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Mathematics past questions: NECO SSCE 2008

39 objective questions, with answers. Free to read and practise.

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39 questions, one at a time, marked as you go or at the end. No account needed.

  1. 1.
    2 bags of sugar at \(N_{x}\) per bag are mixed with 3 bags of sugar at \(N_{y}\) per bag. What is the cost in N of the mixture per bag?
    1. A.\(\frac{(2x + 3y)}{5}\)
    2. B.\(\frac{(x + y)}{2}\)
    3. C.\(\frac{x}{2} +\frac{y}{3}\)
    4. D.\(\frac{(x + y)}{5}\)
    5. E.\(\frac{(3x + 2y)}{5}\)
    Show answer

    Answer: A \(\frac{(2x + 3y)}{5}\)

  2. 2.
    A chord XY of a circle with centre O and radius 5.32cm has ∠XOY = 140°. What is the length of the chord to the nearest centimetre?
    1. A.10cm
    2. B.6cm
    3. C.5cm
    4. D.3cm
    5. E.1cm
    Show answer

    Answer: A 10cm

  3. 3.
    A man travels at a rate of 25m/sec. If he travels for 10½hrs, how many kilometres has he covered?
    1. A.262.5
    2. B.945
    3. C.970
    4. D.995
    5. E.1822.9
    Show answer

    Answer: B 945

  4. 4.
    A pair of shoes was sold for N2,250.00 at a loss of 10%. What was the cost price?
    1. A.N750.00
    2. B.N2,500.00
    3. C.N2,538.00
    4. D.N3,288.00
    5. E.N4,038.00
    Show answer

    Answer: B N2,500.00

  5. 5.
    A sector of angle 120° is cut out from a circle of radius 13.5cm. what area of the circle is remaining ? (π = \(\frac{22}{7}\) )
    1. A.14.1c\(m ^{2}\)
    2. B.95.5c\(m ^{2}\)
    3. C.190.9c\(m ^{2}\)
    4. D.381.9c\(m ^{2}\)
    5. E.763.7c\(m ^{2}\)
    Show answer

    Answer: D 381.9c\(m ^{2}\)

  6. 6.
    Bello chooses a number randomly from 1 to 10. What is the probability that it is either odd or prime?
    1. A.\(\frac{1}{10}\)
    2. B.\(\frac{2}{5}\)
    3. C.\(\frac{1}{2}\)
    4. D.\(\frac{3}{5}\)
    5. E.\(\frac{9}{10}\)
    Show answer

    Answer: D \(\frac{3}{5}\)

  7. 7.
    Calculate the area of a parallelogram whose diagonals are of length 8cm and 12cm and intersect at an angle of 135°
    1. A.271.5c\(m ^{2}\)
    2. B.135.8c\(m ^{2}\)
    3. C.96.0c\(m ^{2}\)
    4. D.48.0c\(m ^{2}\)
    5. E.33.9c\(m ^{2}\)
    Show answer

    Answer: E 33.9c\(m ^{2}\)

  8. 8.
    Construct a quadratic equation whose roots are - \(\frac{3}{2}\) and 7
    1. A.\(3x ^{2} + 11\)x + 21 = 0
    2. B.\(2x ^{2} + 11\)x + 21 = 0
    3. C.\(2x ^{2} - 11\)x – 21 = 0
    4. D.\(3x ^{2} - 11\)x - 21 = 0
    5. E.\(x ^{2} - 11\)x – 21 = 0
    Show answer

    Answer: C \(2x ^{2} - 11\)x – 21 = 0

  9. 9.
    Evaluate \((2^{5} × 4^{-2}) ÷ (2^{-3} × 2^{6})\)
    1. A.9
    2. B.8
    3. C.3
    4. D.\(\frac{8}{9}\)
    5. E.\(\frac{1}{4}\)
    Show answer

    Answer: E \(\frac{1}{4}\)

  10. 10.
    Find the coefficient of xy in the expansion of (x - 4y)(3x + 2y)
    1. A.14
    2. B.12
    3. C.10
    4. D.-10
    5. E.-12
    Show answer

    Answer: D -10

  11. 11.
    Find the mean deviation of 20, 25, 21, 27, 28, 29, to the nearest whole number
    1. A.2
    2. B.3
    3. C.4
    4. D.5
    5. E.6
    Show answer

