Pearl S. Buck Math Problems
Grade 8
Based on PSSA Sampled & PA Academic Standards for Math
2.2.8 Computation and Estimation
Computation
B. Add, subtract, multiply and divide different kinds and forms of rational numbers, including integers, decimals
fractions, percents and proper and improper fraction.
1.
In 1941, the Chinese Emergency Relief Fund Committee was created to help support Chinese
resistance against Japanese aggression. If, at this time, Pearl Buck and Richard Walsh had a
monthly household budget of $127.59, and they sent 20% of their budget to support the
Chinese Emergency Relief Committee, which is the closest estimate of the amount of money
they sent each month?
A.
B.
C.
D.
$13
$20
$26
$30
10 % of $130
20% of $100
correct
20% of $150
2.2.8 Computation and Estimation
Computation
B. Add, subtract, multiply and divide different kinds and forms of rational numbers, including integers, decimals
fractions, percents and proper and improper fraction.
2.
If the price of The Good Earth was $5.00 when it was first printed and Book of the Month
members got a 28% discount, how much would they pay for the book?
A.
B.
C.
D.
$1.40
$3.60
$4.72
$5.28
5 X 0.28
correct
5 - 0.28
5 + 0.28
2.2.8 Computation and Estimation
Computation
B. Add, subtract, multiply and divide different kinds and forms of rational numbers, including integers, decimals
fractions, percents and proper and improper fraction.
3.
If Pearl Buck deposited $7,500 in a bank account to help pay for her disabled daughter Carol’s
care, and at the end of 3 years the account earned $900 in simple interest, what rate of interest
did the account pay each year?
A.
B.
C.
D.
2.78% approximately
4%
8.33% approximately
12%
7,500 ÷ 2,700; with percent sign
correct
7,500 ÷ 900; with percent sign
900 ÷ 7,500
520 Dublin Road, Perkasie, PA 18944-3000 · 215-249-0100 · 215-249-9657 (fax) · www.pearlsbuck.org
Welcome House® · Opportunity House · Pearl S. Buck House Pearl S. Buck Math Problems
Grade 8
Based on PSSA Sampled & PA Academic Standards for Math
2.2.8 Computation and Estimation
Computation
B. Add, subtract, multiply and divide different kinds and forms of rational numbers, including integers, decimals
fractions, percents and proper and improper fraction.
4.
Pearl Buck’s home, Green Hills Farm, was a community center for Upper Bucks County.
There were often community basketball games in the gym and neighbors used her large home
library as a community library. If, for one community event, Pearl Buck wanted to buy 56 hot
dogs to cook, and the hot dogs came in packages of 12, what would be the minimum number of
packages that she would need to buy?
A.
B.
C.
D.
3
4
5
6
56 rounded to 60 and 12 to 20; 60 ÷ 20
56 ÷12; rounded
correct
56 rounded to 60 and 12 rounded to 10; 60 ÷10
2.3.8 Measurement and Estimation
Conversions
D. Perform conversions within the metric system and customary system including scale measurements, between
units of time and between units of temperature.
5.
Once when she was signing a book, Pearl Buck noticed that the pencil lead was 5 millimeters
long. Because she spent half of her life in China where the metric system is used, she decided
to find out what the length of the lead would be in centimeters. How many centimeters long
was the pencil lead?
A.
B.
C.
D.
0.05 cm
0.5 cm
50 cm
500 cm
5 ÷ 100
correct
5 X 10
5 X 100
2.3.8 Measurement and Estimation
Conversions
D. Perform conversions within the metric system and customary system including scale measurements, between
units of time and between units of temperature.
6.
There were always many adopted and foster children living at Green Hills Farm. If they
usually drank 5 gallons of milk a week, how many pints of milk would they drink each week?
A.
B.
C.
D.
10 pints
20 pints
40 pints
80 pints
5X2
5X4
correct
5 X 16
520 Dublin Road, Perkasie, PA 18944-3000 · 215-249-0100 · 215-249-9657 (fax) · www.pearlsbuck.org
Welcome House® · Opportunity House · Pearl S. Buck House Pearl S. Buck Math Problems
Grade 8
Based on PSSA Sampled & PA Academic Standards for Math
2.3.8 Measurement and Estimation
Conversions
D. Perform conversions within the metric system and customary system including scale measurements, between
units of time and between units of temperature.
