PREPARATION

FOR MATH TESTING

at
CityLab Academy
compiled by Gloria Vachino, M.S.

Refresh your math skills with a

MATH REVIEW
and find out if you are ready for the
math entrance test by taking a
PRE-TEST
(see back page)

Calculators are not allowed during the test, so make sure to practice
without a calculator.

To sign up for the math test,

email medacad@[Link]

Property of Boston University, CityLab Academy, 2011

 Table of Contents

TOPIC PAGE
Adding & Subtracting Decimals 3

Multiplying Decimals 4

Dividing Decimals 5

Equivalent Fractions 6
Reducing Fractions 7
Types of Fractions 7
Converting Fractions 8

Adding & Subtracting Fractions 9

Multiplying Fractions 10
Dividing Fractions 11
Percents 12 – 13
Signed Numbers 14
Exponents 15
Pre-test 16

PLEASE NOTE: This math review booklet covers most of the topics and provides examples of the
types of problems that are on the math entrance test. Two topics that are not covered are basic
algebraic equations and square roots.
Reviews of these topics can be found online at the following websites:

Basic Algebraic Equations

[Link]
[Link]

Square Roots
[Link]
[Link]

Property of Boston University, CityLab Academy, 2011 2

 ADDING AND SUBTRACTING DECIMALS

When adding or subtracting numbers with decimal points:

EXAMPLE 1
Step 1 Write the numbers in a column. Line up the decimal points. 3.42 + 5.97  3.42
+ 5.97

Step 2 For whole numbers, place a decimal point after the 8.62
EXAMPLE 2
number. Then add one or more zeros to the right of the 4 + 4.623  4.000
decimal point. + 4.623
For this
problem,
re-write 4
as 4.000
Step 3 Add (or subtract) the numbers the same way as for EXAMPLE 2
numbers without decimal points. 4 + 4.623  4.000
+ 4.623
Step 4 Bring the decimal point straight down into the answer. 8.623

PRACTICE
1) 10.5 – 1.29 = 2) 354.078 + 6.12 + 0.163 = 3) 3.44 – 0.79 =

4) 2,005.1 + 7.9 + 80.06 = 5) 13.88 – 0.56 = 6) 56 + 3.25 + 2.98 =

ANSWERS

1) 9.21 2) 360.361 3) 2.65 4) 2,093.06 5) 13.32 6) 62.23

Property of Boston University, CityLab Academy, 2011 3

 MULTIPLYING DECIMALS

When multiplying numbers with decimal points:

EXAMPLE 1
Step 1 Count the number of decimal places (numbers to the 3.1 1 decimal place
right of the decimal point) in all the numbers being x 2.3 + 1 decimal place
multiplied. Add to find the total number of decimal ? 2 decimal places
places.

Step 2 Multiply the numbers as if they were whole 31

numbers without decimal points and record the x 23
answer. 713

Step 3 To determine where to put the decimal point in the 3.1 1 decimal place
answer, use the total number of decimal places. x 2.3 + 1 decimal place
Start at the right of the answer and count to the left. 7.13 2 decimal places
Place the decimal point in front of the last number
counted.
EXAMPLE 2

Step 4 If more decimal places are needed, add zeroes in front 0.005 3 decimal places
of the number. x 0.07 + 2 decimal places
0.00035 5 decimal places

To count 5 decimal places, add zeros in front of the 3.

PRACTICE
1) 453 2) 5,751 3) 0.47 4) 0.025
x 0.03 x 0.006 x 0.2 x 22

5) 23.54 6) 45.67 7) 555 x 1.76 8) 950 x 0.087

x 0.05 x 0.23

ANSWERS
1) 13.59 2) 34.506 3) 0.094 4) 0.55 5) 1.177 6) 10.5041 7) 976.8 8) 82.65

Property of Boston University, CityLab Academy, 2011 4

 DIVIDING DECIMALS TIP!
Know the parts of the
division operation.

