Using Number to Solve Problems
25 free practice questions with explanations
PassNova has 25 free Functional Skills Maths L2 practice questions on Using Number to Solve Problems, each with a clear explanation. Practise them in the browser with instant feedback — 100% free, no sign-up, on any device. Updated for 2026.
Using Number to Solve Problems: example questions & answers
25 worked examples with answers and explanations below. Practise them in the browser with instant feedback on every answer.
A book costs £12. If you buy 3 books, what is the total cost?
- A£36✓
- B£40
- C£15
- D£39
Answer: Total cost = £12 × 3 = £36.
A worker earns £9 per hour. If they work 8 hours a day, how much do they earn in a day?
- A£90
- B£72✓
- C£17
- D£80
Answer: Daily earnings = £9 × 8 = £72.
A recipe needs 250g of flour. How much flour is needed for 4 batches?
- A254g
- B500g
- C1,000g✓
- D750g
Answer: Total flour = 250g × 4 = 1,000g.
A car travels 60 km in 1 hour. How far will it travel in 3 hours?
- A240 km
- B63 km
- C120 km
- D180 km✓
Answer: Distance = 60 km/hour × 3 hours = 180 km.
A shop has 120 apples. They sell 45 apples. How many are left?
- A45
- B75✓
- C85
- D165
Answer: Apples left = 120 - 45 = 75.
A room is 5m long and 4m wide. A carpet costs £20 per square metre. What is the total cost of the carpet?
- A£100
- B£9
- C£40
- D£400✓
Answer: Room area = 5m × 4m = 20 m². Total cost = £20 × 20 = £400.
A builder needs 1,500 bricks. They have 600 bricks. How many more do they need?
- A600
- B900✓
- C1,500
- D2,100
Answer: Bricks needed = 1,500 - 600 = 900.
A phone costs £450. A case costs £25. A screen protector costs £15. What is the total cost?
- A£475
- B£485
- C£500
- D£490✓
Answer: Total = £450 + £25 + £15 = £490.
A gym membership costs £35 per month. How much does it cost for 12 months?
- A£350
- B£455
- C£385
- D£420✓
Answer: Total cost = £35 × 12 = £420.
A pizza is cut into 8 slices. If 5 slices are eaten, what fraction remains?
- A3/8✓
- B3/5
- C2/3
- D5/8
Answer: Slices remaining = 8 - 5 = 3. Fraction = 3/8.
A train ticket costs £45 for a single journey. A return ticket costs £75. How much is saved by buying a return ticket?
- A£30
- B£75
- C£45
- D£15✓
Answer: Cost of 2 single tickets = £45 × 2 = £90. Return ticket = £75. Saving = £90 - £75 = £15.
A lorry driver earns £15 per hour. They work 5 days a week, 8 hours a day. What is their weekly earnings?
- A£600✓
- B£400
- C£120
- D£40
Answer: Hours per week = 5 × 8 = 40 hours. Weekly earnings = £15 × 40 = £600.
A company spends £2,000 on supplies and £3,500 on equipment. What is the total spending?
- A£3,500
- B£5,000
- C£1,500
- D£5,500✓
Answer: Total = £2,000 + £3,500 = £5,500.
A worker is paid £400 per week. After tax, they take home £300. How much tax do they pay per week?
- A£100✓
- B£200
- C£150
- D£50
Answer: Tax = £400 - £300 = £100.
A recipe makes 4 portions. If you want to make 12 portions, by what factor must you multiply the ingredients?
- A2
- B3✓
- C4
- D6
Answer: Factor = 12 ÷ 4 = 3.
A student buys a pen for £1.50 and a notebook for £2.50. How much change from £10?
- A£8
- B£6✓
- C£2
- D£4
Answer: Total cost = £1.50 + £2.50 = £4.00. Change = £10 - £4 = £6.
A journey takes 2 hours 30 minutes. If you start at 10:00 AM, what time do you finish?
- A12:30 PM✓
- B1:00 PM
- C11:30 AM
- D12:00 PM
Answer: Start time 10:00 AM + 2 hours 30 minutes = 12:30 PM.
A discount of 10% is applied to a £50 item. What is the final price?
- A£55
- B£5
- C£40
- D£45✓
Answer: Discount = 10% of £50 = £5. Final price = £50 - £5 = £45.
A petrol tank holds 50 litres. It is half full. How many more litres are needed to fill it?
- A10
- B15
- C25✓
- D50
Answer: Current amount = 50 ÷ 2 = 25 litres. To fill = 50 - 25 = 25 litres.
A school has 450 students. 60% are girls. How many are girls?
- A150
- B180
- C220
- D270✓
Answer: 60% of 450 = 0.6 × 450 = 270.
A parcel weighs 2.5 kg. Postage costs £0.80 per kg. What is the total postage?
- A£3.00
- B£2.50
- C£2.00✓
- D£1.50
Answer: Total postage = £0.80 × 2.5 = £2.00.
A shop reduces prices by 25%. An item originally costs £80. What is the new price?
- A£40
- B£55
- C£20
- D£60✓
Answer: Reduction = 25% of £80 = £20. New price = £80 - £20 = £60.
A delivery driver has 15 packages. They deliver 8 in the morning. How many remain?
- A7✓
- B8
- C15
- D23
Answer: Remaining = 15 - 8 = 7.
A recipe calls for 300ml of milk and 200ml of cream. What is the total liquid?
- A100ml
- B600ml
- C500ml✓
- D300ml
Answer: Total = 300 + 200 = 500ml.
A worker works 40 hours per week at £12 per hour. What are their weekly earnings?
- A£400
- B£240
- C£120
- D£480✓
Answer: Weekly earnings = £12 × 40 = £480.