TEAS-style math practice: cram pack

Formula sheets, the key method steps for every topic and 4 practice problems, with full solutions at the back.

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1Formulas and methods

Pre-nursing math (entrance exam)

Order of operations
parentheses → exponents → × ÷ (left to right) → + − (left to right)
Fractions
a/b + c/d = (ad + bc)/bd, a/b × c/d = ac/bd, a/b ÷ c/d = a/b × d/c
Percent
p% of N = (p/100)·N; percent = part/whole × 100
Percent change
(new − original)/original × 100
Discount, then tax
price × (1 − d/100) × (1 + t/100)
Proportion
a/b = c/d → ad = bc
Mean, median, mode, range
sum/count; middle of ordered list; most frequent; max − min
Length, capacity, time
1 km = 1000 m, 1 m = 100 cm, 1 ft = 12 in, 1 yd = 3 ft, 1 mi = 5280 ft, 1 gal = 4 qt = 16 cups, 1 h = 60 min
Temperature
°F = °C·9/5 + 32, °C = (°F − 32)·5/9; a change of 1 °C = 1.8 °F
Area
rectangle l·w, triangle ½·b·h, circle π·r²
Perimeter and circumference
rectangle 2l + 2w, circle π·d = 2π·r
Volume
box l·w·h, cylinder π·r²·h; 1000 cm³ = 1 L
Speed
distance ÷ time (time in hours for mph or km/h)

Method

  1. Read the last sentence first: what exactly is asked, and in which unit or form (lowest terms, nearest cent, one decimal place)?
  2. Write the numbers in one form: turn mixed numbers into improper fractions, percents into decimals, and hours and minutes into one unit.
  3. Pick the method: PEMDAS for expressions, a common denominator for adding fractions, part ÷ whole × 100 for percents, cross-multiplying for proportions, inverse operations for equations.
  4. Work one step at a time and write each line down; round only at the very end.
  5. Check the size of the answer with an estimate, and put an equation’s answer back in.

Nursing math & unit conversions

Metric steps
1 kg = 1000 g, 1 g = 1000 mg, 1 mg = 1000 mcg, 1 L = 1000 mL
Weight and length
1 kg = 2.2 lb, 1 lb = 16 oz, 1 in = 2.54 cm, 1 ft = 12 in
Household measures
1 tsp = 5 mL, 1 tbsp = 15 mL, 1 fl oz = 30 mL, 1 cup = 8 fl oz = 240 mL
Temperature
°C = (°F − 32)·5/9, °F = °C·9/5 + 32
24-hour clock
PM hours 1–11: add 12; 12 AM = 00:xx; 12 PM = 12:xx
Dose rate
mcg/min × 60/1000 = mg/h
Laboratory factors
glucose 1 mmol/L = 18 mg/dL; creatinine 1 mg/dL = 88.4 µmol/L; Hb 1 g/dL = 10 g/L

Method

  1. Write the given quantity with its unit and the unit you want.
  2. Pick the equivalent: 1000 between kg, g, mg and mcg or L and mL; 1 kg = 2.2 lb; 1 tsp = 5 mL, 1 tbsp = 15 mL, 1 fl oz = 30 mL, 1 cup = 240 mL.
  3. Write it as a fraction so that the unwanted unit cancels; for a rate, use one fraction per unit that changes.
  4. Check the direction: a smaller unit gives a bigger number.
  5. Round only the final answer, to the precision the question names.

2Practice problems

1.Pre-nursing math (entrance exam)Medium
024681012°Ch0246810

The line graph shows the outdoor temperature every 2 hours, from hour 0 to hour 10. By how much Δ did the value change from hour 8 to hour 10? Use a negative number for a decrease.

Δ = °C
2.Pre-nursing math (entrance exam)Hard
20242025A22570B45275C115260

The table shows the number of volunteers at centres A, B and C in 2024 and 2025. What was the mean number of volunteers per year x̄ at centre C over the two years?

x̄ =
3.Nursing math & unit conversionsMedium
94969810010210410635363738394041°F°C103.7 °F? °C

Practice exercise (made-up values, not clinical guidance). A patient’s temperature is 103.7 °F. Convert it to degrees Celsius T with °C = (°F − 32) × 5/9. Round to one decimal place.

103.7 °F
T = °C
4.Nursing math & unit conversionsHard
10 mcg/kg/min? mg/h83 kg1 h = 60 min1 mg = 1000 mcg

Practice exercise (made-up values, not clinical guidance). An order reads 10 mcg/kg/min for a patient who weighs 83 kg. Express the dose rate D in mg/h. Round to two decimal places.

10 mcg/kg/min83 kg
D = mg/h

3Solutions

1.Pre-nursing math (entrance exam)

Answer: Δ = −2 °C

Reading charts and tables: read the title, the categories and the scale first. On a bar chart or line graph, follow the top of the bar or the point across to the vertical axis; every gridline is one step of the scale. A pie chart shows parts of a whole: a sector of p% stands for p% of the total and has an angle of p% of 360°.

Read the points

8 h: 8, 10 h: 6

Change

Δ = 6 − 8 = −2 °C

Answer

Δ = −2 °C
2.Pre-nursing math (entrance exam)

Answer: x̄ = 187.5

Mean, median, mode and range: the mean (average) is the sum divided by the number of values. The median is the middle value once the values are in order; with an even number of values it is the mean of the two middle ones. The mode is the value that occurs most often. The range is the largest value minus the smallest.

Row C

115 + 260 = 375

Mean

x̄ = 375/2 = 187.5

Answer

x̄ = 187.5
3.Nursing math & unit conversions

Answer: T = 39.8 °C

Temperature: °C = (°F − 32) × 5/9 and °F = °C × 9/5 + 32. Subtract 32 before you multiply when going from °F, and add 32 after you multiply when going from °C. A quick check: 37 °C is 98.6 °F, and every 1 °C is 1.8 °F.

Subtract 32

103.7 − 32 = 71.7

Multiply by 5/9

T = 71.7·5/9 = 39.83 ≈ 39.8 °C

Answer

T = 39.8 °C
4.Nursing math & unit conversions

Answer: D = 49.8 mg/h

Dimensional analysis: write the given quantity, then multiply by conversion factors written as fractions (for example 60 min/1 h or 1 mg/1000 mcg) so that each unwanted unit appears once on top and once underneath and cancels. When only the wanted unit is left, calculate. Use the equivalents the question gives and round only the final answer.

Set up the chain

D = 10 mcg/kg/min × 83 kg × (60 min/1 h) × (1 mg/1000 mcg)

Calculate

D = 10·83·60/1000 = 49.8 mg/h

Answer

D = 49.8 mg/h

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