Math Help for the THEA or ACCUPLACER Test
WTAMU > Virtual Math Lab > THEA/ACCUPLACER
 Introduction
If you need help in preparing for the math part of the THEA
or ACCUPLACER test, you have come to the right place. Note that
you do not have to be a student at WTAMU to
use this study session. It was created as a service to anyone who
needs help getting ready for this test.
Special
note to those taking the math part of the ACCUPLACER test:
Even though I refer to the
THEA test throughout this webpage, if you are planning to take the
ACCUPLACER test this page can also help
you. The content of the math part of the THEA and the ACCUPLACER
tests are similar, they just may be labeled differently.
I believe that if you have the mathematical concepts down, then you
should be able to answer a wide variety of questions that use those concepts
no matter how the questions are asked. |
If this is your first visit to our website, please read the disclaimer.
The math part of the THEA test is split into four main
areas:
Below are the specific concepts you need to know about each of those
areas.
This list was compiled from researching the Mathematics
Skill Descriptions webpage at the official THEA
website created by the National Evaluation
Systems.
Under each specific concept, you will find links to in-depth
tutorials that will help learn and review the material. These tutorials
come from the WTAMU Virtual Math Lab, which I
created. Within these tutorials, you will find pertinent
definitions, formulas, step-by-step explanations, an answer/discussion section with
step-by-step solutions, and links to other credible webpages that can
help you further with that topic.
In math, when you study a specific topic, a lot of times you
are incorporating other mathematical topics into solving the problem. Some of the
tutorials will overlap each other. This will help reinforce the concepts
you need to know for the THEA test.
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HOW TO EFFECTIVELY
USE THIS
WEBPAGE:
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Under the Algebra
area, there is a lot of overlapping between the different levels (beginning and
intermediate) of tutorials. Find the algebra level that
agrees with you most and do all of the tutorials under that level. If you
start at the beginning level algebra, make sure that you make your
way up through intermediate algebra before you take the THEA or ACCUPLACER
test.
When you are done with a tutorial, you can come back
to this webpage by clicking on the back arrow link marked THEA Math Help Page found on
the top left corner of the tutorial page OR clicking on the back arrow on
the top left of your Internet window until you are back to this page.
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Fundamental Mathematics
The first area that we will be looking at is
fundamental mathematics. You
know, fun things like making sure you have the negative in the right
place
and remembering when you have to find the common denominator of your
fractions.
Don't worry, I have the utmost confidence that you
will do much better with arithmetic than Calvin.
SPECIAL NOTE:
| You need to go
to all the links that are under each topic for
fundamental mathematics to get the full benefit.
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The fundamental mathematics area covers:
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Integers, Fractions, Decimals,
and Units of Measurements
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 Beginning
Algebra Tutorial 3: Fractions
This tutorial covers:
- numerators and denominators of a fraction
- the prime factorization of a number
- simplifying a fraction
- finding the least common denominator of given
fractions
- multiplying, dividing, adding and subtracting
fractions
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Beginning
Algebra Tutorial 5: Adding
Real Numbers
This tutorial covers:
- adding real numbers
- finding the additive inverse or the opposite of a
number
Keep in mind that real numbers include integers, fractions and decimals
as well as other types of numbers. |
Beginning
Algebra Tutorial 6: Subtracting
Real Numbers
This tutorial covers:
Keep in mind that real numbers include integers, fractions and decimals
as well as other types of numbers. |
Beginning
Algebra Tutorial 7: Multiplying
and Dividing Real Numbers
This tutorial covers:
- finding the reciprocal of a number
- multiplying and dividing real numbers
- multiplying by zero
- the fact that dividing by zero is undefined
Keep in mind that real numbers include integers, fractions and decimals
as well as other types of numbers. |
Problems Involving Data
Interpretation and Analysis
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Beginning
Algebra Tutorial 9: Reading
Graphs
This tutorial covers:
- reading a bar graph
- reading a line graph
- reading a double line graph
- drawing and reading a Venn diagram
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Beginning
Algebra Tutorial 16: Percent
and Problem Solving
This tutorial covers:
- converting percents into decimal numbers
- converting decimal numbers into percents
- solving word problems involving percents
- pie charts with percents
- tables with percents
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Beginning
Algebra Tutorial 34: Central
Tendencies
This tutorial covers:
- finding the mean, median, mode, range, standard
deviation and frequency distribution of a list of values
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Algebra
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SPECIAL
NOTE:
Note that most of
the topics under Algebra contain tutorials from two
levels (lowest to highest): beginning and intermediate.
