GED Data Analysis Practice Questions, Set 2

This is set 2 of 2 for GED Data Analysis, with 22 practice questions that are not part of any full practice test. If a question type feels unfamiliar, review the Data Analysis study guide first, then check each answer below.

Question 1 of 22

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Which pair of quantities would most likely show a negative correlation on a scatter plot?

Data Analysis practice set 2: 22 questions with answers

Work each question on paper first, then open the answer to check your reasoning.

  1. 1.Which pair of quantities would most likely show a negative correlation on a scatter plot?

    1. A.Hours studied and test scores earned
    2. B.Adult heights and their shoe sizes
    3. C.Number of guests and the food cost
    4. D.Miles driven and gas left in the tank
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Miles driven and gas left in the tank

    As miles driven increase, the gas left in the tank goes down, so one rises while the other falls. Hours studied and test scores usually rise together, which is a positive correlation.

  1. 2.A histogram shows the daily high temperatures for 30 days: 50 to 59°F: 4 60 to 69°F: 9 70 to 79°F: 11 80 to 89°F: 6 Which interval contains the median?

    1. A.60 to 69°F
    2. B.50 to 59°F
    3. C.80 to 89°F
    4. D.70 to 79°F
    Show answer

    Answer: D. 70 to 79°F

    The median is between the 15th and 16th values. The first two bars hold 4 + 9 = 13 days, so values 14 through 24 fall in 70 to 79°F. Choice 60 to 69°F holds only the 5th through 13th values.

  1. 3.Five homes on a street sold for $210,000, $225,000, $230,000, $245,000, and $590,000. Which measure best describes a typical price, and what is its value?

    1. A.The range, $380,000
    2. B.The median, $230,000
    3. C.The mean, $300,000
    4. D.The mean, $230,000
    Show answer

    Answer: B. The median, $230,000

    The $590,000 sale pulls the mean up to $300,000, above four of the five prices, so the median of $230,000 is more typical. The mean of $300,000 is computed correctly but is distorted by that one high value.

  1. 4.A store lowers the price of an $80 jacket by 15%. A week later, it raises the new price by 15%. What is the final price?

    1. A.$78.20
    2. B.$80.00
    3. C.$81.80
    4. D.$76.80
    Show answer

    Answer: A. $78.20

    After the cut the price is 80 × 0.85 = $68, and after the increase it is 68 × 1.15 = $78.20. Choice $80.00 assumes the two changes cancel, but the second 15% is taken of a smaller amount.

  1. 5.A school has 18 teachers for 405 students. At the same ratio, how many teachers are needed for 540 students?

    1. A.30
    2. B.27
    3. C.21
    4. D.24
    Show answer

    Answer: D. 24

    Set 18/405 = t/540. Then t = 18 × 540 ÷ 405 = 24. Choice 30 is 540 ÷ 18, which treats 18 as the number of students per teacher.

  1. 6.An office printer prints 45 pages in 2.5 minutes. At that rate, how long does it take to print 279 pages?

    1. A.11.2 minutes
    2. B.18.0 minutes
    3. C.6.2 minutes
    4. D.15.5 minutes
    Show answer

    Answer: D. 15.5 minutes

    The rate is 45 ÷ 2.5 = 18 pages per minute, so 279 ÷ 18 = 15.5 minutes. Choice 6.2 minutes divides 279 by 45 and leaves out the 2.5-minute time.

  1. 7.A worker’s hourly pay rose from $18.50 to $20.35. What was the percent increase?

    1. A.9.1%
    2. B.10%
    3. C.11%
    4. D.1.85%
    Show answer

    Answer: B. 10%

    The raise is 20.35 − 18.50 = $1.85, and 1.85 ÷ 18.50 = 0.10, or 10%. Choice 9.1% divides by the new pay instead of the original pay.

  1. 8.A town surveyed residents about a new park. Yes: 64 adults, 36 teens No: 46 adults, 14 teens What percent of the teens surveyed said yes?

    1. A.64%
    2. B.22.5%
    3. C.72%
    4. D.36%
    Show answer

    Answer: C. 72%

    There were 36 + 14 = 50 teens, and 36 ÷ 50 = 72%. Choice 36% is the share of the yes votes that came from teens, which answers a different question.

  1. 9.A scatter plot compares the number of hours a store is open each week with its weekly sales. The points are spread across the graph with no clear pattern. Which best describes the relationship?

    1. A.A strong negative correlation
    2. B.A perfect linear correlation
    3. C.A strong positive correlation
    4. D.There is little or no correlation
    Show answer

    Answer: D. There is little or no correlation

    When points show no upward or downward trend, there is little or no correlation. A strong positive correlation would need the points to rise together in a tight band.

  1. 10.A dot plot shows how many shifts 11 part-time staff worked in one week. 1 shift: 2 dots 2 shifts: 4 dots 3 shifts: 3 dots 4 shifts: 1 dot 6 shifts: 1 dot What is the median number of shifts?

    1. A.2
    2. B.3
    3. C.2.6
    4. D.5
    Show answer

    Answer: A. 2

    With 11 values the median is the 6th. The first two dots are 1s and the next four are 2s, so the 6th value is 2. Choice 2.6 is the mean, 29 ÷ 11.

  1. 11.The mean age of 5 people in a carpool is 34. When a sixth person joins, the mean age becomes 36. How old is the sixth person?

    1. A.46
    2. B.38
    3. C.36
    4. D.40
    Show answer

    Answer: A. 46

    The five ages total 5 × 34 = 170 and the six ages total 6 × 36 = 216, so the new person is 216 − 170 = 46. Choice 36 is the new mean, not the new person’s age.

