The GED Math test's Number Sense & Problem Solving portion makes up 45% of the exam. This section assesses your ability to use number skills and algebraic reasoning to solve real-world problems.
Number Operations: You'll need to be comfortable with all four basic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) with whole numbers, fractions, decimals, and percentages. Questions will focus on applying these operations to solve practical problems, like calculating a total cost or splitting a bill.
Number Relationships: This includes understanding and working with concepts like multiples, factors, prime numbers, and number lines. You should be able to compare and order different types of numbers.
Ratios, Proportions, and Percentages: These are a huge part of the test. You'll be asked to solve problems involving rates (e.g., miles per hour), scale drawings, and percent change. For example, you might have to calculate a discount on an item or find the tax on a purchase. .
Interpreting Data: The test uses real-world scenarios, so you'll need to interpret data presented in various forms, including graphs, charts, and tables. You might have to find the average (mean), median, or mode of a data set.
Exponents, Roots, and Scientific Notation: You should know how to work with powers and roots, and how to represent very large or very small numbers using scientific notation.
All of these skills are applied to solve problems in a real-world context, so it's not just about getting the right answer but also about showing that you understand the process.
The base-ten system, also known as the decimal system, is the number system we use every day. It's a way of counting that is built on the number 10. This means that every position in a number represents a power of 10. For example, in the number 345:
The 5 is in the ones place (100). It represents 5 x 1.
The 4 is in the tens place (101). It represents 4 x 10.
The 3 is in the hundreds place (102). It represents 3 x 100.
So, the number 345 is really a shorthand for 300+40+5.
The reason we use base-ten is simple: it's tied to the fact that we have 10 fingers. Many ancient civilizations developed number systems based on groups of five or ten for this very reason. While other number systems exist (like the binary system, or base-2, used in computers), base-ten is the most common for everyday use.
Understanding base-ten is all about understanding place value. Each digit in a number has a value based on its position. As you move from right to left, the value of each place increases by a factor of 10.
...thousands (103)
hundreds (102)
tens (101)
ones (100)
tenths (10−1)
hundredths (10−2)
thousandths (10−3)
This system extends to the right of the decimal point for numbers less than one. For example, the number 12.34 means 10+2+0.3+0.04.
The TABE Math section on Number and Operations in Base Ten is a foundational topic that assesses a student's understanding of our number system and how to perform basic operations. The core concept is place value, which means the position of a digit in a number determines its value.
This area focuses on recognizing the value of each digit based on its location. For example, in the number 8,245, the 8 is in the thousands place and has a value of 8,000. The concept that a digit in one place is ten times the value of the same digit in the place to its right is fundamental. You should also be able to express numbers in different formats:
Standard Form: The typical way of writing a number (e.g., 5,678)
Word Form: Writing the number in words (e.g., five thousand, six hundred seventy-eight)
Expanded Form: Breaking down the number to show the value of each digit (e.g., 5,000 + 600 + 70 + 8)
Rounding involves approximating a number to a specific place value. For example, if you round 5,876 to the nearest hundred, you'd get 5,900 because 876 is closer to 900 than 800.
Comparing numbers requires you to determine which is greater, less than, or equal to another using the symbols >,<,=. This is done by comparing digits from the highest place value down.
The test covers the four basic operations:
Addition and Subtraction: You'll need to add and subtract multi-digit numbers, including decimals, which often requires regrouping (carrying or borrowing).
Multiplication and Division: You should be able to multiply and divide multi-digit numbers. A common shortcut is for powers of ten (10, 100, 1,000), where you simply move the decimal point to the right for multiplication and to the left for division.
This part of the test assesses your ability to work with fractions and decimals. You should be able to compare them, convert between them (e.g., 1/2​ = 0.5), and perform basic operations with them.
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