Mathematics Grade 8 Practice Questions

  1. Convert 0.2 into a fraction.
  1. \(\tfrac{1}{5}\)
  2. \(\tfrac{11}{50}\)
  3. \(\tfrac{2}{9}\)
  4. \(\tfrac{2}{7}\)
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The correct answer is A!

To convert a terminating decimal to a fraction, write 0.2 as \(\tfrac{2}{10}\), then simplify by dividing numerator and denominator by 2:

\(\tfrac{2}{10} = \tfrac{1}{5}\)

 

  1. What is the decimal expansion of \(\tfrac{5}{6}\)?
  1. 0.(56)
  2. 0.83
  3. 0.56
  4. 1.2
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The correct answer is B!

Dividing \(\tfrac{5}{6}\) gives \(0.8333\ldots\), so the closest match among the choices is 0.83.

 

  1. Which number is the closest approximation to \(\tfrac{\pi}{4}\)?
  1. 0.85
  2. 1.0
  3. 0.785
  4. 1.273
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The correct answer is C!

Since \(\pi\approx3.1416\), dividing by 4 gives \(\tfrac{\pi}{4}\approx0.7854\), and 0.785 is the closest choice.

 

  1. Without using a calculator, identify which point on the number line could be \(\sqrt{3}\)?

  1. Point A
  2. Point B
  3. Point C
  4. Point D
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The correct answer is C!

Because \(1^2=1 \lt 3 \lt 4=2^2\), it follows that \(1 \lt \sqrt{3} \lt 2\). On the number line, only point C lies between 1 and 2.

 

  1. Simplify \(5^2 \times 5^4 \times 5^{-4} \times 5^{-2}\).
  1. 1
  2. 5
  3. 0
  4. 2.5
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The correct answer is A!

Adding the exponents gives \(2 + 4 + (-4) + (-2) = 0\), so the product is \(5^0 = 1\).

 

  1. Simplify \(\bigl(\tfrac{2}{3}\bigr)^{-3}\).
  1. \(\tfrac{8}{27}\)
  2. \(\tfrac{27}{8}\)
  3. \(\tfrac{-8}{27}\)
  4. \(\tfrac{-27}{8}\)
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The correct answer is B!

A negative exponent takes the reciprocal.

\(\bigl(\tfrac{2}{3}\bigr)^{-3} = \bigl(\tfrac{3}{2}\bigr)^{3} = \tfrac{27}{8}\)

 

  1. Solve the equation for x: \(x^2 = 16\).
  1. \(x = 4\)
  2. \(x = ±4\)
  3. \(x = 8\)
  4. \(x = ±8\)
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The correct answer is B!

Taking the square root of both sides gives \(x = \pm\sqrt{16} = \pm4\), since an even root yields both positive and negative solutions.

 

  1. Solve the equation for \(x\):
\(x^3 = -27\)
  1. \(x = -9\)
  2. \(x = ±9\)
  3. \(x = -3\)
  4. \(x = ±3\)
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The correct answer is C!

Taking the cube root of both sides gives \(x = \sqrt[3]{-27} = -3\). For odd roots, there is a single real solution that carries the sign of the radicand.

 

  1. What is the decimal notation of \(7\times10^{-4}\)?
  1. 70,000
  2. 7,000
  3. 0.00007
  4. 0.0007
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The correct answer is D!

Multiplying by \(10^{-4}\) moves the decimal point four places to the left.

\(7\times10^{-4} = 0.0007\)

 

  1. What is 0.0143 written in scientific notation?
  1. \(1.43\times10\)
  2. \(1.43\times10^{2}\)
  3. \(1.43\times10^{-1}\)
  4. \(1.43\times10^{-2}\)
Show Answer
The correct answer is D!

A number in scientific notation has the form \(a\times10^n\) with \(1\le a \lt 10\). Writing \(0.0143\) as \(1.43\times10^{-2}\) moves the decimal two places right and multiplies by \(10^{-2}\).