  1. 12.The mean of 8 test scores is 75. One score was entered as 47 by mistake, and the correct score is 71. What is the correct mean?

    1. A.99
    2. B.78
    3. C.81
    4. D.75
    Show answer

    Answer: B. 78

    The total was 8 × 75 = 600. Fixing the error adds 71 − 47 = 24, so the new total is 624 and 624 ÷ 8 = 78. Choice 99 adds all 24 points to the mean instead of spreading them over 8 scores.

  1. 13.A café sells smoothies in 3 sizes and 6 flavors, and each can be made with or without a protein boost. How many different smoothie orders are possible?

    1. A.18
    2. B.11
    3. C.72
    4. D.36
    Show answer

    Answer: D. 36

    Multiply the choices: 3 × 6 × 2 = 36. Choice 11 adds the numbers of choices instead of multiplying them.

  1. 14.A bar graph shows a shop’s sales, in thousands of dollars, for each quarter: Q1: 40, Q2: 55, Q3: 70, Q4: 35. What percent of the year’s sales came in Q3?

    1. A.35%
    2. B.25%
    3. C.70%
    4. D.30%
    Show answer

    Answer: A. 35%

    The year’s total is 40 + 55 + 70 + 35 = 200 thousand, and 70 ÷ 200 = 35%. Choice 70% reads the bar height as a percent.

  1. 15.A class of 12 students has a mean score of 78, and a class of 18 students has a mean score of 88. What is the mean score of all 30 students?

    1. A.86
    2. B.84
    3. C.83
    4. D.80
    Show answer

    Answer: B. 84

    Totals: 12 × 78 = 936 and 18 × 88 = 1,584. Then 2,520 ÷ 30 = 84. Choice 83 averages 78 and 88 without accounting for the larger second class.

  1. 16.The mean time for 7 deliveries was 32 minutes. Without the slowest delivery, the mean of the other 6 was 29 minutes. How long did the slowest delivery take?

    1. A.50 minutes
    2. B.32 minutes
    3. C.35 minutes
    4. D.61 minutes
    Show answer

    Answer: A. 50 minutes

    All 7 total 7 × 32 = 224 and the other 6 total 6 × 29 = 174, so the slowest took 224 − 174 = 50 minutes. Choice 35 just adds the 3-minute drop in the mean to 32.

  1. 17.The chance of rain is 35% on Saturday and 35% on Sunday, and the days are independent. What is the probability that it does not rain on either day?

    1. A.about 65%
    2. B.about 30%
    3. C.about 42%
    4. D.about 12%
    Show answer

    Answer: C. about 42%

    The chance of no rain each day is 65%, and 0.65 × 0.65 ≈ 0.42. Choice about 65% is the chance for just one day.

  1. 18.A paint color is mixed using 3 parts blue to 5 parts white. How much blue paint is needed to make 12 gallons of the mix?

    1. A.2.4 gallons
    2. B.7.5 gallons
    3. C.4.5 gallons
    4. D.7.2 gallons
    Show answer

    Answer: C. 4.5 gallons

    There are 3 + 5 = 8 parts, so each part is 12 ÷ 8 = 1.5 gallons, and blue is 3 × 1.5 = 4.5. Choice 7.5 gallons is the white paint.

  1. 19.A 24-ounce jar of sauce costs $4.56 and a 32-ounce jar costs $5.92. Which is the better buy, and what is its price per ounce?

    1. A.24-oz jar, at $0.19 per ounce
    2. B.32-oz jar, at $0.185 per ounce
    3. C.32-oz jar, at $0.19 per ounce
    4. D.24-oz jar, at $0.185 per ounce
    Show answer

    Answer: B. 32-oz jar, at $0.185 per ounce

    Unit prices: 4.56 ÷ 24 = $0.19 and 5.92 ÷ 32 = $0.185. The 32-oz jar costs less per ounce. Choice 24-oz at $0.19 picks the jar with the lower total price, not the lower unit price.

  1. 20.A scatter plot of used cars shows a strong negative correlation between a car’s age and its resale value. Which statement is best supported?

    1. A.Older cars tend to sell for less money
    2. B.Age alone sets the price of each car
    3. C.Newer cars always sell for less money
    4. D.Age and value are not related at all
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Older cars tend to sell for less money

    A negative correlation means that as age goes up, value tends to go down. It does not prove age is the only cause, so “age alone sets the price” goes too far.

  1. 21.A dot plot shows weekly overtime hours for 10 workers: 0 hours: 3 dots 1 hour: 2 dots 2 hours: 2 dots 4 hours: 1 dot 5 hours: 2 dots How much greater is the mean than the median?

    1. A.1 hour
    2. B.1.5 hours
    3. C.0.5 hour
    4. D.2 hours
    Show answer

    Answer: C. 0.5 hour

    The total is 0 + 2 + 4 + 4 + 10 = 20, so the mean is 2. The 5th and 6th values are 1 and 2, so the median is 1.5, and 2 − 1.5 = 0.5. Choice 1.5 hours is the median itself.

  1. 22.A histogram shows the ages of 40 volunteers: 18 to 29: 6 30 to 41: 14 42 to 53: 12 54 to 65: 8 What percent of the volunteers are 42 or older?

    1. A.30%
    2. B.20%
    3. C.50%
    4. D.35%
    Show answer

    Answer: C. 50%

    Volunteers 42 or older: 12 + 8 = 20, and 20 ÷ 40 = 50%. Choice 30% counts only the 42 to 53 bar.

More practice sets

Data Analysis has 2 practice sets. None of these questions appear in the full practice tests.