30 Math Practice Questions & Answers

Every Math practice question from the HESI A2 Practice Test, with the correct answer and a short explanation.

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1. During one shift a patient drinks 240 mL of water, 180 mL of juice, 350 mL of broth, and 120 mL of milk. What is the patient's total oral intake for the shift?
- A.710 mL
- B.770 mL
- C.890 mL✓ Answer
- D.990 mL
Intake is the sum of every fluid taken in: 240 + 180 + 350 + 120 = 890 mL. 770 mL leaves out the 120 mL of milk, 710 mL leaves out the 180 mL of juice, and 990 mL comes from adding an extra 100 while carrying in the hundreds column.
Ref QB-AZG5PNSource: Elsevier HESI A2 — Math: whole-number addition (intake and output totals)Report a problem with this question
2. Evaluate: 36 ÷ (4 + 2) × 3 − 2²
- A.−2
- B.16
- C.−6
- D.14✓ Answer
Order of operations: parentheses give 6, the exponent gives 4, then divide and multiply left to right (36 ÷ 6 = 6, 6 × 3 = 18), and finally subtract: 18 − 4 = 14. −2 comes from multiplying 6 × 3 before dividing (36 ÷ 18 = 2, then 2 − 4); 16 treats 2² as 2; −6 subtracts 3 − 4 before multiplying.
Ref QB-UG2NEQSource: Elsevier HESI A2 — Math: order of operationsReport a problem with this question
3. A supply clerk divides 350 gauze packs as equally as possible among 8 patient rooms, giving each room the same whole number of packs. How many packs does each room get, and how many are left over?
- A.42 per room, 14 left over
- B.43 per room, 6 left over✓ Answer
- C.43 per room, 75 left over
- D.44 per room, 2 left over
8 × 43 = 344 and 350 − 344 = 6, so each room gets 43 packs with 6 left over; a remainder must be smaller than the divisor. 44 per room needs 352 packs, more than exist; 42 with 14 left over stops too early because 14 is larger than 8; 75 left over mistakes the decimal part of 43.75 for the remainder.
Ref QB-BZUFUPSource: Elsevier HESI A2 — Math: whole-number division with remaindersReport a problem with this question
4. What is 5/6 − 3/8?
- A.11/48
- B.1/12
- C.29/24
- D.11/24✓ Answer
The LCD of 6 and 8 is 24: 5/6 = 20/24 and 3/8 = 9/24, so 20/24 − 9/24 = 11/24. 1/12 subtracts the original numerators (5 − 3 = 2) over 24 without rescaling them; 11/48 rescales the numerators for 24 but writes 48 underneath; 29/24 adds instead of subtracting.
Ref QB-VGDYKRSource: Elsevier HESI A2 — Math: fractions (subtraction with a common denominator)Report a problem with this question
5. A 500 mL IV bag has had 3/5 of its volume infused. How many milliliters remain in the bag?
- A.100 mL
- B.200 mL✓ Answer
- C.300 mL
- D.833 mL
If 3/5 has infused, 2/5 remains, and 2/5 × 500 = 200 mL. 300 mL is the amount already infused (3/5 × 500); 100 mL is only one fifth of the bag; 833 mL comes from dividing 500 by 3/5 instead of multiplying.
Ref QB-CZ7TZQSource: Elsevier HESI A2 — Math: fractions (fraction of a quantity)Report a problem with this question
6. What is 3 1/3 × 1 1/2?
- A.4 5/6
- B.2 2/9
- C.3 1/6
- D.5✓ Answer
Convert mixed numbers to improper fractions before multiplying: 10/3 × 3/2 = 30/6 = 5. 3 1/6 multiplies the whole numbers (3 × 1) and the fractions (1/3 × 1/2) separately; 4 5/6 adds the two numbers; 2 2/9 divides (10/3 ÷ 3/2 = 20/9).
Ref QB-WGRASSSource: Elsevier HESI A2 — Math: fractions (multiplying mixed numbers)Report a problem with this question
7. What is 3/4 ÷ 1 1/8?
- A.2/3✓ Answer
- B.27/32
- C.1 1/2
- D.6
Write 1 1/8 as 9/8, then keep the first fraction, change to multiplication, and flip the divisor: 3/4 × 8/9 = 24/36 = 2/3. 1 1/2 flips the first fraction instead of the divisor; 27/32 multiplies without flipping; 6 ignores the whole number and divides by 1/8.
Ref QB-DZJ57SSource: Elsevier HESI A2 — Math: fractions (dividing by a mixed number)Report a problem with this question
