Most careers in our today’s world require a person with mathematical knowledge and ability. Most employers will gauge your mathematical skills to establish your thought process, especially in science and technology, retail and math education vacancies.
In this article, we look at some of the commonly asked Mathematics questions in interviews. We have also provided answers to help you come up with proper responses. You will realize that most of them are technical questions, owing to the nature of the subject in question.
Let us dive right into them!
1. Could You Please Tell Us Some of The Classes of Math That You Are Familiar With? Which Ones Do You Prefer?
I have interacted with lots of Math in my career. However, I mostly come across simple arithmetic, algebra and calculus. The first one comes in handy when counting back change, whereas algebra helps me figure out an unknown variable, such as the number of clients. I usually use calculus for relatively challenging problems, such as calculating the rate of change.
2. Take Us Through Some of The Math Courses That You Have Taken
My history with Math dates back to high school. Our curriculum was drafted such that we all took a course in Geometry, Algebra and Trigonometry. However, I also pursued Calculus as an offering. I later advanced in college and pursued further Calculus as part of my degree, which greatly expanded my knowledge. I use all the skills I learnt in my everyday activities to stay on top of my game.
3. Walk Us Through the Process of Calculating Interest
Different kinds of interest can be calculated depending on the situation. An account may either earn simple or compound interest. To calculate simple interest, the percentage of principal is added to the base over each period. For compound interest, the previously earned interest is included for every forthcoming period. My career as a financial analyst saw me do most of these calculations.
4. What Do You Understand by The Term Percentage? Have You Ever Used These Percentages As Work?
A percentage is a number or portion out of 100. They play an essential role in different work applications, such as conducting market research and various calculations. My last job as a Mathematics teacher required me to perform lots of classroom research to determine the number of students who observed deadlines and compare the number to the end term scores.
5. What Is the Mean and How Is It Calculated?
The mean is the average of a set of numbers. To arrive at it, add all the numbers and divide the final value by the number of elements in the list. If my list contains 4,7,8, and 9, I will add all of them to obtain 28 and then divide them by 4 to get a mean of 7. The mean plays a vital role in the work environment as it can be used to figure out the staffing levels, customer flows and average tips.
6. Walk Us Through How to Convert a Fraction to a Percentage and Vice Versa
The easiest way to convert a fraction into a percentage is to divide the top number by the bottom and multiply by 100. If you would like to convert 1/5 into a percentage, divide one by five and multiply by 100 to get 20%.
Turning a percentage into a fraction is also easy enough. You only need to place the percentage over 100 and break down your answer. If you want to turn the 20% into a fraction, place it over 100 and then find a standard number that can divide both the top and bottom values till you arrive at 1/5.
7. How Can You Make Someone to Be Interested in Math?
Whenever I engage someone who does not enjoy Math, I use real-world situations to make them curious. I also take some time to find out more about their interests and incorporate them into our discussions or lessons. I once dealt with a student who did not like Math. I made it a norm to use practical examples to ignite his interest and help him understand.
8. Take Us Through Discount Estimation. How Do You Do It?
When estimating discounts, I work in multiples of say 5 or 10 instead of finding out the exact percentage. For example, if the discount to be determined is 18%, I work on it with the notion that the value is close to 20%. Therefore, to figure out 10%, I divide the total by ten and then multiply it by 2 to get an approximate discount.
9. Take Us Through How You Count Back Change for a Customer
The best way of counting change for a customer is by calculating the total amount of purchase and then the amount of cash they have offered you. For example, if a customer spends $8.75 and offers you a ten-dollar bill, first outline the value of purchase, i.e. $ 8.75, before adding quarters until you get a total dollar amount. Repeat this same process until you reach the amount of cash that the customer has offered.
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10. What Is Algebra?
Algebra is a field of math that uses symbols and letters to stand in for numbers, points and objects, as well as detail the relationship between them. It is used when determining the unknown variable. If I have lost six pineapples and is left with seven pineapples now, I will use algebra to establish the total number of pineapples I had.
11. What Do You Understand by Commutative, Associative and Distributive Laws?
In communicative laws, one can swap numbers and still get the same value after addi9ng them. For example, c+b = b+c. In associative laws, the final value remains the same regardless of how the numbers are grouped. For example, (c+b) +d= (c+b) + d. Finally, for distributive laws, we can get the same answer when we multiply a number by a group of numbers added together or by multiplying them separately and then adding them, i.e. bc(d+c) = bcd+ bcc
12. What Is Geometry?
Geometry is one of the branches of Math. It is divided into two. The first one is plane Geometry, which deals with flat shapes such as triangles, lines and circles, which can be easily drawn on a piece of paper. On the other hand, Solid Geometry focuses on 3D objects, such as cubes, prisms, spheres, and cylinders.
