Study Materials for the Math Placement Assessment
Study Topics for the ALEKS Math Placement Assessment
During your math placement assessment you will see some, but not all, of the math you have learned in high school. It is a placement assessment, not a preview of math courses at EMU. It is designed to identify if you are prepared for a particular course.
After you take your first Placement Assessment, you will have the opportunity to review and master additional topics to reassess and improve your placement.
In general, the following topics will be covered on the assessment.
You can also download and print this pdf version that contains the same information.
- Real numbers (including fractions, integers, and percentages)
- Equations and inequalities (including linear equations, linear inequalities, systems of linear equations, and quadratic equations)
- Linear and quadratic functions (including graphs and functions, linear functions, and parabolas), exponents and polynomials (including integer exponents, polynomial arithmetic, factoring, and polynomial equations), rational expressions (including rational equations and rational functions
- Radical expressions (including higher roots and rational exponents)
- Exponentials and logarithms (including function compositions and inverse functions, properties of logarithms, and logarithmic equations)
- Geometry and trigonometry (including perimeter, area, and volume, coordinate geometry, trigonometric functions, and identities and equations).
Practice Problems with Answers
- Practice Problems I [PDF]
- Practice Problems II [PDF]
Topics to Study, Arranged by Course
For MATH 104-Intermediate Algebra, MATH 110-Mathematical Reasoning, MATH 180-Math for Elementary Teachers I
- Make comparisons and perform calculations with fractions, decimals, and percents.
- Know and understand the order of operations.
- Solve multiple-step word problems involving fractions, decimals, ratio, percents, average, and proportional reasoning.
- Solve word problems involving perimeter and area.
- Find square roots.
- Perform simple operations with radicals.
- Simplify and evaluate algebraic expressions.
- Factor polynomials and quadratic expressions.
- Solve linear and quadratic equations.
- Understand order relationships between signed numbers.
- Perform simple operations with integers.
- Perform simple operations with polynomials.
- Solve simple rational equations.
- Graph linear equations.
- Solve word problems involving algebraic principles.
For MATH 105-College Algebra, MATH 107-Trigonometry, and STAT 170-Elementary Statistics
- Solve systems of linear equations (equalities) with two variables by graphing and/or algebraic manipulation.
- Manipulate factors to simplify complex fractions.
- Work with algebraic expressions involving real number exponents.
- Solve absolute value equations.
- Graph simple parabolas.
- Have a basic understanding of function notation, such as determining the value of a function for a specific number in the domain.
- Show a limited understanding of the concept of function on a more sophisticated level, such as determining the value of the composition of two functions.
- Have a rudimentary understanding of coordinate geometry.
- Have a rudimentary understanding of exponential functions and logarithmic functions.
For MATH 112-Precalculus
- Solve systems of linear equations (equalities) with two variables by graphing and/or algebraic manipulation.
- Manipulate factors to simplify complex fractions.
- Work with algebraic expressions involving real number exponents.
- Solve absolute value equations.
- Graph simple parabolas.
- Have a basic understanding of function notation, such as determining the value of a function for a specific number in the domain.
- Show a limited understanding of the concept of function on a more sophisticated level, such as determining the value of the composition of two functions.
- Have a rudimentary understanding of coordinate geometry.
- Have a rudimentary understanding of exponential functions and logarithmic functions.
- Understand polynomial functions.
- Evaluate and simplify expressions involving functional notation, including composition of functions.
- Solve simple equations involving trigonometric functions, logarithmic functions, and exponential functions.
For MATH 120-Calculus I and MATH 122-Elementary Linear Algebra
- Solve systems of linear equations (inequalities) with two variables by graphing and/or algebraic manipulation.
- Manipulate factors to simplify complex fractions.
- Work with algebraic expressions involving real number exponents.
- Solve absolute value equations.
- Graph simple parabolas.
- Have a basic understanding of function notation, such as determining the value of a function for a specific number in the domain.
- Show a limited understanding of the concept of function on a more sophisticated level, such as determining the value of the composition of two functions.
- Have a rudimentary understanding of coordinate geometry.
- Have a rudimentary understanding of exponential functions and logarithmic functions.
- Understand polynomial functions.
- Evaluate and simplify expressions involving functional notation, including composition of functions.
- Solve simple equations involving trigonometric functions, logarithmic functions, and exponential functions.
- Perform algebraic operations and solve equations with complex numbers.
- Understand the relationship between exponents and logarithms and the rules that govern the manipulation of logarithms and exponents.
- Understand trigonometric functions and their inverses.
- Solve trigonometric equations.
- Manipulate trigonometric identities.
- Recognize graphical properties of functions such as: absolute value, quadratic functions, and logarithmic functions.
Schedule an Appointment for the Math Placement Assessment
Math Placement Assessment is available on-campus or via Zoom! Schedule an appointment for math placement assessment by clicking on the button below. For assistance, please email [email protected].