I. When dividing decimals by whole numbers: Quotient

Step 1 Divide as you would normally (ignoring the decimal point). Divisor Dividend

Step 2 Bring the decimal point straight up into the answer. Dividend  divisor = quotient
(In other words, put the decimal point in the quotient
directly above the decimal point in the dividend.)

13 1.3
3 3.9 3 3.9

II. When dividing decimals by decimals:

Step 1 First move the decimal point in the divisor to the right to make it a whole number.
Then move the decimal point in the dividend the same number of places to the right.

0.16 0.384 0.16 0.38 4 16 38.4

Move decimal point two places

in both divisor and dividend.

Step 2 Perform the division.

2.4
Step 3 Bring the decimal point straight up into the 16 38.4
answer.

PRACTICE

1) 0.5 300 2) 0.025 7 3) 5.6 280

4) 0.08 64.8 5) 1.6 0.72 6) 63.9  0.009 =

ANSWERS
1) 600 2) 280 3) 50 4) 810 5) 0.45 6) 7100

Property of Boston University, CityLab Academy, 2011 5

 EQUIVALENT FRACTIONS

EXAMPLE 1
Equivalent fractions are two or more fractions that have the same value.
12 = 2
To determine whether two fractions are equivalent: 24 4
Step 1 Look at the fraction with the larger numbers. Determine what
number the larger numerator needs to be divided by to give the 12  6 = 2
numerator in the other fraction. 24 4

Step 2 Divide the denominator of the fraction with the larger numbers by 12 2
the same number. 24  6 = 4

Step 3 Check to see that the fractions are equivalent: If the numerator
and denominator of one fraction can be divided by the same 12  6 = 2
number to give the numerator and denominator of the second 24  6 = 4
fraction, then the fractions are equivalent.
EXAMPLE 2:
15 = 5 but 8  4 ( is the symbol for “not equal to”)
21 7 22 7
because 15  3 = 5 but 8 2  4
21  3 7 22  2 7

PRACTICE
Determine whether the following fractions are equivalent.
1) 15 = 3 2) 3 = 1 3) 7 = 49 4) 2 = 6
25 5 81 9 8 56 13 39

ANSWERS
1) yes 2) no 3) yes 4) yes

Property of Boston University, CityLab Academy, 2011 6

 REDUCING FRACTIONS

When the only number that can evenly divide the numerator and denominator of a fraction is 1,
the fraction is said to be “reduced to lowest terms” or “simplified”.

To reduce a fraction: EXAMPLE

Step 1 Divide the numerator and denominator by the 14  14  7  2
greatest common factor. In the fraction at the right, 63 63  7 9
the greatest common factor is 7 (the largest number
that goes into both 14 and 63).

Step 2 Check to make sure the fraction has been reduced In the example above,
completely! As stated above, in a reduced fraction, the only number that
only 1 can evenly divide both the numerator and can evenly divide both
denominator. 2 and 9 is 1.

PRACTICE
Reduce the following fractions.
1) 6 = 2) 10 = 3) 3 = 4) 6 =
72 100 25 42

ANSWERS
1) 1 2) 1 3) 3 fraction cannot be 4) 1
12 10 25 further reduced 7

TYPES OF FRACTIONS

A. PROPER FRACTIONS PROPER FRACTIONS

A fraction is proper if the numerator is smaller than the denominator. 5 6 1
25 13 5

B. IMPROPER FRACTIONS
A fraction is improper if the numerator is larger than (or equal to) IMPROPER FRACTIONS
the denominator. 75 37 5
25 13 5

C. MIXED NUMBERS (also called mixed fractions) MIXED NUMBERS

A mixed number contains a whole number and a fraction.
24 35
27 9

Property of Boston University, CityLab Academy, 2011 27 7

 CONVERTING FRACTIONS

To convert an improper fraction to a mixed number: EXAMPLE

2
Step 1 Divide the numerator by the denominator. 37  13 37
13 26
11
Step 2 Write the answer as a mixed number: In the example, the
quotient 2 becomes the whole number and the remainder
11 becomes the numerator in the fraction. The 2 11
denominator stays the same. 13

Step 3 If necessary, reduce the fraction to lowest terms.