8. A patient in rehabilitation walks 1 3/4 miles on Monday and 2 2/3 miles on Tuesday. What is the total distance walked?
- A.4 5/12 miles✓ Answer
- B.4 5/24 miles
- C.3 5/7 miles
- D.3 5/12 miles
Using the LCD 12, 3/4 + 2/3 = 9/12 + 8/12 = 17/12 = 1 5/12; adding the whole numbers 1 + 2 = 3 and the carried 1 gives 4 5/12. 3 5/7 adds numerators and denominators straight across; 3 5/12 forgets to carry the 1 from 17/12; 4 5/24 uses 24 as the denominator without rescaling the numerators.
Ref QB-PG9YJHSource: Elsevier HESI A2 — Math: fractions (adding mixed numbers)Report a problem with this question
9. Reduce 84/126 to lowest terms.
- A.3/2
- B.42/63
- C.2/3✓ Answer
- D.14/21
The greatest common factor of 84 and 126 is 42, and 84 ÷ 42 = 2 while 126 ÷ 42 = 3, giving 2/3. 42/63 divides only by 2 and 14/21 only by 6, so both are equivalent but not in lowest terms; 3/2 inverts the fraction.
Ref QB-6Z3TYGSource: Elsevier HESI A2 — Math: fractions (simplifying to lowest terms)Report a problem with this question
10. What is 4.6 + 0.38 + 12.05?
- A.17.03✓ Answer
- B.20.45
- C.12.89
- D.16.93
Line up the decimal points (4.60 + 0.38 + 12.05) and add column by column to get 17.03. 12.89 misreads 4.6 as 0.46 by aligning the last digits; 20.45 shifts 0.38 to 3.8; 16.93 drops the 1 carried from the hundredths column.
Ref QB-YTYWM7Source: Elsevier HESI A2 — Math: decimals (addition with aligned decimal points)Report a problem with this question
11. What is 7.2 ÷ 0.06?
- A.120✓ Answer
- B.1,200
- C.1.2
- D.12
Move the decimal two places right in both the divisor and the dividend so the divisor is a whole number: 720 ÷ 6 = 120. 12 moves the decimal in the dividend only one place; 1.2 forgets to move it in the dividend; 1,200 moves it three places.
Ref QB-GB6488Source: Elsevier HESI A2 — Math: decimals (division by a decimal)Report a problem with this question
12. A medication order must be written for five-tenths of a milligram. Which notation follows the safe-documentation rules for decimals?
- A.0.5 mg✓ Answer
- B.0.50 mg
- C..5 mg
- D..50 mg
A value less than 1 needs a leading zero so the decimal point is not missed, and no trailing zero is written because it can be misread as a larger number, so the safe form is 0.5 mg. .5 mg lacks the leading zero and could be read as 5 mg; 0.50 mg adds a trailing zero; .50 mg makes both errors.
Ref QB-ZTB9T8Source: Standard medication-safety notation: use a leading zero, never a trailing zeroReport a problem with this question
13. A patient's meal tray holds 480 mL of fluids, and the patient drinks 360 mL. What percent of the fluids did the patient drink?
- A.133%
- B.75%✓ Answer
- C.0.75%
- D.25%
Percent = part ÷ whole × 100 = 360 ÷ 480 × 100 = 75%. 133% divides the whole by the part; 0.75% forgets to multiply the decimal 0.75 by 100; 25% is the percent left on the tray, not the percent consumed.
Ref QB-HBHED9Source: Elsevier HESI A2 — Math: percentages (what percent one number is of another)Report a problem with this question
14. A patient's weight rises from 150 lb to 159 lb. What is the percent increase?
- A.5.7%
- B.0.06%
- C.6%✓ Answer
- D.9%
Percent change = change ÷ original × 100 = 9 ÷ 150 × 100 = 6%. 5.7% divides by the new weight, 159, instead of the original; 9% reports the change in pounds as a percent; 0.06% leaves the answer as a decimal and labels it a percent.
Ref QB-2UPKY9Source: Elsevier HESI A2 — Math: percentages (percent increase)Report a problem with this question
15. What is 15% of 260?
- A.390
- B.3.9
- C.17.3
- D.39✓ Answer
Convert the percent to a decimal and multiply: 0.15 × 260 = 39. 3.9 uses 0.015 by moving the decimal one place too far; 390 uses 1.5; 17.3 divides 260 by 15 instead of taking 15 hundredths of it.
