Applied Mathematics

Math skills are crucial in almost any work environment. Register receipts, spreadsheets, budgets, and the company’s bottom line are just a few of the aspects of work in which employees are required to use some math knowledge. Therefore, one set of skills required by the WorkKeys assessment is applied mathematics. WorkKeys learners must be able to apply mathematical reasoning, critical thinking, and problem-solving techniques to work-related problems.

Each level of the WorkKeys Applied Mathematics assessment incorporates the skills from the previous levels. Level 6 of the assessment includes math problems that require considerable translation from verbal form to mathematical expression. Problems at this level also require considerable setup and involve multiple-step calculations.

Learners are required to use fractions, negative numbers, ratios, percentages, or mixed numbers; use formulas to change from one unit to another; find areas of basic shapes when it may be necessary to rearrange the formula, convert units of measurement in the calculations, or use the result in further calculations; find the volume of rectangular solids; and perform other mathematical operations.

Students studying for the GED® credential may also find practicing applied mathematics helpful. The GED® test requires test-takers to employ a wealth of mathematical skills, including those covered here.

“Signed Numbers” and “A=LW” originally appeared in “Introduction to Algebra,” a program in KET’s GED Connection series.

This Teachers’ Domain resource was created as a result of a correlation of KET’s adult education materials to the WorkKeys® Assessments for the National Career Readiness Certificate™.

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