EXAMPLE
To convert a mixed number to an improper fraction: 45
6
Step 1 Multiply the denominator by the whole number and 4 x 6 = 24  24 + 5 = 29
then add the product to the numerator.
29
Step 2 Place the sum over the denominator. 6

PRACTICE
Convert the following improper fractions to mixed numbers.

1) 13 = 2) 25 = 3) 54 = 4) 16 =
8 7 7 5

Convert the following mixed numbers to improper fractions.

5) 2 5 = 6) 13 2 = 7) 9 1 = 8) 11 6 =
9 3 5 7

ANSWERS

1) 1 5 2) 34 3) 7 5 4) 3 1 5) 23 6) 41 7) 46 8) 83
8 7 7 5 9 3 5 7

Property of Boston University, CityLab Academy, 2011 8

 ADDING and SUBTRACTING FRACTIONS

When adding or subtracting fractions:

Step 1 Convert mixed numbers to improper fractions.

EXAMPLES
ADDITION SUBTRACTION
Step 2 Find the lowest common denominator
for the fractions. (A common
denominator is a number that can be
evenly divided by both denominators.)

Step 3 Convert each of the original fractions

to equivalent fractions using the lowest
common denominator.
1
2
+
3
8
= ?
2
3
 3
7
= ?
8 is the lowest 21 is the lowest common
common denominator
denominator

4
8
+
3
8
= ?
14
21
 9
21
= ?

Step 4 Add (or subtract) the numerators.

Do not add or subtract the
4
8
+
3
8
=
7
8
14
21
 9
=
5
21 21
denominators.
(Please note that the method described above is just one of several methods used in the addition and
subtraction of fractions.)

PRACTICE
1) 3 – 2 = 2) 2 9 – 1 5 = 3) 3+ 1+ 2 3 = 4) 7 + 8 = 5) 5 + 2 1 =
7 7 16 8 7 2 14 5 9 6 3

Property of Boston University, CityLab Academy, 2011 9

 ANSWERS

1) 1 2) 15 3) 31 4) 103 = 2 13 5) 19 = 3 1
7 16 7 45 45 6 6

Property of Boston University, CityLab Academy, 2011 10

 MULTIPLYING FRACTIONS
Rewrite
When multiplying fractions: EXAMPLE whole
numbers as
1 4 x 2 x 11 x 5 fractions:
Step 1 Convert mixed numbers to improper fractions. 9 3 7 5=5
1

Step 2 Cancel (if possible). 13 x 2 x 8 x 5

9 3 7 1

Step 3 Multiply straight across. In other words, multiply 13 x 2 x 8 x 5 = 1040

all numerators, then all denominators. 9x3x7x1 189

Step 4 Simplify your answer. If you did not cancel before

multiplying, you will need to reduce the answer. 1040 = 5 95
Improper fractions are generally converted to mixed 189 189
numbers for the final answer.

PRACTICE
1) 3 x 5 = 2) 2 x 5= 3) 52 x 5 = 4) 33 x 13 5) 8 x 18
8 6 7 4 7 14 7 5 9 24

6) 4 x 5 = 7) 4 x 15 = 8) 12 x 6 = 9) 1 4 x 7 10) 21 x 9
8 6 3 6 2 5 5 9 7

ANSWERS

1) 5 2) 5 3) 2 32 4) 8 32 5) 2 6) 5 7) 2 4 8) 36 9) 2 13 10) 3
16 14 49 35 3 12 9 25

Property of Boston University, CityLab Academy, 2011 11

 DIVIDING FRACTIONS

When dividing fractions:

Step 1 Convert all mixed fractions to improper fractions. 16  5 13  5

Convert whole numbers to fractions. 7 9 7 9
divisor

Step 2 Invert the divisor. 5 becomes 9

9 5

Step 3 Change the division sign to multiplication. 13 x 9

7 5
Step 4 Cancel (if possible).

