M A T H E M A T I C S / F O R M A LA N A L Y S I SP L A C E M E N T

See Sample Questions for Test

What is the mathematics or formal analysis placement test?
If you are considering a major in mathematics, computer science, business management, or the natural sciences (e.g. chemistry, biology, physics, engineering, environment and conservation biology), you will be required to take mathematics through the calculus level. Therefore, you must take the mathematics placement test to determine your entry level into the calculus sequence.

You must take the Mathematics Placement Test online before June 30, 2006. It is located on the Blackboard system here at Clark. Log on to Blackboard with your username and password, which you received in your letter from Clark's Information Technology Department. (Note: If you aren't sure of or are having trouble with your account information, please contact the Help Desk at 508-793-7745 or helpdesk@clarku.edu). Click on the "courses" tab on the header line of the Web page. On the "Course Catalog" page, click on "Math Placement Test." You should see the link to the "Math Placement" course along with two buttons off to the right labeled "preview" and "enroll." If you're not sure yet whether you will be taking the test or not, press "preview," but if you know you're going to take it, press "enroll." When you're just previewing, you can read through the information about the test, but you can't actually take the test until you enroll.

For all students, regardless of major, a Formal Analysis course that focuses on logical and algebraic thinking is a requirement of the Program of Liberal Studies. Not all Formal Analysis courses are in mathematics (they may be in philosophy, economics, psychology or other social sciences), but we do believe that the ability to reason algebraically is essential to be fully educated. In addition, specific quantitative skills are necessary to perform successfully in the Formal Analysis courses in the social and natural sciences. A minimal level of mathematics skill is needed for success in these classes. Students for whom the placement test is mandatory as a result of their mathematics SAT score will be notified. Students who place into IDND 017 Foundations of Quantitative Thinking must take that course in the fall semester. Students who place into Math 113 Mathematical Problem Solving are strongly encouraged to take that course, which can help them prepare for quantitative courses, like statistics, taught by other departments.

It is important to consider that successful performance in mathematics in high school does not necessarily translate into successful performance in college-level mathematics. College-level mathematics courses tend to be more theoretical, less applied and more advanced than comparably labeled courses in high school. Because success with high school mathematics is no guarantee that you can plan to begin mathematics study at the calculus level in college, the placement test will help you determine your appropriate starting level for college-level mathematics. Remember, success with a lower-level college mathematics course will better prepare you to take more advanced classes at Clark and help you avoid unsuccessful struggles with an upper-level mathematics class.

What are the levels of the formal analysis/mathematics placement?
Formal Analysis and mathematics placements fall into four levels:

1. IDND 017: Foundations of Quantitative Thinking is designed to build conceptual knowledge and to expand basic mathematical tools and techniques. You will be automatically exempt from IDND 017 and eligible to take any non-math FA course if your SAT math score is at least 520. If your score is below 520, you must take the Formal Analysis placement test.


2. Any Non-Math Formal Analysis (FA) course.


3. MATH 113 or MATH 119: You must pass the first part of
   the Mathematics Placement Test to enroll in these courses. MATH 113 Mathematical Problem Solving is designed for prospective management and social science majors, while MATH 119 Pre-calculus is designed for those going on to Calculus. It is possible to take both 113 and 119.


4. MATH 120 or MATH 124: You must pass the second part of the Mathematics Placement Test to enroll in these courses. Both MATH 120 Calculus I and MATH 124 Honors Calculus I, the highest level of Math placement, carry the Formal Analysis designation.

S A M P L E   M A T H E M A T I C S / F O R M A L
A N A L Y S I S  Q U E S T I O N S

Included below are three sets of Formal Analysis and math placement sample problems. We encourage you to try these problems to give you some indication of how you might do on the placement test. If you plan to take the Formal Analysis or the math placement test, please check off the appropriate box on the Placement Test Response Form. If you have questions about math placement, please contact the Mathematics Department at 508-793-7343.

If you are informed that you must take this test, the following will give you an idea of the kind of questions covered:

1.	The square root of 45 is:
	a) between 2 and 3 d) between 5 and 6 b) between 3 and 4 e) between 6 and 7 c) between 4 and 5
2.	If 5f = 9c + 160 and c = 5, then f =
	a) 32 b) -40 c) 205 d) 41 e) 212
3.	Albert eats 1⁄8 of one pizza and then eats 1⁄6 of another pizza of the same size. How much pizza is left?
	a) 1⁄7 b) 7⁄24 c) 1 6⁄7 d) 112⁄24 e) other
4.	Which of the following best approximates (1 + 1/8)4 ?
	a) 1.00024 b) 1.5 c) 1.602 d) 4.5
5.	If N = -1.4, then N2 - N =
	a) -3.36 b) -34.2 c) -4.68 d) 3.36
6.	Eggs are to be packed in cartons. Each carton holds 12 eggs and there are 137 eggs to be packed. How many eggs are left over if each carton is filled?
	a) 12 b) 137 c) 5 d) 11.4
7.	Sarah receives a 4.65% salary increase. If her salary was $16,750 before the raise, what is her new salary to the nearest dollar?
	a) $779 b) $3,602 c) $17,529 d) $77,888

If you believe that you are ready for the PRE-CALCULUS LEVEL of courses at Clark, try the following questions. The questions are similar to those that will be asked on the pre-calculus placement examination.

1.	On a trip through Europe, Lester spent "x" days in France. He spent 5 less than twice as many days in Italy as in France. Which expression describes how many days he spent in Italy?
	a) 2x b) 5-2x c) x/2+5 d) 5-x+2 e) 2x-5
2.	Solve w + (5-4w) = 3 (w+2)
	a) -1⁄6 b) 1⁄2 c) no solution d) 0 e) -1
3.	A solution to 3x + 17 = 74 is x =
	a) 17 b) -23 c) 57 d) 19 e) other

If you believe that you are ready to be placed into the CALCULUS LEVEL of classes at Clark, try the following three questions. They refelct the level of the material covered in that placement test.

1.	If log2 (x+2) = 4, then x =
	a) 6 b) 8 c) 10 d) 14 e) (4/log2) -2
2.	cos q cot q sec2q =
	a) seq q b) sin q c) cos q d) cot q e) csc q
3.	| x-1| < 3 is equivalent to
	a) x < 2 b) x+ 4 c) -4 < x <2 d) -2 < x < 4 e) -4 < x < 4

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