Ideally, for the
Algebra section, you want to be able
to work the intermediate level by the time you take the THEA test.
There will be some overlapping between the
levels.
If a topic
has tutorials in more than one level, try going under the highest level
first. If that is too hard for you, go to the tutorials of the
next
level down, if available.
Once you find a level to start with, make sure
that
if it is beginning algebra, in the end you work your way up to
intermediate algebra. |
The beauty of this is it is individualized.
You can go
at your own pace at the comfort of your own computer. You
know
better than anyone else what your algebra skills are.
The algebra area covers:
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Graphs
of Number Relationships
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Beginning
Algebra Tutorial 20: The
Rectangular Coordinate System
This tutorial covers:
- plotting points on a rectangular coordinate system
- identifying what quadrant or axis a point lies on
- telling if an ordered pair is a solution of an
equation in two
variables
or not
- completing an ordered pair that has one missing
value
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Beginning
Algebra Tutorial 21: Graphing
Linear Equations
This tutorial covers:
- recognizing when an equation in two variables is a
linear equation
- graphing a linear equation
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Beginning
Algebra Tutorial 22: Intercepts
This tutorial covers:
- finding the x- and y-intercepts
of a linear function
- graphing a linear function using the x-
and y-intercepts
- graphing vertical and horizontal lines
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Beginning
Algebra Tutorial 23: Slope
This tutorial covers:
- finding the slope given a graph or two points
- knowing the relationship between slopes of parallel
lines as well as
slopes
of perpendicular lines
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Beginning
Algebra Tutorial 24: Graphing Linear Inequalities
This tutorial covers:
- graphing linear inequalities in two variables
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Intermediate
Algebra Tutorial 12: Graphing
Equations
This tutorial covers:
- plotting points on a rectangular coordinate system
- identifying what quadrant or axis a point lies on
- knowing if an equation is a linear equation
- telling if an ordered pair is a solution of an
equation in two
variables
or not
- graphing an equation by plotting points
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Intermediate
Algebra Tutorial 14: Graphing
Linear Equations
This tutorial covers:
- finding the x- and y-intercepts
of a linear function
- graphing a linear function using the x-
and y-intercepts
- graphing vertical and horizontal lines
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Intermediate
Algebra Tutorial 15: The
Slope of a Line
This tutorial covers:
- finding the slope given a graph, two points or an
equation
- writing a linear equation in slope/intercept form
- determining if two lines are parallel, perpendicular,
or neither
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Intermediate
Algebra Tutorial 17: Graphing
Linear Inequalities
This tutorial covers:
- graphing linear inequalities in two variables
- graphing the union of two linear inequalities in two
variables
- graphing the intersection of two linear inequalities
in two variables
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One and Two Variable Equations
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Beginning
Algebra Tutorial 12: Addition
Property of Equality
This tutorial covers:
- knowing what a linear equation is
- knowing if a value is a solution or not
- using the addition and subtraction properties of
equalities to solve
linear equations
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Beginning
Algebra Tutorial 13: Multiplication
Property of Equality
This tutorial covers:
- using the multiplication and division properties of
equalities to solve
linear equations
- solving an equation using more than one property
- knowing how to express consecutive integers in terms
of x,
if the first integer is x
- knowing how to express even consecutive integers in
terms of x,
if the first even integer is x
- knowing how to express odd consecutive integers in
terms of x,
if the first odd integer is x
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Beginning
Algebra Tutorial 14: Solving
Linear Equations
This tutorial covers:
- solving linear equations by using a combination of
simplifying and
various
properties of equality
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Intermediate
Algebra Tutorial 7: Linear
Equations in One Variable
This tutorial covers:
- knowing what a linear equation is
- knowing if a value is a solution or not
- using the addition, subtraction, multiplication, and
division
properties
of equalities to solve linear equations
- knowing when an equation has no solution
- knowing when an equation has all real numbers as a
solution.