Step 5 Multiply straight across: 13 x 9 = 117 = 3 12

7x5 35 35
Step 6 Reduce if needed.

PRACTICE

1) 8  3 2) 6  3 3) 5  4 4) 9  1 4
9 4 3 6 7 9 15 5

5) 3 5  6 6) 2 3  7 7) 15  4 8) 9 3  6
6 5 5 16 4 5 25

ANSWERS
1) 1 5 2) 4 3) 1 17 4) 1 5) 23 6) 1 6 7) 15 8) 40
27 28 3 36 7 16

Property of Boston University, CityLab Academy, 2011 12

 PERCENTS

Percent means “per one hundred”. % is the symbol used to indicate percent.
The meaning of 15% is 15 parts in 100 parts.
Percents can be written as fractions: 15% = 15
100

There are several methods for solving percent problems. In this review, the proportion method is
used. With the proportion method, percent problems are solved using equivalent fractions. (Review
the section above on equivalent fractions.)

Percent problems are commonly written as word problems. The biggest challenge in solving percent
problems is understanding the wording so that the equivalent fractions can be set up properly.
An example of a percent problem is: “What is X% of Y?” Another way of stating this problem is:
How many parts out of Y are equal to X parts out of 100?
To set up equivalent fractions, follow these guidelines:
i) Numbers after the word “of” are always in the denominators.
ii) One of the denominators will always be 100.
iii) The number in front of the percent sign (%) always has a denominator of 100.

So for the problem “What is X% of Y?”, the equivalent fractions are set up as shown below:

Fraction 1 Fraction 2
X = parts
100 Y
EXAMPLES
A) What is 74% of 50?
Another way of stating this problem is: How many parts out of 50 are equal to 74 parts out of 100?

Step 1 Write the equivalent fractions. 74 = how many parts?

100 50
Step 2 Follow the rules for equivalent fractions:
a) Look at the two denominators and divide the
larger by the smaller: 100  50 = 2

b) Divide the numerator by the same number: 74 ( 2 ) = how many parts? = 37

100 ( 2) 50 50

c) Write the equivalent fractions: 74 = 37

100 50

Step 3 The problem is solved: 74% of 50 is 37.

B) 42 is what percent of 600?

Property of Boston University, CityLab Academy, 2011 13
 Another way of stating this problem is: 42 parts out of 600 is equivalent to how many parts out of 100?

Step 1 Write the equivalent fractions: 42 = how many parts?

600 100

Step 2 Follow the rules for equivalent fractions:

a) Look at the two denominators; divide
the larger by the smaller: 600  100 = 6

b) Divide the numerator by the same number: 42 ( 6) = how many parts? = 7

600 ( 6) 100 100
c) Write the equivalent fractions: 42 = 7
600 100
Step 3 The problem is solved: 42% of 600 is 7% (remember that 7 = 7%).
100
PRACTICE

1) Find 40% of 50 2) 20 is what % of 250?

3) What percent of 80 is 60? 4) 40 is 80% of what number?

5) 32% of _____ is 64 6) 35 is what % of 700

ANSWERS

1) 20 2) 8 3) 75 4) 50 5) 200 6) 5

Property of Boston University, CityLab Academy, 2011 14

 SIGNED NUMBERS

When adding or subtracting two numbers with different signs:

EXAMPLE
4 + (–10) = ?
Step 1 Subtract the smaller number from the larger number.
10 minus 4 equals 6
Step 2 Give the answer the sign of the larger number. The larger number in the problem
is 10 and it has a negative sign.
Therefore the answer will also
Please note: A signed number problem can be written. have a negative sign.
in several different ways: 4 + (–10) = –6
9–2
–2+9 The answer is 7 for all
9 + (–2) three problems!
EXAMPLES

