Calculate $110_2 + 101_2$.

Correct Answer: Option A - $1011_2$. $0+1=1$, $1+0=1$, $1+1=10$ (write 0 carry 1), Carry drops down. Result: $1011_2$.

Subtract $11_2$ from $111_2$.

Correct Answer: Option D - $100_2$. Column subtraction: $1-1=0$, $1-1=0$, $1-0=1$. Result: $100_2$.

Multiply $11_2$ by $10_2$.

Correct Answer: Option A - $110_2$. $11_2$ represents 3. $10_2$ represents 2. $3 \times 2 = 6$, which is $110_2$.

Which of the following numbers is the binary equivalent of 4?

Correct Answer: Option B - $100_2$. $4 = 1 \times 2^2 + 0 \times 2^1 + 0 \times 2^0$, which is $100_2$.

Find the missing value: $111_2 + x = 1000_2$.

Correct Answer: Option B - $1_2$. $1000_2$ is 8. $111_2$ is 7. $8 - 7 = 1$, which is $1_2$.

Evaluate $100_2 \div 10_2$.

Correct Answer: Option A - $10_2$. $100_2 = 4$. $10_2 = 2$. $4 \div 2 = 2$. $2$ in binary is $10_2$.

What is the Prime Factorization of 36?

Correct Answer: Option B - $2^2 \times 3^2$. $36 = 4 \times 9 = 2 \times 2 \times 3 \times 3 = 2^2 \times 3^2$.

Find the Highest Common Factor (HCF) of 12 and 18.

Correct Answer: Option A - 6. Factors of 12: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12. Factors of 18: 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 18. Common: 1, 2, 3, 6. Highest is 6.

Calculate the Lowest Common Multiple (LCM) of 4, 5, and 10.

Correct Answer: Option B - 20. Multiples of 10: 10, 20, 30. 20 is divisible by 4 (20/4=5) and 5 (20/5=4). So LCM is 20.

Find the square root of 225.

Correct Answer: Option D - 15. $15 \times 15 = 225$. So $\sqrt{225} = 15$.

Which of the following is a perfect square?

Correct Answer: Option B - 64. $8 \times 8 = 64$. The others do not have integer square roots.

Evaluate: $\sqrt{\frac{16}{81}}$.

Correct Answer: Option A - $\frac{4}{9}$. $\sqrt{\frac{16}{81}} = \frac{\sqrt{16}}{\sqrt{81}} = \frac{4}{9}$.

Find the smallest number by which 12 must be multiplied to make it a perfect square.

Correct Answer: Option B - 3. $12 = 2^2 \times 3$. To make the power of 3 even (a perfect square), we must multiply by another 3.

Three bells ring at intervals of 2, 3, and 4 minutes respectively. If they ring together at 12:00 PM, when will they ring together next?

Correct Answer: Option C - 12:12 PM. Find LCM of 2, 3, and 4. LCM is 12. They ring again 12 minutes later, which is 12:12 PM.

Which fraction is equivalent to $\frac{3}{5}$?

Correct Answer: Option B - $\frac{6}{10}$. Multiplying numerator and denominator by 2 gives $\frac{3 \times 2}{5 \times 2} = \frac{6}{10}$.

Convert $0.75$ to a fraction in its lowest term.

Correct Answer: Option A - $\frac{3}{4}$. $0.75 = \frac{75}{100}$. Dividing both by 25 gives $\frac{3}{4}$.

Arrange the fractions $\frac{1}{2}, \frac{2}{3}, \frac{3}{5}$ in ascending order.

Correct Answer: Option B - $\frac{1}{2}, \frac{3}{5}, \frac{2}{3}$. Convert to decimals or common denominator. $\frac{1}{2}=0.5$, $\frac{2}{3} \approx 0.67$, $\frac{3}{5}=0.6$. Order: $0.5, 0.6, 0.67$. So $\frac{1}{2}, \frac{3}{5}, \frac{2}{3}$.

Convert $40\%$ to a fraction in simplest form.

Correct Answer: Option A - $\frac{2}{5}$. $40\% = \frac{40}{100} = \frac{4}{10} = \frac{2}{5}$.

If 8 oranges cost $₦ 400$, what is the cost of 5 oranges?

