Texas Civil Service Mathematics and Reasoning Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An evidence room stocks 36 boxes of collection vials. If each box contains 24 vials, and a total of 150 vials are used for a major investigation, how many vials remain in stock?
- 864 vials
- 714 vials (Correct answer)
- 186 vials
- 704 vials
Correct answer: 714 vials
First, calculate the total number of vials. Multiply the number of boxes (36) by the number of vials per box (24): 36 * 24 = 864. Next, subtract the number of used vials (150) from the total: 864 - 150 = 714. There are 714 vials remaining.
Question 2: A fire engine's water tank holds 500 gallons. The pump can spray water at a rate of 125 gallons per minute (GPM). If the engine starts with a full tank and sprays water continuously for 2.5 minutes, how many gallons of water will be left in the tank?
- 187.5 gallons (Correct answer)
- 312.5 gallons
- 375 gallons
- 250 gallons
Correct answer: 187.5 gallons
First, calculate the total amount of water sprayed. Multiply the rate (125 GPM) by the time in minutes (2.5): 125 * 2.5 = 312.5 gallons. Then, subtract the amount sprayed from the initial amount in the tank: 500 - 312.5 = 187.5 gallons.
Question 3: A police department's budget for fuel was $120,000 last year. This year, the budget was increased by 5%. What is the fuel budget for this year?
- $125,000
- $120,600
- $132,000
- $126,000 (Correct answer)
Correct answer: $126,000
To find the increase amount, calculate 5% of $120,000. Convert the percentage to a decimal (5% = 0.05) and multiply: 0.05 * $120,000 = $6,000. Add this increase to the original budget: $120,000 + $6,000 = $126,000.
Question 4: Complete the following number series: 5, 8, 12, 17, 23, ___
- 28
- 29
- 30 (Correct answer)
- 31
Correct answer: 30
The pattern is to add a sequentially increasing number to the previous number. From 5 to 8, you add 3. From 8 to 12, you add 4. From 12 to 17, you add 5. From 17 to 23, you add 6. Therefore, the next step is to add 7 to 23, which is 30.
Question 5: An administrative clerk can type 60 words per minute. How long will it take the clerk to type a 5,400-word report?
- 1 hour and 30 minutes (Correct answer)
- 1 hour and 15 minutes
- 90 hours
- 1 hour and 40 minutes
Correct answer: 1 hour and 30 minutes
To find the total time in minutes, divide the total number of words (5,400) by the typing speed (60 words per minute): 5400 / 60 = 90 minutes. To convert this to hours and minutes, divide by 60. 90 / 60 = 1 with a remainder of 30. This is 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Question 6: A city vehicle travels 210 miles and uses 15 gallons of gasoline. What is the vehicle's average miles per gallon (MPG)?
- 15 MPG
- 16 MPG
- 14 MPG (Correct answer)
- 12 MPG
Correct answer: 14 MPG
To find the miles per gallon, divide the total miles traveled (210) by the number of gallons used (15): 210 / 15 = 14. The vehicle's average is 14 MPG.