Ref QB-JBVRJASource: Elsevier HESI A2 — Math: percentages (percent of a number)Report a problem with this question
16. An order calls for 375 mg of a liquid medication. The bottle is labeled 250 mg per 5 mL. How many milliliters should be given?
- A.75 mL
- B.7.5 mL✓ Answer
- C.0.75 mL
- D.3.3 mL
Set up the proportion with matching units: 250 mg / 5 mL = 375 mg / x mL, so x = 375 × 5 ÷ 250 = 7.5 mL. 3.3 mL comes from the inverted setup (250 × 5 ÷ 375); 0.75 mL and 75 mL shift the decimal one place left or right.
Ref QB-3U2X5BSource: Elsevier HESI A2 — Math: ratios and proportions (dosage by proportion)Report a problem with this question
17. An order calls for 0.5 g of a drug. Each tablet contains 250 mg. Using 1 g = 1,000 mg, how many tablets should be given?
- A.20 tablets
- B.2 tablets✓ Answer
- C.0.5 tablet
- D.0.002 tablet
Convert units first: 0.5 g = 500 mg, and 500 mg ÷ 250 mg per tablet = 2 tablets. 0.5 tablet inverts the ratio (250 ÷ 500); 20 tablets misconverts 0.5 g as 5,000 mg; 0.002 tablet divides 0.5 by 250 without converting grams to milligrams.
Ref QB-KB84RBSource: Standard metric equivalent: 1 g = 1,000 mg; Elsevier HESI A2 — Math: ratios and proportionsReport a problem with this question
18. A unit staffs nurses to patients in a 1:6 ratio. If the unit has 42 patients, how many nurses are needed?
- A.7 nurses✓ Answer
- B.36 nurses
- C.48 nurses
- D.252 nurses
The proportion 1 nurse / 6 patients = x nurses / 42 patients gives x = 42 ÷ 6 = 7. 252 multiplies 42 by 6 instead of dividing; 36 and 48 subtract or add 6, treating the ratio as a difference rather than a multiplicative relationship.
Ref QB-UTJKX2Source: Elsevier HESI A2 — Math: ratios and proportions (staffing ratios)Report a problem with this question
19. A cleaning solution is mixed 3 parts concentrate to 5 parts water. How much concentrate is needed to make 400 mL of solution?
- A.240 mL
- B.150 mL✓ Answer
- C.133 mL
- D.250 mL
A 3:5 ratio has 3 + 5 = 8 total parts, so concentrate is 3/8 of the mixture: 3/8 × 400 = 150 mL. 250 mL is the water (5/8); 240 mL treats the part-to-part ratio as 3/5 of the whole; 133 mL simply divides 400 by 3.
Ref QB-CBRRH3Source: Elsevier HESI A2 — Math: ratios and proportions (part-to-part ratios)Report a problem with this question
20. Solve for x: 4/x = 10/25
- A.1.6
- B.19
- C.62.5
- D.10✓ Answer
Cross-multiply: 10x = 4 × 25 = 100, so x = 10. 1.6 multiplies 4 × 10 and divides by 25, pairing the wrong terms; 62.5 computes 25 × 10 ÷ 4; 19 treats the proportion as a difference (25 − 10 + 4) instead of equal ratios.
Ref QB-PA3TEHSource: Elsevier HESI A2 — Math: ratios and proportions (cross-multiplication)Report a problem with this question
21. A liquid medication contains 40 mg in every 2 mL. How many milligrams are in 7 mL?
- A.14 mg
- B.20 mg
- C.280 mg
- D.140 mg✓ Answer
The concentration is 40 mg ÷ 2 mL = 20 mg per mL, and 20 × 7 = 140 mg. 20 mg stops at the per-milliliter concentration and never multiplies by 7; 280 mg multiplies 40 by 7 without first dividing by 2; 14 mg drops a zero from the correct product.
Ref QB-6TVMUGSource: Elsevier HESI A2 — Math: ratios and proportions (concentration scaling)Report a problem with this question
22. A patient takes 2 teaspoons of a liquid medication 3 times a day. Using 1 tsp = 5 mL, how many milliliters does the patient take per day?
- A.6 mL
- B.30 mL✓ Answer
- C.90 mL
- D.10 mL
Each dose is 2 × 5 = 10 mL, and 3 doses give 10 × 3 = 30 mL. 10 mL is a single dose, not the daily total; 90 mL uses the tablespoon value of 15 mL; 6 mL counts teaspoons (2 × 3) without converting to milliliters.
Ref QB-QAE5MJSource: Standard household-to-metric equivalent: 1 teaspoon = 5 mLReport a problem with this question
23. How many grams are in 2,500 mg?
- A.2.5 g✓ Answer
- B.25 g
- C.2,500,000 g
- D.0.25 g