Correct Answer: Option B - $₦ 250$. Cost of 1 orange = $400 / 8 = 50$. Cost of 5 oranges = $5 \times 50 = 250$.

Share $₦ 2,000$ in the ratio $2:3$. Calculate the larger share.

Correct Answer: Option C - $₦ 1,200$. Total parts = $2+3=5$. Value of 1 part = $2000/5 = 400$. Larger share is 3 parts = $3 \times 400 = 1200$.

Express the ratio $15:25$ in its simplest form.

Correct Answer: Option A - $3:5$. Divide both numbers by their HCF (5). $15/5 = 3$, $25/5 = 5$. Ratio is $3:5$.

It takes 6 men 4 days to build a wall. How long will it take 8 men working at the same rate?

Correct Answer: Option B - 3 days. This is inverse proportion. Total man-days = $6 \times 4 = 24$. For 8 men, days = $24 / 8 = 3$.

Evaluate $1 \frac{1}{2} + 2 \frac{1}{3}$.

Correct Answer: Option B - $3 \frac{5}{6}$. $1+2=3$. Fractions: $\frac{1}{2} + \frac{1}{3} = \frac{3}{6} + \frac{2}{6} = \frac{5}{6}$. Total: $3 \frac{5}{6}$.

A dress price increased from $₦ 2000$ to $₦ 2500$. What is the percentage increase?

Correct Answer: Option B - 25%. Increase = $500$. % Increase = $(500/2000) \times 100 = 0.25 \times 100 = 25\%$.

Solve for x: $\frac{x}{12} = \frac{3}{4}$.

Correct Answer: Option C - 9. Cross multiply: $4x = 36$. $x = 36/4 = 9$.

Convert the decimal $0.05$ to a percentage.

Correct Answer: Option B - 5%. Multiply by 100: $0.05 \times 100 = 5\%$.

Evaluate: $-5 + (-3)$.

Correct Answer: Option A - -8. Adding two negative numbers: $5 + 3 = 8$, keep the sign negative. Answer is -8.

Simplify: $12 - (-8)$.

Correct Answer: Option B - 20. Subtracting a negative is adding: $12 + 8 = 20$.

Find the product of $-4$ and $-6$.

Correct Answer: Option D - 24. Negative times negative is positive. $4 \times 6 = 24$.

Evaluate: $(-18) \div 3$.

Correct Answer: Option B - -6. Negative divided by positive is negative. $18/3 = 6$. Answer -6.

The temperature dropped from $5^\circ\text{C}$ to $-2^\circ\text{C}$. What was the change in temperature?

Correct Answer: Option B - $7^\circ\text{C}$ drop. Change = Final - Initial = $-2 - 5 = -7$. A drop of $7^\circ\text{C}$.

Simplify: $-3 \times (4 - 9)$.

Correct Answer: Option A - 15. BODMAS: First bracket $(4-9) = -5$. Then multiply $-3 \times -5 = 15$.

Which integer is greater: $-10$ or $-2$?

Correct Answer: Option B - -2. On the number line, -2 is to the right of -10, so -2 is greater.

Correct Answer: Option B - 4. $2 - 5 = -3$. Then $-3 + 7 = 4$.

Round $45,837$ to the nearest hundred.

Correct Answer: Option A - 45,800. Look at the tens digit (3). It is less than 5, so round down (keep hundreds same). $45,800$.

Round $3.14159$ to 2 decimal places.

Correct Answer: Option A - 3.14. 3rd decimal is 1 (<5), so keep 2nd decimal same. $3.14$.

How many significant figures are in the number $0.00305$?

Correct Answer: Option D - 3. Leading zeros are not significant. The digits '3', '0', '5' are significant. Total 3.

Approximate $19.8 \times 4.1$ to the nearest whole number.

Correct Answer: Option A - 80. Estimate: $19.8 \approx 20$, $4.1 \approx 4$. $20 \times 4 = 80$.

Write $78,540$ correct to 2 significant figures.

Correct Answer: Option B - 79,000. First 2 sig figs are 7 and 8. The next digit is 5, so round the 8 up to 9. Result 79,000.

Round $0.00799$ to 3 decimal places.

Correct Answer: Option B - 0.008. The 4th decimal is 9. Round the 3rd decimal (7) up to 8. Result 0.008.