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Intermediate
Algebra Tutorial 19: Solving
Systems of Linear Equations in Two Variables
This tutorial covers:
- knowing if an ordered pair is a solution to a system
of linear equations in
two variables or not
- solving a system of linear equations in two variables
by graphing
- solving a system of linear equations in two variables
by the substitution
method
- solving a system of linear equations in two variables
by the elimination
method
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Word Problems With Variables
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Beginning
Algebra Tutorial 15: Introduction
to Problem Solving
This tutorial covers:
- using Polya's four step process to solve word
problems involving
numbers,
rectangles, supplementary angles, and complementary angles
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Beginning
Algebra Tutorial 17: Further
Problem Solving
This tutorial covers:
- using Polya's four step process to solve word
problems involving geometry
concepts, distance, mixtures and interest
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Intermediate
Algebra Tutorial 8: Introduction
to Problem Solving
This tutorial covers:
- using Polya's four step process to solve word
problems involving
numbers,
percents, rectangles, supplementary angles, complementary angles,
consecutive
integers, and breaking even
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Intermediate
Algebra Tutorial 21: Systems
of Linear Equations and Problem Solving
This tutorial covers:
- using Polya's four step process to solve various
problems involving systems
of linear equations in both two and three variables
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Algebraic Expressions and Functional Notation
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Beginning
Algebra Tutorial 11: Simplifying
Algebraic Expressions
This tutorial covers:
- combining like terms
- simplifying an expression using distributive property
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Beginning
Algebra Tutorial 26: Exponents
This tutorial covers:
- using the definition of exponents
- simplifying exponential expressions involving
multiplying like bases, zero
as an exponent, dividing like bases, raising a base to two exponents,
raising a product to an exponent and raising a quotient to an exponent
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Beginning
Algebra Tutorial 27: Adding
and Subtracting Polynomials
This tutorial covers:
- identifying a term, coefficient, constant term, and
polynomial
- telling the difference between a monomial, binomial,
and trinomial
- finding the degree of a term and polynomial
- combining like terms
- adding and subtracting polynomials
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Beginning Algebra Tutorial 28: Multiplying
Polynomials
This tutorial covers:
- multiplying any polynomial times any other polynomial
- using the FOIL method to multiply a binomial times a
binomial
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Beginning
Algebra Tutorial 29: Negative Exponents and Scientific
Notation
This tutorial covers:
- simplifying exponential expressions involving
negative exponents
- writing a number in scientific notation
- writing a number in standard notation, without
exponents
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Intermediate
Algebra Tutorial 13: Introduction
to Functions
This tutorial covers:
- knowing what a relation, function, domain and range is
- finding the domain and range of a relation
- identifying if a relation is a function or not
- knowing how to use the vertical line test
- evaluating functional values
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Intermediate
Algebra Tutorial 23: Exponents
and Scientific Notation Part I
This tutorial covers:
- using the definition of exponents, simplifying
exponential expressions
involving multiplying like bases, zero as an exponent, dividing like
bases, and negative exponents
- writing a number in scientific notation
- writing a number in standard notation, without
exponents
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Intermediate
Algebra Tutorial 24: Exponents
and Scientific Notation Part II
This tutorial covers:
- simplifying exponential expressions involving raising
a base to two exponents,
raising a product to an exponent and raising a quotient to an exponent
- multiplying and dividing numbers written in
scientific notation
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Intermediate
Algebra Tutorial 25: Polynomials
and Polynomial Functions
This tutorial covers:
- identifying a term, coefficient, constant term, and
polynomial
- telling the difference between a monomial, binomial,
and trinomial
- finding the degree of a term and polynomial
- evaluating a polynomial function
- combine like terms
- adding and subtracting polynomials
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Intermediate
Algebra Tutorial 26: Multiplying
Polynomials
This tutorial covers:
- multiplying any polynomial times any other polynomial
- using the FOIL method to multiply a binomial times a
binomial
- using special product rules to multiply a binomial
squared and a
product
of a sum and difference of two terms.