Since 1 g = 1,000 mg, divide by 1,000 (move the decimal three places left): 2,500 ÷ 1,000 = 2.5 g. 25 g and 0.25 g move the decimal two or four places; 2,500,000 g multiplies by 1,000, converting in the wrong direction.
Ref QB-7T8YZHSource: Standard metric equivalent: 1 g = 1,000 mgReport a problem with this question
24. A patient's temperature is 102.2 degrees F. Using C = (F − 32) × 5/9, what is the temperature in degrees Celsius?
- A.126.4 degrees C
- B.70.2 degrees C
- C.39 degrees C✓ Answer
- D.24.8 degrees C
Subtract 32 first, then multiply by 5/9: (102.2 − 32) × 5/9 = 70.2 × 5/9 = 39 degrees C. 24.8 multiplies by 5/9 before subtracting 32; 126.4 multiplies by 9/5, the Celsius-to-Fahrenheit factor; 70.2 stops after subtracting 32.
Ref QB-RASFSKSource: Standard temperature conversion: C = (F − 32) × 5/9Report a problem with this question
25. A patient drinks 1 1/2 cups of broth and 6 fl oz of tea. Using 1 cup = 8 fl oz and 1 fl oz = 30 mL, what is the total intake in milliliters?
- A.420 mL
- B.225 mL
- C.540 mL✓ Answer
- D.360 mL
Convert cups to ounces first: 1 1/2 × 8 = 12 fl oz, plus 6 fl oz = 18 fl oz, and 18 × 30 = 540 mL. 225 mL treats each cup as 1 fl oz (7.5 × 30); 420 mL drops the half cup (8 + 6 = 14 fl oz); 360 mL counts only the broth.
Ref QB-8TKA7KSource: Standard household equivalents: 1 cup = 8 fl oz; 1 fl oz = 30 mLReport a problem with this question
26. A patient is 5 ft 4 in tall. Using 12 in = 1 ft and 1 in = 2.54 cm, what is the patient's height in centimeters?
- A.162.56 cm✓ Answer
- B.25.2 cm
- C.137.16 cm
- D.164.59 cm
Convert to inches first: 5 × 12 + 4 = 64 in, then 64 × 2.54 = 162.56 cm. 137.16 cm reads 5 ft 4 in as 54 inches; 25.2 cm divides 64 by 2.54 instead of multiplying; 164.59 cm treats 5 ft 4 in as 5.4 ft.
Ref QB-SA5TXMSource: Standard conversion: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 12 inches = 1 footReport a problem with this question
27. A medication is given every 8 hours, with the first dose at 1400. At what time is the third dose due?
- A.2200
- B.3000
- C.0600✓ Answer
- D.1800
Add 8 hours twice: 1400 + 8 h = 2200 (second dose), and 2200 + 8 h passes midnight to 0600 (third dose), because 24-hour time restarts at 0000. 2200 is the second dose; 3000 fails to subtract 2400 after passing midnight; 1800 is 12 hours off from the correct 0600.
Ref QB-9TXMCMSource: Elsevier HESI A2 — Math: military (24-hour) time and dosing intervalsReport a problem with this question
28. How is 12:30 AM written in military (24-hour) time?
- A.2430
- B.1230
- C.0030✓ Answer
- D.030
12:30 AM is 30 minutes after midnight, and midnight is hour 00 in 24-hour time, so it is written 0030 with four digits. 1230 is noon plus 30 minutes (12:30 PM); 2430 adds 12 to the 12 o'clock hour; 030 drops the required leading zero.
Ref QB-TAG55PSource: Elsevier HESI A2 — Math: military (24-hour) time conversionReport a problem with this question
29. Solve for x: x/4 + 6 = 11
- A.68
- B.20✓ Answer
- C.1.25
- D.5
Undo operations in reverse order: subtract 6 from both sides to get x/4 = 5, then multiply both sides by 4 to get x = 20. 68 adds 6 instead of subtracting (x/4 = 17); 1.25 divides 5 by 4 instead of multiplying; 5 stops after the first step.
Ref QB-ATAYHNSource: Elsevier HESI A2 — Math: basic algebra (two-step linear equations)Report a problem with this question
30. Solve for x: 4(2x − 3) = 20
- A.1
- B.2.875
- C.8
- D.4✓ Answer
Distribute to every term in the parentheses: 8x − 12 = 20; add 12 to both sides to get 8x = 32, so x = 4. 2.875 distributes the 4 only to 2x (8x − 3 = 20); 1 subtracts 12 instead of adding it; 8 divides 32 by 4 instead of by 8.
Ref QB-49RYNZSource: Elsevier HESI A2 — Math: basic algebra (distributive property and linear equations)Report a problem with this question