Calculate the simple interest on $₦ 5,000$ for 3 years at $4\%$ per annum.

Correct Answer: Option C - $₦ 600$. $I = \frac{PRT}{100} = \frac{5000 \times 4 \times 3}{100} = 50 \times 12 = 600$.

BECENational Examinations Council (NECO), NigeriaCertificationJunior Secondary Exit ExaminationPaper-Based

BECE Mathematics Numerical Literacy Practice Questions & Answers

66 Questions·Free Practice·MCQ with Explanations

Module: Numerical Literacy

Focus: Foundational Mathematics | Level: Junior Secondary (JSS3)

Comprehensive practice for the arithmetic and numeration section of the BECE Mathematics exam.

Key Topics:

Number & Numeration: Indices, fractions, decimals, and percentages.
Whole Numbers: Calculation involving large numbers and factors.
Basic Operations: Order of operations (BODMAS) and estimation.
Financial Math: Simple interest, profit and loss, and discount calculations.

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Take this exam in our timed interactive simulator to track your performance and get detailed analytics.

What is the place value of the digit 7 in the number 24,789,105?

Hundred thousands
Ten thousands
Hundreds
Millions

View Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: Option A -

Hundred thousands

Explanation:

In 24,789,105, the digit 7 is in the hundred thousands place ( $700,000$ ).

Express the number three billion, two hundred and five million in figures.

3,205,000,000
3,000,205,000
3,250,000,000
3,025,000,000

View Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: Option A -

3,205,000,000

Explanation:

Three billion = 3,000,000,000. Two hundred and five million = 205,000,000. Combined: 3,205,000,000.

Write $0.00458$ in standard form.

$4.58 \times 10^3$
$4.58 \times 10^{-3}$
$4.58 \times 10^{-2}$
$45.8 \times 10^{-4}$

View Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: Option B -

$4.58 \times 10^{-3}$

Explanation:

Move the decimal point 3 places to the right to get 4.58. Therefore, the power is -3: $4.58 \times 10^{-3}$ .

Express $3.12 \times 10^5$ as an ordinary number.

312,000
31,200
3,120,000
312,000,000

View Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: Option A -

312,000

Explanation:

Move the decimal point 5 places to the right: 3.12 becomes 312,000.

Simplify $(2 \times 10^3) \times (4 \times 10^2)$ leaving your answer in standard form.

$6 \times 10^5$
$8 \times 10^6$
$8 \times 10^5$
$6 \times 10^6$

View Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: Option C -

$8 \times 10^5$

Explanation:

Multiply the coefficients: $2 \times 4 = 8$ . Add the indices: $3 + 2 = 5$ . Result: $8 \times 10^5$ .

Which of the following is equivalent to 1 trillion?

$10^9$
$10^{12}$
$10^{15}$
$10^6$

View Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: Option B -

$10^{12}$

Explanation:

1 million is $10^6$ , 1 billion is $10^9$ , and 1 trillion is $10^{12}$ .

Correct $5,692$ to the nearest thousand.

5,000
5,700
6,000
5,600

View Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: Option C -

6,000

Explanation:

The hundreds digit is 6 (which is $\ge 5$ ), so round up the thousands digit from 5 to 6. Result: 6,000.

Express the product of $0.02$ and $0.03$ in standard form.

$6 \times 10^{-3}$
$6 \times 10^{-4}$
$6 \times 10^{-2}$
$60 \times 10^{-4}$

View Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: Option B -

$6 \times 10^{-4}$

Explanation:

$0.02 \times 0.03 = 0.0006$ . In standard form, this is $6 \times 10^{-4}$ .

Convert $13_{10}$ to a binary number.

$1101_2$
$1011_2$
$1110_2$
$1001_2$

View Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: Option A -

$1101_2$

Explanation:

Divide 13 by 2 repeatedly: 13/2 = 6 r 1 6/2 = 3 r 0 3/2 = 1 r 1 1/2 = 0 r 1 Reading remainders upwards: $1101_2$ .

Convert $1010_2$ to a base 10 number.

View Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: Option B -

Explanation:

$1 \times 2^3 + 0 \times 2^2 + 1 \times 2^1 + 0 \times 2^0 = 8 + 0 + 2 + 0 = 10$ .

BECE Mathematics Numerical Literacy Practice Questions & Answers

Module: Numerical Literacy

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