A Completed 8th Grade Final Exam
Salina, Kansas, 1895
Here is a completed 8th Grade Final Exam -- Subject: Arithmetic
1. Name and define the Fundamental Rules of Arithmetic.
- The Fundamental Rules of Arithmetic are Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division.
- Addition - the summing of a set of numbers to obtain the total quantity of items to which the number set refers indicated in arithmetic by + .
- Subtraction - the mathematical process of finding the difference between two numbers or quantities, indicated in arithmetic by - .
- Multiplication - the mathematical process of finding a number or quantity (the product) obtained by repeating a specified number or quantity a (the multiplicand) a specified number of times (the multiplier), indicated in arithmetic by X .
- Division - the mathematical process of finding how many times a number (the divisor) is contained in another number (the dividend); the number of times constitutes the quotient, indicated in arithmetic by ÷ .
2. A wagon box is 2 ft. deep, 10 feet long, and 3 ft. wide. How many bushels of wheat will it hold?
The wagon box contains 2 x 10 x 3 = 60 cubic feet. A struck bushel equals 1 1/4 cubic feet. A heaped bushel in general equals 1 1/4 struck bushels. Therefore the wagon box if heaped contains 60 bushels and if struck, 1/5th less or 48 bushels.
3. If a load of wheat weighs 3942 lbs., what is it worth at 50 cts. per bu, deducting 1050 lbs. for tare?
The actual weight of the wheat, subtracting the tare of the wagon weight of 1050 lbs is 2892 lbs. A fully ripe and dried struck bushel of wheat weighs on average 58 lbs per bushel. Therefore the solution is 2892 ÷ 58 X $.50 = $24.93
4. District No. 33 has a valuation of $35,000. What is the necessary levy to carry on a school seven months at $50 per month, and have $104 for incidentals?
The cost of 7 months of school equals $50 X 7 + $104, therefore $454.The mil levy is therefore $454 ÷ $35,000 which equals .013 levy or $1.30 per $100 valuation of the district.
5. Find cost of 6720 lbs. coal at $6.00 per ton.
One ton equals 2000 lbs, therefore 6720 ÷ 2000 X $6 = $20.16
6. Find the interest of $512.60 for 8 months and 18 days at 7 percent.
A banking month is 30 days, or 360 days per year. If the principal is held for 258 days the proportional interest for the period held is 258 ÷ 360 X $512.60 X 7% or $25.72
7. What is the cost of 40 boards 12 inches wide and 16 ft. long at $.20 per inch?
40 X 12 X $.20 = $96.00 To verify this, lumber costs $150/1000 board feet, therefore - - 40 X 16 ÷ 1000 X $150 = $96.00
8. Find bank discount on $300 for 90 days (no grace) at 10 percent.
90 days is 3 months, 1/4 of the banking year, therefore the discount is .10 ÷ 4 X $300 = $7.50
9. What is the cost of a square farm at $15 per acre, the distance around which is 640 rods?
An acre measure is 160 square rods. The farm has each side of 160 rods or 160 rods square, therefore 25600 square rods, is 160 acres in extent and is $2400 in value.
10. Write a Bank Check, a Promissory Note and a Receipt.
Bank Check Promissory Note:
Farmer's Coop Bank 1895
Salina, Kansas June 1, 1894
Received Of John Q. Parent $57.16
Receipt:
Fifty Seven and 16/100 ------------------------------------- Dollars
1894-95 Tuition -
James Roscoe R. Pound, Chmn
__________________________________________________
--- end of 1895 8th Grade Final Exam and Answers in Arithmetic
Time to take this exam: 1.25 hours
Editor's Note:
First, as I said in Part One of this series, after reading these questions and answers, I realized how much was expected of children in the past. And second, while I've been able to determine that the test is real and from 1895, I have not been able to find out who wrote these answers. And yes, my friends, I had to look them up to make sure they are correct -- and they are.
How well do you think you would have done taking this 1895 8th Grade Final Exam? Do you think 4-year college students today can pass this exam? How about Teachers today, how would they do taking this exam? Would they be able to pass this test?
I have to wonder why 8th Grade children in 1895 were able to pass this test versus 8th Graders today? Maybe we should be asking if our children are learning the essentials in schools today? If not, and instead there really is too much political indoctrination in public schools, then how can we return schools to being places of learning instead of places of political indoctrination?
More to come!
Tom Correa
