Basic Operations Practice Questions

Use these basic operations sample questions to review addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, decimals, negative numbers, and the order of operations. Answer each question before opening the explanation.

Topics Covered

  • Adding and subtracting decimals
  • Adding integers
  • Subtracting negative numbers
  • Multiplying and dividing signed numbers
  • The zero property of multiplication
  • Evaluating expressions in parentheses
  • Applying the order of operations

Sample Questions

1. Simplify: 5.68 + 3.4 + 19.21 + 4

  • A. 22.29
  • B. 31.29
  • C. 31.49
  • D. 32.29
  • E. 32.49
Show Answer for Question 1
Answer: D. 32.29
Line up the decimal points and add:

5.68 + 3.40 + 19.21 + 4.00 = 32.29

2. Simplify: (26.1 + 3.9) × 5.4 × 0 × (12.45 − 8.1)

  • A. 0
  • B. 50.49
  • C. 162
  • D. 280.5
  • E. 704.7
Show Answer for Question 2
Answer: A. 0
The expression contains a factor of 0.

Any product containing 0 equals 0, so the entire expression equals 0.

3. Simplify: −4 + (−13) + 10

  • A. −27
  • B. −7
  • C. −1
  • D. 1
  • E. 19
Show Answer for Question 3
Answer: B. −7
Add from left to right:

−4 + (−13) = −17

−17 + 10 = −7

4. Simplify: 23 − (−38)

  • A. −61
  • B. −15
  • C. 13
  • D. 15
  • E. 61
Show Answer for Question 4
Answer: E. 61
Subtracting a negative number is equivalent to adding the corresponding positive number:

23 − (−38) = 23 + 38 = 61

5. Simplify: (20 ÷ 5) + (12 ÷ 4)

  • A. 4
  • B. 5
  • C. 6
  • D. 7
  • E. 8
Show Answer for Question 5
Answer: D. 7
Evaluate the expressions inside parentheses first:

20 ÷ 5 = 4

12 ÷ 4 = 3

Then add:

4 + 3 = 7

6. Simplify: 215 + 56 + 4 + 490

  • A. 656
  • B. 655
  • C. 755
  • D. 756
  • E. 765
Show Answer for Question 6
Answer: E. 765
Group numbers that are convenient to add:

215 + 490 = 705

56 + 4 = 60

705 + 60 = 765

7. Simplify: 780 ÷ (−26)

  • A. −30
  • B. −20
  • C. 18
  • D. 20
  • E. 30
Show Answer for Question 7
Answer: A. −30
A positive number divided by a negative number produces a negative quotient.

780 ÷ 26 = 30

Therefore:

780 ÷ (−26) = −30

8. Simplify: (4 + 7) × (9 − 3)

  • A. −132
  • B. −66
  • C. 66
  • D. 96
  • E. 132
Show Answer for Question 8
Answer: C. 66
Evaluate each expression inside parentheses:

4 + 7 = 11

9 − 3 = 6

Then multiply:

11 × 6 = 66

9. Simplify: 3 × (−5) × 8 × 2

  • A. −240
  • B. −120
  • C. −80
  • D. 80
  • E. 120
Show Answer for Question 9
Answer: A. −240
Multiply from left to right:

3 × (−5) = −15

−15 × 8 = −120

−120 × 2 = −240

The product is negative because the expression contains one negative factor.

10. Simplify: 6.791 − 4.81

  • A. 1.911
  • B. 1.981
  • C. 2.181
  • D. 2.171
  • E. 2.709
Show Answer for Question 10
Answer: B. 1.981
Write 4.81 as 4.810 so the decimal places line up:

6.791 − 4.810 = 1.981

How to Use These Questions

Work each expression before opening the explanation. Write intermediate steps when the problem contains several operations, negative values, or decimals.

For decimal addition and subtraction, line up the decimal points. For signed multiplication and division, determine the sign of the answer before calculating its magnitude.

 

Last Updated: July 27, 2026