    Answer: B 3

  12. 12.
    Find the value of log \(_{\sqrt{3}}\) 81
    1. A.81
    2. B.16
    3. C.8
    4. D.3
    5. E.\(\sqrt{3}\)
    Show answer

    Answer: C 8

  13. 13.
    Find y if sin y = cos 48°
    1. A.21°
    2. B.24°
    3. C.42°
    4. D.48°
    5. E.102°
    Show answer

    Answer: C 42°

  14. 14.
    Given that x2 + y2 + k = 60 and x = \(\sqrt{10}\) when y = 4, find the value of k.
    1. A.56
    2. B.34
    3. C.32
    4. D.-34
    5. E.-56
    Show answer

    Answer: B 34

  15. 15.
    If 5x - 3 = 4x - 7, what is the value 6x?
    1. A.24
    2. B.6
    3. C.4
    4. D.-4
    5. E.-24
    Show answer

    Answer: E -24

  16. 16.
    If A = \(\frac{1}{2}\) h (a + b), make 'a' the subject of the formula
    1. A.(2A – 2bh) ÷ b
    2. B.(2A – bh) ÷ h
    3. C.(2A – bh) ÷ b
    4. D.(A – 2bh) ÷ h
    5. E.(2A – h) ÷ bh
    Show answer

    Answer: B (2A – bh) ÷ h

  17. 17.
    If N25,000.00 is kept in a bank at the rate of 2% simple interest, how much will it amount to at the end of 5 years?
    1. A.N2,500.00
    2. B.N5,000.00
    3. C.N12,500.00
    4. D.N27,500.00
    5. E.N125,000.00
    Show answer

    Answer: D N27,500.00

  18. 18.
    If tan α = \(\frac{1}{2}\) and tan β = \(\frac{1}{3}\) and both α and β are acute, find tan (α + β).
    1. A.0.015
    2. B.1
    3. C.10
    4. D.39.81
    5. E.45
    Show answer

    Answer: B 1

  19. 19.
    If the 3rd and the 5th terms of an A.P are 6 and 10 respectively, find the 1st term and the common difference respectively.
    1. A.1, 2
    2. B.2, 2
    3. C.2, 3
    4. D.3, 2
    5. E.3,3
    Show answer

    Answer: B 2, 2

  20. 20.
    If y + \(\frac{1}{y}\) = 9, evaluate y^{2} + \(\frac{1}{y^2}\)
    1. A.27
    2. B.38
    3. C.54
    4. D.63
    5. E.79
    Show answer

    Answer: E 79

  21. 21.
    In proving the congruence of two triangles, which of the following is not important?
    1. A.two sides and the included angles
    2. B.two angles and a side
    3. C.three sides
    4. D.three angles
    5. E.right angle, hypotenuse and another side
    Show answer

    Answer: B two angles and a side

  22. 22.
    Increase 135 in the ratio 3:5
    1. A.225
    2. B.216
    3. C.143
    4. D.140
    5. E.140
    Show answer

    Answer: A 225

  23. 23.
    Multiply (3 \(\sqrt{a}\) - 4a) by (4a + 3 \(\sqrt{a}\) )
    1. A.9a \(+ 16a ^{2}\)
    2. B.9a \(– 16a ^{2}\)
    3. C.3a \(+ 16a ^{2}\)
    4. D.3a \(- 16a ^{2}\)
    5. E.\(a - 16a ^{2}\)
    Show answer

    Answer: B 9a \(– 16a ^{2}\)

  24. 24.
    P = {x:(x - 2)(x + 3) (x - 4)(x + 5) = 0}. The elements in P are
    1. A.-5,-2, 3, 4
    2. B.-5, -3, 2, 4
    3. C.-5, -3, -2,4
    4. D.-4, -3, -2, 5
    5. E.2, 3, 4, 5
    Show answer

    Answer: B -5, -3, 2, 4

  25. 25.
    Rationalize the expression \(\frac{(7 - \sqrt{3})}{(13 - \sqrt{3})}\)
    1. A.(44 + 3 \(\sqrt{3}\) ) ÷ 83
    2. B.(44 + 2 \(\sqrt{3}\) ) ÷ 83
    3. C.(44 - 3 \(\sqrt{3}\) ) ÷ 83
    4. D.(44 - 4 \(\sqrt{3}\) ) ÷ 83
    5. E.(44 - 2 \(\sqrt{3}\) ) ÷ 83
    Show answer