1. During one shift a patient drinks 240 mL of water, 180 mL of juice, 350 mL of broth, and 120 mL of milk. What is the patient's total oral intake for the shift?

2. Evaluate: 36 ÷ (4 + 2) × 3 − 2²

3. A supply clerk divides 350 gauze packs as equally as possible among 8 patient rooms, giving each room the same whole number of packs. How many packs does each room get, and how many are left over?

4. What is 5/6 − 3/8?

5. A 500 mL IV bag has had 3/5 of its volume infused. How many milliliters remain in the bag?

6. What is 3 1/3 × 1 1/2?

7. What is 3/4 ÷ 1 1/8?

8. A patient in rehabilitation walks 1 3/4 miles on Monday and 2 2/3 miles on Tuesday. What is the total distance walked?

9. Reduce 84/126 to lowest terms.

10. What is 4.6 + 0.38 + 12.05?

11. What is 7.2 ÷ 0.06?

12. A medication order must be written for five-tenths of a milligram. Which notation follows the safe-documentation rules for decimals?

13. A patient's meal tray holds 480 mL of fluids, and the patient drinks 360 mL. What percent of the fluids did the patient drink?

14. A patient's weight rises from 150 lb to 159 lb. What is the percent increase?

15. What is 15% of 260?

16. An order calls for 375 mg of a liquid medication. The bottle is labeled 250 mg per 5 mL. How many milliliters should be given?

17. An order calls for 0.5 g of a drug. Each tablet contains 250 mg. Using 1 g = 1,000 mg, how many tablets should be given?

18. A unit staffs nurses to patients in a 1:6 ratio. If the unit has 42 patients, how many nurses are needed?

19. A cleaning solution is mixed 3 parts concentrate to 5 parts water. How much concentrate is needed to make 400 mL of solution?

20. Solve for x: 4/x = 10/25

21. A liquid medication contains 40 mg in every 2 mL. How many milligrams are in 7 mL?

22. A patient takes 2 teaspoons of a liquid medication 3 times a day. Using 1 tsp = 5 mL, how many milliliters does the patient take per day?

23. How many grams are in 2,500 mg?

24. A patient's temperature is 102.2 degrees F. Using C = (F − 32) × 5/9, what is the temperature in degrees Celsius?

25. A patient drinks 1 1/2 cups of broth and 6 fl oz of tea. Using 1 cup = 8 fl oz and 1 fl oz = 30 mL, what is the total intake in milliliters?

26. A patient is 5 ft 4 in tall. Using 12 in = 1 ft and 1 in = 2.54 cm, what is the patient's height in centimeters?

27. A medication is given every 8 hours, with the first dose at 1400. At what time is the third dose due?

28. How is 12:30 AM written in military (24-hour) time?

29. Solve for x: x/4 + 6 = 11

30. Solve for x: 4(2x − 3) = 20

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