13. Could You Please Define a Linear Equation and What It Is Used For? Also, Please Give Us An Example of How You Can Use It In Your Daily Life.
A linear equation is a construction used to solve problems involving distance, time and speed. It can also be used to determine weight, mass and density. It is expressed as Bx+ Cy+ …= D. for example, if your home is 30km and you need to reach the office by 8 am, at a speed of 50km/h, you can use a linear equation to know when you should leave home.
14. How Many Doors Are in This Neighborhood?
To calculate the number of doors in this neighbourhood, I will need you to give me more information. One, I’d like to know your understanding of a door, for example, do I only concentrate on the doors on buildings and offices or others such as car doors? I’d also need the approximate number of doors found in each item and the number of items or buildings present in the neighbourhood. Once I have all that information, calculating the total number of doors in the area will be easy.
15. Could You Please Tell Us the Formula of Calculating Interest?
There are two different formulas depending on the interest one is calculating. You can either calculate simple or compound interest. For simple interest, the formula that applies is (P * R* T)/100, where P stands for Principal, R the rate of interest and T, time. The formula for compound interest is P(1+r/100) t.
16. How Do You Calculate Complex Equations to Arrive at An Accurate Answer?
To avoid unnecessary confusion, I usually use BODMAS to solve any complex calculation that comes my way. The B stands for Brackets, O for orders, including powers and square roots, DM for division and multiplication, and finally AS for addition and subtraction. Once I am done with the B or O, I proceed from left to right, depending on the problem. The same order applies even to the most technical of problems.
17. Please Tell What You Understand by Tangent and Standard Deviation?
A tangent is a line that touches a curve at one given point but does not pass or cut across it. On the other hand, a standard deviation is the measure of the spread out of the data about the mean value. It is usually referred to as the sigma and has its definitive symbol.
18. Why Do You Think You Are the Perfect Fit for This Job?
I am passionate about calculations aimed at solving problems. I have vast experience, having come across several Mathematical situations in the course of my career. I have won several awards as an accountant and fiscal analyst, showing just how good I am. Therefore, I can assure you that I will use all these experiences to better this organization. I am also a diligent worker who is willing to perform if given a chance.
19. Could You Please Differentiate a Line, Point, Plane and Solid?
The difference between the three exists in the dimensions. A point has no dimension, whereas a line is one dimensional. A plane has two dimensions, whereas a solid is three dimensional.
20. What Do You Understand by Exterior Angles in Polygons?
It is the angle between any side of the polygon and the line extended from the next side. It is therefore created by extending one line. The cumulative value for all the exterior angles in a polygon is 360, handy in related calculations.
21. What Is a Cubic Meter and How Many Hectares Make Up a Square Millimeter?
A Cubic meter is the unit used to measure the volume of an object, either by using its lengths or diameters. It is written as m raised to power 3. A cubic meter is equal to 1000 litres. A hectare, on the other hand, equals 10,000 squared meters. It is arrived at by multiplying 100 m by 100 meters on each side.
A square millimetre is arrived at by multiplying two millimetre values. A meter equals one thousand millimetres which makes a square millimetre a millionth of a square meter.
22. How Do You Sharpen Your Mathematical Skills?
I am an accountant, and therefore, part (if not most) of my work involves Mathematics. This has always kept my mathematical prowess and skills at an all-time high. I have also made it a norm to take part in quizzes every day after work. I also take several students through Mathematics over the weekend.
23. What Is Calculus?
Calculus is a brand of Mathematics that focuses on the finding and properties of both derivatives and integrals of different functions through summing infinitesimal differences. The two main types of Calculus are differential and integral. In simple terms, it is the Mathematical study of continuous change and was formerly referred to as infinitesimal calculus.
24. How Do You Ensure That Your Work Is Accurate?
I am always keen and attentive to details, which has always helped me maintain high levels of accuracy in all my work. I also go through my work twice to ascertain that I have done everything well and used the correct formulas. At times I also use calculation software to help me arrive at solutions.
25. How Would You Teach an Intern a Mathematical Concept Given the Chance?
I believe in relating a concept to a real-life situation. It betters understanding and makes the interaction friendly. If real-life situations do not exist, I will explain to the intern in detail and break down the entire concept before tackling each sub concept individually.
Conclusion
Mathematics questions are not only asked in Mathematics teacher interviews. These questions should help you prepare for several related interviews.