    Answer: C (44 - 3 \(\sqrt{3}\) ) ÷ 83

  26. 26.
    Simplify the expression: \(Log_{4}16\) + \(Log_{3}27\) + \(Log_{8}4096\)
    1. A.-9
    2. B.\(\frac{1}{3}\)
    3. C.\(\frac{1}{9}\)
    4. D.3
    5. E.9
    Show answer

    Answer: E 9

  27. 27.
    T varies inversely as the square root of F when T = 7, F = 2 \(\frac{1}{4}\) . Find T when F = \(\frac{27}{9}\)
    1. A.1.5
    2. B.6.1
    3. C.6.3
    4. D.12.6
    5. E.21
    Show answer

    Answer: B 6.1

  28. 28.
    The ages of 10 students in a class are; 15, 16, 15.5, 17, 14.9, 14.5, 14.1, 15.1, 14.8. find the range of their ages.
    1. A.6.1
    2. B.4.8
    3. C.2.9
    4. D.2.1
    5. E.1.9
    Show answer

    Answer: C 2.9

  29. 29.
    The ages of Abu, Segun, Kofi and Funmi are 17 years, (2x -13) years, 14 years and 16 years respectively. What is the value of x if their mean ages is 17.5 years?
    1. A.18
    2. B.23
    3. C.25
    4. D.36
    5. E.70
    Show answer

    Answer: A 18

  30. 30.
    The chances of Usman and Dele passing a Mathematics test are 3/5 and 1/3, respectively. What is the probability that neither of them passes the test?
    1. A.\(\frac{3}{5}\)
    2. B.\(\frac{2}{5}\)
    3. C.\(\frac{4}{15}\)
    4. D.\(\frac{1}{5}\)
    5. E.\(\frac{2}{15}\)
    Show answer

    Answer: C \(\frac{4}{15}\)

  31. 31.
    The graph of cumulative frequency distribution is known as
    1. A.an ogive
    2. B.a histogram
    3. C.a frequency polygon
    4. D.relative frequency
    5. E.none
    Show answer

    Answer: A an ogive

  32. 32.
    The median of a distribution can be estimated from
    1. A.Barchart
    2. B.Cumulative frequency curve
    3. C.Frequency polygon
    4. D.Pictorial
    5. E.Pie chart
    Show answer

    Answer: B Cumulative frequency curve

  33. 33.
    The radii of two similar cylindrical jugs are in the ratio 3:7. Calculate the ratio of their volumes
    1. A.1 : 04
    2. B.3 : 07
    3. C.9 : 49
    4. D.0.086111111
    5. E.27 : 343
    Show answer

    Answer: E 27 : 343

  34. 34.
    The ratio of the base area of a hollow cone to that of its curved surface is 1:4. If its base radius is 7cm, calculate the slant height of the cone
    1. A.7cm
    2. B.22cm
    3. C.28cm
    4. D.49cm
    5. E.154cm
    Show answer

    Answer: C 28cm

  35. 35.
    Twenty girls and y boys sat on an examination. The mean marks obtained by the girls and boys were 52 and 57 respectively. if the total score for both girls and boys was 2750, find y.
    1. A.51
    2. B.48
    3. C.30
    4. D.25
    5. E.18
    Show answer

    Answer: C 30

  36. 36.
    Two ladders of length 5m and 7m lean against a pole and make angles 45° and 60° with the ground respectively. What is their distance apart on the pole correct to two decimal places?
    1. A.9.60m
    2. B.6.06m
    3. C.2.54m
    4. D.2.53m
    5. E.2.00m
    Show answer

    Answer: D 2.53m

  37. 37.
    Which of the following angular inequalities defines an obtuse angle?
    1. A.0° < x < 90°
    2. B.0° ≤ x > 180°
    3. C.90° < x < 180°
    4. D.90° ≤ x < 180°
    5. E.90° > x < 180°
    Show answer

    Answer: C 90° < x < 180°

  38. 38.
    which of the following properties is/are common to parallelograms and rectangles? I. all angles are right angles II. the diagonals are equals. III. the opposite sides are equal and parallel.
    1. A.I and II
    2. B.I and III
    3. C.II and III
    4. D.I
    5. E.III
    Show answer

    Answer: E III

  39. 39.
    x varies directly as y and inversely as z. when x = 5, y = 2 and z = 1. What is the value of x when y = 5 and z = 2?
    1. A.2.5
    2. B.5
    3. C.6.25
    4. D.6.52
    5. E.7.5
    Show answer

    Answer: C 6.25

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