7.
Pearl Buck always liked to write at her typewriter in the morning. If she wrote for 5
hours one day, how many seconds did she write on that day?
A.
B.
C.
D.
300
3,600
7,200
18,000
minutes, 5 X 60
seconds in 1 hour, 60 X 60
minutes in 5 days, 5 X 24 X 60
correct
2.3.8 Measurement and Estimation
Conversions
D. Perform conversions within the metric system and customary system including scale measurements, between
units of time and between units of temperature.
8.
The thermometer at Green Hills Farm read 21 degrees Fahrenheit. What was the approximate
temperature in degrees Celsius?
A.
B.
C.
D.
– 20.3º C
– 6.1º C
11.6º C
69.8º C
(5/9) (21) – 32
correct
(5/9) (21)
(9/5) 21 + 32
2.8.8 Algebra and Functions
Patterns
C. Find the missing elements and recognize, describe, and extend patterns to include linear, exponential, and simple
quadratic equations.
9.
One night Pearl Buck was helping her two sons, Richard and John, with their homework. The
boys wrote a list of numbers using a rule: 8, 15, 24, 35, __
Based on the rule, what should be the next number?
A.
B.
C.
D.
42
44
46
48
(15 - 8) + 35
(24 – 15) + 35
(35 – 24) + 35
correct
520 Dublin Road, Perkasie, PA 18944-3000 · 215-249-0100 · 215-249-9657 (fax) · www.pearlsbuck.org
Welcome House® · Opportunity House · Pearl S. Buck House Pearl S. Buck Math Problems
Grade 8
Based on PSSA Sampled & PA Academic Standards for Math
2.6.8 Statistics and Data Analysis
Organization and Display of Data
B. Organize and display data using an appropriate data display, such as circle graphs, histograms, line graphs, double bar
graphs, and stem-and-leaf plots, Venn diagrams, tables and charts.
10.
One day Pearl Buck asked her children and their friends where they would like to go on
a day trip. The children had several responses.
21 %
15 %
16 %
48 %
art gallery
museum
theater
zoo
Which of these displays would best represent this data?
A.
B.
C.
D.
line graph
circle graph
frequency table
box=and-whiskers plot
2 variables
correct
tally list
data list
2.7.8 Probability and Predictions
Compare Theoretical and Experimental Probabilities
E. Find and interpret the experimental or theoretical probability of an outcome of a simple event.
11.
One day in Nanking, China, Pearl Buck was riding a bus to teach her classes at
Nanking University. On the bus there was a total number of 5 women, 14 men, and 21
students. One person signaled the driver to stop. What is the probability that the person
who signaled was a woman?
A.
B.
C.
D.
1/40
1/8
1/7
1/5
1 of 40 people
correct
5 women, 35 others
1 of 5 women
520 Dublin Road, Perkasie, PA 18944-3000 · 215-249-0100 · 215-249-9657 (fax) · www.pearlsbuck.org
Welcome House® · Opportunity House · Pearl S. Buck House Pearl S. Buck Math Problems
Grade 8
Based on PSSA Sampled & PA Academic Standards for Math
2.7.8 Probability and Predictions
Representations of Probabilities
C. Determine the number of combinations and permutations for an event.
12.
One day Pearl Buck’s children: Richard, John, Edgar and Jean were lined up at the milk
house waiting to help with milking the dairy cows on the farm. How many different
ways could they be arranged in this line?
A.
B.
C.
D.
4
8
16
24
4 names
4 times 2
4 times 4
correct
2.7.8 Probability and Predictions
Representations of Probabilities
C. Determine the number of combinations and permutations for an event.
13.
Once a child arrived at Welcome House with three pairs of shorts, five shirts and two
pairs of shoes. How many different outfits consisting of 1 shirt, 1 pair of shorts and 1
pair of shoes could he make?
A.
B.
C.
D.
5
10
25
30
number of shirts
3+5+2
5 X (3 + 2)
correct
520 Dublin Road, Perkasie, PA 18944-3000 · 215-249-0100 · 215-249-9657 (fax) · www.pearlsbuck.org
Welcome House® · Opportunity House · Pearl S. Buck House