(–9) x (– 6) = 54
When multiplying or dividing two signed numbers: (–10)  (– 2) = 5
a. the answer is positive if both numbers have the same sign. (–5) x (4) = – 20

3 x –4 = – 12
b. the answer is negative if the numbers have different signs. 5 7 35

PRACTICE

1) (–8) + 4 = 2) (–6) + (–3) = 3) 14 + (– 2) = 4) 5 – 13 =

5) 3 x (– 7) = 62) 15  (–5) = 7) (– 8 ) x (– 5) = 8) 2  – 6 =
4 3 5

ANSWERS

1) –4 2) –9 3) 12 4) –8 5) –21 = –5 1 6) –3 7) 40 8) –5
4
EXPONENTS 4 9

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Exponents show how many times a number (called the base) is multiplied times itself. A number with
an exponent is said to be "raised to the power" of that exponent.
Example: Three raised to the power of two is written: 3 2
3 is the base and 2 is the exponent (or power)
32 = 3 x 3 = 9

I. To add or subtract numbers with exponents: EXAMPLE

33 + 23 = ?
Step 1 Find the value of each number with an exponent
33 = 3 x 3 x 3 = 27 and 23 = 2 x 2 x 2 = 8
Step 2 Add the values together:
27 + 8 = 35 Therefore: 33 + 23 = 35

II. To multiply numbers with exponents: EXAMPLE

23 x 22 = 25 = 32
i) If the bases are the same, add the exponents and then because
perform the operation. (2 x 2 x 2) = 8 and (2 x 2) = 4
and
8 x 4 = 32

ii) If the bases are not the same: EXAMPLE

Step 1 Find the value of each number with an 52 x 33 = 675

exponent. because
(5 x 5 ) = 25 and ( 3 x 3 x 3) = 27
and
Step 2 Multiply the values together. 25 x 27 = 675

PRACTICE

1) 33 x 62 = 2) 52 + 3 = 3) 9  32 = 4) 53 x 52 =

5) 72 – 52 6) 50  52 = 7) 92 + 42 + 3 = 8) 33 x 24 =

ANSWERS
1) 972 2) 28 3) 1 4) 3125
PRE-TEST
5) 24 6) 2 7) 100 8) 432
If you can accurately solve the following 24 problems in 30 minutes without a calculator, you are
ready for the entrance test. (On the actual test, you will have 1 hour to complete 48 questions.)

Property of Boston University, CityLab Academy, 2011 16

1) 2.627  0.2=

2) 58.25 + 19.112 = 15) 2.248 x 8 =

16) 3 + 1 + 3=
10 4 5
3) 180  15 =

4) 7 x 6 = 17) 2 3
9 85 + 17 =

2
5 5
5) 18) 29 – 3.7 =
3
 2
15
19) 25% of ? = 175

20) 42 x 44 =
6) 13 266.5

21) 4  3=
7) 4
5
 2
3 7 = 5 5

22) 0.53
8) 195.18 x 3 =
x 0.42

9) 5.8 73.08 23) 18  3 =

5
10) 29.5  100 =
24) 7 36,425

11) 2
3 5  2
2 5 =
1) 2.427 11) 1 5/12 21) –1 2/5
2) 77.362 12) 5/12 22) 0.2226
12) 5 3) 12 13) 1 2/5 23) – 30
8 4) 4 2/3 14) 52 24) 5203 remainder 4
5 5) 3 1/5 15) 17.984
 24
6) 20.5 16) 1 3/20
7) 28/115 17) 9 29/35 Answers
8) 585.54 18) 25.3
9) 12.6 19) 700
41 x 1 =
13) 5 3 10) 0.295 20) 4096

14) 2028  39 =

Property of Boston University, CityLab Academy, 2011