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Intermediate
Algebra Tutorial 27: The
GCF and Factoring by Grouping
This tutorial covers:
- finding the Greatest Common Factor (GCF) of a
polynomial
- factoring out the GCF of a polynomial
- factoring a polynomial with four terms by
grouping
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Intermediate
Algebra Tutorial 28: Factoring
Trinomials
This tutorial covers:
- factoring trinomials
- factoring using substitution
- indicating if a polynomial is a prime polynomial
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Intermediate
Algebra Tutorial 29: Factoring
Special Products
This tutorial covers:
- factoring a perfect square trinomial
- factoring a difference of squares
- factoring a sum or difference of cubes
- applying the factoring strategy to factor a
polynomial completely
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College
Algebra Tutorial 17: Quadratic
Equations
This tutorial covers:
- solving quadratic equations by factoring
- solving quadratic equations by the square root method
- solving quadratic equations by completing the square
- solving quadratic equations by using the quadratic
formula
- finding the discriminant of a quadratic equation and
use it to tell how
many and what type of solutions the equation has
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Geometry
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SPECIAL
NOTE:
| You need to go to all the links that are under each topic for
fundamental mathematics to get the full benefit.
|
The geometry area covers:
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Problems with Geometric Figures
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Beginning
Algebra Tutorial 32: Formulas
This tutorial covers:
- solving a formula for a given variable
- solving problems involving formulas for two- and
three- dimensional
figures
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Intermediate
Algebra Tutorial 9: Formulas
and Problem Solving
This tutorial covers:
- solving a formula for a given variable
- using Polya's four step process to solve word
problems involving formulas
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Problems with Geometric Concepts
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Beginning
Algebra Tutorial 33: Basic
Geometry
This tutorial covers:
- knowing what a line is
- identifying the different types of angles
- finding a complimentary angle to a given angle
- finding a supplementary angle to a given angle
- knowing what a polygon is
- knowing what a quadrilateral is
- identifying types of triangles
- finding the value of a corresponding angle or side
given congruent
figures
- finding the value of a corresponding angle or side
given similar figures
- knowing the relationship of the angles formed when a
transversal cuts
through
two parallel lines
- identifying parts of a circle
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Problem Solving
Whether you like it or not, whether you are going to be
a mother, father, teacher, computer programmer, scientist, researcher, business owner,
coach, mathematician, manager, doctor, lawyer, banker (the list can go on and
on) problem solving is everywhere. Some people think that you
either can do it or you can't.
Contrary to that belief, it can be a learned trade. Even the best
athletes and musicians had some coaching along the way and lots of
practice. That's what it also takes to be good at problem solving. So don't savor the mystery of a good
problem, but get in there and solve it!
SPECIAL
NOTE:
You need to go
to all the links that are under each topic for
fundamental mathematics to get the full benefit. |
The problem solving area covers:
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Beginning
Algebra Tutorial 35: Reasoning Skills
This tutorial covers:
- using inductive reasoning to solve problems
- finding the next terms in a sequence
- using deductive reasoning to solve problems
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WTAMU > Virtual Math Lab > THEA/ACCUPLACER
Disclaimer:
Note that we can not
guarantee that you will pass your test after going through any of the tutorials
in this website. However, it will definitely help you to better
understand the topics covered. WTAMU and Kim Seward are not responsible
for how a student does on any test for any reason including not being able
to access the website due to any technology problems.
THEA is the registered
trademark of National Evaluation Systems, Inc. (NES). The material here has
neither been reviewed nor endorsed by NES.
ACCUPLACER is the registered trademark of the
College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB). The
material here has neither been reviewed nor endorsed by the CEEB.
Throughout this website, we link to various
outside sources.
WTAMU and Kim Seward do not have any ownership to any of these outside
websites and cannot give you permission to make any kind of copies of
anything found at any of these websites that we link to. It is purely for
you to link to for information or fun as you go through the study
session. Each of these websites have a copy right clause that you need to read
carefully if you are wanting to do anything other than go to the website and read
it. We discourage any illegal use of the webpages found at these
sites.
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All contents copyright (C) 2003 - 2008, WTAMU and Kim Seward. All rights reserved.
Last revised on August 8, 2008 by Kim Seward. |
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