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.

New problems Back to the course

In the print window, choose “Save as PDF” to keep a copy on your device.

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

Read the last sentence first: what exactly is asked, and in which unit or form (lowest terms, nearest cent, one decimal place)?
Write the numbers in one form: turn mixed numbers into improper fractions, percents into decimals, and hours and minutes into one unit.
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.
Work one step at a time and write each line down; round only at the very end.
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

Write the given quantity with its unit and the unit you want.
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.
Write it as a fraction so that the unwanted unit cancels; for a rate, use one fraction per unit that changes.
Check the direction: a smaller unit gives a bigger number.
Round only the final answer, to the precision the question names.

2Practice problems

1.Pre-nursing math (entrance exam)Medium

The line graph shows the number of people in a waiting room every 2 hours, from hour 0 to hour 10. By how much Δ did the value change from hour 4 to hour 8? Use a negative number for a decrease.

Δ =

2.Pre-nursing math (entrance exam)Hard

A hospital fundraiser has 28 raffle tickets. 1/2 of them are sold on the first day, and 1/2 of the remaining tickets are sold on the second day. How many tickets x are still unsold?

281/21/2

x =

3.Nursing math & unit conversionsMedium

Practice exercise (made-up values, not clinical guidance). A patient’s temperature is 96.9 °F. Convert it to degrees Celsius T with °C = (°F − 32) × 5/9. Round to one decimal place.

96.9 °F

T = °C

4.Nursing math & unit conversionsHard

Practice exercise (made-up values, not clinical guidance). During a shift a patient takes ½ tsp of cough syrup, 8 fl oz of juice, 1½ tbsp of liquid supplement. Using the equivalents given, find the total oral intake V in mL.

1 tsp = 5 mL1 fl oz = 30 mL1 tbsp = 15 mL

V = mL

3Solutions

1.Pre-nursing math (entrance exam)

Answer: Δ = −5

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

4 h: 15, 8 h: 10

Change

Δ = 10 − 15 = −5

Answer

Δ = −5

2.Pre-nursing math (entrance exam)

Answer: x = 7

Multiplying and dividing fractions: first turn mixed numbers into improper fractions (2 1/3 = 7/3). To multiply, multiply the numerators and the denominators. To divide, keep the first fraction, change ÷ to ×, and flip the second fraction (multiply by its reciprocal). Cancel common factors and write the result in lowest terms as a mixed number.

After the first day

28 − 1/2·28 = 28 − 14 = 14

After the second day

14 − 1/2·14 = 14 − 7 = 7

Answer

x = 7

3.Nursing math & unit conversions

Answer: T = 36.1 °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

96.9 − 32 = 64.9

Multiply by 5/9

T = 64.9·5/9 = 36.06 ≈ 36.1 °C

Answer

T = 36.1 °C

4.Nursing math & unit conversions

Answer: V = 265 mL

Household measures and weight: nursing exams use rounded equivalents: 1 teaspoon (tsp) = 5 mL, 1 tablespoon (tbsp) = 15 mL = 3 tsp, 1 fluid ounce (fl oz) = 30 mL = 2 tbsp, and 1 cup = 8 fl oz = 240 mL. For weight, 1 kg = 2.2 lb and 1 lb = 16 oz; for length, 1 inch = 2.54 cm. Set the conversion up so that the unit you do not want cancels out.

Each item in mL

½ tsp = 0.5·5 = 2.5 mL

8 fl oz = 8·30 = 240 mL

1½ tbsp = 1.5·15 = 22.5 mL

Add

V = 2.5 + 240 + 22.5 = 265 mL

Answer

V = 265 mL

This is independent practice material. ExamProblems is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organisation that runs this exam, and the exam name is used only to describe the content. ATI TEAS is a trademark of Assessment Technologies Institute, LLC (ATI), which is not affiliated with ExamProblems and does not endorse it or vouch for its accuracy.

ExamProblems · examproblems.com/courses/teas-math-practice