and area of a circle
• Volume of a rectangular prism/cylinder
• Distance-rate-time formula
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 Tips/Strategies from Week 1
1. Review important mathematical terminology.
2. Memorize key formulas. (See handout.)
3. Take time to understand the problem.
4. Read all of the questions very carefully, and be sure
to answer the question that is being asked.
5. Read all of the choices before answering.
6. Pace yourself (≈ 1.5 minutes per question).
7. If you don’t know how to answer a question, skip it
and return to it later.

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 Tips/Strategies from Week 1
8. If you get stuck, try to work backwards.
9. To find the probability of two or more events, use
the multiplication rule:
P(A and B) = P(A)×P(B given A).
10. Review the most common representations of data,
including dot plots, scatterplots, box plots, and
histograms.
11. Sometimes, creating an organized list or table can
help you solve a problem.

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 Tips/Strategies from Week 2
12. If necessary, make an educated guess.
13. Whenever possible, check your answers.
14. Be skeptical of answer choices that are “too good to
be true.” Don’t fall into a trap!
15. If a problem is too abstract, try plugging in some
numbers to make it more concrete.
16. Skip the “textbook approach” on some problems.
Ideally, you want to use the fastest approach that
works!

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 Tips/Strategies from Week 2
17. It never hurts to draw a picture.
18. Algebra is a powerful tool. Use it!
19. Sometimes, you can use estimation to eliminate
answer choices.
20. Sometimes, you may want to convert your answer
choices to decimal numbers. (See Additional
Problem # 10.)

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 Homework
• Check out the great resources available from ETS!
– Google: “Praxis Core Math”
– Direct link: [Link]
prepare/materials/5732
– Link to free Khan Academy prep course (NEW!)
• Attempt the sample mathematics problems in
the handout and from the Praxis Study
Companion.

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 Homework
Solutions to last week’s additional exercises
(Part I)
1. C 7. B
2. C 8. E
3. C 9. A
4. E 10. E
5. A 11. D
6. E 12. E

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 Homework
Solutions to this week’s additional exercises
(Part II)
1. C 7. A
2. B 8. D
3. D 9. A
4. A 10. C
5. D 11. C
6. D 12. Answers will
vary
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Math Resource Center
UofL student? Need additional help?

Visit the REACH Math Resource Center!

[Link]

Belknap Academic Building, Room 241

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 Closing Thoughts
• You can pass the Praxis Core in Math! Stay positive.
• Practice, practice, practice! (Rework all of the
problems that we have discussed.)
• Use the free resources that are available on the ETS
website! (Google Praxis CASE Math.)
• Find other good resources online.
• Use the REACH Math Resource
Center. (We’re on MS Teams!)

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 Additional Practice
Here are some additional practice problems related to
Algebra & Functions and Geometry!

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 Algebra & Functions
1. Horizon Wireless charges a flat monthly fee of $20 per month
and an additional 8 cents ($0.08) per minute to make cell-
phone calls using its service. If m is the total number of
minutes a customer used his/her phone during a particular
monthly billing cycle, which of the following expressions
represents the total cost of the customer’s bill?

A. (20 + 0.08)m
B. 20m + 0.08
C. 20 + 0.08m
D. 20 + 0.08 + m
E. None of these
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 Algebra & Functions
2. Which of the following statements about the linear equation
y = 4x – 1 is false?

A. The slope (m) of the line is 4.

B. The x-intercept of the line is –1.
C. The point (2, 7) is on the line.
D. The point (–1, 2) is above the line.
E. The point (3, 0) is below the line.

Tip: Terminology 49
 Algebra & Functions
3. The graph y = f(x) is given below. For which value(s) of x
is/are f(x) = 2?

A. –2
B. 1
C. 2
D. –2 and 1
E. –2 and 2

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 Algebra & Functions
4. The perimeter (P) of a rectangle is given by the following
formula: . Which of the following gives the length (l) of a
rectangle in terms in its perimeter and width (w)?

51
 Geometry
5. Which of the following quadrilaterals has at least one pair of
opposite sides that are parallel?

i. Rectangle A. i and iii

ii. Rhombus B. ii and iv
iii. Parallelogram C. ii, iii, and iv
iv. Trapezoid D. i, ii, iii and iv
v. Kite E. i, ii, iii and v

Tip: Terminology 52
 Geometry
6. The vertices of triangle LQU are as follows: L(5, 1), Q(1, 3),
and U(0, –1). If triangle LQU is reflected about the x-axis,
what is the image of the point Q?

A. Q’(1, 3)
B. Q’(–1, –3)
C. Q’(–1, 3)
D. Q’(1, –3)
E. None of these

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 Geometry
7. Which of the following statements about circles is false?

A. The relationship between the diameter (d) and radius (r) of a

circle is given by r = 2d.
B. The area of a circle is given by A = πr2.
C. The circumference of a circle is given by C = 2πr.
D. The area of a sector is given by A = πr2, where
is the measure of the central angle in degrees.
E. Arc length is given by s = πr, where is the measure of the
central angle in degrees.

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 Geometry
8. The side view of a truss bridge is shown below. If the legs of
the isosceles triangles in the design are 12 feet long, what is
the area of this portion of the bridge? Note: The area of a
trapezoid with bases b1 and b2 is given by .

A. 60 ft2
B. 72 ft2
C. 144 ft2
D. 720 ft2 12 ft

E. 1,440 ft2

Tip: Fastest method 55

 Geometry
9. The volume of a sphere is given by the formula . What is the
volume of a hemisphere with a diameter of 6 in?

A. 6π in3
B. 12π in3
C. 24π in3
D. 36π in3
E. 48π in3

Tip: Answer the Right Question 56

 Geometry
10. What is the length of a diagonal of a square with a side
length of 8 centimeters?

A. cm
B. cm
C. cm
D. cm
E. cm

57
 Geometry
11. A right circular cone has a height of 6 inches and a radius of 3
inches. If a second right circular cone has the same height
but twice the volume of the first cone, what is the radius of
the second cone?

A. in
B. in
C. in
D. in
E. in

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 Bonus Problem!
12. BONUS: Data from Erika’s jogging workout are shown in the
graph below. The y-axis gives Erika’s distance from the
starting point in miles. What does this graph tell us?

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