BECE 1999 Mathematics Past Questions and Answers
The BECE 1999 Mathematics paper has 40 objective and 5 theory questions. Here are sample objective questions with the correct answers and explanations. Sit the full paper with the real time limit on ePrep.
Sample questions with answers
1. Set A is called ...... of set B, when all the numbers of set A are also members of set B.
- A. the universal set
- B. the union set
- C. the null set
- D. a subset
Answer: D. a subset
Answer: D. If every member of A is also in B, A is a subset of B (A ⊂ B).
Answer: D. If every member of A is also in B, A is a subset of B (A ⊂ B).
2. M = {multiples of 3 between 10 and 20}
N = {even numbers between 10 and 20}.
Find M ∩ N.
N = {even numbers between 10 and 20}.
Find M ∩ N.
- A. {12, 18}
- B. {12, 15, 18}
- C. {12, 14, 16, 18}
- D. {12, 14, 15, 16, 18}
Answer: A. {12, 18}
Note: for between, the starting and ending numbers are not included.
M = {12, 15, 18}
N = {12, 14, 16, 18}.
Intersection (∩) are elements that can be found in both sets
M ∩ N = {12, 18}
Note: for between, the starting and ending numbers are not included.
M = {12, 15, 18}
N = {12, 14, 16, 18}.
Intersection (∩) are elements that can be found in both sets
M ∩ N = {12, 18}
3. Express 24 as a product of prime factors.
- A. 2 × 3
- B. 2$^{2}$ × 3
- C. 2$^{3}$ × 3
- D. 2$^{2}$ × 3$^{2}$
Answer: C. 2$^{3}$ × 3
Prime factors of 24
$\begin{matrix} & 24 \\ 2 & 12 \\ 2 & 6 \\ 2 & 3 \\ 3 & 1\end{matrix}$
Prime factors of 24 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 3
Prime factors of 24 = 2$^{3}$ x 3
Prime factors of 24
$\begin{matrix} & 24 \\ 2 & 12 \\ 2 & 6 \\ 2 & 3 \\ 3 & 1\end{matrix}$
Prime factors of 24 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 3
Prime factors of 24 = 2$^{3}$ x 3
4. Write in standard form 1342.
- A. 0.1342 x 10$^{-3}$
- B. 0.1342 x 10$^{-4}$
- C. 13.42 x 10$^{2}$
- D. 1.342 x 10$^{3}$
Answer: D. 1.342 x 10$^{3}$
A standard form should be in the form a.bcde x 10$^{n}$
The decimal point must be after the first non-zero digit.
The n is the number of times the decimal point has to be moved to be right after the first non-zero digit.
If it is moved to the left, the n is positive and if to the right, n is negative.
Every whole number has .0 at the end which is not written.
1342 = 1342.0
1342 = 1.⌒3⌒4⌒2.0 = 1.342 x 10$^{3}$
Note: the power is positive 3 because we had to move the decimal point to the left 3 times.
A standard form should be in the form a.bcde x 10$^{n}$
The decimal point must be after the first non-zero digit.
The n is the number of times the decimal point has to be moved to be right after the first non-zero digit.
If it is moved to the left, the n is positive and if to the right, n is negative.
Every whole number has .0 at the end which is not written.
1342 = 1342.0
1342 = 1.⌒3⌒4⌒2.0 = 1.342 x 10$^{3}$
Note: the power is positive 3 because we had to move the decimal point to the left 3 times.
5. Change 10111$_{two}$ to base ten.
- A. 15
- B. 17
- C. 23
- D. 25
Answer: C. 23
10111$_{two}$ = 1 x 2$^{4}$ + 0 x 2$^{3}$ + 1 x 2$^{2}$ + 1 x 2$^{1}$ + 1 x 2$^{0}$
Any number raised to the power 0 is 1
Any number raised to the power 1 is the same number
2$^{2}$ = 2 x 2 = 4
2$^{3}$ = 2 x 2 x 2 = 8
2$^{4}$ = 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 = 16
10111$_{two}$ = 1 x 16 + 0 x 8 + 1 x 4 + 1 x 2 + 1 x 1
10111$_{two}$ = 16 + 0 + 4 + 2 + 1
10111$_{two}$ = 23
10111$_{two}$ = 1 x 2$^{4}$ + 0 x 2$^{3}$ + 1 x 2$^{2}$ + 1 x 2$^{1}$ + 1 x 2$^{0}$
Any number raised to the power 0 is 1
Any number raised to the power 1 is the same number
2$^{2}$ = 2 x 2 = 4
2$^{3}$ = 2 x 2 x 2 = 8
2$^{4}$ = 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 = 16
10111$_{two}$ = 1 x 16 + 0 x 8 + 1 x 4 + 1 x 2 + 1 x 1
10111$_{two}$ = 16 + 0 + 4 + 2 + 1
10111$_{two}$ = 23
6. If Y = 595 and Z = 7071, find the sum of Y and Z.
- A. 6466
- B. 7566
- C. 7666
- D. 12,021
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7. Simplify: $\frac{1}{2}$ - $\frac{1}{4}$ + $\frac{1}{8}$
- A. $\frac{1}{8}$
- B. $\frac{1}{6}$
- C. $\frac{3}{8}$
- D. $\frac{5}{8}$
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8. A ribbon is 4 m long. How many pieces, each 30 cm long, can be cut from the ribbon?
- A. 7
- B. 11
- C. 12
- D. 13
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9. Find the integers within the interval 5 < x < 9
- A. {5,6,7}
- B. {5,6,7,8}
- C. {5,6,7,8,9}
- D. {6,7,8}
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10. Calculate, correct to two decimal places, 0.61 ÷ 0.8
- A. 0.07
- B. 0.08
- C. 0.76
- D. 0.83
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Answer all 45 questions of the BECE 1999 Mathematics paper
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